The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-06-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson xlI.-Sec0nd Quarter,
For June IS, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Matt. xiii, 1-9, 49,
23-Memory Verse, 23-Golden Text,
Jas. i, 21.-Commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
We step back quite bit in the order
of events to take up this and the next
two lessons on the "Mysteries Of the
Kingdom" but perhaps it does not
matter much how we step If only we
step into the light and keep step with
cur blessed Lord in His thoughts and
purposes. Although verses 10 to II
are not included in our lesson we
must look at them, as there we find
the reason why He taught in parallels.
The rulers having determined to kill
Him (xii, ~ our lesson chapter opens
with the statement that the same day
He went out of the house and sat by
the seaside A simple statement of a
fact. but very suggestive of another
fact-that He was about to go out
gather from the sea of nations another
people during this age who will reign
with Him in the next or kingdom
age Matt. xiii, 37-39; Acts XIV, l+1S,.
When the disciples asked Him why
He taught in parallels, His reply was.
Because it is given unto you to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of heav-
ell. but to them it is not given" And
then he quoted from lisa. vi the proph-
ecy concerning this blindness. The
kingdom OF God. or of heaven. was
no mystery, for it was plainly revealed
in all the Old Testament The suffer
ings and glory of the Messiah were all
fully revealed, but that there should
be a long period between the suffer
ings and the glory, that the kingdom
would be at hand and then postponed
| for a whole age. this was not revealed
until by the Lord in these parallels,
and later to and by Paul. A concord
ance will enable any one to see that
the word mystery" is used of God
i'll Christ, Christ in His people. the
| blindness of Israel, the resurrection Of
the just, the development of iniquity.
| the end of this age. This whole age
between the rejection of Christ and
His coming again in glory is the time
| of the mysteries of the kingdom which
| our Lord sets forth in these seven par
ables Of this chapter. Mark and Luke
each give the first One-the parable of
the sOwer-the understanding of which
seems all important. for our Lord said
when asked for its Significance. Know
| ye not this parable? And how. then,
| will We know all parables" Mark iv)
From our next lesson we learn that
the field is the world (verse 3S,. and
we must bear in mind that it is a
world lying in the wicked one and that
he is the god of it. 1t is an evil age
and ever growing worse as far as the
fear Of God is concerned q John v.
10; II Cor. iv, 4; GAL i. 4; Rom. xii.
1, 2; II Tim. iii, 1-5). Alongside of un-
paralleled progress on many lines there
is unparalleled iniquity. unbelief, re-
lection of the Bible as the word of
God and Of the deity of Christ and of
His atOnement for sin. We are no.
where taught to expect any improve
ment in these matters during this age.
but we are faithfully to SOW the seed
of the word of God everywhere and
expect just what we are taught in this
parable. Some set their hearts on
certain results and say we must have
this or that. we must have fifty or a
hundred conversions. we must have a
revival, the town must be taken for
God. etc. Happier are those who are
in harmony with the Lord and who
rest on His assurance that His word
will accomplish that which He pleases
/ lisa. ", III. 1t is incOrruptible seed.
the word of life, and He has promised
to watch over it q Pet. j. %; Acts v,
20; Jer. i, Il. K. W. The hearts Of men
are the soil. and some are beaten SO
hard by the going to and fro Of the
things of this life that the seed can
scarce find entrance, and the devil is
always watching to catch it away lest
they should believe and be saved.
Other hearts are hard within, rocky
hearts, but with enough soft soil to re-
ceive the seed. Such appear to enjoy
the word; they say it does them good,
they receive it gladly. but they are
easily offended, cannot stand any per
secution
In others the soil is good enough to