Evening star., 1912-07-13

are studying. The positive pointed prac-
tical sermon, with its Incidental illus
tration, gave way for the more popular
rabbinical method of presenting truth by
parallels. The radical change of methods
puzzled the disciples, for hitherto Jesus
had taught them not as the scribes, sc
they asked Him when He was alone why
He used the parallels.
The method of teaching by para bles
which covers many forms of expression
although its essential idea is that of an
objective parallel TO moral or spiritual
truth. was a familiar one In the east
Matthew gives us the fullest statement
of the Masters reasons for departing
from the direct method which had char
acterized His earlier ministry. The reply
given the disciples in the inquiry room
reveals the fact that Christ was prompt
and practicability. Jesus was a master
of the art of imaginative expression He
used illustrations in His ministry that al
ways sripped His hearers by their singu-
larity, aptness and force. When the IL
lustration that had been incidental be-
came the dominant method of His preach
ing, the Master gave to us In His par
ables the choicest specimens that can be
found in all literature.
The motive for the Masters change
was evidently the moxal condition of the
people to whom He had been preaching
The growing opposition to His straight
forward presentation of the message
Of the kingdom called for another
method of teaching if the Master
was not to hasten the crisis that
would close His ministry. The rapidly
approaching end demanded that He take
the method that would prove to be the
most valuable. Jesus, realizing the truth
expressed SO well by Seneca, Long is
the road by precepts, short and effective
by Illustration responded to the opposi-
tons tactics by strategic move that
substituted for plain teaching parabolic
preaching. He opened up the mysteries
of the Kingdom of God to His disciples
because they possessed the spiritual quail
ifications that enabled them to take in
the spiritual message of the parallels
teaching the secrets of the origin and
development of the gospel in the world
showing the unseen forces. the funda-
mental principles and the great events
involved in Gods plan of salvation.
The parable protected the truth, which
they enshrined. from the mockery of the
scoffer by withdrawing it's light from the
lovers of darkness as punishment, while
1t was revealed to the thoughtful seekers
of truth. That those without relation to
Christ were shut out only temporarily is
evident from what Immediately follows
this parable. The power of appreciation
of the spiritual truth by those of the
inner circle and the failure to perceive OF
those without Christ's circle were in ac-
cordance with the principle of modern
pedagogy that what one learns depends
upon what one has learned. which is
stated in the twenty-fifth verse 1t is
evident from verses 81 to "A that Jesus
expected His disciples to scatter the light
received from Him among those that
were without His church, so that they
too, would be able to be saved. Our mis-
sion is to save a lost world.
Matthew shows how Jesus claimed that
It was In accordance with prophecy that
He used the parallels that protected the
truth like the husks which temporarily
conceal the germ that later ii may aid
TO develop the hidden life by the sacrifice
OF itself We, like the early followers of
christ. have received that we might scat
ter the seeds which Luke tells us in his
parable Is the word of God 1t is our
business to follow the example OF Christ
the Son of Man, by sowing the good
seed into all soil, utilizing every oppor-
tunity to present the spiritual message
that we have received So that the harvest
may be abundant and the world won for
our Lord. The Master had given US the
Interpretation of the parable that We are
studying today, SO that we need not be
In doubt of its message.
The fundamental lesson that 1t teaches
is that the difference in crops depends
upon the variation of the soil. Jesus
found In agriculture that which Grant apt
ly called the 'groundw of civilization"
the illustration that taught the truth that
the differences in the results of spiritual
service was due to the variations of the
spiritual attitude Of men. The seed is
the tested word Of truth. the incor-
ruptible seed" by which men are begot-