The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-02-21
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY "a.
JESUS TEACHES BY PARALLELS
THE GROWTH OF THE KING.
DOM.

GOLDEN TEXT-The earth shall be
full OF the knowledge of Jehovah. as the
waters cover the sea.-Isa ll9.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Isa. 1l:1-l0.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Matt. I3:24-50 wv. 81, 32);
lisa. 2:3-i; Eek E:1-12: Rev. a:1-s; 22-27;
Chap. 22:l-5; Rev. 2:1-s
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus telling a story
about sowing.
MEMORY VERSE-Jesus advanced in
wisdom and stature and IN favor with
God and man.-Luke 2:52
INTERMEDIATES TOPIC-The import
nnce OF small beginnings
Jesus Is now revealing to his dlscl-
pies the kingdom in secret which they
were later to reveal In plbllc. Moth
Ing which he now reveals should be
hid, and he Is also teaching that, IL
we do not use that what Is committed
TO us, we lose It,
!. Hearing wv. 21-25). It is an OBJ
legation resting upon each of us who
has the light of truth that he should
so set 1t before men that ii can be
seen that men may be enlightened,
cheered and served by 1t Matt. 5:14-
16; Phil. :15-16). The secret things
of our lives will be brought 10 light
some day. Ears are given with which
we are to hear, and possession of hear
ing involves the responsibility as to
what we hear. "The Gospel is the
power Of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth" (ROm. :1G), but
believing comes through hearing"
(Rom. 10:1O. In this there is mis-
sionary suggestion for our teachers.
but there Is also a caution as to what
and how we hear. "Take heed what
we hear" Many today are being swept
into all kinds of damnng here
sies because they do not follow this
warning e. Tim. 3:1-13). Not only are
we to be good listeners, hut we must
be docrs us well GAS. l:22). This
parable Of the lamp follows closely
upon the parable of the sower In
,ur last lesson. "God, who first ere
ted light, and Christ. in whom was
il. and the life was the light of
men both together are ones whom
we are equally Obliged to see, and
hear and obey. To impress the duty
Of this seeing, hearing and using Of
light upon his disciples, Jesus reminds
them of some familiar things. A can
die is not placed under bushel nor
under bed. but on Il candle stick,
where II may be seen Of ALL If our
virtues go not forth from us, 1t will
he Ms though we had hidden them
from the world. "To him that heareth
right shall more be given" ". 24)
but for him that hath not and seeth
not from him shall he taken. He
that hath not is he who neglects his
opportunities, and 'frOm him shall he
taken even that which he hath" In
this we see spiritual multiplication,
and also spiritual subtraction, de-
terioration.
Il. Growing. GD Secrecy w. 26-20.
This is n parable of faith and hope,
found only in Mark. Again the good
seed Is referred to, but in this case
unseen growth receives the emphasis,
for the seed will spring and grow up,
though we know not how. 1t Is COM
forting to think that, If we SOW the
true seed It grows while we sleep
". 97.) The best selected seed (the
holy word) is essential for results. All
Of our seed must have this silent pc
rod for growth, Ii is the earth that
brings forth the fruit Of herself
through the energies and powers with
which God endows II. These powers
are wonderful. We do not understand
them. but there is order and symmetry
In growth. First the blade, then the
ear, and after that the full corn In
the ear. Then is the harvest, the
purpose of the seed having been ac-
complIshed. Mark alone gives us this |
parable, and It is given in close rcla-
tion to the parable of The sower and |
of the wheat and tares. Jesus Is the
great harvester w. 29), and knows the |
right time to reap the grain, the mo-
ment when It is ''ripe" ", 30 II. w.
Then he putteth in the sickle.
(2) There is also II marvellous out
ward growth of the kingdom wv. 30
32), There Is the closest relation be-
tween the parable of the mustard
seed and the two parallels that pre-
cede. In Matthew the parable of the
seed is used in relation to the
kingdom of heaven, which is the
sphere of the Christian profession.
Here It Is used of the kingdom of
God, which is spiritual. Why is 1t used
pf both? The explanation, according !
TO Doctor Scoficld, lies in the fact
that the kingdom OF God in this age
md the kingdom of heaven have this
IN common, that from an insignificant
Dcginning they had n rapid growth.
On the day of PenteCost, for example,
he first day when the Gospel was
preached in the power of the Holy
Spirit, 5000 were added to the church;
hat is, 5000 really and truly believed
md were therefore brought into the
,ingdom Of God. This corresponds
With the rapid growth of the mustard
rec from the smallest seeds, but in all
he details of its meaning, the para
he of the mustard seed should not be
of the kingdom OF God.