Evening star., 1918-02-16
b. Rev. Hugh T, Stevenson.


Jesus changed His methods Of preach
ing in the lesson assigned for this week S
study. The positive pointed practical SER
mon with it's incidental illustration gave
way for the more popular rabbinical
method of presenting truth by parallels.
In the inquiry room. where Christ cleared
up problems presented by His preaching.
the Master explained to His disciples. who
were puzzled by His radical innovation,
that the reason for His changing His
methods of preaching was due to the
moral condition presented. by the con-
gregation assembled from all sections at
the seaside to hear His sermons. He was
and practicability. 1T was strategic
move made because of the character of
the opposition because the parable pro-
tected the truth, which they enshrined.
from the mockery of the scoffer and at
the same time it enabled the spiritually
qualified disciples to understand the mys-
teries of the gospel He used the parable
in accordance with the predictions OF
prophecy.
The Master has given the interpreta- :
tio1 of the parable of the four kinds OF
soil SO that there can be no doubt con-
cerninS its meaning. The fundamental
lesson that it teaches is identical with
that of scientific agriculture, which en-
pends upon the variation of the soil. The
seed is the tested word of truth, the in
corruptible seed" by which men are be-
gotten to God and which liveth and abid-
eth forever The life is in the seed, not
in the soil. Like the Lord Jesus, who wax
the sower of the parable, every Christian
is called upon to SOW the seeds of the gos-
pei. The skilled agriculturist studies the
soil of his farm and selects his seed in ac-
cordance with the character of the soil
which must be broken up to receive the
seed. Likewise the souls of men must be
prepared by the Holy Spirit for the re-
ception of the gospel. Unless He fits men
to receive with meekness the engrafted
word which is able to save their souls
the natural sinfulness of men will make
their lives to be like the four soils refer
red to by the Master in the parallels as
signed for this weeks study.
The hearers of Christ's messages were
likened unto the soil. Standing or sit
ting in the boat. which being held a
few rods from shore by the oar OF
anchor became floating pulpit, swing
ing to the rhythm of the waves. the
Master could easily see behind the
eager crowd upon the shore farmer
sowing seed upon his unfenced farm
with it's hard-trodden path, bare OF
fruit. running through the fields along
the rocky hillside, revealing the shall
low soil with its withered growth, the
patch filled with clumpS of thorn bushes
choking out all other life, and beyond
this the fertile field filled with a boun-
tiful crop. That familiar scene furnish.
ed the Lord Jesus with material for this
parable.
Obstacles. to the development of re
ligious life He saw illustrated by the
trodden path. rocky ground and thorny
patches of soil. The wayside or hard
hearted hearer, like the hard, we'll trod
den path running through the farm
field. was not prepared to receive the
seed. The wayside hearer rejects the
gospel message because through world
liness, sensuality and sin his heart wa:
hardened against the good news. Thi.
prevented his acceptance of the mes
sage of Gods love. The spiritually stu
pid is ignorant of the gospel because hi:
life has prevented his recognition ot
it's tremendous significance. He resist:
its warnings. He refuses it's invitation:
and by so doing he shuts the word o,