Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-15
Sunday School Lesson
FEB. II, 1913
DIR. MARION MICH. HULL.

About the middle OF CHRIST S ministry
His popularity had grown so great. as
we'll as the opposition TO Him, that He
changed His form of teaching and began
to teach in parallels. Coming TO the sea
of Galilee the crowds were so great that
He got into a boat for pulpit again
and spoke to the people. 1t IS poSSlole
that He may have seen a farmer SOW
seed on the hillsides behind the town
but if not, it was a very common slghI
and one with which all His hearers were
familiar.
The Purpose of the Parable
After He had spoken the parable, HIS
disciples asked Him to explain 10 thehs
why He did so. His answer is one OF
the most difficult things in the Bible to
explain. Quoting from Isaiah % Chap.)
He tells them He does it to Keep otherS
from seeing it unless they really want
to- Gods primary purpose was not 10
keep them from being converted by not
understanding the parable, but to give
it only to those who were in earnest
enough to want it. If God gives little
light and one will not receive it. the
stronger light will only blind instead
of Illuminating. Old Matthew Henry
probably expresses the purpose OF the
parallels better than any one else when
he said that a parable is a she'll to
keep the truth for the believer and from
the scoffer.
Jesus said also that the mystery of
the kingdom was to be revealed to them.
A mystery in the scripture is something
which is hid and to be revealed; not
something mysterious and wonderful In
that sense The mystery of the kingdom
was revealed in the parallels and the
mystery of the church was revealed In
the epistles. Don't make the mistake or
confounding the church and the king
dom The kingdom is the reign OF COO
and the church is only a group or calico
out ones whom God is preparing and
using to bring about the time when He
shall reign The church is not the king
dom, but only a phase of it, preparatory
to it.
The Sewer, the Seed and the Soil
The parable which He gave first is orolna.
riIy known as the parable of the sower IL
would probably better be known the parable
of the soils. He spoke of sower going out 10
SOW and some of the seed fell by the wayslde,
some fell on stony ground, some fell among
tborns and some fell into good ground. Notice
the propositions which Jesus uses there. Ihat
which fell by the wayside on the hard GROUND
was snatched away by the birds OF the air I'm
mediateIy and brought no fruit. That whlch
fell on stony ground took root quickly, out
withered just quickly, because 1t had no
depth of earth. That which fell among thorns
was choked by the rank growth of weeds, which
were more vigorous. That which fell into gocd
ground took root had depth, and yielded fruit
some thirty fold, some sixty fold and lOO 1od'
Jesus gave the explanation Of this parable to
His disciples that We have no DOUBT as 10
what its meaning was The seed was tne worn Sr
Of God; and a very apt analogy II was, for
seed gives life and nourishment. 1t is always
good. There was just as much possibility IN the
seed that fell by the wayside as that whlcn
fell in the good ground. The difference In re-
suits was a question of soil. The wayside hear
er was the indifferent man OF woman; MS
mind has been hardened by the constant impress
4, md hat hppp hardened
BY frequent footsteps. The mere repetition OF
the Truth, hearing il from childhood mas even
made one utterly indifferent to wheh a
great truth is presented. John $40 does not
make the impression on you that IT would II
you had never heard it before. BE careful that
your mind is not so hardened by the constant
repetition of the truth that the word of God
will be snached away by the Devil before II
can gain entrance. -
some seed fell on stony ground 1t acquired
its growth rapidly but withered rapidly. There
are impusive people with emotional natures
that receive the Truth with great joy, but quit
easily when they put to the test because there
has heen no depth in their lives. They have
never seriously considered the step they nave
taken, they have never had sense OIL SIN OF
conviction to their duty; they have never real
lied their need for or the blessing of the atone
ment: consequently, the truth is easily crushed
out of their lives whenever any test comes
1t is splendid soil, usually, where Weeus
grow particularly if the growth is rank That
soil might have been used 10 produce grain OF
herbs and to have brought joy to the owners.
/
with mixed motives. They have been concerned
about their souls salvation, but they have
been equally concerned about worldly pleasures
| or business No man can grow good seed and
weeds on the same soil; no man can serve TWO
| masters. To be a friend Of the world is en-
nifty against God.
| some seed fell into good ground, and Jesus
said those were such as accepted the WORD OF
God, obeyed 10 and followed 1t. These Drought
| forth according to their several capacities, some
thirty, some sixty and some 100 fold.
What was the difference between the results
of this seed sowing? The last one accepted the
Word of God took il into its bosom and MADE
! it a part of itself. That is all 1T had to DO.
God made the seed terminate, God made 1t to
come to fruitiOn God brought about the blessed
results because these people gave Him the
chance The others differed only in degree.
| Some form of worldiness the essence OF II
ALL the indifferent waysde hearer, the I'M
| pulsve or stony ground hearer, the impure or
| mixed motive hearer. One accepted IT and got
results rejected it and no impression was
made. one gave it superficial welcome, and one
| a divided welcome. Take heed how ye hear.