The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-02-15
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY II
ssUs TEACHING FIVE PARALLELS
-FOUR KINDS OF GROUND.


EACaER-zEatt 1::I-5o: 2S-42.
PRufARY ToPIc-Jesus telll7g story
Pa9sftTsT 5fEMoRT vERsE-Ee 70
oers OF the word.-Jame9 1:22 - g
Jesus tells us plainly why he taught
o much by means OF parallels { Matt.
3:1013). The truth had to be taught;
renee the parable, that those to whom
{ was given to know the messages OF
he kingdom, those who sought It.
night know and understand, and that
10 the others It might be hidden CLARK
E.11, 12). Like all his parallels. Jesus
draws- his pictures from the common
experiences Of Iife-the field, the home.
stc. Paul draws his Illustrations chief
b from the city, the army, the market.
In studying this lesson we must turn
20 the parallel account as given by
Lake ana Matthew to get the full and
complete picture.
what IS the seed? Luke says that
DeSus told his disciples that the seed
tWas the Word Of God Quke 19:11)..
we get the same thought in verse four
teen OF the lesson. A great deal is be-.
Ing made today OF seed selection. Some
wonderful results have been obtained.
How much more important for those OF
rs who deal with immortal souls that
ne select the beet seed, L e, the Word
of God.
the second consideration IS the
sower Y. ~. Notice he went forth not
to @soar." not is it recorded that he
was esore" because the people did not
an receive the seed alike. he did not
have a grouch: he did not enter into
his work that he might receive the
adulaton Of men (9fatt. 6:2). 1t is
however, the ''solF that seems to be
most emphasized In both the direct
Reaching and also thu explanation of
THE parable. There are four kinds OF
SON. The manner by which the seed
came into contact with each kind OF
sou IS significant Some fell %by" the
.wayBide; the path vas well trodden
fhe ground was preoccupied; G. s., it
was used for other purposes than 70
yield a harvest; It was hard to be
broken, and hence 1t was an easy mat
ter for the birds Of the air ". 15) to
come and pluck It away. We need to
remember that Il men receive with
meeSness the implanted word. there
win, Of course. be no such opportunity
for the evil one. The trouble in this
case was TINT the Word was not Inn
planted. Thus it is that one-fourth of
the seed is lost. The result is 4 deplor-
able one as we see from Heb. 2:1-4.
rs the soil Of our lie so hard that God
unjust drive the plowsiarc clean
Through it ere there is q chcnce for the
seed to take root? Cps 129:@).
The next fell ION" the rocky ground.
The first is picture of the hardened.
and this is a picture OF the superficial
nearer. For time they did run we'll
They even received the Word With
;giadness ". 1G). hut they had no sta
bility because they had 10 root. They
were superficial. There was no chance
for the seed to get n real grip on their
lives. TIC earth yields its increase
though TX, - 20. understand. SO God
VII add his - per cent TO our per
cent. The OAK tree comes from small
seed.
In the third place Jesus speaks OF
sShe seed TINT fell "asaorG" the tho-ns-
Here IS the worll;:- sell. It is not, so
Inuch the character OF tic soil. it is
fine character OF chat wi,iei, - eady oc-
tcun;ed tie soil ere ia $500 Sowed
THE seed. The cares Of s:.iy E:oTId. the
Ideeest iuiness Of riches and other
things" had so entered in that the
ssood seed never had a cha2cc in the
tsou CT tho human heart. It w:;s choked
land yielded no fruit. There was no
heal grip Of the will, no whole-hearted
Surrender. The cares of life that keep
the housewife or the business man !;
tthe deceitfulaess Of riches that snare
linen and choke the word which at one
thine gave such promise in their lives;
Stbe Iusts and other things which the
levn one knows so wei how to use keep
Ssus from the Word, for Satan knows
that by It we are to be saved duke
tlS:12). Are we iupuisive? Do we
tmake vows soon forgotten. ties that
tsoon fade away or fall heE"ath the
Temptations for lack of root? May
God blast and turn up the subsoil of
iour hearts by strong convictions OF sin,
and SO oecupy the soil that there Is no
opportunity for other things.
We have thus seen three-fourths OF
the seed lost. OF the remaining
fourth, that which fell into Or. W
1.-THE good soil, not all yielded the same
return. It ar brought forth (v. ~; it
an yielded; It 81! sprang up, but not all
TN the same ratio.
u There are three distinguishing fea-
ltures OF this lest kiad OF hearers: Cd
They hear the Word. These are the
zones who appreciate It's value and give
good heed to its precepts- (2l They ac-
scept &. e 6. they understand fits teach
sines. They take It into good and hon
,+est hearts. 90 They hold 1t fast
duke S:15 R. W These are the
lozes Of which martyrs are made.
4 Jesus IVES great open-air preacher
CIV. 4 p and like all others he has
various kinds OF hearers the half
hearted hearer the shallow-hearted