The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-03-06
Lesson for March 9

Lesson for March 9
1.-THE PARABLE OF THE soWER
LESSON TExT-Matthew 1S:1-2S.
| GOLDEN TEXT-Who hath ears to
PRIMARY TOPIC-Hearers and Do
0rs.
/ JUNIOR TOPIC-Hearers and Doors.
i INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
IC-Giving Heed to jesus Teaching.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
Ic-Take Heed How Ye Hear.
! In this thirteenth chapter Of Mat
thew the mysteries" Of the kingdom
are unfolded. By mystery" in the
Scriptures is meant truth undlscover-
able by human reason, made known by
revelation. The seven parallels Of this
chapter set forth In a most graphic
manner the admixture Of moral and
spiritual affairs in the world between
iChrist's ascension and return to the
earth.
{ !. The Sewer ". 81.
The sower is not named in this par
able. In the parable Of the wheat
and tares, the sower is the Son Of
Man ". 80. 1t is evident that the
isower in this case is the Lord Jesus
Christ. Through the centuries He has
Ibeen sowing the seed of divine truth
by means of prophets, apostles and
ministers.
u. The Kind Of Soil wv. 4-s; 49,
s23).
The soil is the human heart ". 1917.
The seed sown is the Word Of God
". 1917. The difference Of results lies
in the condition of the soil, which In
! turn is the state of the human heart.
Notwithstanding the faithfulness Of
the sower and the purity of the seed,
the results Of preaching Gods Word
depend upon the condition Of the hu-
man heart. This parable reveals four
kinds Of soil or hearers.
1. The wayside, or hard-hearted
hearer ". 4, CT. v. 1917.
The wayside means the track beat
en- down by the hoofs of animals and
! the feet of men. Because the soil was
unbrOken and uncultivated the seed
could not get beneath the surface,
therefore was devoured by the fowls.
The great truth taught is that the
heart unbroken and hard is not favor
able soil for the gospel.
2. The stony places, or superficial
hearers wv. s, 6, ct. w. 20, Ply.
This means stones with thin layer
of soil upon them. Under such condi-
lions the seed springs up quickly, but
likewise scorches quickly. Hearts su-
pericially impressed receive Gods
Word with joy, but when persecution
! and trials come they are not able to
endure.
8. The thorny ground, or pre-occu-
pied hearers ". Z, CT. v. 22).
In this case the ground is good, mel
flow enough and of sufficient depth,
but has thorns in it. Such really hear
the Word of God, but the cares of
this world and the deceitfulness Of
riches and the lusts of other things,
entering in choke the Word and it be-
comes unfruitful MARK 4:19).
Many are the "thorny ground"
hearers Of this age. The good seed
cannot mature because (1) of world
illness. Men and women are complete
Ily absorbed in the things of business
land are burdened with care. (2) The
ideceitfulness Of riches. Anxious care
in business brings riches to many. The
effect of riches is to blunt the spiritual
perception of men. (3) Lusts Of other
things entering in. This means the
pleasures of life. All these things
choke the Word Of God. Many of the
enjoyments of the world may be inno-
cent in themselves, but they attract
so much attention and consume so
much energy and time that one has
no time for Bible reading, meditation
and prayer.
4. The good ground, or fruitful hear
ers ". 8. CT. v. 23).
"But other fell into good ground and
brought forth fruit" Thisaground diff
fered from all the rest. 1t was mellow,
deep and moist, therefore It was capa-
BILE Of bringing forth fruit, a hundred,
some sixty and some thirty fold. In
the measure that the heart is kept
free from worldiness, riches and
pleasures. the good seed natures.
III. The Purpose Of Teaching In
Parallels wv. 1919.
There is much misrepresentation con-
corning teaching in parallels. The para.
bolfc method of teaching makes clear
the truth to those that love It, but con-
ceals 1t from those who have a dis
taste for it. Jesus did not teach BY
parallels till the rulers had set their
hearts against Him When In the light
Of His miracles and wonderful works
they turned against him and attrib-
uted His works to the devil, He de-
nOunced them in the most scathing
terms and began +" teach In parallels.
In fulfllment of the prophecy of Isai-
alb Matt. 1874. IL: cf. lisa. SO. 10Y.
God Ever Ready to Protect