The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-12-14
PARALLELS OF THE KINGDOM

LESSON TEXT-Matthew 1888. 3l-33,
44-46
GOLDEN TEXT-Incline your ear. and
come unto me: hear. and your soul shall
nve.-Isaiah 55:3.
Teaching by parable, a method
so often used by our Lord Jesus
Christ, has many advantages. A
parable (Which is a story relat-
ing events in common life to teach
or illustrate spiritual truth) is use
full in stimulating interest and at
tention, in making the truth clear,
in fixing it in the hearers men,
ory, and in attracting for further
instruction those who are interest
ed even as it eliminates those who
make no response. Jesus was the
master of this art of teaching 9th
ers have learned from Him.
The Interpretation of the parallels
of Jesus has brought forth much
difference of opinion. The impor-
tant point to bear in mind is that
the Interpretation must be one con-
sistent with other scripture, as well
as with our Lords own revelation
of its meaning when given. We
have His own Interpretation of the
parable of the Sewer (Matt. 1918
23), but He did not interpret the
other parallels of our lesson, leav-
ing it for us to carefully seek their
meaning and gladly receive their
instruction.
l. Take Heed How You Hear wv.
3-8).
This parable is rightly called the
parable of the Sewer for our Lord
so named it ". 18), but as we read
it we see that the lesson it teaches
relates primarily to the four kinds
of hearers of the Word of God.
There are some who hear and
their hearts and minds have so long
been the common road over which
every worldly influence has passed,
that it has become so hard the Word
of God finds no Judgment, but is
quickly carried away by the birds,
which are the cultures of worldli-
ness" and wickedness (see v. 19.
Reader, if your heart is like that,
ask God to break it up. Let us
all shun those hardening influences
which destroy our susceptibility to
Gods Word.
Others there are who hear and
the seed takes root, but the soil is
so shallow that it has only a quick
growth which soon WitherS. These
are those whose life is largely emo
tional, thrilling to new expert
ence, but not ready to face trials
and the responsibilities of life w.
2D. AS long as the Christian life
looks attractive such shallow folk
want to be counted in, but when
they learn that it involves sacri-
fee, they are gone. Shallow souls,
pray God to give your life depth
and real meaning and worth.
Others hear and receive the truth,
but soon permit the cares of life
to choke and destroy it (see V. 22).
This pictures modern life so aptly
that one could dwell with profit on
the vital lessons here taught.
Thank God, some of the seed
brings forth.a rich harvest! There
is encouragement for every teacher
and preacher of the Word of God
Notice wv. 8, 23) that if we should
bring forth a hundred-fold it would
be tragic to bear only thirty or sixty.
ii. Beware of the Power of Evil
wv. 1889.
Just as the mustard plant was
never intended to grow into tree
in which the birds would dwell, so
Christianity was never intended to
be a nominally Christianized world
empire in which ungodly men, the
dark birds of the evil one ". 49,,
should find comfortable Judgment.
Unfortunately, that is what much of
protesting Christianity has be-
come. Let those of us who love the
Lord beware that we are not mis-
led by it.
The parable of the leaven teaches
the same lesson. Always in the
New Testament leaven stands for
evil (see such passages as Matt.
22:16-21, %, 30; 23:14, Is; Cor.
5:6-8; Gal. 5:9). 1t is any infu-
ence that weakens testimony, en-
courages hypocrisy, Journalism or
worldliness. Who can deny that
this leaven has spread throughout
the Church? The Evil One is pow
erful. Let us beware Of his power
and of his leaven.
III. Value Redemption Alright wv.
44-46).
In interpreting this parable we ob-
serve that obviously the sinner had
nothing to sell with which to buy
salvation, even if it were to be
bought, which we know it is not
(Eph. 2:8). We do give up some
things to follow Christ, but are they
not the worthless and degrading
things? On the other hand, He
gave US His all, even to the shame
full death of the cross. This He
did for His own people, Israel, and
what we are even more interested
in, for the Church.
Let us value our redemption
highly. We have been purchased
with the unspeakable price, the
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let
us then heed the admonition of the
4 4.