NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of “Christ’s Object Lessons” as apply to each lesson.
26 “And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should 27 cast seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. 28 The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. To what is the kingdom of God here likened?
2. After the seed is sown, what is the man said to be doing?
3. How does the seed grow? Why does the man not know how it is done?
4. Does the fact that “the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself” show that it is without God’s aid?
5. In the process of growth, what first appears? What next? What last of all?
6. How soon after this state of things arrives, is the grain reaped? Verse 29, margin. Why?
7. Before sowing garden seeds, what must be done with the soil? Why do men not plant while the ground is frozen?
8. What is God’s part in the preparation of the earth-soil? What is man’s?
11. What is God’s part, and what man’s, in this work?
12. When is the best time to sow Gospel seed? Ans.—“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11:6.
13. Give examples of some whose hearts were all prepared before the Gospel seed-sower was sent to sow? See Acts 8:26–39; 10:1–48.
14. In these instances, was it necessary for the sower always to remain with the ground on which his seed had been cast? Have we ever tried to do God’s part in this work?
NOTES.
THE parable of the seed reveals that God is at work in nature. The seed has in itself a germinating principle, a principle that God Himself has planted; yet if left to itself, the seed would have no power to spring up. Man has his part to act in promoting the growth of grain. He must prepare and enrich the soil and cast in the seed. He must till the fields. But there is a point beyond which he can accomplish nothing.
THERE is life in the seed, there is power in the soil; but unless an infinite power is exercised day and night, the seed will yield no returns. The life which the Creator has implanted, He alone can call forth. Every seed grows, every plant develops, by the power of God.
AS THE earth bringeth forth her bud, as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.
THE germination of the seed represents the beginning of the spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die.
AT every stage of development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.
THERE can be no growth or fruitfulness in the life that is centered in self.
CHRIST is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.
WERE all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the Gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.
