7 “And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up, and choked them: and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Verses 22, 23.
22 “And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the Word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.”
7 “And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirty-fold, and sixty-fold, and a hundred-fold.”
Verses 19, 20.
19 “And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful. And those are they that were sown upon the good ground, such as hear the Word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirty-fold, and sixty-fold, and a hundred-fold.”
7 “And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundred-fold. As He said these things, He cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Verses 14–18.
14 “And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit
15 to perfection. And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 “And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand,
17 that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor anything secret, that
18 shall not be known and come to light. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. Where did other seed fall? What effect had the thorns upon the growing seed? What expression in the text shows that the thorns grew rapidly? Besides hindering the growth of the seed-stalks, what do thorns prevent? Mark 4:7; Luke 8:14.
2. What is the main purpose of sowing seed? What does Matthew say the thorns represent? Mark? Luke?
3. Do any of these things ever absorb our minds, and hinder spiritual growth, or prevent fruit-bearing?
4. In these very days, of what are we warned? Ans.—“But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare.” Luke 21:34.
5. What class is more apt to be absorbed with the cares of this life? What class with the pleasures?
6. Into what did other seed fall? What was brought forth? In what proportions? What, then, is the evidence of good ground?
7. What kind of fruit-bearing is equal to none at all? Hosea 10:1, 2.
8. For whom, then, does good ground bring forth fruit?
9. What is our final test—correctness of theology merely, or fruit-bearing? See Matt. 15:31–46.
NOTES.
THROUGHOUT the parable of the sower, Christ represents the different results of the sowing as depending upon the soil. In every case the sower and the seed are the same. Thus He teaches that if the Word of God fails of accomplishing its work in our hearts and lives, the reason is to be found in ourselves.
THE garden of the heart must be cultivated. The soil must be broken up by deep repentance for sin. Poisonous, Satanic plants must be uprooted. The soil once overgrown by thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor. So the evil tendencies of the natural heart can be overcome by earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus.
THE “honest and good heart” of which the parable speaks, is not a heart without sin; for the Gospel is to be preached to the lost. Christ said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He has an honest heart who yields to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
