Notes on the International Lesson.
By C. P. B.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
MUCH of our Saviour's teaching was by parables. The word parable signifies to compare together; it means "a similitude taken from a natural object." This method of teaching was in common use in the time of Christ; and long before that time it had been employed by both prophets and philosophers. But while parables were common, our Lord's parables are distinguished above all others for clearness, purity, importance of instruction, and simplicity. THE parable of the ewe lamb (2 Sam. 12: 1-4) illustrates better than almost any other a very common use of parables, namely, to convey a pointed personal rebuke in such a way as to bring it home to the conscience. Perhaps in no other way could the baseness of David's conduct have been brought home to him so forcibly as it was by the parable of the ewe lamb. Parables were frequently used in this way by our Saviour. BUT it was not alone for rebuke that our Lord taught in parables; for by means of them he was enabled to arrest the attention of the ignorant, and bring to their minds spiritual truths otherwise quite beyond their comprehension. And not only so, but the truth was made more interesting, more real, to59all. But while this is true, it is also true that in some cases parables served to instruct the honest in heart, those who loved the truth, those whose ears were open to receive it, while they concealed it from others; and indeed such was the case with the parable which forms the basis of this lesson. See verses 11, 12. WHILE it is true that our Lord spake to some in parables "because they seeing" saw not, yet it does not follow that they did not see the natural meaning of the illustration. The idea is rather that they did not sense the truth which the parables were designed to teach. This is well illustrated by the parable of the wicked husbandmen. Mark 12: 1-12. The Jews knew that he had spoken the parable against them: they literally understood the parable; but, failing to realize their own spiritual condition, they steeled their hearts against it and "left him and went their way." Seeing they saw not, and hearing they did not understand, for they had no realization of their own deplorable spiritual condition. "BUT unto them that are without," said the Saviour, "all these things are done in parables; that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." This does not mean that the Saviour purposely concealed the truth from these men, as some may hastily conclude; but rather that they rejected the truth that they might not be compelled to acknowledge the lowly Nazarene as the Messiah. Matthew's account is plainer; he records our Lord's words thus:— "Therefore speak I to them in parables; because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts and should be converted, and I should heal them." Matt. 13: 13-15. THOSE of whom the Saviour spoke were determined not to believe. Even the very officers which were sent to take Jesus returned, saying, "Never man spake like this man;" yet those who sent them answered derisively, "Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" They steeled their hearts against his teaching: they closed their eyes to the evidences of his divinity, lest they should be compelled to acknowledge that he was indeed the Christ. They were condemned, not because they could not believe the truth, but because light came into the world and they loved darkness rather than light. See John 3: 19. BUT the Jews are not alone in rejecting light. The sin of turning away from the truth is a characteristic of the last days. Says the apostle, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." 2 Tim. 3: 1; 4: 3. And in 2 Thess. 2: 10-12 he tells of some just before the second coming of Christ to whom God shall send "strong delusion, that they should believe a lie," because they have not received the truth in the love of it, but have "pleasure in unrighteousness." GOD could so manifest himself to men that all would believe; but of what avail would it be? The judgment may be convinced while the heart remains unchanged, as was certainly the case with the generation of Israelites that came out of Egypt. Certainly men could ask for no more mighty manifestations of divine power than they witnessed, yet their continual rebellion attested the fact that they did not love God. They knew him in one sense, yet in their hearts they turned back into Egypt. And even so it is in these days; men who are convinced of the truth against their will, will not give God their hearts. [For additional suggestions see the article on the first page of this paper.]