And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
The teaching took place in the early morning in the open air on the beach by the Sea of Galilee, where a large common and eager multitude had gathered to hear. He had spent the previous night in prayer. Pressed on all sides by the crowd, He stepped into a fisherman's boat and had it pulled out a little from shore, then sat speaking from the water from an elevated place so that all could see and hear without interruption. That teaching from the boat included the parable of the sower.
What He taught in parables was His doctrine of deliverance, words of life and instruction, the spreading abroad of the gospel. He was patient toward those laboring under temptation and tender and kind toward the sorrowing and disheartened, bringing light to darkened minds and comfort to the discouraged. His parables themselves sow heavenly truth, especially the truths of grace, for the seed is the word of God and the gospel, whose sowing restores people to loyalty to God under the same laws that govern the growth of natural seed.
He gave the parable of the sower to meet the disappointment of disciples and followers that the expected national leaders and influential people were not receiving Him. His illustrations were meant to awaken thought, with fuller explanation available to those who asked as the disciples did. He illustrated His doctrine with the scenery at hand — the lake, mountains, spreading fields and fruitful valleys, sunlight, sowers casting seed and reapers at work side by side, varied ground, ledges of rock covered with earth and barren rocks, ground producing only thistles and noxious weeds, birds and sea-fowls. Seeing those objects afterward would recall the lessons as daily reminders and fasten the words unforgettably in the mind so they would never be effaced.
His parable teaching held earnest attention, carried the minds of the hearers, stirred their souls with the animation of a new purpose, and charmed them because its ennobling principles were easily understood and made high spiritual attainment seem desirable. The result was divided: many soon lost the impression when they mingled again with the world, clasping again sins that had looked heinous under His holy light, and through unfavorable surroundings, worldly cares and temptations relapsed into indifference. Others from that moment began a holier life of daily carrying out His principles.
The teaching took place in the early morning in the open air on the beach by the Sea of Galilee, where a large common and eager multitude had gathered to hear. He had spent the previous night in prayer. Pressed on all sides by the crowd, He stepped into a fisherman's boat and had it pulled out a little from shore, then sat speaking from the water from an elevated place so that all could see and hear without interruption. That teaching from the boat included the parable of the sower.
What He taught in parables was His doctrine of deliverance, words of life and instruction, the spreading abroad of the gospel. He was patient toward those laboring under temptation and tender and kind toward the sorrowing and disheartened, bringing light to darkened minds and comfort to the discouraged. His parables themselves sow heavenly truth, especially the truths of grace, for the seed is the word of God and the gospel, whose sowing restores people to loyalty to God under the same laws that govern the growth of natural seed.
He gave the parable of the sower to meet the disappointment of disciples and followers that the expected national leaders and influential people were not receiving Him. His illustrations were meant to awaken thought, with fuller explanation available to those who asked as the disciples did. He illustrated His doctrine with the scenery at hand — the lake, mountains, spreading fields and fruitful valleys, sunlight, sowers casting seed and reapers at work side by side, varied ground, ledges of rock covered with earth and barren rocks, ground producing only thistles and noxious weeds, birds and sea-fowls. Seeing those objects afterward would recall the lessons as daily reminders and fasten the words unforgettably in the mind so they would never be effaced.
His parable teaching held earnest attention, carried the minds of the hearers, stirred their souls with the animation of a new purpose, and charmed them because its ennobling principles were easily understood and made high spiritual attainment seem desirable. The result was divided: many soon lost the impression when they mingled again with the world, clasping again sins that had looked heinous under His holy light, and through unfavorable surroundings, worldly cares and temptations relapsed into indifference. Others from that moment began a holier life of daily carrying out His principles.