INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
CHAPTER 13
"The general teaching of these 7 parables: - No one should miss gathering from these parables some notion of the all-embracing character of the kingdom which Christ came to set up among men." "...Christ derives a parable from an army, to teach soldiers; from legal principles, to instruct lawyers; from the field & sowing, to speak familiarly to the husbandman's capacity. (T. Adams.)." "Ver. 3. And He spake many things unto them in parables. - Christ a moral painter" "He often presented to His hearers a moral picture - flashed upon the mind's eye a whole scene of truth with such vividness & power that it could not be well perverted or forgotten." "A truth felt is more than a truth stated." "He knew how to talk with them in such a way as to make them feel that what He did not tell them was considerably more than what He did tell them. (C. H. Parkhurst, D. D.)" "Behold, a sower went forth to sow." "Four kinds of soil: 1. The impenetrable. 2. The superficial. 3. The preoccupied. 4. The prepared." "The seed is the same in every case: the difference is in the kinds of soils." "God does not predestinate men to fail." "The parable of the sower: - 1. The careless hearer. 2. The temporary hearer. 3. The worldly-minded hearer. 4. The sincere hearers of the Word. (1) They understand it; (2) They receive it; (3) They retain it; (4) They practise it. (G. Burder.)" "III. THE SOIL. 1. The wayside hearer. 2. The stony-ground hearer. The emotional hearer. 3. Among the thorns - the double-minded hearer. 4. Good soil - the man who hears aright. (G. F. Pentecost.)" "All Christian people are sowers. By our words & actions we are sowing some kind of principle in the minds of others; we cannot help it." "Ministers have no seed of their own; their doctrine & word belong to Christ." "Until the seed is sown there will be no increase. So the heart must take in the Word by faith." "Vers. 4 & 19. Some seeds fell by the wayside, & the fowls came & devoured them up. - Way seed devoured by birds" "...a heart trodden down by the feet that have gone across it; & because trodden down, incapable of receiving the seed sown. The seed falls upon, not in it." "The heart is trodden down by sin." "Every transgression deprives us, in some degree, of power to receive the Divine word of God's truth, & making it our own." "If the seed is good, & the ground well prepared, a very poor & awkward kind of sowing will suffice." "...there may be much hearing, much reading, much attendance at public services, & very small result; & all because the Word was not the subject of thought, & was never embraced by the understanding. What is not understood is like meat undigested, more likely to be injurious than nourishing. (C.H. Spurgeon.)" "Vers. 5, 20, 21. - Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth." "Stony ground is cold" "These persons are without spiritual warmth." "Stony ground doth not drink in the rain that falls from heaven. All the hearts of men are naturally hard." "Stony ground by reason of the little earth that is found there, never brings forth fruit to perfection." "Stony or hard hearted hearers may go a great way in the profession..." "They believe for a while." "They may become members of a visible church." "They go no further because of their pride." "This sin of withering is generally punished with other sins, (1) with blindness of mind; (2) with judicial hardness of heart; (3) with a seared conscience; (4) with final impenitence." "'Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.'" "Shallow soil like superficial character." "The superficial servant's work is done: but lazily, partially - not thoroughly." "Do not keep Christ on the surface; let Him possess the centre, & thence direct all the circumference of your life." "That which is hasty is not lasting. Grace, in almost every case, is slow & progressive; for, in the human heart, it has much to contend against; & God treats us as free agents, putting no force on any man's will. (J. Ford.)" "Vers. 7, 22. And some fell among thorns." "Anxieties about work, clothes, etc. become the thorn plants, harmless in appearance at first, which in the end may choke the seed of grace in your heart. Worldly cares nursed by indulgence into a dangerous strength are further like thorns growing in a corn field, in that they interpose a veil between the face of Jesus & the opening, trustful look of a longing soul." "Wealth is deceitful in taking the place of legitimate enjoyments in life." "'No man can serve 2 masters.'" "'If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.'" "Can'st thou set thy heart upon a thorn without piercing thyself through with many sorrows? (Venning.)" "Vers. 8, 23. But other fell on good ground & brought forth fruit." "Good ground: - 1. A good & honest heart is a perfect & sincere heart. 2. It is an obedient heart. 3. It is a faithful heart. 4. It is a jealous heart. 5. It is a fruitful heart. (B. Keach.)" "Vers. 11, 12. Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. - The preparation necessary for understanding the mysteries of the gospel" "There is a connection announced in Scripture between desire & its accomplishment. The hungry are filled." "We ought to have a habit of prayer conjoined with a habit of inquiry; & to this more will be given." "It is for want of seeking if you do not find." "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given" "God heaps upon His faithful & elect people new graces & benefits day by day, so that they abound in virtue & holiness; but from the unbelieving, the ungrateful, & the unworthy, He gradually takes away His gifts, both of nature & of grace." "We are to become rich in grace, but it is to be by heavenly trading." "Ver. 13. Because seeing they see not; & hearing they hear not. - Insensibility to the truth" "WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS BY WHICH THIS GROSS, INSENSITIVE STATE IS REACHED. 1. It is induced by all kinds of depravity. It is one of the penalties of wrong-doing that the moral nature is made unresponsive to spiritual things. 2. It grows on a man through the mastery of worldly pursuits - of business, home, social, & political life. 3. The habit of cherishing doubt is another circumstance which tends to weaken spiritual vision & understanding." "Worldliness causes insensibility" "Sin causes insensibility" "As a person may sit down before a piano, possessing a capital knowledge of the technicalities of music, & able to touch skillfully, & yet never enter into the spirit of the piece he is playing, so you may sit down before the Word of God, sweep your fingers over its glorious keys, & yet never bring forth one strain of its sweet Divine harmony." "Our faith, to be strong & healthy, must rest on conviction." "Neglected opportunities will aggravate future woe" "Labour to know the mind of God 'Search the Scriptures.'" "Look up to Christ as your 'all in all.'" "They had eyes, though they saw not; not by the want, but abuse of these capacities. The Jews rejected Christ in spite of clear evidence." "Vers. 16, 17. But blessed are your eyes, for they see." "To be a righteous man is more desirable than to be a prophet. Grace is a higher endowment than inspiration or genius." "Vers. 34 - 30; 34 - 41. But while men slept, his enemy came & sowed tares - The tares & the wheat; - This parable relates chiefly to the condition of the Church." "It is likeness to wheat which makes tares specially mischievous." "'An enemy hath done this.' It is Satan's chief triumph to hinder Christ's work by false brethren" "It is sad to retain in Church impostors, more sad to cast out faithful. Better trust men too much than too little. (E. Gray, M.A.)" "The policy of the Master, though more perplexing, is far better. It leaves things less satisfactory for the time, but accomplishes the greatest good in the end. The policy of the Master will prevail, despite all the efforts to the contrary, even to the end of the age." "...false disciples ...they are useless & noxious." "The good in their intercourse with the bad may reclaim them." "It is one of the mysteries of the Divine government that God should allow an enemy in the field at all." "Many a sinner might have been worse than he is, but for restraining contact with Christians." "Men are to be known by their fruits, but the fruits of a man's life cannot be fairly judged until they are ripened & complete." "The season - 'while men slept.' It is said of the ungodly that 'they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.'" "Why are the saints compared to wheat? - 1. Wheat is the product of a rare & choice seed; they are the product of the Holy Ghost. 2. The seed of wheat must first be sown in men's hearts before they can bear God's image or bring forth fruits of holiness. 3. Wheat is a profitable sort of grain. So the saints & people of God are a profitable people to the world (Prov. 10:21; 2 Cor. 6:19). 4. Wheat will abide & live in the sharpest winter, when some other grain will not. So true believers do abide, endeavour & live in the times of sharpest trials, persecutions, tribulations, & temptations." "Full ears of wheat hang down their heads, being full of corn. So sincere believers are humble & lowly-minded." "Labour to add to your faith virtue (2 Peter 1:5, 6, 7). The way to ripen for heaven is to strive against all those things that hinder or obstruct your growth, as thorns & briars (Matt. 13:22)." "DO AS WE WILL, WE SHALL NEVER GET EVIL ENTIRELY OUT OF THE CHURCH - the ideal Church is in heaven (Rev. 21:27)." "AT THE LAST JUDGMENT THERE WILL BE AN ABSOLUTE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE GOOD & THE BAD." "Peace in a church is essential to progress." "Vers. 31, 32. The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed." "...the smallness of its beginning & the greatness of its increase." "ITS PRESENT APPARENT INSIGNIFICANCE." "ITS FUTURE GRANDEUR." "To all disheartened in work; we must not measure work by size but by vitality. Have we joined the Church because it is large or because it is living. (M. Dods, D.D.)" "Ver. 33. The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven." "It was not leavened in an instant, but by gradual infection; an emblem of the spread of the gospel in the soul." "The gospel is the power of God at work for the salvation of souls." "It is in the nature of leaven to make all the meal like itself; so it is in the nature of the gospel to Christianize those who receive it; i.e., Christ subjugates, penetrates, & assimilates the believer to Himself." "...the life of His thoughts into his thinking" "...the life of His love into his heart" "...the life of His righteousness into his conscience" "...the life of His obedience into his will" "The PENETRATING power of Divine grace." "The TRANSFORMING power of Divine grace. The grace of God works slowly, successfully. (J.T. Woodhouse.)" "...Christianity is not a matter of places & days, rites & observances; it is a matter of having the leaven of God to work in us that we shall be gentle & pure, unselfish & sympathetic as God is." "Leaven is of a diffusive quality. So the Word of God, through the Spirit, is of a diffusive nature, but in respect to every soul that receiveth it, & also in respect of people to whom it comes" "Leaven diffuses itself gradually." "...the Word of God & the grace of God makes the whole soul like itself, or a whole family or nation where it is once in truth received, the very same people, both in doctrine & conversation." "...so the Word of God must be hid in the heart, both in the understanding, will, & affection, if the person be spiritually leavened with it (Psa. 119:11)." "...the Word of God makes the hard heart soft & tender." "...men are most susceptible to the influence that flows from character." "Ver. 38. The field is the world." "THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS MORAL REVOLUTION IS TO BE EFFECTED. By the preaching of Jesus Christ & Him crucified. (F. Wayland, D.D.)" "Send the gospel to all. Value souls." "Ver. 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. - The glory of the righteous" "...the germ of faith will ripen unto eternal glory." "'Like the sun' - visible, pure, active, glorious." "...at the day of the resurrection, the saints shall shine forth gloriously." "The sun is so glorious, that mortals cannot behold it, but their eyes will dazzle. So the glory of the saints will be too great for sinners to behold, it would even put out their eyes, or confound them. (B. Keach.)" "Ver. 44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field." "This treasure can only be discovered by careful search." "Having discovered the excellency of Divine things, we should be ready to renounce such pleasures & habits as hinder their attainment." "...the true convert will give up worldly vanities, unfair dealing, uncharitableness, insincerity, & will learn to 'crucify the flesh with its affections & lusts.' (Essex Remembrancer.)" "The pearl-seeker seeks with determination." "THE EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL IS NOT GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD BY MEN. It is a hid treasure." "The treasure is offered to all freely & fully." "This spiritual treasure makes all that find it very rich (Rev. 3:18)." "...believers, rich in faith, rich in promise, rich in experience, can do more good to others - they can give better counsel, more & better comfort (Prov. 10:21)." "Ver. 45, 46. Seeking goodly pearls." "The soul, seeking good, wants a better until it finds Christ the best." "Time does not rust a pearl." "How must the pearl of great price be sought? I. Diligently
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AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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