_And He began again to teach by the seaside._ CHRIST TEACHING I. The place where Christ taught. 1. By the seaside. Opposed to a prevailing notion. This example at present imitated. 2. In a ship. The spread of the gospel prefigured. II. Those who formed His audience. 1. The general crowd. 2. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken; behold, there went out a sower to sow._ PARABLE OF THE SOWER This parable is both a solemn lesson and warning, and also a description of what is actually taking place in the world. There are calls to lead a holy life perpetually going on; there are either sudden rejections or gradual forg... [ Continue Reading ]
_Some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up._ Though men be outward hearers of the Word, and do also in some sort understand what is taught, yet if their hearts be so hardened in sin and through Satan’s temptations that they are not affected and moved by it, it can ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth._ THE SEED UPON STONY GROUND I. A brief biography of certain professors in religion. They heard the Word. They received the Word. They received it immediately. They received it with gladness. They made rapid progress. In duo time came tri... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it._ THE CHARACTER OF WORLDLY-MINDED HEARERS CONSIDERED 1. The treatment the Word meets with from these persons. They hear and receive it. 2. How this salutary operation on his heart is obstructed and defeated. 3. What is the event?... [ Continue Reading ]
_And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased._ THE CHARACTER OF SINCERE HEARERS CONSIDERED 1. That these hearers have honest and good hearts. The ground must be properly manured and prepared, before the seed can so mingle with it as to produce fruit. In like man... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that hath ears to hear._ THE DUTY OF CONSIDERATION EXPLAINED AND ENFORCED 1. Our Lord evidently meant, by the language of the text, to remind His hearers that it was an apologue, fable, or parable He had been delivering. 2. By this mode of expression they were further reminded that the severa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God._ PARABLES FOR TWO MULTITUDES As for the multitude, if you strain Christ’s language respecting them, you might say they were punished for their blindness by His making dark to them things which He made clear to others. This has been s... [ Continue Reading ]
_That seeing, they may see, and not perceive._ THE DERELICT Terrible, but just and adorable, is this conduct of God towards those who have deserved to be left to themselves. This dereliction has several degrees- 1. Their being abandoned to their own darkness. 2. Their not being able to understan... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth._ THE SEED UPON STONY GROUND I. A brief biography of certain professors in religion. They heard the Word. They received the Word. They received it immediately. They received it with gladness. They made rapid progress. In duo time came tri... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it._ THE CHARACTER OF WORLDLY-MINDED HEARERS CONSIDERED 1. The treatment the Word meets with from these persons. They hear and receive it. 2. How this salutary operation on his heart is obstructed and defeated. 3. What is the event?... [ Continue Reading ]
_And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased._ THE CHARACTER OF SINCERE HEARERS CONSIDERED 1. That these hearers have honest and good hearts. The ground must be properly manured and prepared, before the seed can so mingle with it as to produce fruit. In like man... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed?_ THE EXTENSION OF THE KINGDOM The kingdom, as it appeared in its beginning, is like the little grains of wheat cast into the damp soil in the chilly days of spring. To the mature Christian of today it is like the city which John saw, f... [ Continue Reading ]
_For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested._ IMMEDIATE REVELATION NOT ALWAYS DESIRABLE Here our Lord is justifying the parabolic form of teaching, which often serves to veil the truth, on the ground that immediate revelation is not always desirable. Many things are concealed, both in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take heed what ye hear._ INSTRUCTION FROM THE LORD TO HEARERS In these days we have many instructions as to preaching; but our Lord principally gave directions as to hearing. The art of attention is quite as difficult as that of homiletics. The text may be viewed as a note of discrimination. Hear... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he that hath, to him shall be given._ THE LAW OF INCREASE The good use of knowledge and grace draws down more: the ill use leads to blindness and hardness of heart. The one is an effect of grace itself; the other, an effect of a depraved will. A faithful soul has a great treasure. The riches... [ Continue Reading ]
_So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground._ THE RELIGION OF CHRIST I. The religion of Christ is a reign. It is not a creed, or a sentiment, or a ritualism, but a regal force, a power that holds sway over intellect, heart, and will. As a reign it is- 1. Spiritual. Its... [ Continue Reading ]
_So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground._ THE RELIGION OF CHRIST I. The religion of Christ is a reign. It is not a creed, or a sentiment, or a ritualism, but a regal force, a power that holds sway over intellect, heart, and will. As a reign it is- 1. Spiritual. Its... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is like a grain of mustard seed._ THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED In the parable before us, the unity of the kingdom becomes conspicuous, the individuality of its members subordinate. The figure is changed accordingly. “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed which a man took a... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is like a grain of mustard seed._ THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED In the parable before us, the unity of the kingdom becomes conspicuous, the individuality of its members subordinate. The figure is changed accordingly. “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed which a man took a... [ Continue Reading ]
_But without a parable spake He not unto them._ CHRIST’S ECONOMY OF TEACHING Not as He was able to have spoken; He could have expressed Himself at a higher rate than any mortal can; He could have soared to the clouds; He could have knit such knots they could never untie. But He would not. He delig... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side._ IN THE STORM I. The influence of danger it caused the disciples to doubt the care of Christ. Why is it we doubt the Lord in seasons of danger? 1. Imperfect knowledge of the Lord. 2. Natural impa... [ Continue Reading ]