INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS
COMMENT Keith L. Brooks DAILY READINGS Dr. F. W. Farr ELEMENTARY - Mabel L. Merrill -
EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL POINTS of tke LESSON, T. C. Horton ILLUSTRATIONS . W. H. Pike
DECEMBER 5, 1920 THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM Golden Text: “Fret not thyself because of evil doers.” Ps. 37:1. BESSON TEXT Matt. 13:24-33. (Read Mat. 13:1-43.)
g eth er first the tares, and bind them in bundles to b u rn them : b u t g ath er the w heat into m y barn. (31) A nother p a r able p u t he forth unto them , saying, The j kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of n iu stard seed, w hich a m an took, and sowed in his .field. (32) W hich indeed is th e least q I all seeds: b u t w hen it is grow n, it is th e g reatest am ong herbs, and becom eth a tree, so th a t the birds of the air come and lodge in th e branches th ere of. (33) A nother parable spake he unto th em ; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, w hich a wom an took, -and hid in th ree m easures of m eal, till _the whole w as leavened. (34) All these_ things spake Jesu s unto th e m ultitude in par- ' .ab les; and w ithout a parable spake he J> ’ ' no t unto them . | ^ Pearl, and The Drag-net,—were given in private to the disciples. The key to. the seven is found in the first,—that of the Sower and Seed, (Ch. 13:1, 9, 18, 23). Our Lord says “Know ye not this parable? Then how can ye know all parables?” (Mark 4:13). The reason for speaking in parables is fully set forth by'our Lord (vs. 11-17). What is a parable? A placing side by side, or in comparison, of earthly truths with heavenly truths. The basis of this parable is the fact .that man is made in God’s image, and a law of con tinuity exists between the human and the divine. In the natural and spirit ual kingdom the same laws operate. These parables are not illustrations, but analogies. • . i
(24) A nother parable p u t he fo rth unto them , saying, T he kingdom of heaven is likened unto a m an w hich sowed good seed in his field. (25) B ut while m en slept, his enem y cam e and sowed tares am ong th e w heat, and w ent his way. (26) B ut w hen th e blade was sprung up, and b ro u g h t forth fru it, th en appeared the ta re s also. (27) So th e serv an ts of the householder cam e an d -said unto him , Sir didst th o u sow good seed in th y field? from whence then h ath it tares ? (28) He said unto them , an enem y h ath done this. The serv an ts said unto him , W ilt thou th en th a t we go and g ath er them up? (29) B ut he said. N ay; le st while ye g ath er up th e tares, ye root up also th e w heat w ith them . (30) L et both grow to g eth er until th e h arv est: and in the tim e of h arv est I w ill say to the reapers, G ather ye to- Introduction: In studying this lesson it will be well for the teacher .to give a simple outline of the Seven Parables so that the schol ars will be able to comprehend the pur pose of our Lord in LESSON , combining t h e m as EXPOSITION they are vitally con- T. C. Horton nected. Seven is the number of perfection, and in these parables we have a- perfect prophecy of the mani festation of the kingdom during this age. Note that the first four,—Sower and Seed, The Tares, The Mustard Seed, The Leaven,-—were spoken to the multitude, the disciples being present. The last three, — The Hidden Treasure, The-
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