Post by Ben on Jul 12, 2014 15:13:43 GMT
Verse 3: "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow..."
Brother Bryan L. recently did an exhortation on this parable of the sower and on the properties of sowing in general. Here are a few of the sources he quoted from during his exhortation.
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"The Lord was the Sower on the day the parable was given, but later, when he had ascended into heaven, that duty and privilege rested on his disciples; and today it remains with those who would teach the things of Yahweh to their neighbours."
(Story of the Bible, Volume 5, page 408). [Emphasis added. -BN]
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"But the extent of the result depends upon the state of the soil and the nature of the husbandry. The good seed falling into unfit minds will prove abortive, notwithstanding its goodness, because the soil is bad: so Christ teaches, and so experience shows. The good seed falling into good soil will bring forth good fruit if the soil is not pre-occupied with other growths which absorb the power of the soil. Thorns and weeds of all kinds will thrive in good soil, of course. If they are allowed to do so, the plant shot up by the good seed will have little chance of “bringing forth fruit to perfection.” The weeds require keeping down. What they are, Jesus tells. “The care of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” These, he says, “choke the word, and he (the man) becometh unfruitful” It is not enough, therefore, to have good soil, or a mind capable of understanding and appreciating the truth revealed in the gospel. There must be a care to protect the mind from those influences that are calculated to undermine the power of the gospel. There are many things competing for human affection; and for most of them, the mind possesses a natural affinity. The danger therefore is great: the need for wise and energetic horticulture very pressing. Happy are they who practically recognise this and act accordingly. As for the seed that fell into good ground, Christ’s explanation is very clear and simple: “The good ground are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word and understood it (Matt. xiii. 23) keep it, bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke viii. 15)."
(Nazareth Revisited) [Emphasis added. -BN]
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"Whatsoever A Man Soweth, That Shall He Reap (Gal. 6:7)"
"THE human mind and body are incredibly marvelous creations of wisdom and capability. We do not use one hundredth of our potential. It is probably safe to say we do not use one thousandth of our potential. What the body can be trained to do in the lines of acrobatics and balance would be incredible if it were not proved by the accomplishments of some, as multiple somersaults in the air from a narrow bar, landing in perfect balance on the bar again. And as to the mind, some have memorized the whole Bible. Men spend a lifetime of effort and practice, and accomplish unbelievable marvels—all for a corruptible crown. These people are nothing special in themselves. It's all a matter of effort and determination: of total love and zeal for some one thing in life: of working and thinking while others are playing and being amused like babies (which most people are). It's all a matter of setting a course and sticking with it singlemindedly, day in and day out. What would we be able to accomplish, if we really had a total, all-consuming love for God! What effort are WE making to obtain an incorruptible crown? Do we imagine the riches of the universe will be just handed to us on a platter? Why US, and no one else? What is so special about us? And yet we profess to be in the "race" for life—"striving" toward the mark—earnestly preparing ourselves to the best of our ability for eternity with God. But we tend to just drift through life in ease and comfort, and unprogrammed, day to day, meandering self-pleasing—absurdly assuming that because we happen to be fortunate enough to have "learned the Truth" in its bare essentials, and have gone through the motions of baptism, and show up at some of the meetings, we thereby are guaranteed eternity, while the heathen" world perishes. What do we think we are given seventy years preparation time for?— just to play and accumulate and please ourselves? What unutterable, tragic folly! As we sow, so shall we reap: God is not mocked."
(Search Me O God, page 29) [Emphasis added. -BN]
Brother Bryan L. recently did an exhortation on this parable of the sower and on the properties of sowing in general. Here are a few of the sources he quoted from during his exhortation.
***********************
"The Lord was the Sower on the day the parable was given, but later, when he had ascended into heaven, that duty and privilege rested on his disciples; and today it remains with those who would teach the things of Yahweh to their neighbours."
(Story of the Bible, Volume 5, page 408). [Emphasis added. -BN]
***********************
"But the extent of the result depends upon the state of the soil and the nature of the husbandry. The good seed falling into unfit minds will prove abortive, notwithstanding its goodness, because the soil is bad: so Christ teaches, and so experience shows. The good seed falling into good soil will bring forth good fruit if the soil is not pre-occupied with other growths which absorb the power of the soil. Thorns and weeds of all kinds will thrive in good soil, of course. If they are allowed to do so, the plant shot up by the good seed will have little chance of “bringing forth fruit to perfection.” The weeds require keeping down. What they are, Jesus tells. “The care of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” These, he says, “choke the word, and he (the man) becometh unfruitful” It is not enough, therefore, to have good soil, or a mind capable of understanding and appreciating the truth revealed in the gospel. There must be a care to protect the mind from those influences that are calculated to undermine the power of the gospel. There are many things competing for human affection; and for most of them, the mind possesses a natural affinity. The danger therefore is great: the need for wise and energetic horticulture very pressing. Happy are they who practically recognise this and act accordingly. As for the seed that fell into good ground, Christ’s explanation is very clear and simple: “The good ground are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word and understood it (Matt. xiii. 23) keep it, bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke viii. 15)."
(Nazareth Revisited) [Emphasis added. -BN]
***********************
"Whatsoever A Man Soweth, That Shall He Reap (Gal. 6:7)"
"THE human mind and body are incredibly marvelous creations of wisdom and capability. We do not use one hundredth of our potential. It is probably safe to say we do not use one thousandth of our potential. What the body can be trained to do in the lines of acrobatics and balance would be incredible if it were not proved by the accomplishments of some, as multiple somersaults in the air from a narrow bar, landing in perfect balance on the bar again. And as to the mind, some have memorized the whole Bible. Men spend a lifetime of effort and practice, and accomplish unbelievable marvels—all for a corruptible crown. These people are nothing special in themselves. It's all a matter of effort and determination: of total love and zeal for some one thing in life: of working and thinking while others are playing and being amused like babies (which most people are). It's all a matter of setting a course and sticking with it singlemindedly, day in and day out. What would we be able to accomplish, if we really had a total, all-consuming love for God! What effort are WE making to obtain an incorruptible crown? Do we imagine the riches of the universe will be just handed to us on a platter? Why US, and no one else? What is so special about us? And yet we profess to be in the "race" for life—"striving" toward the mark—earnestly preparing ourselves to the best of our ability for eternity with God. But we tend to just drift through life in ease and comfort, and unprogrammed, day to day, meandering self-pleasing—absurdly assuming that because we happen to be fortunate enough to have "learned the Truth" in its bare essentials, and have gone through the motions of baptism, and show up at some of the meetings, we thereby are guaranteed eternity, while the heathen" world perishes. What do we think we are given seventy years preparation time for?— just to play and accumulate and please ourselves? What unutterable, tragic folly! As we sow, so shall we reap: God is not mocked."
(Search Me O God, page 29) [Emphasis added. -BN]