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EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE.

Ver. 10-20.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

It appears to have been our Lord's usual practice to explain his parables only to his dis

ciples, leaving others in doubt, if not in ignorance, of their full meaning. The want of education in the class of persons addressed, may account for the fact, that instruction plain enough to us, required in their case explanation.

That he should make this distinction between his hearers, was no proof of any unequal dispensation of truth and mercy; but only the reward of docility, and humility, and candour; for any of his hearers might have partaken of the privilege by becoming his disciples. Those who came to him, he in no wise cast out,

RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE INSTRUCTED.
Ver. 21-25.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he saith unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that bath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

This declaration follows seasonably the exposition of the parable; because the disciples, on

being favoured with this clearer insight into our Lord's meaning, required to be warned, that it was not simply a mark of favour, but a talent, for which they were responsible. Their candle was lighted; but woe to them, if they hid it under a bushel, and imparted not that light to others: it was given to them to know the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven; but it was done, that through them these secrets should be manifested and go abroad. They heard what kings and prophets had desired to hear; but the impression to be made on their minds by this was, that of responsibility for the employment of the trust. They were to take heed how they heard. Nay, on their use of each privilege depended their enjoyment of fresh privileges; even as on the use of this world depend the enjoyment of the next. "He that hath, to him shall be given and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."

IMAGES REPRESENTING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Ver. 26-34.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he know

eth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth; but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

By the kingdom of God, in this and in most passages of the New Testament, is meant the Church of Christ-the Gospel dispensation. It was called a kingdom, because God's former Church, the Jewish, which it has succeeded and superseded, was literally a kingdom. It was distinguished from it by the additional expressions "of heaven," and "of God;" because our divine King governs not his Church, as He did the Jewish, by vicegerents, but is Himself our governor. His residence is in the hearts of the faithful, his laws in the inspired word, which he has given us. It is so distinguished also, be

cause, agreeably with this change, there is no longer any system of worldly rewards and punishments, but all are future. God" hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained"."

These comparisons of the rise and progress of the Christian society, to the growth of corn and mustard seed, were possibly spoken in connection with the warnings which are placed immediately before them in the narrative, and which have been explained. The hearers were reminded, that the progress would be gentle, and escape observation: and therefore the greater need was there that they should take heed how they heard; lest they should be found behind hand, and unable to follow up the growth of truth. In this spirit St. Paul exclaims, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"."

The comparison of the grain of mustard seed differs from that of the corn in this. The Philipp. iii. 13, 14.

Acts xviii. 31.

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