SOWING THE SEED.SOWING THE SEED.
SOWING THE SEED.
A certain man sowed good seed in his field, but in the night, whilst men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. When the wheat-blade had sprung up and showed the ear, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came to him and said, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? Whence then come these tares?"
He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this." Then the servants asked, "Shall we go, then, and gather them up?" But he said, "Nay, lest whilst you gather up the tares, you root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in that time I will say to the reapers, 'Gather ye together first the tares and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Jesus' disciples asked Him to explain this parable to them, and He said: "The field represents the world, and He that sowed the good seed is Christ Himself. The good seed is the Word He preached; the wheat plants are the good people who believe in Christ and do as He teaches. The enemy who sows the bad seed is Satan, and the tares that spring from them are wicked people who follow the promptings of the evil one in their hearts. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels of God. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world with wicked people. Christ shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and them that do evil, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."
"For the Lord our God shall come,And shall take His harvest home;From His field shall in that dayAll offences purge away;"Give His angels charge at lastIn the fire the tares to cast,But the fruitful grain to storeIn His garner evermore."
"For the Lord our God shall come,And shall take His harvest home;From His field shall in that dayAll offences purge away;
"Give His angels charge at lastIn the fire the tares to cast,But the fruitful grain to storeIn His garner evermore."
THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.
THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.
Christ said that the kingdom of heaven could be likened unto leaven (or yeast), which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till the whole was leavened.
Now, this leaven, or yeast, is composed of tiny little plants, each one so small that it cannot possibly be seen by the sharpest eye except through a very powerful microscope. So small are they that it would require three thousand of them, placed close together, side by side, to make up the length of one inch. Like all other plants they require food, and they find this in the dough they are placed in. You know that all things are made up of atoms of chemical substances so wonderfully blended together that only the chemist can separate them, and when he has separated them they appear very different. Well, in flour there are certain things so blended, and the yeast-plant takes one kind of substance as food, and in doing so sets free another substance called carbonic acid gas. This gas bubbles up and makes the heavy dough spongy and light. If it were not for these tiny bubbles of gas your bread would be as heavy and close as suet pudding. This is the reason why yeast is put into dough for making bread or cake. One of the most remarkable things about this yeast is, that when it gets into any substance that contains its food, it at once begins to give off buds, which, in a few moments, become full-sized and break away. So rapid is this increase, that if a single yeast-plant were to be put into a great mass of dough it would very quickly leaven the whole mass.
And so it is with the love of God. When once it gets into our hearts it will keep on growing until all our life is filled with it, and we try in all things to please Him.
THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.
THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.
The people of Canaan, both in ancient and modern days, have made a practice of hiding their treasures. This they have done to secure them in times of danger. When invaders flocked into the land, the people buried their gold and jewels, and fled. And often they died, or were overtaken by their enemies and killed, so that they were unable to return and regain their buried riches. Earthquakes also have taken place, destroying towns and villages, and burying all the riches in them beneath their ruins. Thus there is much hidden treasure in Canaan, and numbers of the inhabitants spend their time seeking diligently and anxiously for it.
Our artist shows us a man who is thus seeking. He has heard that in old times a great treasure was hidden in a particular field. So he digs away patiently in various places until, at last, he finds out that what he heard is quite true. He is sure the treasure isthere; and his desire is to become possessed of the field, so that he may obtain the buried riches. He is willing to sell all that he has if by so doing he may buy that field. So he hastens home, and gathers together the whole of his property and sells it. Then he takes his money to the man who has the land for sale, and buys the field of him. Thus he becomes possessed of the treasure he has sought after. Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that treasure. It is so precious, that when a man finds out its value, and knows how it can be obtained, he will be willing to give up everything he has for it—all his companions, pleasures, sins, riches—indeed everything he possesses, in order to gain this great treasure.
THE TREASURE HID IN A FIELD.THE TREASURE HID IN A FIELD.
THE TREASURE HID IN A FIELD.
Very similar to the parable of the Hidden Treasure is this one of the merchant seeking goodly pearls.
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
In the picture we see the merchant on the sea-shore, where he has waited for the landing of these sailors from another country. He asks them if they have any goodly pearls for sale, and one man opens his box and takes out this "pearl of great price." It is just the kind of pearl the merchant had been seeking, so he quickly produces his two bags of gold and offers them to the man for his pearl. But the man smiles. "What! part with so large and so beautiful a pearl for two bags of gold?" He could not think of it. The pearl is again placed in its box, and the merchant has to go away disappointed. But the longing to have that pearl is too great. A thought occurs to him. He will go home and sell all that is his, and the money he shall thus obtain, added to his two bags of gold, will surely buy the precious jewel.
And so it is with men when they seek that pearl of pearls, the forgiveness of God. They will give up a great deal in order to obtain it, but they find that God requires them to give up everything that is sinful or worldly. And if their hearts are really set upon obtaining it, they will do as this merchant did, and part with everything that would hinder them from coming to God, or walking in the way that leads to heaven.
THE MERCHANT SEEKING GOODLY PEARLS.THE MERCHANT SEEKING GOODLY PEARLS.
THE MERCHANT SEEKING GOODLY PEARLS.
These fishermen have just returned to shore with their net full of fish. Now this is not a casting-net, which is thrown out from the boat and drawn in again, but a drag-net which is of great length, and which is drawn constantly through the water until it is well filled with fish. It is then hauled up to the shore, and the fishermen sit around it, and take out the fish. Many of these, of course, are unfit for food, or not liked. They cast those into the sea again, but the good fish which they can sell for food are carefully placed in vessels brought for the purpose.
Christ said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind (of fish): which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
At another time Jesus taught His disciples the same truth; when He spake of His coming and of the gathering of all nations before Him, the good entering into eternal life, but the wicked being cast away. "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory," said Jesus, "and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left."
THE PARABLE OF THE NET.THE PARABLE OF THE NET.
THE PARABLE OF THE NET.
One day Jesus came with His disciples in a boat to the country of the Gadarenes, near Galilee. They landed near the tombs, that is, caverns cut into the rock, where the dead were buried. And there met them a man, who, for a long time, had been possessed by many unclean spirits. He lived in the tombs and wore no clothes. He had been so fierce and wild that his friends had been obliged to chain him up, but he had burst his fetters, and the devils had driven him out to the tombs.
Jesus bade the unclean spirits to come out of the man. And when the man caught sight of Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, saying, "What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God most high? I beseech Thee to torment me not."
And Jesus asked him his name. And he said, "Legion," because many devils were in him. They besought Jesus that He would not make them go into the sea, but would let them enter into a herd of swine that were feeding on the cliffs close by. He suffered them to do so, and the devils went out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the whole herd ran violently over the cliff into the water and were drowned. And when the herdsmen saw what was done, they fled into the city and told all the people. Then the people came out to Jesus, and they saw the man that had been possessed, clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. And they that had seen it told them by what means the man had been healed, and they were afraid. The man out of whom the devils had departed, besought Him that he might stay with Jesus, but He sent him away, saying, "Return to thy house, and show what great things God hath done unto thee." And he went his way and published throughout the city what great things Jesus had done unto him.
THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS.THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS.
THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS.
Jesus went into Capernaum, followed by a great crowd of people, and among them was a woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease which no doctor could cure, though she had consulted many, and spent all her wealth upon them. She had said within herself, "If I could but touch His garment I should be made well." So she pressed through the crowd, and put out her arm and touched the hem of His garment, and immediately she was made well.
Then Jesus, turning round to His disciples, said, "Who touched Me?" But they all denied that they had done so, and Peter and they that were with him said, "Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and yet Thou sayest, Who touched Me!" They were surprised that Jesus should make such an enquiry, seeing that so many were crowding round Him, and pressing against Him. But Jesus said, "Somebody hath touched Me, for I perceive that healing virtue hath gone out of Me."
When the woman saw that Jesus knew what she had done, and that she could not be hidden in the crowd, she came trembling, and, falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people why she had touched Him, and how she had been healed at once. And He said unto her, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace, and be healed of thy illness."
Jesus wishes us to trust in Him. We suffer from a terrible disease—the disease of sin, which no doctor can cure; but Jesus will heal us and take away our sin if we trust in Him.
CURED BY TOUCHING HIS GARMENT.CURED BY TOUCHING HIS GARMENT.
CURED BY TOUCHING HIS GARMENT.
Jairus was one of the rulers of the Jewish church, or synagogue, and he had a daughter who had been very ill and was now at the point of death. She was an only daughter, and was twelve years of age. So hearing that Jesus was near, he came to Him, and, falling down before Him, implored Jesus to come and see her.
And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples. Soon there came running to them a messenger from the ruler's house, who said to Jairus, "Thy daughter is already dead; do not trouble the master." But when Jesus heard it He turned to Jairus and said, "Fear not. Only believe, and she shall be restored to life."
When they came to the ruler's house they saw the minstrels and many people who were making much noise and lamentation for the dead girl, as was the custom. Jesus said unto them, "Make way; weep not, for the maiden is not dead, but sleepeth;" but they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And He put them all out of the room, all but Peter and James and John, and the mother and father of the maiden. Then He took her by the hand, and called to her, saying, "Maid, arise." And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway; and He commanded her parents to give her food.
Her parents were astonished when they saw their daughter raised to life and able to eat, but Jesus charged them that they should tell no man what He had done. But the fame of the miracle He had wrought went abroad unto all that land.
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.
When Jesus had left the house of the ruler Jairus, there followed Him two blind men. They called out to Him, "Thou Son of David, have mercy upon us."
Then Jesus looked at them, and asked if they really believed that He had power to cure them and give them back their sight. And they said unto Him, "Yea, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, and said unto them, "According to your faith, so be it unto you." And immediately they opened their eyes and were able to see. Jesus charged them to let no man know what He had done. But when they were departed they spread His fame abroad over all that country.
Another time Christ and His disciples were coming away from Jericho, followed by a large crowd of people. And there was sitting by the wayside a blind beggar, Bartimeus by name; and when he heard the noise of the multitude, he asked what it meant. They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." Then he cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." The people tried to keep him from calling out, but he would not be quiet. He was determined that Christ should see him. And Jesus stood still, and commanded them to call him. So he arose and cast away his outer garment and came to Jesus. When Jesus asked what he would have done to him, he answered, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." And Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." And he received his sight at once, and followed Jesus, praising Him.
THE TWO BLIND MEN.THE TWO BLIND MEN.
THE TWO BLIND MEN.
One day Jesus went on board a ship and sailed to another part of the coast, where He and His disciples might have rest. For the people in the cities crowded them so closely that they did not even have time to eat. They landed, and went into a desert place; but the people had seen them depart, and marked which way the ship sailed. Then they all flocked out of the cities and came on foot to the place where Jesus was. When Jesus saw what a great number of people had come, He had compassion on them, and spoke to them, and healed their sick. But in the evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This is a desert place, and the day has gone; send the people away, that they may go into the villages and buy food."
Jesus was too kind to send them away hungry like that. He said, "They need not depart; give ye them food to eat." But they said to Him, "We have here but five loaves and two fishes, which we have just purchased of a lad." He said, "Bring them to Me." Then He told the people to sit down on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, blessed them and broke them into pieces. The disciples carried the bread and fish to the people and they all ate and had plenty, although there were about five thousand men, besides women and children. And yet, when the disciples took up the fragments that were left, these fragments filled twelve baskets. How kind was Jesus! He not only taught the people and healed their sick, but He fed them when out in the desert place and hungry.
FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND.FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND.
FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND.
When the people had seen the miracle that Christ did in feeding so many with so few loaves, they felt sure that He was one of the old prophets that had come again, and they would have taken Him by force to make Him king. So He sent His disciples by boat towards Capernaum, and He went, alone, up into a mountain to pray.
When it was dark, the disciples found themselves alone upon the sea, opposed to strong winds, which tossed the boat upon high waves. Then Jesus went out to them, walking upon the waves; but when the disciples saw Him they thought it was a spirit, and cried out with fear. But Jesus said, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." Peter answered Him, saying, "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water." And He said, "Come," and Peter stepped over the boat's side and walked on the water towards Christ. But when he saw the angry waves around him and heard the roaring of the winds, Peter was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me." And Jesus, stretching out His hand, caught him, and said, "O thou of little faith, why didst thou fear?"
When Jesus and Peter had got into the boat, the wind dropped, the sea became calm and the waves still, and immediately they were at the place where they wanted to land. Then they worshipped him, saying, "Truly Thou art the Son of God." And they came into the land of Gennesaret, where the people knew Him and brought to Him all that were sick, or blind, or lame, that they might touch His garment and be made well.
CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.
CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.
Jesus came unto the borders of Tyre and Sidon, where the people were not Jews, but Gentiles. And there came to Him a woman of Canaan, who cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." She besought Him to cast out this evil spirit from her daughter. But He answered not a word, and His disciples counselled Him to send her away. Then He told her He was not sent unto the Gentiles, but unto the lost sheep of Israel; meaning the Jews. This was said to try her faith. Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, help me." But He said, "It is not meet to take the children's food and to cast it to dogs;" meaning that His help was due rather to the Jews than to the Gentiles. And she said, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs sometimes eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table;" meaning that, though she was a Gentile, she believed in Him as the Son of God.
Then Jesus answered, and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou desirest. Go thy way; the devil has gone out of thy daughter." And when she was come to her house she found her daughter made whole and laid upon the bed.
Jesus, with His knowledge of our hearts, knew the faith this poor woman had, and tried it so that it might shine the brighter. Then He granted her the blessing she had asked Him for; and how she must have rejoiced when she reached home and found her daughter quite well and restored to her right mind.
THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.
THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.
It was a part of the Jewish law that all strangers passing among the Jews should pay to the priests of the Temple an offering to the Lord, or tribute-money as it was called.
Soon after our Lord's Transfiguration He came to Capernaum, together with His disciples. When they had entered the city, there came to them the priests who usually collected this tribute-money, and they said unto Peter, "Doth not thy Master pay tribute?" And he answered, "Yes." But when they had come to the house, Jesus said to Peter, "What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do they take tribute; of their own people or of strangers?" And Peter answered Him, "Of strangers."
Jesus saith unto him, "Then their own people are free; but lest we should offend them by not paying, go thou down to the sea, and cast in thy hook and line, and take up the first fish that taketh the hook into his mouth. And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money there. Take it and give it unto the priests as tribute for Me and for thee." And Peter went down to the sea and cast in his line, and took a big fish. And when he had opened its mouth he found the piece of silver, and took it to the men in payment of the tribute.
This tribute was collected to pay the expenses of the Temple worship. Jesus sought to show that, as He himself was the Son of God, the King for whose service the tribute was paid, He might justly be exempted from paying it; yet to save giving offence He miraculously provided the piece of money to pay tribute for Himself and Peter.
PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY.PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY.
PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY.
As Jesus was talking to His disciples, a certain lawyer stood up and asked, "Who is my neighbour?" And Jesus answered by telling them this story:—
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who robbed him, stripped him of his clothes, and, wounding him, left him on the road half dead. By chance there came a priest that way, and, as a teacher of religion to men, he should have stopped to help the poor man. Instead of this, he pretended not to see, and passed by on the other side of the road. Then there came by a Levite, who also, as an official of the church, should have given help. But he merely came and looked on the injured man, and passed on the other side as the priest had done.
Afterwards there came by a Samaritan, and, when he caught sight of the wounded Jew, he went over to him and was very sorry for him. Now the Jews hated the Samaritans, and were their enemies, so that it would not have been surprising if he, also, had done as the priest and the Levite did. But, no! Though it was his enemy, he could not pass him by and leave him on the road, perhaps to die. He examined his wounds and bound them up; doing all that he could to soothe them. Then he lifted him carefully on his own beast, and brought him to the nearest inn, and took care of him through the night. The next day, when the Samaritan departed, he paid the man who kept the inn, and said to him, "Take care of this poor man until he is well, and whatever it may cost for his lodging and food, that I will pay thee when I come again."
"Which of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?" The lawyer answered, "He that showed mercy unto him." Then said Jesus, "Go, and do thou likewise."
THE GOOD SAMARITAN.THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
One day Jesus was asked by His disciples to teach them to pray. So Jesus taught them the prayer we all know so well, beginning with "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name." But Jesus told them it was not enough to pray: they must not get tired of praying, even if they failed to receive quickly the things they asked for. They must keep on asking, until God in His own time and manner should grant them what He saw to be good. This great lesson Jesus taught them by the following parable:—
"Which of you shall have a friend," said Jesus, "and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you," said Jesus, "though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity (continued asking) he will rise and give him as many as he needeth."
Then Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us too, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." For, said He, "every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." If we ask for those things that God sees to be good for us, we may certainly expect to receive them. Let us ask God to keep us every day; and to give us such things as He knows will be for our good.