explained the parable to them, as He will make plain His word to all
who seek Him in sincerity of heart. Those who study the word of
God with hearts open to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, will not
remain in darkness as to the meaning of the word. “If any man willeth
to do His will,” Christ said, “he shall know of the teaching whether it
be of God, or whether I speak from Myself.” John 7:17, R.V. All who
come to Christ for a clearer knowledge of the truth will receive it. He
will unfold to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and these
mysteries will be understood by the heart that longs to know the truth.
A heavenly light will shine into the soul temple, and will be revealed
to others as the bright shining of a lamp on a dark path.
“The sower went forth to sow” (R.V.). In the East the state of
affairs was so unsettled, and there was so great danger from violence
that the people dwelt chiefly in walled towns, and the husbandmen
went forth daily to their labor outside the walls. So Christ, the
heavenly Sower, went forth to sow. He left His home of security
and peace, left the glory that He had with the Father before the world
was, left His position upon the throne of the universe. He went forth,
a suffering, tempted man; went forth in solitude, to sow in tears, to
water with His blood, the seed of life for a world lost.
His servants in like manner must go forth to sow. When called
to become a sower of the seed of truth, Abraham was bidden, “Get
thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s
house, unto a land that I will show thee.” Genesis 12:1. “And he
went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8. So to the
apostle Paul, praying in the temple at Jerusalem, came the message
from God, “Depart; for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
Acts 22:21. So those who are called
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to unite with Christ must leave all, in order to follow Him. Old
associations must be broken up, plans of life relinquished, earthly
hopes surrendered. In toil and tears, in solitude, and through sacrifice,
must the seed be sown.
“The sower soweth the word.” Christ came to sow the world with
truth. Ever since the fall of man, Satan has been sowing the seeds of
error. It was by a lie that he first gained control over men, and thus he
still works to overthrow God’s kingdom in the earth and to bring men
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under his power. A sower from a higher world, Christ came to sow
the seeds of truth. He who had stood in the councils of God, who had
dwelt in the innermost sanctuary of the Eternal, could bring to men
the pure principles of truth. Ever since the fall of man, Christ had been
the Revealer of truth to the world. By Him the incorruptible seed, “the
word of God, which liveth and abideth forever,” is communicated to
men. 1 Peter 1:23. In that first promise spoken to our fallen race in
Eden, Christ was sowing the gospel seed. But it is to His personal
ministry among men and to the work which He thus established that
the parable of the sower especially applies.
The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a
germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is enfolded. So there
is life in God’s word. Christ says, “The words that I speak unto you,
they are Spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. “He that heareth My
word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.” John
5:24. In every command and in every promise of the word of God
is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be
fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word
is receiving the very life and character of God.
Every seed brings forth fruit after its kind. Sow the seed under
right conditions, and it will develop its own life in the plant. Receive
into the soul by faith the incorruptible seed of the word, and it will
bring forth a character and a life after the similitude of the character
and the life of God.
The teachers of Israel were not sowing the seed of the word of
God. Christ’s work as a teacher of truth was in marked contrast to
that of the rabbis of His time. They dwelt upon traditions, upon
human theories and speculations. Often that which man had taught
and written about
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the word, they put in place of the word itself. Their teaching had
no power to quicken the soul. The subject of Christ’s teaching and
preaching was the word of God. He met questioners with a plain, “It
is written.” “What saith the Scriptures?” “How readest thou?” At
every opportunity, when an interest was awakened by either friend or
foe, He sowed the seed of the word. He who is the Way, the Truth,
and the Life, Himself the living Word, points to the Scriptures, saying,
“They are they which testify of Me.” And “beginning at Moses and
all the prophets,” He opened to His disciples “in all the Scriptures the
things concerning Himself.” John 5:39; Luke 24:27.
Christ’s servants are to do the same work. In our day, as of old,
the vital truths of God’s word are set aside for human theories and
speculations. Many professed ministers of the gospel do not accept
the whole Bible as the inspired word. One wise man rejects one
portion; another questions another part. They set up their judgment
as superior to the word; and the Scripture which they do teach rests
upon their own authority. Its divine authenticity is destroyed. Thus
the seeds of infidelity are sown broadcast; for the people become
confused and know not what to believe. There are many beliefs that
the mind has no right to entertain. In the days of Christ the rabbis
put a forced, mystical construction upon many portions of Scripture.
Because the plain teaching of God’s word condemned their practices,
they tried to destroy its force. The same thing is done today. The
word of God is made to appear mysterious and obscure in order to
excuse transgression of His law. Christ rebuked these practices in His
day. He taught that the word of God was to be understood by all.
He pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority, and we
should do the same. The Bible is to be presented as the word of the
infinite God, as
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the end of all controversy and the foundation of all faith.
The Bible has been robbed of its power, and the results are seen
in a lowering of the tone of spiritual life. In the sermons from many
pulpits of today there is not that divine manifestation which awakens
the conscience and brings life to the soul. The hearers can not say,
“Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the
way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32. There
are many who are crying out for the living God, longing for the divine
presence. Philosophical theories or literary essays, however brilliant,
cannot satisfy the heart. The assertions and inventions of men are of
no value. Let the word of God speak to the people. Let those who
have heard only traditions and human theories and maxims hear the
voice of Him whose word can renew the soul unto everlasting life.
Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant
grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and
His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth,
and the Life. Let these be the themes of Christ’s ministers. Present
the truth as it is in Jesus. Make plain the requirements of the law and
the gospel. Tell the people of Christ’s life of self-denial and sacrifice;
of His humiliation and death; of His resurrection and ascension; of
His intercession for them in the courts of God; of His promise, “I will
come again, and receive you unto Myself.” John 14:3.

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Instead of discussing erroneous theories, or seeking to combat the
opponents of the gospel, follow the example of Christ. Let fresh truths
from God’s treasure house flash into life. “Preach the word.” “Sow
beside all waters.” “Be instant in season, out of season.” “He that
hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff