Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 September 1993 — Page 28

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 7 September, 1993, Page 28

Parable about sower, seeds refers to faith, religion

“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside and the fowls came and devoured them up. “Some fell upon stony places, where there had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them; But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold” (Matt. 13:3-8). The first parable is the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven parables. It is placed in the right place. It represents the Apostolic Age, where Christ teaches his disciples and the disciples teach others (Matt. 28:20; St. John 17:20). It is the unadulterated truth, the beginning of the Christian Church. We must believe what Christ taught the apostles. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, the Guide Stone of the foundation. “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip...How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Heb. 2:3;

Dr. W.J. Duncan

Acts 4:19, 20). For the explanation of this parable, read Matthew 13:18-23. We may keep one out of every four. Tares and Wheat The Smyrna Period “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way; But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also” (Matt. 13:24-26). This is the second parable in this series. If the first parable represents the beginning of the gospel or the sowing of the seed, which is the word of God, then this second parable are the days following the apostolic day. The first sowing was good seed or doctrine (Deu. 32:1). While men slept, the enemy sowed the tares among the wheat. The men who slept are the apostles. Their day ended and they laid down to sleep in Christ. The false teachers came and sowed the tares or false doctrines. Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God

which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-30; 11 Pet. 2:12; Jude 3-6). For the interpretation read Matthew 13:36-43. The Mustard Seed The Pergamian Period “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and became a tree so that the birds of the air came and lodge in the branches thereof’ (Matt. 13:31-32). The kingdom of heaven, though it was small in its beginning, was able in 313 A.D. to subdue the mighty Roman Empire. In 313 A.D. Rome gave the Edict of Toleration. Christianity became the state religion. Constantine sought for the protection of the church; but the church was invaded by heathen practices and idolatrous influences. The fowl of the air did lodge in the branches thereof. The Woman and Leaven The Thyatian Period “Another parable spake

he unto them; the kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matt. 13:33). Leaven is always associated with evils. The woman then is an evil influence. The leaven is false doctrine. The spirit of Jezebel was very strong in the Thyatian church. She taught more than one God and brought idolatry into the church. The Field and Treasure The Reformation Period “Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in the field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matt. 13:44). This sounds like Luther coming out of the dead church and saw the true light of the glorious gospel of the grace of God and gave up all his credentials and prestige to purchase the field that had the treasure. This, then, sets in the reformation period. The Goodly Pearls The Wesleyan Period “Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matt. 13-45, 46. The holiness movement began under John and Charles Wesley. They and others found the Pearl of Great Price. The Dragnet The Laodician Period “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind” (Matt. 13:47). This parable depicts a

mixture of all kind, good and bad. God wants his church to be separate (II Cor. 6:14). In these last days, people are mixing more and more with all kind. Just about anyone says they are a Christian. This is the Laodician period of the church. Neither hot nor cold; but lukewarm. “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 13:35). The Mystery of the Blindness of Israel Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written, there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:2527). The blindness of Israel is a thing that is not taken under consideration by many. They seem to claim all the promises in the Bible for their particular group, and they find no place for a restoration of Israel. If we do not give Israel its proper place in the plan of God, we will misconstrue most of the scriptures. See RELIGION on P 29