What kind of fruit did it yield? 9. What is implied in these words? What is the duty which God requireth of man? 10. Where and to whom did Christ explain this parable? What led Him so to do? How doth Christ execute the office of a Prophet? 11. What is meant by "the mystery," &c.? Who are meant by "them that are without?" Explain this. 12. Explain this verse. Does this language refer rather to the aim, or the result of this teaching? (See Notes on Matt.) Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? 13. What question does our Lord here ask them? What is meant by this? What does this show of our Lord's character as a teacher? 14. What is represented by "the seed" in this parable? Who is meant by the "Sower?" What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? 15. Who are they by the way-side? Repeat. How is the good seed taken away from them? What do we pray for in the second petition? in the sixth petition? 16. Who are represented by those "on stony ground?" 9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10. And when he was alone, they that were about him, with the twelve, asked of him the parable. 11. 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: 12. 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. 13. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14. The sower soweth the word. 15. 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. 16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: What is meant by "offended?" What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? 18, 19. What class of hearers corresponds to seed sown among thorns? Repeat. 20. Who are they on good ground? How is the Word made effectual to salvation? How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation? How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? 21. What is meant by this question? Repeat. What is the duty which God requireth of man? What do we pray for in the first petition? second petition? third petition? 22. What is meant by this? Repeat. 23. Why was this exhortation repeated here? What doth God require of us that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin? 24. What caution doth Christ here give? How does this apply to us? Why is it so important to take heed "what we hear," as well as "how" we hear? What are we to understand by this promise? 25. What is here declared to be God's rule of dealing in regard to our improvement of his favors? Repeat. afterward, when affliction and persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19. And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some an hundred. 21. 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 candle-stick? 22. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23. If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. 24. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: With what mea sure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear, shall more be given. 25. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. LESSON IX. 54-56. Other Parables. The Tempest Stilled. MARK IV. 26-41. What parable is here recorded? 26. Who speaks here? Is this parable the same with that of the Tares, in Matt.? 26, 27. To what is the kingdom compared? What is the resemblance? 28. Show what is the illustration here? What do these different degrees of growth represent? 55. Parable of the Mustard Seed. 30. What parable is here recorded? and where else is it found? 31, 32. What is remarkable about the mustard seed? Repeat. How does this represent the kingdom, or church? 33. What is here said? Repeat. What is here meant by "the word," and "able to hear it?" 26. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27. And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. 30. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31. 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: 32. 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. 33. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. How is the word made effectual to salvation? What is Effectual Calling? 34. What is meant by the first clause of this verse? by the last clause? Repeat, What is here shown of Christ's character as a teacher? How doth Christ execute the office of a Prophet? 2 56. Tempest Stilled. 35. What is here recorded? What is here meant by "even?" What did he say to his disciples? Repeat. "The other side" of what? How does Matthew's narrative explain this? 36. What did they do with the multitude? What kind of boats were these? 37. What took place on their passage? How doth God execute His decrees? Were such storms usual on this sea? 38. Where was Christ during the storm? What did they do and say? What was "the pillow?" What did they mean by this question? Was it disrespectful? 39. What did Christ do? What was the effect of His word? What does this show of Christ's power? 40. What did Christ say to His disciples? 34. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. 35. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Had they no faith at all? What ought a strong faith have led them to do? What is faith in Jesus Christ? 41. What was the effect of the miracle on the persons in the ship? What did they say? What did this power over the winds and the waves plainly show? 1. Where did they now come? What place is here meant, and how is it called by Matthew? 2. What occurred when He landed? What kind of a man was this? Were these evil spirits real beings, or not? Why were they allowed such power at that time? What do we pray for in the second petition? in the sixth petition? 3. Describe the "tombs" here spoken of. In what sense did he dwell among the tombs? How is the power of the unclean spirit described? 4. How had this been found out? 41. And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? CHAPTER V. 1. And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3. Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4. Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. |