The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 168

Holy Spirit vouchsafed, co-opemt.e oftentimes to most blessed results, even as In nature seed and soil, showers and sunshine, produce a vigorous growth. VI. THB HARVEST. What is the end of sowing and tilling, of culture and toil ? It is fruit. And, in the spiritual kingdom, what is the aim and recompense of the Divine and of all human sowers? It is fruit-of holiness, obedience, love, joy, ~cace, eternal life. It shall not be wanting. "My word shall not return unto me void; ' "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy;" "They shall bring their sheaves with them;" it may be "after many days." There is a harvest in time, and a richer, riper harvest in eternity. PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. One of encouragement for all gospel sowers; they are doing the Master's work, they are following the Master's example, they are assured of the Master's support. 2. One of admonition to all to whom the Word is preached. Take heed what and how you hear. 'l'he seed is heavenly; is the soil kindly, prepared, grateful, fruitful? Vers. 4, 15.-The Word stolen from tM heart. Young preachers, in the strength of their convictions and the ardour of their benevolence, are often inspired with enthu- siastic expectations concerning the results of the preaching of the gospel. It seems to them that the Word has only to be addressed to men's minds in order to meet with an eager, grateful, and immediate acceptance. As their experience enlarges, and as they learn in how many cases reason and conscience are silenced by the clamour of passion and interest, or disregarded through the power of sinful habit or the influence of sinful society, they turn t.o this parable, and learn how just was the view and how tempered the expectations of the Divine Teacher and Saviour, as t.o the acceptance with which his gospel should meet. L TRE HEART BABDENED BY WORLDLINESS AND SIN IS NOT RECEPTIVE 01!' TBE WoBD. 1. Worldly thoughts and cares preoccupy the mind, so that there is no response to the appeals of the gospel. When the attention is absorbed by things seen and temporal, spiritual realities appear imaginary and uninteresting. .As there was no room for the babe Jesus at the inn, so the nature which welcomes every passing guest :finds no place for the King and for his Word. 2, Sin shuts out the truth. There is no fellowship between light and darkness. The sinner's heart is closed against the heavenly rays. What preacher could not, from his own observation, offer many a living illustration of the saying, "Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil"? To revert to the figure of the text, sin loved and unrepented of treads down the heart into a bard, impenetrable pathway, where no glebe breakij up, in frost, in shower, or in sunshine, to give a welcome, a home, a cradle, to the germ of spiritual life. 3. Familiarity with truth unheeded hardens any nature against the gospel. Who are the least hopeful in our congregations? Surely they are those who have, from habit or through i.n1luence, been attending the" means of grace" for many years, to whom every statement, every appeal, every remonstrance, every warning, is an old familiar sound, "a twice-told tale." The nature becomes not only indifferent, but cal- lous; there is no real heed, no living susceptibility, no response of faith and joy. II. THE ENEMY OF SOULS SNATCHES THE WoBD FBOM THE HARDENED HEART, The condition of the sinner's soul is such as offers to Satan an occasion for frustrating the benevolent designs of the Divine Sower. Had the seed fallen into good ground and been covered over, there would have been no invitation or opportunity for the birds to snatch it away. So it is only the worldly, sensual, or unbelieving nature that, so to speak, tempts the tempter himself. By the birds it is usually understood that the great Teacher intends to represent evil thoughts and imaginations and desires, such as possess the uru;piritual and unthinking. How true to the life is this account I How many careless and unbelieving hearers of the gospel no sooner leave the church iD which they have listened to the Word, than common, foolish, selfish, sinful thoughtR take possession of their mind, and the Word is snatched away-is as though it had not been! The necessary result is that there is no fruit. How can there be fruit whcu the Word has not been mixed with faith in the hearer's heart? "Do you take care that it falls not on, but in, your souls." "Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord." Vers. 6, 6, 16, 17.-The Word starved in the heart. The Christian preiwher haa oII. xv. 1-41.] TIil~ GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MARK 163