The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 180

warning and an undeniable demonstration, which may make them, with the devils, " believe and tremble" even in their rebellion.-M. Vere. 38, 40.-Hwnan and Divirni r"1M71,Strances. Christ and his disciples chide ons another, yet gently and affectionately. Representative positions- !. As SUGGESTING THE OPPOSITE STANDPOINTS FBOH WIDCR PBA0TlCAL DIFFICULTIES OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE HAY BE REGARDED. IL As FURNISHING TREm soLUTION,-M. Ver. 1.-Divine teaching from the fisherman's boat. Matthew gives us, in the thir- teenth chapter of his Gospel, a series of seven parables, which correspond with the three which Mark records here. They all illustrate the nature and the progress of tha kingdom of God which Christ sought to establish. The parable of the sower describes the foUDding of the kingdom, and the various difficulties with which it would meet; the parable of the seed growing secretly teaches us that its progress would be natural, unostentatious, and certain; while the parable of the mustard seed declares that in its final consummation it would have wide-reaching influence. The second of these is peculiar to Mark. We propose to consider, not the parables themselves, but the cir- cumstances under which they were uttered, which also suggest and illustrate truths concerning the kingdom. Our Lord's teaching from the fisherman's boat suggests the following thoughts : - I. THAT HOSTILITY MAY CHANGE OUR METHOD, BUT MUBT NOT BE ALLOWED TO PREVEl>'T OUR WORK, The Pharisees had become openly antagonistic to our Lord. Their spies followed him everywhere. Their controversial champions argued with him and misrepresented him in the synagogues. This hostility drove the Lord from the sanctuaries of his people. He would not suffer his Father's house to be desecrated by such tactics. Accordingly, he no longer, as a rule, was found in the synagogue:!, but in the fields and streets, in the homes of the people, or in the fishing-boats that rocked on the Sea of Galilee. He thus acted on the principle be laid down for his disciples when he said to them," If they persecute you in one city, flee to another." And that prin- ciple still holds good, and may have the widest application. St. Paul acted on it when he adapted himself, under varying circumstances, to the conditions of bis bearers. If he addressed the people of Lystra, he did not argue from the Old Testament, of which they knew nothing, but pointed to the moUDtains and fields, and spoke of the God who gave them "fruitful seasons." If he was surrounded by Athenians in their beautiful city, be referred to the temples which crowned the Acropolis, and to the statues which adorned the Agoro.. If be was in the synagogue at Antioch, in Pisidia, be argued from the sacred Scriptures, the authority of which bis hearers acknowledged. He became "all things to all men, if by any means he might win some;" and in this be followed in the footsteps of the great Teacher, who, when refused e. fair bearing in the synagogue, preached beside the open sea. Thus, with the utmost flexibility and freedom, Chris- tian workers should alter their methods to meet the changing circumstances in which they find themselves; never for a ruomeut losing sight of the object they have set before themselves, but seeking to attain that by the most suite.hie means. This may be applied to those who preach or teach, whether amongst the sceptical or the indiil'erent, among the children or the cultured. II. 'l'BAT THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE GoD's WORK MAY NOT BE DONE. 'l'be change in method, indicated by the text, did not trouble our Lord as it would have troubled any one to whom place and mode seem everything in worship. All the earth was holy in his eyes. The heavenly Father was near him everywhere. The rippling of the sea or the rustling of the corn would be more grateful to him than the murmured repetitions of formal prayers by the mechanical and UDspiritue.l worshippers i:J. the synagogue . .Apart from persecution, he would often have chosen, from preference, such a sphere of work as this, as indeed he did when he preached the sermon on the moUDt. Read his teaching to the woman of Samaria (John iv. 20, 21), and see bow acceptable to God is spiritual worship wherever it may be offered. Study the parable that immediately follows our text, aud you will notice that the sower threw out his seed broadcast uvou all kinds of soil. Our Lord would preach in e. Pharisee's house, or on a mountain, or from a boat, e.s readily as in a synagogue or in the temple; for "Holiness to the Lord" 176 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [ou.1v, 1--iL