The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 221

nnt ent.er into the ROil, and is readily borne away. They who do not know l&oto td l,~<ten when God speaks to them, need not be aurpri~ed if they are of those who are "enr learning, and never coming to II knowledge of the truth." "Give earnest heed" as the Word is being spoken. 2. Want of refection. (Ver. 6.) Many listen with delight, nnd consider themselves the better for their present gladness. But they do not reflect ,,n what lhey have beard; there is nothing to nourish the feeble life-no "moisture" 110 " earth," no thougbtfulnesR and prayer; and the eud is that the emotion that w~s ~:°U8ed as the hearer listen_<'d withers_ away. 3. Incapacity to s(a11d tests. (Ver. 7.) l here may be earnest. att.en!Jon, and this may be followed by sorue consideration and even prayer; _but the root of conviction does not go down far enough to become reeo- ]~te consecration_, and the result i~ that the" thorns" ~boke th~ corn as.i~ is growing. I lici:e 11re two krnds of thorn which are of a deadly rnfluence ID the spintua.l field- !lne 1s that of worldly cares, and the other that of unspiritual pleasure. ThCl!e are not ,·,-il things in tbemselv<>s, but, just as the weeds in the field draw up ·and into them- ~·lves the nourishment which should be given to the useful plant, so do these lower 1.uxieties and gratifications absorb the time, the thought, the energy, which should go t<i the maintenance of the new spiritual life, and, being unfed and unsnste.ined, it languishes and perishes. II. THE CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS. Wloiat is the good ground? What is the honest nnd good heart ( vers. 8-15)? It is that of: 1. Sincere inquiry. The hearer goes to learn what is the will of God concerning him-to "inquire in his temple." The question of his heart is, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Hence he listens eAgerly a.nd continuously. 2, Devout meditation. He ponders, he dwells upon:, he prays over, the truth he has been receiving. 3. Intelligent, deliberate dedication. 'l'he m:m takes all things into bis mind that must be taken; he counts the cost; he con- Hiders what the service of Christ means, and how much it involves in the way of surrender and of actinty, and he solemnly devotes himself to the service, or, as the case may be, to the work of the Lord. Jesus cried, "He that bath ears to hear, let him hear." He spoke that word in 11 strikinc::, impressive, emphatic voice. He would say to ns: 1. Your privil~ge in having a.cccss to the gospel is very great, and as is your privilege so aim is your responsibility. 2. Many are the children of opportunity who are not heirs of the kingdom of God; many g" iuto the "house of God" who remain outside the Church of Christ; who bear but do not heed, or who listen but do not ponder and pray, or who pray but do not determine and devote; who at some point or other fall short of the kingdom. It is 11 ~ad thing to be" in the way of salvation," and yet to be unsaved. 3. Very blessed are the childreu of wisdom. When the Word of God takes deep root and brings forth fruit, its fertility is great indeed; the increase may be "an hundredfold" (ver. 8). In the heart itself in which it is sown, it may produce ell the graces of the Spirit of God; and in the better life thus called forth there may shine all the excellences which are in Christ Jesus our Lord and Exemplar; and/rom that life there may flow forth influences for good, of which the nuruber and the nature and the duration only God can tell.-0. Ver. 16.- Ooue,·ed character. If we have a large object immediately before us in the daytime, and yet are unable to see it, we are driven to the conclusion that, if we are not Lliud, there must be something opaque between the object and our eye. Now: 1. There ie m'UUI of solid goodness in Christian men. All who no.me the name of Christ are under bond to depart from all iniquity; their life is a life of holy endeavour 11.fter the character of their Lord ; they are seeking daily the a.id and inspiration of the Divine Sj.Jirit; they must be wiser and worthier than those who are living for them- selves. 2. 'l'Lis light of Christian character is shining straight before the eyes of uubuly men. In the great field of the human world the wheat and the tares grow t,,geth~r. Here we meet together, good and bad, the irreverent and the profane, under the same roof, e.t the same table and hearth, in the same shop and warehouse. We wituess or.e another's lives. Christian character is near enough to be seen by all 3. We a.re sometimes a!ked to be shown the light of Christian worth. Men say, "Where is this excellency, tbi~ suppo~ed superiority of spirit and conduct, these fruits? we shuula like to see thero." What shall we say to this challenge? That they who thus curnpl&in do 110\ il<:e what the1 look for because there is something ilio malt.Gr OR. vm. 1-66.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. L UKF.. 221