of ministrat.i<>n. It would seem that np to this time he had pmichr<l less figuratively, bur ns the Pharisees had taken up their position of hostility, it was absolutrly necessary for him to exercise what may be called intermediate jud;;mcnt (cf. Godct, in loc.). Thie was by taking to parabolic teaching. While to a docile and childlike spirit a parable sets truth in its most attractive aspect, to a proud, self-snfficient ~pirit it veils and hides the truth. It is light or darkness according to our spiritual attitude. Hence the change in the Preacher's method heralded a new stage in his work. The common people would still bear him gladly, but the proud would be kept at a convenien, distance through the veiled character of the truth presented in parables. Ill. THE PARABLE OF WARNING. (Vers. 4--8, 11-15.) This, act:ording to all the evangelists, was the first parable. It was brcciking ground in the delivery of parnhles. Hence its character as a warning. Jts sn hjcct is the hearing of the Word. Its warning is that there are three bad ways of hearing a~ against one good way. These are : 1. Careless hearing-represented by wayside seed devoured by the birds before it can fall into the earth and bear any fruit. The devil visits careless hearers, and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 2. Rapturous hearing -represented by seed falling into rocky soil and springing up suddenly, only to wither away. Hence the danger of hearing with rapture and resting in the rapture. It is the religion of feeliug, of happy times, and such superficialities. Something deeper is needed than this. 3. Careworn and preoccupied hearing-represented by seed falling into soil that is not cleansed of roots and thorns, and where the seed is choked. We cannot hear to advantage if we put anything before the Word. Unless it is put before worldly concerns, there will not be much fruit. 4, Honest and good-hearted hearing-represented by the seed falling into good and cleansed ground. In this case there is fruit-bearing, in some cases up to an hundredfold. Hence the warning voice, "He that hatb ear11 to hear, let him hear." Unless the multitude hearing Jesus, unless in particular the disciples, took the Word of God ministered by Jesus patiently and honestly into their consideration, they could not bring forth fruit unto perfection. IV. TnE APPLICATION TO THE TWELVE. (Vers. 16-18.) The disciples had received Jesus' explanation of the first parable. And now he further applies it to their case. 'l'hey are intended, he tells them, to be lights in the world; and he has no intention of putting them under a bushel or bed, where the light would be lost and useless, but on a .candlestick to illuminate all who enter the house. In this beautiful and figurative way our Lord indicates the position he means to give them in his Church. Consequently, they must remember that every secret thing is on its way to manifestation (ver. 17), and so their lives, no matter how secret and apparently insignificant, are public lives. By this thought all hearing will be intensified with a new sense of responsibility. Besides, he tells them that the law of capital obtains in hearing as well as in everything else. 'l'his is the law by which the person, who has something to start with, gets something more. For example, if we bring to the contemplation of the truth a " good and honest hrart," then its goodness and honf·sty will be intensified and increased by the truth; whereas, if we bring a vacant heart, an inattl'lltive mind, then our heart will be still more vacant, and our mind still more inattentive. We lose power by indifferent hear- ing, just as we gain power by attentive and honest hearing. This was a mo8t important lesson for the candidates about him. Doubtless they profited by it. V. BLOOD-RELATIONSHIPVERSUS SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP. (Vers.19-21.) We learn from the parallel passages that this incident occurred in consequence of our Lord's enthusiasm. His relatives thought him mad, and that he ought to be put under restraint. His reply to their message is most significant. As Gess says," He draws his true disciples the more closely around him as the hostility of his own relatives increa~es, and calls them his family." l We have thus, as Sanrin puts it, the family of Jesus Christ according to the flesh contrasted with the family of Jesus Christ according to the Spirit. The spiritual relationship is put before the blood-relationship. other things being equal.I It is not that Jesus loved his brottiers and m~ther less, but that ho regarded the Father's will and those who obeyed it as more to hlDl _than th~y can be. His conduct on this occasion most likely conduced to the conversion of his kindred to believo upon him. It enabled them to see exactly the principle of his work. 1 • Christi Solbstzeugniss,' s. 48. 1 or. Souriu's • Sermons,' tome vi. pp. 227-264. 2:30 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on. vm. 1-56.
Aod in this loyalty to members of God's fnmily wo mnet follow our Lord, We mnet n0t allow others to usw·p their rights under any pretence of relatiunship or authority, -Il. M. E.