What is meant by “the sign of the prophet Jonas?" 40. How is it explained in this verse? What event was He referring to, as about to be a sign to them 1 Explain the terms. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? Wherein consists Christ's exaltation? 41. What is here said about the men of Nineveh What is meant by their rising in judgment? What history is here referred to? (See Jonah.) How would the Ninevites condemn those to whom Chris: preached? Give some account of Nineveh. What doth God require of us that we may escape His wrath and curse due to us for sin ? 42. What is here said of the Queen of the South? Who was she, and where is the history given? (1 Kings x.) Where was Sheba, and how was it the uttermost parts of the earth? Why would she condemn those who had listened to Christ? What is the duty which God requireth of man? Who is meant by the one greater than Solomon or Jonas? 43-45. What is here said? Repeat. What is meant by this, and how was it to apply? To what does this refer in the former verses? (vs. 29.) What allusion is here to the ancient and popular belief ano the Jews? 44. What is meant by the house, and finding it empty, swept ani garnished? 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly. so shall the Son of man be t'ree days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh all rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas: and behold, a greater than Jo's is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this gen eration, and shall condemn it; for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here, 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the las 45. What is meant by this taking seven other spirits, and the last state worse than the first? How is this here applied? What may we learn from this passage? 46. What section here follows in Matthew's narrative, (§ 50.) and by whom else is it recorded? Who came to speak with Him as He was talking? What was His mother's name? Who were His brethren? 47. What message was brought to Him? 48-50. What answer did He make to it? Repeat.. What did He mean by this? Was this to show a want of affection for those of His own family, or a peculiar affection for His disciples? (See Luke ii. 51. John xix. 25-27.) Which is the Fifth Commandment? What is required and forbidden in this commandment? LESSON XXV. The Parable of the Sower. MATT. XIII. 1-23. What is the next subject in Matthew's narrative, and where doen this section belong? (5 54.) By whom else is it recorded? 1. Where was Jesus at this time, and where did He now go? What sea was this, and by what names vas it known? date of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto his wicked generation. 46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 4 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy breth cen stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 43 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren ? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. CHAPTER XIIL 1 THE same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stord on the shore. 2. What now occurred? How did He get out of the crowd? How then could He teach them? 3. In what manner did He speak to them? What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth the benefits of Redemption? 4. Where did some of the seeds fall, and what became of them? What was the way-side, and who are meant by such hearers? Who are meant by the fowls, and how is the word snatched away from such? How does Satan often take away from the young the truth which they have heard? How is the word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation? 5. What became of other seed? What class of hearers is meant by this? (vss. 20, 21.) Why did this spring up sooner than others? 6. What was the result of it? Why did the seed in such places wither sooner? How do these differ from the former? Was the seed at fault for this, or was it the sower's fault, or what? What class of hearers show that the word has taken no root in them? How is the word made effectual to salvation? 7. Where did other seed fall, and what became of them? What is meant by the thorns? (vs. 22.) 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a Bower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way-side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked How do such things hinder the truth from reaching the heart? 8. Where did other seed fall, and with what result? How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Are any hearts good by nature? What is effectual calling? What is sanctification? 9. How did our Lord conclude this discourse, and what is the meaning? How does this apply to us? What is the duty which God requireth of man? 10. Who now came to Him, and what did they say? 11. How did Christ explain? What was granted to the disciples which others had not received? What is meant here by the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven? What are the decrees of God' Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? 12. What is here added as explaining God's ways? What is the meaning of this, and how does it apply to us? How is the word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation? How has Christ encouraged all to seek Him? 13. How is it further explained? Show that all of you have enough plain truth for salvation? What kind of seeing and hearing is meant by these words of our Lord ? Is there any such now? Explain the kind of hearers? 14. What prophecy was there of such, and what did it mean? 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 16 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou to them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to Dow the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By Show how there are some now who are hardened while they hear the truth. How is the word made effectual to salvation? 16. What is said of the disciples? Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?. 17. What is said of former times? Who are here referred to by "prophets and righteous men ?" Show that good people, long before Christ came, looked forward to His coming and wished for it. 18. What does this verse mean, and to whom is it addressed? 19. How are the way-side hearers here described? 20, 21. How are the stony ground hearers here represented? How would you describe such now? What is meant by offended? 22. How are the thorny ground hearers here described? How would you describe such hearers? How do the cares of this world prevent the truth? What is meant by the deceitfulness of riches, and how does this hinder the truth? hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For, verily, I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it nct, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was Down in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way-side. 20 But he that received the secd into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. |