Matthew 13:3 And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;… Why, there was a time, I suppose, when the very fruitfullest fields of England were something like either the stony places or the thorny places in this parable. I have recently seen in the distant parts of these islands, and in one of the most rugged parts of the West of Scotland, ground which I saw four or five years ago, when the present proprietor came into possession of it; and that ground — well, I cannot say there was anything on it like a wayside, for there was not a wayside within miles of it — but still, it was chiefly stones, and gorse, and heather, and all sorts of stuff; but the application of culture, skill, some capital, and so on, has made it very decent land indeed, and it is yielding something now for the support of man and beast. There is nothing fatalistic in this parable, nothing to drive to despair the man who feels he is bad, and wishes to be a true Christian, and nothing to encourage in sin the man who has no desire after good things. God's grace can do for the heart, be what it may, what man's skill has done a thousand times for the land that he cultivates. (H. S. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;WEB: He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, a farmer went out to sow. |
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