Part 6

He throws the handfuls now with joy! He knows there will be a harvest by and by! The seed sinks into the good ground, it takes root, and when the time of harvest comes, and the reapers come to gather the beautiful corn, there are heaps of sheaves; for some of these little seeds had grown up to bear a hundred other seeds! And some sixty, and some thirty!

When the Lord had done talking to the multitude, the disciples gathered round Him and asked Him why He had told them that story of the seeds—called a Parable.

Then Jesus explained to them that the seed that He had been talking about was the Word of God.

Those who try to tell other people about God, are like the Sower. And the ground is like our hearts.

Then Satan our great Enemy, like those birds in the Parable, watches eagerly where the seed falls, and tries to pick it up and carry it away! That is the "seed by the wayside."

Then there are "the stony places." That is when the Word of God is spoken to us, and our hearts are hard, and there is no deep, soft feeling in them; no love to God. And the little seeds get dry, and wither away!

But, children, if we feel our hearts are hard, let us turn to God quickly, and ask Him to send us His Holy Spirit to help us to love Him, and to make us grow up to bear fruit; and He will, if we ask Him.

Well, then, besides the two kinds I have told you about, some of the little seeds fall into ground that has other things growing in it.

What are the "other things" that grow in our hearts and choke God's Word?

They may be too much pleasure, too much enjoyment, too many toys, love of money, love of our own way—heaps of things in our hearts may choke God's good seed, and it may not grow up and bear fruit. Oh, how sad, if this should be so with our hearts! Let us ask God not to let them be overgrown with "thorns."

But at last the seed falls on to good ground. The Word of God comes to a heart which is ready to receive it. A heart which is longing for the Lord Jesus to live in it. Longing that His seed may grow and bear fruit, and that people may know that we love Jesus and want to please God.

Can you think of some of the things which can be called fruit, and show that Jesus is indeed living in your heart?

Are you loving? Do you try to be? Are you pure and good, and straight-forward in all your dealings with your companions?

Are you obedient at home, loving and dutiful?

Think of these things, and if the seed has really taken root in your heart, think of what a glorious harvest-time there will be by and by, when Jesus comes to gather all who have loved Him into the Father's eternal Harvest-home.

XXIV. The Ten Virgins

In the 24th of Matthew and the 44th verse our Lord tells His disciples about His promise to come back again, and He earnestly begged them to be watchful, reminding them that His coming would be very sudden.

He described how two would be in a field, and how one should be taken and the other left behind: and that two should be grinding flour with the mill-stones, and how one would be taken and the other would be left behind.

And then our Lord added this warning, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

He wants all who love Him to be quite ready for Him.

Now you know just what it means to be ready?

A father is perhaps going to take his children for a holiday in the country, and he says to them, "Be quite ready, children. I am going out to get a cab, and we must start the moment it comes, or we shall lose the train. Keep looking out for me, and be quite ready waiting. I do not want one of you to be left behind!"

[Illustration: "LORD, LORD OPEN TO US!"]

Well, some of the children are very obedient, and they do exactly as they are told.

But one child thinks to herself, "There is plenty of time—Father has hardly got to the end of the road yet, and I do just want to finish this page of my book! Then I will dress in a hurry!"

But the page takes longer than she thought, and while she hastens upstairs to dress, the cab drives up, and she is not ready!

The father looks dreadfully sorry, for the train will not wait; and the little girl has to be left behind!

That is why our Lord says in that 24th Chapter, "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."

So after Jesus had urged them so earnestly to watch, and to be ready, He told them a story, which will help us all to understand what He meant.

"Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom," He said.

And five of these virgins were wise, and five were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them.

They wanted to meet the Bridegroom, but they forgot that perhaps He might come when it was dark night, and their lamps would be of no use unless there was oil in them.

It was not that they could not have obtained the oil; oh, no! But they were careless, and did not think.

But the wise virgins took oil in their pitchers, with their lamps.

So they all went out to meet the Bridegroom, some with oil, and some without it.

But it seemed a long time before the Bridegroom came, and all the virgins fell fast asleep while they waited.

But at midnight there was a sudden cry! But it was a sound of happy voices! "Behold the Bridegroom cometh!" the voices said joyfully.

Then the virgins waked out of their sleep, and they rose up and quickly trimmed their lamps.

But the foolish virgins found to their dismay that their lamps had gone out, and their little pitchers were empty!

So they ran to the wise virgins, and asked them to give them some of their oil!

But the wise virgins shook their heads, for they knew they must not give their oil away, or they would have none left for their own lamps to meet the Bridegroom.

"Go quickly and buy!" they urged the foolish virgins.

And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage; and the door was shut.

Oh, the terrible sound of those words—the door was shut!

Afterwards the other virgins hurried back; and when they came to that closed door, they called with bitter longing and entreaty, "Lord, Lord open to us!"

But the Bridegroom answered in these sorrowful words which should be a warning to every one of us as we read them, "Verily I say unto you I know you not."

This story has, as you see, a very sorrowful ending.

And the Lord Jesus would not have told it to us unless He had intended us to take a great warning from it.

The Oil spoken of in this Parable is a type or picture to help us to understand about the Holy Spirit.

For we must have the Holy Spirit in our hearts if we want to go in with Jesus to the Marriage supper, in Heaven.

When Jesus was baptized in Jordan, John saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, and resting upon Him.

Perhaps you ask, "Could those foolish virgins have had the oil?" Ah! Indeed they might! Evidently they could have bought the oil.

The Holy Spirit is given to us "without money and without price," for our Lord says, "How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."

Some years ago we had a young maid who could not understand how she was to find Jesus. I told her that if she would pray for the Holy Spirit, she would certainly be shown the way.

In ten days she came to me with a joyful face. "I did pray as you told me," she said, "and I have come to Jesus, and He is my Saviour."

XXV. The Good Samaritan

There was once a lonely man, walking in Palestine on the mountainous road between Jerusalem and Jericho.

He had no one with him, and his heart sank as he recalled the stories of the wild men who lived in the caves, and came out to rob unfortunate travellers who passed that way.

The silence was unbroken, and as he looked from side to side and hurried along, he began to hope that he might reach Jericho without mishap.

The road lay between steep hills and mountains, and there were sharp corners and jutting rocks all along the way, which would hide any number of the robbers who haunted the place.

But all his fears and all his anxious, watchful glances were of no use. Suddenly a band of thieves sprang out of their hiding-place behind him, and in a moment they surrounded him, robbed him of all his property, and, as he evidently resisted them with all his might, they not only robbed him, but cruelly wounded him, and then made off, leaving him by the roadside, half dead.

Sad indeed was his plight, lying there in the glaring sunshine, aching with pain and consumed with thirst. "Would no one come to help him?" he sadly thought.

Yes—he heard footsteps coming down the stony path, and as they drew nearer and nearer, his hope began to revive. Surely some kind man would take pity on him!

And then the steps came close to him, and at last, as he lifted his weary eyes, he saw one of the Jewish priests standing for an instant, arrested by the sad sight, but, when the priest saw him, he passed by on the other side of the road, and went away.

So the lonely man lay there, still suffering and uncared for.

Presently another step was heard, and another man, a Jewish Levite, came along the road, and, catching sight of the wounded man, he came over and looked at him; but he, too, passed by on the other side.

* * * * *

But at length there was a traveller who was making the same journey, and he saw the poor man lying there dying; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. A great pity filled his heart. He could not bear to see him wounded and suffering.

So he quickly went to his side and bound up his wounds, putting on them the only salves he had with him, oil and wine, which would both soothe and heal the sores; and then he lifted him on to his own donkey, and walking by his side and doing everything he could for the poor man, he brought him at length to an Inn, where he made him as comfortable as ever he could, and stayed with him all night.

You can picture to yourself this kind traveller sitting quietly by the suffering stranger, and cheering him with kind words, and bidding him hope for better times, when he should be well again.

At length the morning came, and the traveller was obliged to proceed on his journey. So he called the Master of the Inn and gave him some money, and told him to take care of the stranger, and promised to repay the Innkeeper, when he returned, whatever he had spent in caring for the sick man.

* * * * *

Nov when the Lord Jesus told this story to the lawyer who had been questioning him, He turned to him and asked him, "Which do you think was a neighbour to this man that fell among the thieves?"

So the lawyer answered him, "The one who shewed mercy on him!"

And Jesus said to him words like this, "Then you go and do the same."

And now, I think, our Lord Jesus, who looks down from heaven at all that is happening here, says to each one of us, as we pass on our journey through this world—"Go thou, and do like that kind Samaritan."

And perhaps you say to yourself: "How can I? I do not see any wounded men that want help—I am only a boy, and nobody needs my care! I am only a girl, and I have lessons and work to do, and I have not got any neighbours, such as that story speaks of—people who want my help—I am only a little girl!"

Yes, that is natural for you to say to yourself, but just stop for a moment and think.

You have a brother who is a Scout! Is not he always looking out for opportunities to help others? Cannot you be a "Scout" for Jesus our King? Cannot you, whether you are boy or girl, do at least one kindness a day?

That invalid sister drops her ball of wool! Cannot you stop as you are racing out to play, to pick it up, and give her a sweet smile of cheer into the bargain?

That schoolfellow has a headache and cannot get his sums right. Could you not bend over him for a moment or two, and help him find out the mistake, and set him free to come out and play?

Oh, do not say in your heart, "He is nothing to me, I cannot help his troubles!" Do not be like the Priest and the Levite. Cheer up everyone you come across, and if you do this for Jesus your King, believe me, your life will be full of sunshine and joy.

Do one kind deed every day, and you will end in being, in very truth, like the Good Samaritan whom Jesus praised.

XXVI. No Wedding Garment

Our Lord told the people who listened to Him many wonderful stories, or parables, which were meant to sink deep into their hearts, to warn them lest they should sin, or to encourage them to be good.

He often told them stories about "the Kingdom of Heaven," for He wanted all who heard Him to enter into that Kingdom, and to share its everlasting joy.

The parable I am going to tell you to-day is one in which the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a certain great King who made a marriage feast for his son.

He invited a great many guests, and when all was ready, he sent his servants to call them all to the wedding.

But the guests who were invited were so busy about their own affairs that they did not trouble to come to the King's house!

Then the King sent some more servants, with the message that everything was prepared for the feast, and to bid the guests to come to the marriage.

But they made light of the invitation! One went to his farm, and another to his business; and the rest treated the King's messengers very badly, and even killed some of them.

Then the King was very angry, and sent his armies against the men who had murdered his messengers.

Then the King said to his servants, "The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy: go instead into the highways, and bid all that you can find to come to the marriage."

So the servants went out, and gathered all they could find, and brought them to the King's Palace, both bad and good. And this time there were plenty of people who came to accept the invitation.

Then the King came in to see the guests, and his eyes fell on one of them who had not on a wedding garment.

I think it is plain from the story, as our Lord told it, that this man might have had a wedding garment if he had chosen to do so.

Doubtless the servants had beautiful clean garments ready in another room, which the King had provided for every guest to put on.

But this one guest had no wedding garment!

Then the King said to him: "Friend, how did you come in to the banquet without having a wedding garment?"

But the man was speechless; he had no answer to make; he had no excuse to offer. Perhaps he thought his own clothes were good enough for any wedding feast! Perhaps he had been angry with the servants for offering him the King's garment!

We are not told—we only know that unless he had that garment which had been provided, he could not taste of the King's feast.

The King ordered him to be sent away; and, in the dark night outside, how earnestly he must have wished that he had not been so proud, or so careless; and how he must have wept when he realized all he had missed.

I think that the Lord Jesus told this story as a solemn warning against some things which prevent people from entering the "Kingdom of Heaven."

These things are just as likely to prevent people now, as they were in the time that our Lord gave this parable to the multitude.

The chief danger is carelessness.

People say:

"Oh, I haven't time!"

"Oh, I can't take the trouble to be religious, I do very well as I am."

They think it is all very well to be invited to the Wedding-feast in the Kingdom of Heaven, but they have other things to do; and they esteem the servants of the King, who bring the message, as very troublesome persons, who had better mind their own business!

Those are some of the people who miss getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.

[Illustration: THE KING ORDERED HIM TO BE SENT AWAY.]

XXVII. Sowing the Tares

When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He taught many of His most wonderful lessons by means of Story-pictures, or Parables.

Perhaps you are older than some of your school-fellows, and the little ones gather round you and say "Tell us a story!"

Don't they love stories? And don't you love stories?

So did the people to whom our Lord spoke. He often put a word-picture before their eyes, and it sank into their hearts, and they remembered it ever after.

I am going to tell you about one of these Parables which our Lord told to the listening multitudes.

This one was about "The Kingdom of Heaven." This is the word picture which he put before their eyes.

He said that the Kingdom of Heaven was like a man who had a field, and who sowed it with good seed.

But at night, under cover of the darkness, while men were asleep, there came an enemy into this field.

He carried a basket in his hands, and as he went up and down the field, he looked stealthily round him to make sure that no one was aware of his presence. And then he took handful after handful of seed from his basket and scattered it all over the field. Then he crept away in the darkness.

[Illustration: SOWING THE TARES.]

Why did he do it, do you think?

It was because he hated the owner of the field, and wished to destroy his beautiful harvest.

By and by the seeds began to grow, and the little blades came up green all over the field. Then the servants of the master of the field, looking closely at the crop, saw that some of the blades were of good wheat, but some looked like tares, which were of no use to anyone and only injured the wheat. So they hastened to the owner of the field, and they said, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field; how have the tares got there?"

And the owner said, "An enemy has done this."

Then the servants asked if they might root up the tares at once.

I have read that when the little plants are young, the blades of the wheat and the blades of the tares are so much alike that it is difficult to tell them apart.

So the master of the field answered, "No; you had better not try to pull up the tares, lest you should pull up the wheat with them. Let them both grow together until the harvest; and in time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'Gather together the tares first, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

* * * * *

This is a story, as I said, of "The Kingdom of Heaven." And it is important to all of us, because we all live in that Kingdom. Our hearts ought to be God's throne here, we ought to be growing up as His Good Seed, to be gathered into His eternal Home when the Harvest comes!

You may not always live in England—you may go to Canada, or Australia, or France, or Germany!

But in this Kingdom of Heaven you may always abide, till the Harvest-day comes; and happy for you if you do!

God's Kingdom is a place where His Good Seed grows.

Perhaps your Mother or your Teacher tells you of Jesus our Saviour, and of His love, and you long to be able to serve Him. You would like to be kind and loving to those round you; you are sorry when you do wrong, you are happy when you do right. That is the Good Seed taking root and growing in your heart!

But at other times you feel differently.

You are not so happy; you do not wish to do good things so much; you even find yourself wanting to do wrong things! You find it hard to be loving; you want so much to do something you have been forbidden to do; you are sure no one will see you if you do wrong, and you say to yourself, "After all, it is such a little thing," or "It is only this once!"

Ah! Those are the tares sown in your heart!

"How did they get there?" the servants asked the Master.

And He answered, "An enemy has done this."

Satan is our enemy. It is true we cannot see him, but he is near us all the same.

Like the enemy in the Parable, he creeps out when men are asleep—when you are off your guard—when you have forgotten to watch and to pray; and it is he who whispers to you that:

"No one will see."

"That it is such a little thing."

"That it is so hard to obey!"

Ah! What must the little Christian boy do when he finds tares in the field of his heart? What must the little Christian girl do when she finds tares in God's Kingdom in her heart?

I think the best thing to do is to look up to Jesus instantly, and ask Him to conquer the great enemy for you. Say the Holy name Jesus softly to yourself, or out loud if you are alone, Satan, our great enemy, will run away, you will surely find.

He was named JESUS (which means Victory).

"For He shall save His people from their sins."

XXVIII. The Prodigal Son

There was a man who had two sons. He loved them both very much, and did everything he could to make them happy.