THE GOSPEL (5)
THE GOSPEL (5)
JTJr I thought the reference to the word of God would be an interesting inquiry in relation to the gospel. The Lord says, in verse 11, “The seed is the word of God”.
ABP In Matthew 13:38 the persons are sown — “These are the sons of the kingdom”. Here, the seed that is sown is the word of God.
JT That is very plain; “The seed is the word of God”.
ANW Peter says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the living and abiding word of God”, 1 Peter 1:23.
JTJr Here it is what is sown in the person; the ground refers to persons.
JT The word is a living idea.
CAM Would the potential be in the word? That is where the value lies that would produce something.
JTJr Yes; the word does not change; the seed is the same in each place, whether it be the rocky soil or otherwise; it is the same word.
JMacK Is your thought that every kind of material in the heart of man is tested by the word, and that whilst the seed is the word, it depends upon the environment into which it comes as to its fruitfulness?
JTJr I think that is what comes out here.
JMacK And is it not important to see that the word tests every kind of ground? Does it not bring man, as such, into responsibility — not only the persons who receive it?
JTJr Quite so. It would seem that formation is in mind. The Lord finishes with the thought of [p. 418] His mother and His brethren being those who hear the word of God and do it. So that an order of things is established in persons in a collective sense.
AEW Is this like what is mentioned in Acts 19:20, “Thus with might the word of the Lord increased and prevailed”?
JTJr That is an interesting reference because the allusion to the word there is that it increased, meaning that it was taking form in persons.
AR What is the difference between this chapter and the reference in chapter 1 to those who were attendants on the Word?
JTJr Well, the reference in chapter 1 is to the Person of Christ, as is also seen in John 1:1. He is also called “The Word of God” in Revelation 19:13. All that is sown must be from Him, and it is evidently connected with what is spoken; it is the word.
JMacK And presented in testimony?
JT Yes; the word is a living idea; it is the living and abiding word of God.
ANW Peter confirms what has been said as to the vocal character of the word: “But this is the word which in the glad tidings is preached to you”, 1 Peter 1:25. It is in the preaching.
CFE In Psalm 119 we have several references to the word. In verse 105 it says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” Psalm 119:115. The word there is for guidance in our pathway.
JTJr Reference to Psalm 119 is very fitting because so much is said in it about the word, the precepts, the law, the testimony, the statutes, the commandments and all that line of things.
LW In verse 8 of our chapter it says, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear”. Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of thy words giveth light, giving understanding unto the simple”.
JTJr [p. 419] Yes, Psalm 119 is very helpful in that an important end is reached in it. Did not Mr. Raven say that Psalm 119 finishes the Psalms as a point reached?
JT Quite so.
JTJr It is a point reached in the believer for the word of God is established in him.
RWS Is that what is reached here in the thought of a hundredfold, the thought of fruit being brought to perfection, and hearing the word of God and doing it? Is that what you have in mind as to formation reaching its desired end?
JTJr Yes, the word has formation in view.
JMacK Would this formation take place as the word is received, the formation being the work of the Spirit? And would it not follow the intelligent line in the soul as the word becomes understood?
JTJr I would think that, and being born again by it, as alluded to in Peter’s writings, must have that in mind. It is a question of the intelligence.
AR In Hebrews 4:12 it says, “The word of God is living and operative”. God really comes into the matter through the word: “And there is not a creature unapparent before him; but all things are naked and laid bare to his eyes”.
JTJr The word of God is linked immediately with God Himself in that scripture.
JMacK In Acts 10:44 it says, “While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word”. Does it not show that the Holy Spirit very quickly links on with what is spoken as there is faith and readiness to receive it?
JTJr I think that is very important. We should have in mind that the word, as spoken, is one thing; it is from God. But then it says, “Who were hearing the word”. That refers to what was going on in them; they were [p. 420] hearing.
AR The word in Acts 10:44 is the logos. Christ was that, was He not? He was the full expression of the mind of God.
JTJr God’s thoughts have been expressed in Christ; but they are also expressed in the word of God; it is of God and from God.
ABP In Acts 10:44 there is reference to “the word” and “these words”. Would the plural idea be the breaking down of the scope of the truth included in the thought of the word?
JTJr Yes, I would say that; it is the detailed way in which the mind of God is conveyed.
LW The angel, in Acts 5:20, released the apostles from the prison and said to them, “Go ye and stand and speak ... all the words of this life”.
JTJr The “words of this life” would be about the life of Jesus.
SCM Peter says, “The word of the Lord abides for eternity”, 1 Peter 1:25. Does the formation go through?
JTJr That refers to the word itself: “The word of the Lord abides for eternity”. It is a quotation from Isaiah 40:8, where it is contrasted to the brevity of the life of all flesh.
SCM That lends force to the rest of the verse, “But this is the word which in the glad tidings is preached to you” 1 Peter 1:25.
JTJr The gospel should take that form; therefore, it is a question of how we preach — if what we say is the word of God.
RWS In certain nations the word of God has prospered and there has been formation; in others there is not much for God apparent. The Gauls were marked by fickleness and the Cretans by lying. Does that affect the results, and is sovereignty behind it?
JTJr I suppose that what we have in this chapter would cover that. Various kinds of ground [p. 421] are alluded to in the parable. Therefore, if we apply it nationally, we might well ask what kind of soil there is in this and other countries.
DP In 1 Corinthians 1:18 the apostle calls attention to “the word of the cross”. Is that different from the word of God?
JTJr It would be the opening up of the truth of what the cross involved.
ABP The word of God is a wider thought than that, is it not?
JTJr Yes, I think the word of God would embrace every phase of the truth.
JMacK Is it not important to see that the sower does not select the ground? He allows every kind of ground to come under the searching character of the word. Should that be a stimulation to us to use the word freely that it might accomplish something in the good ground, but in any case, to accomplish that whereunto it is sent?
JT Do you mean in its searching character?
JMacK Yes; the word in Isaiah 55:11 is that: “It shall not return unto me void, but it shall do that which I please, and it shall accomplish that for which I send it”.
ANW It has been remarked that the word of God covers every phase of what is spoken. The Lord, in quoting from Deuteronomy to Satan, in Matthew 4:4, said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which goes out through God’s mouth”.
JTJr Quite so; the logos is not only what has been said, but what can be said; it is what God can say.
FNW Is the good ground entirely the work of the Holy Spirit in new birth?
JTJr Well, we can look at it in that way, I suppose, but we have presented to us here the various kinds of ground that exist. It is more from [p. 422] the side of responsibility; that is, whether it is good ground, or rocky, or thorny ground. We might ask what kind of ground there is here tonight.
JT Just so — in you, and in me, and in every one of us.
ABP In Isaiah 55, where it speaks of God’s word not returning to Him void, the preparation of the ground is referred to: “As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud”.
WWM Would the ground be presented in the word “towards all, and upon all those who believe”, Romans 3:22? Would those who believe be the good ground?
JT “All those who believe”; it is a question of faith, and what they believe; that is the good ground.
VCL Is this an illustration of the truth that “where sin abounded grace has overabounded” (Romans 5:20)?
JT Quite so; God has seen the extent to which sin has gone and has acted accordingly.
AR Verse 15 would confirm that the ground is in the persons: “But that in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience”. The good ground, therefore, would be the honest and good heart.
JTJr So the question may be asked, How do we get an honest and good heart?
AR Will you tell us, please?
JTJr Well, I think we must first discern what the flesh is in us; that all our hearts are the same; “there is no difference; for all have sinned” (Romans 3:22,23).
JMacK Whilst, clearly, there is the matter of sovereignty in the word and the quickening power of the Spirit, yet does not this parable throw into relief the element of responsibility with all of us?
[p. 423] The moral environment into which the word comes determines its fruitfulness, although, from the divine side, the seed is always good.
ANW The Lord, in summing up in verse 18, says, “Take heed therefore how ye hear”. The crux of the matter seems to be in how we hear - whether tonight or at any time.
Ques Is the searching character of the word seen in Acts 2:37? Being pricked in heart they said, “What shall we do, brethren?”. They were convicted.
JTJr That is right; that is, perhaps, the beginning of honesty; it must have a beginning, and conviction is necessary.
AR Repentance would take place if souls were convicted.
JTJr I think there is a process; the Lord is speaking about the different kinds of ground here; and after all, our hearts are all the same, basically; any difference that comes in from our lost condition must be the result of God’s work in us.
JT Our circumstances have much to do with it.
DMacd It says of Mary that she “kept all these things in her heart”, (Luke 2:52).
JTJr She had positive things before her. But seven demons had gone out from Mary of Magdala, which refers to the power of evil. Before we can have an honest and good heart, things that are there which are not right must go.
CAM Is it not worth noting that our ears are referred to? It is an important matter: “He that has ears to hear ...”. That brings in our responsibility. When Stephen rendered his testimony those who were addressed stopped their ears.
JTJr The side of our responsibility should be stressed. We are responsible as to the word which we have heard.
Ques Joseph’s brethren alleged that they were honest men. Is the process to which you have [p. 424] referred seen in the way Joseph had to take to bring out that they were not honest?
JTJr That is right; they had to come to that in self-judgment.
Ques What can be said about the devil being able to take away the word after it is once sown?
JTJr I think that we can each work the thing out in ourselves. We all know how, at times, the word has been taken away from us.
JMacK Is it somewhat like the blinding of the minds of them that believe not? People are not blinded save as they are unbelieving; it is the advantage that Satan acquires through unbelief in persons.
JTJr And I suppose, also, the working of the will enters into it.
FHL In Hebrews 6:5 reference is made to some who “have tasted the good word of God” and have fallen away.
RWS Abraham did not let the devil have access in Genesis 15; he scared the birds away. It was a question of the word of God in that chapter.
JTJr That is good; we must be on the watch for the enemy coming and taking things away from us.
Ques Do we need to call upon the Spirit in this connection? It is said of the Thessalonians that they “accepted the word in much tribulation with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). I wondered if the service of the Spirit is essential if we, as believers, are to keep the word in our hearts.
JT Quite so; and there is joy in it, too.
ANW According to verse 14, we must watch lest the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” choke the word.
JTJr Those are things which come up. In the first case of the word springing up, it says, “It was dried up because it had not moisture”. There was [p. 425] something lacking, subjectively. That is often the case, that we lack a subjective work; there is no moisture.
CFE Is the subjective side seen in the women who ministered to the Lord of their substance? They had acquired substance so that they were able to minister to Him.
JTJr That section indicates what was in the Lord’s mind. “He went through the country city by city, and village by village, preaching and announcing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with him, and certain women”. The Lord had this order of things in mind. There is the administrative thought in the twelve, but the feminine side was there, too. So that you have something reached in the gospel in that way — administration and subjective affection are there; there are conditions where the word of God has taken form.
ABP Does that connect with Romans 10: where it speaks of believing in the heart?
JTJr Quite so, and obeying from the heart the form of teaching. The form of teaching would be the responsibility of the preacher.
SCM That passage also says, “The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from among the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:8,9).
JT “My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it” (verse 21).
JTJr That would confirm what our brother has been saying: “The word is near thee, in thy mouth”. If confession is made with the mouth and there is a believing heart, we have the good ground. These are subjective things; it is like hearing and doing.
JT One of the most important things that has come before us of late is the part the Father and the [p. 426] Son and the Holy Spirit have in these things, and how divine Persons act and react on each other.
ABP Would the moisture referred to here be a preparatory work of the Spirit?
JTJr I think it alludes to the Spirit, because all subjective work is by the Spirit; the moisture would allude, in some way, to the Spirit.
RWS When Paul came to Ephesus and found certain disciples who had not heard that the Spirit had come, it could be said that they did not have moisture until the Holy Spirit came upon them.
JTJr They were not really established until they had received the Spirit. Paul saw to it that they did receive the Spirit, so that they would not be dried up.
AR And then there is the word in John 3:8: “The wind blows where it will, and thou hearest its voice, but knowest not whence it comes and where it goes: thus is every one that is born of the Spirit”.
JTJr That is John’s presentation of the truth; that is the sovereign action of God by the Spirit.
AR Does it connect with the thought of the tempestuous blowing of Acts 2:2, which took place in the upper room?
JTJr Well, I think that what has been remarked about the Father, the Son and the Spirit should be kept in mind. The verse you allude to is the work of the Spirit. All that the Spirit is doing is in relation to the other divine Persons.
JT We are to consider the relations between the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Though all are equal in Deity, yet the Son and the Spirit have taken lowly places in serving.
JTJr So that the most important side of the truth bears upon the Father, the Son and the Spirit acting and reacting in relation to Themselves; and the Spirit is referred to in John 3 in view of new birth Does the Spirit’s service accompany the word of God as it is preached?
JTJr Well, it is the word of God, and it is a question of what is involved in that.
Ques Does the word of God involve the three divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
JT Just so; the Father, the Son and the Spirit; the three Persons.
EEH The Lord says, in John 6:44, “No one can come to me except the Father who has sent me draw him”. Is that an instance of divine Persons reacting on one another?
JT Just so; that is just the point; the thought of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three Persons, and yet They are the same; we can regard Them as equal and yet They are not equal in relation to the working out of divine thoughts. We have to make allowance for the Father being greatest of all, and the Son next, and the Spirit next.
FHL Peter referred to that on the day of Pentecost when he said of the Lord Jesus: “Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which ye behold and hear”, (Acts 2:33).
JT Quite so.
VCL And is the matter brought within our range in what the Lord said, “If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him”, (John 14:23)?
ANW And the Lord also said, “My Father ... is greater than all”. We have to understand that.
EEH The Lord said of the blind man in John 9 that the works of God were to be manifested in him. At the same time He opened the blind man’s eyes. It was the works of God.
[p. 428] Rem The three divine Persons are seen operating in relation to the word in Titus 3:4 - 8: “But when the kindness and love to man of our Saviour God appeared, not on the principle of works which have been done in righteousness which we had done, but according to his own mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that having been justified by his grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The word is faithful, and I desire that thou insist strenuously on these things”.
ABP Is there a link between John’s teaching and this chapter in the moisture? It says, in John 3:5, “Except any one be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.
JT The water, in a certain sense, is on a level with the Spirit. Elsewhere we have, “They that bear witness are three: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three agree in one”, (1 John 5:7,8).
AR Would being engaged with the Father direct us towards God?
JT It would.
JTJr What you have been stressing is what has come out in revelation — the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to be regarded in that order.
AEW Should we, in our preachings, be more concerned to make room for divine Persons? We are apt to be more concerned as to what we shall say than that room should be made for the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit to have Their part in it.
WWM Verse 14 refers to things that hindered the fruit: “cares and riches and pleasures of life”. We may have escaped the latter two, but be burdened with anxious cares which hinder the fruit from coming to perfection. We are to live by faith and trust God and not be burdened with anxious cares.
JMacK [p. 429] Does the reference to hearing the word and keeping it refer to moral qualities in persons?
JT Quite so; therefore you have to count on these qualities coming to light through the preaching.
JMacK Stability would be seen in a person making room for the word and keeping it, so that with patience fruit is brought forth.
CAM Is it not encouraging to realise that the potentialities are in the word; growth is not a matter of effort?
JT The potentialities are with the word; therefore it is a question of the conditions in which we are found. As together here as brethren we affect one another for good. But we are not all the same, and therefore we have to be patient, and move on together in these things.
Ques We have spoken about the word of God in relation to the glad tidings, but we can say that we have had it as together tonight, also.
VCL What has been said about environment lays stress upon the fact that the word of God has added power as spoken where the saints are present. The preaching being in the environment of those who have the word of God in their hearts sets the matter on.
AR There is a difference in the three gospels as to what is produced. In this gospel it is, “having sprung up bore a hundredfold”.
JT Luke would give the full result of grace.
ANW I think you have said that the evangelist is optimistic.
JMacK Does verse 16 contemplate that the person who keeps the word and brings forth fruit can be used testimonially?
JT Very good; he can be relied upon.
RWS And is the local assembly in mind in this section?
[p. 430] JTJr I thought so; the good ground is the environment where the word of God is appreciated, and that is extended in verse 16, “that they who enter in may see the light”.
AR We might say that the local meeting is referred to in verse 21 in those who hear the word of God and do it.
SW Would you open up the thought of hearing the word and keeping it in verse 15, and hearing the word and doing it in verse 21.
JTJr We become related to Christ as we hear the word of God and do it. Keeping the word is linked with the thought of patient continuance.
FHL The Lord looked around in a circuit in Mark 3:34, suggesting the circle of fellowship, would you say?
JT Yes; the Lord looking around in a circuit would speak of the fellowship; they were all there, ready to act for one another.
JMacK In Philippians 1:14 the apostle Paul says that the boldness of the brethren to speak the word of God hung upon its being manifest that his bonds were in Christ. That would suggest that the testimonial side, and the speaking of the word of God, flowed out from the evident witness in a person.
RM Does the reference to Isaac reaping a hundredfold teach us that the most effective man in testimony is the heavenly man? It says, in Genesis 26:12: “And Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold; and Jehovah blessed him”.
GVD There must be many believers in Christendom who hear the word of God but do not follow it to its logical conclusion. If thy did they would be in the assembly in a practical way. Hearing the word of God and doing it would bring one into that position, would it not?
ANW [p. 431] Obedience to the word brings out those who are practically in the assembly.
ABP Before this chapter is concluded a man, a woman and a child are secured — suggestive of the personnel of the assembly.
JTJr That is the result that the Lord had in mind; His real relatives come to light in those who hear the word of God and do it. The preaching has been before us in these meetings, and it is a question of what the preachers are saying, and how long they take to say it, and are the saints really hearing the word?
VCL It is said of Paul, “who, fixing his eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be healed” (Acts 14:9). He saw that as he was speaking the word, did he not?
JTJr Do you mean that we should look at our audience to see what is going on in them?
VCL We feel encouraged at seeing those who have the word of God in their hearts.
JTJr So that it is good to look at the brethren to see that faith is active.
RWS Did you refer to the length of time we take to speak? Do you think that we should be more brief?
JTJr Well, I mean that the word of God should be in evidence; something in which God is helping us. We may have things arranged in our minds in view of speaking, but what has God in mind? The word of God will come in as way is made for it.
WWM Paul’s instruction to Timothy was to “proclaim the word”, (2 Timothy 4:2).
JT Yes, without saying what word, showing that the word had acquired great place with him.
DMacd Philip evidently preached with much liberty to the eunuch, showing that something can be given us at a moment’s [p. 432] notice.
JT In the service it is a question, chiefly, of the Spirit. He supplies what is needed. It is what He will bring in through the speaker, what He has in mind. So we need to give Him scope in ourselves.
ABP Philip “preached the Christ” to the Samaritans. Then, later, he announced to them “the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12). All this is included in the idea of the word of God, for it says that “Samaria had received the word of God” (Acts 8:14).
JTJr Yes; therefore we see the great variety in the word that is available to the preacher; and it is the living and abiding word of God.
SCM It says of Samson that “he found a fresh jawbone of an ass” (Judges 15:15). Is that suggestive?
JTJr Quite so; it was fresh, but he threw it away after it had served its purpose; Judges 15:17.
Rem The apostle speaks of the gospel, in 2 Corinthians 3:8, as “the ministry of the Spirit”.
ANW And Peter says that certain have declared to you “the glad tidings by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven”, (1 Peter 1:12).
AR What is meant by the fact that Samson threw the jawbone away?
JTJr Well, he would not use it again. The Lord might have you use a word again, but it would be in a fresh way. Samson found a fresh jawbone. The thing was fresh; it is suggestive of the living character of the word of God.
EAL It would not be a sermon from the bottom of the barrel, as they say.
FHL In the parable there are four classes or kinds of ground. This would suggest the universal thought, so that the word of God covers every condition that might be presented to the preacher.