earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because
they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among
thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: but other
fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an
hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to
hear, let him hear."[616]

This new way of teaching, this departure from the Master's earlier
method of doctrinal exposition, caused even the most devoted of the
disciples to marvel. The Twelve and a few others came to Jesus when He
was apart from the multitude, and asked why He had spoken to the people
in this manner, and what was the meaning of this particular parable. Our
Lord's reply to the first part of the inquiry we shall consider
presently; concerning the second, He asked "Know ye not the parable? and
how then will ye know all parables?"[617] Thus did He indicate the
simplicity of this the first of His parables, together with its typical
and fundamental character, and at the same time intimate that other
parables would follow in the course of His teaching. Then He gave the
interpretation:

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone heareth
the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh
the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he
that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that
heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 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. 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. But he that received seed into the good ground is he
that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth
fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty."[618]

Further exposition may appear superfluous; some suggestion as to the
individual application of the contained lessons may be in place,
however. Observe that the prominent feature of the story is that of the
prepared or unprepared condition of the soil. The seed was the same
whether it fell on good ground or bad, on mellow mold or among stones
and thistles. The primitive method of