Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®

Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Metaphors about sowing and reaping appear throughout Scripture. Proverbs has, “To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward” and “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity” (11:1822:8). Hosea 10:12 urges, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy.” And II Corinthians 9:6 cautions, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

The person who “soweth to the Spirit,” a commentary observes, “follows the Spirit’s guidance in his dispositions, words, and actions, and . . . employs his abilities of body and mind, his time, talents, and possessions, to promote true religion in himself and in those about him: . . .”

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Resources cited in this issue

RR: Benson, Joseph. Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. New York: T. Carlton & J. Porter, 1857. Also available at biblehub.com/commentaries; NLT Study Bible. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2017; Green, Joel B., et al., eds. The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Common English Bible, 2013.

Cit. 8: Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 6, Esther, Additions to Esther, Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Book of Wisdom, Sirach, Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature, Daniel, Additions to Daniel. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.

Cit. 17: Hendrickson Publishers. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991.

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