The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-26
Sunday School Lesson for May u.
The Parables of the Kingdom.
MATT XIII: 24-43
BY REV. J. E. GILBERT, ID. D. LID,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

world which belonged to Christ (Col i;l6) In
which He had deposited the seed Of righteousness
the truth spoken by Him U,ukc viit:lD which
produces good men (versc Ss) the cmidrcn oil INC
Kingdom Into this field the devil enters slyly
and unseen, and deposits falschoods (Gcn. li;D
as the father and author of lies, whence cone
children OF wiokedness. The harvest Is tho end
Of the world O'cv xv:15) some say the end OF
the age, the closing up of the present order ol
things. Tho rcapcrs are the angels, the mess
cngers Of God, those who behold tins mixed c"n
dition on the earth and wonder and wait until
the order shall 90 forth declaring the end, those
snlcss being who minister now to the righteous,
but shall administer justice to the wicked.
APPLYING. .-Tte tcrminology having been thus
made plain Jesus proceeded to apply Ills teaching
Cvcrses 4l.43). He showed that the present mixed
condition OF affairs in this world, the mnglng
OF the righteous and the wicked will be brought
| to an end. A definite time has been fixed, I'M.
| known TO me (Nlatt. xxiv:36) styled the end Of
the world, frequently mentioned in the Scripture
| IL will be ushercd in by phenomena of a start
| ling character. The rightful sovereign, who has
| so long and so patiently endured the presence OF
| evil in His kingdom OIcb. xii:3) will then eX-
| change His attitude of mercy to one of justi e.
| BY the instrumertaty of angels whom lie will
| send forth lie will gather out of His kingdom
| all who offend. They will be doomed 10 destruc.
| tion. Shall We call it hgurativc language, as
| many do or shall we hold it to be literal ac-
count of their fate? They shall be cast into fur.
mace of fire. This is the statement Of the meek
and lowly Jesus, However the words are under.
| stood, the destiny is certain and awful (Rev.
| Xix:2O). After this fearful visitation shall come
| a better era, better world "The righteous shall
| shine forth as the SUM- (Dan. xii;3) fulfilling
the prediction of the prophet The implication
here is that the presence Of the ungodly prevents
the saints from appearing in their true glory.
| CONCLJ SION.-Our lesson suggests some diff.
! cult questions. Whence came the evil that is in
| the world? Why is this evil permitted to re-
main? How long will it continue? These and
other inquiries Of like import have engaged the
minds of the thoughtful in all ages and lands.
Many volumes have been written in the attempt
to answer, but nothing satisfactory has thus far
appeared, and men left to speculate and won
der. There is much mystery here as in the
| realm of physical science probably no mere. But
the teaching Of Jesus sheds light on the subject
and we do we'll to remember what lie has said
The evil is here through the work Of a malignant
| spirit. 1t remains only by permission for Tho
sake Of the good. Some day, in the time of in
finite wisdom, and by Divine fat and power, il
| will he cast out. A bright and glorious morn
ing shall dawn upon a world of righteousness
| lisa. Xi:5). When they who live the Lord shal
he seen in all their excellence CRev iii:5) claC
in white robes. All hail, blessed day! And wha
need men to do but choose the right and hat,
the wrong, to stand in their lot and places, as
sured that what Is now so mysterious will b
made plain. The world is under government
The Ruler is working out His plans, and Iii
name will he glorifed and His wisdom displayc,
in the result (Rev. xix:l-2).