The Bossier banner., 1910-06-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Third Quarter, For
July 3, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. xiii, 1888,
44-52-Menory Verse, 4-GoIden
Text, Rom. xiv, 17-commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. nj stearns.


Having considered two Of these sew
Ell parallels, we are asked in this les
son to take up the remaining five. We
conclude from verse So that all the
seven formed one discourse. spoken at
one time, four publicly and three. with
the explanation of the second. more
privately to the disciples only Verse
go. We must remember that He is
in the whole discourse describing diff
ferent phases of this present age from
His rejection until His coming again,
the mysteries of the kingdom. What
ever symbol or figure He explains
stands good for the whole discourse
as, for example. "the field is the
worid,' the birds represent the wicked
one. the enemy is the devil, the har-
vest is the end Of the age. In the first
parable only perhaps fourth part of
the seed bears fruit, at least only a
part without saying how much. In
the second the children of God and
of the wicked one continue side by
side throughout the whole age. In the
from the least of all seeds. not only Of
an herb, but Of q tree, in the branches
of which the birds of the air lodge
In the fourth, the parable of the
leaven. a woman is seen leavening. or
corrupting. her food, for from Ex. xii,
where the houses had to be searched
and all leaven put away. all through
the Bible leaven is without exception
a symbol of evil. Our Lord taught to
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and of the Sadducees xvi, g., and Paul
taught to put away the leaven of
malice and wickedness and use the
unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth Il Cor. V, 8. The rule in all the
sacrifices was burn no leaven nor
any honey" Qev. ii. III, but there was
one exception made in reference TO a
Thanksgiving Offering and leayen was
commanded to represent the evil that
was i'll their Thanksgiving Q4ev. vii.
-, 13, and Amos iv, 81. This woman
evidently represents the processing
church thoroughly corrupting her
teaching, and 1t Is even now, as was
foretold in II Tim. iii, ); iv. 3. form
of godliness denying the power and
refusal to endure sound doctrine. Uni
tarianism and infdelity are tn many a
pulpit where only the pure gospel
ought to be preached. Sarah did bet
ter when she took three measures of
meal and baked unleavened cakes for
her visitors Gem xviii, 81. With the
devil catching away the seed or hin.
dering the fruit, sowing tares, enter
ing the church, causing false doctrine
to be taught, it does not look encour-
aging, but we are glad that He is not
discouraged and that He has told us
what to expect Qsa. xiii. A.
Let us hear the other parallels spo-
ken in the house to the disciples.
First there Is Il field with treasure
hidden ia 1t which Il man buys, hav-
ing sold all that lie had in order to
buy it (verse Al. This cannot repre-
sent the sinner obtaining salvation,
for salvation cannot be bought 1t is
wholly and only of free grace Neither
money nor good works can obtain it.
And where is there even hint that
salvation is to be hidden? Is it not
rather to be proclaimed to all people?
Let us hold fast the teaching of the
previous parallels and all will be clear
and easy. The field is the world. and
there is only one who can buy it, and
it is written of Him that. though He
was rich, for our sakes He became
poor. Why should He need to buy it
OF redeem it? Because. although he
created it. He gave it to Adam. and
was bold enough to say to our Lord
that he owned it (Matt. iv, S. 81. Rom.
will, 21; Rev. xii, 3, and other texts
teach that 1t shall yet be fully deliy-
cred. FIX. XIX. 5. and references teach
US t.at the treasure is Israel. through
whom He will yet bless all nations.
Up to the present, through all this age,
she is a hidden treasure, and few
preachers make any reference to her
or look for any future for her. but
such should give heed to Jer xxxiii,
24-26; Ill. II; lisa. Xxi
In the parable of the pearl 1t must
be the same man who gave up all that
he had in order to obtain it. AS pearls
come from the sea. this pearl must
represent the church gathered from
the sea of nations and In due time to
be glorious church. not having spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and
without blemish (Eph V. 2O-a per-
feet pearl, but perfect only because
united to Him who purchased her He
said Of Israel. Thy beauty was per-
feet through my comeliness which |
had put upon thee" (Ezek xvi. 14).
When the time Of the mystery has
passed the pearl-the church-shaIl be
manifestiy one with Him, and Israel
shall be manifestly His treasure in the
eyes of all nations. While the parable
of the net may have some reference
to the gathering at the end of the age.
we must remember that He said to
some Of His first followers, "Follow
me, and will make you fishers OF
men" (Matt. iv. 19). Through all the
age the net has been gathering good
and bad, not taking all the fish in the
sea ana not gathering only the good