The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Third Quarter, For
July 3, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. xiii, 31-33,
44-52-Msmory Verse, A-GoIden
Text, Rom. xiv 17-commsntary
PREPARED by Rev, o, M, Stearns.

44-52-Msmory Verse, 44-GoIden
Text, Rom. xiv, 17-commsntary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Having considered two of these sew
en- 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
36). 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, 1.-The field is the
world" 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 q 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
third there is the unnatural growth
from the least of all seeds, not only of
an herb, but of 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 Elk. 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, 81. The rule in all the
sacrifices was burn no leaven nor
any honey" Uev. ii, III, but there was
one exception made in reference to a
| thanksgiving offering, and leaven was
commanded to represent the evil that
was in their thanksgiving Uev. vii,
II, 10, and Amos iv, 81. This woman
| evidently represents the processing
church thoroughly corrupting her
teaching, and it is even now, as was
foretold in IL Tim. iii, 5; 1v, 3. a form
Of godliness denying the power and a
refusal to endure sound doctrine. Uni
tarianism and infidelity are in 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 Gen. xviii, 81. With the
devil catching away the seed or him
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 a field with treasure
hidden in it which a man buys, hav-
| ing sold all that he had in. order to
| buy 1t (verSe Az. 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 a hint that
salvation is to be hidden? Is 1t not
rather to be proclaimed to all peoples
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 II
or redeem it? Because, although he
created 1t, He gave it to Adam, and
Adam mortgaged it to the devil, who
was bold enough to say to our Lord
that he owned it Matt. Nv, 8, 81. Rom
viii, 81; Rev. xxi, 3, and other texts
teach that 1t shall yet be fully deliv.
cred. Elk. xix. 6, and references teach
us that the treasure is Israel, through
whom He will yet bless all nations
Up to the present, through all this age
she is q hidden treasure. and few
preachers make any reference to hel
or look for any future for her, but
such should give heed to Jer. xxxiii
24-26; Iii, II; lisa. Xxi.
In the parable of the pearl it mus
be the same man who gave up all tina
he had in order to obtain it. AS pearl.
come from the sea, this pearl mus
represent the church gathered from
the sea of nations and in due time II
be a glorious church. not having spo
or wrinkle or any such thing, holy ant
without blemish Eph. v, 2D-a per
feet PEARL ut perfect only becaus,
united to Him who purchased her. II,
said Of Israel, Thy beauty was per
feet through my comeliness which
had put upon thee QEzek. xvi, 14).
When the time of the mystery ha
passed the pearl-the church-shall b.
manifestly one with Him, and Israe
shall be manifestly His treasure in til
eyes of all nations While the parabl
of the net may have some reference
to the gathering at the end of the age
we must remember that He said t
some of His first followers, "Folloy
me. and will make you fishers o
men" (Iatt. iv, 19). Through all th
age the net has been gathering goo
and bad, not taking all the fish in tn
sea and not gathering only the goo
ones. but gathering OF every kind,