Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-07-31


these things shall be added unto you"
Matthew 6;33
We have studied some Of the prin-
ciples that are to obtain in the es-
tablishing and the working out of this
new kingdom Jesus came to found.
and the question naturally arises, rs
IL OF sufficient value for me to con-
slider or seek to enter It, or to possess
it?" In our lesson today there Is set
before us four parallels (Jesus' favor 70
way of teaching) which he gave priv
ately to his disciples and not to the
multitude. that ought to aniwer any
such questioning in our hearts.
The first two have to do with the
great value of the kingdom, tie sec
ond its mixed character and final sera-
ration, and the last the great resp
sibility of those who possess is
truths. In this entire group Of par
ables found in the thirteenth chapter
OF Matthew are four that are for men
who are careful to observe the out
ward development, and four others
that are for those men of faith no
! see beneath the surface the hid len
| things of the kingdom Those men
who view the kingdom in each par
4 tcular age as God sees rather than
as man observes.
Today's lesson sets forth the pur-
chase Of things of great value. the &C
QUESTION and disposition OF thing Of
mixed value. and lastly. the use OF
| these values after coming into the Dos
session OF them.
/. The hidden treasure, V. ~ Per-
haps more properly this should be
termed the parable of the bought field.
We need to remember that in all Of
these parallels the Master himself is
the important parsonage. He is the
one who sows the seed, etc. Hence
We understand that he is the one
who discovers this great treasure hid
den In the field. He has already told
us that the field is the world" Matt
1888.
Symbolism Of Pearls.
II. The pearl of great price, VS.. As.
46. This parable is very much the
same as the foregoing. yet it adds great
strength and force to this study in
values. We ought to be very clear in
our study and application. The pearl
OF great price may perhaps be taken
) as a symbol of our salvation, but If
so for us to interpret the merchant
: man as the commOnality of man would
be for the sinner to purchase his own
salvation. thing as far as possible
for the New Testament teaching.
g Why does Jesus speak of pearls to
q the Hebrews who did not esteem them
J. at all? What is the symbolism Of a
: pearl? The pearl is the one precious
i stone that is the result OF a living
= organism; ii is the result of an injury
a done to the life of the oyster. 1t has
= always stood for purity and for in
~ nocence. Is 1t then illogical for US to
!. assume that Christ is the merchant
- man who gave all to redeem e. G..
10 buy back the lost souls of mankind?
. III. The drag net, VS.. 1850 This
!, parable is another that deals with the
mixed character of the kingdom here
~ upon the earth and Of the final separa-
- ton incident thereto II is Noticeable
that this is elective, not ire. dual,
fishing. There will be many move
- ments that will ostensibly be for the
y gathering OF men into this kingdom.
but the principle here laid down is
that one considered in the lesson OF
~ the wheat and the tares. viz that ul-
Gu timately there shall be cast out all
&c. things that do offend. In the finality
u of all things the kingdom Aall be
10 without spot or blemish- Hence we
no do not read into this parable emrAa.
pc pc sis upon any phase OF evangelism.
Search the Scriptures.
". The householder. VS.. 51-53. In
the first of these parallels we had the
&c Word as the seed of this new kingdom
in this the eighth of the kingdom par
he ables we revert as it were to the mat
nj ter of the Word. Jesus asks his
an disciples If they under tend the Word
1I, he has spoken to them. Their re
:, Spouse Is. Yes, we do" Then jesus
,ir. shows them what a burden of respon
nil sibility due to possession rests upoI
them. Jesus refers to the Scribe:
whose work undtf the Jewish econ
omy was to transcribe and to interpre
and tells the disciples that they In
like manner are to interpret the king
dom to all men. They are to bring
forth" hidden treasures. We must re
nj member that Jesus taught in parable
-" that hearing they might not hear
- etc. hence We are to search tn
~ Scriptures and bring forth these hid
den treasures of truth as we go abou
doing our part.
Are We willing TO pay the price 70
~ the sake Of the pearl? Are We willin
DSS to pay the price of the field that otf
ass, ers may possess the great treasure C
As. eternal life in Christ? He.'paid tn
~. price to purchase eternal life for VI
X. Do not forget the kingdom is not ca