The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-01

before us four parallels Jesus favorite
way of teaching) which he gave priv
ately to his disciples and not to the
multitude, that ought to answer any
such questioning in our hearts
The first two have to do with the
great value Of the kingdom, the sec
and its mixed character and final sepa-
ration, and the last, the great respon-
s1bility Of those who possess its
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 who
see beneath the surface the hidden
things Of the kingdom. Those men
who view the kingdom in each par
ticular 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 things of
mixed value. and lastly, the use OF
these values after coming into the pos
session Of them.
/. The hidden treasure, v. A. 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 1t 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 II
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.
Why does Jesus speak Of pearls to
the Hebrews who did not esteem them
at all? What Is the symbolism of a
pearl? The pearl is the one precious
stone that Is the result of living
organism; 1t Is the result of an injury
done to the life of the oyster. It has
always stood for purity and for In
nocence. Is 1t then illogical for us to
assume that Christ Is the merchants
man who gave all to redeem (e: g..
buy back) the lost souls of mankind ?
Let us turn to Paul's words, remem.
bering the washing process, the pain
full process of developing pearls and
the ultimate beauty and value Of this
the pearl Of great price Christ also
loved the church, and gave himself
for It; that he might sanctify 1t, hav-
ing cleansed 1t BIZ the washing Of
water with the Word. that he might
present the church to himself glo-
rious church. Not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing; but that
1t should be holy and without blem.
fish," (Eph. 5:25-27.)
III. The drag net, VI. 47-50. This
| parable Is another that deals with the
mixed character of the kingdom here
upon the earth and Of the final separa-
tion incident thereto. 1t is noticeable
that this is collective, not individual,
fishing. There will be many move
ments that will ostensibly be for the
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 Ill
timately there shall be cast out all
things that do offend. In the finality
of all things the kingdom shall be
without spot or blemjsh. Hence we
do not read into this parable empha,
sis upon any phase OF evangelism.
Search tho Scriptures.
W. The householder, vs. 51-53. In
! the first of these parallels we had the
Word as the seed Of this new kingdom
In this the eighth of the kingdom par.
ables we revert as It were to the mat
ter Of the Word. Jesus asks his
1 disciples ii they understand the Word
he has spoken to them. Their re
Spouse is, YES, we do" Then jesus
shows them what burden OF respon
sibility due to possession rests upon
them. Jesus refers to the Scribes
whose work under the Jewish econ
omy was to transcribe and to interpret
and tells the disciples that they In q
like manner are to interpret the king
dom to all men. They are to bring
forth" hidden treasures. We must re
member that Jesus taught In parallels
that hearing they might not hear,
etc., hence we are to search the
Scriptures and bring forth these hid
den treasures of truth as we go about
doing our part In the ushering Of the
kingdom.
There are two ways of our entering
this kingdom, right one and wrong
one. We may think we have entered
by doing something, g. g., by oul
works, only to find that when the con
tents Of the drag net are examined W,
shall be cast forth. Or we may gair
the pearl OF great price, even Chris
himself by faith, and find In him al
that fulness for which. men are starv
ing. Find in him the sum Of all val
ues. When we enter this kingdom
through him who Is the Way. thu
Truth, and the Life. we win discover
1t was a profitable bargain to par
with all, for what win man give II