The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-01

these things shall be added unto you"
Matthew s:sa
We have studied some OF the prin.
oiples 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
II Of SUFFICIENT value for me to con.
slider or seek TO enter II, or to possess
fit" In our lesson today there is set
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
ond its mixed character and final sepa.
ration. and the last. the great respon.
eibility 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 a. God sees rather than
as man observes.
Today's lesson sets forth the pur.
chase OF things OF great value. the ac.
QUESTION and disposition of things Of
n mi la -
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. lie 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
1889.
Symbolism Of Pearls.
II. The pearl OF great price. vs. IS.
46. This parable is very much the
same as the foregoing yet II 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
rs n symbol of our salvation. but II
SO for us TO interpret the merchant.
man as the commonallty 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
mt all? What is the symbolism OF a
pearl? The pearl is the one precious
stone that Is the result OF a living
organism: II is the result OF an injury
done 10 the life OF the oyster. II has
always stood for purity and for In
nocence. Is II then illogical for us &c
assume that Christ is the merchant
man who gave all to redeem (e. q.
buy back the lost souls OF mankind
III. The drag net. VS.. 47-50. This
mixed character OF the kingdom here
upon the earth and OF the final separa
tion incident thereto. II 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 ono considered In the lesson OF
the wheat and the tares, viz. that ul
timately there shall be cast out all
things that do offend. In the fnality
of all things the Kingdom shall be
without spot or blemish. Hence We
do not read into this parable empha
sis upon any phase OF evangelism.
Search the Scriptures.
". The householder. VS.. 61-53. In
the frst Of these parallels we had the
Word a. the seed of this new kingdom
In this the eighth Of the Kingdom par
ables We revert as II were to the mat
ter Of the Word. Jesus asks his
disciples II they understand the WORD
he has spoken to them. Their re
spouse 10, Yes. We do" Then jesus
shows them what burden Of respon
ability due to possession rests upon
them. Jesus refers TO the Scribei
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 70
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 abou,
doing our part
Are we willing to pay the price fol
the sake OF the pearlf Are We willing
TO pay the price Of the field that 9th
ers may possess the great treasure Of
eternal life In Christi He paid the
price to purchase eternal life for US
Do, not forget the kingdom Is not eat
ing and drinking. but righteousness
and Joy and peace In the Holy Spirit
(Rom. 14;1D.
The treasure was discovered, thu
pearl sought after; both methods
have their place and significance II
our lives that are to be hid with
Christ In God. We must reveal to thu
world great treasures.