The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-02-07


SO. ~. 2l). or ms II Is written In Jno.
1:10. II. Tie was In the world. and
the world was made by him. and the
world knew him not: lie came unto
his own. and bis own received him not"
According TO the prediction Of the
prophet. he In desplsed and rejected
Of men. a man OF sorrows and ac-
QuaInted with grief cut of out
Of the land Of the living" "The Mes
siah shall be cut of. and have nothing"
lisa. 90 %. s: Dan. e:20 Margln). This
being their treatment OF him and his
kingdom which was at hand but re-
jected. and therefore postponed TIL he
shall come again. lie began TO teach
In PARALLELS that they might not per
ceive and not understand Tvs. IL, i2).
A parable has been called an earthly
Story with q heavenly meaning. hiding
the truth from the indolent aud unbe.
lieving. but keeping II for the diligent
who hunger for the truth. See In
verses 10. II how he explained his par.
~ables to some OF his disciples when
ey were alone with him. telling them
That unto them II was given TO know
the mystery Of the kingdom of God.
but unto them that are without (hav-
Ing Of their own accord shut them
selves out by their unbelief). all these
things are done In parallels. Note that
ri.
the kingdom Of God. or as In Matt.
1871. the kingdom Of heaven. for the
terms are often used anonymously
aud the origin Of each is found In Dan.
2:44. where we read that the God OF
heaven shall set up kingdom which
shall break In pieces and consume all
kingdoms. and " shall stand forever.
These parallels do not concern that
kingdom but the present age Of the re
lection Of that Kingdom which he calls
the mystery Of the kingdom OF God or
Of heaven. A study OF the word "mys-
terry" will be a great help to all who
desire 10 understand II.
The Kingdom II one OF the most
clearly revealed things In the Bible,
but that an age should intervene be
tween the rejection Of the kingdom aud
the return Of the King 10 set II up Is
the mystery, explained In his parallels
and elsewhere In the New Testament.
His teaching by the seaside Is very
suggestive. for II Is written in Matt.
1871. The same day went Jesus out
of the house and sat by the seaside"
lie sat In boat and the multitude
stood on the shore. His going out Of
the house makes us think OF Matt.
y :3s. 20. Behold your house is left
unto you desolate. for say unto you.
ye shall not see me henceforth. TIL
ye shall say. Blessed Is he that cometh
In the name OF the Lord" That viii
be his return In glory 10 set up his
kingdom. Now ms 20 the parable OF
the sower and the seed recorded In
Matthew. Mark and Luke. and ex-
planned by him privately. and concern
ing which he said. "Know We not this
parable. and how then will ye know
all parnbles7'' Tvs. i3). Note n few
things IN his explanation. The seed
II the word OF God Guke SAD the
sower must be himself through his fol-
lowers: the soil Is the hearts OF those
who hear: and there Is an en-
envy. the devil. who hates the seed and
those who receive II. The seed on
three kinds OF soil seems 20 accom-
plish nothing. but on the fourth kind
Of soil there Is varying result de-
scrihed Ms thirty. sixty and an hun
dredfold.
The only seed Is the word OF God.
the incorruptible seed OF the Word
which iiveth and abideth forever Il
Pet. ! :23-25) concerning which he
said. "rhe words that l speak unto
you are spirit and are life:" and con-
corning which he said 20 his Father, 81
have given unto them the words which
= thou gavest me-" "Sanctify them
Through thy truth. thy word Is truth"
(Jno. o :63: 1873. III. To sow aught
else Is labor In vain and has no prom
ise OF his blessing; but he has assured
us that his word will accomplish his
pleasure. and tlmt he will watch over
II lisa. b5;1i: Jer. 1:12 II. W.. We
cannot tell whether II shall fall on
wayside. or rocky. or thorny. or good
soil. but since he cannot fail nor be
discouraged Elsa. 42:4) we can safely
leave all results TO him. knowing that
II we speak the Word Of God In sim
certify we are unto God a sweet SAVIOUR
Of Christ whether the hearers are
saved or perish q Cor. 2:15-17). II
does seem sad indeed when hearts are
90 hard that the word finds no en-
trance. and the devil takes away the
seed or when a little affection or per-
secution prevents any result or when
cares. riches or pleasures choke the
word; but results are with him and
since he Is not discouraged. we cannot
be. Some seed will surely find re-
ceptive heart and bear fruit TO the
glory Of God. How anyone can find In
this parable. or In the next one given
by Matthew. the parable ~ the wheat
and tares. any foundation for the
thought Of winning the world 10 Christ
In this age. during which he says that
wheat and tares shall grow together
I'LL the end. Is more than I am able 10
see.