Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-22
The Mustard Seed

uluSrra TING another phase of the truth Of
the kingdom which has been hidden In mystery,
JrsuS tod them that the kingdom OF COD IS
IISe mustard seed, which is smaller than all
other seeds, Lut il grows until II becomes
greater than all Of the herbs becomes tree,
ana puts out great branches so that the pros
of tie heavens lodge under the shadow or IL.
Probably about no other parable, except the
parable of the leaven, has there been SO much
misunderstanding as about this one. The teach
ing has been that tie church began with such
small begnnins-ikc the babe OF Bethlehem'
the twelve apostles. 100 dlsclples-ahu mas
grown until now there are millions VINO are lIS
adherents and so that hospitals, charitable in
stitutioEs. Red Cross WORK, etc, have lodged IN
the branches OF it like the birds or the heavens.
But this is not the teaching OF the parable.
To understand IL. we must know what the
kingdom Of God is.
we pointed ont last week that the kingdom
O. God is not the church, and the church is not
the kingdom Of God. but is only one phase OF IT,
The kingdom Of God is the reign OF God
throughout the universe. The Kingdom OF
heaven is the establishment or the Kingdom OF
God upon the earth after The rebellion caused
by Satan has been sub6ued. The church IS ono
of the means which God is using to bring about
the establishment of the kingdom of God upon
the earth. The kingdom of God includes the
eternity which is past. time, and the eternity
which follows. The church is only small
part OF time.
The kingdom Of heaven in its present form is
the sphere of Christian profession in the pres
ent age This includes the true church; IT iu-
GUIDES the apOstate church; il includes Chris
seism, ROmanism. and many other 'lsms.
The mustard seed never grew naturally lnto
a tree. II always an herb; but when ~
attained an unnatural growth. as in the para
bic. II had gone beyond what II was intended
10 be The birds Of the heavens cannot mean
good things that are lodging in the branches OF
the church. for Jesus Himself on the same day
taught that the birds o: the heavens which
suatchcd away the seed were symbols of satan
himself. for the same expression Is used here as
there lie could not mean thing in one
place and exactly the opposite in another place
using the same symbol.
The teaching Of that parable, therefore, IS
taat tic kingdom of heaven, which is the
sphere OF Christian profession, starts with
small beginning but grows to unnatural pro
portions until IL harbors the devil himself.
This same truth is taught in the parable OF
the leayen; leaven in the Scripture always,
without exception. being a type Of sin. The
same truth is taught in the parable Of the
tares. where the good and evil grow up to-
Sether in the Kingdom of heaven until the
reaping time comes, when the true division
takes place. 1t is taught also in the parable
Of the dTaSnet
Here. then. is the responsibility which we,
uust recognize: God intends for us to know
the truth i'm order that might use Ii aud
theIn in our hearts in order that we might
bear fruit; but He lest we should be
!tkc the tares, like the bad fish, like the leayen.
and ike the unna tGral growth OF the mustard
seed haFboring the work OF Satan
Some Of these days the Kingdom of God VIII
be established earth. There will be no
more sin: God shall have the honor which is
due Him and the obedience which He has the
right TO expect; God shau be all in all Let
ua take heed how We hear and how we use
what we have. God is depending on US to
bring about that glorious day.