Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-09-25
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 20
REVIEW: JESUS OUR SAVIOUR
AND KING, OR PARALLELS
OF THE KINGDOM.

The method of review should be de-
termined by the grade of the class.
For the Primary the review should
center in the topic, Jesus and the
Children" the Junior, Choosing
Jesus as Saviour !" intermediate. "Ac-
cepting Christ's Program for Our
Lives" for the Senior and Adult
grades the subject of the church, not
ing its membership, ordinances, wor-
ship, and service. A better way would
be to study more fully the parallels of
the kingdom as set forth in Matthew
13 :44-50
|. The Parable of the Hid Treasure
". 14.
The usual Interpretation of this
parable, making Christ the hid treas
ure for which sinner must give up
everything in order to buy his saliva
ton, must be rejected for the follow
Ing reasons: (D Christ is not hid
den In a field, but has been lifted up
(2) Nobody has ever been obliged to
buy the world In order to get Christ.
(3) Salvation cannot be purchased,
for 1t is Gods free and gracious gift.
a. No warrant is ever held out to a
man to conceal his religion after it is
obtained.
/. The field. This is the world
". 38). FortunateI: this landmark
has been made by Christ himself.
2. The treasure. In Psalm 135 a we
are told that Israel the chosen people,
is his treasure. The same truth is set
forth in different places and ways
(Deut. Z :6-S; 20; 26:1S; IS, 9).
When Christ uttered this parable the
ten tribes were already concealed from
human observation, and as to the rest
of Israel 1t was a prophecy of that
which was to follow. The kingdom as
to its relation and bearing is now hid
den. Christ was primarily sent to the
Jews; for their sake the field was
bought
8. The Purchaser: the Son of God
(John 3:16).
None but the Son of God had such
resources to buy the world.
A. The purchase price. This was
the precious blood of the Son of God,
which is worth infinitely more than
silver and gold and the treasures OF
the earth Il Peter lib, 80; lisa. 53).
II. The Parable Of the Merchantmen
Seeking ooodIy Pearls (vv 10, 4e).
l. The merchantmen. He is ac-
lively engaged in search for pearls.
In this search he discovers one pearl
of great price. This merchantmen
Is none other than Christ himself. The
whole activity of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit since the fall of man,
has been seeking those who are lost.
2. The purchasing price. The mer-
chairman sold all-impoverished him
self in order to buy the pearl The
poor lost sinner could not buy Christ.
His salvation is without money and
without price. Christ did impoverish
himself, turned his back upon the
heavenly glory (Phil. 1863 to pur-
chase the one pearl of great price by
his own precious blood (Eph. :25;
Pet. i :1S, 19).
8. The pearl of great price This is
the church. The merchantmen will
find other pearls of value, but the
peerless gem set above all others will
be the church which he has purchased
with his own blood.
Ill. The Parable of the Drag Net
wv. A. 50).
This gives us a picture of the con-
summation of the kingdom. No one
can mistake the meaning here Note:
l. The sea. This word when used in
figurative sense denotes peoples and
multitudes dan. 10 Rev. 17:15).
2. The drag net. The word met" in
the authorized version is properly
translated "dragnet."
g. The net drawn to the shore when
full.
4. The assortment made by the
angels.
5. The destiny of the bad fish, or
wicked men,