The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-10


of his government and peace
there shall be no end. Isaiah 9:1.
1t was on a remarkable day of
teaching by the Sea of Galilee
that Jesus delivered his sermon
on "The Parallels of the King
DOM" The first of those par
ables was the parable of the sow
err which set forth the establish
ment of the kingdom in the
hearts of men. The parable of
the tares followed setting forth
the struggle of Christianity. Then
came the remaining parallels
which We study today.
1. A PARABLE OF GROWTH
The Parable of the Mustard
Seed set forth the growth of the
Kingdom. How small was the
kingdom them An unlearned and
unarmed villager for its head; a
little cluster of hOrny-handed
fishermen for its prime ministers;
a tickle throng of curiosity-seek-
ers for it's chief admirers! And
the hoary-headed, powerful heir
archy at Jerusalem was taking
steps to destroy it! Could such
a kingdom be more than a grain
of mustard? Even so; let the
grain of mustard. less than all
the ordinary seeds of field or
forest or garden, represent the
Messianic Kingdom. But it had
within it the possibilities of
growth entirely out of proportion
to it's size. Springing up, 1t sur
passes all the herbs of its class,
becoming very tree in magnl-
tude and hospitality, for IN its
branches the birds of heaven
lodge and there find sustenance.
2. A PARABLE OF
TRANSFORMATION
The Parable of the Leaven set
forth the transformation by the
kingdom. The kingdom advances
to worldwide dimensions not by
merciless conquest, but by mercl-
full assimilation. It's triumphs are
won by its transformations. The
process finds illustration in the
leaven kept in every Jewish
household. Instead of the yeast
in use today, to which it was
analogous in its working and eff
feet, a lump of fermenting dough
was made up with the meal prep
aratory to baking. In the instance
cited the woman took a small
quantity of leaven and inserted
in it more than a bushel Of meal.
The leaven appeared insignifi-
cant. But it's ability to enter the
larger mass and transform it
from meal into bread is the pre-
else point to be emphasized. ST.
lently. steadily, swiftly the leaven
wrought outward through the
nearest particles until every part
had taken it's nature and the en-
tire amount was leavened.
3. A PARABLE OF PRIVILEGE
The Parable of the Hid Treas
ure set forth the privilege in the
Kingdom. A man in the pursuit
of regular duty, possibly blowing
or some other agricultural en-
ployment, by apparent accident
discovers one of the treasures
sometimes hidden in the field for
safe keeping in troublous times.
He rehides the treasure, goes and
sells his property, and buys the
field. Then according to Jewish
law and the treasure reverts to
him. and he becomes the happy
possessor of the new-found rich
es. How true this was to life in
the case of the apostles! As it
were by happy chance, though of
course by divine design, they dis
covered the hidden treasure of
the Messiah's Kingdom. 1t was
infinitely better and more valu-
able than all else they could call
their own. Willingly and devot-
edly they forsook all and follow
ed Jesus.
a. A PARABLE OF SACRIFICE
The Parable of the Pearl set
forth the sacrifice of the king
dom. Here we have the element
OF seeking and so of greater APP
probation than shown in the dis
covery of the treasure. A mer-
chant is visiting the various mar
kets at the centers of commerce
| in order that he might add good
w pearls to his own stock at
home. On the round he finds a
pearl of great price. His appre-
citation of it is so high that he
sells out his entire stock and Sc
cures this one pearl. The init
nation is that he acted wisely
and made a good bargain. The
Jews had thought that without
effort on their part they would
be entitled to the blessings of the
Messianic age. To the idea this
parable is unalterably hostile,
Only the seekers find, and only
those who part with all else for
the discovered pearl that is price
less can enjoy its possession.
5. A PARABLE OF
CONSULTATION
The Parable of the Dragnet set
forth the consummation of the
kingdom. A group of fishermen
cast their dragnet into the sea
enclosing fish of all kinds. They
draw it up on the beach and Their
sort out the haul, storing the
good in vessels and casting the
bad away. Even so, just anc
wise separation will be made be-
tween the subjects and the foe:
of the Messiah in the end of the
world. Then angels at the bid
ding of the King shall come .fortf
I md sn1n,. tho urinlnd from annnf