August 1931
355
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
technique of differentiation, so we have learned a certain method of telling the cell structure of one species from any other species on the face of the earth, be that cell structure living or dead. This recent fact of biology, so amazingly hailed as a marvelous discovery of research science, was clearly stated by Paul, when he wrote: “All flesh is not the same flesh. There is one kind of flesh for man, another flesh for beasts, another kind for fish, and another for birds.” Have you felt inclined to cast the old Book aside as the literature of an ancient and ignorant people? Why give it up now, when science has so thoroughly endorsed it. Cling to the Bible; there is no hope of heaven or sal vation outside its pages. It will bring strength in time of temptation; it will bring hope in the dark hours of des pair; and it will lead us to God. T h e C onsummation of th e A ge The word here translated “world” is a time word, meaning “age.” There is no reference to the end of the world. Rather, it is the purposed completion, that to ward which the forces at work are bringing it, its con summation. Two such consummations are mentioned; therefore the kingdom of heaven must comprehend two age-endings. Confusion results from failure to see the longer and shorter reach of the ages. Sometimes, as here, a future age-ending is prophesied. Elsewhere, the apostles speak of themselves as living in an age-ending time: “Even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18); “they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come” (1 Cor. 10:11, R. V.). In this latter case, the Word is plural, comprehending more than one age. The viewpoint determines the range of vision. Sup pose that we are undertaking a trip to New York. If we start from Shanghai, upon arriving at Chicago, we are toward the end of the journey. But if we start from Min neapolis, we are only well on our, way when we get to Chicago; the end-stretch is near to the goal. Speaking very generally, the Bible comprises two ages, known as the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Both are characterized by: 1. Course, of long duration—the ripening period. 2. Consummation, of short duration—the reaping period. 3. Culmination, a single event—His coming. It is to be noted that the Old Covenant age does not find its consummation in the Old Testament record. The Old Covenant people ended their course at the cross; “because of unbelief they were broken off” (Rom. 11:20). But it was revealed to Daniel that another seven years, often spoken of as “Daniel’s seventieth week,” was vouchsafed to his people. This will be the consummation of their age, yet the story of it is sealed up “to the time of the end” (Dan. 12:4), not to be made known till the Revelation period. We are all familiar with the fact that our own New Covenant age is a hiatus between the Old Covenant course STRUCTURE IN SCRIPTURE [Continued, from page 352]
and consummation. We are forcefully made aware of this in the chapter before us, when we recall its contents, taking into account the findings of our analysis : 1. Sower 2. Wheat and.Tares') 3. Mustard Seed >- Things “New” 4. Leaven J Consummation—tares and wheat separated { 5. Hid Treasure 6. Priceless Pearl 7. Drag-Net. Consummation—bad and good separated. It is significant that our Lord concludes with the com ment that, in this teaching, He has been as a man “who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old” (v. 52). Why did He not say, as we naturally ~would do, “old and new” ? It was because the order is reversed in actual occurrence. Scholars see in the treasure hid in a field a référence to the Old Covenant people. They are indeed the Lord’s peculiar treasure, the object of His love. For this age, they are scattered in “the field, which is the world.” But our Lord bought the field ; He owns the treasure also. And in the harvest time, He will gather them into their own land and unto Himself (cf. Ezek. 37, especially vs. 11-14). In the pearl of great price, we* see the church, formed through suffering, as is the pearl, now become complete; and that it will occur before the drag-net experience, which,.in its harvesting process from the sea to the land, is undoubtedly a reference to the tribulation, when nations will be gathered for judgment into the land of Palestine (cf. Ezek. 38 and 39; Zech. 14:1-3; Joel 3:1-16), “G ather F irst th e T ares ” ‘ ■. :v Our Lord’s directions regarding the tare and the wheat harvest are of special interest in their explicitness: “Let both grow together until the harvest : and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” (v. 30). (1) Jesus prophetically declares that both shall con tinue together until the consummation of the age. As the servants were forbidden to attempt the rooting up of the tares until the harvest time, in like manner the Lord promised that the wheat should remain until the same time of ripeness for harvest. The early church was look ing intently, and rightly, for the Lord’s return. No. one knew how swift or how slow might be the ripening pro cess. As for us, we can see that the program has not gone awry. Are we not living in the consummation? (2) The next clause may be- rendered : “Collect ye first the darnel, and bind it into bundle's with a view to the burning it up” (Rotherham). The. church, then,fis to witness the gathering-up process—and it would seem that it is going on right now, in the starting events of our day—but not the actual burning. . (3) Then comes the gathering .of the wheat. If thïà is the rapture of the church, affdltW rchàrch is referred to as complete in the sixth parable) following, ag it does, the reference to Israel in the fifth parable, we'may.wonder if our Lord did not here indicate that the church would remain until Israel’s regathefing. >,or •soneiT orfj -¿A
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