THE KING’S BUSINESS
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of all the great races of mankind who call Jesus, Lord. Today, of the world’s 1,623,- 444,000 inhabitants, 558,862,000 are counted as Christians (of one kind o r another). Truly the birds of the air are finding rest in the shadow of the mustard tree, for Christianity has ameliorated conditions even for its bitterest enemies, the present outbreak in Europe notwithstanding. While anti-Christianity is raining devilish destruc tion, the spirit of Christianity is supplying hospitals, Y. M. C. A. huts and Y. W. C. A. hostess houses. But the true Christian while rejoicing in the latter, reminds himself that there are over 200 , 000,000 more heathen in the non- Christian lands of the world than there were one hundred years ago, and does not try to make himself believe that all is going well, and that soon Jesus Christ will be made King by an overwhelming popular vote of the people. But the true Christian, recalls God’s TA7 E must tread softly here in this le's- * * son, for there are a great many toes waiting to be trodden on. When you come to the theme of “the kingdom,” you come to controverted ground. It is likely that in the exposition of this lesson the kingdom will be assumed to be the church, while we must be faithful in saying that it is not. The church is not.the kingdom of God, but is in the kingdom. The Old Testament is full of prophecies concerning the kingdom, but no prophecy concerning the church. It is necessary to see the dispensational teach ings of the Gospel if we are to have any satisfaction in teaching this lesson. The phrase “things of the kingdom” is so universally used now that most Chris tians believe we are building up a king dom, and that all Christian work is to that end. The Jews are looking for the kingdom, but we are looking for the King. The pur pose of God in this age is the taking out
promise “Of the increase of His govern ment and peace there shall be no end” (Isa. 9:17), and kéeps on spreading the invitation' of the Gospel at home, or helps to support by contribution and prayers the 19,000 mis sionary families and single missionaries in foreign lands. The small beginnings of the Reformation under Martin Lutlier, of the eighteenth century revival under George Whitefield and John Wesley, of the mod ern Sunday School movement under Rob ert Raikes, of the modern missionary move ment under William Carey, „and of (he Christian Endeavor Society under “Father Endeavor” Clark, all afford good examples of how little things in God’s hands develop into great, and of how little beginnings have great endings. Have you accepted for yourself the Mas ter’s own invitation—“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest?” (Matt. 11:28). Have you brought your scholars to Him also? The King is now rejected by the Jews and is in heaven at the right hand of the Father’s ’ throne. When the kingdom is established it must be on earth. He must sit upon the throne of His father, David, and rule over the house of Jacob. David’s throne is not in heaven, and the house of Jacob can only refer to Israel. Thé bless ings and promises in connection with the kingdom, were earthly. The blessings and promises of the church, are spiritual. This parable is one of the seven in the 13th of Matthew, and all p i them teach the one great truth of the. failure of man in the church period. Mrs. Needham has given us a helpful summary of these para bles: “The Sower shows the relationship of of the world of a people for His name (Acts 15:14). He has an earthly people, the Jews. He has a heavenly people, the church.
HEART OF THE LESSON
B ÿ T. C. Horton.
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