that evil doctrine (leaven) will be al lowed to permeate the realm of Chris tian teaching through the instrumental ity of “ a woman” (ecclesiastical organi zations, Rev. 2:18-29). This action is even now going on slowly under the influence of Modernism, etc. The purity of the gospel is being mixed with the doctrines of unbelief. Verses 53, 54 suggest the finality and wonder of Christ’s teaching. Having taught these parables He “ departed thence” as though there was nothing else to be added. He had given a mar velous view -of the course of this age. Then, as later He taught at Nazareth, the wonder of His teaching and works was noted.
Pointers on the Lesson H omer A. K ent , T ii .D.
Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon out lines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
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Dec. 7, 1952 LEARNING FROM THE GREAT TEACHER Matt. 13:24-35, 53,54
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all that he can to disrupt the cause of God. Till the end of the age the children of the Kingdom and the children of the evil one will be together. The coming of Christ will bring about the end of Satan’s dominion (w . 41-43). There is no room here for the idea that man by his own efforts will convert the world and establish the millennium! The Grain of Mustard Seed vv. 31, 32 Like the former parable, this one must be interpreted in the light of all the truth with respect to the unfolding of God’s plan. What we have in these two verses is a picture of the outward de velopment of the Kingdom of Heaven. As mentioned before, this Kingdom is equivalent to Christendom with both its believing and unbelieving elements. This is graphically set forth in verses 47-50. In the parable of the mustard seed we see the seed sprouting and fast growing into a mammoth bush. This pictures the great ecclesiastical organizations of Romanism, Protestantism, and the other religious isms and cults. In the branches of this great organization Satan’s agents lodge (cf. v. 4; Rev. 18:2), those who are unconverted and possess only the outward form of Christianity but not the life of Christ. Look about and see if it is not true that the tree of Christen-» dom is full of rare birds today! The Leaven in the Meal vv. 33-35 Herein the Lord has given a picture of the inner corruption of the Kingdom of Heaven. This parable will not be properly understood unless it is clear that leaven in the Scriptures is a type of evil and not a symbol of the gospel. (See Matt. 16:5-12; Ex. 12:15; Gal. 5:6-10; and Lev. 2:11.) So what is re vealed in this parable? Namely this,
Pointers on the Lesson This week’s lesson is confined to the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, a chap ter devoted to our Lord’s parabolic teach ing. In this chapter there is presented the Kingdom of the Heavens in its mys tery form. Or, stated in another way, we have here the development of Christen dom in both its good and evil aspects. This chapter needs to be studied very carefully inasmuch as different interpre tations are derived from it, one of which is favorable to the post-millennial view. We believe the latter interpretation does violence to the whole tenor of Scripture and should be avoided. The purpose of parabolic teaching as employed by our Lord was at least two fold. First, it was to reveal to those who had received the first principles of the Kingdom more of the mysteries of that Kingdom (v. 12). Second, it was used to conceal truth from those who had re fused to hear and accept Christ’s mes sage in its original simple and declara tive form (vv. 10-15). The parable has been likened to a nut with a hard shell but an edible kernel. The real meaning does not always readily appear. But it may be ascertained with diligent study. Tares Among the Wheat vv. 24-30 The interpretation which our Lord Himself gave to this parable should be carefully studied in verses 36-43. The sower is the Son of Man; the field is the world. The seed here is not the Word of God as in the first parable but rather the fruit which that Word has produced, even the children of the Kingdom (v. 38). The tares are the children of Satan who is the enemy of the things of God. The reapers are the angels and the har vest is the end of the age. We note in this parable that through out this dispensation Satan will be doing N O V E M B E R , 1 9 5 2
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