p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 46. (11/13/1901)

LESSON VIII.—NOVEMBER 23.—THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. VARIOUS COMPARISONS.

NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of “Christ’s Object Lessons” as apply to each lesson.

Aid.—“Christ’s Object Lessons,” pp. 95-134.

Lesson Scriptures, Matt. 13:33; 44-52, R.V.

Matt. 13:33.

33 “Another parable spake He unto them: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.”

Verses 44-52.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away. 49 So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him, Yea. 52 And He said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. In this scripture, how many comparisons are made? What are they? What was hid? Where? Until what resulted? Was the leaven naturally in the meal? What practical lesson do you get from this fact? At the beginning, which was the greater in bulk—the leaven or the meal? Finally, what did all become? What does this show of the efficiency of the “hidden life”?

2. What is the second comparison? What will the man do who actually finds it? Does he reluctantly part with his former possessions in order to obtain the “hid treasure”? What are you willing to give up for heaven?

3. What is the third comparison? When we are the “merchantman,” who is the “pearl”? When Christ is the “Merchantman,” who is the “pearl”? Mal. 3:17. What price did He pay for us? Give Scripture proof. Does the merchantman regret to part with all his former possessions in order to procure the “pearl of great price”?

4. What is the fourth comparison? What is gathered in the net? What is done with the bad? With the good? In reference to the kingdom, when does He say He will “sever the wicked from among the just”? Then how long will bad fish be found in the Gospel net? How does this agree with the parable of the tares? In this case, who separates the bad from the good? Where were the tares cast? Where are these cast?

5. To close this series of parables, what question did Jesus ask? What did they answer? Then what further instruction came? If we are among the “scribes instructed unto the kingdom of heaven,” what may we do?

NOTES.

THE leaven—something wholly from without—must be put into the meal before the desired change can be wrought in it.

AS THE leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life.

THE leaven hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process; so the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul.

MAN is not endowed with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified.

THE leaven of truth will not produce the spirit of rivalry, the love of ambition, the desire to be first.

THE grace of Christ is to control the temper and the voice.

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Florence Nightingale in Missions

Read about Florence Nightingale in our Missions department.

Articles on the Law of God Postponed

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The Worldwide Rise of Cancer

Cancer is so rapidly on the increase all over the world that it threatens to rival as a cause of death even the giant plague of tuberculosis. According to the statistics of the New South Wales Government, the death-rate, in Sydney and suburbs, from this cause has exactly doubled in the past ten years, and in the country districts of Australia this disease carries off more proportionately than in the cities. Tuberculosis and other dreaded maladies are also rapidly on the increase in nearly all parts of the world.

That “Convenient Season.”

Few texts of Scripture have been so often misquoted and misconstrued as Acts 24:25. The text reads: “As he ‘[Paul] reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and ‘judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, ‘Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient ‘season, I will call for thee.’” Speakers, in nine instances out of ten, and writers very often, quote Felix as saying, “When I have a more convenient ‘season, I will call for thee.” This scripture is habitually made the basis of appeals against procrastination, as tho Felix would convey the idea that at some “more convenient season,” he would heed the warning given by Paul and accept his doctrine. Felix was not expecting or desiring a more convenient season for that purpose. Altho the power of the Spirit in Paul’s words made him tremble, there is no evidence that he had any thought of yielding, but rather that he was determined not to yield. The next verse shows that he sought convenient seasons, and why he sought them: “He hoped also that money should ‘have been given him of Paul, that he might loose ‘him; wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and ‘communed with him.”

EVOLUTION AND ITS EFFECT.

In a prominent Western city recently, a paper was read by a Congregational minister before a general meeting of the churches of that body, entitled, “The ‘Serious Situation of the Church.’” A daily paper, conservative and in good standing, says that it “was ‘easily the address of the greatest interest,’ but was not generally discussed. We are told that it set forth boldly that “evolution is undermining the ‘power of religion.’” The same secular paper asks editorially:—

Can anything be done about it? Is there any likelihood that steps already taken can be retraced? Is there any way to get out of the bog except to push on and trust to emerge from its further edge? Or, to be literal, can the representatives of a church who have begun thinking and speaking in terms of evolution, by any possibility cease to do so? Can they, while accepting the doctrine as scientifically true, keep it from affecting all their reasonings and other acts? Can they, as Rev. Mr. Hatch would do, admit that evolution is true as to forms of animal life, but forbid it to “enter the realm of mental ‘phenomena’?”

These are serious questions. We do not see how they can be answered in any other way than the negative. When men lose God in creation, they will certainly lose Him in re-creation, and the Christian religion is essentially a re-creative religion. If its creative power departs, all departs but the form. But the other side of the bog is destruction. Better reject evolution and believe God.

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The Miss Stone Ransom Appeal

The appeal to the sympathy of the American people to raise money for the ransom of Miss Stone, the missionary now in the hands of Bulgarian “brigands,” raises the query, Where is the benevolence of some of our noted millionaires at this critical juncture? But there is another side to the question. They may be among the number who doubt the policy of thus encouraging the missionary kidnapping industry. The rescue of Miss Stone and her companion, Mrs. Tsilka, would be a desirable consummation, but the encouragement of success would no doubt stimulate “brigands” to further deeds of the like character. When Paul was in prison at Cæsarea, the governor hoped to receive money for his release, and Paul’s friends could have raised means for the purpose; but for some reason they did not do so. In connection with the Miss Stone incident, it is proper to mention the fact that the Chinese Minister at Washington has given $100 to the fund for her ransom.

The Sabbath Question

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Catholic Religion in Public Schools

The kind of religion that Rome is anxious to have in the public schools is the Catholic religion. This has been demonstrated in Manila, where the superintendent appointed by the government has issued an order removing from the school-houses all crucifixes, religious emblems, sacred pictures, etc. This has called out severe censure from Catholic journals. It would seem that the Roman religion was the only kind sought to be introduced there, as the order forbidding “devotions,” etc., is said to be aimed directly against the Catholics.

The Creative Power of Christianity

If the creative power of Christianity is wanting, all is wanting. The form may be better than that of other religions, but the life-power is lacking. Would it not be pitiful to hope to keep infants alive from the nourishment of such a mother?

Religious Liberty Among the Rulers

Queen Victoria was not at all sectarian. She made it quite embarrassing for the Church of England by attending the Presbyterian Church when in Scotland. She was also suspected of leaning toward the Church of Rome, yet she gave expression to sentiments favoring the fullest religious liberty among her subjects. Now it is said that King Edward is criticized by English Churchmen for attending the Scottish Kirk, after the manner of his mother. And the emperor of Germany is being severely censured by State Churchmen, for appointing a Catholic to the chair of history in the Strasbourg University.

Faithful Use of One Talent

The man with one talent would not do what he could because his lord did not lay upon him more than he could do. He was not capable of managing more than one talent, so his lord was considerate enough not to burden him with any more. But he was dissatisfied because his ability was not rated higher. The mercy of his lord was deemed a slur upon his self-supposed qualifications. It is a safe conclusion that the man who will not use one talent to the best of his ability, could not use five talents properly. The profitable servant will always take the place within reach, and trust the Lord for promotion. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”

Who Are the Anarchists?

An earnest Salvation Army man thus answers the question: “The worst anarchists are the authorities who license the destroyers to destroy the nation. The great breeding places of anarchy are the open saloons, the open harlot-houses, the open gambling schools, opium dens, drug and tobacco poisons, traffic in girls and children for prostitution, and for nearly all these licenses are issued daily, licenses to rob and drug and murder.” And he counts the man who votes license more guilty than the saloon-keeper. And what do you think about it, reader? How far off from the truth is the Salvation Army man? One day men will stand before God’s bar, and will give account to Him. It is a good deal better to get right with God now.

“HERALDS OF THE MORNING.”

“Watchman, what of the night? The Watchman said, The morning cometh?” The rising of the Sun of Righteousness “with healing in His wings,” is a morning time, after the passing of the long night of waiting and watching, to which every lover of His appearing looks forward with anxious hope. The passing of any landmark, or the heralding of any token that portends the glad event of the coming of the Lord, should arouse a spirit of zealous enthusiasm in the mind of every believer of the Gospel message. “Heralds of the Morning” is a work that vividly portrays passing events in the light of fulfilling prophecy. It shows that we are in the last days of probationary time, and that the striking events which are causing so much amazement and perplexity are but harbingers of the coming morning of joy to the people of God. That it will not be such a day to all, will be because that, through unbelief of the Word of God, they fail to “discern the signs of the times.”

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