 |  |
among the debris of it a noble thought, but it was occupied a thousandfold more with
Levitical minutić about mint and anise and cummin, and the length of fringes and the
breadth of phylacteries, and the washing of cups and platters, and the particular quarter of
a second when new moons and Sabbath days begin."
Such were the Scribes of the days of Christ, and were it not uncharitable one might
almost say that they seem to still have a following to-day. The disciples of the Lord who
heard His words, and noted how different His speech and teaching were, how utterly
opposed to the Scribes His manner and matter, would understand the clause, "every
Scribe who is discipled into the kingdom." The word of God was at the finger tips of
these Scribes, but it never entered their hearts. Those contemplated in the parable knew
that unless their righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees,
they could not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
A day is coming when not merely a few but a whole nation shall be righteous. This
synchronizes with the fourth sowing of the first parable, the ministry under the new
covenant, when the stony heart will be removed, and a heart of flesh given; when the law
shall be written in the heart and not on tables of stone; when the Scribe will be worthy of
the name, and when he too will teach "as one having authority," because he also has
"learned of Him." Out of his treasure he will then bring things new and old. What these
new and old things may be it is not for us to say with any definiteness. The contrast
between the old and the new covenant, the old and new Jerusalem, the old and new
heaven and earth will form mighty themes for the messengers of the Lord. It would
appear in the parable that the extent of this ministry is to be limited by the word
"householder," while in Matt. 28: the wider sphere is the command to "disciple all
nations."
We trust that some little light has been thrown upon these important parables, and as
we pursue the theme of their fulfilment in the Revelation, and of the times in which their
final heading up the harvest is set, we shall have continual reason to see that these
parables are what indeed the Lord said they were, "The mysteries of the kingdom of the
heavens."
Matt.
13
10
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever
hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not,
neither do they understand.
14
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall
not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they
have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and
should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Matt.
13
19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the
wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received
seed by the way side.
23
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it;
which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.