NO. 795: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

 No. 795

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psa. 23:1)

The Prophet thus declared Jehovah (Yahweh) to be his Shepherd, and our Lord Jesus further explained that He, the great Over-Shepherd’s Son, has been appointed the Under-Shepherd and given full charge of the sheep. (John 10:1-16) In referring to His people as His sheep, the Lord chose a very appropriate representation of the character He would have them manifest. The most noticeable characteristics of sheep are meekness, docility and obedience to the shepherd to whose care they fully entrust themselves. They are very true to the shepherd; when they hear His voice, they quickly run to obey it without the slightest hesitation or faltering.

There is a lesson here for the Lord’s people. Even the weakest lamb in the flock knows His voice and hears Him say, “This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (Isa. 30:21) While there are thousands of voices calling, now in this direction and now in that, the Lord’s sheep, acquainted with His Spirit and His Word, turn away from all except the well-known voice of the Shepherd.

Our Shepherd speaks to His flock of sheep and lambs in various ways. His written words continually show them the way of truth, and His special providences further direct and shape the unique course of each individual. The abiding presence of His Holy Spirit makes manifest every intrusion of any other spirit seeking to beguile them and lead them astray. The true sheep listen carefully for the faintest sounds of the Shepherd’s voice, treasuring up His words in their hearts. They study His providences and they cultivate the communion and personal fellowship with the Lord which are their privilege. Those who thus abide in Him can never go astray. They may have little formal education, and be unable to grapple with all the subtle sophistries of human error, but, being so well acquainted with the Master’s voice, they quickly perceive that other voices are the voices of strangers, and they will not follow them; for they are loyal and obedient to the Shepherd only.

Not all of mankind, however, are sheep, or have the Shepherd’s care. During the Gospel Age, only those who have heard the Shepherd’s voice and responded to His call have become His sheep, and the Word tells us that they are a “Little Flock” to whom it will be the Father’s good pleasure eventually to give the Kingdom in joint-heirship with His Son, their “Chief Shepherd.” (Luke 12:32; 1 Pet. 5:4)

Then will come the time referred to by our Lord when “other sheep” will be found. The entire Millennial Age, with all the power and blessings of the heavenly Kingdom, will be devoted to the finding of the other sheep. Our Lord said: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) The other sheep are not of the Little Flock of this Gospel Age, but in due time they will be bought to a knowledge of the Truth and to the full privileges of sheep.

Eventually all of God’s creatures on various planes of being will be recognized as one family of God under our Lord, as it is written: “Of whom the whole family [of God] in heaven and earth is named.” (Eph. 3:15) And again, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” (Eph. 1:10) But while it may be interesting, helpful, and profitable to understand something of our great Shepherd’s generous plans for the future of all mankind, our interest in this lesson centers chiefly on the Little Flock.[1]

WE SHALL NOT WANT

Caring for sheep in olden times in Palestine was very different from the way sheep are cared for today. There were no fenced pastures and the terrain was vast and largely barren, filled with gorges, thickets and hazards of all kinds. Under such circumstances, the care of the shepherd was crucial, whereas today sheep in a secure field need no shepherd. It was the eastern shepherd of those times who illustrated our heavenly Shepherd’s care for His Little Flock.

As the Prophet David composed this Psalm, his mind doubtless went back to his father’s flock and to his own experiences as its shepherd – we recall that he slew a lion and a bear while protecting that flock. Under heavenly inspiration, the Prophet pictured the Almighty One as the great caretaker watching over and protecting those He recognizes as His “sheep.” This thought is very far from the prevalent sentiment today that God is currently the shepherd and father of all mankind. This view ignores man’s will and also ignores the Lord’s Word, which declares that there are goats and wolves among mankind as well as sheep. While some among mankind have become children of God, it has been through faith and “adoption.” From the divine standpoint, the majority are far from being recognized as children of God. Jesus said of them: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” (John 8:44)

The human race, represented by father Adam in sinless perfection, was originally recognized as related to God, but the Scriptures clearly show that this relationship was broken by man’s willful disobedience. None are recognized as sons of God today unless they have been begotten from above. Nor will any in the future be recognized as sons of God or as sheep of the Lord’s fold unless they heartily renounce sin, and receiving knowledge of divine grace, heartily accept it and “follow on to know the Lord.” (Hos. 6:3)

Applying the Psalm to the Little Flock, all of its provisions fit most minutely. Because the Lord is their Shepherd, they shall not want. Those who are proper sheep will submit their wills to the Shepherd’s will and trust wholly to His guidance. They are relieved of that anxious craving, so common to the children of the world, which is never satisfied – the more it gets the more it wants. The Lord’s sheep appreciate the heavenly things more than the earthly, and their wants in this respect are more than supplied. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psa. 84:11)

They have given up every earthly interest in exchange for heavenly interests. Realizing their own insufficiency and lack of judgment, they have trusted the Lord to grant them such experiences in this present life, whether they be trials or blessings, as would be for their highest good, working out for them a share of the coming glories to which they have been called. The wants of this class are not the temporal kind after which “the Gentiles seek.” (Matt. 6:32)

GREEN PASTURES, STILL WATERS

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psa. 23:2) Although the experiences of the Lord’s sheep include many trials in the parched wilderness of sin, He graciously gives them restful experiences in oases of divine favor. These experiences are not always what the world would view as being free from trials, but they are certainly seasons of rest and refreshment. The Lord’s sheep truly have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” ruling in their hearts, despite outward adversities. (Phil. 4:7)

The Lord’s sheep have found green pasturage of spiritual refreshment in private devotions and studies of divine things, as well as in assembling together for the study of the Word, prayer, and testimonies of the Lord’s goodness and mercy. All these opportunities and privileges, whether personally experienced or whether experienced through the printed page, are provisions made for the sheep by the great Shepherd. Those sheep who find no enjoyment in such blessings should question their own faithfulness in following the lead of the Shepherd. Those who have these blessings available to them but decline to use them, show that they are out of harmony with the Shepherd’s gracious intentions and wisdom.

The “still waters” are not still in the sense of being stagnant, but rather they flow smoothly, in contrast with the rushing torrent of a mountain slope. Only the still waters allow the sheep the opportunity to receive proper refreshment. Applying this thought to the Little Flock, we find that the great Shepherd leads them away from the strife of worldly ambition for greatness, power, riches, and honors so esteemed by the world, but He does not lead them to stagnancy. He instead leads them to spiritual ambitions which bring with them a restfulness and refreshment of soul obtainable from no other source.

The streams of truth and grace are living waters, although they are comparatively quiet waters. As the Prophet hints, they cannot be found by the sheep alone; finding them requires the leading of the Spirit. Let us give strict attention to His voice, remembering that His Word says that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Let us discern His voice, with its truthful accent that is so different from the voice of error. True sheep will not follow the voice of strangers, because they do not like how it sounds of money, worldly ambition, and priest-craft, or how it contradicts the spirit of the divine message and method.

THE SOUL RESTORED

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psa. 23:3) The Prophet is not referring to a restoration of body or of physical health, but a restoration of soul or being. Some of the Lord’s most precious saints have been physically weary, faint and troubled – even the dear Redeemer fainted under His cross, and was neither sustained nor miraculously restored to strength on that occasion. The restoring of soul or being spoken of by the Prophet corresponds to the Christian’s justification to life.

All of our lives were forfeited under the divine sentence, and by faith a complete restitution or restoration of soul is granted to the believer, that he might have something “holy, acceptable” to offer in sacrifice to the Lord. (Rom. 12:1) In this sacrifice service, he may walk in the footsteps of the great Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. The true sheep are thus led in proper paths that are advantageous to their spiritual develop­ment, though frequently trying and difficult from a fleshly standpoint. This favor, blessing, and opportunity comes to them not for their own sake or worthiness, but through the Lord’s grace – “for His name’s sake.”

FEAR NO EVIL

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psa. 23:4) The whole world is walking in the valley of the shadow of death. The mountain top of life was lost to the human race when Father Adam fell from his harmony with God into the valley of sin. The valley of sin carries with it the shadow of death, the penalty of sin. Even though the Shepherd leads His flock upward, and in the opposite direction from the course of the world, while in the flesh they are still in the world, and are thus in this valley of the shadow of death. The true sheep, however, hear the voice of the good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, and have learned to not be careless and indifferent as some are, nor to be fearful, doubtful, and perplexed as are the majority. They realize that the penalty of sin is upon the race, but fear no evil, because they realize also that divine love has provided a redemption.

They realize that the whole world is going down to the grave (sheol, hades), but that God has provided that the good Shepherd will deliver His Little Flock from the power of the grave in the First Resurrection. They further realize that all that are in their graves will subsequently hear the voice of the Son of man and come forth to a full, fair, reasonable, and proper judgment. They will be tested as to their willingness to be His sheep – their willingness to follow Him and to attain everlasting life through Him.

The sheep of the Little Flock fear no evil because of the Lord’s favor, because He is with them, on their side, and has shown His favor in the redemption price already paid. He is with them, too, in His word of promise – His assurance that death will not mean extinction of life, but merely, an undisturbed “sleep in Jesus” until the resurrection. (1 Thess. 4:14) It is no wonder that they can walk through the valley of the shadow of death singing and praising the Lord, magnifying the holy name of the One who loved them and bought them with His precious blood, calling them to joint-heirship with our dear Redeemer.

The Shepherd’s crook was used to assist the sheep out of difficult circumstances, to defend them from powerful enemies, and to chasten them when they were inattentive. All of these uses of the rod were for the welfare of the sheep and the same is true of the Lord’s Little Flock and their Shepherd; His rod is used to help, defend and chastise the flock. The true sheep learn to love the Shepherd’s providences and are comforted by them. Knowing the Shepherd’s power and His watchful care, they realize that all things are working together for good to them because they are His sheep. Why should they not be comforted, strengthened, encouraged?

A TABLE PREPARED

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psa. 23:5) The Psalm diverges here, leaving the figure of the sheep and the Shepherd, and adopting instead the picture of a mighty lord who spreads a sumptuous feast for his humbler friend. Active hospitality carried much more meaning in olden times than it does today. For a nobleman to then receive someone as his guest meant taking responsibility for that person’s safety. The thought conveyed is that the Lord accepts His people, counts them as friends, and sits them down to a bountiful feast, secure from the enmity of those who would injure them. As long as they are under the care of their great friend, our heavenly Father, they are secure from the great Adversary and “spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12) The bounties of the table may indeed include some earthly good things, whether better or worse than those of the average natural man. Whatever they may be, they are accepted with joy and thanksgiving by those who recognize them as part and parcel of the bounties of the Friend above all others.

All religious people more or less claim to have spiritual food, and the various factions of Christendom especially boast that they have much advantage every way, and that their tables are spread with divine truth and promises, food from which they claim to receive their strength. But what a variety of these tables there are, and how doctrinally different is the fare served. The food on most of them seems to have been spoiled in the preparation. Some of it is sad, some of it is sour, and much of it is musty. For the most part it originated in the Dark Ages, and the dear friends who sit down to these tables find that they have little appetite for such food, and we do not blame them.

We would instead draw their attention to the generous, bountiful supply of divine Truth which the Lord Himself is dispensing to the Household of Faith. This includes “things new and old,” but all of them pure, sweet, delicious, and grand. (Matt. 13:52) This table is open to all those who love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength – who love Him better than they love possessions, parents, children, husband, wife, lodge, association, denomination, or self.

Is it strange that those so highly favored by the Lord, recognized as His guests, and fed at His table should be hated by enemies? It would seem strange to us if it were not for the assurance of the Master Himself, that whosoever will live godly will suffer persecution in this present time. (2 Tim. 3:12) The illustration of this is the Master’s own experience; those who professed to be godly, influential, great, and nominally religious were the ones who persecuted Him to death. We are not surprised, then, to find that our table is spread in the midst of enemies that now surround us on every side.

The anointing of the head of the guest with oil was a part of the hospitality of olden times. The antitype of this is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon this Little Flock, the body of Christ, of which He is the Head, Chief, Shepherd, and Leader. The fullness of the cup, its running over, has a double significance. It is a cup of joy and a cup of sorrow, and in both respects it overflows. Those who would partake of the joys of the Lord must also partake of His cup of suffering; they must suffer with Him if they are to reign with Him. But they count the sufferings of the present time as not worthy to be compared with the glories to be revealed in them, and hence they are enabled to rejoice in tribulation. As the tribulation overflows, the rejoicing likewise overflows, and with the Apostle we can say, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4) 

GOODNESS AND MERCY

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (Psa. 23:6) The goodness and mercy we anticipate in the Kingdom has its beginning in the present. Those who know nothing of the joys of the Lord in the present time will not be prepared for the joys of the Lord in the Millennial Age. The joy and rejoicing granted to the Lord’s faithful is not a momentary condition, felt only at their first acceptance of the Lord and their consecration to His service. The goodness and mercy of the Lord is not something to be looked back on as a thing of the past, but is to be recognized and appreciated as a thing of the present. God’s goodness and mercy should follow us daily, refreshing us, strengthening us, and blessing us.

The highest hope of the Little Flock is that of final union with the great Shepherd, our heavenly Father, and the good Shepherd His Son, on the heavenly plane in our Father’s house on high. This mansion or plane is intended for the Little Flock and is separate and distinct from the mansion or plane provided for the restitution class of the Millennial Age. The end of all their highest ambitions will be attained when they will be like our Lord, see Him as He is, and share His glory in the Father’s house. (1 John 3:2)

OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER SHEEP

According to the Bible, the opportunity of entering the High Calling was to close after the full number of the Elect had been chosen. (Rom. 11:25) However, there were many who served God faithfully before the opportunity to enter the High Calling was opened, and we refer to this class as “Ancient Worthies.” Likewise, there are many who still desire to serve God faithfully since the closing of the High Calling. Because they show the same spirit of devotion to God as the Ancient Worthies, God purposes to associate them with the Ancient Worthies in Millennial and Post-Millennial rewards and service. We refer to this class as “Youthful Worthies.” Entry to this class will be available for all who come to the Lord in full consecration until the end of this age or until Restitution sets in for the world of mankind.

Since God is unchangeable, He is always pleased for any to devote their lives wholly and unreservedly to doing His will. The advice then to all who love the Lord and who desire to be in complete fellowship with Him is the same message that has gone forth throughout this age: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” (Rom. 12:1)

It is because the Youthful Worthies have the faith of Abraham that they will be blessed with him and have the privilege of participating in the blessing of all nations. (Gal. 3:6-9) Having this faith quality, they heed the Lord’s invitation to consecrate; they give Him their hearts. (Prov. 23:26) There being no opportunity for them to win a crown with Christ, He does not beget them of His Spirit, but gives them a new human heart to love Truth and Righteousness and to serve Him. They too, like the Little Flock, become dead to self and the world and alive to God, practicing watchfulness and prayer, studying and spreading, the Word. Thus, the Youthful Worthies also must be faithful to the Lord – even unto death, if He deems it necessary.

In conclusion, let us seek to cultivate more and more the meek, docile, and loyal character of the sheep, that we may be abundantly blessed by the care of the good Shepherd. Such a disposition does not commend itself to the world – the wayward goat, the bold lion, the stealthy bear, and the subtle serpent are all more fitting emblems of their ideals, and are usually the emblems selected for display as their coat of arms. But let the world love its own, while we remember that we are not of the world, but are sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, and that our safety and spiritual prosperity depend, not upon our own wisdom and sagacity, but entirely upon our diligent hearkening to, and patient following of, the voice of the good Shepherd.

(Based on Reprints 3268 and 3116, with pertinent additions.) 

__________________________________________________ 

THE LORD IS MY HELPER

“The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb. 13:6)

We should not say, The Lord is my Helper, and therefore He will not let my house burn down, or let burglars break in and steal my belongings. We should not say, I will not lock my doors at night because the Lord is watching over me and mine. To say such things would not be in the spirit of a sound mind, and it would not be true faith; it would be presumptuous. We should take all reasonable precautions, because the Lord expects us to do all in our power for our own protection. We should not expect Him to work unnecessary miracles to protect us from our own carelessness and inefficiency.

If we have such unreasonable expectations, He might allow us to experience difficulty and loss in order to teach us a needed lesson. We are stewards of what the Lord entrusts to us, and He expects us to exercise proper care over things under our stewardship but belonging to Him. We should safeguard ourselves, our loved ones, and our possessions to the best of our ability and then leave ourselves fully in the Lord’s hands, knowing that all will be well with us.

If the Lord permits a seeming calamity to befall us, we may rest assured that it will work out for our good if we are properly influenced by the experience. After having done our part, we should trust all consequences to Him, not doubting that He will care for us in His own best way and time. The Lord will give us whatever help He deems to be in our best interests as long as we do not ignore His leadings and seek to manage our own interests. Even if we have made such a mistake, if we renew full allegiance to the Lord, acknowledging where we have willfully relied on our own understanding, the problems may prove to be a real blessing in opening our eyes to our wrong course, in showing us our own insufficiency to guide ourselves, and in bringing us wholly back to God.

It may be the will of God to permit us to suffer, just as He permitted John the Baptist to be imprisoned and finally beheaded, just as He permitted Jesus to be arrested and crucified, and He permitted many of His saints in the past to be maltreated or killed. But we need not fear what men may do to us, knowing that our God, to whom we belong and whom we serve, will be with us constantly, and will cause all things to work out His own glorious purposes for us and in us.

We would, of course, be glad to please other people, if this were possible. But whenever it is a question of pleasing God or pleasing man, we will say, as did the three young Hebrews to the king of Babylon: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Dan. 3:17-18) We will not do anything contrary to the divine will. We will worship our God alone!

When the Jewish Council commanded the Apostles Peter and John to speak no more in the name of Jesus, they replied: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:13-20)

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, said to our Lord on the night of His arrest and trial, “Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” (John 19:10-11) So it is with all the footstep followers of the Master. God’s grace will be sufficient. Man is powerless to harm a hair of our heads, unless it is permitted of our Father in Heaven for His glory and our own highest welfare.

The calmness of the Lord’s humble ones under trying circumstances is often a mystery to the world, but to follow a course in life that will glorify our God and magnify His grace, meeting trials and difficulties wisely and courageously, counting our tribulations as joy, it is necessary that our hearts be attuned to the Lord, and that we have no will but His will. We cannot accomplish this in our own strength, but in the strength of God alone.

(Based on Reprint 5539.)
Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com

[1] We recognize that the door to the High Calling is closed, but we believe that what Pastor Russell wrote for the Saints is helpful for those consecrating after the closing of the door. See Reprint 5761 for what Pastor Russell wrote on this.

NO. 794: RANSOM IMPLIES RESTITUTION

No. 794

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6)

It has been our custom for many years to pay tribute at this time of year to Pastor Russell, That Wise and Faithful Servant, to commemorate his death on October 31, 1916. We believe his stewardship doctrine was a correct understanding of the Atonement, the central teaching of which is Restitution. It has been said that once Brother Russell received the Truth on this doctrine, he never delivered a public discourse in which Restitution did not have a prominent place. In keeping with this, we present this treatise taken from one of his public discourses.

_________________

The Apostle Paul’s words [above] are my text. At another time we may consider the forepart of this text, but on this occasion I invite your attention to the last clause, which explains that our Lord’s sacrifice was a sacrifice for all mankind, and that in due time this great matter will be made known to all mankind with a view to their blessing.

Perhaps I should take a moment here to answer a question which I understand is frequently raised in respect to my preaching, namely: Why does Pastor Russell give so much more attention to doctrinal questions than do other ministers? Why does he not give more attention to scientific matters, political, moral reforms and practical living? My reply is, in the words of our Savior, “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.” (Matt. 6:32) All these are worldly matters, while the doctrines of Christ and the Apostles are peculiar to Christians. Hindus, Confucians and Mohammedans have a common interest in the affairs of the world and its moral, physical and political welfare, but the Christian minister is divinely directed to “preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2), and the Word ignores worldly science, politics, reforms, etc., and especially deals with doctrines. I am, therefore, merely following the example of Christ and His Apostles, and the reason why this seems peculiar is that the majority of ministers largely neglect to heed the scriptural injunction and the apostolic models. When they do occasionally touch upon doctrine, they are, alas, too frequently “teaching for doc­trines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7) They teach from the creeds of the past five centuries rather than from the inspired Word of the Lord.

It may be well here briefly to notice the value of doctrines – the value of those teachings which differentiate true Christians from the remainder of mankind. The ignoring of the doctrines of Scripture and the substitution of the doctrines of men during the Dark Ages have brought the world to the place where all doctrines are tabooed and distasteful, because those false doctrines from the Dark Ages are unreasonable and repulsive to the growing intelligence of the world. Instead of ignoring doctrine however, God’s people should seek and find the proper interpretation of the Bible, which is everywhere reasonable, logical and harmonious with itself and with sanctified common sense. This then, is my apology for so frequently discussing the doctrines of Christ and of the Prophets and of the Apostles.

NOT A LIMITED ATONEMENT

Our text declares a great fact, which Christian people generally ignore if they do not outright deny it: Our Lord Jesus’ death was a ransom price whose scope covers and includes the entire family of Adam. The fact is that the Scriptures do speak of a special elect class which is being gathered out of the world during this Gospel Age, and which is promised joint heirship with Christ in His coming Millennial Kingdom. The fact is also that the great mass of mankind at the present time and throughout the 6,000 years of the past have been “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12) They have been so because they have been without knowledge of the only name whereby they might be saved. (Acts 4:12) These facts have led many to the erroneous conclusion that our Lord’s death has not been and never will be a ransom price or offset price for the cancellation of the sins of mankind in general.

Their reasoning has indeed certain logical features. If the world in general has not received and never will receive a blessing at the Lord’s hands, the logical conclusion must be that justice was not and never will be satisfied by a ransom price for the world’s share in original sin. In seeming harmony with this erroneous thought is the fact that only a comparatively small proportion of humanity has been specially favored of the Lord with an opening of the eyes of their understanding, and the privilege, through faith, of coming back into harmony with their Creator. Seeming to support this view also are the scriptural statements respecting the present narrow way and straight gate, which few find, and the references to the elect as constituting only a “little flock.” (Matt. 7:14; Luke 12:32)

Building upon this erroneous foundation of a limited atonement for original sin, the fathers of the Dark Ages and since have proceeded to give various explanations of the eternal torture of the world of mankind, the non-elect, those not favored by the Almighty with a knowledge of the only name given whereby they might be saved. These false doctrines, built upon the “tradition of the elders” (Matt. 15:2), have had a nauseating effect upon intelligent minds; they contradict the scriptural declaration that God is just, loving, wise and all powerful. (Psa. 89:14; 1 John 4:8; Jer. 10:12) What we need to correct the nausea, to refresh the hearts, to re-inspire love and zeal for the Lord and His Word, is to see with clearness the true doctrines of the Scriptures.

The Scriptures declare: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) They show conclusively that His death was not for the Church only: “And he is the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins [the Church’s sins]: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) But to appreciate these statements, to see how they can be and are true, it is necessary to know that the Scriptures nowhere declare that the present Gospel Age is the only period of divine favor, the only period for the forgiveness of sins, the only period of reconciliation with God, the only period of opportunity for being taught of God and of obtaining His blessing and favor, lost through original sin in Eden.

As soon as we grasp this great fact our eyes begin to open to other facts, namely: (1) Prior to this Gospel Age, during the Jewish Age and previously, all the world except that one little nation of Israel, were aliens, strangers, and foreigners from God and His promises. (Amos 3:2) (2) The Scriptures clearly indicate a “world to come” (Heb. 2:5), a future epoch under new and better conditions than now prevail. (3) That future epoch is called “the day of Christ,” and “the day of the Lord.” (Phil. 1:10; 1 Thess. 5:2) It is indeed the Millennial Day, the thousand years of Christ’s reign for the very pur­pose of blessing and uplifting the world of mankind, for whose sins His death was the atone­ment price and who are to be healed by His stripes. (4) Every invitation and injunction of the Gospel Age has been with a view to the selection of an elect class, who shall be joint heirs with Christ during that Millennial Age, to share with Him in the great work of general human uplift.

A COMMON ERROR CORRECTED

At this point many good people laboring under a degree of blindness, the smoke of the Dark Ages, feel disposed to object and to insist that there can be no future probation. Ask them why, their reply is that the entire Scriptural teaching contradicts the thought of a future hope beyond the tomb. We reply: this is an error; the very reverse is true, as we shall show. We ask them for a single Scripture on their side of this subject. To their amazement they find none, but as a last resort quote from Ecclesiastes the words: “In the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.” (Eccl. 11:3)

But is not this a very slim text, indeed, to raise up as a barrier against the entire voice of the Scriptures, and against all the demands of reason and logic as well? And this very Scripture is in full accord with what we claim, namely, that as a tree when it has fallen is lifeless and powerless and cannot raise itself up, so is man in death under the sentence and wage of original sin. The Scriptural argument is that the whole race of Adam was thus dead – without life, without power to raise itself out of its fallen condition, without any claim upon eternal life or divine favor in any sense. But our text declares that our Lord Jesus “gave himself a ransom for all” – for Adam the transgressor in particular, and for all of his race who shared in his penalty – to rescue us from that dead condition by resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:21)

It is because man is in this helpless condition – dead, powerless to revivify himself – that God has gone to his relief through Christ. He caused the great ransom sacrifice to be made and paid to justice nearly 19 [now 20] centuries ago, and in our text assures us that the ransom sacrifice finished at Calvary was on behalf of all mankind and is consequently to bring a blessing to all mankind “in due time.”

We are not arguing that all who have died have gone to heaven – quite the contrary. We stick to the book, the Bible, in its declaration that “the dead know not anything” (Eccl. 9:5), that a resurrection is necessary to any future living. We hold with the Scriptures that at the end of this age, the First Resurrection will take place, the resur­rection of the “blessed and holy,” those who have pleased God both by faith and obedience. These, the Scriptures declare, will be “kings and priests unto God” and shall “reign on the earth.” (Rev. 1:6; Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:6) The object of this reign will be to bring blessings of knowledge and opportunity to all. The participants in the First Resurrection are the “seed of Abraham,” our Lord Jesus the Head, and His Church the members of His body, as the Apostle declares: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29)

The promise to which Christ and His Church are heirs is that they shall be God’s instrumentality for the blessing, instruction and uplifting of the world of mankind. When will they do this unless there be a future Millennial Age? To be heirs of this promise made to Abraham, that in his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3), would be a meaningless farce and jest on the Almighty’s part had He not purchased us, and provided a time and means by which this blessing could accrue to the world. We perceive that He has arranged a time for granting the world a trial for life, a trial respecting their willingness to abandon the ways of sin and death, and to walk in the ways of righteousness under the enlightenment of the Truth, which we are assured shall shine forth as the sun, whose beams shall heal humanity. (Mal. 4:2)

FEW HAVE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE

The means for the blessing we see provided in Christ and His Bride, the elect Church of the Gospel Age. It is guaranteed in the fact that Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man, or, as our text declares, became the Mediator between God and man by giving Himself a ransom for all. A point I desire to emphasize here is that the giving of this ransom price and the acceptance of it by justice imply divine intention for the blessing of all mankind, in full accord with the various testimonies of the entire Scriptures. Why should “a ransom for all” be given if it were not intended of God that all should benefit from it, or at least have an opportunity of benefiting from it, which would be virtually the same thing? We hold that it is beyond dispute that the giving of the ransom for all and the divine acceptance of it, in harmony with the divine promise, are the sure guarantee that ultimately a blessing must come to every member of Adam’s race as a result.

This knowledge has not yet reached all mankind; on the contrary it has reached only a small minority. Yet, knowledge of God’s favor and an intelligent acceptance of it on faith and a reasonable obedience in harmony with that faith are the demands of the divine Word. Proof could be given on almost every page of the Scriptures that faith, and endeavor to obedience in harmony with that faith, are necessary to salvation, but we will content ourselves by referring to a few citations:

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? . . . So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:14, 17)

“But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)

“For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice [the voice of the Son of God], And shall come forth.” (John 5:28-29)

“For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be un­stopped.” (Isa. 35:5)

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 31:34)

All these Scripture statements showing the necessity for knowledge are in full accord with our text which declares that our Lord Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified “in due time.” The present then is the due time for the Church, the Household of Faith, to hear the voice of the Son of God, and they who now hear, pass from death unto life, to the begetting to a new nature. By and by, when the present class of called elect ones shall have been glorified with their Lord, all the remainder of mankind shall hear for the very purpose: that they may understand, may appreciate, and may be assisted to obey the voice of Him that speaks from heaven, the great Ransomer, who in that day will be King over all the earth and will bind Satan and will put down every opposing influence, to the intent that all may be judged worthy or unworthy of everlasting life, by their appreciation of God and His righteous laws and their full obedience thereto.

This is the Apostle Peter’s declaration when he points us to the fact that Moses was a type of Christ Jesus, the head, and the Church, His body. As the seed of Abraham, this great Messiah shall bless all the families of the earth with knowledge and every opportunity for return to the divine favor and blessing that was lost in Eden: “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” And what of those who will refuse to hear that great Prophet, Priest and King during the Millennial Age, what of them? The Apostle answers, “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear [obey] that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22-23) They will be cut off in the Second Death, from which there will be no hope of recovery, no resurrection.

“TIMES OF RESTITUTION”

In full accord with all this is the Apostle’s statement respecting the blessings that are to come to mankind during the Millennial Age, following our Lord’s Second Advent and the glorification of His Church to joint heirship with Him. Of that time period he says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” He assures us that restitution times will follow as a result of our Lord’s Second Advent and the establishment of His Kingdom in glory and power: “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive [retain] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21)

“Times of Restitution” means years of restitution; it refers to the one thousand years of Christ’s reign. (Rev. 20:6) The word “restitution” signifies to put back or bring back something to an original or primary condition. The Apostle is speaking of humanity, and hence the suggestion is that the work of Christ and His Church in glory during the Millennium will be to restore mankind to the condition and privileges and blessings and favors enjoyed before sin entered the world, before the curse passed upon all by one man’s disobedience. (Rom. 5:12)

Evolutionists would have little sympathy with the Apostle’s statement here, for, according to their erroneous theory, restitution to the original condition would be the last thing for humanity to desire or hope for, or for God to promise as a blessing. But we are not consulting evolutionists in this matter, we are taking “the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Pet. 1:23)

The world of mankind has been in a fallen and falling condition with ups and downs, especially downs, for six thousand years. When the Lord’s time shall come and Times of Restitution shall begin, the present downward or fallen conditions will give place to upward conditions, to restitution times, for the general uplifting of all mankind.

We have just seen that the great ransom sacrifice finished at Calvary is the basis upon which God can be just and yet be the justifier of those who believe in Jesus, and release them from the sentence of endless death which was justly upon them as the imperfect posterity of the fallen Adam, unworthy of life eternal under divine conditions. The more we look into this matter the more logical, reasonable and satisfactory we see the divine plan to be. The first man perfect, the image of God, sinned with deliberation, and received as a penalty a death sentence.

After waiting more than 4,000 years God sent a Redeemer in the person of His Son. Since man was not a spirit being but a human being, therefore the Apostle declares that Christ took not hold upon the stature of angels, but humbled Himself and came to the still lower plane of humanity and became the man Christ Jesus – “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” (Heb. 2:16; Heb. 7:26) As the man Christ Jesus, He then gave Himself a ransom for all, “to be testified in due time,” as our text declares. The testimony has already been in the world for 19 centuries [now 20], and it has selected the very class which God foreknew and foretold, a “little flock” of footstep followers who are to be joint heirs with their Redeemer and Lord. Next in order will come the testimony to the remainder of mankind, first those who have not yet gone into the tomb, and secondly to those who have already gone there, and who will be awakened for the very purpose of receiving this testimony and of being tested by it.

DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT SALVATIONS

Here note the difference between the blessing God designed for the elect Church and the one He purposes for the world of mankind. The Church’s blessing is not “restitution,” and in harmony with this we can see no evidence of restitution anywhere about us. The restitution work waits for the restitution time, which begins with the estab­lishment of the Kingdom. Believers of this present time receive, indeed, a faith equivalent to restitution, in that they are recognized as having their sins covered with the robe of Christ’s righteousness, reckoned as having passed from the sentence of death in Adam to a share of life in Christ, reckoned as having received again the fellowship and communion with God, lost by Adam through his disobedience in Eden. All this in a sense serves as an equivalent to the “restitution” which is to come to the world in its “due time.”

But the world will not attain these things by faith, but will attain them actually, gradually during the thousand years. At its close all who shall have appreciated God’s favors and obeyed the voice of the great Prophet, Priest and King, will be actually perfect, as perfect as was Adam in every talent, quality, and power, but with increased capacity through increased knowledge.

The Church of this Gospel Age gets none of these restitution blessings actually. She merely has them by faith, for the special purpose of sacrificing those restitution blessings in order to present her body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, her reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1) She participates in the sufferings of Christ that she may be accounted worthy to participate in His glories, the Millennial glories. The gospel invitation to the Church is to lay down her life, to exchange these earthly privileges and blessings bought by the precious blood of Christ, for heavenly privileges offered to her as a reward of obedience. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21)

Glory, honor and immortality – the divine nature – will be the great change from present earthly conditions to heavenly conditions far beyond anything possible for the natural mind to appreciate. This great change, which is to come to the Lord’s faithful Bride in her participation in His resurrection, the First Resurrection, the resurrection to spirit perfection, is the great hope and ambition set before us, dear brothers and sisters. It is for this that we are exhorted to lay aside every weight and every besetting sin and to run with patience, sacrificing earthly things and treasures that we may have this better treasure, this pearl of great price, this participation in the Kingdom with our dear Redeemer.

The Apostle declares that these Times of Restitution were spoken of by all the holy Prophets. (Acts 3:21) Suffice it now that we take the Apostle’s words, calling to mind merely the various statements and promises of the law and the Prophets, pointing out these glorious good things for the world of mankind, that are delayed only until the completion of the elect Church. The Prophets speak of the restoration of Israel to divine favor, of how their blind eyes shall be opened, that they shall see in very truth that He whom they have pierced is the Messiah indeed, who gave His life for their ransom, and that God will pour upon them the spirit of prayer and supplication to this end.

The Apostle Paul most clearly points out (Romans, chapters 9, 10, and 11) that not only the falling away of Israel was foretold in the Prophets, but also their regathering, their restoration to divine favor; but this he points out to us will be after the completion of the gospel Church, spiritual Israel. Again he declares that, “Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” (Rom. 11:31) The glorified Church, with Christ at her head as the great King, is to dispense the mercies of God to the Jew first, but also to “all the families of the earth.” (Rom. 11:12; Rom. 11:25-33; Acts 15:16-17)

Let us, dear brothers and sisters, hold fast to these doctrines of Christ, which He set forth when He taught that He came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), and that He beheld mankind as a treasure in a field and bought the whole field that He might develop the treasure. (Matt. 13:44) These teachings are set forth also in the decla­rations of the Apostles and of all the holy Prophets since the world began.

While the doctrines of men would be inclined to lead us away from God, to make us think of the Almighty as unjust and cruel, heartless, loveless or powerless, the doctrines of the Scriptures open the blind eyes and lead us to see the King in His beauty, the glorious majesty of the God of love, the God of wisdom, the God of justice, the God of power. They lead us to see what the Prophet declared: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my [God’s] ways higher than your [man’s] ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:9)

With this greater enlightenment on the divine character, we will have greater desire to serve and to please Him, esteeming it a great privilege to lay down our very lives in His service, counting all things as but loss and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, that we might win Him and be found in Him and be made sharers in His resurrection. (Phil. 3:8-11)

Our dear friends and relatives and the heathen who have died out of Christ are “safe in the arms of Jesus.” They are safe in the care of Him who died for all. God will not torture any of His enemies to all eternity as we once feared. We now find this fear to be unscriptural. But let us see that while the Scriptures teach that the worst that can befall any of His enemies will be “everlasting destruction” without hope of a future life, there is a grand hope taught for the ignorant, that all such shall be brought to an accurate knowledge of the Truth that they may be saved in God’s due time. (1 Tim. 2:4) Let us recognize the Truth of the statement: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not [everlasting] life.” (1 John 5:12; John 8:36) God’s salvation is by knowledge and not by ignorance; it is through faith in the precious blood of Christ and not in ignorance of it; it is by a resurrection and the Millennial Kingdom.

(From an oral address given by Pastor Russell in 1904, with minor editing. It was published in Harvest Gleanings, Volume 3.)

__________________________________________________

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – When will the Ransom-price be fully paid and disposed of finally?

ANSWER – The Ransom-price will be fully paid and fully disposed of after the Church shall have passed beyond the vail, and when the great High Priest, Head and Body (the Church then being the glorified Body of the great High Priest), shall seal the New Covenant and put it into effective operation on behalf of Adam and all his race. The Ransoming will then be finished. The Atonement work will not be finished at that time, however; it will include the work of the Millennial Age, in bringing mankind (all who will) up out of sin and degradation into full at-one-ment and harmony with God. But the ransom-price must be fully paid over to Jehovah and accepted by Him before this New Covenant can go into effect, and before human Restitution can properly begin. Man’s recovery from death is a part of the Ransom work. (Hosea 13:14) (From What Pastor Russell Said, page 570-571.)

Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com

NO. 793: PATIENT ENDURANCE THE FINAL TEST

No. 793

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (Jas. 1:3-4)

The Scriptures portray patience as an important element of character, and we can see that patience is needed in every phase of life. Justice under present conditions requires patience, because it would be unjust to be harsh and impatient with the unavoidable defects of others. The spirit of a sound mind demands that we be patient in dealing with fallen humanity, just as God has long exercised this quality of patience. The Church will need much patience in dealing with the world in the next age, and in our present environment we need it constantly in order to develop in character likeness to our Lord.

Patience is closely associated with love and mercy, for if God were unloving and unmerciful, He would be without patience. In man’s present imperfect fallen condition, patience is sadly lacking, although it is often outwardly displayed for the sake of appearances. Like all qualities of character inherent in God and in all perfect beings created in His likeness, the quality of patience has been largely obliterated in humanity by the fall.

There are two Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as “patience.” One of these words signifies forbearance or longsuffering, while the other carries the thought of cheerful or hopeful endurance. It is this latter word that is used in our opening text, and it has a much deeper significance than ordinarily attached to our use of the word “patience.” It signifies the constant endurance of evil in a cheerful, willing manner. It is an element of one’s character, a sign of heart and character development, and not merely a temporary restraining of one’s emotions or actions. It contentedly endures wrongs and afflictions, with no rebellion of will. It fully acquiesces to the requirements of divine wisdom and love, which permits present evils while promising in due time to overthrow them.

God’s Word assures us that our characters cannot be perfected without this element of Christian character. We need it in dealing not only with others, but also with ourselves and our own blemishes. As we look around, we see that the world is in a condition of sin and blight. This knowledge should cause us to have great sympathy toward and patience with humanity. All of our brethren in Christ, like ourselves, are by nature members of this fallen human race. Therefore we should have a great deal of patient endurance with the Lord’s people, just as we would have them exercise this grace toward us.

THE PATIENCE OF GOD

As the quality of justice will always exist, so will the quality of patience, though not in the sense of patient endurance of evil. God works out His glorious designs perfectly balancing justice and patience. At present this requires patient endurance of evil, sinful conditions, and in the ages of glory to come, we believe God will still work out His purposes in perfect patience, probably in other worlds yet uninhabited.

But wisdom must have a voice in the exercise of patience under present evil conditions. God has declared that the time will come when He will no longer tolerate the world in its present sinful, imperfect condition. That time has almost arrived, and the great cataclysm of trouble will sweep away the entire present order in preparation for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. God will then give mankind the full opportunity to come into harmony with Him and with righteousness.

The time is coming when there will be no more sin, because God will ultimately have a clean universe. He will first give every individual an opportunity to rise out of sin, but if they will not avail themselves of the opportunity, then God’s patience will cease to operate toward them. This does not mean that God will cease to have patience. It means instead that His patience will no longer be extended in their direction. God’s patience has arranged the thousand years of Messiah’s Reign for man’s blessing, and His wisdom has decided that those thousand years will be sufficient for the elimination of evil. Whoever will not learn to live righteously under those favorable conditions would never learn, and it would not be consistent with divine wisdom to any longer exercise patience toward them.

There is also a limit to the proper exercise of patience or longsuffering in our dealings with ourselves and others. We should not be patient with ourselves beyond a certain point. There are circumstances in which it would be proper to feel that we should have known better and should have done better than we did. If a child of God realizes that he has been derelict with himself, he should say, “I will not be patient with myself any further. I will take myself in hand and conquer this weakness which I have permitted to assert itself, damaging my own character and probably causing pain and discomfort to others. I cannot do this by my own strength alone, but by the grace of the Lord I am determined to overcome this weakness.”

Remembering our own weaknesses, we are to exercise patience toward others who are seeking to overcome their imperfections, even as we are seeking to overcome our own. We all need patience or forbearance to be exercised toward us.

OUR LORD’S LESSONS ON PATIENT ENDURANCE

Returning to the word “patience” as used in our text, let us consider our Lord’s Parable of the Sower, as recorded in Luke. There we read, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15) Here patience signifies patient endurance, stead­fastness. To be of the fruit-bearing class, which the Lord will approve and accept in His Kingdom, means more than just joyfully receiving the Word of His Testimony. The stony-ground class also thus received it at first, and for a brief time seemed to give evidence of vigorous growth and fruitfulness, but when the hot sun of persecution arose, they withered away, because of lack of depth of soil.

In this parable the Lord showed that patient endurance and constancy is the final test of character. Patient endurance follows after the receiving and the sprouting of the seed; it follows after love, hope, joy and faith have caused the seed to spring forth and begin to bear fruit. It is necessary for the fruit to be developed and thoroughly ripened, that the grain may be made ready for the garner. How important we see this grace to be in the light of God’s Word! But remember: The endurance must be cheerful. We cannot suppose that He who judges the thoughts and intents of the heart would be pleased with His children, even when He saw them bearing much for His sake, if they endured it in a sullen, unhappy frame of mind.

Those who endure in that manner surely would not be copies of God’s dear Son, whose sentiment found expression in the words, “I delight to do thy will, O My God!” (Psa. 40:8) All of the Royal Priesthood were sacrificers, as was our great Chief Priest; and God who accepted their sacrifices through the merit of our dear Redeemer informs us that He loves a cheerful giver – one who performs his sacrifices gladly, with a willing heart. This does not mean that the body will never grow weary, but it means that the spirit will rejoice in the privilege of suffering weariness of the flesh in so noble and wonderful a service. If our Father should see best to lay us aside from active work for a time, when our hearts are longing to serve, this too will be an opportunity to cheerfully endure His will for us. This too may be a test of the submission of our wills to His.

Another instance of the Lord using the word “patience” in the sense of patient endurance is also recorded in Luke. He had just told His followers to expect tribulations as a result of being His disciples during the present time when Satan is the prince of this world. Although they must expect opposition from various quarters, He assured them that they would be fully under divine care and protection, even though persecutions would be permitted to reach and to affect them. His words were: “In your patience [patient endurance, cheerful constancy] possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)

Our faith and trust in the Lord and His gracious promises should be strong and unwav­ering, more than counter­balancing the opposition of the world, of false brethren, and of Satan’s blinded servants. If we have implicit faith in our Father’s love and care, we will recognize and rejoice in these oppositions as agencies of His providence in chiseling and shaping us for His service. Viewing our trials from this standpoint, we can indeed rejoice and cheerfully endure, even amid tribulation. God’s promises for the future cannot be injured by anything that man can do to us, so long as we are faithful to the Lord, accepting every experience that He permits to come to us as a ministration of His providence for our ultimate good and His glory.

THE NECESSITY FOR PATIENT ENDURANCE

Let us consider why it is necessary for us to develop this grace of patient endurance. The development of this quality was required of our Lord Jesus and is one of the conditions God attached to the call to joint-heirship with our Lord in the Kingdom. Thus the development of patient endurance should be the goal of all consecrated believers. The wisdom of this is manifest when we consider the work in which we hope to be able to participate – the work of blessing all the families of the earth in God’s Millennial Kingdom.

That work will be a mighty one, and those accounted worthy to participate in it must go beyond just appreciating the Father’s goodness and His glorious character, beyond just preferring His service to sin and iniquity. They must also demonstrate their thorough loyalty to God’s will and to the principles of righteousness and be joyfully willing to suffer on behalf of those principles. The temporary endurance of a few brief trials would not be enough to prove an individual to have an established character for righteousness. Patient, cheerful endurance, even unto death, would be necessary to demonstrate such a character.

We might illustrate this principle with the diamond. We can make imitation diamonds out of synthetic material that have the brilliancy of real diamonds. They may be hard, but not as hard as genuine diamonds, and these imitation diamonds would not have the value of true diamonds. If they were subjected to severe pressure, they would be crushed. The same is true of a Christian. If one were possessed of every grace of character needed to be a child of God except the one of firmness and endurance, he would not be fit for the Lord’s service. Hence we see the necessity of the character quality of patient, cheerful endurance.

The importance of this quality in the Christian character was emphasized by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus. There he enumerated the qualities of an advanced Christian: “That the aged men [advanced Christians] be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” (Titus 2:2) The final test of patient endurance must be passed before one can be accepted by God.

In his Epistle to Timothy, Paul reminded him: “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” (2 Tim. 3:10-11) We need this important grace of patient endurance more and more as we proceed along on our race course and near its end. We may grow weary and trials and tests may abound; therefore we need to “gird up the loins” of our minds and look to our great Exemplar for the needed inspiration and strength. As the Prophet said, we must set our faces “like a flint” for the home stretch. (Isa. 50:7)

TRIALS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

Our ability and strength to patiently endure should increase as we progress spiritually. Paul gave this counsel to all the Lord’s people: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Eph. 6:10) We cannot possibly develop this essential trait of character without trials – experiences intended to call for the exercise of cheerful endurance. So let us not think it strange if we are called upon to pass through protracted trials which make it necessary for us to strengthen ourselves to bear them.

Let us keep in mind that the virtue is not merely in the act of bearing, for the world also has much to bear. It is instead in the manner in which we endure. We must be sweet and submissive at heart, in full harmony with the Lord’s processes of development. This may be hard at times, but His grace will be sufficient if we constantly seek it. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13) We can see a new reason for the Lord’s arrangement that the Church, and all the Lord’s people, should have trials as our Master had – under evil circumstances – that they might not only have all the necessary qualities of Christian character, but that they might have them firmly grounded and established.

The Apostle James likewise pointed out the importance of this quality: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (Jas. 1:3) That is to say, if our faith stands the trial, it will work out in our character this patient endurance. On the other hand, if we do not attain this development, it will mean that our faith has not stood the test satisfactorily, and that we are not fit for the Kingdom. Thus we see clearly what a great mistake has been made among Christian people in general in supposing that religion is a thing to be gotten suddenly as an answer to prayer, or by going to the mourner’s bench, or by standing up for prayers, or in response to some divine or human appeal as one would find a dollar and put it in one’s pocket.

On the contrary, the step of repentance from sin and justification is only the beginning, and not the end, of the Christian way. The next step is consecration of ourselves and our all to God. But this also is far from the end. Not only must we go on and on, to the attainment of faith, fortitude, self-control, meekness and love, but having attained all these, we must patiently endure. We must “run with patience the race that is set before us.” Or to use another figure of speech, repentance and justi­fication merely mark our enrollment in the School of Christ as pupils, to be taught of the Lord.

“THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION”

The Lord made this promise to the Church of the Philadelphia period: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev. 3:10) The Church of Laodicea – the Church of our Lord’s Parousia – was not kept from entering into the “hour of temptation” but we may be sure they were kept while in it if they were faithful and true. Our dear Lord’s special message to the Laodicean phase of the Church was this: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:20-21)

Though not spared from this hour of temptation, the Church has had a counterbalancing blessing as a result of living in the time of our Lord’s Parousia. They have had His instruction – His dispensing of spiritual food as “meat in due season” – in a manner and to a degree never before enjoyed by His saints. As we might expect, this greatest favor has been offset by the subtle and severe trials of this special “hour of temptation.” If there was ever a time when patient endurance was needed by the Lord’s faithful, it has been during this period. There was never a time when this counsel was needed more: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19) The Apostle forewarned of the fiery ordeals of this time: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Cor. 3:13)

We find this quality of patient endurance lacking everywhere throughout Christendom today. Even among the majority of the professed followers of Christ, it is becoming increasingly scarce. Few wish to endure anything for righteousness’ sake, for Christ’s sake, or for anyone else’s sake, and if endurance of anything unpleasant is absolutely necessary, the trial is borne with much impatience and complaint. A spirit of intense bitterness, defiance, and rebellion against anything resembling self-denial or resignation is daily growing in the hearts of mankind.

This general tendency today toward impatience and rebellion has an unavoidable influence upon consecrated believers. Only by divine grace can this tendency be successfully resisted, and progress be made toward the development of a Christ-like character. This special grace, so needed today by the Lord’s children, will be withheld from those who are not walking close to the Lord, following in the footsteps of Jesus. It is because the professed followers of Christ are living so far from Him that we see the tendencies of impatience and rebellion developing among those who profess His name.

The prevalence of this spirit is at the bottom of the outbreaks against law and order which we hear of so frequently, and we may expect this spirit to continue to grow. There is a feeling among the masses that if they had taken matters into their own hands long ago, present conditions would be different. But those who have kept the Lord’s Word of patient endurance, seeking from Him the wisdom from above, have learned that He has a due time for the accomplishment of His purposes, and they are willing to wait patiently for His time, knowing that it is best.

ONE OF SATAN’S SPECIAL DECEPTIONS

All of the Lord’s people should heed the Apostle’s counsel to the Church. The besetments and trials of our time are many, and some of them are so subtle and deceptive that all who are not thoroughly rooted and grounded in the Truth will be carried away by the false arguments of those Satan has been permitted to use as his agents.

Among the subtle theories of the Adversary, none seems more deceptive than what is falsely called Christian Science, for it is neither Christian nor scientific. Backed by the power of the Evil One, it promises its dupes that if they will affirm an untruth, and stick to it, they will have relief and cure of certain ailments and bodily afflictions. Those who have not learned to endure patiently all that the Lord permits them to experience in the way of pain and sickness that cannot be relieved by reasonable methods will be ready to accept almost any relief the Adversary may bring to their attention. As they learn to deceive themselves with respect to pain and sickness, gradually perverting words from their real meaning, ignoring and denying facts, they become in time so confused in their minds that truth appears to them to be falsehood, and falsehood appears to be shining truth.

These deluded ones are led into this deception partly through curiosity. It seems curious to them to hear someone say that there is no death and all is life, there is no pain and all is health, there is no evil and all is good. They recognize that these statements are certainly very inconsistent, yet they are curious to know the reasoning and philosophy behind them, and this is just what the Adversary wants. He wishes to attract their attention so that step by step he may lead them from one falsehood to another, until their entire brains and consciences are subverted. They have accepted darkness for light and lies for truth. For this they are rewarded with perceived physical relief – small recompense!

This is their reward for being selfish, of being unwilling to suffer anything they could escape by any means. They prefer their own way, the way most attractive to the fallen flesh. They choose this rather than the Truth, which did not appeal to their flesh. They are ready to exchange the testimony of the Lord for the sake of physical ease and comfort, or to satisfy morbid curiosity. Thus they escape trouble and pain which, if endured patiently and joyfully, would work out for them blessing and strengthening of character.

A very few of those who have been thus enslaved by the great Adversary are now being freed by the power of the Truth, but the thorough accomplishment of this task is very difficult. In some cases the experiences necessary to break the bonds that so tightly bind them have been very painful, and have been accompanied by assaults from the Evil One and his servants, but it is well worth the struggle and the pain to be free from all such slavery.

PRESENT CONDITIONS PICTURED BY THE APOSTLE

Not everyone in Christendom will experience the “hour of temptation” in the same way because all are not on the same mental, moral, or physical level. However, the Apostle Paul enumerated certain general characteristics of it: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobe­dient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent [unrestrained], fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

This is a graphic picture of present-day conditions in the so-called Christian world. Because they have not received the Truth in the love of it, God has permitted strong delusions to come upon them “that they should believe a lie” and be condemned thereby. (2 Thess. 2:10-12) This hour of temptation has not yet reached its greatest intensity, but we believe this stage will be reached in the relatively near future. Blessed are all they who have made the Lord their refuge, for they will not be moved. (Psa. 91:9) Yet many of God’s children will pass through severe trials and temptations, some because of their own imper­fections and frailties, some because of the imperfections of others, and still others because of earthly cares and burdens they seem unable to fully overcome or to cast upon the Lord.

LET US HAVE THE PROPER FEAR

We sympathize with those passing through such trials and counsel them to remember the Master’s words, “Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21) Our heart is especially concerned for those who are in temptation but do not realize it, who are being swallowed up by ambition or business or other cares of this life and “the deceitfulness of riches.” (Mark 4:19) Their love for the Truth seems to grow cooler instead of hotter. They seem to be sleeping when they should be watching and praying. We fear this hour of trial is finding them unprepared. Let us take care for each other and for ourselves. If we love all the brethren and make their welfare our chief concern, this will further our own spiritual health. Yet we must not allow our love even for the brethren to hinder our full confidence in the Lord’s love and wisdom if siftings should take from us some whose fellowship we have cherished.

Let us do with our might what our hands find to do, remembering the Apostle’s exhortation: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:36)

*****

Comment: This article is based on Reprint 5650 with some edits. Pastor Russell’s original article was written to and for the Saints. We recognize that the door to the High Calling is closed, but we believe that what he wrote for the Saints is helpful for those consecrating between the ages and certain edits to the text reflect that. Pastor Russell said in Reprint 5761, September 1, 1915: “It is our thought that with the closing of the ‘door’ of the Gospel Age there will be no more begetting of the Holy Spirit to the Spirit nature. Any afterward coming to God through consecration, before the inauguration of the Restitution work, will be accepted by Him, not to the Spirit plane of being, but to the earthly plane. Such would come in under the same condition as the Ancient Worthies who were accepted of God. The Ancient Worthies came in, no call being opened to them – the High Calling not being yet open, and the Restitution opportunities not open. But they freely gave themselves up to God without knowing what blessings their consecration would bring, except that they had the intimation that they would, in the future life, have a ‘better resurrection’ than would the remainder of the world.”

__________________________________________________

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – Is there any Scripture which shows that the Feet-members of Christ will all be changed at one time?

ANSWER – We believe to the contrary – that instead of all the Feet-members being changed at one time, it will be a gradual work. One may be changed tonight, another tomorrow, etc.; and yet their change may be said to be all at one time in the sense that it is all in the Harvest time, all in the end of the Age. The change of some will be in the close of the Harvest period. As an individual matter, it will be one person after another. The Apostle says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed;” for “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” Our change will be “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” It will not be a gradual change to the individual but an instantaneous change. Instead of sleeping as the saints of the past have done, when our time comes to die, ours will be an instantaneous change. The Psalmist prophetically says, “I have said, ye are gods, and all of you children of the Most High. But ye shall die like men;” and this Scripture we understand to refer to the dying process that comes to all of the Church, the same as to mankind in general. We are New Creatures and hence the expression that we shall “die like men.” As men die, so we will die. Men do not generally die in bunches; so we would think it strange if many of us should die at one time. The world will not discern any difference between our death and the death of other men. (From What Pastor Russell Said, page 122.)

Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com

NO. 792: THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND THE TARES

No. 792

“Let both grow together until the harvest.” (Matt. 13:30)

Our Lord followed the Parable of the Sower with the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. (Matt. 13:24-30) The close connection between the two parables is readily observed, as the first prepares the way for the second. The majority of those who heard the Lord’s message were unwilling to hear it, opposing it directly or indirectly. The Parable of the Sower illustrates the four classes among those willing to hear it to any degree, and shows us that only one of the four classes – the “good ground” hearts – could possibly bring forth the good fruit. The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares focuses on that one group and shows us some of the obstacles faced by its members.

The first verse of the parable shows that it is a picture of the Kingdom of heaven: “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.” (Matt. 13:24) It does not portray the Kingdom in its complete and glorious Millennial reign, but rather shows it in the process of development – in the embryo condition. The embryo Kingdom is the Church in the flesh during the Gospel Age. Called to glory, honor and immortality, its members have had to first battle trials and difficulties in order to make their calling and election sure.

This Kingdom class began with Christ. There was no Kingdom seed, no Kingdom promises and hopes planted until Christ came, bringing life and immortality to light through the Gospel. (2 Tim. 1:10) It was the Son of man who sowed the good seed and the work was continued by the members of His body, the Apostles being the most prominent.

SATAN SOWED THE TARES

After the Apostles fell asleep, the enemy came: “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.” (Matt. 13:25-26) When His disciples inquired of the meaning of this, our Lord clearly explained: “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil.” (Matt. 13:37-39) Note that here, as elsewhere, the Lord unmistakably recognized the personhood of Satan.

The statement that this was done “while men slept” signified that while the Lord and the Apostles were living the enemy did not have the opportunity to introduce the tare element – it was not done until after their deaths, when they had “fallen asleep.” It is equally true that Satan continued this sowing of tares while the entire Church was asleep in the sense of not being wide awake to their duties and privileges. Such a state of drowsiness, slumber, and lack of alertness concerning the Truth prevailed among the Lord’s people for centuries. This period is known to the civilized world as the “Dark Ages.”

The same condition is still true today in large measure, and the Apostle’s admonition is still appropriate: “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thess. 5:6) Many of the Lord’s true followers have been dreaming about the conversion of the world, while the great enemy, Satan, has been liberally sowing tares in their very midst – or, as the Apostle Peter explained it: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Pet. 2:1)

There are various kinds of tares in the region of ancient Israel, but the most troublesome kind and the kind evidently referred to in the parable is known as “bearded darnel.” When it springs up among the wheat, the two look exactly alike and it is not until the heads mature that the difference is discernible. The wheat, weighted with golden grains, humbly bows its head, while the tares stand straight, the heads having little weight and the seeds being black. At this time the difference between the tares and the wheat becomes clearly apparent.

Considering the reality represented by the parable, we find the good seed, the gracious promises of the Kingdom, have produced the children of the Kingdom, the true Christians. They appreciate the Kingdom promises and have thankfully accepted the Lord’s invitation to become heirs with Him in the Kingdom. They have heartily embraced the terms of the invitation, accepting that they must suffer with Him if they are to reign with Him. (Rom. 8:17)

As these Christians have developed, they have brought forth much fruit, some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred grains, representing the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) They have been begotten of the Spirit through the Word of Truth. In contrast, the darnel class are those not begotten of the Truth, but of error – they have been misled into forms of godliness without its real power. (2 Tim. 3:5)

IMITATION CHRISTIANS

The Scriptures show that Satan, the devil, planted the seeds of error which have developed the darnel class. But why would he want to plant or develop any teachings that would bring forth imitation Christians, those who are outwardly godly? Would he not rather plant seeds of depravity and immorality? Remember that “the field is the world” and Satan already has a large part of the field where he is cultivating ignorance, superstition, vice etc. As the Apostle declared, “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles [the unbelieving world] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.” (1 Cor. 10:20)

This parable shows Satan’s intentions and purposes. He has not so much been anxious to develop the tare class as he has been to choke the wheat class. His purposes have been better accomplished by sowing tares than by sowing other types of seeds which would be obviously different as soon as they germinated and could be quickly exterminated. It is the fact that the darnel-tare exactly resembles the wheat for a considerable length of time that makes it more dangerous and more difficult to eradicate.

This is exactly the case with the tare class of Christendom. They are respectable, educated, and influential in outward morals and demeanor. Because they closely resemble the Lord’s consecrated ones, there is at first no means of discerning their different character.

GATHERING OUT THE TARES

The servants in the parable inquired whether or not they should pull up the tares, but their master answered, “Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.” (Matt. 13:27-29) It would have been normal for a certain amount of tares to spring up with the wheat, and they would normally have been pulled up as soon as they were noticed because the darnel seed is poisonous. But in this case, the tares were so abundant that it would be unwise, and in fact impossible to root them out without harming the wheat.

The same situation is true of the Church. Some imitation Christians would naturally spring up among the true Christians anyway, just as darnel was normally found among the wheat in that region. Our Lord, however, used the parable to show an abnormal condition – the tare seed was deliberately sown by the enemy for the very purpose of choking the wheat. This is in harmony with the Apostle’s statement, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12)

Today it is not merely the natural fallen condition of the human heart that inclines it toward the appearance of godliness without its substance, but it is far worse than this. All throughout the Gospel Age, Satan and his associates, the fallen angels, have been plotting against the divine plan in an attempt to thwart it. As the master in this parable said, “An enemy hath done this.” (Matt. 13:28) This illustrates that God foreknew all of this and that it was a part of the divine plan to permit it. In permitting it, the Lord does not endorse it nor make Himself responsible for it, but He will eventually overthrow it, bringing out of the evil certain valuable lessons for all eternity.

One of the most difficult lessons for the Lord’s people to learn is that Christendom is composed mostly of tares. When they see that the wheat-field has been overrun with tares, they tend to think the tares must be the actual wheat, and the comparatively few stocks that are real wheat they are inclined to consider fanatical extremists. Only those who are themselves begotten of the Spirit through the Word of Truth – the “good seed” of the Kingdom – have been able to properly discriminate and see the difference in fruitage between the wheat and the tares. They have been able to look back at the Lord, the Apostles, and the early believers and draw comparisons between them and the true wheat of today. The entire parable fully attests this.

LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER

This parable pictures what we are to expect as the result of the entire work of grace throughout this Gospel Age: “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.” (Matt. 13:30) The results will be a tremendous harvest of tares and a comparatively small gathering of wheat. It is the tares and not the wheat which is gathered and bound in bundles. The smaller quantity of precious wheat is taken directly to the barn unbundled.

This parable shows the spiteful enmity that has motivated the devil. The tares did not naturally spring up among the wheat, but were sown in the same systematic manner as the wheat to deliberately ruin the wheat-field. We can see that Satan’s strategy in the matter has been fully consistent with his entire course of action from the beginning of his rebellion against God. He deceived our first parents by malicious representations of the divine character and by falsehood. He told them that God had forbidden the eating of the fruit of the trees of knowledge of good and evil because he desired to keep them in ignorance. He told them that God feared they would become competitors with Him in knowledge, and assured them that the Almighty was unable to execute the death sentence against them – “Dying thou shalt die.”

Satan’s opposition has been evident throughout the history of the world. Among non-Christian peoples, he has planted the seeds of error and blasphemy against God, misrepresenting his character and plan, making them to appear sinister. He has planted these same seeds of error in the wheat-field of Christendom, scattering them so that they intermingle with the truths of the Lord’s Word. This evil seed is evident in the false doctrines of the Dark Ages.

Those influenced by the errors of Satan are the tares – they are begotten of fear and not of love. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) Only in the wheat class can perfect love cast out fear and bring the fruitage and graces of the Holy Spirit in heart and character, in word and deed.

The tares are not begotten of the spirit of truth with which the Lord begets those who are truly His, the wheat class. The error brings forth outward forms of Sabbath keeping, church going, decency, and morality, but does not bring forth the fruitage of consecration, self-sacrifice, etc., which are the essential qualities of the wheat class which the Lord has been developing during the Gospel Age.

THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE

Neither in this parable nor elsewhere does the Lord suggest the indefinite continuation of the present order dominated by sin and error. On the contrary, the Scriptures everywhere teach that the present age had a definite beginning and that it will also have a definite ending. Note our Lord’s words from the Diaglott translation: “The harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are messengers.” (Matt. 13:39, Dia.) Unfortunately, many of the most prevalent English translations of the Bible use the word “world” here and in other places. A more proper translation would be “age” or “epoch” or “dispensation.”

Nothing could be further from the Scriptural teaching than the idea that the earth is to be destroyed during the harvest time when the wheat is gathered. On the contrary, the wheat class selected during the Gospel Age will be glorified and, will shine forth for the blessing of mankind, bringing order out of the present confusion, scattering the present darkness, ignorance, and superstition. Their shining forth will cause the knowledge of the glory of God to fill the whole earth, enlightening all who have ever come into the world. (Hab. 2:14; John 1:9) All will then know the love of God from the least to the greatest. (Jer. 31:34) They will know the abundant provision that God has made, which guarantees that none will die the Second Death except the willfully and intelligently disobedient. (Acts 3:23)

Our understanding is that this harvest time has already come, and this accounts for the wonderful commotion and changes which we see in the wheat-field of Christendom. The time of separation has come, and not a single tare has been gathered into the “barn” – the heavenly condition and glory beyond the vail. Not a head of ripened wheat, is left in the field or burned with the tares, but is safely garnered – gathered to the Lord.

The Lord uses human instruments as His servants, messengers or angels, and these “messengers” have been at work. The various human organizations, including churches, orders, and other institutions, are bundling more and more into combinations and federations. The harvest time is especially favorable to the ripening of the wheat, and the Lord’s true people everywhere have found assistance as never before in growing in grace and knowledge and the fruits of the Spirit. In the harvest time the Lord has provided messengers of truth and grace for their assistance and development.

CAST INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE

Given the false fears already instilled into many hearts, there is a predisposition to interpret literally the statement about the tares being cast into a furnace of fire (Matt. 13:42), thinking it to signify eternal torment. Notice, however, that the parable strictly limits this burning time to the harvest at the end of the age. There is no such furnace throughout the Gospel Age – the tares are only to be gathered and burned in a furnace in the end of the age. This is very contrary to the general idea that immediately at death many pass to an eternity of torture. Even if this statement did refer to a time of torture, either for eternity or for a shorter period, it certainly limits the time of its beginning to the harvest time, the end of this age.

If we look more closely, we will see more clearly what this feature of the parable signifies. The field is the world, and the wheat are the Lord’s people who rise up out of the world and bring forth fruit to His praise. They are the result of the good seed, the gracious promises and arrangements of the Kingdom which inspire them with hope, faith, and perseverance to the end. This is the only class the Lord seeks during this age. He is not dealing with the entire field, but merely with the corner of it that He has planted with the good seed. The other parts of the field, the world in general, are not represented in the parable at all.

When the farmer gathered his crop to the barn it was his custom to burn the tares, so that the seed might not propagate further and cause additional trouble. The tares were used in bake-ovens as we would use kindling wood, for heating the oven for the baking of bread. The figure of the burning of the tares signifies nothing approximating torment; it simply illustrates destruction. When the tares are burned they are reduced to dust and become again a part of the field, the world.

This is how we understand it will be in the end of this age. The Lord will permit various agencies to enkindle a great fire of trouble – “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” (Dan. 12:1) The tare class will be terminated with this fire and so-called Christendom will be the great furnace. There will also be trouble in the “heathen” nations outside of Christendom, but the trouble will especially affect nominal Christendom or “Churchianity.” By the time the trouble has ended, imitation Christians will have disappeared; they will be no more. The true Church, the elect Kingdom class, will have been changed to heavenly conditions in the First Resurrection, and the remainder of mankind will all be of the “earth, earthy” and make no pretensions whatever to be called-out ones of the heavenly order.

There will surely be “wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:42) – great disappointment, sorrow, pain, trouble, and anguish – throughout Christendom in that “day of trouble.” Already, as our Master predicted, men’s hearts are failing them for fear and for looking after the things that are coming upon the earth. (Luke 21:25-28) But their fears and their anguish will not be eternal. The trouble will accomplish its work of mellowing society and preparing mankind for the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom. It will burn itself out and will be no more. Instead of trouble there will be blessings upon all, including those who were once tares, and upon all the families of the earth.

The blessings will come through the seed of Abraham, the glorified Christ, Head and body. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matt. 13:43) Our Lord foresaw that few would be able to understand, appreciate, or receive this message. We should not look down upon those who cannot hear, however, but rather we should sympathize with them and be thankful to the Lord for the hearing ear which permits us to appreciate all the features of the divine plan.

A DIFFERENT LESSON

While the parable represents the Lord as the Sower, the Truth as the seed and His true followers as the result, the Apostle pointed out a totally different kind of sowing: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal. 6:7) This text points us to the fact that the seeds we sow today will eventually bring forth fruitage. They may be good seeds of kind words, gentleness, meekness, patience, helpfulness, or they may be evil seeds of malicious words, sinful conduct, backbiting, slandering and evil doing. Every act, every word, every look, and every thought is a seed that will bring results in our own minds, hearts, and conduct. They will determine whether or not we will bring forth an abundance of good fruit, no fruit whatever, or evil fruit, which the Lord declares He will utterly destroy in the time of reckoning in the end of this age.

All who are the Lord’s true people will profit by applying this lesson as well as the lesson of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, but they must not mix the two lessons, or confusion will result.

(Based on Reprint 3769.)

__________________________________________________

QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – In John 9:4 we read: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Does this verse apply to the Epiphany?

ANSWER – The Berean Comments on this verse say the “night” is the Time of Trouble; and the Time of Trouble and the Epiphany are one and the same, as That Servant taught. The phrase “when no man can work” is used by those who believe that they are still doing the work of reaping the Saints, but we believe that the “reaping” of the Saints is finished. Surely all Truth people can see that we are in the Time of Trouble. Even quite a few of the world tell us that we are in the Time of Trouble as given in Dan. 12:1 and Matt. 24:21. We know that a work is being done now, but it is not the “reaping” of the Saints.

Brother Russell says in Volume 3, page 211, bottom: “Observe that, when this night cometh, when the reapers must cease their labors; it will prove that this final work of the Gospel Age is accomplished; that the elect number of the Bride of Christ have all been ‘sealed,’ and ‘gathered’ into a condition of separateness from the worldly – into the barn condition (Matt. 13:30); for God will not permit anything to put an end to His work until it is finished. Then, all the true and faithful servants of God will have been sealed in their foreheads; and, the work of the Gospel Age being finished, no more can enter into that work or reap its rich reward, foretold in the ‘exceeding great and precious promises’ as the reward of the faithful who enter while the ‘door’ is open.” (2 Pet. 1:4)

Quite a few, with good reason, believe there is a work still to be done. Since the door to the High Calling closed, which no man can open, there is still a work going on: the world is summoned to repentance and the justified invited to consecrate. Brother Russell taught that this class of consecrators, who came in too late for the High Calling, if faithful, would be rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies, who were too early for the High Calling. (Heb. 11:39-40) In contrast we call them Youthful Worthies. That Servant gave quite a bit on this class. (See Reprint 5761, September 1, 1915)

The message to “repent and believe” is for all who get life on any plane, and it is a good idea for any of us to begin in this life, as soon as we have knowledge of sin and of right and wrong, to live life accordingly. When the individuals of the world learn righteousness (Isa. 26:9), it will be a glorious world: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters that cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

QUESTION – The Apostle Paul said: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27) Please explain what he meant by “counsel.”

ANSWER – The Diaglott rendering of this text is: “For I kept not back from announcing all the will of God to you.” All Bible Students know that the Apostle Paul was given more of the “Plan of the Ages” (Eph. 3:11, Dia.) than the other Apostles because of the vision he had on his way to Damascus. (Acts 9:3‑5) He evidently had more abundant revelations than any other Apostle. Though he was not permitted to tell all that he saw in his vision (2 Cor. 12:4), nor particularize all he knew of the mysteries of God relating to the “ages to come” (Eph. 2:7), yet what he saw gave a force, shading and depth of meaning to his words which, in the light of subsequent facts, prophetic fulfillments and the Spirit’s guidance, we are able to appreciate more fully than could the early disciples. We believe that the Apostle Paul knew that a long period of time would elapse before the Kingdom would be inaugurated and this would have been disheartening to the brethren of his day. Also some of his statements were for the end of the age and not for that time.

For instance, the Apostle Paul, who wrote more than one‑half of the New Testament, said this: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” (2 Tim. 2:20) Most Bible Students understand that gold and silver represent the Little Flock and Great Company, and that wood and earth represent the Ancient and Youthful Worthies.

That Servant followed the Apostle’s example in giving the “whole counsel.” He taught that the Youthful Worthies were an unbegotten class consecrating after the closing of the “door.” He gives this in Reprint 5761, September 1, 1915, under the heading “Those Consecrating Between the Ages.” He did not use the term Youthful Worthies, but he did speak of those who are meant by that term, who would be associated in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies and have a “better resurrection.”

QUESTION – Will the world be blessed under the New Covenant or the Abrahamic Covenant?

ANSWER – All of God’s blessings come under the Abrahamic Covenant, either directly or indirectly. The Abrahamic Covenant reads: “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 28:14) The first part of this blessing is realized by those coming into membership with Christ, as the Seed of Abraham – “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29) The promise is that the seed of Abraham will bless all the families of the earth. The second part of this Abrahamic promise covers the Millennial Age as well as the special blessing to the Church in the Gospel Age. This Covenant does not conflict with the old one at all. The old one said merely, there would be a blessing, and that was a sufficient guarantee to our faith that it would be a good blessing, not merely a nominal blessing, but a blessing in reality. The New Covenant explains how this blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant will reach all mankind. It will be through the forgiveness of their sins through Christ as the great Prophet, Priest and King. He will establish His Kingdom, causing the knowledge of the Lord to fill the whole earth. Forgiveness and assistance out of degradation will go to every individual. The two covenants are not at all in conflict. (From What Pastor Russell Said, pages 165-166, with editing.)

Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com

NO. 791: THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

No. 791

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11)

On the occasion of giving this parable, our Lord had returned to the Sea of Galilee, where He had given some of His earliest teachings. Great multitudes were drawn to hear Him because of the miracles He performed. He sat in the prow of a boat and taught the people on the shore by various parables, one of which is known as the Parable of the Sower, also sometimes described as the parable of the four kinds of soil, the soil representing the four kinds of human hearts. (Matt. 13:1-9; Mark 4:1-9; Luke 8:4-15)

The Prophet had foretold that our Lord would speak in parables: “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” (Psa. 78:2) He did just that, as the Evangelists recorded: “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.” (Matt. 13:34-35) Because the Lord expounded the hidden truths of ancient prophecy through figures and obscure sayings, His words would not be understood today without the enlightenment He gave us through the Apostles.

In Mark’s account, the parable of the Sower is introduced by the word “Hearken,” signaling that an important lesson is contained in it. (Mark 4:3) Nevertheless, the world gives little notice to this parable or to any other of our Lord’s teachings. Even His professed followers rarely give the Master’s words the deep, attentive thought needed to appreciate them. Only those who genuinely seek will find the true meaning, the true lesson.

The parable itself is a very simple statement of a matter that was familiar to those listening: A farmer sowed good seed, a portion of which fell on a pathway (“the way side”) where it was readily seen and quickly devoured by the birds. Some of the seed fell on stony ground, where the soil was good enough, but shallow. That seed sprang up quickly, made a good showing at first, but soon withered under the heat of the sun. Other seed fell upon ground that was infested with the seed of thorns, and as the two grew together the thorns choked the good seed causing it to become unfruitful.

Some of the seed, however, fell on soil that was more favorable. That soil had been plowed to receive the seed, it was deep enough to properly root and nourish it, and it was not thorn-infested. The seed that fell on that good ground fulfilled the farmer’s intention and brought forth much fruit, some thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold.

The picture presented by this parable would have been clear to the minds of those who heard Jesus. The fields of that region were not fenced and the travel pathways frequently crossed them. The ground of the region was stony and thorn infested and there was a heavy bird population. The terrain abounded with limestone which rendered the soil very rich, but also very hot if it was too shallow.

WHY TEACH IN PARABLES?

Our Lord concluded His parable with the words, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:9) While the majority of the multitude heard His gracious words and thought Him a wonderful teacher sent by God, they took no deeper interest and departed. They did not have the “ears to hear.” They were not hungry for the Truth, and thus their hearts were not prepared. The twelve Apostles, along with a considerable number of disciples, remained with the Lord, and these then crowded around the Master to ask the interpretation of the parable. They not only had ears for the story, they also had ears for its meaning. They wanted to know the will of God in order that they might do it. They were consecrated to know and to do the Father’s will.

To those who inquired as to the meaning of the parable, our Lord answered, “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without [not disciples], all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12)

From the standpoint of ordinary Christian thought, the Master’s words here are utterly incomprehensible. The ordinary thought is that all the unconverted who are left in their sins are destined to an eternity of torture. But if that were true, how could our Savior have intentionally withheld the meaning of the parable, denying those who were not disciples the opportunity to be converted and saved? His words are intelligible only from the standpoint of the Plan of the Ages, which alone makes clear the divine Word as a whole or in part.

TWO PARTS OF THE DIVINE PLAN

When we understand our Lord’s mission among mankind in its true light, we see it has two parts. First, by His faithfulness to the Father’s plan, He paid our ransom price as our Redeemer, as the Scriptures make clear: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (1 Pet. 3:18)

After thus laying the foundation for blessing the whole world with the opportunity to escape from sin and death, our Lord then began a second feature of the divine plan, namely, the selection of a Kingdom class – the Church. This class would be associated with Him in the sufferings of the Gospel Age and in the glorious work of the future Millennial Age – the blessing of all the families of the earth. At the time of the giving of this parable, our Lord was not only in the process of laying down His life, dying daily and hourly, but He was also engaged in drawing to Himself an elect class who would be suitable to be His Bride, His joint-heirs in the Kingdom – His Church.

It was some of this Kingdom class that gathered around Him and asked the interpretation of the parable. He declared that it was His desire to make the matter very clear to them because they were in the condition of heart to profit by the knowledge. The knowledge thus imparted would be essential to their development and to their preparation for the Kingdom. Nearly all of our Lord’s parables related to the Kingdom, and all of them therefore are to be understood by the Kingdom class, the elect, the consecrated. All of this class should be earnestly desirous of an understanding of “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)

The earnestness of the disciples in desiring to understand the parable was part of the evidence that they belonged to this class, that it was proper for them to know. It was to their advantage that this understanding be hidden, so that in seeking and finding they would have a greater blessing than if the entire matter were readily seen by anyone.

Our faith in the Lord and in His wonderful plan is strengthened when we find how simple His plan is, how grand, how beautiful, and yet how hidden from the world – from all except those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to whom it is given to know the “mysteries.” Some of these mysteries pertain to the present and some to the future, and the more clearly we seek the more we may find, and the more clearly we discern the stronger will be our faith and loyalty.

Some may wonder how it would have injured the multitude to have heard and understood a good parable, even if their hearts were not properly prepared to receive and act upon its message. Would they not have received some blessing through a partial understanding of the divine plan? Because we are not perfect in knowledge or wisdom, we must trust the Lord’s love, knowledge, and wisdom on this subject and conclude that the multitudes were really better off left in ignorance for the time.

Perhaps we can see to some extent how and why this was so. Even worldly wisdom recognizes that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Even if the multitudes had been drawn to the Lord to accept Him fully as a teacher and to believe His doctrines, they could not have been of the Kingdom class if their hearts were still in an unconsecrated attitude. They might have hindered certain features of the divine plan connected with our Lord’s sacrifice by protesting His death and endangering an insurrection, which would have forced Pilate to defend Him against the malice of the rulers.

All this is reasonable and intelligible when viewed from the standpoint of the Plan of the Ages. When we understand God’s plan, we see that the election of the Church does not signify damnation for the remainder of the world. On the contrary, the elect are to be God’s agents for the eventual blessing of the non-elect, bringing all to a clear knowledge of the Lord and to opportunities for everlasting life on the human plane. It is evident that only a very few have ears to hear and hearts to appreciate the invitation of the Gospel Age – the invitation to suffer with Christ in the narrow way in hope of the glory, honor and immortality of the future.

THE SEED IS THE WORD

When asked to explain the parable, Jesus replied, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” (Mark 4:13) By this He indicated that it was important for them to understand the parable because it provided a valuable key to understanding all parables. He then proceeded to give a very detailed explanation of it.

The parable begins, “Behold, there went out a sower to sow." (Mark 4:3) Jesus later clearly explained, “The sower soweth the word.” (Mark 4:14) The Word of God is the entire revelation of God – the Bible. It is referred to elsewhere by the Lord as the “good seed.” The seed includes God’s direct messages in the past to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc., including the giving of the Law. It also includes the messages sent through the Prophets: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet. 1:21)

The seed also includes the teachings of our Lord Jesus and His Apostles, whom He authorized to speak in His name. As it is written: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb. 1:1-2) And the Son declared to the Apostles: “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Matt. 10:40)

We emphasize that the Word is the only proper seed, because much confusion has resulted from the use of improper seed. We do not limit the seed to any particular translation of the Word of God, nor do we maintain that all religious writings quoting from this Word are invaluable and constitute “good seed.” We stress emphatically that such writings are good seed only to the extent they are thoroughly loyal to the divine Word. To whatever extent they present human philosophies instead of the divine plan and philosophy, to whatever extent they mix the human with the divine, to that extent they are not the good seed. The Lord’s people should be very careful then about which seed they receive into their own hearts and which seed they in turn seek to scatter in the good ground of other hearts.

Unfortunately, nearly all theology and theological works outside of the Bible are so adulterated as to be untrue and misleading, and thus they do not bring forth the intended harvest in the heart, in the life of the individual. As the Apostle warned, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col. 2:8)

Because human traditions have taken the place of the Word of God, the good seed – the Gospel of the Kingdom – is a scarce commodity outside of the Bible. Even in the current translations of the Bible there are hindrances because of mistranslations and interpolations. These writings and the Studies in the Scriptures series endeavor to set forth the Word of God simply and without human traditions. They repeatedly and continually scatter that Word by liberal quotations from it, presenting it cleared of many misrepresentations and falsifications. By the Lord’s grace we trust that only the pure, unadulterated seed will ever be scattered by us in the Master’s name.

THE FIELD IS THE WORLD

Having explained that the seed is the Word, Jesus went on to explain that the different kinds of soil represent different kinds of hearts coming in contact with the Word. Our Lord elsewhere declared, “The field is the world.” (Matt. 13:38) Not all of the field or world is being planted at the present time. Vast areas of the world of mankind are already sown thickly with the seeds of various human philosophies and doctrines and are growing great crops in conformity with them.

The field that the Lord sowed first was a Jewish field that had been already prepared by divine instruction and discipline. The “middle wall of partition” has since been broken down, so that there is no longer a distinction made between Jews and Gentiles. (Eph. 2:14) Nevertheless, the portion of the Gentile field that has been sown is but a limited one, namely, the comparatively few among whom the Gospel of the Kingdom, the Word of God, has been spread. So we may say that Christendom is the wheat-field in which the Lord has sown His Word. The Word has never gone to the heathen world (the non-Jewish, non-Christian world), therefore, we are to look only at Christendom for the four kinds of soil and the resulting crops brought to our attention in the parable.

THE WAYSIDE HEARTS

The parable continues with the description of the first type of soil: “And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.” (Mark 4:4) Jesus explained this type of soil thus: “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” (Mark 4:15)

Some hearts in Christendom are like the wayside – paths trodden down hard by life’s experiences. Some have been hardened by too much prosperity and are therefore unappreciative of God’s message and are unprepared to receive it. If they hear the message, they take little interest in it. They may at first appreciate the harmony, beauty, and consistency of the Truth, but they never make it their own. Because the Word never enters into their hearts, before long the enemy comes. Satan, the adversary, steals from them every element of Truth they may have once recognized or appreciated. Although they may have been in the path of the sower and some grains of the Word may have fallen on them, the Truth is not for them.

Individuals with such hearts may be found in every community and in almost every home in Christendom. They are not really to be blamed, and we feel sorry for them because of their inability to receive the comfort and grace of the Word of God. While these hearts are not fit for the Kingdom in their present condition, what the Lord may do for them in the future is a different subject. He may plow them up and make them ready to receive the Truth through trials, sufferings, and disappoint­ments in the present life. Or He may use the disciplines meted out during the Millennial Age to prepare them to receive the Truth then and to make them fit for the Kingdom. The parable merely says that while in their present condition they are not suitable to be the Lord’s people.

THE STONY GROUND HEARTS

The parable then proceeds to describe the second type of soil: “And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.” (Mark 4:5-6) Jesus gave the explanation of this type of soil: “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mark 4:16-17)

We have all come across this type of person in Christendom. Upon hearing of God’s plan, they see something of its beauty and receive it with joy. They give every evidence of bringing forth much fruit. We may believe that they are true Christians, but we cannot see as God sees – we cannot know the heart. The shallowness of their nature is disclosed when the hot sun of opposition blights and withers their growth. We are inclined to feel discouraged by this, especially if we helped plant the seeds and had expected great results, but in this parable the Lord cautions us not to be discouraged. He assures us that He knows in advance that much of the seed will fall on stony-ground hearts which provide little nourishment because they are backed by little character.

The sprouts of that seed will soon wither and will bear no fruit, but this does not mean that the case is hopeless. Under new conditions in the future, these hearts will have the opportunity to deepen their characters and we can hope that good results will follow. If their hearts do not respond to the opportunities of the future, they will be utterly discarded as useless ground.

If any of the Lord’s people who have received the Truth find themselves to have this shallowness of nature, this superficiality represented by the stony ground of the parable, he or she should at once appeal to the Lord for a deepening of the soil of their hearts so that they may bring forth fruit to His praise.

THE THORNY GROUND HEARTS

The parable then describes the third kind of soil: “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.” Jesus explained: “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:7, 18-19)

Some who hear the message of God respecting the Kingdom are like soil that brings forth an abundance of great thorns. It is rich soil and if it were devoted wholly to the production of wheat, it would bring forth large crops. Some who hear the Word of God are good, strong, deep characters. They would make noble Christians and bring forth much fruitage to the Master’s praise and to their own honor if they were fully devoted to the Lord. Unfortunately their talents, influence, means, and time are absorbed in another direction. They are devoted to earthly projects and ambitions whose interests conflict with the interests of the Kingdom.

The parable shows that where these “thorns” are permitted to remain, the Kingdom interests will suffer. This is another way of saying that those who have heard of the Lord and love Him are mistaken when they suppose they can love both the Lord and the world. As the Master phrased it, “No servant can serve two masters . . . Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13) We cannot bring forth both thorns and wheat. Our hearts must be single, wholly given to the Lord; we must love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, else we cannot bring forth the fruitage which He requires of disciples.

Sadly, of all who hear the Gospel of the Kingdom during this age, the thorny-ground hearers are the most disappointing. Not much could be expected from the hardened wayside heart or the shallow stony heart, but great possibilities are lost when the seeds of Truth are choked by thorns – the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches.

All of the Lord’s people who find these thorns mingling with the Truth in their hearts should learn from this parable that it is impossible to bring forth two crops. It is impossible to be prosperous, successful, and honored according to the standards of this world, while also growing prosperous in the spiritual standards of the Kingdom. We must love the Truth with all our hearts in order to bring forth the proper fruitage.

THE GOOD GROUND HEARTS

Lastly, the fourth kind of soil is described: “And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” (Mark 4:8) Jesus explained this kind of soil this way: “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” (Mark 4:20)

Thank God that in His providence and grace some hearts have been plowed deeply by the plowshare of experience, trouble, and disappoint­ment in earthly affairs and conditions. Thank God also that the soil of some hearts is deep and able to receive and appreciate the seed of Truth, the Word of the Kingdom. We praise Him that some hearts have learned the necessity for the establishment of His Kingdom and are in an attitude to accept these things and are not distracted with the cares of worldly things. It is true that thorns and thistles may be found in the very best of fields. Our hope is that we receive the good seed of the Word in such abundant measure as to choke out the thorns, separating us fully from the world, its spirit, its ambitions, and its aims, and sanctifying us wholly to the love and service of Him who hath called us from darkness into His marvelous light.

Let us, dear brethren, not only be sure that our hearts are of the good ground sort, and be sure that we have received and are developing the good seed, the Word of the Kingdom, but let us seek also to bring forth much fruit. Seeing that some of these may bring forth thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred-fold to the Master’s praise, let us determine that by the grace of God, which we know is ours and will assist us, we will be of those who bring forth fruitage an hundred-fold – to our largest possible capacity and measure of service to our King.

How may we increase our faithfulness? We answer, by increasing honesty of heart, which prepares us for increased measure of the seed and which enables us to bring this forward to perfection. Let us be diligent, therefore, that the Master may find us bearing fruit to the very best of our abilities, surroundings and opportunities.

THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM

The Lord called the seed “the word” in Mark’s account of this parable, the “word of God” in Luke’s account, and the “word of the kingdom” in Matthew’s account. (Mark 4:14; Luke 8:11; Matt. 13:19) Since the good seed is God’s Word or the message of the Kingdom, our Lord no doubt used all of these expressions. We may in fact say that the message of the Kingdom is the only communication God has yet given to mankind as a message of hope.

God intimated the Kingdom to Abraham in the oath-bound covenant: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Gen. 22:18) God’s promise was that the seed of Abraham would be granted Kingdom powers and would bless Israel and through Israel bless the world. Israel was hoping to attain this very promise at the time Jesus gave this parable.

All of the promises given through the Prophets pertain to the Kingdom. They prophesied the time for the Kingdom to be established, and the blessings to flow from it to all parts of the earth. They described how all will know the Lord, from the least to the greatest, and how righteousness will flourish throughout the world. (Jer. 31:34; Isa. 11:9) Then sin and sinners, as well as Satan himself, will be subjected to the powers of righteousness in the hands of the Messiah.

At the time of the giving of this parable, the seed, word or message of the Kingdom had taken on a special purpose – the selection of a Kingdom class. The invitation was made to some to become joint-heirs with the Messiah, the heir of the Kingdom.

Anyone who has never heard anything about the Kingdom has never heard anything about the Gospel, for it is the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” The preaching of eternal torment and other doctrines falsely proclaimed as the Gospel of the Kingdom are delusions which do not come from God’s Word. They are not the good seed that brings forth good fruit. They are instead false messages that have brought forth thorns and tares in abundance.

If this good seed of the Kingdom is rightly received into a good heart, it cannot be easily choked with earthly hopes or ambitions – for the Kingdom hope is above all grand, pre-eminent, and soul-satisfying. The Kingdom hope is as an anchor to the soul, and does not permit the cares of this life to seem large and to crush it out. On the contrary, to honest hearts which have received the good seed of the Kingdom, the cares of this life are merely incidental trials to be overcome, building character and bringing forth much fruit in the Lord’s service.

(Based on Reprints 3763 and 2627.)

Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com