NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 27
NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 27
The Lord is now alone with His disciples. He had sent away the multitude (see verse 36), and now He tells them the three similitudes of the kingdom of heaven, as seen in His hand. The other three set forth the effect of the word in the hand of man. It is an immense help when we apprehend and enter into Christ’s interest in the church, to know that not only is each of us an object of this great interest, but that we can be in concert with Him in His chief interest. He buys the field for the treasure. His treasure is on the earth. His delight is with the sons of men. After He rose from the dead He was forty days on the earth. His interest is with those who are still here. The similitude of the net sets forth that there is selection,
[p. 71] the good are put into vessels. If you do not know Christ’s interest in the church, you will not be able to select for Him. The first parable, the sowing of the good seed, sets forth the preaching of the gospel. The more the evangelist knows Christ’s interest in the church, the better he will do his work. The evangelist comes from the Head in heaven. Christ’s centre of interest must be ours if we are working in concert with Him. We are to begin with the church. The eleven in John 15 were to “love one another, as I have loved you”. Each was to begin there. The servant who is watching for his Lord’s return cares for His household, giving them meat in due season. All service properly begins with the assembly, and it is there one is really enlightened to serve. You see the true order in Revelation 22: 17: “The Spirit and the bride say, Come”. Then the saints are before you: “Let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come”. Finally the offer of the living water to every one.