Teachings About the Kingdom

MEMORY VERSE: “And He said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison we compare shall it?” —Mark 4:34

MARK 4:21-32

IN HIS Sermon on the Mount Jesus said to his disciples, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matt. 5:14) In this sermon also, even as in today’s lesson, Jesus reminds us that the function of a candle is to give light. (Matt. 5:15) A candle does not have sufficient brilliance to light up the whole world, and Jesus knew that the proclamation of the Gospel during the present age would not enlighten and bring about the reformation or conversion of the world.

When Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world,” he meant that his faithful followers would he the only source of light pertaining to the divine plan that would be in the world throughout the age. All other messages are, by comparison, darkness. During the Millennial Age, the period of Christ’s kingdom, the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters’ cover the sea. Then all the hidden things of darkness will be seen to be out of harmony with God, therefore darkness.

Jesus admonished, “Take heed what ye hear.” To hear the truth at all, in the sense of understanding and appreciating it, we must be given “hearing ears” by the Lord; and then we have the responsibility of taking heed as to what we hear and accept as truth. Our standard of truth should always be the Bible, the Word of God.,

Our memory verse reminds us of one of Jesus’ principal methods of teaching; that is, by the use of illustrations, or parables. The parables of the kingdom are many and varied. Some of these parables pertain to the development of the kingdom class throughout the age; others to the actual work of the kingdom.

Other parables remind us of the various efforts of Satan to destroy, through corruption and otherwise, the development of the kingdom class which is to live and reign with Christ. Such is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. (Matt. 13:24-30,36-43) In this parable the tares represent, not the unconverted world, but, as Jesus explained, children of the wicked one “planted” among the “wheat”—“the children of the kingdom”—in an effort to destroy the true kingdom class: At the end of the age, the wheat is separated from the tares, and shines forth “as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

Seed sowing is also used by Jesus as an illustration in the Parable of the Sower. (Matt. 13:18-23) Here the seed sown is the Word of God, the Gospel of the kingdom. No mention is made of the sowing of corrupt seed, but Jesus reminds us of the various influences which would prevent much of the seed from developing to maturity.

In today’s lesson we have the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Mustard seed is very tiny, Jesus reminds us, yet in this illustration “it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” (Mark 4:31,32) Jesus introduced this parable by the question, “Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?”—Mark 4:31

Jesus and his true followers have indeed been “a little flock.” However, they have had the hope of living and reigning with Christ in the promised kingdom which is to embrace all mankind in its ruling authority and power, and by this divine arrangement “all families of the earth” are to be blessed with health, life, and joy.

While the kingdom of Christ in its embryo state of development has been very small, and unrecognized by the world, when set up in power and great glory its authority will fill the earth. Under the shadow of that just and loving kingdom all mankind will find rest, and freedom from sin, sickness, and death. This is the Christian’s hope for the world of mankind, and what an encouraging hope it is for suffering humanity!

QUESTIONS

In what sense are the followers of Jesus now the light of the world?

Can anyone through his own intelligence understand and appreciate the truth?

What are some of the parables given by Jesus to illustrate kingdom truths?

What is represented by the Parable of the Mustard Seed?

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