12. “W. P.,” Birkenhead. The meaning of the phrase, “kingdom of heaven,” is the kingdom of the Messiah here on earth, whilst He, the King of Israel, the Messiah, is in heaven. This was a mystery not revealed in the prophets. This phrase is used by Matthew only, who presents the Lord Jesus as the righteous Jew, the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.
“Leaven” is that which spreads and permeates the whole where it is found. If we compare the parable of the leaven with that of the tares and the mustard-tree, it is evident that the spread of evil is the leavening of the whole lump of the kingdom during the absence of the king. Leaven was forbidden in all the offerings that typified Christ. (Lev. 2:4, 5, 114And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. (Leviticus 2:4‑5)
11No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. (Leviticus 2:11).) Compare Lev. 7:1212If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. (Leviticus 7:12) with ver. 13; 23:16,17. Thus, when the type pointed to Pentecost, the forming of the assembly on earth, leaven was to be used, as evil was soon introduced into the assembly as seen on earth. If you look out all the passages where the word leaven is used in the New Testament, it will be found invariably to mean evil; 1 Cor. 5:6-86Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:6‑8), and many other passages.
We do not know of a tract specially on the parables.
13. “Α.,” Walton. The word of God meets every case. We cannot tell whether you have ever been born of God, or not. Whilst persons are living in sin, they surely cannot conclude that they are the children of God—whosoever is born of God doth not practice sin. We must not forget that we are close upon the end of this dispensation, consequently the great mass of professors are not saved, but about to be judged. (Rev. 3:66He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:6).)
But does not your intense distress and self-judgment because of sin rather remind you of the wretched prodigal in Luke 15? Now turn your eyes from yourself to the Father ready to receive you with open arms. Yes, you are welcome to Him just as you are. You never can lead a holy life until you have despaired of all good in yourself, and all strength to be better, and believed the wondrous grace that receives you forever just as you are. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. The prodigal did not remain in the far country. Do you wish to be saved, and still remain with the world?
Perhaps you say, I am a Christian, and I have sinned, and there is no hope. We are not ignorant of Satan’s wiles. Oh, wondrous grace! if this is the case, there is still a precious word for you. “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins.” “Come at once, then, to that Father.” “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And now for the future: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Cast yourself on Him, mighty to save.
14. “E. C.,” Acton. You will find an answer to your question, as to the complete consciousness of the departed saints, in the correspondence of January this year, No. 1.
15. Extracts from Rangoon.— With regard to discipline, I would suggest, for your consideration what strikes me as the correct application of Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20). That the Lord had discipline in view when He uttered those words, there can, I believe, be no doubt, if due weight be given to the word ‘for,’ which connects what follows with that which precedes it. Now if this view be correct, what an awful thing it is—how solemnly so—when any one sets himself up as a court of appeal, to revise, amend, or reverse the judgment passed by the small number of even two or three assembled in His name; for the act is His really, and not theirs, though done through them as instruments of His. Their act is binding on all who love Him, and keep His word.
“This verse 20 is made by many of general application to what are now called ‘meetings,’ like verse 19 to ‘prayer’ generally. But, to my mind, the Lord intended both for discipline, as the word ‘for’ implies.”
“To my mind, His word is inseparable from His Person; and we must hold to both or have neither.”
16. “Gr. E.,” Uxbridge. It is very sad when a brother links himself with evil, even ignorant! v, so that we are directed to have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. But mark the words which follow: “Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” Whore there is willfulness, it must end in either chastening and restoration, or deeper sorrow. Let us, however, beware of acting in the flesh, apart from the Lord, in discipline. Nothing can be more disastrous. May we be kept walking in the fear of the Lord. It would not be suited to this little magazine to take up the details of the case, which can only be judged in the presence of the Lord, as so directed in Matt. 18:18-2018Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18‑20).
17. “C. F.,” Sandhurst, Victoria. There is no intimation in the New Testament as to whether we should use fermented bread or unfermented, or whether we should take fermented or unfermented wine, at the Lord’s table. You say both cannot he right. Suppose you were to ask, ‘Is it according to scripture to break bread at ten, or twelve o’clock? or morning or evening?’ You might say, ‘Both cannot be right.’ Silence of scripture shows that these are matters of convenience, and do not affect the object the Spirit has in view. It is not the bread, the wine, the hour; for in no two places or nations on earth might these things be exactly alike.
But in the breaking of bread, in every place the object and purpose is the same. It is to show forth His death until He come—to remember Him. Let all things be done decently and in order, without distraction. The natural man would be occupied with natural things—the bread, the wine—like the depth of the well to the woman at Sychar, as yet unconscious of the presence of Him who spoke to her. But when she knew Him she forgot her water-pot. May we so know Him present, be so filled with the joy of His presence, as to forget mere natural things, and all contention about them. Jesus Himself stood in their midst.
18. “S. B.,” Plumstead. Our being manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)) is connected by the word “for” with what goes before. “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him;” or, be acceptable, agreeable unto Him. This would clearly connect the manifestation with the path and service of the believer since his conversion. If this greatly misunderstood passage be compared with Rom. 14:10-1910But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Romans 14:10‑19) and 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 4:3-510According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every 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. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10‑15)
3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:3‑5), it will be seen that in all these cases it is chiefly the thought of serving Christ acceptably. It is not, as you say, nor can be, judgment for sins, or we must all perish. We trust we are manifested to the saints, as to God, that our only object is to serve and be acceptable to Christ. How sadly this is forgotten! It is certain, in proportion as we do this, we shall be despised by men, and probably misjudged by our brethren. The judgment-seat of Christ, then, is as great a comfort to the believer as terror to men. Our course, from first to last, will be manifested to the glory of His grace; and surely His approval will make up infinitely for all the slander and misjudgment of men here. In all things may we seek to be acceptable to Him, now and then.
When believers have purged themselves—that is, separated themselves from vessels to dishonor—they have also to follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Such, however few, may count on the presence of the Lord with them, when gathered to His name. They will thus have power, and His authority, to deal with evil. Also, they must not forget the instruction as to gentleness, meekness, and patience. (2 Tim. 2:19-2619Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:19‑26).) Still, it is clear there may be vessels of dishonor from whom we must separate.