Ques. Is Elisha in 2 Kings 4:38 a type of the Holy Ghost? P. A.
Ans. Elijah and Elisha were prophets of Jehovah, and were used by Him. Miracles done by them, were done by the Holy Ghost, thus witnessing that they were sent of God. Elijah sought to restore Israel to the law, like John the Baptist. Elisha's miracles were like Jesus' miracles of grace, with one exception,-Jesus cursed the fig tree, symbolic of Israel in unbelief rejecting the Christ. Elisha cursed the wicked little boys who mocked God's testimony.
A well-known writer says, "When our prophet took up the mantle of his master, God was all he had; but he found Him enough for all he needed. His need, however, like that of Jesus, was not his own. It was for others he occupied his resources and strength in God. He was rich, but not for himself. Thus-he meets the inconveniences of nature-without a purse he relieves the poor-without a commissariat he feeds armies-the deadly thing he makes harmless-without bread he gives food to a multitude and gathers fragments-without medicine he heals disease-without arms he supplies a nation-though dead he communicates life.
All this tells us of Jesus. For Jesus had nothing, yet made He many rich. He had the worlds of nature and of grace for the needy children of men, and His ways shine in the reflection of His servant Elisha.”
Not all of Jesus, it is true, is seen in Him. Where could we find that? As a suffering witness against the world, Elijah, as I have before said, the rather reflects Him. But in His ways of power and grace, we see Him in Elisha.
Ques. What does "the treasure hid in the field" mean in Matt. 13:38, 44? (Referring to "Young
Christian" Jan. number page 28). P. C.
Ans. The term "Kingdom of heaven" is found in Matthew's gospel only; the other three speak of the
Kingdom of God. It is the rule of heaven on the earth. The Lord Jesus came, but was rejected by both Jews and Gentiles, leaving room for God's great purpose concerning the Church to be fulfilled.
In Matt. 12:46, 50 the Lord announces a new ground of relationship, that sets aside Israel for a time. Then He went out of the house to the seaside, and begins to teach truth that unfolds this new dispensation.
There are seven parables in this chapter 13. The first is the sower, this is preparatory; this kingdom is formed by preaching. The other six are called similitudes of the Kingdom of heaven. It is a Kingdom of mystery, the King is absent, a Kingdom without the King. The next three are external views of it as man can see it.
1st. The tares and the wheat,-the mixture of good and bad.
2nd. The mustard seed becoming a tree,-a great political influence.
3rd. The leaven,-giving its corruptive work.
Then the Lord dismisses the multitude, and goes with His disciples into the house, where He explains the parable of the field, with its judgment at the end, and gives three more parables giving us the view of God's purposes.
1st. It is the treasure hid in the field, found and hid, leading to the One who for the joy of possessing the treasure, sells all that He has, and buys the field. The purposes of God for Israel were from the foundation of the world, and were never hidden. God's purposes for the Church were before the foundation of the world, and were hidden in the counsels of God till the time came to carry out those hidden counsels. Here we get the truth that Christ has bought the field for the treasure that was in it. He bought the whole world, even the infidel that denies Him (2 Peter 2:1).
Twice Israel is called a peculiar treasure (Ex. 19:5, and Psa. 135:4), and God has many other treasures (see concordance).
But this treasure is what is precious to Christ in the world at this present time. All His saints are precious treasure to Him, but it needs another parable to describe the beauty of it, and this is found in the pearl of great price. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it, before its existence had begun. He found it in the counsels of God, loved it, and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25).
Then we have yet another parable of fishermen casting a net, pulling it ashore, gathering the good into vessels, and casting away the bad, as good fishermen do (Verse 48); they are engaged with the good. Angels gather the bad (Verse 49), and that ends the Kingdom of heaven in its present form.
There are a few more parables of the Kingdom of heaven; all are about this present time, and its end (chaps. 20:1; 22:144; 25:1).