Correspondence.

E. C. R. —Is not the kingdom of God in Mark 4:3030And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (Mark 4:30) a wider sphere than in John 3:3, 53Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) because of the fowls of the air in the former? In John 3 the kingdom of God is viewed spiritually. No one, the Lord says, can enter it unless born of water (the word, 1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)) and the Spirit. This is plainly the divine side. In Mark 4:30,30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (Mark 4:30) we have the earthly side, or the manward aspect. It consists of all that profess subjection to God, even though not born of Him. Is the kingdom of God (Mark 4:3030And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (Mark 4:30)), synonymous with the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:31, 3231Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:31‑32))? The kingdom of the heavens is a phrase peculiar to Matthew’s Gospel, originating in the Old Testament (Psa. 103:1919The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalm 103:19); Dan. 4:2626And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. (Daniel 4:26)). In consequence of the crucifixion of the Lord of glory, the introduction of Messiah’s kingdom of righteousness and peace on the earth was deferred; and the kingdom took the form variously delineated in the parables of Matthew 13. One of the similitudes employed is the mustard tree, and it sets forth the mass of outward profession now in the earth. In Matthew the term used (the kingdom of heaven) preserves the connection of the present form of testimony in the earth with what the prophets predicted, but not yet come. This accords with the design of the first Gospel, written for Jews. But in Mark the more general term (kingdom of God) is employed, as also in Luke. Each phrase is suitable in its place, but they cannot be said to be interchangeable, though both refer to Christendom. Are the fowls of the air in Matthew 13:4, 324And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: (Matthew 13:4)
32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:32); Mark 4:3232But when it is sown, 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 4:32); and Acts 10:12,12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. (Acts 10:12) the same? “Fowls of the air” refer to the unclean birds of prey (Gen, 15:11; Job 28:77There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: (Job 28:7); Rev. 19:17, 1817And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (Revelation 19:17‑18)). Such appear to be intended in the passage named by querist, excepting Matthew 13:4,4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: (Matthew 13:4) where we have “fowls” (not, “of the air”), meaning the grain-eating birds that frequent the fields. Are the tares and the birds of the air (Matt. 13:25, 3225But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (Matthew 13:25)
32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:32)) synonymous? The tares are the stumbling-blocks (Matt. 18:6, 7,6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matthew 18:6‑7) R.V.) and workers of iniquity which the Son of Man will gather out of His kingdom at the end of the age (vs. 41). They are the professors of religion who only resemble the wheat (vs. 29). The birds of the air represent the evil and rapacious powers of the world which, as the church extended itself in the earth, took advantage of its wealth and influence for their own selfish ends (compare Rev. 18). In Acts 10:12,12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. (Acts 10:12) the birds, etc., in the sheet, figured what was made unclean by the law. The vision taught that the ancient distinction between Jew and Gentile was then being done away, God cleansing the unclean (compare 1 Cor. 6:9-119Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9‑11)). See also as to the “fowls of the air,” among other scriptures, Jeremiah 15:33And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. (Jeremiah 15:3); Ezekiel 17:23, 31:6; Daniel 4:1212The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. (Daniel 4:12).