November 13, 2005
Scripture:
Can we turn back to the reference we had in Matthew 13; when we think of Matthew 13, we think of how the evangelist was inspired to put all these sometimes-called “kingdom parables” together. The 1st is not really one of them, but the last 7 can be divided into two groups: the 1st 4 are earthly pictures; the 2nd 3 are heavenly types. In God’s Word we can see circles of love. In John 3:16 the circle encompassed the whole world. In Ephesians 5:25 the circle is the church. In Galatians 2:20 the circle is around me. One of these circles is the pearl we heard about earlier. But there is a broader circle that we find in v. 44: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” What is this field? I believe it is something broader than the pearl, but it certainly includes it. When we get to Heaven we will be in a special place with all other Christians. We will find saints from before the time the Lord was on this earth: Adam, Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, etc, Old Testament saints. These are part of a circle of people that required love and purchasing. Old Testament and New Testament saints are in the field in our parable. The next parable narrows it down to those who are part of the bride. In Revelation, we see everything in Heaven, including the four and twenty elders, worshipping the Lord. Those four and twenty elders are a picture of the Old and New Testament saints. When we get to the marriage supper of the Lamb, we don’t hear of the four and twenty elders anymore. We are nearer and dearer to His heart than they. In the circles of divine love, we are in the one closest to His heart, treasured. He too awaits the day when we will be together. How precious to be part of the divine love. We praise Him.
EG Hymn 101–Look, thou lost one, to the Saviour Prayer John 9:1–25—There is a parallel between this story and salvation. • There are three types of sight:
Hebrews 8:1–13 • Chapter outline:
Vv. 8–13—A better covenant • The chapter begins with a summary of chapter 7, all about our High Priest. When we look at the glories of the High Priestly “order of Melchisedec”, we see that it is far superior to everything in the old Aaronic priesthood. We are also reminded of our High Priest’s position: “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” This description is similar to, but more expanded than, the one given in chapter 1 verse 3. It mentions that the Lord is at the right hand of God’s throne. Instead of saying He is “on high” it says he is “in the heavens.” And this High Priest is ours right now. We are not waiting to have Him. Mr. Darby’s translation says He has “sat down on the right hand …” In the tabernacle, the priests never sat down, but this one High Priest completed His work and now has sat down and is able to succor us in anything. He is the most suitable High Priest we could ever get; he becomes us. He is at the right hand of God, a place of honour. Our High Priest works from the true tabernacle, a better sanctuary which the Lord pitched. Chapter 9 gives us insight into that tabernacle in verses 11 and