The special characteristics of the kingdom in mystery are these:
1. It is the realm of the rejected King. It extends over the period of Christ’s rejection, and ends with His return to establish the earthly kingdom; as the words twice repeated show-“So shall it be in the end of the world (or age)” (vv. 48-49). The Church is not seen as such in this chapter. The kingdom begins before and extends beyond the Church period. Believers in this dispensation are seen as “children of the kingdom.” But though the Lord is absent in body, He is present by His Spirit. To bow to His authority is incumbent on all, for “He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36).
2. It is hidden from the eyes of men. For this the Lord speaks here in parables. “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink (does not consist of outward, tangible rites); but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17)-fruits of His Lordship obeyed in the heart. The figures used speak of its hidden character: seed germinating, leaven permeating, treasure hid in a field, a dragnet operating unseen beneath the waves.
3. In it, the good appears to fail. The Sower sows the Word, but the ground is hard and unprepared, so that much good seed is lost. In the second parable, the influence of that good seed-the children of the kingdom-is met by the presence of Satan’s counterfeits.
4. In it, the false seems to prevail. Multitudes, with only a name to live, take their place in the kingdom. They name Christ’s Name but do not depart from iniquity. The mustard seed, instead of remaining a humble annual, becomes an abnormal perennial, rivalling Nebuchadnezzar’s tree (Dan. 4). The big attracts. In the fourth, the success of the bad seems guaranteed, because it is its very nature to spread, except where, through grace, the evil is put away. The three measures of fine flour, representing the unsullied doctrine of Christ, are permeated with that which has but one meaning in the Word-evil.
5. “God’s purposes are ripening fast.” This is taught in the parables of the treasure and the pearl. The treasure, be it noted, is not a bag of precious stones, detachable from the field, but something bound up with it, like a mine of precious metal. Why else must the field be bought? The treasure thus, I believe, represents the elect of Israel, Jehovah’s “special treasure” (Mal. 3:17, mar.), inseparably connected with the earth by the promises made to the fathers. The spot where the treasure is found is Israel, but its possession necessitates the purchase of the whole earth.
The pearl cannot be the Church as such, though it includes it, for how could the disciples understand that which was not yet revealed? That they were expected to understand the Lord’s words, and did in fact do so, is evidenced by our Lord’s question and their answer (see Mt. 13:51). The pearl is, I believe, the glorious aggregate of the children of the kingdom. The purchase entailed the sacrifice of all else. And the same precious blood that redeemed our souls has purchased this planet. He is now the lawful Owner of the field by purchase, as well as creation, so that none but He can break the seven seals of the titledeeds of the “inheritance” (Rev. 5).
6. In it, His Spirit works on all. The mighty force of the dragnet symbolizes this divine energy of His working on the consciences of men. God has never left Himself without a witness; much less will He do so in the last solemn days of the Spirit’s testimony.
7. It will need purging. All who yield outward obedience to His influence do not eventually prove to be true “children of the kingdom.” Bad and good are gathered in, and the testing day alone will reveal the character of each. We do not read that Christ will purge His Church at His return. He is doing so now. Then He will “present it to Himself a glorious Church.” But when He comes as the Son of Man He will purge His kingdom (v. 43). Then will be revealed also to the world the mystery of the kingdom-that through seeming defeat, the Lord was reigning all along.
“The Lord reigneth” even in these dark times. Nor has He resigned either rod or scepter into His peoples hand. This ought to give confidence and comfort to those who are called to bear witness for His Name me in these last days.