nce that it would be very far from being a
perfect state, such as some might dream of. They must expect to see
evil growing wild in it, like weeds in a field of corn. There would be
bad subjects as well as good; and there would be no means of
separating them. And as long as this world should last, the outward
appearance of "The Kingdom of Heaven" would be like a field of wheat
and tares growing together.

At the same time He encouraged His disciples with the prospect of
boundless success. In the next Parable--"The Grain of Mustard
Seed"--He described, prophetically, the outward spread of His Kingdom
from very small beginnings, until the nations of the world should find
shelter within it. For though nothing could be less promising of
success than the first beginnings of "The Kingdom of Heaven," yet, as
a spreading tree may rise from the smallest seed, even so should His
Kingdom extend its branches through the world (S. Matt. xiii. 31, 32).

And this was not their only ground for encouragement and hope. For
this description of the outward extension of the Kingdom, taken by
itself, gives a very imperfect idea of its character. He taught them
that "The Kingdom of Heaven" would exert a spiritual power over the
hearts of men. It would be like leaven working in the meal. It would
change the hearts of its subjects. The effect would be such as was
afterwards described by the Apostle S. Paul, "If any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature" (2 Cor. v. 17). And as leaven goes on working
until the whole mass of the meal in which it is hid is leavened, even
so He would lead us to understand that one heart truly leavened with
the Gospel of the Kingdom will affect others; and that, silently and
unnoticed, it will extend until it works a moral change in the state
of the whole world (S. Matt. xiii. 33)[7].

He then went on to describe that as the Kingdom extended, men would
begin to find out its value; and for the saving of their souls would
gladly give up their worldly prospects. "The Hidden Treasure" and "The
Pearl of Great Price" set forth the priceless value of "The Kingdom of
Heaven." The rights and privileges of citizenship are worth more than
all the world besides. These two Parables are alike in that both
express the great worth of that of which the Gospel tells, viz. the
salvation won by our King and Saviour Jesus Christ, and given to the
subjects of His Kingdom; but they differ in describing different ways
in which men may f