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Chapter 13
15
. See
EGW comment on Luke 7:29, 30
.
24-30. Tares Attract Attention
—The growth of the tares
[1094]
among the wheat would draw special attention to it. The grain
would be subjected to severe criticism. Indeed, the whole field
might be set down as worthless by some superficial observer, or by
one who delighted to discover evil. The sower might be condemned
by him, as one who had mingled the bad seed with the good for his
own wicked purpose. Just so the erring and hypocritical ones who
profess to follow Jesus bring reproach upon the cause of Christianity,
and cause the world to doubt concerning the truths of Christ. As the
presence of the tares among the wheat counteracted to a great degree
the work of the sower, so sin among the people of God frustrates, in
a measure, the plan of Jesus to save fallen man from the power of
Satan and render the barren ground of the human heart fruitful of
good works (
The Spirit of Prophecy 2:248, 249
).
52. Old and New Testaments Inseparable
—[
Matthew 13:52
quoted.] In this parable, Jesus presented before His disciples the
responsibility of those whose work it is to give to the world the light
which they have received from Him. The Old Testament was all
the Scripture then in existence; but it was not written merely for the
ancients; it was for all ages and for all people. Jesus would have
the teachers of His doctrine diligently search the Old Testament for
that light which establishes His identity as the Messiah foretold in
prophecy, and reveals the nature of His mission to the world. The Old
and the New Testament are inseparable, for both are the teachings of
Christ. The doctrine of the Jews, who accept only the Old Testament,
is not unto salvation, since they reject the Saviour whose life and
ministry was a fulfillment of the law and the prophecies. And the
doctrine of those who discard the Old Testament is not unto salvation,
because it rejects that which is direct testimony of Christ. Skeptics
begin with discounting upon the Old Testament, and it takes but
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