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In a parable, Christ spoke of the gradual appearance of the kingdom of God in this world: (151:5) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: (151:6) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way (151:7) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (151:8) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 24:30 (151:9) Thus, Christ taught that the kingdom of heaven must be planted in the world and progress through the stages of growth, until, under the influence of the lifegiving rays of the Sun of Truth, it reaches the point of maturity and is ready for harvest (151:10) Christ, however, does not refer just to the kingdom of heaven in this parable. He refers also to the role that He, Himself, had been commissioned by God to perform. For after revealing these holy words, he explains that He, the Lord of History, has actually come to plant this divine kingdom in the hearts of men:
(151:11)
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