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The Sunday School |
JUDGMENT AND MERCY.
September 15, 1912. Matt. 11:20-30.
Golden Text: "Come unto me, all ye
that labor and are heavy laden, and 1
will give you rest."?Matt. 11:28.
HOME DALLY BIBLE READINGS.
M.?-Matt. 11:20-30.
T.?Isa. 5:1-7.
W.?Rom. 2:1-16.
Th.?Ezek. 33:7-16.
P.?Matt. 25:14-30.
S.?2 ThesBa. 1:1-10.
S.?2 Pet. 3:8-18.
TOPICAL OUTLINE.
J onus Impresses the Importance of Accepting
Him By
Solemn warnings, vs. 20-24.
Earnest 'prayers, vs. 25, 26.
Tender Invitations, vs. 27-30.
SHORTER CATECHISM.
Q. 16. What was the sin whereby our
first parents fell from the ctsate wherein
they were created"
A. The sin wherobr our f.rst parents
fell from the estiite wherein ihov wen.
created was their eating the forbidden
fruit.
LESSOR COMMENTS.
Time: The time of our Lord's speaking
these words was either just after
the return of the Twelve, or after the
return of the Seventy, who were sent
out somewhat later. If the latter it
was late in the year 29 A. D., and just
before the Perean ministry began.
The Puices: Chorazin, Capernaum
and Bethsaida were in Galilee, Tyre and
Sldon in Phoenicia, or "Syro-Phoenicia"
as it was then called. Sodom was one
of the cities of the Plain, its site per
haps now covered by the water.3 of the
Dead Sea.
Occasion; The failure of those citien
in which a large part of Christ's ministry
had thus far been passed to appreciate
his works and call, to repent,
and to seek the kingdom of God, suggested
and Justified his words. And
these cities were perhaps types of all
those which the apostles and disciples
had by the Lord's direction recently
visited.
The Source: Matthew alone of all the
Gospel writers gives us this address
of our Lord. Its hearing and sigulflcaney
would not be so clear to Romans
or Greeks as to Jews. It would have
a special meaning to the latter, who
would understand the historical setting
and the Pharisees' burdens, and thus be
able to read the lessons of the burning
words.
The Master's Severity: It was not
often that the Lord broke out in invective.
He was almost always tender,
even to the grossly erring. But when
he did become severe, it was terrific.
It was the breaking forth of "the wrath
of the Lamb." A pure, gentle nature,
Indignant in proportion to its own long
forbearance and gentleness, is always
fiprPA urhon It fa pnoa thrtrnn<rh 1 \r a vmia_
ed.
As Tender as Severe: But the lesson
shows also that Jesus could be even
more tender than severe. No appeal
or invitation of mercy has ever surpassed
his gracious call, "Come unto
me. all ye that labor and are heavy
laden," nor his precious promise, "And
T will give you rest," both call and
promise following Immediately upon
his awful denunciation of those who had 1
turned a deaf ear to all his previous
appeals.
The Condemned Cities: It was not
for their evil deeds, as gross as they
< -? |a 1
1
THE PRESBYTERIj
were, that Jesus condemned them, but
for their neglect of the opportunity and
privilege given to them to know their
duty and to do it. He had lived in tbem.
His call to repent had rung in their ears
for well nigh two years. He had performed
mighty works amongst their
people to call their attention to
his message and to confirm it. In
spite of it all, however, they had not repented.
Their famlTarlty with these
wonders had made them indifferent.
Christ's words were his Judgment upon
neglected opportunities.
Hidden Things: The Lord declared
that there are many things, especially
in conenction with men's acceptance or
rejection of his calls that men cannot
comprehend, and that after all "it is
not of him that willeth, nor of him that
wlnneth. hut of God that showeth
mercy." To this the reason of thinking
men must give assent. They could
not respect a God. or worship him, all
of whose ways they could understand.
"Who May Sees Those who have a
child-like mind. who will make a complete
surrender to God. The openness
of the child mind, its docility, its implicit
faith, its spirit of unquestioning
obedience, are what the adult needs
when he approaches Christ and religious
truth. Christ thanked his Father that
he had hid those things from "the wisr
and prudent" and bad "revealed them
unto babes."
The Yokes Much of the beauty and
slgniflcancy of the passage concerning
the taking off of the old yoke and the
taking on of Christ's Is lost by the
usual reference of the figure of this
passage to the yoke which oxen carry.
The reference was not to this but to
something very much more familiar to
those whom he addressed. It was not
to drawing or pulling at all that the
L?ord referred, .but to bearing. It was
a loving ofTer to the heavy-laden. The
porters in the Palestinian cities, a large
and useful class that may yet be seen
in the Kast, congregated about the gates
and took on them almost camel's loads
of grain or merchandize, as they do to
th's day, and they, sometimes groaning
beneath the weight laid upon them, bore
It into the narrow streets where vehicles
or beasts of burden could not ^o.
They were a living picture to Christ of
those who were bearing the loads laid
upon them by the law as interpreted
by the Pharisees. These porters always
carried, and still carry, on their shoulders
and hacks a wooden frame called a
"yoke," In wheh enormous loads are
laid, and they go proanlnp Into the
narrow streets to deliver their loads.
Christ drew from this his lesson. Tome
unto me. all ye that labor and are
heavy laden, and T will give you restTake
mv yoke upon you. and learn of
me: for T am meek and lowly In heart
end ve shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden l?
lipht."
"Take My Yoke:" There is to be a
yoke still, a burden to be borne, a duty
to be performed. Believers are not absolved
from bearing and duty and service.
They have something yet to do.
But the new yoke will be of Christ's
making. He will suit it to the back on
which it Is Inld Tt will h? ooon t
will not grail the shoulders or break
the back. .Tt will be padded with love.
The tender hand of Christ will lay in
It its load. The burden will be light.
He will no* lay upon any one a feather'?
weight above what he will be able to
bear!
When the carnal "mind sees Clvr'st
here is no beauty that it should
desire him; ilie thought of the spiritual
mind is "Whom have I in heaven but
thee and there is none upon earth that
I desire besides thee."
\N OF THE SOUTH
Young People's Societies
PROFITS FROM PRAYER.
Tbplc for Sunday, September 15: Getting
the Most from Prayer. Psalm 84:
1-22. #
DAILY REDIXGS.
Monday: Getting fellowship. Matthew
18:19, 20.
Tuesday: Getting confidence. 1 John
o;n, 19.
Wednesday: Getting the Spirit. L/uke
11:9-13.
Thursday: Getting visions. 'Matthew
17:1-8.
Friday: Getting strength. 2 Corinthians
12:7-10.
Saturday: Getting understanding.
Epheslans 1:16-23.
Prayer is the "offering up of our desires
unto God, for things agreeable to
his will, in the name of Christ, with
confession of our sins, and thankful
acknowledgement of his mercies."
The very definition of prayer shows
some of the good things we get out of
it. Telling God our desires, getting into
accord with his will, having the use
of Christ's name, becoming penitent and
grateful, are surely blessings.
The effect of prayer upon ourselves
is then most happy. It is usually called
"The subjective effect." Oftentimes
it is more pronounced than the outward
or objective effect. It brings us into
new relations.
The rope thrown out from the ship
by which the boatman pulls himself to
its side and is saved is just as good and
effective as if it had been drawn from
the other or es If it had pulled the
great ship to the boat.
(It matters little, as a question of comparison
in results and safety, whether
the boat is drawn to the ship or the
ship to the boat. The important thing
Is that they are brought together, from
whatever direction.
Prayer gets one into the very best
company. "The Spirit also helpeth our
Infirmities; for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought; but the
Spirit himself maketh Intercession for
us with groanings which cannot be
uttered."
It also brings fellowship amongst
God's people. "If two of you shall agree
on earth as touching anything that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of
my Father which is in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am I in the
midst of them."
Prayer itself is a gift of God. He
bestows "the spirit of grace and of supplications"
that makes any one look
towards him. The heart which the
Spirit has not touched never calls to
God. .It is carnal. It is enmity against
God. It is not subject to his law,
neither indeed can be.
When Paul was in danger of being
exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations given him,
God laid his hand heavily in some wav
upon him. Paul prayed for deliverance
The answer given him was, "My grac*
is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness." This was
the precious blessing he got in answer
to prayer.
Prayer secures wisdom and under
manning. "i cease not to give tbanks
for you, imaking mention ot you in my
prayers, that the God of out Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledjge of him; the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened,
that ye may know what is the hope of
his calling, and what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints "
[September 4, 1912
1 The Prayer Meeting [
ENJOYMENT OF GOD'S WORD.
Ps. 1:2. Week of Sept 8.
The "word "law" as used In the Scriptures
sometimes means a rule of conduct,
sometimes it is used in distinction
from the prophets and from the
gospel. It Is more frequently used to
designate the entire body of inspired
truth. In applying this and many similar
passages we imay understand It to
teach the righteousness of enjoying
God's revelation to man as found In
his Word.
To delight In anything is to regard
it with positive interest and pleasure.
It has its degrees and qualities which
vary according to its objects. One may
delight in natural scenery, or a work
of art, or a literary production, or
friend, or loved one, or the woTd of
God or the person of Christ; the delight
in each case being determined In
Its qualities by its object.
Again our enjoyment of God's word
or law may vary according to the subject
matter on which we fix our attention.
The poetry of Scripture may produce
a certain pleasing impression; the
propnecies, tne portrayal of character
and doctrinal studies, may produce different
though kindred impressions: all
of them, however, being grateful, or
pleasing. h'W
The enjoyment of Clod's Word Implies
the possession of a renewed and enlightened
nature. The natural mind
cannot delight in revealed truth because
it receivefh not the things of the
Spirit. It cannot perceive spiritual
beauty because its vision is carnal;
the understanding is darkened. "The
God of this world hath * blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest
the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ who is the image of God should
shine unto them." In this vital particular
spiritual truth differs from all
other. ?
The effect of the Spirit's influence
on the believer is twofold. A radical
change is produced which is illustrated
by the opening of the eyes of the blind.
Capacity for spiritual vision is bestowed;
that is, the power of perceiving the
excellence of the things of the Spirit.
In addition to this the truth is presentPH
tn tllP mlnrt in if a aooan+iol hooaiiv
with the richness of Its meaning and
its experimental val-ue to the soul. We
should habitually seek the Illumination
that is needful, not for perceiving the
truth intellectually, but delighting in
its precclouBneg8 to the heart that so
perceives It.
While delight in God's Word Is the
product of Divine grace it is also preeminently
reasonable. The enlightened
intelligence realizes that the truth which
it beholds is from a divine source; 11
is impressed with the purity, strength,
goodness and loftness of that truth; it
realizes that the truth has power to
convince, comfort, guide, sanctify and
make wise unto salvation. The illumined
soul glories in it because it Teveals
such transcendent realities; the char
acter of God manifest in Christ, the
scheme of redemption, the pain of salvation,
the high calling of the believer
and his present and future inheritance
These are the contents of revelation.
That this delight is genuine has been
attested in all the ages by the happiness
of God's people under circumstances of
severest trial, reproach, persecution
ana aeain. >it is attested Dy tne cnoice
that millions have made to suffer
affliction with the people of God rather
than enjoy the pleasures of sin for ?
season. Tt is attested by the transformation
of- character which has accompanied
that delight