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The Sunday School |
.11 DHMKNT AM) MERCY.
September 15, 1912. Matt. 11:20.30.
tiolden Text: "Come unto me, all ye
that labor and are heavy laden, and 1
will give you rest."?Matt. 11:2S.
HOME DAII.Y RIIH.E IfKtnivnw
M.?Matt. 11:20-30.
T.?Isa. 5:1-7.
IV.?Rom. 2:1-16.
Th.?Ezek. 33:7-16.
P.?Matt. 25:14-30.
S.?2 Thessa. 1:1-10.
S?2 Pet. 3:S-18.
TOPICAL OUTLINE.
Jesus Impresses Hie Importance of Accepting
Hirn By
Solemn warnings, vs. 20-24.
Earnest prayers, vs. 25. 26.
Tender Invitations, vs. 27-30.
SlIOHTEK CATECHISM.
Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our
iii si parents 1011 irom U.r- ctsate wherein
they were created"
A. The sin whereby .>,jr f.rst parents
fell from the estate wherein they were
ereated was their eating the forbidden
fruit.
I.KSSON 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., an'l just
before the Perean ministry began.
Tlie I'Hlecs: Chorazin, Capernaum
and Bethsaida were in Galilee, Tyre and
Sidon 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? of the
Dead Sea.
Occasion; The failure of those citicr?
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, sug
gested and justified his words. And
these cities wore perhaps types of all
those which the apostles and disciples
had by the Hord's direction recently
visited.
The Source: Matthew alone of all the
Gospel writers gives us this address
of our Tvord. Tts hearing and signiflcancv
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 Ixml 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
fierce when it is once thoroughly aroused.
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 ve that lnhr?r and aro Vionvv
laden," nor his precious promise, "And
I will give you rest," both call and
promise following immediately upon
bis awful denunciation of those who had t
turned a deaf ear to all his previous
appeals.
The Condemned Cities: Tt was not
for their evil deeds, as gross as they
THE PRESBYTERI
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 them.
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 famfiarity with these
wonders had made them indifferent.
Christ's words were his judgment upon
neglected opportunities.
Hidden Things: The Hord 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
winneth, hut of God that showeth
mercy." To tills the reason of thinking
men must give assent. They could
not respect a God. or worship him, all
of whose ways they could understand.
Mho May Sec: 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
ohedience, are what the adult needs
when he approaches Christ and religious
truth. Christ thanked his Father that
he had hid those things from "the wise
and prudent" and had "revealed them
unto bahes."
The Yoke: Much of the beauty and
significance* of the passage concerning
the taking off of the old yoke and the
taking on of Christ's is lost bv the
usual reference of the figure of this
passage to the yoke which oxen carry.
The reference was not to this hut to
something very much more familiar to
lhose whom he addressed. Tt was not
to drawing or pulling at all that the
Lord referred, but to bearing. It was
a loving offer 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 dav, and they, sometimes groaning
heneath the weight laid upon them, hore
it into the narrow streets where vehicles
or beasts of burden could not go.
They were a living picture to Christ of
those who were bearing the loads laid
upon them bv the law as interpreted
hv the Pharisees. These porters always
carried, and still carry, on their shoulders
and backs a wooden frame called a
"yoke," in wheh enormous loads ar?
laid, and they go groaning into the
narrow streets to deliver their loads.
Christ drew from this his lesson. 'Tome
unto me. ail ye that iahor and are
beavv laden, and T will give you rest
Take mv yoke upon you. and learn of
me: for T am meek and lowly in heart
and vo shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden 1*
light."
"Take Ify Yoke:* There is to be a
yoke still, a harden 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
mak'ncr. He will suit it to the back on
which it is laid. Tt will bo easy. It
will not. gall the shoulders or break
the back. .'It will be padded with love.
The tender hand of Christ will lay in
it its load. The burden will be light.
will not lay upon any one a feather'*weieht
above what he will ho able to
bear!
When the carnal 'mind sees Chr'st
here is no beauty that it should
desire him; the thought of the spiritual
mind is "Whom have I in heaven but
thee and there is none upon earth th.at
I desire besides thee."
AN OF THE SOUTH
|Young People's Societies
PROFITS FROM PRAYER.
Topic for Sunday, September 1ft: Getting
tlie Most from l'rayer. Psalm 34:
1-22.
DAILY RE DINGS.
Monday: Getting fellowship. Matthew
18:19. 20.
Tuesday: Getting confidence. 1 John
5:14, 15.
Wednesday: Getting thp s-nirit t
11:9-13.
Thursday: Getting visions. Matthew
17:1-8.
Friday: Getting strength. 2 Corinthians
12:7-10.
Saturday: Getting understanding
Ephesians 1:15-23.
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 as 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 thins
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 agains*
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
?" |?l U.J CI .
Prayer secures wisdom and understanding.
"I cease not to give thanks
for you, imaking mention of you in ray
prayers, that the God of our T^ord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledee 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 |
! The Prayer Meeting |
t? ?
ENJOYMENT OF (JOD'S WORD.
I's. 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 slmilar
nns^flfpc WO : i. * -
. ?? 1. ^ >iu<aj uuucioiaiiu 1L LU
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 word 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
prophecies, the portrayal of character
and doctrinal studies, may produce different
though kindred impressions; all
of them, however, being grateful, or
pleasing, ~ - S w
The enjoyment of God's Word implies
the possession of a renewed and enlightened
nature. The natural mind
cannot delight in revealed truth because
it receiveth 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." Tn 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 presented
to the mind in its essential beauty
with the r'chness of its meaning and
its experimental value to the soul. We
should habitually seek the illumination
that is needful, not for perceiving the
truth Intellectually, but delighting in
its precciousness to the heart that so
perceives it.
While delight in God's Word is the
nroduet rvf l>ivinp orapp I* 1c alon rwro
eminently reasonable. The enlightened
intelligence realizes that the truth which
it beholds is from a divine source; it
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 reveals
such transcendent realities; the character
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 nees hv the hanniness
of Ood's people under circumstances of
severest trial, reproach, persecution
and death. It is attested by the choice
that millions have made to suffer
affliction with the people of Clod rather
than enjoy the pleasures of sin for ?
season. Tt is attested by the transformation
of* character which has accompanied
that delight.