King's Business - 1930-02

97

T h e

K i n g ’ s

B u s i n e s s

February 1930

( 7 :24) says that He entered a house, evidently seeking seclusion; but it is added, “He could not be hid.” V, 22. A woman

March 23, 1930 Jesus Teaching and Healing Lesson : Matthew 13:53-16:12. ( Lesson T ex t: Matt. 15:21-31.)

Jesus said that the kingdom o f heaven was like a grain of mustard which a man planted. A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet the plant that grew from this little seed was the greatest of all the other herbs. Sometimes the mustard plant grows to a height of ten or twelve feet. It is so high that the birds are at­ tracted to its branches, not to build nests, but to enjoy its branches and eat the seeds. So, children, just a word spoken for Jesus may change a person’s whole life. As you give the Word of God a place in your heart-garden and obey it, your life for Jesus will develop as the smallest mustard seed. The birds that came to rest in the branches of the mus­ tard tree may tell us of the way Satan would like to send evil thoughts to hin­ der our growth for Jesus. Another'parable, or story, that Jesus told in describing the kingdom of heaven was about the “hid treasure.” You know in the days when Jesus was here upon earth there were no banks, so if the peo­ ple had anything o f value they would bury it in the ground. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven was like a treasure which was Hidden in a field. A man some­ how found the treasure and wanted it so badly that he sold all that he had so that he could buy the field where the treasure was hidden. So we, boys and girls, should be so eager to be Christians and belong to God’s kingdom that we would be will­ ing to sacrifice anything we had, to be members of His kingdom. (Explain the way of accepting Jesus as Saviour.) Then, Jesus told another story about the kingdom o f heaven. . He compared it to a “pearl of. great price.” Today we think o f diamonds as being very precious stones, but in those days it was the pearl, which was very costly and very precious. There were merchants who sought to find the very best pearls. When one found a “pearl of great price” he would sell all that he had in order to get the precious stone. Again Jesus would have us real­ ize how precious and rich we are when we are members o f His kingdom, and have given our hearts to Him. The last story, or parable, that Jesus told at this time was about the “ drag-net.” Have any o f you ever gone out in a fish­ ing boat, boys and girls ? If you have, you will know something about the nets that are used in fishing. The drag-net was very large and a part of it was kept on the shore while the boat carried the other part out into the water, returning with it full of fish. Many who were listening to Jesus were no doubt fishermen, so they would especially understand this story of the drag-net. Jesus said that the kingdom o f heaven was like a net which was cast into the sea and returned full o f fish. When it was drawn to shore the fisher­ men would sit down and look over the fish, putting the good ones in a vessel but throwing away the bad ones. Today Jesus is “fishing for men” through Sunday-school teachers, minis­ ters, missionaries, and you, boys and girls. Not all who profess to accept Christ are sincere, but Jesus says that a time will come when His angels will sep­ arate the good people from the bad, just as the fishermen chose the good fish from the bad. So let us be sincere, boys and girls, and truly accept Jesus as our own Saviour. Prayer.

o f Canaan. This would mark her out to Jewish readers as a Gentile. Mark calls her a Greek (7:26). Cried, saying. The

Golden Text'. “Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matt. 7:7). * * * L esson in O utline I. The Canaanitish Woman (21-28). 1. Her need (22). 2. Her appeal—to “the Son of Da­ vid” (22). 3. Her disappointment (23, 24). 4. Her persistence (25). 5. Her rebuff (26). 6. Her humility—accepting the title “ dog” (Gentile) (27). 7. Her faith rewarded and com­ mended (28). II. Sick Healed (29-31). 1. Place—near Sea o f Galilee. 2. The multitudes—probably many of them Gentiles. ‘ 3. Many miracles. 4. The God of Israel glorified (by Gentiles). * * * A pproach to the L esson TN the first thirteen chapters of his Gos- pel, Matthew does not have a chrono­ logical, but a topical arrangement, suited to his purpose to prove to Jews that Jesus is the Messiah, and to explain the nature of His kingdom. From that point on­ ward, he follows, with slight variation, the order of time. In chapter fourteen he first narrates the story o f the death of John the Baptist (vs. 1-12) and tells of the fear that came upon Herod when he supposed that John was risen from the dead. It was because of the situation that arose after the death o f John that Jesus deemed it prudent to leave Herod’s do­ minions. He withdrew to a desert place. But the multitudes followed Him. After this, occurred the healing o f many sick (v. 14), the feeding of the five thousand (vs. 15-21), the stilling of the tempest (vs. 26-33), and the healing o f many more sick ones after crossing the sea to the plain of Gennesaret (vs. 34-36). Chapter fifteen opens with the record of the arrival of scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who attempted to ensnare Jesus with captious questions (1-20). Official Israel were rapidly closing in upon Him, bent on His destruction. There were per­ haps three special reasons for his de­ parture from Galilee at this particular time : (1) The hostility of Herod, (2) the increasing hostility of the Pharisees, (3) false notions of the masses concerning His Messiahship and the nature of His kingdom (cf. John 6:15). He withdrew from Galilee to Gentile territory, where the miracle of our lesson occurred. * * * H eart of the L esson 1. The Canaanitish Woman (21-28). V. 21. Tyre and Sidon. Cities of Phe- nicia on the Mediterranean coast. Mark

word denotes loud crying. She may have been following at a distance. Have mercy . . . Son o f David. The word translated “mercy” includes the idea o f pity (cf. 9: 27). This woman, although a Gentile in Gentile territory, was evidently familiar with the true religion and acknowledged Jesus as Messiah. My daughter is griev­ ously vexed. “Badly demonized” might be a literal rendering. Her daughter’s need was her own—she had said, “Pity me.” V. 23. Not a word. The reason for Jesus’ silence is explained later. The woman’s faith was not shaken by His ap­ parent indifference. Send her away. This does not necessarily prove the disciples were impatient and wished to be rid of her. They had never seen Him turn away a sufferer and it may be more char­ itable to believe that they meant to say, “ Grant her request, and send her away rejoicing.” She crieth after us. This may indicate that she was at some distance and continued her loud appeals. If so, she was unaware o f the conversation be­ tween Jesus and the disciples concerning her. V. 24. He answered. The reply was to the disciples. We are not told whether others heard it. I was not sent. In this expression He confesses His subordina­ tion to the Father. But to . . . house o f Israel. He had, before this, healed Gen­ tiles who came to Him in the land of Israel (cf. 4:24; 8:5). He was now in Gentile territory, where He gave some evidences o f His power and grace, but He did not enter upon a general healing min­ istry. Blessings to the Gentiles come through Israel (cf. Acts 1 :8). V. 25. She came and worshipped. She drew near—another hint that she may have been calling from a distance. The word rendered “worshipped” does not of itself necessarily mean such worship as is rendered to God. The context must de­ cide the question. Lord, help me. The woman had before addressed Him as the Son of David, as if to claim for herself the privileges of the children of the cov­ enant. In doing so she placed herself on ground that was not open to a Gentile. V. 26. It is not meet. It was not a fit­ ting or proper request, for she had no legal claim. Children’s bread. Jesus re­ peats to the woman what He had just said to the disciples, that Messianic bene­ fits were primarily intended for the Jews. Mark ( 7 :27) says, “Let the children first be filled.” Cast it to the dogs. The Jews counted themselves “children” and brand­ ed Gentiles as unclean and offensive “ dogs” (cf. Matt. 7:6). This Gentile was quite familiar with this fact, so that Jesus’ language would not appear to her as insulting as it might seem to us. It was doubtless intended as a lesson in humility and faith. V. 27. Yea, Lord. She accepted her position as a Gentile, confessing that she had no right to claim covenant blessings from Israel’s Messiah. For even the dogs. Shrewdly catching His phrase and not op-

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