The International Sunday School Lessons By J. H. S. LESSON V I I I—May 24.— U n p r o f it a b l e S e r v a n t s .— Luke 17:1-10. G olden T ext . —He that glorieth let I. O ffen ses : A W a rnin g .
him glory in the Lord. —1 Cor. 1 31. the Higher Criticism, a “better” Bible, be reft of authority and baited with license in creed and practice; the Unitarian bait—a “divine” humanity at cost of Christ’s deity; the lure of Russelism—no hell,' which costs the immortality of the soul and intelligibil ity of the Scriptures; the bait of Christian Science—a sound body at th e . price of sound reason, the affirmation of what is not and the negation of what is; the attrac tions of “culture”—half truths, sentiment, estheticism, rhetoric, making the “offense of the Cross to cease” (Gal. 5:11); all of which you are-the more liable to if snared by the Post-millenarian bait of God’s king dom on earth without His King on Mourn Zion. II. F orgiving : A W arning , 1. “Take Heed to Yourselves.” Why _such a charge? Offenses will come. (v. 5). (1) We and ours shall be wronged, and that by brethren. (2) Forgiving is essen tial to being forgiven. We are forgiven not because we forgive,, but we should for give because-forgiven (Eph. 4:32). But (3) though men need nothing more than forgiveness- they hate nothing more than forgiving. (4) Who has not the forgiving spirit has not the Divine Spirit. (5) C h r ist ia n s m u st bear no grudges . 2. “Rebuke Him." Go, show the of fender his fault. “Have it out with him,” as we say. It may prove a mutual mis understanding. It may lead to his realizing his error, and asking pardon. But our salt speech should be with grace (Matt. 18:15; Col. 4:6), otherwise matters will be worse; and we shall evidence an unforgiving mind bent on convicting, not- converting our brother. 3. “If He Repent.” If he should say, “I repent,” we should say, "I forgive.” But
1. Their Nature. The Greek word al ludes to traps or snares —not what “of fends,” but what snares, traps or trips. 2. Their Certainty. Not “is it impos sible, but that,” etc. The thought is: “No doubt snares will be set in your path.” This is very suggestive. . Such is the nature of the ease that Satan will strive to snare the saints. Lies are the tactics of the enemy and his children (John 8 :44). “False Christs,” “false prophets,” shall cause my people to err by their lies” (Matt. 24:11, 24; Jer. 23:32). We shall meet plots, snares, masquerades (Ps. 37:12; 38:12; 2 Tim. 2:26; 2 Cor. 11:15). It has been; is, will be so (Gal. 4:29; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2). Satan has baited his. traps with fruit, wine, in gots, pottage, an ephod, cattle, fine clothes, a woman, a dancing girl, cash, fear, and, worst of all, flesh glorifying gospels (Gen. 3:6; 9:20, 21; Heb. 12:16; Joshua 7:20, 21; Judges 8:27; 1 Sam. 15:9, 19; 2 Sam. 11: 2-4; Mark 6:22; 14:66-7; Gal. 2:12). "Traps for the Young," is the title of a startling book, but snares of all sorts are set for all sorts: For men and women, wives and husbands; for laboring, business, professional and official men; for judges and juries; for rich and poor, learned and unlearned; boys and girls; traps for eyes, feet, tongues, palates, intellects; baited with pleasures, sensualities, dollars, vanities. The most dangerous are for the ears, and Jesus says, “Take heed what ye hear” (Mark 4:24). Shall the saints pass unheeded such solemn warnings of the Saviour and the Spirit? (Mark 13:20-23; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Gal. 1:6-9; etc., etc.). “My soul, be on th y g u ard !” Shun: The socialistic bait—a regenerate society constituted of unregenerate men;
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