T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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move a man to relieve even his foe when perishing, by hunger or thirst (Rom. 12:20), but to clothe the naked implies a liberal and loving spirit, to visit the sick is an act of self sacrifice, to go to wretched outcasts in person is a rare act of charity.—Camb. Bible. May one suppose that to do nothing and to know nothing will lead at last to some kind of intermediate heaven? That sophism is here broken with the light, ning of God. The know-nothing, the do-nothing and the be-nothing scheme of life can only end in outer darkness. —Parker. v. 38. When saw we thee? The righteous were not aware of the good deeds that they had been doing. The most acceptable righteousness to God is that which is free from self conscious ness—Torrey. They had not been do ing this for the purpose of securing some happy end. They had not been mere legalists trying to obey the letter of the law and endeavoring to set up by penance or gift some claim to the clem ency of heaven. They had been setting out in beautiful daily life that which was internal and vital and part of their very nature.—People’s Bible. v. 40. Least of these My brethren. None are too desolate and sorrowful to attract Christ’s loving notice and He hails as “blessed” all who sympathize with and help them.—Meyer. The real tpst whether or not we love Christ is, do we love the brethren (1 Jno. 3:14; 4:20) and the real test whether we love our brethren is, do we minister to their need (1 Jno. 3:17). Ye have done it unto Me. Christ identifies Himself with His people, as in His words to Saul (Acts 9:14).—Carr. Looking at this- conversation in the most superfi cial way, some find in it the doctrine of salvation by works and set aside all that is written as to the necessity of a change of heart. Kindness to the poor comes in not as in itself the ground of the division but as furnishing the evi
dence of that devotion to God as re vealed in Christ which forms the real ground of acceptance. The great ques tion which determines the separation is “How have you treated Christ?”—Gib son. Good deeds are not substitutes for faith but they are proof of a right heart from which all virtues grow. The fruits of the Spirit are the proofs of the Spirit.—Peloubet. Heaven will be full of blessed surprises as we reap the fruit growing in power of what we sowed in weakness and as doleful will be the astonishment which will seize those who see for the first time in the lurid light of that day the true character of their lives as one long neglect of plain duties which was all a defrauding the Saviour of His due.—Maclaren. v. 41. Prepared for the devil. Not for men but for the devil and his an gels.—Dummelow. By rejecting God’s plan of salvation men prepare them selves for the place God never prepared for them and throw their lot in deliber ately with the devil.—Lewis. v. 46. Everlasting punishment.' It should be noticed that the word “eter nal” stands in each case.—Meyer. Eter nal and everlasting are the same word in the Greek.—Scofield. There is no possible way of reducing the force of. this word which will bring the awful ness of the doom within the bounds of finite imagination. There is not the slightest suggestion of hope in the word. —Expos. Bible. Punishment for sin is eternal upon earth—no man can outlive his sin in time. Sin carries eternal con sequences with it.—Parker. The Heavenly Home. John 14:2, 3; Rev. 22:1-5. Memory Verse: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. . . I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2. Approach: Children, I saw something very sad a few days ago. The fire bell rang and pretty soon the fire depart-
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