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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
December 1926
So Peter commands (1 Pet. 3:0): “ N et ren d erin g e v il fo r e v il Or ra ilin g f o r r a ilin g I b a t co n tra riw is e h le e a lj* i k n o w in g th a t th e re o n to y e a re ca lled , th a t y e a h o o ld Inherit a M eaning.” (See v. 36.) 4 , “Pray for them which ileeplte- fully use you” (v. 28). They need our prayers, and we are commanded to “pray for all men.” Who are these that despitefully use us? Why do they do it? What have we done to merit it? We cannot ask God to bless their wrongdoing, but we can ask Him to bring them to the place of confession. Our Lord has set us the example (Luke 23:34): «F a th e r, fo r g iv e th em , f o r th e y k n ow n o t w h a t th e y d o .» If we have done anything to Justify their attitude, we must confess and forsake it» 5. “Unto Mm that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other” (v. 29)o This is a hard saying, especially for the flesh, to bear, but possible for a Christian, though circumstances shouia govern (Acts 28:1-6). Christ submit ted (Matt. 26:67) but did not ask for a repetition (John 18:22, IS): “ A n d w h en h e h ad th u s ■ » • £ • % • « • * * th e officers w h ich s to o d b y e tra e k J « « » » w ith th e pa lm o f hie h and, eaylaar. A a - sw e re st th ou th e h ig h p r i e s t s o t “ Jesus an sw ered h im , H I I’/ i l a ev il, b ea r w itn e ss o f th e e v lli b a t If w e ll, w h y sm lte st th o a m e t” The principle is the thing that is great; not the letter (v. 33). 6 “Give to every man that asketn of thee” (v. 30). Not everything he asks for. He might ask for a dollar and want to use it for drink. Instead you would bo justified in taking him to a restaurant and getting a twenty cent meal for him. We need and must have the unselfish spirit and a heart of com passion for the needs of all men, but there is also need for great wisdom. We must avoid making paupers. II a man will not work neither shall he eat.” This distinction needs much em phasis in these days (v. 38). 7. “Him that taketh thy cloak, for bid not to take thy coat also” (v. 29). We must be willing to bear wrong, but this does not mean that we should give the thief our pocket book after he has taken our overcoat. We may feel Justified in turning him over to the officer of the law for punishment, for human laws must be obeyed (▼• 33)- tfhe Golden Rule (v. 31). These seven precepts are all included in this summing up by our Lord. No one can find fault with this rule. Even those who have no use for Christ all Join in commendation of its beauty. It is golden, for it has all the elements of the precious metal. It is short—fifteen little words. It is simple—a child can understand it for it is so easily illustrated. It is straightforward. There is noth ing technical about it. It reaches the , desired point i t once. It is sound. In principle, it is be yond controversy. It will stand any test ... It is specific. It covers every possible emergency that might arise in the minds of men. It is stimulating. We knew a Jew who, although a denier of Chrlpt aa
one such occasion, with his friends around him, he took out one stone after another and described it. A lady noticed a rough-looking stone and said, “Why do you keep an unsightly thing l i k e that?” He replied, “I thank you for calling my attention to that stone;” and he took it up in his hand. When the audience thought he was through, and were ready to leave, he said, “Walt a minute; the most precious of ell my Jewels you have not seen.” He opened his hand, and there in his palm lay that costly stone, shining like no other; and he said, “It is a stone that will not shine ex cept through the warmth of the human touch.” God’s loveliest Jewels a r e found in the clasp of love—From The Dawn. jWt These commands are the code of the children of the kingdom. They reveal what God is and what God, of neces sity, requires of those who are to live with Him. No one ever kept perfect ly these commands except our Lord Jesus, who was without sin. So we confront two things—the law of a perfect life, and the Lord who lived the perfect life. No one can live this life who does not have the life which comes by the reception of Christ as Saviour, a n d the teacher should seek to use the lesson to give emphasis to the necessity of taking Him and yielding to Him who says, “Without me ye can. do nothing”J and to faith in Paul’s word, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. (1) LOVE’S 27-34. REQUIREMENTS, vs. Here are seven admonitions: 1. “Love your enemies” (V. 27). Do you? Can you? Yes. How? By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and by no other power. But that does not mean you are to condone their sins. We do not give our enemies the place our friends have in our hearts. Neither did Christ. But we must hold no grudge against any. Christ loved us when we were enemies, but He hated our sins, and sin in the life of the Christian is hateful to Him. i. »Bo good to them which hate you” (v. 27). Who is it hates you? Why? You belong to God. Are you living the godly life? Then return good for evil. Paul says: “As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all” (Gal. 6:10). Show that you are a Christian by your life. (This verse is illuminated by our Lord’s own words in vs. 82, 33.) 3. “Bless them that curse you” (V. 28). This is ascending the scale of the new life. Have we merited' the curse of others? If so, make the wrong right at any price. Can we ask God to bless those who are cursing us? Yes, we can if we love them. Stephen did so under the most difficult circum stances (Acts 7:60:) “ A a d h e k a e e le d l o m and crie d ivtth ■ lo a d v o ice , L ord , la v a * t will be In knowing and doing His will. Every one, sooner or later, hears the challenge of Jesus, “Follow Me.” Have you answered “yes”! Do not delay. Do It now. A Vital Truth Illustration, Selected by Rev. Albert Mygutt Hand-ploked fruit Is often the sweet est and most perfect. The warmth of personal love creates and con serves the luster of a Jewel. A great jeweller who once In two or three years used to make a trip around the world to gather valuable gems, on re turning would Invite his friends to gether and exhibit his findings be fore putting them on the market. On Golden Text: “Ye therefore! shall be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 6:48. Lesson Text: Luke 6:27-38. Devotional Reading: Matthew 6: 1 - 10 . Additional Material for Teachers: Matthew 6:13 to 7:6. F a ith fully t >: OLLOWING i < Be . . . . As.—Matt. 5:48 ERFECT ATTERN Lesson Outline: (1) Love’s Requirements, vs. 27-34. (2) Love’s Reward, vs. 35-38. Introduction: The title given to this lesson is not the theme at all. The theme is to be found in the message. We are not studying our Lord Jesus, but what He said. LESSON There is grave dan- EXPOSITION ger in presenting this T. C. Horton lesson. It was given by Jesus to His disci ples (compare Matt. 6:1-8), and not to the world. These injunctions are like the Ten Commandments: they reveal to us God’s law of a perfect life but are impossible of fulfillment without the new nature—the nature of God—which comes through, the indwelling Holy Spirit- , . .I v - u God’s requirements reveal His holi ness, but man by nature cannot at tain to them. The Jews could not keep the Ten Commandments, for if they could have done so there would have been no need of sacrifices; but they needed the «continual blood-offerings because of their sin, as we need^the continual cleansing of the blood or Jesus (1 John 1:7). So Paul tells us in Rom. 8:3, 4: ‘•For w h a t th e la w co a id n ot d o la th a t It w aa w e a k th rou gh th e fleah, O od e e a d - l „ g Hia ow n Son la th e flesh, and to r ala, eoadeaaaed ala la th e * *S rh a t th e vlsrhteoaaaeaa o f th e le w m ight b e to ta lle d la aa, w h o w a lk a o t a fte r th e Scab, b a t a fte r th e s p irit.» M M Hi JANUARY 0, 1927 THE STANDARD OF CHRISTIAN LIVING LUKE 6:27-38
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