March 1930
150
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
people to care for the children, teach; train them, bring them to Him. They have responsibility for His little ones. “Feed My lambs,” He says to them. After this, some people brought little children to Jesus that He might bless them; but the disciples rebuked the peo ple. Then Jesus spoke the beautiful words o f our Golden Text. He does not want anyone to hinder a child from coming to Him. “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” Many have never heard about Him. That is why mission aries go into other lands, that they may tell of the loving Saviour who calls boys and girls to Him. Have you heard Him calling you? If He were here to.day and called, what would you do? He is here, is calling. Have you come to Him? Prayer. —o—- April 20, 1930 Jesus Teaching Forgiveness Lesson: Matt. 18:21-35; Luke 17 :l-5 ; Matt. 18:15-20. ( Lesson T ext : Matt. 18:21-35.) Golden Text: “ Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). L esson in O utline I. Standards Regarding Forgiveness (21-22). 1. Peter’s standard—“seven times.” 2. The divine standard—unlimited. II. Parable o f the Unmerciful Servant (23-34). 1. A king showing mercy (23-27). a. The debtor—a servant., b. The great debt—10,000 tal ents. c. The payment demanded. d. The plea for mercy. e. The debt freely forgiven. 2. The forgiven debtor a merciless creditor (28-30). a. The debtor—a fellow servant. b. The s ma l l debt—hundred pence. c. The p a y m e n t rudely de manded. d. The pitiful plea for mercy. e. The plea refused. f. The debtor ill-treated. 3. The forgiven debtor rearraigned (31-34), a. Exposed. b. Rebuked. c. “Delivered to the tormentors.”
uel, Da n i e l , Da v i d , the lad who gave his lunch to Jesus, Timothy). Tell
III. The Lesson of the Parable (35). * * * A pproach to the L esson T N the passage immediately preceding A the lesson, Jesus gives instructions to the disciples concerning their relations to their fellow men. He told them how to win back a brother who had sinned against them (18:15-20). The following rules were given: First, go and convict the erring brother of his fault—not an easy matter. This' should be done pri vately, for public exposure and reproof might wound unnecessarily, and make it much more difficult for the offender to admit his guilt. If he did not make ac knowledgment of the wrong, the next step was to go to him with one dr two others. If he was still obdurate, the mat ter was to be told to the whole assembly. If he was incorrigible, he was to be t r e a t e d as the Gentile and the pub lican, with whom they had no associa tions. This does not directly teach the ex- communication of offenders from the as sembly, but it possibly contains the germ of the teaching on this subject which was later given by Paul (1 Cor. 5:3-5). This conversation about the forgiveness of a brother prompted the question of Peter with which the lesson opens. j|: * sjt H eart of the . L esson I. Standards Regarding Forgiveness. V. 21. Flow oft shall . . . / forgive t The rabbinical rule was to forgive an offender three times, and no more. Peter may have prided himself on his excessive generosity. He may f jjk have used the num- A ber s e v e n , as a j| 3'--^*Tuf'rvk) round number ex- \•i’ C'CnN VrffsSst pressing complete- ness (cf. Luke 17: enty t i m e s seven. There is a question whether this should read “seventy times seven” or “seventy and seven.” In either case, it is a general •expression declaring that nq limitations should be set on the spirit of forgiveness. O f course it is implied that the sinner repents (cf. Luke 17:4). Otherwise there could be no restoration o f confidence, though in any case there must be love and compassion, II. Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. V. 23. The parable that follows illus trates the statement that has just been implied— that if men will not show a for giving spirit, God will deal with them very severely. A certain king . . . make a reckoning. In Eastern lands court o f ficials were ,counted slaves of the king. They were on occasions compelled to give an accounting o f’ their stewardship. So much of liberty was granted to a steward, or treasurer, that he might be able to em bezzle large sums. V. 24. Owed him ten thousand talents. One of the servants had abused his priv ileges. It was in some way discovered and he was brought to the king, not will ingly or gladly, we may be sure. Accord ing to some authorities, the amount o f his theft would be equivalent to twelve mil lion dollars. The Master, in relating the
how S a mu e l an swered quickly when he heard God call ing, and gave his life in service for Him. Speak of the qualities in t h e s e c h i l d r e n which made them dear to God: t h e y w e r e obedient, trustful, t e a c h a b l e , true, brave, loyal. T ell
how Jesus came as a little child, lived a beautiful life, understands all children be cause He was once a child, loves them, wants to be their Friend. Lesson Story. —Six days after our last lesson, Jesus took Peter, James and John up into a mountain, where, as He prayed, glory shone around, and He was trans figured. The disciples were dazzled; gaz ing on Him they forgot all else and wished to stay there. But Jesus knew He must die on the Cross, and He talked with them about it, telling them how He would rise again from the dead. But the disciples did not understand. When they descended from the moun tain, Jesus healed a poor sick boy. Then He performed the miracle of the tribute money in the fish’s mouth. The disciples had looked for a king to come and set up his throne, making the Jewish kingdom a powerful one. They believed Jesus was that King, their Mes siah ; but when He talked of the king dom, their thoughts were o f an earthly reign. At this time, they disputed among themselves as to which one o f them should have the highest position when this kingdom was established. Who would be the greatest?. Jesus asked: “What was it that ye dis puted among yourselves by the way?” (Mark 9:33). 'They were silent, ashamed. But He knew about it all, and was grieved by the spirit of jealousy, rivalry, selfishness, the desire for prominence. Often, when Jesus wished to teach His disciples something, He used a story or illustration; so, in this case, He called Jq. Him a little child. How gladly the child must have gone to His .arms! Setting the child in the midst of the disciples, He told them that in His king dom, the childlike, forgiving spirit was the greatest, and that they must turn from self and sin to God, before they could have a share or place in His kingdom. Jesus did not mean that a child does not need to be converted, saved; but He wished to teacl) them that the more like this little child they were in humility, obedience, love, trust, freedom from self ish ambition, envy, pride, the more they would please the Ki n g . Children too must be “born again” before they can enter His kingdom. Then He told of the lost sheep, a pic ture o f one who goes from God’s fold into sin. Just as a shepherd would go into hard, dangerous places to find and rescue the sheep, so Jesus came to earth, into suffering and danger, that He might save those who have wandered away from God. He does not want one boy. or girl to be lost, away from His fold. He loves them, wants to save them. He is glad when one child, comes to Him. He wants to lead the children, guard them, make their lives useful. He wants the older
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