March 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
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III. Refusing the Kingdom (21-22). 1. The hard test—“sell,” “give,” “ follow me.” 2. The heavenly treasure refused. 3. The sorrowful departure. IV. The Peril o f the-Rich (23-26). * * * A pproach to the L esson TESUS had left the house where He had J blessed the children (v. 15; Mark 10: 10)., Mark (10:17) says He “was going forth into the way.” The margin reads, “on his way,” doubtless on the road to Jerusalem for the last Passover (cf. 20: 17). At the time o f the incident here re lated, He was probably in southern Perea, which lay east of the Jordan (cf. 19:1; 20:29). The blessing of the children who were brought to Jesus gave Him occasion again to enforce to the disciples an old lesson, and one which they were slow to learn, that childlike simplicity, docility, teachableness, freedom from covetous ness, etc., were necessary to assure en trance to the kingdom of heaven. It was quite fitting, then, that Matthew should immediately introduce the story o f the rich young ruler, to give a concrete example o f one who failed to enter the Kingdom because he would not come with the childlike spirit. * * * H eart of the L esson I. Seeking the Kingdom. V. 16. One came to him. Mark says that he came running, kneeling down be fore the Master, showing deep earnest ness and indicating, also, fear that he very rich. Teacher. Luke says “Good teacher,” a common form aofiaddress to a rabbi. What good thing. His whole life had been spent in doing good things. It was the common mistake of the Phari sees that salvation was gained by outward observances rather than by a living faith, by doing rather than being. That I may have. He was evidently sincere and not quibbling. II. Near the Kingdom. V. 17. Askest . . . concerning the good. The Authorized Version, together with Mark and Luke, says, “Why callest thou me good?” Perhaps there is little essential difference between the two ways of putting it. The title “good teacher” showed deference to Jesus, but did not go far enough. God alone is perfect. Had the ruler addressed Jesus as God, it would not have been refused (cf. John 20:28). I f thou wouldest. If thou dost wish, choose, to enter into life. Keep the commandments. Jesus came down to the man’s level, not to confirm His legalistic notions but to prove to him how futile was his effort to gain life by an endless round o f religious observances. True, he might have been worthy of life if he could have perfectly measured up to might miss the in terview w i t h the great T e a c h e r . Luke a l o n e adds that he was a ruler of the synagogue. All o f the evangel ists say that he was a young man and
place, our guilt, our suffering and pun ishment, “that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus had spoken to the disciples of His death and resurrection, but they did not understand, so were not expecting Him to rise from the dead. They were sad, be cause they loved Him so dearly. But the enemies of JesUs were rejoicing. They did not want people to believe in Him. They had not forgotten that He had said He would rise again, and they feared His disciples would steal His body, and then say He had risen again; so Pilate gave them permission to put soldiers at the tomb to guard it all night, and they also sealed the tomb so that the great stone at the door could not be moved without their finding it out. But early Sunday morning a wonderful thing happened! God sent an angel to roll away the stone; there was a great earth quake; the soldiers were so terrified that they fell to the ground, and then got up, and hurried into Jerusalem to tell what had happened. When the women came tq the grave, they found the heavy stone rolled away, and an angel spoke to them, saying that Jesus had risen, just as He had promised to do. Mary Magdalene stood near the grave, weeping; she did not know what had become of Jesus, but suddenly a voice asked why she wept, and thinking it was the gardener, she asked where Jesus had been, carried. Then, Jesus spoke her name: “Mary.” At once she knew that beloved voice, and what joy was hers that day! She was the first one to see and hear Jesus after He rose from the dead, but soon the other dis ciples heard and saw Him and believed that He was indeed the Son of God. When Jesus rose, He conquered death (Rev. 1:18). All who believe in Him, and are saved through His blood, shall live with Him forever. Those who are in their graves shall come forth, and there never will be known such a thing again as death, because God promised, and He never breaks His Word! If we believe in Him, and give our hearts to Him, He will come into them and live, and we shall know the meaning and joy o f Easter now, every day. Prayer. April 27, 1930 Giving Up All For the Kingdom Lesson : Matt. 19:16-26; Mk. 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-30. ( Lesson T ex t: Matt. 19:16-26.) Golden Text: “ Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20). * * * L esson in O utline I. Seeking the Kingdom (16). 1. An eager inquirer. 2. A wrong address—“ Good Mas ter.” 3. A wrong approach—“What good thing shall I do?” 4. A right desire—“have eternal life.”
Two small girls had a quarrel. The mother of one or them, who knew about the quarrel, talked with her little girl about it, and tried to show her the wrong o f it, and her need of asking God’s for giveness. Accordingly, when the little one kneeled down to pray, she humbly asked, “O God, please forgive me for speaking angrily to Charlotte, and for quarreling with her.” So far so good. But the wrong disposition was still there, for the child went on: “And make Charlotte come to me and ask my forgiveness. O Lord, give her no rest, by day or night, until she is sorry and comes and tells me s o !”— From "Our Hope and Life in Christ.’’ —Q— Easter Lesson John 20:1-16 [Note. A choice of two lessons on Easter Sunday is given by the committee that planned the year’s work. The editor o f this column thought the children would profit most by the story of the resurrec tion.— Editor .] Memory Verse: “He is not here; for He is risen” (Matt. 28:6). Approach. —What does Easter mean to you? Did you ever plant a bulb and watch it grow till by and by there was a beautiful blossom? What flower do we events preceding the resurrection: the hatred and opposition o f the Jews, their determination to put Jesus to death. They had no power themselves to put Him to death, so brought Him before the Jewish court, called the Sanhedrin. Out o f the lonely Garden of Gethsemane, in the early morning, they took Him befqre Caiaphas, the High Priest. Brutal cruelties were heaped upon Him. Here Jesus proclaimed that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, and was openly accused of blas phemy, condemned to death, and led to Pilate’s judgment hall. Describe very briefly the trial, the release of Barabbas, and insistence of the Jews that Jesus be put to death. Jesus was nailed to the cross about three o’clock on Friday afternoon. Before sunset the Pharisees asked Pilate to make sure of the death of Jesus and the two thieves who were crucified with Him, as it was unlawful for bodies to be hanging on the cross on the Sabbath Day, and they were very careful to observe these outward forms of the law. Soldiers were ordered to break the legs of the dying men, but God had said that not a bone in Jesus’ body should be broken (Psa. 34:20) ; so when the soldiers came to Him, one,of them pierced His side, out of which flowed blood and water, a precious fountain opened for our cleansing from sin. Jesus did not suffer and die for His own sin; He had none; but He took our think of especially at E a s t e r time? ( E a s t e r lilie s .) Jesus is called, in the Bible, “the Lily o f the valley.” Our lesson today is of how He once died, was b u r i e d , and rose to life again, nevermore to die. Lesson S t o r y . —T e 11 briefly the
II. Near the Kingdom (17-20). 1. Claims of the law accepted. 2. A lack acknowledged.
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