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November 1929
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I n t e r n a t i o n a l L e s s o n C o m m e n t a r y By David L. Cooper 1 December 1, 1929 The Christian Home In a Modern World FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTL INE of His divine nature and mission in the world.
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When His mother and Joseph found Him in the temple in discussions with the doctors of the law, Mary reproved Him for remaining behind and causing them inconvenience and anxiety. To her ques tion He replied, “Knew ye not that I must be hi my Father’s housef ” They did not understand His reply, but He as an obedient son returned home and was sub ject to Mary and Joseph. The record passes over His life until He is of the age of thirty, by stating that He “advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Every Chris tian home should be one in which God and Christ are recognized. The children should be obedient to parents, and re spectful. Unfortunately the true Chris tian home is becoming obsolete in this generation. Pray for a revival of the true Christian home in a modern world, and the restoration of the family altar. III. Jesus at Meal in the Home. Lk. 24: 28-32. In the afternoon of the Resurrection day Jesus fell in company with two dis ciples journeying toward Emmaus. Be ginning with Moses and the prophets, He discussed with them the things concern ing Himself. Toward evening they reached their destination and insisted upon Jesus’ lodging with them that night. Yielding to their request, He went into the home and, when the meal was pre pared, He sat down with them to eat. He immediately took the bread and blessed it and gave it to them. At that time their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, but immediately He vanished from their sight. Man may labor, but it is God who blesses. Man plants, waters, and culti vates his crops; but God gives the in crease. Therefore every servant of Christ should return thanks to God for every particle of food of which he partakes. The same thing should be true of every thing which he does. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10: 31), IV. The Model Home According to Paul. Eph. 6:1-9; 2 Tim. 1:3-5; 3: 14, 15. Paul (Eph. 6:1-9) gave specific instruc tion to the Church at Ephesus in mat ters pertaining to the home life. In the first place he exhorted the children to be obedient to their parents "in the Lord: for this is right.” At the present time it appears that disobedience to parents is one of the characteristics, failures,. and sins of the day. Isaiah gave this sin as one of the characteristics of the last days (Isa. 3). Paul likewise gave disobedience to parents as one of the signs of the last days (2 Tim. 3:2). Obedience to parents is the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise. Doubtless many a child’s life has been
ARENTS ROPRIETIES ROTECTION RIVILEGES
H ONORING O BSERVING M ERITING E NJOYING
Scripture References : D e u t. 6 :3-9; Matt. 19:3-9; Lk. 2:40-52 ; 24:28-32; Eph. 6:1-9; 2 Tim. 1:3-5; 3:14, 15. Lesson Text: Lk. 2:40-52. Golden Text: “Honor thy father and mother” (Eph. 6:2). L esson i n .O utline Introduction: Historical Setting. Beginning the Lesson. I. The Model Home According to Moses. Deut. 6 :3-9. II. The Home Life of Jesus. Luke 2: 40-52. III. Jesus at Meal in the Home. Lk. 24: 28-32: IV. The Model Home According to Paul. Eph. 6 :l-9; 2 Tim. 1:3-5; 3: 14, 15. —o— Introduction: Historical Setting. The passage from Deuteronomy was spoken by Moses in the plains of Moab, east of Jericho, just before his death. The passage in Luke 2 gives an account a portion of which is part of today’s les son, about 63 A. D., to the church at Ephesus. The quotations from his second book of Timothy, if he was released from his first imprisonment and later ar rested, were written between 65 and 67 from Rome to Timothy, who was sta tioned at Ephesus. Beginning the Lesson. To draw forth an expression concern ing home life as it is and as it should be in the light of the Scriptures, is a most excellent way to procure the at tention of the pupils. Special emphasis should be laid upon the family altar. I. The Model Home According to Moses. Deut. 6 :3-9. In the first two verses of this chapter God brings all of the ordinances, statutes, and commandments together in the state ment, “This is the commandment,” which Israel was commanded to observe. In verse 3 Moses charges Israel to be dili gent. in doing the will of God upon their entrance into the land of promise. “Hear, O Israel : Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” This statement is the heart of a visit which the Lord m a d e with His parents to Je rusalem at the Feast of t h e Passover w h e n He wa s twelve years of age. Paul, a prisoner in Rome, w r o t e the Book of Ephesians,
“Be it ever so humble, There’s no place like home.”
and soul of the Hebrews’ religion. Un fortunately, Israel today, following Moses Maimonides, has placed a wrong transla tion arid interpretation upon this passage. It should be translated, “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our Gods is Jehovah a Unity.” This exhortation affirms the plurality and unity of the Godhead. Verse 5 contains an exhortation to love God with all of one’s being— “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” God is to be enthroned in the life of each individual. Every Israelite was commanded to set his heart upon these words, i.e., to think most seriously of the great responsibility which rested upon him as an individual. In verse 7 Moses laid upon every Jew ish parent the duty and responsibility of teaching the revealed will of God;—as far as it had thus been made known—to his children. The special time for religious instruction and devotion was at the begin ning and at the close of the day. No day can be what it should be unless it is begun with the recognition of God and the invo cation of His blessing upon the work of the day. No day should ever close with out thanksgiving and praise to God for His blessings, and supplication for pro tection and rest during, the coming night. To remind them continually of God and His word (v. 8 ) Moses commanded Is rael to bind the Law as a sign upon their hands and between their eyes. As a fur ther reminder he commanded them to write the Law upon the door-posts and gates. In orthodox Jewish homes today the Mezuzah is upon the door-posts. Thus God and His revealed Word were put foremost in the Jewish home. II. The Home Life of Jesus. Lk. 2:40-52. The New Testament tells little of the childhood and home of Jesus; hence what is known of it must be drawn from hints appearing here and there in the narrative. He lived in the little city of Nazareth in Galilee. His mother and Joseph were pious, faithful, righteous people. Their influence upon Jesus was the very best. There were half sisters and brothers in the home (Matt. 13:55, 56). The clearest picture of His home life appears in Lk. 2:41-52, which gives an account of His going with Mary and Jo seph to Jerusalem at the Feast of Pass- over when He was twelve years of age. At this age He was thoroughly conscious
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