207
April 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Golden Text: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22: 37-39). * * . * L esso n in O u t l in e I. The Trappers. 1. The classes—Pharisees (15, 34), Herodians (16), Sadducees (23). 2. Their common cause (15). 3. Their plan—“ensnare him in his talk” (15). 4. The place—the Temple. 5. The occasion—answer (rebuttal) to His teaching. II. The Pharisees’ Trap (16-17). 1. Hypocritical method of approach. a. Politeness—“T e a c h e r ” (not “Lord”). b. Flattery—“we know.” (1) “Thou art true.” (2) “Thou teachest the way of God.’: (3) Thou carest not for. any one.” - III. The Trappers Trapped (18-22). 1. Jesus perceived their wickedness (18). • „ 2. Jesus exposed them— hypocrites (18). I I I ' 3. Jesus answered them (19-21). 4. Jesus outwitted them. 1. The lawyer’s question—a moral problem (35-36). 2. The answer—a summary of the law (37-40). VI. All Questioners Silenced and Self- Convicted (41-46). * * * A pproach to t h e L esso n A FTER the Triumphal Entry, occurred * * the cleansing of the Temple (21:12- 13), when Jesus enraged the Jewish lead ers by His charge that they had made His house a den of robbers. They were the more displeased when they heard the chil dren crying “Hosanna to the son of David” (21:14-17). Next; Matthew re cords the cursing of the fig tree, a sym bolic miracle of judgment which strik ingly tells of the sentence passed upon fruitless Israel (21:18-20). The final is sue between Jesus and the leaders was soon joined, when they asked Him, “By what authority doest thou these things?” (21:23). Did He have the authority of a prophet (21:11), or of Messiah (21:15), or of some other sort? Did His authority come from God or from men? The San hedrin knew that they had not given Him authority, and consequently they ques tioned His right to teach. He did not promptly answer these questions, because the time to openly and positively declare Himself as Messiah had not yet come (cf. 26:63-65).' He avoided the trap set for Him. Yet in a sense He did answer and fearlessly rebuke the leaders by three par ables : the two sons (21:28-32); the wicked husbandman (2l :33-46) ; and the marriage of the king’s son (22:1-14). The chief priests and the Pharisees recog nized that the first two were very point edly aimed at them (21: 45). Fear of the IV. Sadducees Silenced (23-33). V. Pharisees Silenced (34-40).
Jesus and His disciples had continued on their journey toward Jerusalem,' going from Jericho and arriving at Bethany, where three of His dearest friends lived: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. A man in Bethany, named Simon, prepared a sup per and invited Jesus and His friends. Simon had once been a leper. This,feast was on Saturday evening, and here Mary anointed Jesus with the precious oint ment. The next day Jesus prepared to en ter Jerusalem, and although the distance was not too great for Him to have walked, He planned to ride into the city upon a colt. Long before that, the proph ecy had been made that He should do this very thing. Since He had no colt of His own, He arranged to use one belonging to a man in Bethphage, a village east of Jerusalem. Nobody had ever ridden this colt, but it had been kept by God for the special use of His Son on this day. The disciples were still looking for Jesus to set up His kingdom on earth at this time, and their thoughts were of thrones and glories such as we associate with a king. But when Jesus sent two of them after the colt, they obeyed Him, and found that every detail of what He had said came to pass. The owner of the animal was glad to let Jesus use it. Im agine his great joy when he learned that he was loaning his little colt to the King! A great multitude of people followed JesUs as He rode upon the colt and en tered into Jerusalem, the city where David and Solomon had been kings. He came in a lowly way, and yet He was the greatest King that had ever entered the city! As He passed along, the people spread their garments in the way, just as they would do, for a king. Others cut branches from the trees, mostly palms, with their long, feathery fronds. In mem ory of this we have Palm Sunday. There were some among the multitude who felt no joy when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King. These men were the Pharisees, who hated Jesus and wanted to kill Him. When they saw the people honoring Him, glad to sing His praise, shouting songs such as were never before heard, their hearts were full of envy and hate, and they determined that He should be put to death. When Jesus comes again, there will be many who will not be glad to see Him, because their hearts are full of sin and selfishness.; they want to go on living their lives in their own way, refusing to make Him King over them. But those who have given their hearts and lives to Jesus, and have made Him King in their inmost beings, will rejoice when He comes, and meet Him with joy surpassing all joys of earth! And as among the multitude bn this long ago day there were children singing His praises, so on that glad day when He comes to reign as King, there- will be many children from every land, children who have loved Him and tried to please Him dur ing their lives on earth. How sweet will be their songs of praise! Will you be among them? Prayer. —o— May 18, 1930 Jesus Teaching in th e Temple (Temperance Lesson) Lesson: Matthew 22:1-23 :39. (Lesson Text: Matt. 22:15-22, 34-40.)
as a great prophet of Israel. Some see, in this changed attitude, an evidence that “all the world is gone after him” ; but be not deceived. It is Jesus the model man and great teacher they are praising, not the Son of God. The world is not yet ready to crown Him Lord of all. 9. The Jews would not have made great objection to Jesus as a mere prophet, and they might have welcomed Him as a human deliverer. The Greeks would have been pleased with Him if He had come as a philosopher with a new message. Even Rome would not have been troubled about Him if He had been merely the promoter of a new religious movement. It is Jesus Christ the Lord and King who is spurned by all. 10. Has the Lord Jesus ever entered your soul in triumph, or does He stand outside the door knocking and weeping? * * * G olden T e x t I llustratio n “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee” (Zech. 9:9). Christ puts the hosanna spirit into His people. I have read that when the late Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, the cele brated Brooklyn divine, was visiting the famous London preacher, the Rev. C h a r l e s H. Spurgeon, after a hard day of work and serious discussions these two mighty men of God went out into the country together for a holiday. They roamed the fields in high spirits, like boys let loose from school, chatting and laugh ing and free from care. Dr. Cuyler had just told a story at which Pastor Spur geon laughed uproariously. Then sud denly he turned to Dr. Cuyler, and ex claimed, “Theodore, let’s kneel down and thank God for laughter 1” And there, on the green carpet of grass, under the trees, two of the world’s greatest men knelt and thanked the dear Lord for the bright and joyous gift of laughter. Thank God, the Christ has put the ho sanna spirit into people. His Gospel is a Gospel that sings, and shouts, and re joices.— G. B. F. Hallock. * * * Hailing Jesus as King Matt. 21:1-17 Memory Verse: “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the high est” (Matt. 21:9). Approach .-—This lesson is especially beautiful and appropriate for the chil dren, showing how they may help to ir;™ ” Emphasize the joy m a x e je s u s rs-mg.
and enthusiasm with which the children shared in this tri umphal procession. God loves the chil dren, and delights in their praise. Be longing to Hi m, serving Him, is the most joyous thing a child can do. Lesson S toryA4: Long, ago, t h e r e
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was a wonderful day of triumph and joy that far surpassed any celebration the world has ever known. It was in honor of a King, a royal procession that but faintly pictured the joyful time when this King shall come again, and reign ever more !
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