209
April 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
11. In human relations, we must know in order to love; in our relations with God, we must love in order to know. 12. We are permitted to love ourselves at least to the extent that we respect ourselves and choose our own best inter ests. We are not permitted to have that self-love which disregards our neighbor’s rights and forgets God’s claims. * * * G olden T ex t I llustratio n Suppose a mother gives her child a beautiful flower-plant in bloom, and tells her to carry it to a sick friend. The child takes the plant away, and when she reaches the friend’s door she plucks off one leaf and gives it to her, keeping the plant herself. Then afterwards, once a week, she plucks off another leaf, or a bud, or a flower, and takes it to the friend, still retaining the plant. Has she obeyed? Nothing but the giving of the whole plant would be obedience. Yet God asks for all our life—heart, soul, mind, and strength; and we pluck a little leaf of love now and then, or a flower of af fection, and give these little things to Him, keeping the life itself. Shall we not say, “Let Him take all” ?—-S’. .S'. Times. * * * Jesus Teaching in th e Temple Memory Verse : “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:37- 39). Approach— If we love God with our whole hearts, it will be easy to live for Him, and to love others. -We cannot do this of ourselves ; we need the Saviour (Temperance Lesson) Matt. 22:15-22, 34-40
where the same Greek word occurs.) What were they'to pay back to Caesar? What were they asked to pay back to God ? What does this answer teach as to the Christian’s relation to the State and to God? If there seems to be. conflict, whose interests come first? V. 22. What was the effect of Jesus’ answer? Were they convinced? Did they cease to trouble Jesus? V. 34. Who were the Sadducees? How did they differ from the Pharisees? What did these two sects have in common ? Were the Pharisees pleased that the Sad ducees had been put to silence? V. 35. Who' was the questioner? What was his purpose (cf. Mark 12:32-34)? V. 36. By what title did he address Jesus? What question did he ask? Are some matters of the law of greater im portance than others (Matt. 23:23) ? V. 37. .What was Jesus’ answer? From what Scripture is this quoted ? Did the Jews regard this command as very impor tant? V. 38. If this is the great command ment, is the breaking of this command ment a great sin? How many have broken this commandment? How can such sinners be forgiven? V. 39. What is the second command ment? What does it mean to love one’s neighbor as one’s self? How many have broken this commandment? Does the keeping of this commandment prove that we are Christians (1 John 3:16-17)? V. 40. How do these commandments sum up all 'o f the commandments of Scripture ? * * * P ractical P o in ts 1. Beware when you are praised by your enemies (Luke 6:26). 2. Those who are susceptible to flat te ry become easy victims of treacherous foes (Prov. 29:5). 3. “The devil never lies so foully as when he tells the truth.” 4. Men may say true things about Jesus Christ who have never owned Him as Lord. 5. Christians may always expect to be the victims of the plots and hatred of wicked men (John 15:18-20). 6. A Christian citizen must recognize his obligations to the State (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). If there is conflict, duty to God comes first (Dan. 3:16-18; 6:10; Acts 4:19; 5:29). 7. Do not argue with the Lord Jesus about any question. Submit to His Word in order to know the truth (John 7 :17). 8. All that we are and have we owe to God. To withhold from Him what is rightfully His, is dishonest and results in loss of blessing (Gal. 1:6-8; 3:8-10). 9. Marveling at Jesus does not always issue in following Jesus. He is often com mended and even flattered by the lips of those who refuse His salvation (Matt. 15:7-9). 10. All the commandments of God are in one sense equally binding, but some concern matters more important than others. Duty toward God is first and highest of all duties.
Spiritual Food “I like it so much and it is such wonderful food for the spirit. I cannot miss a copy.” — M. L. C., Texas.
and sin. They had just listened to His parable about the marriage feast, which told of the guest who came without the wedding garment provided by the host. This parable is a picture of those who outwardly profess to serve God, who be long to the church, but who do not really belong to Him, who have not come as sin ners to. the Saviour. The Pharisees wanted to ask Jesus a riddle that would be impossible for Him to solve in such a way as to please every body. While He was teaching in the Tem ple the Pharisees sent spies, who pre tended to be honest in their questioning. But Jesus could read their hearts. They asked: “Is it lawful to pay tribute to a foreign king?” That is, to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor. Was it a violation of the law of Moses (Deut. 17:15) even though made necessary by the laws of the Roman Empire to which Palestine then belonged? If Jesus had said it was law ful, He would displease the Pharisees and all other Jews. If He declared it unlaw ful, He would be accused of treason to Rome. I f He said nothing, the people would lose faith in Him. Jestis was suddenly put in a position that would have been difficult and dan gerous if He had been, as His enemies sought to make people believe, an impos tor. But He had openly claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, and in this test He did not fail. He asked for a piece of their tax money, the Roman coin, which bore the portrait of Tiberius Caesar, Roman Emperor at that time. Then He told them to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” Caesar’s name and image on the coin showed that it belonged to Him, and should be paid to him for benefits re ceived under his government. But God is Ruler over all, and so they must pay the debt they owed Him: their love and obe dience, worship and service. The Pharisees and Herodians were en raged and disappointed. Then one of them, a lawyer and scribe (Mark 12:28), asked Jesus a question as to which is the greatest commandment. Again JesUs answered with wisdom di vine, telling His questioner that the first and greatest commandment is to love God, to give Him the deepest affection, truest service, fullest allegiance. The second greatest commandment is con tained in the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12). Loving God, we will love our “neighbors,” which means all who need our sympathy and help. Loyalty to God means loyalty to our country, our home, our school, and our “neighbors,” near and far. To whom does your heart and life be long? “Whose is the superscription?” The image of Caesar stamped on the coin showed that it belonged to him. Is the image of the Lord Jesus Christ thus stamped upon your heart? Prayer.
to put this love in our hearts. No one can love Him su premely until His Spirit dwells with in. Then, “the fruit of the S p i r i t is love.” L e s s o n Story. —The third day of the Passover h a d come—J e s u s’ last day in the Temple,
« / V I S I O *
the last time He taught and warned the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had been trying to make Him say or do something that would give them an excuse to arrest and kill Him. The triumphal entry oh Sunday and the cleansing of the Temple on Monday caused His enemies to hate Him more than ever. They plotted how He could be trapped; it had been impos sible to do this before, because Jesus an swered every question so wisely that they were baffled. This time they planned some questions which they felt sure He could not answer without giving them an excuse to accuse Him of treason. The religious leaders of the Jews, who ought to have been the very first to wel come and own Jesus as Messiah and give Him their loyal support, were His bit terest enemies. They hated Him because He understood and condemned their, out ward observance of the law, while their hearts were full of wrong, envy, jealousy,
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs