May, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
195
’name on request
back upon them, so that both the Herodians and Pharisees were put to shame. But though He silenced them and revealed their unholy object in questioning Him, and al though He even then would have received them as His own if they had turned to Him, their continued rebellion became ap parent, as they turned from Him in silent scorn. Those who object to the claims of Christ may be answered and convinced; but it does not always follow that they will be convicted and converted. Lesson 8. “The Future of the Kingdom” (Matt. 25:1-13). In this lesson, the king dom was seen in mystery form—as we see it today, and as it will be until the Lord comes back from heaven. The text pre sented a picture of Christendom. The true character of the church was seen as being one of separation, indicated by the analogy to virgins; of manifestation, shown by their having lamps; and of expectation, typified by their waiting for the returning Bride groom. The failure of the virgins was seen in that they all fell asleep. Then the awakening came as the shout was heard. The falseness of the profession of the five foolish virgins was revealed by their un belief—they had no oil; their ignorance was manifested in that they thought to buy that which could be received only as a gift; and their true position in the sight of God was shown by the declaration of the Lord: “I know you not.” Lesson 9. “The Last Judgment” (Matt. 25:31-46). Instead of referring to the last judgment, this lesson described the coming judgment of the nations of earth, when the Lord shall return to set up His kingdom. Before Him will be gathered, all the na tions, and He shall judge them then. The separation between them is to be according to their character, either that of sheep or goats, one group on the right hand and the other on the left. The judgment upon them will be according to their conduct. And their conduct is revealed in their treatment of the Jews, the Lord’s brethren, during the coming days of that people’s terrific tribulation. Lesson 10. “Jesus in the Shadow of the Cross” (Matt. 26:31-46). This lesson began with the Lord’s warning of the com ing failure of His disciples. Because of His own ability to read the future, and also because of the plain declarations of Scripture, He foreknew the sad unfaithful ness of His followers. Peter and the other disciples did not think they would ever deny their Lord, and they boldly declared that they would remain loyal to Him. The reason for their failure was revealed in their disobedience to the Lord’s word to “watch and pray,” in their unbelief in the written word of Scripture, and in their per sistent self-confidence. The solemn and awful account of the agony of our Lord in the garden of Gethsemane was a part of this_ lesson. His was an agony which issued in complete victory. Lesson 11. “Jesus on the Cross” (Matt. 27:33-50). The Lord Jesus Christ suffered on the cross, in fulfillment of Scripture which declared that in His death there BLACKBOARD LESSON
A Minister makes an Amazing Discovery! He writes, “I had taken for granted that everything was going all right and the people knew what they were using (Sunday School LesSons) . . . . we found the miraculous prac tically eliminated from all material, no con sciousness of sin would ever arise from the most careful study of their materials, and loy alty to Jesus Christ and His Church would naturally go into the discard............” Here was a minister, loyal to Christ and the Word, but whose Sunday School was betray ing the Son of God and the Word of God! Have you investigated lately, to see what is being taught in your Sunday School? Do so at once. I t is of eternal importance.
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would be “laid on him the iniquity of us all” (I?a. 53:6). On the cross, He was surrounded by the scoffing multitude, the high priests, and the soldiers. Even the two thieves, who were crucified with Him, railed upon Him. He was forsaken by God and man. But He was there offering one sacrifice for sin forever, an offering of sweet savor unto God. The presentation of this sacrifice was by His own volition and His own design; His death was volun tary, penal, and substitutionary. And His death settled forever the question of sin, for all who receive Him as their Saviour. Lesson 12. “The Risen Lord and the Great Commission” (Matt. 28:1-10, 16-20). In the resurrection of our Lord, there is the acknowledgment by God of the suffi ciency of the sacrifice of His Son, and of the Father’s satisfaction with that sacri fice. The proof that Christ’s sacrifice is all that is needed for the salvation of sin ful man is found in the resurrection. This glorious event was announced by the angels and told to the disciples, and the disciples accepted the word,' even though they had not as yet seen the risen Lord. Then, when the eleven disciples had gathered with the Lord, He gave them the great commission to proclaim the truth—“whatsoever I have commanded you”—in every land. And He promised: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” [consum mation of the age, R.V. margin].
Points and Problems 1. The Golden Text of this review les son has been very appropriately chosen: "O f his kingdom there shall be no end.” It brings to a close a series of lessons chosen from the Gospel of Matthew, which, above any of the other Gospels, presents our Lord as the King of the Messianic kingdom. 2. One point, at least, should be reem phasized often, about this kingdom which our Lord announced and preached; that is, it is identical with the kingdom fore cast by the Old Testament prophets. In fact, the student will find out more about its nature and characteristics by reading the Old Testament than by reading the Gospels. When our Lord came preaching the kingdom to the Jews, He assumed that they knew something about the Old Tes tament prophets. Unfortunately, of our hearers today, we cannot assume as much. When Christ came saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” every Jew knew what He was talking about. Some of their ideas may have been lopsided and partial in emphasis, but the Jews of that day at least knew that this kingdom was a literal affair, as literal as the empire of Rome. 3. Some Christians have been puzzled about this expression: “Of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Does not the king dom of the Messiah begin at His second
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