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THE KING’S BUSINESS
more important matters on hand? *(?>) The Teacher too busy? dignified? preoc cupied? (c) Children insignificant? (d) Wait till they are older? (e) They cannot understand ? (2) Jesus (a) displeased, “much dis pleased:” (b) ^aid, “Suffer ( permit ) them.” (c) "Forbid not." (d) “of such" (the very ones to come), (e) “You must be come such, as lowly, humble, harmless, trustful, or you will be forbidden!” “Ye must be born a«ain.” (3) He (a) took them up ; (b) put His blessed and blessing hands on them (identified Himself with them) ; (c) bless ed them. Forbid them not; let them come ; BRING THEM. M ission oe the S eventy .—Luke 10: but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in 2. The. Great Need —“laborers.” Jesus sent 70 to 1,000,000 (?), we 1 to 219,000, as in China; 1 to 500,000 in all heathendom. And how many of the “surplus” (?) at home are real " laborerst” in the Gospelf 3. The Supply. (1) Its means: Prayer. Missions began in prayer (Acts 13:2, 3).. The Apostles (sent ones) were ordained through prayer (Luke 6:12, 13). Modern missions grew out of and keep pace with prayer. Carey started on his knees. Jud- son began on his, and Said, he never asked God anything he did not get. Livingstone went to the heart of Africa, which now cherishes his heart, and ended his journey on his knees. Hudson Taylor’s recruiting office was his closet in China and hun dreds flocked to his standard over conti nent and ocean. (2) Its source: “The Lord.” But if His harvest, why wait our prayers? But if men do not_care to ask why should He to send? IV. T he I nstructions ( v . 3-11). 1. Marching Orders —“Go!” (Matt. 28: 19, 20). 2. Warning. No picnic, but peril! What a story—missions! Obstacles, opposition,
H is; we are not to pass that by unre buked (2 John 10:11). John felt that they had not acted in a child-like spirit toward that unowned worker. But let the worker know that though he is disowned by men he shall not miss his reward from the Master. V. S ection S econd (ch. 10:13-16). 1. Divorce and the Children. It is sig,- nificant that the blessing of children is recorded immediately after the question of divorce (vs. 1-12), which curses them. 2. Jesus and the Children. N ote : (1) They brought the children to Him; (2) young children; (3) that He should touch them—that Spirit with spirit might meet; (4) the disciples rebuked them—(a) LESSON IL—January. 11.—T he 1-24. G olden T ext : It is not ye that speak, you.— Matt. 10:20. I. T ime and T erritory . 1. Time. Fall, A, D. 29; six months be fore the crucifixion. 2. Territory. East of Jordan; Perea; which Jesus passed through on His, way to the Cross. II. A ppointment of S eventy (v. 1). 1. "After”— the incidents just recorded; when His face was •“steadfastly set” to ward Jerusalem (9:51). 2. "Other Seventy” —not the twelve (?) of a year earlier (Matt. 10:1). Seventy equals fulness; symbol of the whole (?). See Acts 8:1 (Exod. 1:5; 24:1; Num. 11: 25). All believers now commissioned. 3. " Two and two.” Gracious provision! 2 is more than twice 1, and spiritually a quorum, which equals 3 (Matt. 18:20). See Ectlesiastes 4:9-12. 4. "Before his face” —so all heralds. “Go!” for He comes. ■ III. T he G reatest W ork ( v . 2). 1. The Great Field. If that limited area, what about the world—Africa, South America, Asia, and unevangelized Christen dom?
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