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n. T he I nstruction by J esus (17-26) This man supposed he had fully ob served all the commandments of the law. His record was clear concerning the second table of the law that deals with man’s relation to man. Jesus did not deny this fact (vs. 17-20). Then the Lord Jesus referred to the first table of the law that deals with man’s relation to God (vs. 21, 22). In this teaching He did not mean that selling all and giving the proceeds to the poor would purchase eternal life. If that were true, then men would be continually selling and givihg away, so 'that the poor today would be the rich tomorrow, and the rich tomorrow would in turn be the poor of the next day, and so.on and on. The meaning was that this man’s possessions were his god. He wor shiped them; they owned him; they were first in his heart and life. In the law God demanded, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” that is, in first place. Jesus was trying to deliver this man from material pos sessions as his god. Whatever is first in a person’s heart, whether material possessions, or wife and children, or health and ease, or any other interest that holds first place, must be forsaken, and God Himself given pre-eminence. Neither did Jesus mean that np one w h o has eternal life can have material possessions, or wife ^nd children, or health and ease. One can be rich in material things, possessing all these things, and never be asked to forsake any of them, when God rules and con trols as the One who has first place within the heart This man believed the truth when he heard it, but refused to allow it to influence him or his actions. His material possessions were saying, “ Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” and he obeyed them. He went away sorrowful because he could not serve two masters. He knew how he might have eternal life, but he re jected i t Turning to His disciples, Jesus used this incident to point out the peril of both material wealth and human goodness (vs. 23-26). The peril of ma terial wealth is most insidious and subtle, and it comes to both rich and poor. There Is an uncanny power in earthly riches that forces the rich to spend themselves in guarding what they have, and to try constantly to increase it. With the poor, often there is continual striving to obtain wealth, dissatisfaction when they do not suc ceed, and bitter envy against t h o s e who do succeed. Any endeavor that does not have God Himself as the su preme objective, and pleasing Him as the control of conduct, bans one from
How can Susie and Sally teach us anything about forgiveness? You will notice that when these friends get hurt, they act differently. I will scratch Susie with- my fingernail. It leaves a deep cut. I try to smooth it Over, and I ask her to forgive me for being so unkind, but the cut still re mains. She will not forgive and for ge t Sally Sponge is entirely different. I scratch her, and you cannot see. that it made any impression. She fotgives and forgets immediately. No matter how badly she is treated, she never shows ahy signs of being treated un kindly. I think Sally is the kind of Chris tian that Christ had in mind when He said, “If thy ijrother . . . trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him” (Lk. 17:3, 4). “Sponge” Christians are much more pleasing to Christ than “Soap” Chris tians. tained through works, or what they do. And even after learning the truth and having their mistake corrected, they refuse, as this man did, to obey i t This mjin was mistaken in the per son of Jesus, thinking He was merely a teacher but not one with authority to- demand obedience. He was also mistaken in his own ability, thinking he could do whatever might be re quired of him to gain eternal life. And he was mistaken in the principle of life, thinking it was something to get rather than something to be. He would put God in his debt by what he did and then demand eternal life as payment, not knowing that eternal life is a gift to be obtained in no other way than by accepting it as such. The thought of doing something for which God w ill give eternal life as payment is the very heart of the le galism that keeps thousands from possessing what God can give only by grace through faith. B LA C K B O A R D LESSON ' ifam mqn will corrtE after ( tie . let Him O Efll Him SELF, AflD TAK E UPHISCfeOSS.flnD „ . FOLLOW mE'mftTT. 16 : 2 , ! 0 m i
Here they are! They are Susie Soap and Sally Sponge. You- have often, seen them together on the washstand. Not only are they like chums, but they are like Christians as well. I don’t wonder that you are surprised to know that they are like Christians, but wait and you shall see. When Christ was here on earth, He taught His followers to forgive one another. He said, “For if ye forgive men their-trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14, 15). Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that Is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. 19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jasus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, arid give to the poor, and thou. shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter Into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard It, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God ail things are possible. 29 And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. LESSON T E X T : Matt. 19:16-26, 29. GOLDEN T E X T : “ If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me1" (Matt. 16:24). DEVOTIONAL READING: Jas. 2:14-23. Outline and Exposition I. T he M istakes of M an (16) r p t H E MISTAKE of this man is one that is universal. Men JL think eternal life may be ob
MARCH 11,1945 THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP M atthew 19
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