The Heart of the Lesson By T. C. HORTON
Lesson VII.—November 15 Golden. Text.—1 Corinthians 10:12 " Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” The Lord had graciously warned the dis ciples after the supper. When their hearts were warm with the fellowship of the hour, He told them that they would all he of fended because of Him that night. The effect of this should have been to solemnize their hearts. Peter, the impetuous, with his big heart full of zeal,rresents at once the imputation. He lacked reverence for his Master. He practically says: “ You don’t know me—the others may fail you, but I never.” His position is parallel with the one which he took when the Lord spoke o f His coming death and Peter rubuked Him,—Mark 8:32, and when he said, “ You shall never wash my feet.”—John 13:8. Peter meant it, but Peter knew as little about his own heart as most disciples,— Jeremiah 17:9. Peter loved the Lord, and He could not brook the thought of being unfaithful to Him. Poor Peter; he has a hard lesson to learn, and the schooling is just before him. Peter was self-centered, and therefore self-sufficient. The strong ,swimmer takes great risks and is often caught by the swift undertow. Samson was sure he was safe, and so was David— both fell. The Lord had said to' Peter in the garden, “Watch lest ye enter into temp tation,” but Peter was off-guard. He was quick to say, “ Though I should die, I will not deny thee.” Over confidence has brought many a man to a bitter failure. Israel suf fered defeat before the little city of Ai. Samson said, “ I will go out as at all other times,” but he did not,—Judges 16:20. We are only safe when we have no confidence in the flesh,—Philippians 3 :3. Peter said, “Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended,” but the Lord said, “ This very night.” There is a downward tendency to sin. One sin leads' to another and usually
to a worse one. There are many ways of denying the Lord. Love of self. Fear of the world. Association with worldly com panions. Failure to testify. But all grow out of a lack of real separation unto the Lord. There were seven slips to Peter’s fall. 1. Self-confidence,—Matthew 26:33-35. 2. Ambition,—Luke 22:24 (comp. 1 Peter 5:5 ). 3. Sleeping,—Mark 14:37 (comp. 1 6. Warming at the world’s fire,—Mark 14: (comp. 1 Peter 2:11-23). 5. Following afar,—Mark 14:54 (comp. 1 Peter 4:13). 6. Warming at the world’s fire,—Mark 14: 67 (comp. 1 Peter 4:13). Lesson VIII.—November 22 Golden Text.—Matthew 27:22 “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” The voice of the people is not the voice of God. Here it was the voice of Satan. A few days before the whole of Jerusalem was astir with hozannas in His name'. Now, not a voice is raised in His behalf. “We have no king but Caesar,”, was their reply to Pilate, and their clamor ended with that awful invocation, “ His blood be upon us and on our children.” How wonderfully was that prayer answered! In a few years that very city was dense with crosses and blood flowed like water. The temple was destroyed, the Jews were scattered, and for two thousand years the mailed fist of Caesar has fallen hard upon the head of the Jew. From century to century, and from country to country' the curse has fol lowed them. They have paid a tremendous price for their hatred and crucifixion of their Messiah. Perhaps history shows no parallel to the sentence of Jesus Christ. A burlesque upon a court and a travesty upon justice! The religious court of the Jewish people, who, in themselves, embodied the literature, law and culture o f the people of God; the ex-
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