October 1943 377 INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Childrens Division Object Lesstn Golden T ext Illustration By K B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By M ildred M. C ook By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems By H omer A. K ent , Professor at Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, lnd.
NOVEMBER 7, 1943 THE SACREDNESS OF HUMAN LIFE E xodus 20:13; M atthew 5:21-26, 38-45 ;
n. T he C omment by C hrist 7 (Matt. 5:21-26)
Our Lord unveils the deep implica tion embraced in this command. To be angry with any one means to hold a desire to work harm to that person;— an attitude which would bring the wrongdoer into judgment, or the lower court of justice. To say, “Raca” (an expression of contempt), means to accuse one of mental deficiency, or to demonstrate a desire to harm an other’s reputation; this would bring the offender before the council, the Sanhedrin. To say,. “Thou fool” ' (an expression of condemnation), means to accuse of a moral lack, or to mani* fest a desire to harm‘ one’s character; this evil would carry with it the su preme penalty, the suffering of Ijell fire. This Interpretation is then applied to the matter of bringing gifts to the altar. One cannot be reconciled with God and at the same time be unwill ing to be reconciled with man who it made in the image of God. Until one is at peace with his fellow men, one Cannot truly worship God. It should be noted that all of this instruction covers the individual attitude, one person’s dealing with another. It is not enough to say of another person, “I have nothing a g a i n s t him,” as though that settled everything. There is still the question, to be answered: ‘ ‘What has he against me?” Then our Lord gave this exhorta tion: “Agree with thine adversary quickly,” that is, while there is time. I believe the “ adversary” here is God Himself acting in justice. One must be right with God in order to avoid the receiving of His righteous judg ment. The only way to be right with God, and to escape condemnation, is to accept the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ which, is iinputed to those who believe on Him. III. T he C onduct for the C hristian (Matt. 5:38-45) The conduct of the Christian must be governed, not by law, but by love. Christians must “ resist not him that is evil” ’ (v. 39, R. V.), but rather do good to. every one, even to the one who, despitefully takes advantage of the meekness wherein the Christian is clothed. Furthermore, the Christian is to love his enemies as well as his friends.
of God, as even a casual reading of the Scripture shows (Lev. 20:10, 27; 24:16; Ex. 21:16; 35:2; Deut. 13:6-9; 21:18-21). BUt the command in our lesson today is a prohibition against personal revenge that involves mur der. To press the command. beyond these limits would logically result in charging God Himself with breaking His own command. Properly consti tuted authority acts with the blessing of God u p o n it. It is the channel through which His will is executed politically and-socially (Rom! 13:1-6;. 1 Pet. 2:13, 14). . , • The Holy Spirit- referred to this command, when He instructed Chris tians to abhor h a t r e d in'personal attitudes and to “owe no man any thing, but to love one another” (Rom. 13:8, 9). On the other hand, the state holds an impersonal attitude and must execute law, not love. To Contact Service Men Are -the young men and women of your congregation,' who are absent on military duty, finding Christian fellowship and the means of spir itual growth in the communities near their stations? The Servicemen’s Contact Com mittee has compiled a directory of sound churches in such communi ties, and offers to act as a clearing house, sending names of men and women submitted to them to pas tors near the respective camps. The directory lists churches of many denominations, as well as in dependent chuVehes throughout the United States. The only considera tion has ‘ been to list those where the way of salvation is presented clearly, and where the means of spiritual growth and fellowship are provided. There is no charge for the service offered. The following information should be provided in each case: Name and complète military ad dress, name of pastor supplying in formation, name and address of his church. Also, transfers to new ad dresses should be reported ât once. SERVICEMEN’S C ON T A C T COM MITTEE, 816 Riverine Ave., Santa Ana, California.
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that It w as said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, Th at whosoever Is angry w ith his brother without a cause shall be In danger of the Judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but w ho soever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore.-if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there reniemberest th at-th y brother hath aught against thee; * 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar,' and go thy w ay; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree w ith thine adversary quickly, while thou art In the w ay w ith him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the Judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast t)aid the uttermost farthing. 5:38 Ye have heard that It hath been said, A n eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, Th at ye resist not evjl: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn .to him the other also. 40 A nd If any man will sue thee at the law, and take aw ay thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. - 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go w ith him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have hearfl that It hath been saidj Thou shalt love th y neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies,’ bless them that •curse you, do good to them that hate you, and p ra y :for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye fM ay be the children of your Father which is In heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. G O L D E N T E X T ; .'“ W hosoever hateth his brother is a murderer^’ (1 John 3:15). D E V O T IO N A L R E A D IN G . Jas. 4:1-10. Outline and Exposition I. T he C ommand from G od (E x , 20:13) T HOU SHALT not kill” (v.l3). This command covers personal hatred ^^that issues in murder. It cannot be used as an argument against cap ital punishment by judicial authority. Capital punishment is in the purpose [Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Coun cil of Religious Education and is used by its permission . .. Scripture portion's quoted are from the King James Ver sion unless otherwise stated .] ,
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