January 1931
32
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K i n g ’ s
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would not like done to yourself.” Grace rises higher than this. III. The Unselfishness o f Love (32-35). V. 32. If. ye love them that love. Such love would be selfish and would bring no “thank” from God. Sinners love those that love them. To follow Christ means to be different from sinners. To be saved from sin means to be saved from selfish ness. V. 33. I f ye do good. The common practice' of the world is to return the fa vors of friends. Gifts are made with hope of gifts in return. The Christian’s reward for unselfish giving and serving is to be given him in the age to come (cf. Lk. 14:12-14). V. 34. If. ye lend. There seems to be no thought here of putting out money at interest ; but, rather, of the gracious lend ing of useful things that will bring help, both temporal and spiritual, to those who have need. V. 35. Love your enemies. A summary and repetition for the sake of emphasis. Lend, never despairing. The margin reads, “despairing of no man.” Your reward shall be great. The character of the re ward and the time of obtaining the re ward are not here noted. IV. God, the Pattern of Love (35, 36). V. 35. Sons o f the Most High. If we love as God loves, we make full proof of our discipleship. He is kind toward the unthankful. Matthew (5:45) adds: “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” V. 36. Be ye merciful. God’s mercy should be the measure of ours (cf. Psa. 103:12). V. Love’s Restraints and Constraints (37, 38). V. 37. Judge not. The Pharisees set themselves up as the judges of the char acter and conduct of others. It was this harsh spirit which Jesus condemned (cf. Jas. 4:12). Condemn not. We may prop erly form judgments concerning men’s character (cf. 1 Cor. 5 :12), but we are not permitted to be censorious in judgment or harsh in condemnation. Release. To re lease means to forgive a debt and set the debtor free. V. 38. Give. Hilarity in giving is en joined upon the Christian (cf. 2 Cor. 9: 7). Give into your bosom. The “gath ered fold of the wide upper garment” was used as a pouch in which goods could be carried (cf. Ruth 3:15). With what meas ure ye mete. Giving never impoverishes (Prov. 11:24, 25). VI. Blind Guides (39-42). V. 39. He spake also a parable. It was a sort of condensed illustration. Can the blind guide the blind? This expres sion may have been often used by the Lord. It is found in a different connec tion in Matt. 15:14. It is aimed particu larly at the Pharisees who considered themselves “the lights of the world,” but who were willfully blind. V. 40. The disciple is not above his teacher. A self-evident truth. If the teacher is blind, the pupil becomes doubly blind. Christ alone is in the true sense “the light of the world” (cf. John 8:12). V. 41. And why beholdest thou the mote? A little splinter is contrasted with a great log. The Lord said, in effect, “Why criticize the little fault of your brother, when you are guilty of a greater sin?”
H eart of tiie L esson I. Love Manifested (27-30).
went out to work for Him, and others did not. How do you think Jesus feels when we are sick? Yes, I am' sure that He is sorry. He wants us to take care of our bodies. When we are sick, skillful doc tors are able to help us to get well again, but we should also ask Jesus to heal us. The best way that we can show Him that we thank Him for the strong, well bodies which He has given us is by working hard for Him. February 8, 1931 Jesus th e World’s Teacher Lesson: Luke 6. (Lesson Text: Lk. 6:27-42.) Golden Text: “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them like wise” (Lk. 6:31). * * * L esson in O utline I. Love Manifested (27-30). 1. In deeds—“do good” (27). 2. In words—“bless” (28). 3. In intercession—“pray” (28). 4. In a patient spirit (29). 5. In giving (30). II. The Golden Rule (31). III. The Unselfishness of Love (32-35). 1, Is not limited to friends (32, 33). 2. Seeks no selfish gain (34, 35). IV. God, the Pattern of Love (35, 36). 1. Prove yourself His child by a life of love. 2. Emulate His example of love and mercy to all. V. Love’s Restraints and Constraints (37, 38). 1. Restraint from judging and con demning. 2. Constraint to forgive and to give. VI. Blind Guides (39-42). * * * A pproach to the L esson TN the earlier part of chapter 6,. Luke describes two incidents which occurred on the Sabbath, and which brought to a crisis the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. In the course of time, a great many burdensome rules had been added to the law concerning the Sabbath, so that, instead of being a day of rest and wor ship, it had become a great burden. The Pharisees strictly observed these man made rules and resisted Jesus when He showed lack of sympathy with their in terpretations. In the first incident, the disciples were accused of performing il legal work on the Sabbath when they had plucked grain as they passed through the fields. Jesus met all accusations with the bold affirmation: “The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.” The second inci dent was the. healing, in the synagogue, of a man with a withered hand. The Lord Jesus outwitted His critics by mere ly asking the man to stretch forth his hand, an action that could not be inter preted as labor on the Sabbath. The Phar isees, defeated and outmaneuvered, were “filled with madness.” As the hostility of the leaders increased, Jesus began to draw the line sharply be tween the Jewish leaders and His own humble disciples of whom He demanded a totally different spirit. Instead of hate, love should characterize all their thoughts and actions.
V. 27. But I say unto you. In Mat thew’s account (5:43, 44), we read: “Ye have heard th a t.it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy” (cf. Lev. 19:18). Over against this, He
put His own author itative word. You that hear. That is, His present audience as contrasted with the false disciples upon whom He had j u s t p ronounced woes (24-26). Love
your enemies. Enemies will be encounter ed (cf. v. 22; Matt. 22:44). The Chris tian must meet every show of hatred with a fresh manifestation of love. To be a Christian means to be under the power of this new principle of love which con trols every action. Do good. Love is not merely a- sentiment. It expresses itself in deeds. “Love your enemies” has some times been characterized as “the impossible commandment.” Yet it is not impossible to those who are truly born again (cf. 1 John 3:13-17; 4:7-11). V. 28. Bless them that curse. The word translated “bless” is the foundation of our English word “eulogize.” Pray for them that despitefully use you. Interces sion is “both act and word.” Insults should be met with prayers for the of fender’s forgiveness. This is an anticipa tion of Paul’s injunction: “Overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). V. 29. To him that smiteth thee. The Pharisees misinterpreted the law, “an eye for an eye,”' etc. (cf. Matt. 5 :38, 39; Ex. 21:24). The Lord’s demand is that vio lence should be met with love that “suf- fereth long” (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4). From him that taketh away. The Christian is to put the thief to shame by a generous and lov ing spirit. V. 30. Give to every one. We prove our love for Christ by our willingness to impart to the needy (cf. 1 John 3:17). This command of the Master does not compel us always to give the thing we are asked to give. Such a policy might lead to injury to the beggar himself. There should be a spirit of liberality always guided by divine wisdom. II. The Golden Rule (31). As ye would that men should do. This has been called the “law of reci procity.” Christ referred to it as a summary of “the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). He does not say, putting it negatively, “Do not to others what you
A Great Lesson Live, while you live, the Epicure would say, And seise the pleasures of the present day. , Live, while you live, the sacred preacher cries, And give to God each moment as it flies. Lord, in my view let both united be, I live in pleasure, when I live to Thee. — Doddridge.
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