, 1886-06-20

VIII. Sl-j5i st-o5.
LESSON EXPLANATIONS.
BY REV. JOHN HALL, DID LII NEW YORK
We have a long lesson as to the numter of
verses, but the d alogue is not diff 'ult to
understand. and so it will not lake unusual
time. Doubtless the former part OF the les
son, verses 3l-3s, was taken because it is in
so close connection with the latter, and is
necessary to the understanding of H.. How
did our Lord come 10 speak of the people as
having the devil for their fatherf The r
language led to it So we shah Sc, it is
through much of this discussion.
Verse 81. Some Jews accepted Chrisi's
teaching as far as they understoo | it 1t is
in this wide sense 'be ieved" is used. H,
says TO them. III ye continue in my wori,
doing what you understand and waiting for
more teaching, I'VE shall be my disciples
indeed, and merely called SO by his enc
mics. So mere hearing with pleasure and
approving does not make a disciple in
deed" Many do that up to a certain point
and go no further. The heart is not
engaged.
Verse 80. They deny any need in them to
be made free. and they set up an untrue
statement, never in bondagel' Jesus does
not argue with them about. the history of
the past He deals with the present and
explains verse 81.
Verses 1896 The general truth is that he
who commits sin is its bond servant. 1t has
its hold on his heart, for he loves it. AMI it
has its hold by its con ,equences on his soul,
for the penalty will fall on him A drunkard
is the slave of his sin now. for he cannot
quit it, and its consequences will follow him.
He is in tine grip OF it" That sug-
gests Hagar's case. The bond woman is cast
out; the son remains as heir. Now if the
son makes you free, you shall be free -ldeed.
Verse 81. Christ now goes to their high
claim. ''Abraham's seed" So they were,
but they were seeking 10 XII him.
HIS word was not what they liked.
1t found nothing in them reSpon-
sive to 1t. Yet it was his fathers
word. He was Gods messenger. He was
true to his real Father. and for that matter
so they were to theirs, not Abraham but
Satan II, as they say. they are Abraham's
children in the deep, true sense of that
phrase. they would, like Jesus, resemble
their Father.
Verse "A This assertion and rejoinder we
have continued by our Lord telling them
that the course they were following showed
them to be really not ''children of faithful
Abraham" but of the spirit and il the way
Of their father, the devil. There is a per-
sonal devil, leader of fallen angel-, head of
Evil III Tue WOTlu, WHO ltu INTO COnQemna-
tion from some form of pride and is keeping
up the war againt God. SO Jesu, says here
without entering into details. He had
your spirit, the temper of a murderer
or man killer always; he disiiked the
truth; he became a liar and spread
lying. Much as there is that we cannot Iell
as to the history of Satan, these words must
mean something. An enemy so hidden in
ambush that he is not believed TO xlst has n
great advantage. Satan is in ambush with
all those who say there is no such tempter. !"
Verse 4s. Earaged, the Jews put their ques-
ton, "Say we not" etc. The charge of be-
ing a devil they had made. as imaritan
was a term of scorn. This last Christ does
not notice. 1t is of no use bandying bad
language. He goes on to te.l the plain truth.
He has no demon He is honorins his Fa-
Their, and they, claiming to be Gods people,
Abraham's seed, dishonored this revei Her OF
the Faith ,r. This Is all.
Verse 80. The worse for th,m, since he is
not pursuing any selfish end He is not an
ambitious leader, set up by himself for his
own base objects. II seek not mine own
glory" Never did the universe see un-
se.f .hness like Christ's. And he can appeal
10 God the Father Tor this. He Is now seek
ing men If they do not come to him, he
judges and C indemns.
Verse 81. This leads to another conse-
quence OF his mission. Rejecting him is
death. He, on the other hand, that keeps
his SAYING e., believes ON him-shall
never see death.
Vers 81 Christ say Never mini now
what | count Myss.f. It is not a question of
what l say of Myself. MY Fataet knows
Me- gives Me words to spe TX. work to do in
making Him known, and you say He is your
Col You do not real y know HIM. | do.
II | denied 1t | should bs living like yoI. 1
do know Him, and keep His saying
Verse 80 Going a step farth r., AID q lite
justly, Christ says, you call Abraham your
father, and you reject me; but he saw
in hope, IN sign. in pNophecy-my day"
the work | should do; and he was glad to
ses it Thi. refers tn the promise G ID gave
to Abraham regardin his seed. >
Verse 81. How cllldish and parver:ei
mans IN nj becomes VIII IN it is on The
wrong track and in the wrong temper |
That they said .fifIy' insteal Of. say forty
or thirty-h re, has been counted a proba-
bility that he looked older than he was
What a load he cirrieil Now the climax
is reached, and Christ assets his pre-ex-
istenc..
Verse IS. Before Abraham was Qborn), l
am" IL am that / am was Gods chosen
name to Moses.
Verse 80. Their indignation can no longer
be kept down. They cannot convinc, hum
OF sin. they cannot answer him; more or less
sincerely they deem him a bl sphemer and
take up stones. He could have resisted
them, punished them, there and then: but
no, he disappears. and actually walks
through the crowd out Of their sight an
reach. as h, did ut other times whsl he r
a. ger rose against him.