Smyrna times., 1888-01-25
PETER CONFESSTNG.
FIFTH LESSON OF THE INTERNA-
TloNAL S. S. SERIES, JAN. 20, 1883.

=" ~ LEOOON Or THE INTERNAL
TloNAL S. S. SERIES, JAN. 20, 1883.
Comments by Rev. William Newton, d. d.
Text of Lesson. Matt. xvi, 13-2s-GoIden
Text, Matt. X, 32-Nemorize Verse.
s4-2s.
lFrom Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission of
H. >. Holman, Philadelphia, publisherl
Notes.-Cesarea Philippi, or Pancas, for
merry dedicated to Pan, and supposed to be
the same as the ancient Leshem. 1t was en-
larged and beautified by Philip, the tetrarch,
ana py nm named Cesarea, in honor of
Cesar Ilberlus. 1t was called Philippi to
distinguish it from Cesarea Palestine. The
Son OF Man, l. e., the Second Adam, the title
by which Jesus always speaks of himself.
Bar-Jonah, l. e., son Of Jonas This rock. or
this truth, concerning myself. Gates of hell
l. e., the place of departed enthusiastically
evil spirits. Savorest not, i e., dost not rel
ish or desire. Come after me, or be nv dis
ciple. Profited, or what shall he gain bv it.
Own soul, l. e., his own true life.
V. b. We are now entering the second
division of the record of the public ministry
OF Jesus. As the FIRST commenced with the
attestation of the father to his sonship. Matt
Ill, II, so this commences with a similar
attestatlon on the part of one of his apostles
UP TO this time no such declaration aDpears
on the part Of the people OF of his disciples.
And 1t came in answer to his own question
Jesus asked his disciples what the people said
about him9 Whom did they take him to be?
V. IA. And the answer was varied in its
tone. Some, probably the Herodians. said
John the Baptist They held that he was
risen from the dead, and so accounted for the
mighty works which Jesus wrought. Others
said he was Elias, or Elijah, while vet others
said he was jeremiah, or one of the other
prophets All gave him a high position:
while, probably, the popular Judgment was
much lowered by the opposition of the Scribes
and Pharisees to belief in his Messiahship.
V. Is. But Jesus would not rest here. At
once he made a personal matter. ''XVbo saw
We that amF thus pointing the great truth
that in every such question the individual
application is always the paramount concern.
In that line it is of small consequence TO ms
what others may think or say, but it is of in
finite moment to ourselves that we each one
think and speak the real truth about Christ
V. l6 And Peter, moved with a sudden in
spIration, at once replies: "Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living GOd.n It was
glorious confession; radiant with the bright
est beam of the truth and instinct with its
mightiest power. Through the ages it has
loated, banner like, at the head of the army
OF the church, and underneath its folds the
battle has always waged with the most nm
yielding severity We note two points in
this confession, /. e.,
l. Its positivencss. There was no hating
IN the march of Peters thought: no unceI-
talnty IN its tone; no reservation in its state
ment. 1t was clear, bold and ringing. There
was no paltering with it in a double sense.
Thou art the Christ" It was simple and
unqualified truth.
V. II. How clear, how distinctly lined it
was. 1t was not taught him by flesh and
blood. Man had not taught it to him:
neither had he wrought it out by a process of
his own mind. 1t was given him from above
MY father which is in heaven" hath showed
it unto thee
/. The title Jesus gives the church. II is
My Church" 1t is SO in every regard The
idea Of it is mine 1t was with me before
the world began. In the silence of eternity
it was with me. saw it, and knew it. and
loved it from everlasting. The purchase of
1t was mine. gave myself for it. bought it
with my blood Il will build up my church,
Every living stone laid upon the true founda-
ton is my work. And the keeping of it is
mine. Unseen my hand shall be upon it. and
Il will keep it night and day" It is all
mine.
:. The foundation of it. "This rock y
"Other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Christ jesus Cor iii. II.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold.
lay in Zion for foundation, stone, a tried
stone, precious corner stone, a sure founda-
tion," Is. xviii, 16, and Pet ii, ~.
). The builder of it. 81 will build. !" etc.
He is both the foundation of his church and
the builder Of it. On himself, as the sure
foundation, he lays each believer. There he
abides. Thence he receives the new life bv
which as living stone he grows up into q
holy temple in the Lord. With his own hand.
by his own spirit, he imparts to each his own
life, and of all he says, Because 1 live. va
hall live also"
T. The safety of it. "The gates of hell
10 all not prevail against it." How can they?
If the church is his, if he is the foundation of
it and the builder of it, if he keep it. how can
it be otherwise than safe? Hell is hades. or
the place of departed spirits-especiallv here.
Of evil spirits Gates we're the place in
ancient cities where counsel was taken and
public measures determined on. 'sThe gates
of hell, therefore, mean Mi that the powers
of evil can devise and execute against nv
church. In the midst of it all the church is
safe evermOre.
V. 20. Jesus would not have his enemies
reused into undue activity against him be-
fore the time; but would have every cues
ton concerning himself to be worked out by
them under the quiet influence of his own
life. They must judge from that in the light
of their own Scriptures.
V. 1913. In these verses we have:
Our Lords prediction of his death;
Peters protest against it; and
Our Lords rebuke of Peter.
V. "a. Here follows the universal law OF
the Kingdom. Peter did not want to admit
the thoughts of God about the Gross. He
had much pleasanter thoughts and schemes
of his own. And so he must deny himself.
And so must every one who would be the
Lords disciple.
V. 1928. We must remember that. as our
Lord spoke them, ''lifen and ''souln are one
and the same word. That '1ife" is used in
two senses-a higher and lower; a bodily
and spiritual sense~-and that our true life
or soul may be lost. And what will every
thing else profit US if that is done? What
shall we give in exchange for ita For that
will survive when the Master comes again.
And what will compensate for a lost soul2
GENERAL LESSONS.
l. The need of right views about Christ.
Everything turns on this. As John Newton
says:
What think ye of ChristY' is the test,
NJ III