The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-04-19
LESSON THOUGHTS FOR APRIL 81.
1889.
G. F. H.

The contest and parallel passage ia
Matt, give US an account of The band
ing together of Christ's enemies. to
trip him up in his statements and Sc
cure from him Some ansW by which
they could incite the people 10 cIamor
for his death, or at least 10 consent
10 it. They were not honest inquir-
ere but maleYOlent critics. Sec 8 that
ordinarily were at swords points
with each other, laid aside, for the
time being, their hostility against
each other and united against Christ.
First tie elders and priests came
questioning his Aulh Oritl; then the
Phari-Ges and HerOdiaks together
sought 10 get from him by Govern
question an expression " hich would
enable them To accuse him of dislOy.
atty to The Roman Emperor; then the
Sadducees sought 10 lead him into
absurd statements concerning future
life;. fnally a scribe, or lawy Ell, attempt
ed 10 confuse him by the question i'll
our ts<On. But he silenced them all.
and in his replies gave no occasion
tor of nee or opportunity for acusa-
ton and no man after that burst ask
him any question:" Thus from the
defeat of those whose intent 1t was
to fad fault with him, have we evi-
dence of his divine nature and the
truth OF his claims 10 be the Messiah.
2, The FIRST Great Command
ment,
This is an important question. e.
peciallY was it so to the Jews who
had expanded the ten commandments
into 6l3. until they had become
grievOus burden upon the faithful.
To what should We be careful to give
our fl st attention? Notice what is
involved in Christ's reply. O There
is one God. Such being the cas-, he,
as creator amt sustain6r Of all things
is supreme over all things. and has
the right to command and to receive
| our fist and entire allegiance. (2l
Our first obligation is not to our
| selves. or our neighbors. but toward
God lie as our snprem, sovereign
| deseryes'an claims our first and high
est regard. (3) Our first duty to God
Il - l. "A al
mand, bu' is To love him ThS' is, We
are 10 become God CPutered; TO make
him The object of our strongest atlec
| tons. the source Of our highe>t j ~
/ and dt epest peace IL is To be our
| chief delight 10 know him. TO com
mune with him, to serve him We
are TO be no more self centCrrd, seek
ing our highest good in minisrering
to cur own selfish desires, but our
first and supreme concern becomes q
desire 10 have God rule in Us aud iii
rect US. How completely does Christ
strike at the root Of all Christian life
and obedience. Love is the fulfilling
Of the law" John, in his first eplstle,
shows us that God is the source of
love; hence we cannot love him with
all our heart, soul, mind aud strength
until God dweIls in us and we are
sustained and directed by his spirit.
8. The second Commandment.
This commandment necessarily fol-
lows from the other. The same spirit
which prompts us TO love God, su'
premelv, also prOmpts..us TO love one
another. Love TO God and to Que an
other are imserarable. John in his
first epistlc, gives brOtherly love as
test Of loye'Io God, No man eau truly
love his reighbOr as himself until hi
first loves God with all hii.hear' soul
mind AID strength; for our natural
selfi<hness must give wav TO all un
selfish regard of God aud his claim:
ere we are prepared to acknowledge
the claims others have upon us.
we become right with God. we vii
be all right with those about us.
va find we have no love for God
people or those for whom Christ dl'u
let us question whether We have gen
nine love for God.
4. Not Far from the Kingdom
The quesnoner seems to have been
drawn 10 Jesus as he recognized tn
pertinency ana truth of his answer
and Jesus seems to have been draw
near TO him as he ackno~ ledg'd tn
correctness of Jesus reply. lie rec
eguized the character ot Christ u
, saw the light, only one step more wa
necessary 10 accept Christ AS his Lot'
. and Saviour. How many cases nav
J we in the Scripture Of those WI
were "not far from the Kihguohl
ID