The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-23
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 27.
Lesson Text: "Lost and Found, Luke
xv., 1-1O-Golden Text: Luke
xv., 1O-Commentary.


Hcans and sinners for to hear Him." What
ever else these might have to forsake in or
der to be His disciples, they would not have
to renounce that which is the hardest of all
to lay yaside-religiousness, of self-righteous-
ness--for they did not profess to have any.
They were despised by the holy people Of the
day. The Kingdom was not for them. SO
thought the righteous in their own eyes, who
considered themselves whole, and in no need
of physician. But how differently did BE
think who looks on the heart and not on the
outward appearance. Hear Him as He talks
to these great professors, verify say unto
you that tho publicans and the harlots 60
into the Kingdom of God before you" And
the reason was that these sinners, know
ing their sins, repented and believed, while
the sef-righteous thought they needed no
repentance Matt. xxi, 81, 3s).
| e. And the Pharisees and scribes MUIR
| INJURED, saying, This man receiveth sinnera
and eateth with the r." They said grand
true thing when they said This man receiy-
eth sinners" He said Himself, II came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repent
ance" luke ", 32. And Paul, by the Spirit
rings it out as "a faithful saying and
worthy Of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners" q Tim.
j., 15. It is strange that these people, who
would not receive Him, should try to hinder
| u
were willing to receive Him; but it was even
as he said, "Ye shut up the kingdom of
Heaven against men; for ye neither go In
yourselves, neither SITTER ye them that are
entering to 60 in" Matt. xxxiii., 49,. What
a contrast to the blessed arc the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom Of Heaven"
| (Matt. ", iii), which fell from His gracious
lips. 1t was then even as it is now, the self
righteous are against Him, but the poor and
broken in spirit are for Him.
8. "And He spake this parable unto them"
The whole chapter is one parable in three
parts, showing the love Of the Good Shep-
herd, the Spirit and the Father, in searching
for and welcoming back tho lost one. The
lesson to-day brings before US the first two
parts Of the parable, the third part being re-
served for next week.
4. 'tGo after that which is lost until He
find it." Firstwe have the Son as the Good
Shepherd seeking tho sheep which is lost.
The same illustration is found in Matt. xviii.
11-14, in connection with His saying, 'The
| Son Of Man is come to save that which was
lost" The sinner is brought before US as O
lost and helpless soul, unable to do anything
to restore himself: not knowing the way
back, and even If he knew it he is without
| strength to get there. See his condition de-
scribed in Rom. ", 6, S, 10; without strength
-ungodly-sinners-en But the Shep-
herd is sorry for His sheep which has gone
astray and He sets out to find it. Just as in
tho garden Of Eden He sought Adam when
he had sinned and was hiding from God, so
He has been ever since, and Is still seeking tho
lost who have gone astray. And He seeks to
some purpose, for He seeks Until He finds
it." He laid aside His glory which he had
with tho Father before the world was and
humbled Himself to become q man, and
servant, and sacrifice John xvii, 5; Phil.
H., 5-8 that He might save the lost:
5. "And when He hath found it, He layeth
it on His shoulders, rejoicing" Out in the
desert He heard its cry; sick and helpless,
and ready to die; and the cry of tho helpless
reached His heart. he said to Moses, ~ have
surely seen the affliction of My people which
are in Egypt, and have heard their cry
= for know their sorrows" (Ex.
ill.,, q. "In oil their Affections He was
afflicted, and the angel Of His presence saved
them; in His love and in His pity Ho re-
deemed them; and He bare them and carried
them all the DAYS of old" "And of Benjamin
BE said, = . 3 he shall dwell between
His shoulders" isaiah xviii, 9; Deut.
xxxiii, 12. Sec Israers High Priest carry
ing the whole nation on His shoulders and on
His breast lex. xviii, IL, 29, and consider
the welfare Of those who have such strength
md such love as that Of the great High
Priest, who is also the Good Shepherd, man
lfested on their behalf.
6. "And when He cometh home" Thank
God for this that, having found the sheep
which was lost, He bringeth it home. he
does not lose any by the way Ofthose whom
the Father gives TO Him He loses none.
"Reioice with me: for have found my
sheep which was lost" Not only is his own
heart glad but he will have his friends and
neirbbors to rejoice with him because the
lost is found. Jesus would have His people
to rejoice with Him, for He says: THESE
things have spoke unto you, that My JOY
might remain in you, and that your Joy
might be full"
!. Il say unto you, that likewise joy
asa hs fs in asss ReDEsrd 4Esr Gis sR sa E
neiehbors to rejoice with him, Chow much
is man better than sheep" Matt Xii,
10. And how much is the finding and
bringing home of q lost soul better than the
finding and bringing home Of lost sheep.
But here is revelation of the unseen by one
who has been there and knows all about it;
ioy in heaven and why? Because sinner
has repented. But had they not better wait
till ths sinner gets homo to heaven before
they rejoice? No, for where there is true
repentance there is eternal life, and Hs who
begins the good work will perform it until
the day of Christ phil l., O..
g. 'Either what woman having ten pieces
of silver; if she lose ons piece, doth not light
candle and sweep tho house, and seek dill
igently till she find it." In the sheep there
might be consciousness of its being lost,
but piece Of metal has no feeling and is not
conscious Of anything 1t may be that we
are thus reminded of the soul that is dead
in sins" (Eph. H., s., and requires the con-
victing power Of the Spirit John xvi, y.
The woman with her light is the active agent
in this case, and, as in the former, she seeks
till she finds. Israel, rs q nation, is COM
pared to woman lisa. liv., IS; xiii. etc.,
and so also is the church as whole III Cor.
xi., 9: Rev. xix, Z, 81. The word OF God is
the Light and tho Spirit of God is in His
Word (Ps. cYix., 105; John vi, 63.
9. Rejoice with me; for have found the
piece which I had lost" Again, as in the
former case, are friends and neighbors called
upon to rejoice. All who have the SPIRIT OF
God ought to rejoice in the work OF the Spirit
wherever that work is manifest; and il we
were filled with the Spirit what going forth
there would be after lost ones and back
sliders. If friends and neighbors rejoice
| in the restoration Of piece Of silver to its
owner, the piece of money being the peculiar
property OF its owner, how much more
should Christians rejoice in the conversion
Of every soul, wherever on ths face OF the
whole earth that soul may be saved, because
every redeemed one becomes q member OF
that body of which all tho redeemed form q
part, and of which Christ is the heal lEph.
w., 1916.
10. Likewise, say unto you, there is joy
in the presence Of the angels Of God ever one
sinner that repenteth.". Not only there SHAH
be las in verse =, but there is joy in heaven
over one penitent sinner: II We saw only one
soul saved as the result of days teaching or
| preaching, we might not feel very much en-
eouraped: but when we remember that every
| repentant soul. young or old, small or great,