Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-04-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
APRIL 30.
Lesson Text: forgiveness and Love-
Luke VIII, 36-5o-Goldcn Text: John
w., Recommending on the Lesson.

w., 1J-COnlmcnturJ OH tlIC lcSSOAls
SO. "And one of the Pharisees desired, Him
that He would eat with him. And Hewent
into the Pharisee's house. and sat down to-
meat" The incident OF this lesson, like that
Of the last one, is recorded only by Luke aud
seems to have occurred at the same place. the
city of Main. The principal intervening
events were the sending of messengers to
Jesus by John the Baptist, who was in prison;
the miracles wrought by Jesus i'll their pres
ence and the testimony OF Jesus concerning
John after the messengers had departed. He
also rebuked the people because OF their,
treatment Of John and Of Himself, saying
that John had a devil and that Jesus was
glutton and wine bibber and friend of publ
cans and sinners. We should not be sur
prised if the most nnkind and untrue things
are said of us as VIC follow Jesus John Kill
16; XIV, 1920; xvi, 30l. III this gospel we
see much Of Jesus rs man among men,
social man, and yet always an unearthly,
holy, separate and heart-Searching man.
Luke records four different occasions on
which He went in to eat with Pharlsees and
publicans which are not mentioned in any of
the other gospels Xxi, 81; xiv, /; xix, q,
and on each occasion He has most heart
searching words for the Pharisees. While
He accepts their hospitality He does not al
low their favors to blind His eys or close His
mouth.
81. And behold, woman in the city,
which was sinnern We do not know her
name. This is the only place where the
record is found and her name is not given.
The only name given to her is sinner" and
that fits us all.
"Wher she knew that Jesus sat at meat in
the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster
1f 81, 90 irht
had already dispelIed the darkness from her
soul and revealed to her a Savior. Just ask
yourself if you would be, as quick to hear of
Jesus and come to Him; would you bring
Him the best you had, and get to Him even
though you had to enter the house of one
whom you knew would despise you? 1t may
be that as we consider this penitent sinner our
hearts are led with shame to confess that
her promptness and courage and gift exceed
anything yet seen in us.
IS. "And stood at His feet behind Him
weeping" etc. Reclining as they did ut
table, as she came behind Him, she could
easily stand at His feet and, bending over
them, wash them with her tears. See her as
she wipes them with her hair, then kisses
them, and anoints them with the ointment
she had brought. If we have not been put
to shame by her promptness and courage
and gift, surely we are now as we see her
love.
80. "Now when the Pharisee which had
hidden Him sow it, he spake within himself"
He might as we'll have said it out, for Jesus
knew his thoughts. He knows ours, too (Ps.
cxxxix, 9; Eek. XII, s., and we need con-
stantly to pray that He would cleanse the
thoughts Of OUT hearts
10. Sand Jesus, answering said unto him.
Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee"
Our very thoughts need answering, and tho
Word of God is equal to it. Vain thoughts
lodge within us, md waste our time and
hinder our service, but there is q remedy,
1.-THE Word of Godn tJnr. .iy.,. ID; xxix.,-1:.-
Luke xiv, 3S). There are seven or eight
different Silnons in the New Testament his
tory besides Simon Peter, but this is the
only mention of this one. Tho name, like
mon in the Old Testament, signifies hear
ing, and was the name given by Leah to her
second son. because as she said 1.-THE Lord
had heardn (Gen. xxx, 33). How helpful
the Lord heard, and that He has somewhat
to say to lis about these thoughts OF ours.
Al, 49, "When they had nothing to pay, he
frankly forgave them both. Tell me, there
fore. which of them will love him most" In
this story OF the creditor and two debtors
Jesus would teach Simon somewhat OF the
relations in which lie and the women stood
to God. Not that the Indebtedness Of Simon
and the woman was as fifty compared with
five hundred, but that was about the way
Simon looked at it. He might be willing to
acknowledge that he was not as good as he
ought to be. but here was woman whom
everybody knew to be great sinner. Jesus
put the matter from Simon's standpoint and
asked the question: (which will love most?'
1t would be profitable to consider here our
Indebtedness to God for life health, privi-
legcs, protecting care, in fact NIL things, Tor
what have we that we have not received?
81 "Simon answered and said, suppose
that he to whom he fOrgavc most. And lie
said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged"
Any one could see that tie on1 who was coll
scious of owing five hundred, being freely
forgiven, would feel under much greater OBJ
LEGATION to the creditor than the ono owing
only fifty; and thus Simon answered rightly.
I4-l6. And He tnrned to the oman, and
said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman"
Simon was no doubt surprised to have the
thoughts of his heart revealed. The poor
woman is no doubt surprised 10 have Jesus
turn in compassion to her. To be allowed to
caress and anoint His feet was Il great joy,
but to have Him turn Els face TO her, AMI
notice her, and commend her. mentioning
every loving act before all the people, and
placing her in His estimation above Simon
condemnation for Simon; what glory for
her.
Al. "Wherefore say unto thee, her sins,
which are many, are forgiven" Good for
the poor woman, but what about Simon and
his sins? In his own estinla ton ne had none
worth mentioning, none that needed special
pardon and Jesus came not to call the right
eous but sinners to repentance. Ii Simon
could have had glimpse OF his own heart
as Jesus saw it, he too would have mad
broken heart and have meakly sought for
giveness But he was blind, and with saliva
ton within hisreaca, even III his own house,
he sees not his need and goes without. little
thinking that the man who now sat at his
table ready and able 10 save him, was ln-
deed IsraePs Messiah and would one day be
his judge.
As. ''And He said unto her, Thy sins are
forgiven thee" She heard Him say it to
Simon, and if her heart was full before it
was surely OVERLOOKING now; but could IL DO
true, did She hear Alright? lie turns again to
her, looks into her face, aud says directly to
herself: "Thy sins are forgiven" Now she
is sure He has looked upon her: He has
spoken to her: she believes chat He is lsrael's
Messiah, and now He has become her Saviour
and her soul can soy: Thine anger (not
with her. but with the SIM is turned away,
and Thou comfortest me, for Thou art be-
come my salvation" lisa. xii, 1-2l.
40. And they that sat at meat with Him
began 10 say within themselves, Who is this
that forgiveth sins also| They knew Him
not; they, too were blind like Simon. there
was no forgiveness for them either, although
it was within their reach. A reasoning,
questioning spirit draws no blessing from
Him, but only broken and contrite and be-
lieving spirit, and this they had not. They
were well satisfied with themselves. Whata
mystery this Isl God manifest in the flesh,
healing the sick, raising the dead, fulfilling
the prophecies concerning the Messiah, such
as lisa. xxxv., S, 6, as well as those in refer
ence to His birth and place of birth lisa. vii,
IA: Mic. ", q, yet they know Him not. The
hungry He fills with good things, but the
rich BE sends empty away luke j., So.
so. "And He said to the woman, Thy
faith hath saved thee; go in peace" How
exceeding abundantly above all she could ask
or think Permitted to approach Him, she
is allowed to touch Him, to handle His feet'
BE looks upon her, He commends her love;
He tells her that her sins are forgiven, ana
now he sends her away in peace with the
assurance that she is saved. Forgiveness,