The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-15
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 10.
Lesson Text: "The Spirit Of True Ser
vice." Luke xii, 81, 37-GcI-
den Text: Phil. H., o.
Commentary.

"a. And there was also strife anon,
them, which of them should be accounted the
greatest" he had kept His last passover
with them again typicaly foreshadowing
his sufferings and death; He had instituted
the supper which would keep constantly be-
fore them His humiliation unto death; BE
had just said that one of them, one of the
twelve, should prove false to Him and betray
: Him; and yet all these things so little affect
them that, even at such time, instead of
being III sympathy with Him, and feeling for
Him in view Of His approaching sufferings,
they are selfshly and apparently unfeelingiy
talking OF their own personal advantage and
superiority in His Kingdom.
20. And He said unto them. The kings Of
the Gentlles exercise iordship over them and
they that exercise authority upon them are
called benefactors." The Jews were chosen
from among all nations to show unto all the
reality OF the only living and true God, one
VINO lii supernatural ways would guide, pro-
tect and care for His people who put their
trust In Him; pitying and providing for
tnem as afather, comforting and nourishing
them as a mother. They were to glorify Him
oy an implicit and constant reliance upon
Him and by being meel;ly subject to Him in
all things. They were not to be anxious even
| about food and raiment for their Heavenly
Father knew that they needed such things
and would surely provide them (A1att VI,
22).
26. "5ut ye shall not be so; but he that is
greatest among you, let him be as the
younger; and he that is chief, as he that
doth serve" Th was lesson that He was
ever teaching taem (A1att. xviii, 3, 4; xx.,
g5-27; xiii, 11), but one so hard for Door
human nature to learn. The sin of the dis
ciples has come all the way down the ages.
1t started in Eden when the serpent tempted
Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit by
telling them that they would then be as gods
(Gen. ill.,, 81. 1t seems to be older than that
If lisa. xiv, 13, ID, refers to Satan himself:
Thou hast said in thine heart, will ascend
into heaven, will exalt my throne above the
stars Of God; will be like the Most High"
For whether is greater, he that stitch ut
meat or he that serveth? Is not he that sit
teth at meat? But am among you as He
that seryeth." Oras He said on another oc-
cas;on: THE Son Of Man came not to be
ministered unto but to minister, and to give
His life ransom for many" (Matt. xx, 2S.
The incident of the feet washing recorded in
John xiii, All, occurred at this time, for it
is written that ''He rose from supper, laid
aside His garments, took towel and girded
Himself" etc.; then when He had finished
He said: II have given you an example that
ye should do as have done unto YOU"
2S. "Ye are they which have continued
with Me in My temptations" How kind of
Him it was to say so. Outwardly they were
with Him; they had left all for Him; they
followed Him wherever He went, and min
istered unto Him; but as we have seen they
did not feel for Him in His trials and would
not believe that the cross awaited Him They
We're themselves trial to Him with their
l0,,,
gestions and desires, and yet He Is gracious
ly pleased to say to them, "Ye have con-
tirued with Me-
29. And appoint unto you Kingdom,
as My Father hath appointed unto Meh Ee
will wean them from desire for present pre-
eninenco by assurances respecting their fu-
ture glory.
80. THAT ye may eat and drink at my
table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes Of Israel" Com
pare Matt. xix, 2S, where the same promise
is little more full. There he says it will be
III the regeneration, when the Son of Man
shall sit on the throne of His glory. If any
one should ask on what throne He is now,
Rev. iii, 81, says that He is with the Father
on the Fathers throne. Fail not to observe
the promise to the orercomer in that verse.
Shall the twelve apostles lone being put in
JudaSs place. actually rule over the twelve
tribes OF Israel? II not, let those who call
this figure explain the figure satisfactorily.
prefer the simpler way Of believing it as it
reads, even though be counted fool for it.
But you don't think people will literally eat
and drink in His Kingdom? II the Lord Him.
self and angels ate tee food provided by
Abram and Sarah, and Jesus in his resurrec"
ticn body ate broiled fish and honeycomb,
then why shall we not eat in His Kingdom,
even though we may not need to: DO let US
believe God.
81. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon,
behold Satan hath desired to have you thar
he may sit you as wheat" Satan scanned
to have a special hatred OF those whom the
Master is about to use; he had already used
the lips of Peter to say tempting words
(A1att xvi, %, 23), and now, as in the case
Of Job, he has made special request for Peter
to give him sitting. 1t is comforting. to
know that Satan cannot touch child of God
without special permission from Heaven, and
that it is our privilege, therefore, to see God
in everything, even though Satan be the ir-
strument.
22. But / have prayed Tor thee that tiny
faith fail not; and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren" If the prayers or
righteous man avaieth much, how all pre-
vailIrg must the prayer of Jesus: and how
quiet and thankful we should be that HE
liveth to make intercession for US (Jas. v,
l6; Heb. vii, 25).
~. "And lie said unto Him, Lord, I am
ready to go with Thee, both into prison and
to DEATH" Have you never, dear reader,
been so conscious of the presence Of God and
the love Of God that you, too, have felt just
like tnat, even if you did not say it: But
how long did it last?
"a. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the
cock shall not crow this day before that thou
shalt thrice deny that thou kuowest Me-"
The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked; who can know it? the
Lord tJer. xvii, 9. 10y. He needed not that
any should testify of man, for He knew what
was in man John IL, 20; and He is reading
US just as He read Peter. It is nouse to make
promises unless we make them i'll humble re-
lance upon Him and only in His strength.
35. "And BE said unto them, When I sent
you without purse and scrip, and shoes,
lacked ye anything? And they said, Moth
ingm No good thing will He withhold from
them that walk uprightly (Ps. xxxiv., 1D;
much less from those whom He sends forth
In His name.
SO. 'VThen said He unto them, But now he
that hath purse let him take it, and like
wise his scrip, and he that hath no sword,
let him sell his garments aud buy one" This
sounds strange in view Of His former teach
ing, tnaC II tneJ sEouiu seen nisU Ine
Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
all necessary temporal things would be
added; and also when we remember that
Peter a little later used sword and Jesus
told him to put it up, saying, :tAll they
that take the sword shall perish
with the sword" Matt. XVI, 52l. He never
contradicts Himself: He never changes. The
sense seems to be this: am now going to
be al sent from you in person. and II you
IL fo fot tya aa r. n
tect you though unseen then rely upon your