The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-12
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER 16.
Lesson Text: "The Twelve Sent
. FORTH" Math. K. 5-16-
i Golden Text: Math. x,
! documentary.

3. nThese twelve Jesus sent forth and
commanded them. saying. Go not into the
way OF the centiles, and into any city ofthe
sannaritans enter ye not" In a previous
lesson we saw that after continuing all night
in prayer to God he called twelve unto him
that they should be with Him and that He
might send them forth to preach and to neal
duke w., 70; Mark ILL.,, 13-I5). This iimi-
tation OF their mission, restraining them
from pentiles and Samaritans is peculiar TO
Matthew's gospel and ia understood only
when we remember that this 'is the gospel OF
the kingdom, and that Jesus came primarily
as the King OF the Jews, the son OF David,
son Of Abraham, to sit on Davids throne
and restore the kingdom to Israel tnat
through them all nations might be blessed
(Math. l., l; H., 2; Luke l., 81, 81; Acts ILL.,,
1921; Jer. ill.,, I'D.
6. "But 90 rather to the lost sheep OF tne
house of Israel" He Himself said in chap
ter ". "a. "I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of israel" The showers
of blessing" Of which we sing and OF which
we read in Eek. xxxiv., 26, will come to all
nations after Israel has been gathered under
one Shepherd (Ezak. xxxiv., 11-26). for He
that scattered Israel will gather him and
keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock (Jer.
xxi, 10Y. The receiving Of them as ma
;tion by God. consequent upon their recep'
ition OF Jesus as their Messiah, shall be TO
the world like life from the dead CRom. xi,
,15). .... NIL
I. "And as ye go preach, saying, The
kingdom of heaven is at hand" SO preached
John the Baptist and Jesus (chapters ILL.,, 2 !;
iv., 17). The key to the titles kingdom OF
God" and "kingdom Of heaven" the last OF
which Is found only In the gospel OF Mat
thew, is in Dan. H., A, where 1t is written
that the God of heaven shall set up king
dom which shall never be destroyed. 1t Will
be a kingdom under the whole heavens
(Dan. vii, 27) or on the whole earth, God,
its author and finisher, and heaven its char
lacter-tne kingdom for which we pray when
we say. "Thy will be done on earth as In
heaven"
s. "Heal the sick; cleanse the lepers
raise the dead; east out devils. Freely ye
have received freely give" Supernatural
or nothing, here are some features OF the
kingdom, After He announced the laws OF
the kingdom In chapters v. to vti., see the
characteristics of 1t in chapters viii. and TX.
Leprosy, disease, evil spirits, winds and
waves and even death itself are all subject
to Him.
brass in your purses" Take nothing 1or
your journey Mark w., 81. Go without
care be anxious for nothing. He VINO fed
Elijah by Cherith by means OF the ravens
was sending them, the same God who multi
nlied the widows meal and oil |; BE who said
that II we would make His kingdom and
Righteousness our first business the food
and raiment would surely be added (Math.
vi, 33).
10. "Nor scrip for your journey, neither
two coats. neither shoes, nor yet slaves; ior
the workman is worthy OF his meat Inc
r. Y. saws wallet instead Of 'scrip." The
purse or girdle was for money, the scrip or
wallet for food, but they were to make no
provision for the way. Disentancied and
free, not conf1ding in external equipments,
they were to lean wholly on the Lord. Ihe
Spirit. through Paul, when repeating that
rhe laborer is worthy OF his reward. 9uotes
alec from Deut. XIV, 4, "Thou shalt not
muzzle the OK that treadeth out the corn
q Tim. ", 18). ...
II. "And into whatsoever city or town ye
shall enter inquire who In 1t is worthy, and
there abide till ye 20 hence" The word
.sigorthy" is found seven times In verses 10,
II. 13. 81. SO, and Is the same word that Is
mad OF Christ as the Lamb that is worthy
in Rev, iv. II W, 9, Ia. They were not to
seek help from any who were not the Lords.
Jesus had been through all Galilee preach
ing and healing (Math. w., 23), and there
would be some everywhere who had ac-
:cepted Him and through Him had become
iworthv. for there Is no real worthlness apart
from Him. ,.r.
. 70. 'And when ye come into an house
salute it." he said to the 10, "Into whatso-
ever house ye enter first say, Peace be to
this house" Luke <, 81. It was the angeps
message, "On earth peace. It ts often on
his lips in His last days on earth (John xvi. ,
27; XVI, 33; Xxx, 19, 81, 26). Hemade peace,
and we are to proclaim It (Col. L., 70 Acts
T., 36). 1t Is an old fashioned greeting Sden.
xiii. %; Ex iv., 18 {; Deut. 11., 10; Judg.
vi, 20; 5am. XIV, g.. ..
i3. hAnd II the house be worthy let your
peace come upon 1t, but II 1t be not worthy
let your peace return unto you." We can
proclaim forgiveness Of sins and peace
through the blood of Christ. but We cannot
compel people to believe 1t or to accept Him.
Our responsibility ends with the faithful
proclamation. The word to Ezekiel was to
proclaim the message Of the Lord whether
peopIe would hear or forbear Geek. ILL.,, 10,
1D.
IA. "And whosoerer shall not receive you
nor hear your words when ye depart out OF
that house or city shake of the dust OF your
feet" Mark and Luke ado, For q testi.
mony against them" We find Paul and
Barnabas doing this very thing at An
tioch in PIsidia (Acts kill, 51), and with
Silas and Timothy something very like 1t al
Corinth (Acts xviii, s, 81. As people treat
the MESSENGERS Of God, 80 they treat God,
who sends His messengers, and he will see
to II. The word Of Jesus to every messen-
ger is: "Peace be unto you. As My Father
hath sent Me, even 30 send I you" (John
xx.. 21).
Is. "Vertly say unto you, 1t shall be
more tolerable for the land Of Sodom and
Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for
that city," For II the mighty works ot
Christ had been done in Sodom and other
cities they had repented and remained to
this day CMath. xi., 20-24). Notice that
privilege increases responsibility. for. to
whom much Is given OF them much Is re.
ouired. Notice also that there Is time oi
Judgment vet to come, and the time and the
iudgeare all appointed (Acts xvii, 31. Be.
levers, living nations and the ungodly dead
shall all come to judgment each at the proper
time.
16. "Behold, send you forth as sheep in
the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise
as serpents and harmless as doves" The
seventy received the same warning Luke Z,
3). In no place do we find that in this age
all will receive the message, and In no place
are we authorized to convert the world. In
mo place are we taught to break up the
Kingdoms OF this world. All that is for the
age to follow this one. Our commission js
TO preach the word, and endure hard
ness, and suffer and die with Him (ll Elm.
H., 8, IL. l2; iv., 2.-Lesson Helper.