The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-08
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOh
AUGUST IL.
Lesson Text: I" Temptation of Jesus"
Math. iv., Ill Golden
Text: Hebrews w., 15-
Commentary.

Text: Hebrews w., 15--
Commentary.
I. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit
fnto the wilderness to be tempted of the
dcvil." He was born by the Spirit and bap-
tized by the Spirit (Math l., 90 ill.,, 16), and
now He is led by the Spirit into trial, for
every servant must be tried. Consider the
trials of Abraham, Joseph, Moses. David
and other servants of the Lord. Think also
of the testings Of Israel, Gods son, in the
wilderness those forty years. We are taught
to count it a blessed privilege to be tried
and never to think 1t strange (Jas. l., 2, II;
Pet iv., 12). Jesus, although absolutely
perfect in Himself, was made perfect
through sufferlngs as the author OF our sal
vation (Heb. H.. 10), and, while we are per-
feoted forever in Him, yet We must suffer
with Him II we would reign with Him (Heb.
<, IA; II Tim. H.. 12). See Cor K, 13.
2. "And when He had tasted forty days
and forty nights He was afterward an hun
gered." Moses tasted forty days and nights
on two different occasions (Deut. iI., 9, 1S):
his way to and at the same Mount Horeb q
Kings XIX. 81, the mountain of God. where
He appeared to Moses in the burning bush
(Ex. iii., /, p and called him to deliver Is
rael. We find these three forty-day fasters
on the mount of TRANSPORTATION, but when
the cloud passed the disciples saw no one
save Jesus only (Math. xviii, 81. We must
see in 1t. at least, the entire subjugation OF
the natural and the sole supremacy OF the
spiritual.
8. "And when the tempter cameto Him he
said, II Thou be the Son OF God, command
that these stones be made bread" Mark
calls thetempter satan, and Luke calls him
the devil. Both names are found in our les
son, satan signifying an adversary, and devil
ON accuser. This first temptation is after the
manner Of that in Eden and insinuates that
God Is not love. else He would not withhold
anything from His children, much less the
bread necessary for the body.
4. "But He answered and said, It is
written, Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out ofthe
mouth OF God" Esau for food sold his
birthright, and even Isaac thought too much
OF his food, while Adam and Eve, with every
need supplied, sinned In the matter of eat
Ing, but Jesus, In great hunger and sore
pressed, submits to God and resists the devil.
1.-THE life Is more than meat, and the body
is more than raiment" duke xii. 23). The
main thing is to magnify the Lord rather
than to pamper or even crafty self (Rom.
xiv, 1D.
s. "Then the devil taketh Him up into the
Holy City and setteth Him on a pinnacle OF
the temple" Some one has said that faith
crucifes the question "How?" So we ask
and see the two in Jerusalem on some high
part OF the temple The devil is fond Of high
places the Spirit of God is lowly and
teaches humility. My highest place Is lying
low at my Redeemer's feet.
8. "And saith unto Him. If Thou be the
Son of God, cast Thyself down, for it Is
written, He shall give His angels charge
concerning Thee, and In their hands they
shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou
dash Thy foot against stone" 1t Is as II
he said, A Son of God should appear among
the people in some beatting manner-come,
as 1t were, down from heaven right In their
midst. The first temptation was the lust Of
the flesh. This looks like the lust OF the
eyes. In Eden the tree seemed good for
food and then pleasant to the eyes. Listen
to the devil quoting Scripture. but compare
Ps. xci, II, and see how he misquotes it by
emitting All important part.
2. "Jesus said unto him, It Is written
again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy
God" Scripture does not contradict Scrip
ture, but explains 1t and instructs US how TO
posite of waiting in the obedience and con-
1dence OF trust. It Is In the line OF pre-
sumption. There Is no presumption In
going where God sends you on His service.
but there would be presumption in going to
the same place or doing the same thing un-
sent of God just to make yourself name
and have the praise OF men.
8. "Again, the devil taketh Him up into
IN exceeding high mountain and sheweth
Him all the Kingdoms OF the world and the
glory OF them" Luke adds that He did 1t
in moment OF time, and again we ask not
how, but simply believe. He is called the
prince and the god of this world (John xiv.
80; II Cor. w., 4) and has more under his
control than some care to believe, out only
by permission and for time. The king
doms Of this world shall become the king
dom Of our Lord and His Christ. and He
shall reign forever (Rev. xi., 15). If we will
have power now, it will probably be from
the devil II we can wait and suffer awhile
with Christ, we shall reign with Him forever.
9. "And saith unto Him, All these things
will give Thee If Thou wilt fall down and
worship me-" 1t Is Of satan to seek honor
from men more than from God-angels do
not thus Grew. xii, 8, 81. The antichrlst
described in Rev. xiii. Jesus seems to reter
to this when He says, II am come in My
Fathers name, and ye receive Me not ; If an
other shall come in his own name, him ye
will receive (John ", 43). The mark Of the
beast may be the quickest and easiest way
to honor, but 1t involves an eternity of tor
ment with the devil and his angels (Rev.
xiv. Oil Matt. XIV, 4O. May we be like
the friends of Daniel who preferred the fiery
furnace to the worship OF the image DAN.
ILL.,. II, 1S).
10. "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thoe
hence, satan, for 1t is written, thou shalt
| worship the Lord thy God, and Him only
shalt thou serve" Thus is the third temp
tation overcome by the sword Of the Spirit.
and each quotation is from Deuteronomy.
| Eve fell by believing satan Jesus overcome
| by believing God. II We would love not the
world with its lust OF the flesh, lust OF the
eyes and pride of life, 1t must be by being
filled with the word and the Spirit.
II. "Then the devil leaveth Him. and, be-
hold, angels came and ministered unto Hun.
Luke says that the devil left him for sea-
son. We are to submit ourselves TO God, re-
sist the devil and he will flee from Us (Jus.
iv., y. To this end we need the whole
armor as described in Eph. vi, 1918. 1t
we'll to bear in mind that we are for the
present on the enemy's territory and wrestlt
with wicked spirits, but we need not be over
come. The angels are still administering
spirits (Heb. l., 14) and care for the children
OF God. Let the storieE ot the angels ant
Elijah and Abraham, and Lot and Peter. d
pondered prayerfully, believed simply AM
heartily, and We cannot but be prollted.-
| Lesson Helper.