Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-03-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON M. FIRST QUARTER. NfER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH IL.


Org Verses. s-1o Golden Tex, Luke
xix. TO- Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
land Jesus entered and passed through
Jericho We have now come to the last
week before the crucifixion, and the next
lesson in order in the series Chat for April
- will be the triumphal entry, which
seems also 10 be the next in the order Of
events. In reference to the blind men
healed about this time, Matthew speaks OF
two who were healed as he left Jericho,
Mark mentions only one and gives his
name as BartimRus, while Luke speaks OF
one who was healed as be entered Jericho
without any attempt to reconcile these &c
counts Why not take the three as we find
them and simply believe that He healed
one as He entered Jericho and two as He
left Jericho. one of whom was Barti-
maus2 The simplest and least learned ex-
PLANTATION is often the nearest to the truth.
As Jesus was continually opening the eyes
of the blind, it Is not strange that He
should do so for three different ones at
this time.
q And, behold, there was a man
named Zaccheus which was the chief
among the publicans, and he was rich.
We are now introduced TO one who was
blind spiritually, but not physically He
needed Jesus as much as Bartimeus, but
perhaps was not as conscious of that need,
not being poor nor physically helpless. OF
the class to which he belonged he was at
. the head, and as to this worlds goods he
needed nothing He is one of the most in
teresting rich men OF the gospels. The rich
young ruler saddencd us by his going
away; the rich man who thought only Of
his larger barns and the good time he
would have was suddenly called away
from it all, and the rich man at whose
gate Lazarus lay had terrible reverse.
g. And ne sought to see Jesus, who He
was and could not for the press, because
he was little of stature" The opening
words make us think Of those Greeks who
said to Philip Sir, we would see Jesus
tJohn xii, 2l), and they suggest TO us that
the only one worth seeing is Jesus, for
when we see Him we see God the Father
(John xiv, %. We are not told the motive
of those Greeks in desiring TO see Jesus,
and, rs to Zaccheus, it may have been mere
curiosity, but the result would lead us to
suppose something more. The hindrances
were twofold-personal and circumstan-
tial, his little stature and the great crowd
A. And he ran before and climbed up
into sycamore tree to see Him, for He
was to pass that way This was about as
undignified proceeding as that of the rich
young ruler who kneeled down in the
street, but il indicated real desire. II
we would see Jesus, we must go where
Jesus is TO be found and we viii be sure
to find Him in His word. The Scriptures
testify of Him duke xiv, 27).
I'D he, 70 nj
He looked up and saw him and said unto
him, Xaccheus, make haste and come
down, for today / must abide at thy
house" He knew what was In man, and
He knew the heart of this man up among
the branches Of this sycamore. THE eyes
of the Lord run TO and fro throughout the
whole earth TO show Himself strong on be-
half of them whose hearts are perfect to.
ward Him. (II Chron. xvi, 81, and II
there is in your heart a going out to Him,
q hungering for Him, be sure that He sees
It there, and remember that it IS written
"Ye shall seek Me and find Me when yo
search for Nc with all your heart (Jer
xxx, l3). Rejoice also that If there Is
real desire toward Him, be it over so faint,
it is the Spirits work, and He Will regard
it.
G. And he made haste and came down
and received him joyfully." How quickly
he responds to the Saviour's invitation
Ii is the Spirits work, but Zaceheus was
willing to have it so. The Spirit is seek
ing 10 bring all who hear tho gospel down
from their pride of intellect and social |
standing and moral standing and self In
every form, righteous or unrighteous, that |
they may receive Jesus and stand truly |
complete in Him. There must be real |
coming down to real sense Of our moth
ingness and an honest reception of Christ
Then we become children of God and nc
eepted In the Beloved (John /, 12; Eph /, |
6, y. Consider how every high thing shall |
some day be brought down and Jesus |
alone exalted lisa ii, II, 12).
7. And when they saw it they all muir
INJURED, saying that He was gone TO be |
guest with man that is sinner Satan |
is always angry when any one receives
Jesus or even looks toward Him and win |
surely have something to say about it, as
when he spoke through Simon the phari |
see OF the woman who washed Jesus feet |
with her tears, or when he stood at Joshua |
the high priests right hand, seemingly |
pointing TO the filthy garments, Let not |
tho enemy hinder you by pointing to your
sinfulness but rejoice that Christ Jesus |
came into the world to save sinners.
s. And Zaccheus stood and said unto /
the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my |
goods | give to the poor, and if ! have |
taken anything from any man by false ac
cusation / restore him fourfold Not |
that he had been doing this, but he would |
do 1t as an evidence Of his sincerity and |
begin now. We give nothing 10 God for |
our redemption. II is free gift (Rom. |
vi, 23; Eph. ii, 81 But being saved we
must give evidence of it, for faith that
does not show itself In good works Is not a |
faith that saves. Sec James II, II, II; |
Epb. ii, 10. Unless there is "A cheerful |
and ample restitution to all whom we may
have wronged as far as we have ability |
and opportunity and liberal giving to /
the Lord, constrained by His love, our |
faith is questionable.
0. And Jesus said unto him, This day |
is salvation comet to this house for so much |
as he also Is a son of Abraham" Not |
simply descendant of Abraham, but n
true believer like Abraham, and thus and |
therefore true child Of Abraham and
child of God, by faith In Christ Jesus For
IL ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's |
seed and heirs according TO the promise |
fCial. iii, 29) Salvation is In the Lord |
JNsuS tiiTtst ilihihSii - tnb sdlNatipH 81
the Lord, so when we have received Him /
salvation has come TO us, and we can make |
Israel's millennial song our own and sing |
$ Behold God is my salvation" (Jonah II, |
9; Luke II, 30; lisa. xii, %
10. For the Son OF Man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. {" All |
arc by nature lost (Eph, il, 81, not being |
lost nor under the possibility OF being some /
day lost but artnafIy lazt simmer with
out God and without hope tEph. Ii, i2l,
ungodly and without strength from. v, 81.
Such are all without exception until found
by this seeking Saviour and by His blood
redeemed, for there Is none other Acts iv,
~; lisa. xiv, 2i, 22l Let your soul cry,
il you are not sav.si, Seek me, o Lord,
for I am lost