The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
MARCH II.
Lesson Text: "Zaccheus the Publ
can" Luke XIX, t-1O-Golden
Text; Luke xix, 10
Commentary.

|
Jericho" Wehave now como to the last week
before the cruciflxion, and the next lesson in
order In the series Othat for April y will be
the triumphal entry. which seems also TO DO
the next In the order OF events. In reference
TO the blind men healed about this time,
Matthew speaks Of two who wero healed "a
he left Jericho; Mark mentions only one and
| gives his name as Bartimmus. while Luke
| speaks of one who was healed as he entered
Jericho without any attempt to reconcile these
accounts. Why not take the three Ms we find
thom and simply believe that lie healed ono
as He entered Jericho and two as He left Jeri-
cho, ono of whom was Bartimwus2 The
simplest and least learned explanation is often
the nearest to the truth. IA Jesus was con-
| tnually opening the eyes of the blind, IL is
not strange that He should do 50 for three diff
| ferent ones at this time.
2. And, behold. there was man named
Zaccheus, which was the chief among the
| publicans. nnd he was rich" We are now
| introduced to one who was blind spiritually,
but not physically. lie needed Jesus rs much
as Bartimpus, but perhaps was not IA con-
| S,iOus OF that need. not being poor nor physi-
! cally helpless or the class to which he be-
longcd he was at the head. and as to this
| worlds goods he needed nothing. He is ono
OF the most interesting rich men Of the gos-
| pels. 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
II all. and the rich man at whose gate Laz-
arus lay had n terrible reverse.
3. And he sought to see Jesus. who Ho
was, and could not for the press, because,
| he was little Of stature" The opening
words make us think Of those Greeks whg
said TO Philip, "Sir, we would see Jesus's
| John xiii, 2l), and they suggest 10 us that
| the only one worth seeing H. Jesus for
when we see Him we 500 God the Father
| (John XIV, 9). We are not told the motive
| OF those Greeks In desiring TO see Jesus. and,
IA 10 Zaccheus, II may havo been mere GU
riosity, but the result would lead US to SUP
| poso something more. The hindrances were
two-fold-personal and clrcumstantil-his
little stature and the great crowd.
4. "And he ran before and climbed up
into sycamore tree to see Him, for He was
to pass that way" This was about as un-
digniied "A proceeding rs that OF the rich
young ruler who kneclcd down In the street.
but II indicated real desire. II we would
see Jesus, wo must 60 whore Jesus is to bo
found. and we will be sure to find Him In
His word. The Scriptures testify of Him
| duke XIV, 27).
8. "And when Jesus came 10 the place
| He looked up and saw him and said unto
him. Zaccheus, make haste and come down.
for to-day must abide NJ 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
|
whose hearts arc perfect toward Him" CI
Chron. xvi. 81, and If there IL In your heart
going out 20 Him. a hungerinS for Him,
be sure that He sees IL there and remember
that 1t Is written aye shall seek Me and find
Me when ye search for Me with all your
heart" der XIX. i3). Rejoice also that II
there is a real desire toward Him. be IL ever
go faint, 1t IA the Spirits work, and He will
regard IL.
9. "And he made haste and camc down
and received Him joyfuliy." How quickly
he responds to the Saviour's invitation. 1t
is the Spirits work, but Zacchcus was will
ing TO have It 80. The Spirit IL seeking 70
bring all who hear the gospel down from
their pride of intellect and social standing
and moral standing and self In every form,
righteous or unrighteous. that they may re-
ceive Jesus and stand truly complete In Him.
There must be n real coming down to real
sense of our nothingness and an honest re-
ception Of Christ. Then we become children
OF God and accepted in the Beloved tJohn l.,
IL; Eph. l., 9, y. Consider how every high
thing shall some day be brought down and
Jesus alone exalted lisa. H., IL, l2).
T. And when they saw It they all muir
INJURED, saying that He was gone to be guest
with man that Il q sinner Satan II al
ways angry when any one receives Jesus or
even looks toward Him and will surely have
something to say about IL, ~ whom he spoke
through Simon and Pharisee of the woman
who washed Jesus's feet with her tears, OF
when he stood at Joshua the high priests
right hand, seemingly pointing TO the filthy
garments. Let not the enemy hinder you by
pointing 10 your sinfulness, but rejoice that
"Christ Jesus came into the world 20 save
sinners"
4. "And Zaccheus stood and said unto the
Lord, Behold. Lord, the half Of my goods
give to the poor, and II l have taken any
thing from any man by false accusation re-
store him fourfold." Not that he had been
doing this, but he would do 1t rs an evidence
OF his sincerity and begin now. We Civ,
nothing to God for our redemption. IL IL d
free gift (Rom. vi, 20; Eph. H., 81 But be.
ing saved We must give evidence of II, for d
faith that does not show itself In good works
Il not faith that caves. See James H., IA
II; Eph. H.. 10. Unless there Is IA cheerful
and ample restitution to all whom we may
have wronged rs far rs we have ability and
opportunity and "a liberal giving to the Lord
constrained by His love, our faith is ques-
tionable
9. ''And Jesus said unto him, This day Il
salvation come to this house. for SO much aS
he also Is son OF Abraham" Not simply d
descendant of Abraham, but a true believer
like Abraham, and thus and therefore true
child OF Abraham and child OF God, by faith
In Christ Jesus. For II yc be Christ's then
are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according tc
the promise (Gal. ill.,, 20). Salvation is IL
t4e Lord. Jesus Christ Himself Is the saliva
ton of the Lord, 80 when we have received
Him salvation mas come 10 us, ana we car
make iIsraels millennial song our own and
sing "Behold, God is my salvation" (Jonat
H., 0; Luke H., 80; Isa XII, p.
e 10. For tho Son of Man Is come 10 seek
and to save that which was lost" All are by
nature lost (Eph. H., -, not being lost MOI
under the possibility OF being some day lost
but actually lost sinners, without God and
without hope (Eph. H., l2), ungodly ant
without strength (Rom. W, 6). Such are al
without exception until found by this seek
ing Saviour and by His blood redeemed, fol
there is none other (Acts w., II; Isa. XIV, 2l
: 22). Let your soul cry, II you are not saved
'Seek me, . Lord. for am lost. Lessor