Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-03-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON Xl, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL. seRlL5, MARCH II.

DRY Verses $40 90 Golden Text, Luke
xix, lO-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
land Jesus entered and passed through
Jericho" We have now come to tho last
week before the crucillxion, and the next
lesson in order in the series Chat for April
y will be the triumphal entry, which
seems also to be the next in tho 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 Bartimeus, while Luke speaks of
one who was healed as he 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 Bartl-
meusg 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.
2. And, behold, there was man
named Zacchcus which was the chief
among the publicans, and he was rich "
We arc now introduced to one who was
blind spiritually, but not physically. He
needed Jesus as much as BartimHus, 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
tercsting rich men of the gospels. The rich
young ruler saddcncd 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 ali and the rich man at whose
gate Lazarus lay had n terrible reverse.
g. And he 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"
(John xii, 2i), 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, 81. We are not told the motive
of those Greeks in desiring to see Jesus,
and, as to Xacchcus, it may have been mere
curiosity, but the result would lead us 20
suppose something more. The hindrances
were twofold-persOnal and circumstan-
tial, his little stature and the great crowd.
4. And he ran before and climbed up
into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He
was to pass that way" This was about rs
undigniiiod Il proceeding as that of the rich
young ruler who kneoled down in tic
street, but it indicated n real desire. II
we would see Jesus, we must go where
Jesus is to be found, and we will be sure
to find Him in His word. The Scriptures
testify of Him duke xiv, 2O.
3. And when Jesus came to the place
He looked w and saw him and said unto
him, Zacchaus, make haste and come
down, for today l 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. 1.-The eyes
of the Lord run to and fro throughout the
whole earth To show Himself strong on no
half of them whose hearts are perfect to-
ward Him" Oh Chron. xvi, o. and il
there is in your heart IA going out to Him.
a hungering for Him, be sure that He sees
it there, and remember that it is written
"Ye shall seek Me and find Me when VI
search for Me with all your heart" der
xxx, l3). Rejoice also that if there is &
real desire toward Him, be it ever so faint
it is the Spirits work, and He will regari
it.
g. And he made haste and came dowr
and received him joyfully." How quickly
he responds to the Saviour's invitation
1t is the Spirits work, but Xaccheus wa:
willing to have it so. The Spirit is seek
ing to bring all who hear the gospel down
from their pride of intellect and socia
| standing and moral standing and self il
every form, righteous or unrightcous, thai
they may receive Jesus and stand truly
complete in Him. There must be II rca
coming down to real sense of our moth
ingness and an honest reception of Christ
Then we become children of God and ac
cepted in the Beloved (John i, -; Eph. j
+, y. Consider how every high thing shall
some day be brought down and Jesus
alone exalted lisa ii, II, 12).
:. And when they saw it they all muir
INJURED, saying that He was Como to III
guest with d nan that is sinner. Satal
is always angry when any one receive
Jesus or even looks toward Him and vii
surely have something to say about it, II
when he spoke through Simon the Phari
see of the woman who washed Jesus fee
with her tears, On when he stood at Joshua
the high priests right hand, seemingl,
pointing to the filthy garments. Let no
the enemy hinder you by pointing to you
sinfulness, but rejoice that Christ Jesu
came into the world to save sinners"
o. Anu f4dcCIltuS SlOOU ana Sitlu UNI
the Lord, Behold Lord, the half OF IN,
goods ] give to the poor, and if l hav
taken anything from any man by false nc
cusation | restore him fourfold." No
that he had been doing this, but he woult
do it as an evidence of his sincerity an,
begin now We give nothing to God 70
our redemption. 1t is free gift from
vi, 30; Eph. ii, -. But being saved W
I must give evidence of it, for faith tina
does not show itself in good works is not
faith that saves. See James ii, If, II
Eph. ii, 10. Unless there is cheerful
and ample restitution to all whom we ma
have wronged rs far as we have abilit
and opportunity and a liberal giving :
the Lord, constrained by His love, on
faith is questionable.
g. And Jesus said unto him, This ia
is salvation come,to this house for 50 mucl
as lac also is son of Abraham" No
simply descendant Of Abraham, but
true believer like Abraham, and thus AN
therefore "A true child of Abraham AN
child of God, by faith i'm Christ Jesus. 70
if ye be Christ 5, then are We Abraham
seed and heirs according to the promis