The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-03
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JUNE z.
Lesson Text: "Warning to the Dis
ciples,' Luke XIII, 24-37-
Golden Text: Phil. H., 5
commentary.

"a. "And there was also strife among
them, which of them should be accounted
the greatest" It was the last night before
Golgotha. 1t was the night Of Getbsemane
and only few hours before that conflict.
He had eaten the passover with them and
had Instituted the Lords supper. he had
washed their feet and taught them how to
humble themselves. he was about to hum
BILE Himself unto death for them. and they
were talking Of who should have the highest
place. How alone He was! Eow little they
knew Him!
25, 26. "He that Is greatest among you let
him be as the younger, and he that Is chief
az he that doth serve" Let gentiles who
think much Of earthly power, and to whom
1t is for the present given, let them talk of
Lordship and ruling. but let the redeemed OF
the Lord, who with Him wait for the king
dom, not think Of reigning without Him, but
rather let US think OF renouncing self and OF
how We can best make 1t manifest that we
are His. It Is we'll enough for >the gentiles,
who live only for this world, to give special
attention to what they shall eat and drink
and wear, but those who are heirs OF the
kingdom are to seek first the kingdom In all
its interests, sure that our Heavenly Father,
who knoweth our need, will see to all these
things for US (Math. VI, 31-33).
q. II am among you as he that serveth."
The Son Of Man came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister, and to give His life
ransom for many (Math. Xxx, 2s). He lived
not to please Himself nor to seek His own
will or glory (Rom. xy., 8; John vi, 3S; Will, +,
50). He did not stand up for His rights, as
we say, but ever did we'll, and oft suffered
for it, and always took It patiently, leaving
us an example that we should follow His
steps (I Pet. H., 20, 2D.
2s. ''Ye are they which have continued
with Me in my temptations" How kind it
was of Him to say so. He must have taken
the will for the deed. He has way Of mag
nifying what Wa would like to do for Him
and of giving US credit beyond what we
might think we deserve. He cannot possibly
say or do wrong or over state matter, but
He reads the heart and judges according to
motive and desire. Let us have more kindly
judgment for others.
29. "And I appoint unto you kingdom.
as My Father hath appointed unto Me-
Hear Him In His prayer little later on that
same evening, 1.-The glory which Thou gavest
Me Ihaye given them" John xviii, 22). Hear
Him in His last message to the church on
earth. ITO him that oyercometh will grant
to sit with Me on My throne, even as also
overcame and am set down with Ny Father
On His throne" (Rev. Ill, Ply.
80. "That ye may eat and drink at My
table In My kingdom and sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes Of Israel" Com
pare Math. XIX, 2s We may therefore ex-
pect to see the twelve apostles (the right one
taking Judass lace) In the kingdom ruling
over the twelve tribes OF Israel. Some day
we shall see clearly and understand, as We
cannot now, the relationship Of the twelve
apostles and the twelve tribes Of Israel to
ha To- wifi nf
Rev. xxi.
81. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, be-
hold satan hath desired you, that he may sift
YOU as wheat" The R. Y. says that satan
asked for him. II He had been satan's
property, like Judas, He would not have
needed to ask for him. 1t is a comfort that
satan cannot touch child of God without
first obtaining permission. He had to con-
fess that God had made fence about Job,
and he could not lay finger upon Him un-
til God permitted Him.
so. "But have prayed for Thee that thy
faith fail not, and when thou art converted
(or turned again) strengthen thy brethren"
Peter WAS one Of those Of whom He said,
aye are clean," and HE that is washed is
clean every whit (John kill, 10); therefore
We have the Lords own testimony that Simon
Peter was saved man, and q truly saved
man can never be an unsaved man (John <,
27, 28), but he may wander and stumble us
Simon was about to do. Then he must turn
again to the Lord and be forgiven these
wanderings and walk more humbly with
God. How very thankful We should be that
our High Priest ever hveth to make inter-
cession for us.
SO. "And he said unto Him, Lord, am
ready to 90 with thee, both into prison and
to DEATH" Poor, self confident Simon! How
little he knew himself. We are to have no
confidence in ourselves, but rely wholly upon
the Lord. The only safe place Is, "Not I.
but Christ" "Not I, but the grace Of God"
(Gal. H., 20; Cor xv., ~; Phil. ill.,, 81. Self
confidence ledto the following afar of, and
that to denial OF his Lord. Rather let US
"Do Justly, love mercy and walk humbly
with our God" (Mic. vi, g..
a. II tell thee. Peter, the cock shall not
crow this day before thou shalt thrice deny
Peter (John H., 25); knew 1t from the begin.
ming, yet loved him all the way through.
have often been glad that He hasnever found
out anything new about me; that He knew
me thoroughly from the Start and loved me
when was dead In sin.
IS. "When sent you, without purse or
scrip or shoes, lacked ye anythin=p And
they said, Nothing" That was because He
sent them. When We 80 on His business,
sent by Him, he will see to all the supply.
So. "But now, he that hath apur5e let him
take 1t and likewise his scrip, and he that
hath no sword let him sell his garment and
buy one." This at first sight looks difficult,
but in the light Of verse 9S think 1t is easy.
Had He actually intended each to have q
sword He could not have said that two
swords were enough for eleven men. What,
then, did He mean? When He sent them,
BE took care Of them, and they lacked moth.
ing, but now, although He still sends them.
He will not be with them as formerly. Can
they trust Him as formerly? If not, let them
take purse and scrip and sword and take care
OF themselves on the principle that God
helps those who help themselves. As Peter
blundered with his sword, SO will all blunder
who trust themselves rather than Him.
81. "The things concerning Me have an
end" All would now soon be fulfilled, and
on tho morrow He would be crucifed as
malefactor. What, then, would these poor
sheep do? Could they trust their Heavenly
Father, or would all their hopes be dashed
to the ground when He whom they had fol-
lowed had been cruciAed2 Had they only
believed ell His words, and that He would
rise again. how strong they might have been.
Lesson Helper.