Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-02-24
WARNING AND INVITATION.
international sunday school Lesson
for EebrnarN u. ISas

International sunday school Lesson
for February -, 1898.
BIASED Upon Peloubet's Select Notesl
THE LESSON.-Matthew II $3.50. Read
the whole chapter. and Luke l9;4l-4S
GOLDEN TEXT.-Come unto me all We
that labor and are heavy laden, and will
give you rest.-Matt. HES
TIME.-Latter part of the summer of
PLACE.-Galilee. probably in The vicinity
of the cities on the shore of the lake.
- COMMENT.
After proclamation of the King
dom, and the call to repentance. there
is now heard note of warning and
eff judgment.
From this time onward these warn
ings grow more and more terrible to the
close of His ministry. See Luke 1882
81; 1915; 1918. and their strongest
and most terrible expression in Matt.
Chap. ga bbott.
But at the same time mercy stands
close beside judgment, and the purpose
of judgment is to persuade men 10 ac-
cept of mercy.
L Warnings.-Vs. 20-27. A delega-
ton of Johns disciples came from
Macherus, where John was imprisoned,
TO inquire of Jesus whether He was the
Messiah or not. Many things must have
conspired TO try Johns faith. Jesus did
not come as the expected Messiah was
supposed TO come, with kingly glory,
delivering the Jews from the Roman
yoke-and yet John had heralded him
as the Messiah. There was great di-
versity of opinion among the people.
The work was going on almost inper-
ceptibly. There were heahngs, and
blessed words, and crowds, but no signs
of deliverance.
After Jesus had sent His answer to
this message, He discoursed TO the peo-
pie about John. Many objected to
Johns way of coming, and the same
people criticised Jesus for coming in
another manner, like children who
wanted to dance when the musician
played sad music, and to mourn when
the music was cheerful. Nothing would
suit them
Then Jesus began to warn the peo-
pie of their danger. Every possible mo-
tive must be brought to bear. He saw
them despising their opportunities.
binding their eyes. soaring their con-
sciences, rushing headlong to destruc-
ton. when help and salvation were at
hand. They repented not" ". 20) even
in the presence of the Divine works
whose object was to lead them to re-
pentance. Woe unto thee, horazinl
woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the
mighty ks, which were done in you,
had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have repented long ago in sack
cloth and ashes"
II. The Invitation The Two Bur-
dens.-Vs. 28, 80, |. c. Jesus now draws
men by good placed before them, as
He had urged them by the woes that
we're behind them. He invites all that
labor and are heavy laden. struggling
under too hea " burdens, moving with
difficulty and pain, as ship is said to
labor, when badly ballasted, in stormy
sea. The burdens are our sins, our bad
habits, cares. sorrows, remorse for the
past, fears for the future, anxieties,
losses, sickness, disappointments, in
ability to find work, debts. business
cares. and all the other things that
make life burden. 1t is often the
burden of self consciousness.
Christ's burden is one of duty. of self
denial, of labor for Him, of the cares
that are needful for our best character
and development. 1t is a burden of
faith when we cannot see. 1t is the bur-
den of love and gratitude. And it is
infinitely light compared with the other
burden. There is no real rest without
some burden.
TEisrest was ID The kind of rest that
can be given. Its source was from with
out (2) 1t is the rest from the Burden
of sin. Forgiveness brought peace. 81
1t is the rest of protection. God keep
ing ms under the shadow of His wing
"a 1t is the rest in the promise that all
things should work together for good.
81 1t is the rest of new and refreshing
strength. The burden is light, is even
an exhilaration and JOY when strength
is given 20 bear it. {6) 1t is the rest of
love. Of the sympathy and friendship
of Christ.
III. The Invitation. The Two Yokes.
VS.. %. 30. 20. Take my yoke upon
you:" The emphasis is on my. in con-
trast with the yoke they have been ac-
customed to bear. A yoke means three
things. 1) 1t is a mark of obedience
and submission. The figure is taken
from oxen. who submissively yield to
the yoke of their master. CD It is the
means of service. 1t enables one to do
work. (3) 1t is service with another.
Usually two are yolled together.
The Yoke of Satanic one can es-
cape from bearing yoke of some kind.
The yoke men had been bearing was
chiefly the yoke Of Satan. They were
serving with him and for him And his
yoke is always CALLING The yoke Of
pride. ambition, selfshness, Of fashion
Of worldliness, Of sin and remorse, Of
self-indulgence, Of sensualitv. Of Gov
etousness. is always heavy, bitter,
calling yoke, an Egyptian bondage. 1t
is yoke with Satan. going III his
company and receiving bis reward. 1t
costs sonnet hifnor "a lie n Christian. 81