Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-03-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SECOND OUARTER-LESSO l.
APRIL 3.
Matthew 10: 21-31-Golden Text: Then
Came She and WOrshipped Him, Say
ing, Lord Help Me'-Matthew 10 90
Read Matt. 10 and 1. Kings IL.


glance at the preceding verses, showing
one reason why Jesus left eastern Cali
lee.
Place in the Life of Christ.-About the
middle of the third year of his ministry
the year of teaching and working amid
growing opposition.
Historical Setting.-Time-Early sum-
mer, A. d. 20. Several weeks after the
last lesson. Place-The first miracle was
performed on the borders Of the country
of Tyre and Sidon, forty or fifty miles
northwest of the Sea of Galilee; the 9TH
ers, in the region of Decapolis, on the
southeastern shore of the Sea Of Cali
lee Mark Z: 80. Jesus-Nearly 80 years
old. in the third year of his ministry.
Il. Then Jesus went thence. From
Galilee. and probably Capernaum John
6: 59). And departed" Rather withdrew.
as r. ", implying that the reasons for
going lay in the place from which he
went. rather than in the place to which
he was going. Into the coasts" Not the
seacoast, but the borders or parts of the
district adjoining Galilee. "Of Tyre and
Sidon." Two fourishing seaports. and
capitals of a narrow, level district along
the shores of the Mediterranean. Sidon
was twenty miles north Of Tyre. The
journey was not long, as Tyre is only
about thirty-fve miles, and Sidon fifty
five miles, from the Sea of Galilee.
p And behold. a woman Of Canaan"
Mark says Greek or Gentle, but
Syro-Phoenician by race, that is one be-
longing to that part of Phoenicia which
belonged to Syria, in distinction from
Libo-Phoenicia, or the Carthagenian dis
trict in the north of ica."-Interna-
ttonal Critical Com. Canaan was the
older title of the country. Canaan de-
scribes her religion."-Camb. Bible. Cried
unto him." Jesus had gone privately into
house. but he could not be hid mark
4: 2D, the woman in her great anxiety
for help had found him. She had doubt
less heard of his miracles Of healing in
Galilee. Have mercy on me-" For her
daughters trouble was her own. 20
Lord, thou Son of David" She so ad-
dresses Jesus, because, from living in
the neighborhood of the Jews, she was
familiar with their Messianic expecta-
tons. and with the Messiah's title as we'll
as with the Messiasic reputation Of Jesus.
Meyer. MY daughter Mary mark says
little daughter in the Creek is griev-
ously vexed with a devil" or demon. Lit,
badly denounced Mark calls it IAN un-
clean spirit" because 1t produces I'M
cleanness of body and soul.
Third Obstacle. Seeming Neglect. %.
but he answered her not a word" He
appeared to treat her with neglect and
Indifference. 1t seems, by what follows,
as II he arose and left the house. Various
reasons are given for this silence. His
dlsclples besought him. saying,
Send her away. Cure her and let her
go. They interceded for her, but partly
because 1t was trial to them to have
her crying after them. For she crieth
after us" This touched their sympathies
and would be likely to attract attention
and still further interrupt their instruc-
ton and quiet with Jesus.
"a. But he answered." speaking to the
disciples. and presenting the difficulty in
the way. The mother may have over
heard IL. ct h,,f IN
lost sheep of the house of Israel" This
was his present work, and till his death,
1t was the best means for finally reach
Ing the Gentiles.
rs. Then came she and worshiped
him" BY prostrating herself before him
in Oriental fashion.
rs. But he answered" with a COM
parison probably not unfamiliar to her
as expressing the feelings of the Jews
toward the Gentiles. 1T is not meet &"
Fitting. proper. ito take Ito take away
the children's bread. and to cast II to
dogs literally, the little dogs, domestic
dogs). The children are the Jews; the
dogs" are the Gentiles There was
some reason lying at the base of the des-
ignation. The heathens around were, in
the mass, exceedingly unclean and feroc-
ious; barking, too, necessarily, at the
true God and true goodness" Morrison.
Jesus softens the usual harsh expression
OF the proverb into
q. And (buD she said" Not all the
SHOWS of her native Lebanon could
quench the fire of love which was burn
ing on the altar of her heart and prompt
as an echo came forth the glorious and
immortal answer."-Farrar. Truth.
Lord" The proverb is true: but out of
its very truth she brings an argument
for the granting of her request yet"
Rather, as in r. ", for even. 1t is not
in spite of, but because of the truth of
the proverb. that she argues for help.
The dogs eat of the crumbs which fall
from their masters table" These were
probably something more than what
would accidentally fall from the table
1t was the custom during the meal for
the guests after thrusting their hands
into the common dish to wipe them ON
the soft white part of the bread. which.
having thus used. they threw to the
dogs."-Cam. Bible.
~ 20 woman, great is thy faith"
Her faith was great in its love being
for her daughter. CD 1t was great in its
earnestness. And her daughter was
made whole from that very hour" As
she found on her return Mark Z: 3O): for
she acted upon her faith and went home
Nv. Christ the Healer and Helper of
Man. VS. 29-3l. One example of Christ's
work having been given in detail a gen.
eral picture is presented massing his
works together so that we may see more
clearly his character and what he came
TO do. 20. Jesus departed
thence" After no very long stay (for ali
the journeys from chaps. 10 to IS occu-
pied less than six months-Broadus). go
ing north through the territory of Sidon.
mark I: 3D. then eastward through
Northern Galilee. across the upper Jor-
dan, and down on the east side of "the
Sea OF Galilee." TO the part of Decapolis
Che ten cities) bordering on that lake
MARK. He was thus still out OF Her
DDS territory. HE was in the vicinity
OF Gadara. one of the ten cities. And
went up into (the) mountain" The
mountain range running along east of
the lake."-Broadus. And sat down"
The usual posture of a teacher
80. And great multitudes came" At
tracted by his teaching and his healing
power. The hungry go where there Is
food; the chilly seek the fire. And cast
them down." Threw them down. indi-
eating their eagerness and haste. And
he healed them"
81. '"The multitude wondered" eft ia
new era-Israel conquers the heather
world, not by force but by love. moi
by outward means. but by the manifesta-
tion of life power from above. Truly
this Is the Messianic conquest and reign.
"and they glorified the God OF Israel"
FAFHION'S FANCIES.,