The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-01

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INTRODUCIlCN.--F books of the
|Vew Testament, Matthew Mark, Luke
and John-bearing the names of their au-
thors, treat the life of Christ. The first
presents Him as the Messiah of the Jews;
the second, as the servant of God; the
third, as the Saviour of men, the fourth,
as the Son of God For six months our
studies will be in the first Gospel. Mat
thew one of the twelve, called also Levi
mark II, 1D, was a tax gatherer before
he became a follower of Christ. In that
position he must have gained extended
knowledge of the business world acquir-
ing many qualities valuable to the ad-
ministration of church affairs. To him
was assigned the task of making the con-
nection between the two covenants, by
showing that Jesus was the long eX-
pected one of whom the prophets had
written. Hence the genealogical table
(chapter il, and the numerous quota
tions. (Ch. ii, 10. our lesson is impor-
tant to the Jewish Christian literature be-
cause 1t shows how Jesus was intro
duced.
REBUKE.-Jchn the Baptist exercised
his ministry In the wilderness, that is the
rural sections of Judea. (NerSe II. Two
motives may have influenced the choice
of a place He desired to be free from all
alliance with the hierarchy. then intOl-
Grant and worldly, yet near enough to
influence the national capital. Vast
crowds were attracted to him by his
I preaching. Verse 81. The Pharisees and
6adducees, the two rival sects, sent rep
tesentatives. The former were rigid fol-
pwers of the Mosaic ritual (Acts XVI, -.
riding themselves on their pety. duke
klii, II and 12). The latter were material
seeking to substitute philosophical
alton for the letter of Scripture.
Xxx, 20. These men, who had met
hted discussion, stood to hear the
at Reformer as he preached repent
Nice, With Incompatible boldness he
, denounced them all as n generation OF
Nipers. (Verse y. They, who had divided
the nation into factions, were urged 10
change their lives. Verse s.. Such a
stinging rebuke was never before admin
istered to the public teachers of religion.
DESCENT.-John did not pause with n
denunciation of unriGhteouSneSS and a
call to holy living. He proceeded to show
why these officials of the church were in
different to the claims of God upon them,
revealing a national secret The Jews
We're descendants of Abraham. They
We're proud of their origin. AS children
of the covenant they considered them
selves the favorites Of heaven. and de-
spsed the rest of mankind as dogs
Matt. XIV. 90. To them blood was ev-
erything. AS a consequence they sought
to maintain these institutions whose out.
ward observance distinguished them from
other people. The rite of circumcision
the keeping of the Sabbath and such like
matters were retaired as momentoes OF
an early day and marks of superior dig.
nifty, All this time their hearts were im-
pure and their lives improper. Matt