The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-06-01
THE SABBA1H-SCHOOl LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE S.
Lesson Text: "Jesus Condemned" Mat.
thew xvii, 11-a6-Goiden Text. I
Tim. l., f5-Commentary ON the Les.
son by the Rev. ID. M. stearns.

and the governor nsked Him, saving. Art
Ihou the King OF tho Jews? And Jesus
said unto him. Thou sayest." He gave the
same answer when Judas said, "Master. IL
IL W (chapter XVI, 25). After nl the
ngony of Gethsemane and the insult and
mockery before the high priest, along Will,
Peters denial and all forsaking Him. He
hns been brought by the chief priests and
elders OF the Jews before the Roman gov
ernor, on their part determined that lie
snail be put to death Oversees /, %. When
the wise men cnme from the east at the
time OF His birth, their inquiry was, "Where
Is He that IL born King OF the Jcws?" (chnp-
ter H., y. And II shall yet be seen by all
nations that He is what He confessed be-
fore PLATE.
12. "And when He was accused OF tho
chief priests and elders He answered moth.
Ing" There was nothing to answer, for
there was no truth in their accusations,
and lie knew that they were determined
to Kill Him and that the time had come for
Him to let them.
10, II. "And He answered him to mover
n word, insomuch that the governor mar
veled greatly" Plate saw that he had
most extraordinary prisoner. He had
never met one like this, and he knew not
what to think OF Him. PLATE had strange
work on hand that day. and no man before
or since ever had Just such an opportunity.
Looking mt Jesus we see how we should act
when unjustly treated and falsely accused,
for He left us an example OF patient endur-
ance OF wrong that Is unparalleled U Pet.
| H., 20, 2).
Is. NOW, mt that feast the governor was
wont TO relense unto the people prisoner
| whom they would" PLATE gave the release.
/ but the people chose the man. Consider
Him who stood dumb before PLATE as hav-
ing gupt to that time released millions OF pris-
oners from the power Of satan, and miliorf
since by His going to prison and to deati,
for us. He still lives to set the prisoners
| free, and whosocver will accept Him Is for
ever FREQ. He might have set Himself free,
for they could not take His life unless He
willed 1t (John X, 18). But He could not
free Himself and US too. He died that We
might live.
16, II. "Whom will ye that release unto
| you, Barabbas or Jesus, which is called
Christi" Our lesson say that this man was
a notable prisoner. In Luke xxiii.. 10, 1t Is
said that he was In prison for scditlon and
murder. Fancy people asked to choose be-
tween red handed murderer and the spot
less Lamb OF God, between one OF the great
est OF sinners and tho only Saviour Of sin
ners, Barabbas or Christ! The choice to-day
Is between the most notable ofall prisoners
| (see Rev. Xx., ], %, tho father Of lies and u
murderer from the beginning (John viii,
AZ, and this same Jesus who slently-but,
oh, so beseechingly for our sakes-awaits
| our choice.
delivered him" 1t is written In Prov.
| xvii, 4, Wrath Is cruel and anger is out
rageous, but who Is able to stand before
envy?" stephen said in his sermon that
"the patrarchs, moved with envy, sold
Joseph into Egypt (Acts VIII, 81.
10. "Have thou nothing to do with TINT
lust Man, for have suffered many things
this day In dream because OF him."
This was the message that came to PLATE
from his wife as he sat on the judgment
seat. Good was it for her II she never suf-
| fered but In dream because of Him. She
acknowledged Him to bea righteous Man;
but we have no evidence that she received
Him rs tho Son OF God. Multitudes even
yet call Him good man, but will not ac-
cept him as God their Saviour.
20. 81. "Whether OF the twain will 80
that ] release unto you? They said, Barab-
bns." The chief priests and elders put
them up to this, for they were bound to
destroy Jesus. There are many in places
of authority who influence Others to do
wrong-many false teachers who teach
error.
20. "Pilate saith unto them, What shall
do, then, with Jesus, which is called
Christ? They all say unto him, Let Him
be crucifed." SO they decided that they
would have mono Of Him. He must be
killed-the creature hating the Creator,
man attempting to do away with God who
made him. He came unto His own, aud
His own received Him not. They said:
"This Is the heir. Come let us kill him,
and let us seize on his inheritance" And
they caught him and cast him out OF the
vineyard and slew him (John l., IL, 70;
Math. XXI, 33, 800. How He had told 1t
all to them over and over again, for He
knew 1t all from tho beglnning But their
hearts were hardened and their eyes were
blinded.
But what about Pilates question: for
there is none like 1t. Every one who has
ever heard OF Christ must ask 1t OF his
own soul, "What shall / do with Jesus?"
He Is before each one for acceptance or re-
lection.
23, "a. 81 am innocent OF the blood OF
this just person. See ye to It," Persuaded
OF His innocence, vainlv seeking to release
Him, yet afraid to do right because OF the
people, plate washes his hands before
them all and proclaims his innocence In
this affair. But it won't wash off, PLATE,
1t Is easy to say, II am innocent" But
what does God think OF it? In Mark =v.,
IS, the record Is that PLATE was willing to
content the people, but he certainly was
not willing to do right at any cost.
rs. "Then answered all the people and
said, His blood bo on us and on our chill
dren." They might have accepted this
precious cornerstone and built surely upon
II for time and eternity, but they chose
to have 1t fall upon them and crush them
(Math. XXI, AZ, AZ. They might have
been as safe under this passover blood as
were their fathers in Egypt, but they pre-.
ferred to trample it underfoot. Fearful
was the curse they pronounced upon them
selves, and 1t continues to this day.
20. "Then released he Barabbas unto
them, and when he had scourged Jesus he
delivered Him to be crucifed." The mur.
dsrer goes free, and the innocent is
scourged and cruclhed. What about this
blood, plate? On what ground do you
scourge an innocent man? But o, my
soul, leave Plate to God, and behold fol
thyself God manifest in the flesh receiving
those stripes on your behalf for 1t is writ
ten that He was wounded for our trans.
gressions, He was bruised for our iniquities
the chastisement Of our peace was upon
Him, and with His stripes we are healec
lisa. ILL.,, 81. Hear Him say: "rbis bore
for thee. What hast thou done for Me?'
May such love constrain us to meekly en'
dure all things for His sake!-Lessor
Helper.