Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-02-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON TX, FEB. 27-MATT. III:
2O-3O-TIMELY WARMING,
Golden Text: Come Unto Me All Ye
That Labor and Are Heavy Laden,
and VIII Give Ye Rest"-Matt
11:2S.

The section includes Chap. II: 2-30-the
delegation from the imprisoned John the
Baptist and the discourses that grew out
of 1t.
Place in the Life of Christ.-Just beyond
the middle of his second year. After the
sermon on the Mount. New motives for
entering the kingdom of heaven.
Time.-Latter part of the summer or
A. d. rs. Place-Gahlee, probably in the
vicinity of the cities on the shore or the
lake.
John the Baptist in prison at Macherus
since March, A. d. rs.
Rulers.-Tiberius, Caesar. emperor OF
Rome. Pontius PLATE, governor OF Ju-
dea I'D Year,.
last lesson, but with the purpose ap-
parently of tracing to it's beginning
new thread in the method OF Jesus
preaching, which, like brook among the
mountains, broadens in it's flow as the
history moves on.
After proclamation of the Kingdom,
and the call to repentance, there is now
heard a note of warning and OF 1udg-
ment From this time onward these
warnings grow more and more terrible
to the close of his ministry. See Luxe
IL: 1854; 10; Is; 16; Is, and their strongest
and most terrible expression in Matt
Chap. 23"-Abbott. But at the same time
iuciCy StdHuS ClOSe DtSiue JuuSihNht'
20. "Then began he." He had not done
this before. He began to urge new
motive. ITO upbraid." Not abuse. or
scold. but rebuke blame, including both
''pitying grief and Indignation Wnere-
in his mighty works." one OF tne
six names given to miracles in the new
Testament. 1t is commonly translated
miracles"
p. Woe unto thee. Not a wishing of woe
to them, but statement of the fact that
woe must come to them, doing as they
did. "Chorazin." The site of this city
is uncertain. but it was probably at ker-
aseh. two miles from Tell Hum, the prob
able site of Capernaum, little way from
the Sea of Gallee. 'Bethsaida" QHouse
of FISH was situated on both sides or the
mouth of the Jordan where 1T enters the
Sea of Galilee. 1t was the birthplace or
Simon Peter Andrew, and Philip.
p. 1T shall be more tolerable for Tyre
for you" 1.-THE Tyrians and Sidonians,
while inexcusable and guilty. are not SO
inexcusable and guilty as we. Their con.
demnation, therefore, on the great day OF
judgment will not be so severe as yours"
Morrison.
%. And thou. Capernaum, which are"
etc. The better reading is that OF the
r. ", Shalt thou be exalted unto heav-
en-? Do you expect, on account OF your
exalted privileges, whatever you do with
them, that you will be high in the king
dom of heaven, honored and prospered,
capital city? Do you, the inhabitants,
expect that you shall have the highest
enjoyment and all the blessings of heav-
en-, without regard to your character, be-
cause l have done so many wonderful
works among you? SHALT be brought
down to hell" To hades, the abode of
the dead; that is. shalt be utterly de-
stroyed.
~oly1
tons that would arise. Il thank thee"
Rather, II assent to thee" II cordially
concur and approve" 20 Father" And
therefore loving and good. full of tender
mercies. Lord of heaven and earth"
And therefore able to do all that love
and goodness deem wise, and with a right
to act according to his sovereign will.
a. "All things are delivered unto me OF"
(by) my Father" Christ had control OF
all things, and could and would do what
was best. 1t was not for want of good
ness or power that things were not done
differently. Jesus held the helm of the
ship of Zion. and would guide it safely
to the desired haven, in spite of tenn
pests. or darkness, or rocks.
2S Come unto me-" To where he was,
to his person, his heart, to his charac-
ter, his method of living, his kingdom. 1t
is only there that the blessing can be
found. 1t is personal invitation. 'All
heavy burdens, moving with difficulty and
pain, as a ship is said to labor, when
badly ballasted. in a stormy sea. "And
are heavy laden" Heavy laden here
means overstrained with too much load
TO be carried. No one can mistake the
almost violent force of such a figure,
who has even noticed how the cruelty of
people in Eastern countries leads them to
pile on burdens, to such an extent that
their ill-favored animals can often be
seen pitiably staggering under a weight
quite endurable.-Robinson. The bur-
dens are our sins. our bad habits, cares,
sorrows, remorse for the past, fears for
the future, anxieties. losses, sickness, dis
appointments. inability to find work.
debts, business cares, and all the other
things that make life burden. 1t is
often the burden of self-consciousness.
"And l." The emphasis is on the IT."
No other can give the needed rest. Twill
give you rest" Not by taking away all
burdens, but giving the right burden. For
my burden is light" 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 burden of love and gratitude. And
II is infinitely light compared with the
other burden. There is no real rest with
out some burden.