The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-03-31

international Sunday School Losooa
foP April =. le0a.
BIASED Upon Psloubet's Select Notes.l
THE LE0oON.-Matthew ls:1-sl. Read
Matthew Is and Kings l7a-sA The paral-
lei II Nark 7:1s-u. -|
GOLDEN TExr.-Then came she and
worshiped Him. saying. Lord. help me.
Matt ls:A
TIME.-Esrly summer. A D. .. Several
weeks after the last lesson.
PLACE.-The nrst miracle was per.
formed on the borders Of the country Of
Tyre and Sidon, % or 50 miles northwest OF
the Sea OF Galilee. / Kings II :S-24 relates
two examples Of Elijah's help to a woman
of this same region. The other miracles y
the lesson were performed In the region OF
Decapolis. on the southeastern shore Of the
Sea Of Galilee mark 7:sD.
EXPLANATORY.
|. Jesus Retires from Gaiilee for
Time.-V. 81. The reason for this
seems to have been the increasing op-
position of the Jews as described in the
previous portion Of the chapter, and in
the discourse concerning the bread of
life which followed the feeding Of the
5000 II short time before this lesson
John 6:60-71). We learn also from
John I'll that "the Jews sought to kill
Him."
II. The Afflicted Daughter.-V. %.
Jesus had gone privately into a house.
but He could not be hid. and Syro-
Phoenician woman in her great anxiety
for help had found Him. And she cried:
"Have mercy on me-" Her daughters
trouble was her own. Her daughter
was "grievously vexed with devil"
The torment of this disease may be
learned from the description of similar
cases. One such, boy, is described as
often falling into the fire and often into
the water (Matt. 1918, 1s). The spirit
makes him dumb, ''and wheresoever
he taketh him, he teareth him, and he
foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth.
and pineth away" Mark 0:17, 1S). The
Gadarene demoniac was wild and fierce,
"crying and cutting himself with
stones"
iii. The Mothers Victorious Faith
VS.. 1928. But He answered her not
word:" He appeared to treat her with
neglect and Indifference. It seems, by
what follows, as if He arose and left
the house. Various reasons are given
for this silence. (1) To test and deep
en- the woman's faith. (2) 1T seems
to us that this was not the reason SO
much as that He might show His dis
ciples and all succeeding centuries
what dauntless faith this woman had.
Not for her sake. but for ours, she was
put off for awhile."-A. +. Schauffler.
"His disciples besought Him,
saying: Send her away" Cure her and
let her go. They interceded for her,
but partly because it was trial to them
to have her crying after them.
"But He answered." speaking to
the disciples. and presenting the diff
Guilty in the way. The mother may
have overheard it.. II am not sent but
unto the lost sheep Of the house Of
Israel" This was His present work,
and. till His death, it was the best means
for finally reaching the Gentiles.
"Then came she and worshiped
Him." BY prostrating herself before
Him in oriental fashion.
But He answered." with compar-
ison probably not unfamiliar to her
as expressing the feelings of the Jews
toward the Gentiles: at is not meet
(fitting. proper) to take Ito take away
the children's bread, and to cast it to
dogs" The "children" are the Jews;
the dogs" are the Gentiles. There
was some reason lying at the base Of
the designation. The heathens around
were, in the mass, exceedingly unclean-
ly and ferocious, barking too. inces-
sanity at the true God and true godli-
ness."-Morison.
She granted the truth of the prov
erb, but out of its very truth she brings
an argument for the granting of her
request. "Yet:" it is not in spite of.
but because Of the truth Of the prov
erb, that she argues for help. ''The
dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from
their masters table," So let me have
the crumbs, what is left over after you
nave done all you plan for the Jews.
1t will not take anything away from
them II you help me.
20. woman. great is thy faith:" Her
faih was great in its love. being for her
daughter. 1t was great in its earnest
ness. It was great in its foundations,
the power and love of the Messiah,
and His past good deeds to others. 1t
was great in its humility, conquering
self. It was great in overcoming OBJ
stacles. sand her daughter was made
whole from that very hour:" As she
found on her return Mark 7:30); for
she acted upon her faith and went
home.
IV.-Christ the Healer and Helper OF
Man.-Vs. 29-31. One example Of
Christ's work having, been given in
detail a general picture is presented,
massing His works together 80 that we
may see more clearly His character and
what He came to do. After no very long
stay Jesus went north through the ter
ritory Of Sidon mark 7:31). then east
ward through northern Galilee, ncross
the upper Jordan, and down on the east
side Of the Sea Of Galilee. to the part
of Decapoiis (the ten cities) bordering
| on that lake (Narkl He was thus atil|