The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-04
Sunday School Lesson for March S.
Christ Freeing from Sim.
JOHN VIII. IL, 1888.
BY J. e. GILBERT, D. D., IL D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.
JOHN VIII. AZ, 1888.

, FREEDMEN. Such discipline, the only
true and approved discipleship-a long
continued investigation of the word of
Jesus-will have two results, the one pre-
pairing for and producing the other
(verse 32). First, the disciples NOW the
truth"-He will have an intellectual and
experimental acquaintance with those
eternal and vital verties of which Jesus
spoke. 1t appears that our Lord was no
friend of ignorance (Hos. iv, o. He be-
lieved as the writers of the Old Testa-
ment did Q'rov, X, 1D, that knowledge
was essential in this life, as 1t will be the
possession of the next q Cor. xii 12).
Second the truth as acquired will make
free. Here is mentioned a gradual pre-
cess, even as the search for truth is
continued The freedman is one who is
delivered by the working of truth
within him, enlightening his mind,
forming his ideals, quickenng his pur-
poses, purifying his desires Qleb. iv, 1G,
delivering him from the dominion of the
scenes Gen. III, @ and making the soul
regnant. (Cor. tx 2O.
BONDUM.-We do not know what i'm
preston was made by these words upon
the simple people who had believes, to
whom they were addressed. They must
have understood what was desired of them
and they probably acted accordingly. But
blileTS were present, Cdlplnb Indll-
sees, who seized this as a favorable oppor-
tunity to raise a question and annoy the
Master. 1t was q despcable part they act
ed, breaking in upon discourses not in
tended for them, if possible TO turn the
populace against Jesus by disputing His
positions. They objected to the language,
not alone because of what was said but
more because OF what was implied, that
they were slaves. This they repelled de-
n "a r. children n n
ham and had never been in bondage
| Verse 33). Their statement was legally
| true, rs no Hebrew coud enSlave another
OLcv. XIV, 42) but historically false, for
| they had been in captivity to all surround
| ing nations (Deut. vi ~. They desired to
know what Jesus meant in saying they
| should be made free.
| SINNERS. - TO this inquiry Jesus
quickly returned a very pointed and COM
| prehensive answer. In explaining Him.
self He set forth the philosophy of the
| spiritual life and thereby distinguished
His system Of doctrine from that of the
rabbis (verse 3d. lie recognized the con-
| duct Of man as proceeding from his in
ward state DANES iii, ID. If the heart
| was wicked the deeds would be SIM ul
| Matt. xii, 80. Hence whatsoever COM
| mitteth sin is the servant Of SIM (Rom.
| vi, 16), the slave of unholy desires and
impulses I'll Peter ii, 1W. The sinner
| therefore is the most pitiable of all bond
men, helpless victim to his own evil ma
, ture (Rom, vii, 22). This is the radical
| truth concerning man as set forth under
| the gospel. Its announcement here was
| timely. These men, who were proud of
| their descent, were impure. They had
| been exposed in their attempt to en-
| tangle Jesus on the question Of the wo-
mans adultery Oversees : to 81, but now
!
! of sinfuness.
| SERVANTS.-IIaving shown the cOndi-
] ton of the Jews who had criticised Him