The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-04-18
THE =. SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 22. !

1."When He had ended all His sayings
The sayings recorded in the preceding
chapter and IN the sermon He had JUST
preached. "In the audience Of the people,"
What Christ said He said publicly; who
ever would might come and hear Him. He
Himself said, I'm secret have said nothTT
ing" John 1920. "He entered into Caper-
naum." Capernaum was where most Of
Christ's mighty deeds were performed.
Matt. l1:23. His miracles failed to producs
repentance, The unbeliet Of theinhabitants
OF that city, az Christ solemnly declared,
rendered them more guilty than the people
of Sodom. Three lessons may be drawn
from this: /. That it Is foolishness to thlnK
that faith would have been stronger than
It Is in us, II we had been witnesses OF
Chrlst's life and miracles. 2. That we may
shudder at the sins OF others ana at the
punishment they may have incurred. and
vet be far more guilty ourselves. 8. Ac-
cording to the measure OF light against
which we have sinned will be our punish
nent. !
2. "a certain cepturion's servant"
centurion was Roman officer VINO had
charge OF one hundred men. This servant
was slave. "Who was dear unto him.
0r, "who was in much esteem with him.
By this statement Luke means that this
was not an ordinary slave, but fatthfuI
servant, distinguished by many excel
lences, and very highly esteemed by his
master. "Was SICK "Sick OF the palsy,
,rievously tormented.' Matt. s:6. and
ready to de-" At the point OF death. B. Y.
g. '"When he heard Of Jesus" or His
arrival at Capernaum. He must have known
Of His miracles before this! "Sent unto
Him the elders OF the Jews" These were
sither magistrates in the place, or the
elders OF the synagogue which the GEN.
:urion had erected. VS.. He sent these,
probably, because he thouG Ght they wouldt
have greater influence with Christ. He
was GENTLE, and evidently feared that
Christ might not receive him. Matthew
says the centurion came to Jesus. be
probably came later, for Jesus evidently.
spoke directly to Kim. he showedSgreat
respect to Jesus. He chose the mosthonorT
able person to approach Him. True
humility does honor to superior; false
humility sometimes leads one to be guilty
of real disrespect. "Beseeching Him"
Earnestly entreating Him. These elders
,oi the Jews must have been strongly at
Stached to the centurion. Would come."
They evidently thought 1t would be proper,
for Him to 90 to the house, even though!
the centurion was Gentle.
4. "When they came to Jesus" Distress
drives to Jesus, and Jesus comesto those
in distress. It would be we'll With us II We
WOull 6H go 10. SuIlSt. J4h0yN posouShsl
Him instantly.!' That is, earnestly and
without a moments delay. "He was
worthy" This1s what the elders said OF.
the centurion. Bis opinion OF himself was
very different. The centurion thought he;
was not worthy OF visit, these men
thought he mas worthy OF fthe cure; thus,
honor saall Uphold the humble in spirit.
Let another praise fhee und not thine own;
lips. MI. .,,,.
supposed they wouldfbe obliged to remove
mind ofsJesus. 8fsis;was an the more re-
markabie, becausebut Terytew OF the Gem
tiles loved, the JeJish people: Hath built
us y synagaRue4F THls hehad done ut bis
own expense, havipgSno doubt employed
his own.soldters In the work. Opinions dif-
fer as to whether this centurion was 9
proselyts, ,abut one tfling is certain, be had
! shown his love for the God OF Israel, for
the Jewish people and fo- their worship,
by building synagogue.
g. Jesus went with them" Jesus was
yery ready to 20 with them. He Is the Saw
iour OF the Gentlles as we'll as the Jews.
he who had preached TIE gospel to the.
moor woman at the we'll would certainly be;
ready to help this centurion. "Not farl
from the house." Jesus thought him as
worthy as the Jews. No one Is worthy;
the blessings OF the Lord always come to
us as an act OF mercy on the part OF God.
"The centurion sent friends to HlM." This
was the second deputation, and 1t Is quite
self. See Matt. 8:5-8. Lord, trouble not
Thyself." If he had known Jesus better
be would have known that Jesus was anx-
ious tc help him. Christ pleads with us TO-
! omen the door and let him in. 81 am not
worthy He was only Gentle and thas'
outside OF the favored nation. He regard,
ed Jesus as superior Being.
7. "To come unto Thee" he felt as
though he could not approach into the
presence OF One so great and go holy. The
sinner, who is truly penitert, humbles him
self in Just this way. and trembles as he ap-
proaches into the presence OF jesus. But
say in word" Il is interesting 70 notice
that Jesus had already wrought miracle
of this kind (about six months before thlsl,
when, by Els word, spoken n distance,
The son OF the nobleman at Capernaum had
oeen healed. John 4:46-54. He asked not
the presence OF Christ, but only an exertion
of His will. He believed In Him who Is the
Life indeed; hence. he could trust the ;Liv-
Ing Will out Of sight. shall be healed"
He hud no doubt whatever OF Chrlst's abil-
lty to perform complete cure, instantly,
by just speaking the word.
8. "Set under authority" That is, un-
ier the authority OF others. The argument
of the centurion was that, although he was
under the authority OF others, yet he had
[ authority over others and they went at his
bidding; how much more couli Christ, who
Twas under the authority Of no one, ac-
E9ompllsh what He willed. Ee is confident
tskdRt Jesus cnn as easily send an ,anGe! to
tt:25flixo this servant OF his, as he Gun send q
f1dger on an errand.
E;{Fs ssHe mnrvelled a. him." The only
E6&er time that Jesus Is said to have been
&onished ie in Mark 6:6, when He mar
walled 6because OF unbelief. Christ was not
Ei31ofant OF thecenturlon faith, He knew
sH5t&about that before q word had been
fz5p0k6Ks but BE expressed His admiration
NTH q yisRa6 makettthe more conspicn.
Eons Said INTO thepeople." Jesus would
khaxa His toiI6Wers carefully observe the ex-
am p4essof Efeat faith and profit thereby
Is.No f6nnd 30 great faith" We sometimes
+ >dnd fRith where we loast expect 1t. That
upon which the Son Of God fastened as
worthy OF admiration was not the GEN.
furfoh.s banoyelence, nor his love OF the
Jewish hation, ,nor his affection for his
slave, nor his perseverance, but his faith.
SIN Israals1 This name was given to the
pat saruh Jacob in memorial OF the faith
" oh gave him power over the angel and
eI abled. HIN Ito prevail; but now by @
b. athen and not by n son OF Abraham was
:eith ahbwni in all its strength and beauty.
10. "Found his servant WHOLE" The
healing took place at distance from
Christ Hauspaliy came in contact with,
the sufferer, bur He could heal by word
US well as BY a,tcuch. =
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