The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-08-09
| THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST II.
Subject: The Forgiving Spirit. Matt.
xviii, 21-35-Golden Text: Matt. vi.'
22-Memory Verses, FL, 22-CoInmeu-
tary OH the DAYS Lesson.

forgive hlln. he knew II was his duty
to forgive, but the question was, How Of
ten: Till seven times. Peter uses the
term seven in a strictly literal sense. The
teaching of the rabbis was never to forgive
more than three times Peter increases
this until he supposed he had reached the
limit. Man is naturally vindlctive being,
| and in consequence nothing is more dith-
cult to him than forgiveness OF injuries.
p. Until seven times This would be
wholly inadequate. Seventy times seven"
That is, there shoulu be no limit to Your
forgiveness. The precept is unbounded,
and you must never be weary OF iorglvlng.
q. Kingdom OF heaven hkened." The
teachings of Christ with respect to for
giveness are fully illustrated IN the para
bic which follows. 1t shows, /. The char
acter OF mans relation to God. >. The real
| meaning, on mans part, OF distinct re-
fusal to forgive. (which would make
reckoning" (R W Inc fundamental
moral principle in Gods Kingdom is right
eousness. The great King OF heaven and
earth will, one day, reckon with all of His
subjects. Every sin is debt contracted
with the justice of God and soon our
Master will settle accounts with us. What
an awful time it will be when with multi
tudes nothing shall be found but sin and
insolvency!
q. Ten thousand talents" An enor-
nous sum. The amount cannot De reck-
oned definitely. 1t has been estimated all
the way from ten million to three hundred
million dollars This is an expression in
tended to indicate the infinite debt in
Cured, which could never be discharged.
25 Had not to pay" Our debt to God
is SO great that we are utterly incapable
of making Him any satisfaction whatever.
Commanded him to be sold An allu-
sion to the Law OF Moses. See EXod.,
22:3; Lev p. 70, a.; > Kings Al. Cred
itors had power to sell insolvent debtors
in several countries of Europe. as well as
Asia. in ancient times. We thus see by
this parable what our sins deserve. Cap.
tives to sin are captives to wrath. And
payment be made The amount OBJ
tained would be wholly Inadequate to can
to be made as possible. -~N-<,>
26. "Will pay thee an The debt is ad-
mitted and he comes pleading for mercy.
The means which a sinner should use to be
saved are l. Deep humiliation of heart.
9. Fervent prayer. 3. Confidence IN the
mercy OF God. 4. A firm purpose to de-
vote his soul and body to his Maker.
q. "Forgave him the debt We are
debtors OF our heavenly King, who has en-
trusted to us the administration OF what
is His. and which we have purlolned or
misused, mourning an unspeakable debt:
which we can never discharge, and OF
which utter ruin would be the proper Sc
uuence. But, if we cast ourselves at His
feet, He is ready III infinite compassion
not only to release us from punishment,
but to forgive Us the debt.
2S. An hundred pence About fifteen
dollars Took him by the throat. Thus
manifesting a most unkInd and base dis.
position The sin is greatly aggravated
when we consider MS own debt, and the
mercy shown him. What are my brothers
sins against me compared TO my number
less sins against God: Pay me what tnou
owest." He was unwilling even to forgive 1;
him a single dollar. He must pay III full
and pay at once We must be very careful
and not show this same disposition IN our
treatment of others.
% .lell down at his feet His fellow
servant humbled himself and plead for
mercy as he himself had done just before
this.
30. And he would not" Such is man;
so harsh and hard against those who are
in every way his equals. Ignorance OF hlS
own condition makes him unforglvlng and
cruel TO others.
81. Were very sorry" An act OF this
| kind is so dishonorable to all true Chris
tians. and to the spirit of the gospel. that
| through the concern they feel for the
| prosperity of the cause OF Christ, thev are
| Obliged to speak against 1t.
50. Thou wicked servant lnmercl-
fulnesS is great wickedness. To the unmer-
| ciiul Cod will have no mercy: thus Is an
eternal purpose of the Lord which can
give not men their trespasSeS neither VIII
never be changed. Jesus said, III yc for.
your Father forgive your treSpasseS.
Matt. els. Because they besought me-
(R. W When we really besecch Christ
| for forgiveness He will answer us and
grant our pardon. No one need despair.
We have nothing to pay and nothing IS
| demanded. If we come in humility and
| faith and in the spirit OF obedience God Is
always ready TO hear us. But We must Urge
our case Uuke 1918; TheSs, 5:l!; Matt;
7:7s) and continue to beseech the Lord
even when surrounded by dscouragements.
SO. Even as | had pity on thee" The
servant is here shown the obligation he Is
under to his fe9ow-servant because OF the
mercy that had been shown him. 1t Is
| Justly expected that those who have re-
| ceived mercy shall show mercy. -,
"a. Delivered him to the tormentors.
! The person who does not have forglving
| spirit will be tormented, both in this
world and in the world to come. A guilty
conscience the fear of the judgment day
and the fires OF Gods wrath (Rev. 2O:l5)
| will, in turn. act as tormentors., Ali that
| was due" And inasmuch as the amount
was SO great that he could never pay it. he
must have been delivered over to the tor
mentors forever. The wicked will be ban
ished eternally from the presence of God.
See Matt 5:25 %; 25:46; ev. l4:ll; Matt.
| Matt. 1873.
IS. 80 likewise" This verse - an ap-
plication of the whole parable. The para,
BE is not intended to teach us that God
reverses His pardons to any, but that He
denies them to those who are not worthy
] &c thn,,, Those who have not forgiven