Passaic City record., 1900-06-09
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 10.

FI.y l4-SJ-0OIuen 1e1Es Epns V.y 10
Memory Verses, 21-.4-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
CONNECTING LINKs.-Jesus, on His return
to Capernuum from His third missionary
tour, heard of the death OF John. This
was about the time of the return OF the
twelve ap ostles.
Il. "And King Herod'' This was Herod
Antipas, the tetrarch, or ruler, OF Galilee
and Perea. He was one OF the sons Of
Herod the Great. ''Hearl of Him." OF
Jesus. Matt. 141. Herod had, no doubt,
heard of Jesus before, but the preaching
OF the twelve apostles had stirred the
whole country and His 'fane" was in
creasing, so that it attracted anew the at
tention of Antipas. "Was risen from the
dead" Herod had Imprisoned John the
last OF March, A. ID. %, and the forerunDer
was beheadeJ the last OF March, A. D. 29.
Herod's conscIence accused him. One who
would keep an undfsturDed peac5 must
keep clear conscience.
Is. sit is a prophet" The people ex-
pected that Elias would actually descend
from heavan and usher in the Messiah
(Matt. 16:14), and that one Of the prophets
was to be- raised from the dead for the same
end.
16. SIT is john When Herod beard these
different views expressed, he heldt his first
idea that it was John. "Whom l be-
headed" What bold confession OF guilt
this was! No need for the Baptist now;
conscience performs the office of ten thou
sand other accusers. "He Is risen." From
this we see that the doctrine of the resurrec-
tion OF the dead was commonly accepted
among the Jews; and that, bad rs Herod
was, he believed In the immortality OF the
soul and the resurrection OF the dead.
II. "In prison. The place of his i'm
prisonment and death was sMacherus, nine
miles northeast of the Dead Sea. See
dictionary. "For Herodias' sake" This
woman was a granddaughter OF Herod the
Great. She first married Herod Philip, her
uncle, who was the father OF Salome.
Herod had put away his legal wife, the
daughter Of Aretas, king of Arabia Petrea,
and had taken Herodias, though Philip,
Herodias' husband, was still living.
Is. John had said unto Rerod." The
Greek verb is in the imperfect tense and
means that che repeatedly reproved him.
John was bold and fearless. Public sins
need to be severely rebuked
him." R.. V. She hated ohm as an enemy
because he had rebuked her sins. "Would
have killed him." Desired to kill him.
One torn of sin leads to another. "She
could not" Herod would not yield to her
purposes at first, but merely threw John in
| prison.
90. For Herod feared John" He had
| respect for him and feared his words. The
| truth at first took bold OF his conscience.
"Knowing that" etc. This makes Herods
| sin all the more glaring and henous. From
this we see that holiness and justice COM
| mand the respect even of sinners. "And
observed him." "kept him SAFE" r. V.
Herod did not allow Herodias to accom-
| plish her desires. when he heard him."
Herod went repeatedly to Johns preach
| ing. "He did many things" He was not
only hearer of the word, but was in part
a doer OF the work. Some sins which John
| reproved he forsook, and some duties he
| performed; but che was muca perplexed"
| OR. W, not knowing whether to give up
his Gins fully or to continue in them. He
| was "alm ost persuaded" "Heard him
| gladly" So near was he to the point OF
| accepting the truth. 1t is dangerous to
be near. II Herod had been told that In a
| year or two from the time he was thus ad-
mring John he would take off his head, he
would not have believed 1t; yet such is the
hardening and de noralizing effects of sin.
81. "When a convenient day." For
| Herodias. She was watching her oppor-
tunity to kill John. This convenient day
came for her when Herod made a birthday
feast in the palace at Macherus.
%. 1.-THE daughter. danced" Salome,
adaughter by Philip. Not common dane
ing-glrl, but her own daughter. "And
pleased Herod" They we're probably half
intoxicated, reclining at the tables, as their
| custom was. The infamous saloon system
OF to-day is only a remnant of the ancient
revels, that were so vile and corrupting in
their effects. And yet the saloon is licensed,
| and thus, permitted and protected by lawl
| 23. "He sware under her. 1t is always
| wrong to foreswear ourselves, by promis-
| ing to do, or to keep secret, what has not,
| as yet, been disclosed to US. "Unto the
half of my kingdom" A kingdom for a
dance! The promise of drunken man.
But how many in our day give away the
whole kingdom of their souls, with health
and hope, prosperity, peace and goodness
! yea, the whole kingdom of heayen-for
the paltry price of u glass OF wine; the
| pleasure OF the table; the qualification of
| passion or pride; the acquisition of q little
| money.
81. 'sWhat shall I ask?'' The mother was
not long in telling her; she was waiting for
this question. q!!SS,,s no =. r,ou. :, =, .,ma %
lose II their murderous intent is carried
out. Herod drunk will do what Herod
sober has refused to do. "Give me by and
by" Forthwith" II. V. Give me i'm
medately She took Herod by surprise
aud made her demand 'on the instant, lest
Herod should change his mind" SIN q
charger" On a large platter. ''The head"
What a bold request! She is thirsting for
his blood and wants his head at once.
26. Exceeding sorry" His conscience
was not entirely dead, and he was worried
and troubled. "Yet for his oath's sake"
He cared more for his oath than for his
conscience, or John, or his God. He could
| murQ0r, OUT he must NOT Dleak IL WiChcu
oath that he never should have taken.
There are many to-day who. for the sake
OF an oath which has no legal or moral
binding upon them, will violate their con-
sciences and imperil their souls interests.
(Which sat with him." He was afraid OF
offending the great men of his kingdom. A
slave to public opinion. "Would not reject
her." Note the steps that had led Herod
to this. l. Rejecting the truth. 2. Contin-
uing to indulge in his sins. 8. drunken
feast; liquor is responsible for untold crime
and misery. 4. An immoral dance 5. A
wicked oath, which never should have been
taken, but, once taken, should have been
broken Immediately. 6. His fear of the
people.
81. "And beheaded him. But John was
ready. John is not the only one who will
be beheaded II the truth is upheld. Let
any man to-day take his position against
the evils in society, and, socially, his head
will roll into the basket; ii he takes his
position against evils in the church, not
infrequently will his head come off ecc!esi.
astically; il he opposes the corruption in
IN 1 AL.