The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-18
sTHE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY ~:

NuSodISu ItlllDpl. ClIt I'LL GC VI
four miles east of Dan, near the eastern
source of the Jordan River. Whom do men
say" Christ did not ask this question
% for information. or (2) because He de-
sired the applause of men, or 81 because
He intended to form His course according
to the reply. but (4) because "He desired
to ground His disciples in the deepest
faith" "The Son of Man." This was a
title He frequently applied to Himself,
but it was never applied to Him by the
apostles. 1t expressed His human, visi-
H. "Some say" etc. People held differ.
ent opinions concerning Christ. Some said
John the Baptist returned to life. Some,
Elias. who was to be the forerunner Of
the Messiah; others, Jeremias: Gin ac-
cordance with the tradition that Eere-
miah was to come and reveal the place
where the sacred vessels were concealed" :"
and others, one of the prophets.
Is. Whom say ye."' This was the de.
cisive moment in which the separation Of
the New Testament from the Old Testa-
ment theocracy. was to be made: The
hour had come for the utterance of dis
tinct Christian confession.
l6. Simon Peter, answered" He spoke
Christ" The Messiah. The Amounted
One, Messiah is the Hebrew and Christ
is the Greek for "anointed:" Jesus was
the One. who was anointed by the Father
as Prophet, Priest and King. "Son of the
living God" "God is here styled the liv-
ing God, because He is the author CT all
life and existence; hence, self-existent,
eternal"
IT, Blessed art thou" Peter and the
apostles were blessed because they had
broken away from Jewish prejudices and
L.. ..aa-4ol he Tbr,sf
Bar means SON.. H. "Flesh and blood" No
human being hath revealed it unto thee.
Such knowledge does not originate in the
human mind. "But My Father" God
only can reveal Himself.
Is. "Thou art Peter" "Petros," the
Greek word for stone, or piece. of rock.
This name had been given him by Jesus
when Jesus first met him. John. l:42.
"And upon this rock" In the Greek. this
petra" or rock in mass. This verse has
e1icited much discussion. Regarding it
there are four principal, views, all OF them
Peter was the rock on which Christ was
to build His church. 2. That Peter and
all true believers are the rock. g.. That
the confession Peter had just made was
the rock. 4. That Christ had reference
to Himself when He said upon this
rock" It seems to me that the true view
is the last one stated christ is the foun.
dation of His church. He is the tried
stone, the precious cornerstone, the sure
foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ" Cor. Bill.
1t was as though Christ had said, Thou
s5t 9etk sst pon Ss sStG1e pera esfhas sa q
rock, which is Myself-the Christ, I will
build My church.
In support of the other views the fol.
lowing quotation may be cited: /. Peter
as one of the apostles and representa-
tive of all, filled with living experience
and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, is a
rock, one of the great foundation stones
on which Christ is rearing His building,
His enduring and glorious church. Com.
Eph. 2:20; Rev. 2l:14. 4.'-Peloubet. 2.
Every one who possesses a like faith IS,
according to the measure of his faith, a
Peter, that is, a rock; and Christ builds
His church on this. rock; that is, on the
inspired in the hearts of men by the
Spirit of God" Abbott. 8. Upon this
very rock-this true confession of thine
that am the Messiah, who is come to re-
veal and communicate the living God, that
the dead, lost world may be saved..upon
this very rock, Myself, thus confessed,
will I build My church. adam Clarke.
my church." me word for church prop
erly denoted q congregation or assemblage
of people called out.-Norison. The gates
Of hell" "The kingdom of Satan. ."-Lange.
The gates are the entrance into Hades
(R. W, the realm of death; but Hades-,
the underworld" (Langel,, or death,
shall have no power over My church; it
shall stand forever.
10. "The keys of the kingdom of heav.
en-" Keys are symbol of power and au-
thority. Peter and the other apostles
were to be the representatives of Christ's
church on earth, and they were given pow
er and authority to organize and estab.
ish His church after His death. Peter
actually unlocked the kingdom of heaven
to the Jews on the day of Pentecost when
three thousand were converted, and a lit
tie later to the Gentiles. Acts lO:34-4S.
They also received the key to the inter-
pretation of the Old Testament scriptures.
'Shalt bind" This is an explanation of the
or to declare forbidden; to loose meant to
allow, or to declare allowable. Bound in
heaven" Shall receive the authority and
sanction and appreciation of God. They
were to be guided in the organization OF
the church by Christ and the Holv Spirit.
The apostles had knowledge and authority
which no one after them needs or can
90. Tell no man." The time had not
come yet to proclaim Him publicly.
81, Jesus began to show Heretofore
speaks plainly. "Of the elders" The de-
tailed enumeration of these parties proves
that there was a general conspiracy on the
part of all the Jewish authorities.
%. Peter took Him." Aside, apart from
the rest. "Rebuke Him." He only began;
he was soon interrupted. This shows Pc
ter's boldness, and his liability to be in
the wrong. '1nls shall never be unto
Thee" (R. W This was so contrary to the
commonly accepted idea Of the Messiah
and the coming kingdom that Peter was
not ready to accept it.
%. Get thee behind Me. Satan" Satan
means adversary. Jesus did not, call His
apostle a devil, but He saw in this sug-
gestion a repetition of the old temptation
By which He was offered the glory of the
kingdoms of the world without His com.
ing to the cross. "Thou art stumbling.
block unto Me-" l? lR "? A hin hindranse dr.. in in
V. Thou dost not understand OF, discern
up with the thought that Ny kingdom is
OF this world.
"a. "Will come after Me-" Will follow My
directions and be My disciple. Deny Him
self" Christ shows the apostles the nature
Of His kingdom. They must abstain from
all indulgences which stand in the way of
duty" ''Take UP His cross. Whoever
would follow Christ must be ready to en-
dure atf1iction and even death Tor His
2S. "What is a man pro6tedsD The ques.
ton implies that there us no profit.
Gain" Succeed in obtaining. .'The
whole world" Its honor, wealth and the
ENJOYMENT of all its pleasures. :.