The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Peters Confession and ChyiSt's Re
buke. Matt. xvi, 13-2G.I

| Prepared frr The Republic by :. z. Gilbert. IL.
| T.. Secretary Of American Society Of Religious
Filtration.
! INTEOUJCT!OE-The miracle Of Jesus
| In casting demon cut Of the daughter
| OF tine SyrolhsriciIn drew together {; vast
! conourse Of people so that he was com
/ PEELED to leave the country to obtain the
| rest which had been sought. Passing
around the northern part Of Galilee he
came with the twelve to becapolis. Prov
iuce Inhabited alEn0 st entirely by GrGtiIes.
This was on the east Of the sea @: Gaiilee.
| Here he cured the deaf stammerer and fed
4.t.jJ with seven IJayes. an act similar to
that on the northeast coast. Thence he
crossed to Dalamanutha. where he was
met by enemies, wh0 demanded a sign as
I . proof Of his authority. Leaving this
place he took ship for Bethsaiia. where
he restored sight 10 blind man. Jour
ncylug thence rorthWard. S;tll seeking So
ciusiou. Jesus came TO CdesIvea Phillppi,
at the base Of Mount Herm0n. the most
northern point reached during his minis
tTy.
PUBLIC OPINION-In this quiet spot, I'D
milts distant from Jerusalem. Jesus HELD
an interview with his apostles. iie first
inquired. Whom DO men say that l. the
Son Of Man. am During HIS entire min
istry he had sought II make himself
known. employing various methods FOR III,
purpose Now he would learn the result Of
his effort. or. rather. as his knowledge OF
tine subject was not limited Jchn II. o. re
desired his disciples TO inform him "hat
they had heard. HIS motive will presently
aruear. Taey replied that some took him
for John the Baptist, some for Elias. some
for Ierem!as or one q; the other prophets.
each Judging by various characteristics OF
supposed resembls nee Here was the doc
,rir. OF trausr;STIti"n Of souls not taught
4, SCRIPTURE but BY Greek philosophers
-
with his c0urtiers Mark vi. i6I gave Guy
rrucv to these opinions, which showed
what little profit the multitGdes had re-
cciyet from ChriSts words and work
HONEST FAITH - This answer save
Jes,is an opportunity 10 ask the apns'ies
for their opinion. This WAS very delicate
business 4 free expression from associates
is not always desirable. In this case II VS.
necessary. Jesus was educating twelve men
IN carry on his wo.k. We're they getting
rcadyc Did they know who their master
wasg He therefore. requires statement
This was doubtless the objective point wAeh
he inquired after public opinion Peter
spoke He was not ncuthpiece tor Ihe
others in this case. Verse IL He spoke ms
own belief II was in TWO parts. I hou aFt
tho Christ" the Messiah. the one prrmised
In the Old Testament. expected by the dew
ish people, symbcized in the offerings, Nle
supreme hope Of the nation tJohn !, 7''
..Tnou art the son Of the living God was
his next statement-the only begc;ten son
Gohn I'll. Is. lisa. TX, s.. divine being TINS
first part OF this confession was not sur
rising for Jesus hal on several occasions
set forth his rncssiahship. Gohn ". 20 Luke
iv. is-?ID But the second part was a long
stride into the realm OF truth. The anger
had declared f. 10 Mary N.Ike !. 90. tht
she had evidently forgotten. The Baptist
had believed it. John /. 81 Satan assumed
devils declared il Mark iii. III. ON the sea
the disciples proclaimed tt tMatt. xiv, SSp'
hut now in n calm hoTT the two great items
are nut together-messiahship and DIVINITY
BLESSED SiMON-This was an impor-
taut event a grand achievement IN apos-
tolic education. Jesus approved the words.
thereby admitting them to he true. Bies-
Sod art thou. simon not merely happy or
fortunate but vastly more. he was the
recipient Of a blessing. Something had hesn
bestowed upon him, Jesus explains. The
confession was not the result OF refer
superior insight. but God had revealed this
truth 10 him Peter had received light or
heIn from above. which had made 1t pos
sihle for him to know who Jesus was. Il
Corinthians xii. 81 That il really the
meaning Of all blessing In scripture.
spiritual quickcnilg. 1t Is a great day
when Gad comes 10 man and gives MIN Il
clearer vision In Eastern countries II was
mems lives by giving them new names.
,Censsis xvii je.) and 90 Jesus says, Thou
art Peter" his original name being Simon.
John T. 81 Thus Jesus fulfilled his words
SPOKEN at the first meeting with Simon.
,iohu l. 49, VIVA; was then predicted was
now bestowed.
\ LARGER PROSPECT-A clearer view
Of Chris, begins a new era. Jesus there
fore proceeds TO speak concerning what
had thus far been secret In his own
breast He outlines the church. an insti-
tuition OF the future. under five hcads-its
author. its progress, its foundation. its
success, It's government The church would
be his in a double sense. He would not
only claim II as his possession. but he
would produce IL. That church would be
built. Increasing from beginning. that
increase by the power of Christ. sActs H. !
a. The foundation or b.ginnins would be
n rock. something stable. a rock then and
there present. Many have disputed con-
corning the rock. Some think il was Peter |
his maine being a rock: others think it was |
Peters confession. or Christ Let scripture |
decide. ,Eph. II. 81. The foundation was ]
the company there gatherd. Christ and /!
his apostles, Peters confession being their |
creed. The success of the church was its |
triumph over the gates of he'll" This has !
been understood by some To mean the Sc |
cret counsels Of evil. by others the di-,dins |
line between this world and the next. The |
government, committed them to Peter. was !
given to the whole company Of