The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-11
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY IS.
Subject: The GENTLE Woman's Faith.
Mark viii, 24-30-Golden Text: Matt.
1v., 25-Melnory Verses, 27-3o-Com.
1nentary oh the DAVIS Lesson.

Mark VIII, 24-3o-Golden Text: Matt.
xv., 25-Mernory Verses, 27-30-Com-
1nentary oh the Days Lesson.
"a. From thence He arose." That is,
after delivering the discourses just re-
ferred to. Edersheim thinks that Jesus
ind the twelve apostles went Immediately
there was a short delay in, or near, Ca
oernarm, before starting out. Borders
Of Tyre and Sidon." Tyre and Sidon
we're heather cities on the east coast of
the Mediterranean Sea. Into 4 house"
In all probability the house of a Jew.
Edersheim thinks He must have tarried
here several days. Would have no man
know it." He Judged it proper to retire
with His disciples into this remote re.
yion, with a view to conceal Himself
awhile from the Pharisees, who were plot;
ting against Him. Could not be hid"
1t seems that He was personally known
to many in this country, who had often
seen and heard Him in Gallee.
%. Whose young daughter" The ac-
tual sufferings Of the daughter were great,
but the sufferings which the mother en-
dured by sympathy were still greater.
Our sufferings for others are great in
proportion to the amout of love we have
for them. Hence the greatest sufferer on
earth was Christ. Had an unclean spir-
it," Matthew says her daughter was
''grievously vexed with a devil" This
was certainly a sad case. Nothing can
destroy the peace of home more than to
haye daughter, possessed with Satanic
once shows the humility of the woman;
she assumed the most lowly attitude posi-
BILE as she appeals to His mercy.
26. woman was a Greek" BY Ian
guage. The Jews called those who were
idolators Greeks, or Gentiles. ga Syro-
phoenician by nation" A Syrophoenician.
Phoenicia belonged to the Roman prov
ince Syria. She was Syrian of Phoeni.
:ia. Matthew says she was "a woman of
Canaan" During the earliest times of
Jewish, history several tribes of Canaan.
Palestine, had retired northward before
the Israelites. From these the Phoeni:
clans were descended. "Besought Him."
Earnestly entreated Him. The case was
an urgent one, and, on he4 knees, at His
feet, she poured out her request. THAT
He would cast forth" She believed He
had power to do this. Matthew says she
cried unto Him saying, Have mercy on
me, o Lord, thou son of David" She
plead for mercy; she knew she could
make no claim upon Him in any other
way. HS HOlllClu lCCOSHlLCu cSSuS dS Vic
Jewish Messiah. The state of this woman
is a proper emblem of the state of sin
ner, deeply conscious of the misery Of
his soul. There are many exec ellencies con-
tained in her prayer. J.. It is short. 2.
Jesus is recognized in His divine nature.
3. Her plea is for mercy. 4. She is in
earnest. 5. 1t is humble. 6. 1t is of.
fered in faith. 7, She She Pperseveres: Pp,es:,lf If If
as this woman did they would soon be
liberated t from their sins: The devil n,S;I out
straightforward It gfl % confession. There IS no
effort to cover up the family troubles and
gloss over matters, and make it appear
that, after all, her daughter is quite re-
spectacle"
27. "But Jesus said unto ner." This
woman's discouragements were great. l.
Her advantages had been small. She was
heather woman with but little mean. #
even obtaining the light OF the Hebrew
Scriptures. 2. At first Jesus did not re-
ply to her request. Matt. Is: a: 3. The
disciples besought Him to send her away.
I. When Jesus did speak He, seemed to
repel her. The soul seeking salvation fire.
quently meets these same tests, and many
become discouraged by them. "Let the
children" The Jews. First be filed,
They are the favored people. The gospel
was first to be offered to the Jews and
to them our Lords personal ministry on
earth was chiefly restricted. Jesus told
her that His blessings were for the lost
of, Israel Matt. l5:24. This. would have
caused people with ordinary faith to have
given up the struggle, but not, so with
this woman; she came now and worshlped
Him, saying, Lord help me. Matt. 1925.
Seemingly repelled she still worshiped.
Here was a personal, direct, simple, com.
prehensive, humble prayer. "For it is not
meet" 1t is not suitable-not the pro-
per thing to do. "To take the childrens
bread" To take those blessings that be.
long to the Jews. "And to cast it unto
dogs" This was the severest test of all.
The Gentiles were considered by the jew:
ish people as no better than dogs, and
Jesus only used form Of speech which
was common; but "it must have been very
offensive to the heathen." Would this wo.
man resent it? Would her pride at last
eled" into nothingness at His, feet, and
her faith still held on for the desired
blessing.
2S.I"Yes, Lord" Truth, Lord. Mat;
thew. It is all so. The Jews-the favored
ones ought to be blessed first. know |
am q heathen-only a Gentle dog, yet
Now follows, (D an answer to His argu.
ment against entertaining her petition,
and (2) most touchiSS appeal. to His
clemency The dogs-eat Of the chill.
dren's crumbs" / only ask such kindness
as the dogs of any family enjoy: l would
not take one of the blessings that belong
ness, Thou canst give me this crumb l
ask, and not impoverish them. BY this
she shows her high regard for Christie
power; "even the mighty blessing. she
was asking was but crumb to Him..
She would be glad to receive crumb;
those who are conscious that they deserve
nothing are thankful for the smallest ia
vor.
30. "For this saying" Her faith had
IS thy faith. Matthew. The hindrances
thrown in the woman's way only tended
to increase her faith. Her faith resem'
bes a river, which becomes enlarged by
the dikes opposed to it, until at last it
sweeps them entirely awav. There were
several other graces that shone bright in
her; wisdom, humility, meeRness, pa
tience, perseverance in prayer; but these
were the product of her faith, and there
fore Christ commends that, because, Of all
graces, faith honors Christ most; there
"The deveil is gone out" Now at this very
moment thy request is granted. Though our
Lords mission was to the lost sheep Of
Israel, yet He always honored personal
faith in Himself. wherever found. Per
severing faith and prayer are next to ON:
niponrrnt. No person can thus pray ano
believe without receiving his soul re-
ouires. This woman had asked crumb,
and had received whole loaf OF the chu.
dren's bread. Although, heather she
now took her place by the side of Jacob
and Moses, for she had prevailed.
30. Laid upon the bed" A sign of
her perfectly tranquil condition; the de.
mon had previously driven her hither and
thithcr. -