The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-01
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 5.
Subject: Jesus and the Children, Matt.
xviii, Lila - Golde. Text: K, H.
Memory Verses, 12-14 - Commentary
on tho Days Lesson.

on tho Days Lesson.
l. cat the same time" After Peter had
returned from paying tribute. "Who is
the greatest" Such i. blind human ma.
ture; always desiring to be made promi-
nent. A spirit of jealousy was probably
creeping in. They had seen Peter specially
favored; and Peter, James and John had
lately been honored above the rest by
being with Him in the mount "In the
kingdom of heaven" They still view the
kingdom of Christ as a temporal one, and
do you expect to honor by giving the first
place in your government? What seduc-
tive dreams of greatness and glory arose
before these Galilean fishermen as the
nearest followers of the great King And
yet the greatness of which they talked
was small indeed when compared with the
greatness Jesus actually put upon them.
2. Called little child unto Him." The
child was old enough to walk. Jesus pro-
poses to teach them by means of an OBJ
ject-lesson. He corrects their false ideas
spiritual excellence and not outward splen-
dor or authority constitutes true greatness
in His kingdom. If any man desires to
be first, the same shall be last of all, and
servant of ALL" The very desire to be
first makes him last in the very nature of
things. The. self-seeking spirit leads to
Satan's kingdom, not to Christ's. 1t is
the spirit that leads downward instead of
to heaven. 1t is our duty, however, to
do the very best we can in everything,
and to seek by every possible means to in.
crease our usefulness. No one should be
willing. to be a cipher in Gods work.
Set him in the midst. Jesus then took
lesson less % very foTcible T The little It'll aI ehid was as
their teacher. A child is completely free
from folly, and the mania for glory, and
from envy, and contentiousness, and all
such passions. ..
8. Except ye be converted" The word
here rendered "be converted" means
turn about so as to. face in the other di.
rection." 1t always signifies radical
and complete change in method, spirit, or
course. And become as little children"
Humble, teachable, obedient and trustful.
.Ye shall not enter" There is no way
door of humility. The proud and naughty
cannot enter. They must humble them
selves.
4. "Whosoever." All have equal privil.
eses. Shall humble himself" None but
the lowly are in the kingdom, and the
lowliest in the kingdom. are the greatest.
To be humble is not to disparage ones
self, but to use whatever we have in the
humblest service. "The same is greatest"
Selhshness is the root Of all sin. It
"dims the crown and diminishes the
throne of those who would otherwise be
great" True humility is one of the surest
marks of true greatness.
5. "Whoso shall receive" That is, shall
show kindness to, shall help and care for.
Zone such little child" This refers not
only to actual children (Luke 9:4s), but
also to Chrst's followers who have hum
bic, childlike spirit. "In My name" Out
of love to Me and for My sake. "Receiv.
eth Me-" Jesus considers Himself treated
as we treat His little ones.
g. "Shall offend" Whose shall cause
one of My little ones to stumble and to
fall into sin. Our Lord does not mean
tempting them or leading them into evil.
There are many ways, such as tempting
to lie, to drink Intoxicating drinks, sug-
gesting religious doubts, breaking down re-
ligious habits, sneering at the strictness
Of Sabbath. keeping and of, obedience to
parents. "It were better" This shows
the Nervousness of the offence That
millstone." A very large stone. about
his neck, etc." Drowning in the sea was a
punishment used among the ancients. The
condemned persons either had heavy
stones tied about their necks, or were
rolled up in sheets of lead. 1t was
dreadful and inevitable ruin.
7. Woe unto the world" Or, alas, for
this word is used to express sorrow and
concern. Because of occasions of stum-
bling" (R:V.) Because there are so many
temptations and stumbling blocks put be-
fore men-so many things to lead men
downward. 1T must needs be-" In this
world that is so full of sin and wickedness
those who serve Christ will be tempted;
there will be all sorts of temptations pre-
sented to them. Woe to that man
through whom the occasion cometh.' (R.
w. Woe to the man who is guilty OF the
hell. He that sins himself it weak; but
he that leads others into sin is devllish. 1t
is a fend's business How this applies to
the saloon-keeper, as we'll as to many 9TH
ers, and what an answer to the old excuse
that if / do not do the wrong thing some
body else will. Each man is personally re-
Sponsiblc for his.own actions.
8, 9. "If thy hand, foot, eye. causeth
thee to stumble" (R. W If objects as
dear to thee as these most valuable and
precious members of the body cause thee
to stumble and to fall into sin. Cut them
off and cast them from thee" No half
thing, if hurtful, must be given up and
renounced. 1t is of no use to try to regu-
late and moderate; safety lies only in en-
tire abstinence. Other people may retain
the limb but you cannot. If the thing
hurts your religious life, off with it. He
is fool who insists on keeping mortified
limb. which will kill him. Unto the hell
of fire." (R. W The literal Gehenna
was a valley to the south of Jerusalem, a
former scene of Moloch worship, and later
the place where the refuse of the city was
burned with perpetual fires. This fire IS
the symbol of terrible torment, which is
Wil SHi'ts be- an 'Ae everIasting a ,t eternal fire.
10. "Dcspise not" As though they were
beneath your notice. Little ones" The
weakest and most lowly of those who be-
lieve in Christ. "In heaven their an.
GELS" The angels in heaven, who behold
he face of the Father have a peculiar
charge over them. How dear must these
little ones be to God and how great the
peril of those who offend them.
II. "Son of Ian is come" Jesus came
to save sinners. This verse is omitted in
IL. Zone of them be gone astray, ETC."
The lost sheep is tyne of one straying
away from the fold Of Christ into sin. He
leaves the ninety and nine
in a place of safety, and goes into the
into the difficult and danger
ous places and seeks the straying one.
l3. "He rejoiceth more That sheep
was of no more value than the other
sheep. 1t was its rescue that caused the
Joy. =,
Teachings. - Those things that seem
great to men are very small in the sight
IF God. There will never be any conten-
tion about greatness among those who
have right views CONCERNING it. -
MESSENGER GIRLS IN LONDON.