The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-10-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 2I.
Subject: The Lost Sheep and the Lost
Coin, Luke xv., 1-1o-GoIden Text:
Luke xv., 1G - Memory Verses, Al -
Commentary on the D.v,s Iasson

l. "Then drew near unto Him." They
hear Him. They came to His ministry
| WITH an assurance that He would receive
them into His kingdom. "Publicans and
sinners" The pubicans were the tax
gatherers. They were odious to the whole
nation on account Of their occupation and
theii~unscrupulousness in carrying it on,
and were persons from whom the religious
sua' life. "To hear Him." They did not
: co merely to see Him, or to solicit for
Gu but to hear His excellent doctrine
: anu the instruction He gave. They came
to. see Jesus because they were penitent,
a fact which should have led the Pharisees
to rejoice rather than to murmur.
2. 'The Pharisces" The leading party
among the Jews; "the orthodox defenders
of the law" They were very strict out
| wardly, but neglected the weightier mat
ters of the law, such as justice, mercy.
humility and purity of heart. "And
Scribes." The teachers of the law, also
called lawyers" and doctors Of the law"
Many of them were Pharisees and also
members of the sanhedrin. "Murmured.
The proud Inurmur and condemn; the
with Him () because He allowed outcasts
| and vicious persons I'd approach Him, and
(2l because He associated with them. "Re.
ceiveth sinners" Yes, precious truth!
Christ receiveth sinful men. He takes
them in His arms, forgives and saves
them, and admits them into the circle of
disciples. They kept far from other reli-
gious teachers, but were drawn to Christ.
"And eateth with them" This was con-
sidered scandalous; it was contrary to the
tradition of the elders. Jesus was the
friend of the sinner, but not of the sin;
they hated the sinner. Jesus associated
them away from their sins to Himself.
g. "He spake this parable" In order to
justify His course and show the true spirit
of the gospel to the lost He speaks the
parallels Of this lesson. Something like
this parable we had in Matthew 1912.
There it was designed to show the care
God takes for the preservation of saints,
as reason why we should not offend
them; here it is designed to show the
pleasure God takes in the conversion of
sinners, as reason why we should rejoice
in it. &c.,
4. "What man of YOU" The words are
emphatic. He makes it personal and ap-
peals to their ordinary human feelings.
to be criticised for showing pity to lost
man? "If he lose one of them" The
whole flock of mankind, both Jews and
Gentiles, belongs to the divine Shepherd.
The lost sheep is en- emblem of needless,
thoughtless sinner, one who follows the
corrupt dictates of his own heart, without
ever rejecting upon his conduct. No
creature is more defenseiess. or more in
danger of being devoured by dogs and
wild beasts than sheep. Who but
Pharisee or devil would find fault with
the shepherd who endeayors to rescue his
sheep from danger and ruin! Leave the
does not have care for the ninety and
nineAthey are all precious to him, but
they are safe.@- It is the lost one that now
. needs his attention. ."In the wilderness"
The plains on which the sheep were pas
tured. All uncultivated ground. was
.alled evidences" "Go after that which
i is lost Sinners are lost to God, lost to
holiness and heaven. Jesus goes. after
them, by His spirit, by His providences,
through His,written word. by His church.
He searches diligently with ,"yearning,
active, tender sympathy" with a heart
2 filled with true love, bent on tndlpg ana
restoring the wanderer. ii
5: "Hath found it." This is not to be
understood as teaching that Christ saves
men independent of any action on their
part. See on verse 7. "0n His shoulders"
He bore our sins in His own body on the
tree. Pet. 2: "a; Isa. So: 4-6; Heb; 9:
2s. ."Reioicing." Love and pity explain
the centieness with which the shepherd
treats the sheep when he finds it. Mercy
for the lost one and Joy within himself
are the shepherds feelings: ..'
6. ssHe calleth together" The JOY is 80
great that it needs to be impaired. Those
who are animated by the same compassion
the shepherd manifested will rejoice with
him. This sheep was of no greater value
than any one of the ninety and nine that
had not wandered away;.it was the rescue
that caused the rejoicing, :. ~. ~.
7. "Joy shall be in heaven" The angels
take an interest in the affairs OF this
world. They rejoice (v: l0) when the lost
return. 'Thnt fepenteth." Sinners must
repent in order to Be saved. The parable
represents the shepherd as finding the
sheen, taking it upon his shoulders Nand
carving it to the fold, the sheep having
no will in the matter; but in the appliea-
ton let us remember that the sinner de-
cides whether he will accept or reject the
love and mercy of Christ. This parable :
norance. of the truth. ...(2l. By, falling into
That he may be, found and: restored: ~
Christ is seeking him. (2) He must re-
pent. 8. That his recovery occasions 10y
III To himself. (2) To Christ. l3) To
friends and neighbors. (4) To angels.
s. @If she lose one piece" The same
as the Greek drachma and the Roman de-
DARIUS. In value about l6 cents. This par
able illustrates the preciousness OF the hu-
man soul. The loss of one out OF ten Is
much more serious one than in the pre-
ceding parable Seek diligently, A new
idea is brought out in this parable Pity
moved the shepherd, but selt;lnterest
moved the woman to search TOR the com.
And so Christ teaches that man has value
in the sight OF God. !. The owner OF the
coin as representing God is, ~ anxious to
find that which is lost, (2) diligent i'll seek:
ing in dark places, (3) successful: (4) filled
with 10y at the recovery. 2. The coin as
representing man is, ~ Of real value, (2)
unconscious of loss, (3) helpless. But man
is different from the coin in that ne Is
an active, responsible being, and must re-
pent il order to return to God.
9. "Rejoice with me-" The cause of re-,
iocing was that the coin had been found,
not that it was of greater value than the
other pieces which had not been lost;
When sinners come to Christ, God, good
men and angels all rejoice. II these Phar-
isees had not been so blind they might
have have seen how little Of the spirit of heaven
they had within them; they found fault
when Jesus received and saved the lost.
10. cover one sinner" One soul is pre-
cious. To be associated with Christ in the
work of saving men is the highest calling
we can engage in in this world. Let us
all strive to be soul winners.
HEIRS OF LoNc.LOST FATHER.