The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-09-07
- SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 9.

by the Rev. ID. vi. Stearns.
copyright. 1900, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
%. This lawyer tempting Him reminds
us that He was tempted by the devil,
and by the Pharisees and the Sadducees,
the devils agents, and also by His own
disciples (Math. iv. /; xvi, l, 23). He
was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin, and in that He Himself
hath suffered being tempted He is able
to succor them that are tempted Heb.
", 10; ii, Isl. Then see for our encour-
agemcnt Cor. y, ID; Jas. i, =, II; Pet.
iy. l., 10 The lawyers question, What
shall | do to inherit eternal lifeT is also
that of the rich young ruler luke xviii,
lSl. but the latter seems to have been
sincere, though hindercd by his great
riches We might wonder that our Lord
did not say to- these men, THE gift of
God is eternal life from. vi, 23l, but He
saw that these were not in state Of
mind TO receive a gift: they did not know
themselves; they did not know that they
were unrighteous, that they were dead
in sins, children of wrath Il Cor Vi, 0;
Eph. H. /. 3, and that it is impossible
for such to do anything to please God
Rcm. viii, /, 81.
2i-2S. Being lawyer, one acquainted
with the law, he is referred to il for an
answer to his question. Have you diff
cultieS! Go TO the book and take 1t to
mean what it says, always taking it lit
orally unless it is plainly a figure The
lawyer gave a correct aud concise sum
mary of the law. quoting Dcut. vi .;
Lev. XIX, Is; and our Lord said that he
had answered right, and if he would do
this life would be his. Our Lord Him
self on another occasion quoted these
same words to scribe who had asked
Him (which is the first commandment of
alp When the scribe replied that to do
this was more than all whole burned of
fcrings and sacrifices, the Lord said to
Him that he was not far from the king
dom of God Mark xii, 2S-3D. Yet to be
near the kingdom and not in it is to be
out of it MS much as if one was very far
from it. The law cannot give life, but
brings us all in guilty before God, that
we may see and receive His righteous
ness which is in Christ, who is the end
of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth CGal. iii, 81, 22, 10, II;
Rom. iii, 1922; X. 4; Rom. viii, 3, y. BY
grace, not by works, are we saved; but
saved in order to work (Eph. ii. $40.
%. Willing to justify himself" 1t
was his viii and desire so to do. This
was the aim Of the PharSees; they justi
fed themselves before men, not consider
ing that God read their hearts duke xvi.
10. Their aims and prayer and fasting
and all their works they did to be seen
Of men tMath. vi, ?, >, l6; xiii, %. Be
Ing ignorant of Gods righteousness, they
sought to establish their own righteous
ness and would not submit to God from.
x, 81. Even Adam, when found guilty,
sought to Justify himself by putting the
blame upon Eve and upon God. 1t is an
evidence Of the enmity of the carnal mind
Rom. viii, y.
80. The Lord Jesus will show him who
his ncighbor is. although He knows that
the question is asked merely to justify
himself The man who got into trouble
might be said to have been on the down
ward road. From Jerusalem to Jericho
is not so good as from Jericho to Jerusa
lem When one turns his back upon the
city of peace. the city of God, there is
no telling into what trouble he may fall,
for the devil is ever seeking whom he
may devour.
81, 30. Priests and Levites were spe-
cially chosen of God to be near Him and
minister unto Him and to bless in His
name III Chron. xxx. III; Deut. x, 81.
/ If they had been filled with the Spirit of
| God and about His business, they would
either of them have been glad of such an
opportunity rs this to gl0rify God. But
/ both prophet and priest had become pre-
| fame, and the Lord found their wicked
ness even in His house tier. xiii III.
1t is much more easy not to see the
need, but Just to pass by on the other
side, and therefore there are many Chris.
tians who do not care to hear of the need
of the heather because it makes them
feel rs if they ought to do something, but
they have no heart for it because they
are not right with God. Even the dis
ciples were inclined to send the hungry
thousands away and were doubtless
greatly surprised when the Lord said,
Give We them to eat"
So Here is one whom Jews despise.
assocating him with the devil. for they
once said to our Lord. Thou art Sa-
mai.tan and hast a devil' John viii, 49,.
but this despised one lived for others.
and, as to this poor, suffering man. the
Samaritan came where he was, saw him
and had compassion on him. Surely he
had the Spirit of Christ; he did what our
Lord would have done. Our Lord was
despised and rejected of men, but He
came 20 seek and save the lost.
81. Some one has spoken of that
which the Samaritan did for the poor vic
tim of the robbers as a seven hued Il. IN
bow of mercy; he gave his time. skill oil
and wine. beast, care, money and prom
Use; and for all this he expected nothing.
Opened eyes can see without difficulty
In the good Samaritan none other than
Christ Himself, full OF compassion, com.
Ing to us sin destroyed people. whom the
devil has robbed and wounded, lifting MS
out Of our sin and sorrow and putting us
In His place and caring for MS and max
ing provision for our future.
80. when | come again, l will repav
thee" How very suggestive of His
words in Rev. xii, IL, and Luke xiv. 14t
He will come again to take His people to
Himself that we may be ever with Him
John xiv, 3; I Thess. iv, 1919, and then
de will reward every one according to
MS works, and not a cup of cold water
given in His name shall lose its reward
(Math. xvi. p: Mark tx, Az There is a
great reward in His service even here,
but all present JOY in his service is but
foretaste of the reward in His kingdom
30, 81. The lawyer cannot fail to see
IN the Samaritan the true neighbor and
In the man who was in trouble samnle
or all to whom we are to act as neigh
bors Does any one whom you can reach
need your help? Such one is the neigh
Dor whom you are to love as yourself
and thus prove your love to God, for if
we love not those whom we have seen