The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-07
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER IT..
Subject: The Rich Man and Lazarus,
Luke xvi, 10-31-Golden Text: Matt.
VII, 20-NIeInory Verses, 19-2:-Com-
nentary on the Days Lesson.

Luke xvi, 10-31-Golden Text: Matt.
VIZ, 20-hIeInory Verses, 19-2:-Coln-
1nentary on the Days Lesson.
10. "a certain rich man." Jesus does
not give his name. He has often been
called Dives, the Latin for erich"
Clothed in purple and fine linen" His
outer dress was costly purple from Tyre,
his under garments were fine linen from
Egypt. The Egyptian linen or byssus, is
said to have sold for twice its weight in
gold. ''Fared sumptuously." He lived in
luxurious and costly manner and feasted
charged against this man, that were so
He was not immoral, dishonest or drunk
en-, but he was proud. eXtravagant and
worldly. He lived to please himself.
20. "a certain beggar." Literally, a
poor man. Named Lazarus" "A form
Of Eleazar. which means, God is my
help" His name is mentioned because
his character was good and his end glo-
rious, and it is the purpose Of; God that
the righteous snail be held in everlasting
remembrance. If this be a parable, it is
the only instance in which Jesus, in giving
parable, has given a proper name.
Laid at his gate" There was then no
public provision for the poor, and when
disabled they were often laid at the gates
Of the rich, that they might receive aid.
Full of sores.". Covered with sores, as
persons Of his class are likely to be, from
neglect and bad living.
81. Desiring to be fed 1t is probable
that his desires were complied with.
with the crumbs" With the broken
pieces which were left and were thrown
under the table for the dogs. "The dogs
came" The wild eyed, ownerless dogs
that roam in the streets of an Eastern
,ity and act as scavengers. In contrast
with the inhumanity Of men toward the
beggar is set the pity Of the dogs; they
We have before us the characters and
lives Of two men occupying very differ
emit positions in this world. One was a
leader in society, very wealthy and highly
respected, the other was a despised and
loathsome beggSr. But God does not look
upon men as we. do. He sees the heart,
and istnever deceived by pompous ex-
terror. In the. next world. these. men
change placea-the. ,beggar is the rich man,
a.. "The beggay died. His burial was
90 inferior that no mention is made of it.
He filed pauper's 8! box and was carted to
4 pauper's grave There were no flowers
and no mourners. Carried by angels"
There was rustling of snowy wings as
angels came to kit3 the redeemed spirit
home to God. "Abraham's BOSOM" That
is, the happy side Of Hades, where the
saints were regarded as resting in bliss:
Abraham's bosom was phrase used
among the Jews to signify the paradise of
God It is an allusion to the custom OF
persons reclining on their left elbows at
teasts; the person whose head came near
the breast Of the other was said to lie in
his bosom. "1he rich man also died"
Death comes to the rich as we'll as the
poor "And vas buried. ;" There was the
long procession Of the funeral solemnities
through the streets of Jerusalem, the
crowd of hired mourners,. the spices and
ointment wrapping his body and the cost
iy sepulchre on which the virtues OF the
departed were recorded This, however,
orofits him nothing, for death has. been
Tor him al: awakening from his fiattering
dream of ease. and self-enjoyment toSAe
stern and terrible realities 81 eternity. IS
: g.. "And in he'll" "In Hades." (R
w The Scriptures contain four words
hat are rendered "hell" in the, Authorized
Version. They are Hades, Sheol, Gehenna
and Tartaros. Sheol is q Hebrew word.
ind is equivalent to the Greek word
Hades. Gehenna, as used by Christ. des-
.enates state or place of"retribution.
Tartaros is a dark prison where the fallen
angels await their doom. Hades is used
n the New Testament as. the abode of oil
;he departed. The good sresin the para
,dise Of Hades, or AbrahanSb bosom; the
Dad are in the Tartaroa rof Hades, or a
olace OF darkness SId torment. In this
,ense Josephus understands the meaning
IF Hades. "Seeth Abraham, ETC." This
was the first circumstance in his punish
"a. eFather Abraham" This is the
,nly instance recorded where prayer is
,fered to a saint, and this was from bell.
md was not granted. His calling Abra.
lam father and Abraham's recognition OF
aim as son show that he was jew. THE
;ip of his finger" That he may bring me
.ven the smallest possible relief. IT,. :
.25. "Son, remember" Oh, memory!
Thou will never die! This is solemn and
,alm reply; no mockery Of his state, and
ao grief concerning him either. Thy
yood things" Here was the charge
against him. He had enjoyed the pleas
1res--the wealth and the honors of the
world. evil things" Lazarus has had
poverty. contempt and distress. 49,,
20. "a great gulf fixed" 1t will be
Utterly impossible for a soul who leaves
This world without, having. repented' to,
ever gain admittancs into the paradise OF
God. God has fixed an impassable gulf: Z
81. "I pray thee, ETC.. How earnestly
ioes this lost soul desire to have this re-
quest granted. His influence had no DOUBT
led his brethren to live in the same care.
less way that he had lived. =. =
%. "Lest they also come" He shows
more interest in them, now than he DID
when he was with them on earth. He
might Justly fear lest their reproacies
should add to his Own misery. -. >
90. "Moses, and the prophets. The
books written by Moses and the prophets.
'sLet them hear them. %" let them heark-
en- to the warnings and instructions given
them in. the Scriptures.
30. "From the dead" Moses and the
prophets had failed to lead him to saliva
tion, and he feared his brethren would be
lost. "They will repent" He thus ap<
that he had failed to repent,1
and that his torment was just. He alsol
sees that the only way to be saved Is by
81. Neither will they be persuaded
The Scriptures contain all that is nece
sary to lead men to God. II. those W
have the Bible. and gospel preaching, y
not. repent. there is no influence
could be brought to bear upon them
would be availing. Even a. messeI
from the dead could add nothing tc
written Word, and such message Y
be much more uncertain; those W
ject the Bible would certainly rel
a testimony.
Teachings-Men should bewar
ing themselves in their riche
laye, or His displeasure, cannot
by outward circumstances; II
may flourish like the. green
while His own people may, for
sons, be destitute, afflicted, to