The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-04-05
Lesson In the International Series for
April 9, 10OO-Precepts ana
Promises.
Prepared by H. C. Lenlngton.l
THE LESSON TEXT.
(Matthew 7:14.)

y
opened unto you;
g. For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh fndeth; and to him
that knocketh 1t shall be opened.
8. Or what man Is there of you, whom II
his son ask bread. will he give him stonef
10. Or II he ask a fish. will he give him a
serpent?
ii. II We then. being evil. know how to
give. good gifts unto your children how
sve ssa sood fhnF 10 ha ask
him?
H. Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do We
even so to them; for this is the law and
the prophets.
la Enter ye in at the strait gate; for
leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat:
a. Because strait Is the gate. md mar 1;sr
s sns fsy e s? shs! 1nS Snae'n i un'0 'e
that men should do to you, do ye even so
to them.-Matt. 7:12.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
With this lesson we conclude the
study of the sermon on the mount.
Therefore verses 24-27 should be taken
in connection with the text. They
close the sermon and very graphically
describe the two types of men in the
world. Those who found their lives
on the principles laid down by Jesus
will abide, those who refuse the words
of eternal life will come to the close
of life empty, having built, according
to the figure of the Master, house
on the sand, or by like figure much
in common use, only a house of cards.
The lesson analysis will follow the
text:
The Passing of Judgment. 1-e
TTSSncerhiIng TS frayer. er...............'...'vs
The Golden Hule;
The Passing of Judgment.-In this
passage Jesus lays down very clearly
the rule of conduct regarding censori-
Gus judgments. In life we have to
Judge our fellows and acquaintances.
Only by passing mental Judgment
can we deal fairly and honorably, pro-
tect our own interests and give that
which is due to those about us. But
Jesus warns us against censorious-
ness.
And concerning censorious judg-
ment Jesus makes four declarations:
(D We will be judged by the same
standard that we judge others. This
is just, for If we maliciously, or igno-
rantly and unnecessarily, misrepre-
sent another's character, no judgment
can be too hard for us. Another thing:
We cannot see all around the affairs
of this life, and in the majority of
cases ill-judgment is uncalled for,
therefore we should temper with
mercy whatever estimates of an
others character we must make. A
third reason presents itself against
censorious Judgment, and establishes
found in the constitution. of the hu-
man mind. 1t is that 1t is the ten
dency to judge another by oneself.
Therefore by judging another q man
does little more than reveal his own
weakness of character, besides, of
course, the harm that is done that
others reputation. David says psalm
1920 of God: with the pure Thou
wilt show Thyself pure; and with the
forward Thou wilt show Thyself for
ward" Even the Holy God is thought
obstinate, perverse and unjust by men
whose lives are not in accord with the
Divine teaching.
(2) We are not to pick flaws with
others, while there is that within our
own hearts that needs correction
(verse 81.
(3) If we try to remove the beam
from our own eye, we will have little
time for the mote in a brothers eye.
(4) In verse 6 Jesus adds an addi-
tional reason for not passing judg-
ment. The one of whom we are apt
to think hardly may be fully as bad
as we have thought him. but why cast
pearls before swine? An old adage has
it: "Reprove not scorner, lest he
hate thee. Prov. 9:7, 8.
Concerning Prayer.-Jesus' law con-
corning prayer is exceedingly simple.
1t is that we take the attitude of per-
feet trust. "Ask, and it shall be given
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock
and it shall be opened unto YOU
IF ye then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father
which is in Heaven give good things
to them that ask Him."
Entrance to the Kingdom.-The way
into the Kingdom of Heaven as laid
down by Jesus is not broad one. but
narrow one, and hard to travel. 1t
is natural to do not right, but wrong.
The path of the Christian life is up
hill. Difficulties should not dscour-
age, but incite to renewed effort.
straight is the gate, and narrow is
the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it,"
Gems of Truth.
Where love is there is no toil.-H. s.