The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-05-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY 10.

Text of the Lesson, Luke vii, $3.50
Memory Verses, 44-47-GOlden Text
Luke vii, 5O-COmmentary Prepar.
ed by the Rev. d. M. stearns.
copyright 1900, by D. NJ stearns.l
36. Jesus in Pharisees house, dining
with him, is the picture now before us
He never thrust Himself where He was
not wanted, but often went invited where
lie knew they had no love for Him
Verse 30 says that the Pharisees anc
lawyers rejected the counsel of GOO
against themselves. In Math. xiii, 5
rs, we hear our Lord saying of the Phar
isees that all their good works were sim
ply to be seen of men: their righteousness
was only outward, while within they
were full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Oul
Lord Jesus, God manifest in the flesh
knowing what was in man, did not hest
tate to come in contact with such and
was ready to give them His righteous
ness.
81, 3S. Here is one who is conscious
that she is unrghteous, conscious also
that others knew that she was one of the
towns unhallowed sisterhood. She has
a deep sense of her sinfulness and faith
in Jesus as the Saviour of sinners She
had quick ear for anything of Him, foi
when she knew where He was she quick.
~ came. He made her forget all others
so that she did not hesitate to enter 81
mons house. Her sorrow for her sin
washed His feet; her own hair, her glo-
ry.Q Cor. XII, 15), she gladly used as a
towel. while her kisses and her ointment
soothed them. She was wholly occupied
with Him; He was to her altogether
lovely" If she had exceeded in sim
she also exceeds in her affection for
Him
80, 40. Simon, who saw only the out
ward and judged others by himself
thought in his heart that Jesus could not
be a prophet else He would have known
the character of this woman and, know
ing it, would not have suffered her to
touch Him. But he did not know the
Lord Jesus; he did not know God; he did
not know what was written in the law
about God-that He is the Lord God,
merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity.
transgression and sin lex. xxxiv, 6, y.
Our Lord read Simon's thoughts; for He
knows everything that comes into our
minds (Ezek. xi, 81, and He told Simon
that He had something to say to him.
He who was full of compassion must
have been grieved to see none Of it in
His host
Al. AZ. He told of two debtors, one of
whom owed ten times as much as the
other, but they were both alike in this
that neither of them had anything with
which to pay his debts. Under these cir
cumstances the creditor frankly forgave
them both, and our Lord asks of Simon,
(Which OF them will love him most?"
VNo in thO bn
poor. sinful woman, not that Simon owed
less than the woman, but he thought he
did. In his own estimation he was a
very small sinner, if sinner at all, when
compared with this woman.
40. Simon answered that he supposed
the one would love most who had been
forgiven most, and the Saviour said,
''Thou hast rightly judged" Simon did
not speak from experience. Although his
conclusion was right, it was merely a cold
calculation. He knew nothing of the
love of God and the forgiveness of sins.
He was like those who were present in
the house when the man brought by four
friends was healed. There were doctors
of the law and other self righteous ones
present, and the power of the Lord was
present to heal them. but they were not
healed, for they felt no need of healing.
44-46. "Seest thou this woman" Wash
ing His feet with her tears, ceasing not
to kiss them and amounting them with
ointment, such were the outward mani
festations of a heart full of gratitude
and devotion to her Lord. Jesus had
come at Simop's invitation, but Simon
had offered no water for His feet. no kiss
of greeting. no oil for amounting. There
was not even q cordial welcome to his
home for his invited guest and no evil
dence whatever of love or gratitude or
devotion. Simon did not know his guest,
nor did he know himself, but his guest
knew him and would have blessed him if
he had been willing to be blessed.
Al Her sins, which are many. are for
given. for she loved much" One has
said that the essence of her heart was
distilled to battle His feet, the glory of
her head was unbound to furnish Him
with towel. She would have given
kingdoms if she had them. but she did
her best. and He accepted. We are not
forgiven because of our love or because
of anything in US. but we love because
we are forgiven. God. who is rich in
mercy, loved us even when we were dead
in sins, and we love because He first
loved us (Eph. ii. 4, 8; ! John iv. 19).
Salvation is to him that worketh not,
believeth on Him that justi6eth the I'M
cody. The only justification is that
which is freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom.
iv, 5; iii, 24).
49, "And He said unto her, Thy sins
are forgiven" What a burden is forever
gonel What an eternal joy is begun when
we know that oursins are forgiven! When
He said these words to the sick of the
palsy, He added. "Son. be of good cheer"
(Math. tx. p. But can we know our sins
forgiven when we cannot see Him nor
hear Him tell us? Though we cannot see
Him, we certainly can hear Him tell us.
for in His word He speaks to us as
plainly as He spoke to this woman.
Through Jesus Christ is preached the for
giveness Of sins. and by Him all who be-
lieve are justified from all things facts
xiii, IS, 39). All who truly receive Him,
putting their trust in His precious blood.
thus become children of God John i, 12).
40 "Who is this that forgiveth sins
also?" When the sick of the palsy was
healed, the scribes said, who can for
give sins but God only?' mic. H. ~
oh, if they had only said from the heart.
''This man must be God-God come to
earth. as He promised" lisa. XIV. 8; xL
8, 10y, what blessing they might have re-
ceived Does your heart say truly. Il
believe that Jesus Christ is God. the
mighty God. the everlasting Father, the
Prince of Peace lisa tx, 6. y. God, who
gave Himself for me?''
so. '@Thy faith hath saved thee. Go in
peace" With the assurance of the for
giveness OF sins and that she had now
peace with God, she might 90 in the CON