The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-02
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 6.

| Subject: Jesus Anolnted at Bethany
Matt. xvi, 6-16-Golden Text: Mark
XIV, S-Memory Verses, 11-13-Com-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
6. "In Bethany, This was village
beautifully situated about two miles
southeast of Jerusalem on the eastern
slope of the Mount of Olives It was often
visited by Christ, and it was here that He
spent several nights of the memorable pas
sion week. "In the house of Simon, the
lepcr." Simon was very common name,
and is applied to some fifteen different
persons in the New Testament. This man
had evidently been leper, and had prob
ably been cured by Jesus. According to a
tradition Simon was the father of Laza-
| rus; according to others he was the hus-
band of Martha, or Martha was his widow.
John tells US that Martha served and that
Lazarus was one of them that sat at the
table with him. ..
| 7. Game unto Him woman" John
tells us that this woman was Mary As
| she sat in the presence of her brother and
her yet more deeply worshiped Lord the
feelings of Mary could no longer be re-
strained. "Alabaster box" The perfume
was in an alabaster bottle, or flask, which
was made with long narrow neck. Mark
says she brake the box" or the neck of
the flask. The seal which kept the per-
moved; it was on this occasion first opened.
every precious ointment" By the oint-
ment we are to understand rather liquid
| perfume than what we commonly know as
ointment. John says Mary took a pound
of ointment. This was Roman pound of
twelve ounces This was worth 800 pence,
or denarii, silver coins worth fifteen to
seventeen cents each; hence the ointment
was Worth between $45 and $50. This
would be equivalent to ten times that
amount at the present time. Poured it
on His head" John says she annointed
the feet of Jesus. There is manifestly
neither contradiction nor divergence here
between the evangelists. Mary poured the
ointment over His head and then over His
feet. John notices the amounting of the
feet, not only as the act Of greatest humil-
ity and the mark of deepest veneration,
but from it's unusual character, while
amounting of the head wasnot SO uncommon.
The Amounting showed first her faith in
Christ; second, her love for Christ. The
house was filled with the odor of the oint.
ment, and to-day the church and the world
are filled with heavenly fragrance when
ever loving deeds are performed for Christ.
"Sat at meat" In taking their meals the
Eastern people reclined on one eide.
8. when His disciples saw it," The
though originated with Judas and he
urged it until others Of the disciples as.
sented to his ideas. So often bad man,
working from selfish motives, by plausible
arguments gets good men to unite with
good. The wolf puts on the sleeps cloth.
i've fha 70
wears mask of virtue; religion is op-
Of Of s h0usht St in the
There is no benefit in such lavish expen.
diture. Whenever there is an act of
splendid self-forgetfulness there is always
Judas to sneer and murmur at it.
8. "Given to the poor" Mark says they
murmur against the woman, and their
words and manner were also a reflection
on Christ Himself, because He had per.
mitted it to occur. How often does char
ity serve as cloak for covetousness. God
is sometimes robbed of His right, under
the pretense of devoting what is withheld
to some charitable purpose, to which there
was no intention ever to give it.
10. "Jesus perceiving it." (R. W Jesus
understood their murmurings. 'Why
trouble ye the woman?" According to
Johns account, Jesus said, "Let her
alone" It was the language of sharp re-
buke. Jesus was indignant at the hyproc-
risy of Judas and the dull perceptions Of
the others. "a good work upon Me-" 1t
was high act of a noble soul, expressing
its noblest emotions. II is good work"
to show our love and esteem for Christ.
II. Eye have the poor always with
you" This act of Mary's will not inter
fere with your care of the poor. You can
do good for them at any time. The more
we do for Christ the more we will do for
but the want of love that allows the poor
and not of Judas who really care for the
poor. 'Me-not always" Christ's bodily
presence was about to be removed from
them. What they did for Him must be
done quickly.
II: "on My body" On His head and
on His feet. "She did it to prepare Me
for burial (R. W Whether Mary under
stood Christ's approaching death and in
tended it so we cannot tell, but Jesus puts
His construction upon it and confirms
thereby what He had 80 frequently told
them regarding it. She was embalming
Him in advance of time. Too often our
words of esteem are not uttered until the
time of the burial, while the discouraged
soul has been obliged to plod on through
life without so much as "God bless you"
from any one. One writer says: "If my
friends have alabaster boxes full of the
perfume of sympathy and affection laid
away, which they intend to break over
my body, would rather they would
bring them out in my weary and troubled
hours, that may be cheered while need
them"
is "This gospel shall be preached"
Another remarkable proof of the pre-
science of Christ. God has so disposed mat.
ters that this has continued as firm and
a memorial of her" This act of love per.
before the entire Christian world.
IA. "Judas Iscariot" Judas is rightly
regarded as an infamous man, his conduct
base and his motives vile; yet how many
to-day bargain away their Lord for the
honors and pleasures of this world! Gun
to the chief priests" This was favorable
time for the traitor to carry out his wick
ed designs. Much people had gathered,
not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus.
Is. "What will ye give ,me?" Money
was his god; the love of filthy lucre was
causing his ruin. Let us take warning. 1t
is not the lack of money, but the love of |
money that is the "root of all evil" ''Thir.
ty pieces of silver" This was the price of |
slave. See Elk. 2l: 80; also Zech. II: l3
According to the Oxford Teachers Bible
Judas received the paltry sum of 'Sl6.96.
l6. "Sought opportunity" His hope was
to deliver Christ into the hands of the off.
GERS privately. His act was premeditated
and so much the more dastardly and mean.
Fungi Damage New England Forests.