The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
+ FOR FEBRUARY 20.

Subject: hearers and Doors of the Word,
Matt. viii, 21-29-Golden Text, james
L., 22-Memory Verses, 24-2b-Com.
mentary on the Days Lesson. H.. =
l.. Mere profession not sufficient Tvs. 81.
e3). n. Not every one" Christ is here
laying down the true test of admittance
into the kingdom of God He has,just tod
them that they must enter in through a
narrow gate and walk narrow way, and
now He intimates that many viii seek to
profession. THAT saith-Lord, Lord"
We may acknowledge the authority OF
Christ, believe in His divinity and accept
His teachings as .ruth, and still without
the love of God in the heart we will: be
shut out of the kingdom. Kingdom O:
heaven" Defined by Paul as being right.
eousness, and peace, and Joy in the Holy
Ghost" rom. "A: ~. 1t has reference to
that spiritual kingdom which Christ sets
up in the hearts OF His followers. 1t is
|; Because it has it's laws-the Irecepts, of
the gospel. 2. Its subjects--all who be-
feve in Jesus Christ. g.. It's King--the
sovereign Of heaven and earth. "He that
doeth." Christ's followers are "doers of
the word and not hearers only" (James J.:
~. See Rev. q: IA. 1.-THE WILL" etc.
That is, the one enters into the kingdom
who obeys the gospel sad keeps the com
.mandments of God. Has His will even
our sancti6cation, and: that we should
pray always. 1t is our duty to follow its
not refer to God as a stern Judge ready to
condemn, but as loving father who is
ready to bless and help His children. This
was a truth hitherto unknown. ry.,.. :.
22. Many" Not merely an occasional
one, but the number will be astonishingly
large. ."In that day." The Judgment day.
The day when the final accounts shall be
brought in, and when each shall receive
his just desert. See Acts II: 81; Rom. a.:
TO-, 2 Cor. s., TO-. "Prophesied." As the
whole gospel is a real prophecy, .foretelling
the vast future Of the human race-death,
judgment and eternity. SO every preacher
who plead their ministry in vain in that
day. See PauPs definition in Cor. IA: 8.
Cast out devils" Through their preach
I ing souls had been converted and devils
had actually been cast out of mems hearts.
Wonderful works" There have been
/ great revivals Of religion and great manifes-
,tations of divine power. The truth has
/ been preached and God has blessed it.
%. Il never knew you" How sad!
From this we see how easy it is to be de-
ceived. Many trusting in the church, their
good name, their generoAtys their great
gifts, their employment in stne, ministry,
their self-sacrifce, their devotion to- the
cause, etc., ETC., while at heart they are
not right with God and at the last great
day will be east to the left hand. De
part" Such belong at the, left hand.
From Me- What could be worse than
banishment from God?
I. Ii. .ine wise builder VS. "a, 25). "a
Therefore" Jesus now proceeds to in.
press the truth by the use of very strik:
ing illustration. "Whosoever heareth."
See r. V. Both classes Of men hear the
word. So farthe are alike. The two
d differenee gSe ' W1l EEen I i him. % ' St. Mat.
thew, who living near the lake had often
witnessed such. sudden floods as are de-
scribed, uses vigorous language and draws
the picture vividly. Palestine was to a
siderable extent land of hills and mount
aims. "A wise man" The truly wise man
pays attention to spiritual and, eternal
thingsl He is prudent man, a man Of
understanding, who looks ahead and sees
the danger and makes use of the best
means in avoiding it., The wise builder is
Christ. "Built his house" His character;
his souls interests. Each man possesses, a
house which is his absolutely, and for
which he alone is responsible. Upon a
rock" Our rock is Jesus Christ (Psa. llS:
q; lisa. %: l6; Cor. 3: ,ll). He Is the
sure foundation. As We, centre our faith
in Hin, and build according to the max
inns which He has laid down, we will be
and storms of Affections, :! prosecutions.
temptations and all sorts; of trials beat
against the soul. Suddenly, when we think
How important in that hour to be pos
desrav Of sHmfMehs M e The ThDss reon fann9 e
Jesus Christ in the soul will stand every
test. The emblem of house to represent
the religious life is specially appropriate:
|. A house is for rest. 2. a house is for
shelter. 8. A house is for comfort. In
like manner true religion is the rest, pro-
lection and comfort OF the soul.
III. The foolish builder Tvs. 26, 27l. rs.
,"Doeth them not" The foolish man is
one who fails to do what he knows he
ought to do. He hears, but is disobedient.
"The sand.' The foundation ls the prin'
cipal thing. The house9on the rock stood,
DuL LQe bLTuCIuIC On SuC roAk "oo ooolA
undermined. The one who says, Lord,
Lord, but whose heart is not right, is on
the sand. q. 1T fell" So falls the sin
ner. The floods are wearing away his
sandy foundation, and soon one tremen.
dous storm shall beat upon him and he and
his hopes shall forever fall. Perhaps be
has heard the words of Christ from child
hood, and he may even have taught them
to others, and yet he has failed to lay
solid foundation for himself. Notice two
points of difference between the wise and
the foolish: ]. The wise builder has re-
gard for the future; the foolish builder
looks to the solidity and durability of his
structure rather than to the appearance;
the foolish cares for the appearance only.
"Great was the fall" How great is the
loss of the soul! What terrible fall for a
soul created in the image of God, and with
all the glorious possibilities before it OF a
life of bliss forever with Christ, Ito be cast
to the left hand at the last day.
". An astonished. peSop.e I've. q, 2s)::
%. ''These sayings The sermon, just
preached. "Astonished." The teachings
of Jesus all through His life excited ad-
miration, wonder and amazemelt.. They
we're astonished, l. At Christ's claims. 2.
At His manifest power. His doctrine"
The Sermon on the Mount contains sum.
mary of all the great moral principles and
cardinal doctrines OF the gospel, except the
atonement. 20. Having authority" His
uower'lay in Himself and in His life. "The
scribes." He did not speak like common
interpreter of the law, confirming His doc
trine as the Jewish doctors usually did, by
the authority of their learned men, but
with the air and authority Of prophet,
and by that authority took upon Him to
even correct the doctrine of the scribes
and Pharisees themselves.
A Thousand Mile Channel.
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