Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-04-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 10.
Subject: Peter Confesses tho Christ. Mark
Will, 27-38-Golden Text, Matt. XVII, 10
Memory Verses, "a. 33-CoInmentary
on the DAYS Lesson.

Memory Verses, "a. 35-Coinmentary
on the Days Lesson.
l. Different opinions concerning Christ
Tvs. 27.3O). "Caesarea Philippi." 1t seems
that Jesus did not enter this city, but
taught in its vicinity. 1t was a populous
and prosperous region, and the people were
not so much under the influence of the
scrbes and Pharisees as they were further
South. "Whom do men say" Christ did
not ask this question % for information,
or 81 because He desired the applause OF
men. or 81 because He intended to form
His course according to the reply, but az
because "He desired to ground His disci'
pes in the deepest faith" %. Some say.
ETC. The people held different opinions
concerning Christ. Some said John the
Baptist returned to life. Some, Elias, who
was to be the forerunner of the Messiah;
Others Jeremias Matt. Is: 49, lin ae'
cordance with the tradition that Jeremiah
was to come and reveal the place where
the sacred vessels were concealed; anc
%. "Whom saw ye?' This was the de-.
cisive moment in which the separation Oh
the View Testament from the Old Tesla
ment theocracy was to be made. The hour
had come for the utterance OF distinct
Christian confession. Peter answered."
He spoke for all of the apostles. "Thou
are the Christ" The Messiah. The An.
ointed One. Messiah is the Hebrew and
Christ is the Greek for Amounted. Jesus
was the One who was anointed by the
Father as Prophet, Priest and King. The
apostles thus confess their Master to be
the Son of the living God-the divine One
for whom the world was looking and wait,
ing. 80. "Tell no man." The time had
- LOS al
iean enthusiasm might now endeavor to
make Him king if this announcement were
made openly.
The account given by Matthew is much
fuller than this one given by Mark. In
Matt l6: IS, 10, we have the verses which
have aroused as profound and as disturb
lag discussion as any passage In tht
Word of God. Jesus is reported as saying
Chou art Peter, and upon this rock J
will build My church" The Greek word
here for Peter is "petross", meaning 9
stone or piece of rock. This name had
been given Peter by Jesus at the first
John l: 42). The Greek word for rock
is petra" meaning rock in mass. Regard
ing this there are four leading views, al
of which are supported by good authori
ties: l. That Peter was the rock on which
Christ was to build His church. 2. That
Peter and all true believers are the rock
8. That the confession Peter had just mad,
was the rock. 4. That Christ had refer
ence to Himself when He said upon thi,
rock" The true view is, without doubt
the last one stated. Christ Is the founda
ton of His church.
II. Christ foretells His death Tvs. 1883.
81. Began to teach" Heretofore He had
spoken obscureiy, but now for the first
time He speaks plainly of His coming 81 sui
Of
was title He frequently applied to Him
self, but it was never applied to Him by
the apostles. 1t expressed His humanity
''Of the elders, ETC." The SanhedriS. "The
detailed enumeration of these JRarties
proves that there was a general conspira
cy on the part of all the Jewish authors
ties" 80. "Openly." That is, not public
ly, but plainly and without disguise. peter
took Him." Aside; apart from the rest
"To rebuke Him." The idea of suffering
Messiah was abhorrent to Peter and to
all the apostles. He would set our Lord
right and Danish this dismal conception oil
death instead of throne. This shows
Peters boldness.
80. "R.buked Peter" Christ perceived
that He was not boldly uttering what the
them ALL "Get thee behind Me, Satan"
Satan means adversary. Jesus did not
call His apostle devil, but He saw in this
suggestion repetition of the old tempta'
ton by which He was offered the glory
of the kingdoms of the world without HE
coming to the cross. The words OF the
tempter are in Peters mouth, and Christ
uses the very words which He had used tc
the devil in the wilderness. Chou mind
est not" Or. W Thou dost not under.
stand or discern the things OF, God; thou
art wholly taken up with the thought that
My kingdom is of this world. Men would
like ease, distinction and wealth, but God
looks at peace of conscience and the JOY
of the soul. ITO His eye the cross is the
way to the crown"
III. Conditions of discpleship Tvs. "a,
So. "a. "Had called" Even in these
lonely regions considerable numbers would
seem to have followed Him, apparently al
some little distance. These He now called
to Him and made them sharers in this part
Of His instruction. "Whosoever will"
That is, whatsoever is resolved at all costs
to be My disciple. "Deny Himself"
Christ shows the apostles the nature Of
His kingdom. They must. abstain from all
indulgences which stand in, the way OF
duty" Take up His cross" Whosoevet
dure affection and even cath for His sake.
sufferings upon ''the cross"
35 "Whosoever will save, ETC." Whose
ever succeeds in obtaining the life of world
ly comfort and pleasure, by avoiding the
life of selfdenial and at the expense OF
Righteousness, shall lose even the earthly
rewards he seeks and also the eternal life
of spiritual joy and blessedness. But who
soever renounces those things in this life
which charm the wording, such as the
love of gain, pleasure, fashion or honor,
and from the worldling's standpoint loses
his life for the sake of Christ, that brings
the promised blessing. Multitudes lose
their lives on the altar of worldly ambi'
ton. pleasure and fashion, but such have
no ray of hope.
". The value of the soul Tvs. $685.. 36.
"What; profit" The question implies,
that there is no profit. "The whole world"
Even though it were possible for a man to
gain all the wealth. honor and happiness
the world had to give, and to enjoy, it
thousand years, and then lose his soul, his
loss would be infinitely greater han any,
earthly pleasure he may nave had, Lose.
"Be cast away" ''His own soul" The
Greek word for soul has the double mean
ing. 'life" and Soul" The soul is the
man himself The only thing we really and
absolutely possess is our soul. The man
who loses his soul loses all he has that is
really valuable. 81. "In exchange The
price the wording pays for carnal delights
IS his soul. SO. AAdulterous. The peo'
ple were called adulterous because their
hearts were estranged from God. Com
pare lisa. "a: 5: Jer. 81: 80 and James