The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-02-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY %.
Subject; Hearers and Doors Of the word,
Matt. vii., 2I-o9-Goidcn Text, james
l.. ??-Memory Verses, 2i-25-Com-
mentary on the Days Lesson.

t.. ?2-Memory Verses, 2i-25-Con-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
]. Mere profession not sufficient Tvs 81.
23). 21. mot. every one Christ IS here
laying down the true test OF adrnittance
into the kingdom OF God He has just told
them that they must enter in through
narrow gate and walk narrow way, and
now He intimates that many will seek to
gain admittance on the ground OF mere
True religion is more than a profession.
We may acknowledge the authority of
Christ, believe in His divinity and accept
His teachings as truth. and still without
the love OF God in the heart we will be
shut out OF the kingdom. Kingdom OF
heaven" Defined by Paul as being right
eou-hess, and peace, and JOY in the Holy
Ghost" rom IA: ~. 1t has reference to
that spiritual kingdom which Christ sets
up in the hearts of His followers. II is
true religion But why called a kingdom!
J.; Because it has its laws-the precepts, OF
the gospel. 2. Its subjects-all who be-
lieve in Jesus Christ. 3. Its King
Sovereign of heaven and earth. He that
doeth." Christ's followers are doors of
the word and not hearers only (James /:
~. See Rev. -: II. "The will etc.
That is, the one enters into the kingdom
who obeys the gospel and keeps the com.
mandments of God. 1t is His will even
our sanctihcation. and that we should
pray always. 1t is our duty to follow its
precepts fully. My Father Christ does
not refer TO God as a, stern Judge ready to
ready to bless and help His children. This
was truth hitherto unknown.
-. 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. IA:
10; . Cor. 5: 10. "Prophesed" As the
whole gospel is real prophecy, foretelling
the vast future of the human race-death,
judgment and eternity. so every preacher
is Il prophet. Here, then, are preachers
who plead their ministry in vain in that
day. See Paul's definition in Cor. IA: 3.
Cast out devils Through their preach.
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.
30. II never knew YOU How sad!
From this we see how easy it is to be de-
ceiNed. Many trusting in the church, their
good name, their generosity, their great
gifts, their employment in the ministry,
their self.sacriice, their devotion to the
cause, etc, etc, while at heart they are
not right with God and at the last great
day will be. cast to the left hand. De
part Such belong at the left hand.
From Me What could be worse than
Punishment from God?
II. 1nc wise builder Tvs. "a. oj). q.
Therefore Jesus now proceeds to i'm.
press the truth by the use OF a very stlik.
ing illustration. 'Whosoever heareth."
See L. Y. Both classes OF men hear the
word. So far they are alike. The two
aace, but the great day OF trial shows the
difference. viii lilien 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
siderable extent a land OF hills and mount.
ans. "A wise man." The truly wise man
pays attention to spiritual and eternal
things. He Is a prudent man, man of
understanding, who looks ahead and secs
the danger and makes use OF the best
means i'll avoiding it. The wise builder IS
the one who hears and obeys the words of
Christ. Built his house" His character;
his souls interests. Each man possesses
house which is his absolutely, and for
which he alone is responsible. Upon a
rock" Our rock is Jesus Christ CPsa. lis:
%; lsa. %: l6; ! Cor. O. IL. He is the
sure foundation. As we centre our faith
in Him, and build according to the max
inns which He has laid down, we will be
safe. %. The rain-beat" So tempests
and storms OF Affections, prosecutions.
temptations ana all SOTlS or lllalS DedL
against the soul. Suddenly, when we think
we are safe, the calamity comes upon US.
How important in that hour to be pos.
sessed OF something the tempest cannot
destroy. 1T fell not" The religion of
Jesus Christ in the soul will stand every
test. The emblem of a house 10 represent
the religious life Is specially appropriate:
/: A house is for rest. . house Is for
shelter. 3. 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, 27). 26.
one who fails to do what he knows he
ought to do, lie hears, but is disobedent.
The sand" The foundation lis the prin-
cipal thing. The house on the rock stood,
but the structure on the sand was soon
undermined, The one who says, Lord,
the sand. ~. 1T fell" So falls the sin.
n,r. The floods are wearing away his
sandy foundation, and soon one tremen-
dous storm shall beat upo.l him and he and
his hopes shall forever iail. Perhaps he
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 a
sold foundation Tor himself Notice two
points OF difference between the wise and
the foolish |. The wise builder has re-
gard Tor the future; the foolish builder
thinks only OF the present. 2. The wise
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 oil God, and with
all the glorious possibilities before it OF a
life of bliss forever with Christ, to be cast
to the lett hand at the last day.
". An astonished people Tvs. 2S, 29).
2S. These sayings" The sermon just
preached. "Astonishcd.' The teachings
of Jesus all through His life excited aG-
miration, wonder and amazement. They
were astonished, /. At Chris.'s claims. 2.
|. AT His manifest power. His doctrine"
The Sermon on the Mount contains SIM
mary OF all the great moral principles end
cardinal doctrine OF the GGglnl. except the
atonement. 30. "Iiaviny sLthorsy." His
power lay in Himself and In his iifc. "Ihe
| scribes." He did not speal lie eoni;aon
| interpreter of the law confirm NJ IFS doc-
trine as the Jewish doctors Usually did, by
| the authority of their learned mcc, EGt
| with the air and authority Of n pegIhct.
and by that authority took uIo1 Him TO
even correct the doctrine oil the GcriDes
and Pharisees thcm5eyes.