Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-04-01
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 3.
Subject: Jesus visits Tyre and SidOn, Mark
VIII. 2A-31-Golden Text, Heb. H., g.
Memory Vel SEES, 1870 Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

on the Days Lesson.
l. A mothers plea Tvs. 2-26). "A.
"From thence He arose." That is, alter
delivering the discourses at Caperuaum.
Edersheim thinks that Jesus and the
twelve apostles went Immediately to the
north country, while others think there
was short delay in, or near, Capernaum,
before starting out. Borders OF Tyre and
Sidon." Tyre and Sidon were heather cit
les on the east coast of the Mediterranean
Sea. Their religion was base and corrupt.
ing nature worship. Beelzebub, the name
adopted by the Jews as name for Satan.
was one OF their deities, who was supposed
to be the author of "all the pollutions OF
Idol worship" Into a house." In all
probability the house of a jew. Eder-
sheim thinks He must have tarried here
several days; the fact that He desired to
be kept hid, but could not, would suggest
this. mo man knew it," He judged 1t
proper to conceal Himself awhile from the
Phdrisees, who were plotting against Him.
Could not be hid" 1T seems that He
was personally known to, many, OF this
country, who had seen and heard him IN
Ga,ilee"
25. Whose young daughter" The &C.
tual sufferings of the daughter were great,
but the sufferings which the mother en-
dured by sympathy were still greater Our
sufferngs for others are great IN proper
ton to the amount OF love we have tor
them. Hence, the greatest sufferer on
earth was Christ. can unclean spirit"
Matthew says her daughter was "griev.
ously vexed with devil" This was Ger.
tainlya sad case. Nothing can destroy
the peace of home more than to have
daughter possessed with Satanic influences.
The spirit that possessed this girl was an
unclean-a vile spirit. "At His feet"
This at once showed the humility of the
woman; she assumed the most lowly at
titude possible as she appeals to His mercy.
26. woman was Greek" By language.
The Jews called those who were idolaters
Greeks, or Gentiles. "a Syrophenician by
nation" A Syrophelician. Phoenicia be-
longed to the Roman province OF Syria.
She WAS Syrian, of Phoenicia. "Besought
Him - Earnestly entreated Him. The
case was an urgent one, and, on her knees,
at His feet, she poured out her request.
had ' power to do this. Matthew says she
''cried unto Him saying, Have mercy on
me, Lord, Thou son of David" She
pleaded for mercy; she knew she could
make no claim upon Him in any other way.
The woman recognized Jesus as the Jew.
ish Messiah; she called Him Lord" and
"The son of David" "The devil, etc"
Here is a plain, straightforward comics.
sion. There is no effort to cover up the
family troubles, and gloss over matters,
and make it appear that. after all, her
daughter is quite respectable 49,,
"Jesus said" The woman's discourage.
ments were great: l. Her advantages had
been small. She was a heather woman,
with but little means of even obtaining
the light of the Hebrew Scriptures. 2.
At first Jesus did not reply to her request
Matt. Is: pa. 3. The disciples besought
Him to send her away. 4. When Jesus
did speak He seemed to repel her. The
soul, seeking salvation, frequently meets
these same tests, and many become discour
aged by them ''The children" The Jews;
First be filled" They are the favored
to the Jews, and to them our Lord s per.
sona ministry on earth was Chiefly re.
stricted. Jesus told her that Ills bless
ings were for the lost of Israel (Matt.)
"Not meet" 1t is not sutab;e-not the
proper thing to do. "Children's bread"
TO take those blessings that belong to the
Jews "Unto the dogs" This was the Sc
verest test of all. The Gentiles were con-
sidered by the Jewish people as no better
than dogs, and Jesus only used form OF
speech which was common; but it must
have been very offensive to the heather.
Would this woman resent it? Would her
pride at last be stirred? No. She "shrunk
and shrive,ed' into nothingness at His
feet, and her faith still held on for the de.
sired blessing
90. Eyes, Lord" Truth, Lord" (Matt)
1t is all so. The Jews; the favored ones
ought to be blessed first. | know am a
heather, only Gentle dog. yet" Now
follows % an answer to His argument
against entertaining her petition, and (2)
most touching appeal to His clemency,,
''The dogs; eat of the chi'dren's crumbs
| only ask such kindness as the dogs OF
any family enjoy. If am dog, give me
at least dogs fare.
80. For this saying" Her faith had
triumphed. Jesus, said, 20 woman, great
is thy faith" Matt There are several
other graces that shone bright in her:
wisdom, humility, meekuess, patience,
perseverance in prayer; but these were the
product of her faith, and therefore Christ
commends that, because, of all graces,
faith honors Christ most; therefore, of all
graces. Christ honors faith most. Devil
is gone" Now, at this very moment, thy
request is granted. Though our Lords
mission was to the lost sheep of lsrael,
| Himself, wherever found" "Persevering
faith and prayer are next to omnipotent.
| No person can thus pray and believe with.
out receiving all his soul requires.
III. A man healed Tvs. 3l-3O. 81. ode.
parting" Leaving the borders" of Phoe-
nicia, Jesus made circuit to the southeast.
He crossed the Jordan and sought sec.u.
sion in Decapolis, southeast of the Sea OF
Galilee. 80. Zone; deaf" The healing of
this man is related only by Mark. An
impeachment" He was not mute, but
stammerer. "Beseech" Earnestly en-.
treat This shows their faith in Christ S
ability. 49, "Tooll him aside" The man
would thus be more deeply impressed, and
a public healing would cause the people to
come together in great crowds. Put His
fingers, etc" Some external sign was
needed to show to others that the resu
really proceeded from Christ. He put His
fingers into his ears to mark the ear-druml
that was to be quickened; he spit and
touched his tongue to show that its still
fened muscles must be fabricated into linn
berness; He looked up into heaven to show
that the source of power was God; He
spoke the word to mark that the effect
was instant in time upon the command.
"a. "Sighed." Chrst's sympathies were
touched, and He sighed when He saw the
suffering and sorrow around Him. "Eph;;
phatha." The actual Aramic word used
by our Lord. 35 "Spake plain. When
Christ undertakes case He aiwavs does
in complete work. In verses SO and 81 Jesus
charged them to tell no man, but they pub
lished it SO much the more and were as
tonisbed beyond measure.