Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-02-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY 20.
Subject: Hearers and Doors OF the Word,
Matt. VIII, 21-20-Golden Text, James
t., 22-Memory Verses, 24-"5-Com-
mentary on the Days Lesson.


t., 2a-Memory Verses, 24-"5-COm-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
o3J. 81. Not every one Christ is here
iavinp down the true test OF admttance
into the kingdom OF God. he has Just ted
them that they must enter IN through
narrow gate and walk a narrow way, and
now He intimatcs that many viii seek to
gain admittance on the ground OF mere
profession. That saith-Lord, Lord.
True religion is more than profession.
We NAV 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
pousness. and peace, and JOY in the Holy
Ghost" from. IA: ~. 1t has reference to
that spiritual kingdom which Christ sets
up in the hearts OF His followers. 1t Is
true religion. But why called a kingdom.
/. Because it has its laws-the precepts, of
the oosnel . its subjects-al who be-
Ieve in Jesus Christ. 3. Its King-the
sovereign of heaven and earth. He that
doeth." Christ's followers are "doers of
22l. See Rev. %: IA. "The will etc.
That is, the one enters into the kingdom
who obeys the gospel and keeps the CON-
mandments of God. 1t is His VIII even
our sancti6cation, and that we should
pray always. 1t is our duty to follow, its
precepts fully. my Father" Christ does
not refer to God as stern judge ready to
condemn, but as a loving father who is
ready to bless and help His children. III 8
was truth hitherto unknown.
%. MANY" Not merely an occasional
one. but the number will be astonshngly
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: 2 Cor. 5: 10. "Prophesied.", AS the
whole gospel is a real prophecy, foretelllng
the vast future of the human race-death,
Judgment and eternity, so every preacher
Is a prophet. Here. then, are preachers
who plead their ministry in vain IN that
dav. See PauPs definition in Cor. IA: 8.
Cast out devils" Through their preach
ing souls had been converted and devils
had actually been cast out OF men hearts.
Wonderful works" There have been
great revivals of religion and great nantes
fations of divine power. The truth has
been preached and God has blessed 1t. :,
90 Il never knew you. How, sad!
From this we see how easy 1t Is to be de-
ceived. Many trusting in the church, Their
good name, their generosity, tneir great
gifts. their employment in the 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 cast to the left hand. De
part" Such belong at the lett hand.
From Me-" What could be worse than
Punishment from God?
Ii. Inc wise builder Tvs. "a, %. "a.
Therefore" Jesus now proceeds to I'M
press the truth by the use OF very strlk,
ing illustrations 'Whosoever heareth,
See r. V. Both classes of men hear the
word. So far they are alike. The two
houses have externally the same appear
ance. but the great day OF trial shows the
difference. will liken 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 wildly. Palestine was to a
siderable extent land of hills and mount
aims. "a wise man." The truly wise man
paws attention to spiritual and eternal
things. He is prudent man, man OF
understanding. who looks ahead and sees
the danger and makes use of the best
means in avoiding it. The wise builder Is
the one who heals and obeys the words OF
Christ. Built his house" His character;
his souls interests. Each man possesses
house which is his absolutely, and Tor
which he alone is responsible. Upon a
rock" Our rock is Jesus Christ Psa. liz;
%; lisa. IS: I6; Cor. 3: lD. He Is the
sure foundation. As we centre our falth
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 and all sorts OF trials beat
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 cannon
destroy. ut fell not" The religion oi
Jesus Christ In the soul will stand every
test. The emblem of house TO represent
the religious lie is specially, appropriate
J. A house is Tor rest. =. A house Is Ioi
! shelter. 3. A house is for comfort. LII
like manner true religion is the rest, pro
lection and comfort Of the soul. -.
III. The foolish builder Tvs. 70, ~. 20
"Doeth them not" The foolish man Is
one who fails to do what he knows ne
ought to do. He hears but is disooedicnt
The sand" The foundation is the prin
cipal thing The house on the rock stood
but the structure on the sand was sooi
undermined. The one who says, Lord
Lord, but whose heart Is not right, Is OF
the sand. q. ut fell" So falls the sin
ner. The floods are wearing away hi
sandy foundation, and soon one tremen
dous storm shall beat upon HIM and he an'
his hopes shall forever fall Perhaps N
has heard the words OF Christ from child
hood. and he may even have taught then
to others, and yet he has failed to lay
solid foundation for himself. Notice tw'
points of difference between the wise ant
the foolish: |. The wise builder has a re
gard for the future; the foolish builde
thinks only of the present. .. The WIS
looks to the solidity and durability OF nj
structure rather than to the appearance
the foolish cares for the appearance Orgy
Great was the fall" How great is tn
loss of the soul! What terrible fall for
soul created in the image OF God, and witt
all the glorious possibilities before 1T OF
life of bliss forever with Christ, to be cas-
to the LETT hand at the last day. -,
". An astonished people Tvs. %, ~
%. These sayings" The sermon jus
preached. "Astonished." The teaching
OF Jesus all through His life excited al
miration. wonder and amazement. The
were astonished, |. At Christ's claims.
it His manifest power. His doctrine.
The Sermon OH the Mount contains sun
mary of all the great moral principles an
cardinal doctrines OF the gospel. except tn
atonement. 20. Having authority II
power lay in Himself and in His life. "Th
scribes." He did not speak like comma
interpreter of the law, confirming His dot
trine as the Jewish doctors usually did, b
the authority OF their learned men, blu
with the air and authority of psOphe
and by that authority took upon Him