The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-30
TIL SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL 2.

memory verses, II, 1S-Comnentary
on the Days Lesson.
]. The shepherd and the sheep Tvs.
1-6). In these verses Jesus lays the
foundation for the discourse which was
Of this parable the hearers of Jesus
were perfectly familiar. Theirs was
a sheep-growing country; focks were
their main dependence.
II. Christ the door Tvs. I-9). q.
"Then said Jesus" Jesus was talking
directly to the men who had eXcom-
municated the former blipd man, and
the application OF His words was to
them as spiritual thieves and robbers.
They had reviled poor man instead of
protecting him. verify, verify" This
emphasized the Importance Of what He
was about to say. Jesus now proceeds
to explain the Illustration He had made
use of in verses 1-6. II am the door,"
The sheep-folds Of the East are mere
enclosures surrounded by wall of
loose stones with thorn-bushes upon
the top. but usually an effectual bar
rier against the wolves. There is only
one door. The sheep" True Chris
tians.
s.. Before Me-" Those who came
pretending to be pastors or guides to
the people. The scribes and Pharisaes
claimed to be instructors of the people;
claimed the right to regulate the affairs
Of religion: whose only aim was to pro-
mote themselves and oppress the peo-
pie. Thieves and robbers" These
false teachers. who rejected Christ and
who were deyouring the sheep. Did
not hear" Many did hear and
follow these false prophets. but
1.-The sheep - those with true spir-
itual insight-detected their hypocrisy.
D. Enter in" through faith in Christ
we enter into the fold-the visible
church shall be saved Safe from
the robbers that seek 10 destroy: safe
from false teachers: safe from the sins
that would ruin: safe from the troubles.
dangers and temptations OF life. 60
in and out" We must .'go in to trust.
to rest, to think. to pray. before we
can go OUT to DO effective work for
the Lord. Find pasture" Satisfac-
ton for every nead of the soul.
III. The thief and the hirelinS Tvs.
1913.
10. Thief Any opposer Of tie
Gospel. ITO steal,' etc. False teach
ers steal the hearts and affections from
Christ. Their heresies kill and destroy
an spiritual life. "Life-abundantly"
(R. W Christ is able TO give His Deo-
ple abundant life. Many are seeking
more" life: what such need is life
the Christ life, the abundant life. II.
See On verses IA. -. -. ".An hire
ling" The hireling is the ono who
labors simply for his wages. with no
love or concern for the work. "The'
wolf" The wolf is the enemy Of souls
in any of his manifold DISCUSSES. such
as persecution. heresy. worldly living.
or low standard Of morals. 13. Car
eth not" To him the welfare OF the
sheep is nothing; he is chiefly solicitous
for his own safety. his own gain and
worldly honor.
". Christ the good Shepherd Tvs.
14-1S.. IA. Il am the good Shepherd
Jesus. as the good Shepherd, was fore
told by God in theprophets. His char
acter was that Of a divinely appointed
shepherd. His purposes. His teachings,
His works, His miracles. His methods
Of work, all We're those which must
belong TO q good shepherd Of Gods
people. Know My sheep" In the
East in flock Of hundreds each sheep
would have and would know its own
name. So Christ knows us and loves
us az individuals. "Ap known Of
mine" There is mutual affection
between the shepherd and the sheep.
There Is a mutual affection between the
Father and the Son: one is parallel
with the other. As the Father knows
the Son. so does the Shepherd know
the sheep: rs the Son knows the
Father, so Go the sheep know the Shep-
herd.
10. Lay down Ny life" The ORR
entail shepherd must face storms, hard
ships and dangers for his sheep; he
must find them when los: and must
often fight with wild beasts and rob-
bers in protecting them. Our Shepherd
gives up His life for Us Gohn 3:16:
Titus 2:14: John 4:10. iG. "Other
sheep have l." The Gentiles who were
soon to be brought into His church.
The good Shepherd sweeps the world
with His thought. Here Is ths univsr-
sal relation OF Jesus to sinners Of all
natioEs and tongues. SHALL become
one f'ock" lR. W One flock not In
creed or name. but in what is far more
essential-one in Christ. One in heart.
one in purpose, one in the Service Of
God and man.
II. Because I lay down." Not be-
cause l have laid it down, as though
the love Of the Father were caused by
the earthly love and sacrifice Of Christ,
but because lay it down. That is. be-
cause Christ's Spirit is one Of self-sac-
rifcing love, manifested by, but not
alone embodied in. the incarna ton, He
is loved by the Father (see Phil. %;
Heb. 1:9. "Taks it again." His ris-
ing from the dead was as necessary rs
His dying, for by His resurrection he
secured the fruits Of His death (com.
pare Rom. 4:25). Christ died in order
to rise to a more complete life. and to
raise men with Him. This purpose
evoked the love of the Father compare
1892: Phil 90; Heb. 1:9). Is. ma
man." His death was entirely volun-
tary. Men killed Him. but He had full
power to escape from them had He
wished. No one imposed upon Him the
duty Of leaving Heaven, Of coming Ia
the world, suffering and dying. He
chose to do it, that He might save
men. Have l received" While He
did it voluntarily. it was in accordance
with His Fathers expressed will.
This is the divine law Of salvation.