The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-28
THE SUNDAY-SGH00L
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH q
Subject: Jesus Tells Who Are Blesseds
Matt. w., 1-16-Golden Text, Matt. W
s-Memory Verses, 3.6-Topis; Bibfs
Secrat Of the BIeRsad Life. ~ A2N 81

Subject: Jesus Tells Who Are Biessedk
Matt. W, 1-16-Golden Text, Matt. W;
s-Memory Verses, 3.6-Topis; Bibis
Secret Of the Blessed Life.
I. The gathering multitudes tys.sI
q. 1. Seeing the m~ultitudes." Ea
multitudes referred to in verse 25HSf
the preceding chapter. Attracted BY
His miracles the people came in great
numbers from all wei Palesdnea
Into q mountain" According to Hat
dition Jesus spoke this sermon on &C
square shaped hill with two tops.
which gives it the modern name Of
1.-THE Horns Of Hattin." Hattin being
the village on the ridge at its base.
WAS set" The usual position for
teaching among the Jews. They stood
to read the Scriptures, but sat to teach.
Disciples came unto Him." They oc1
cupied q position near to Him and the
multitude was farther away !
2. Opened His mouth" The exc
preston marks the sOlemnity and inn
portance Of the discourse. Taught
them" The moment had come when
the principles Of the new covenant are
to be enunciated.
II. The character and privileges OF
Gods people Tvs. 3-12). These verses
contain the eight beatitudes. 3.
Blessed" Blessed mea more than
happy. "Poor in spirit" All the be-
attitudes are affixed to unlikely condi-
tons, to show that the Judgment Of
Christ and of the world are different
Theirs IT," Now at this present time.
Kingdom of heaven" The kingdom
Of heaven and the kingdom of God
mean the same thing, and have refer.
ence to that spiritual kingdom which
Christ sets up in the hearts Of His
children. 4. "They that mourn"
That Is, those who, conscious Of their
spiritual poverty, mourn. Comfort
ed" The Lord comforts by speaking
the words of pardon and peace to theiE.
hearts.
5. Meek" Of gentle and Iong-suf-
fering disposition; Of peaceable tenn
per; submissive, compliant, WELDING.
Inherit the EARTH" Under this figure
our Lord promises the abundance OF
spiritual good provided for in the gos-
pei,
6. Hunger and thirst" A fgura-
tive expression. after righteous
ness" The state. or quality, Of being
right with God. "Shall be filled"
With righteousness. Everything else
fails to satisfy. Z. 'The merciful.".
"The merciful." says Erasmus, ARE
those who weep over the calamities of
others, who feed the hungry and clothe
the naked. admonish those in error
and pardon the offending" Obtain
doaI -tttr ofIn1,n (nR
will deal with us.
s. "Pure in heart" The heart Is the
seat of the affections, the desires; the
motives, the will; with the pure heart
these will all be pure. "See Cod
That is, possess and enjoy God. o.
"Peacernalrers." "Those who avoid
contention themselves, and labor to re
store peace wherever it is broken
Children of Cod. God is the Father
of peace; and those who promote it are
said to be His children. 10. "Perse--
cuted." Those who are pursued by an
enemy. For righteousness sake"
Because Of right doing. Kingdom OF
heaven" See on verse 8: IL "Re-
vile."' To SANDER; "to be abusive int
speech or act" Falsely for My sake.n
1t must not only be false. but for His
sake; because we are Christians and
are bringing forth fruit unto holiness.
IL. Rejoice" To be prosecuted for
Christ's sake is to be crowned REV..
2:1O. BE exceeding glad" Leap for
Joy. 1.-THE prophets" We are. to have
an inheritance with the prophets.
III. The duties and responsibilities
Of Gods people Tvs. 13-16). In these
verses we have the relations Of the
citizens Of the kingdom to the world"
.I3. Eye" Chrfsts true followers, de-
scribed in the preceding verses. "Salt
Of the earth" Salt preserves yapd puri-
6es. and so Christians spread the
truths of the gospel by which the
world is preserved and purified. Lost;
his SAVIOUR" That is. has become,
tasteless, and lost it's sadness. "Where-t
with-salted.". The question implies
that the salt is entirely worthless.
AGood for nothing.'S 1t is not only.
good for nothing itself. but it actually.
destroys fertility.
Il. "Are the light" In John S:12
Jesus says. II am the light Of the
world" The Christian Is not like the
sun, selfIuminous. but borrows his
rays, like the moon, from a primal.
source. Light is not only opposed to
darkness, but overcomes it.; so the.
truth and holiness possessed by the
disciples of Christ, who is the true
light, dispel the worlds darkness, bYi
overcoming its ignorance and Sn.i
"Cannot be hid" In the East cites
are often built on hills. The illustra-
ton wildly sets forth the high calling
Of the followers Of Christ. r..
Is. "a candle" Rather. lamp" as
in Revised Version. "a bushel.",
Rather. "the busbel" (see: r. w.. that
is, the common measure found in every
Jewish house. Strictly speaking, the
modulus, translated ''bushel," denoted a
smaller measure equal to about two
gallons. "Candlestick." Rather,
"lampstand." The lamps were OF
earthenware or metal. in the shape OF
a saucer, turned up on one side to
hold the wick. Olive oil was used to
burn in them. The idea Is that even
men would not be SO foolish as to
light q lamp and then cover it, and GER
tainly God will not be so unwise as to
illuminate His people and then keep
them in concealment. 1G. Light so
shine" Where Christ is in the heart
the spirit Of Christ will shine out in
the life. We are commanded to shine
in such a manner that Jul good deeds
will give glory to God. We cover our
light by pride, worldliness and osten-
tation; we let our light shine by living
a humble, holy lie, and by keeping
filled with the love Of God (ROm. $50.
Dog Perished Saving Master.
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