Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30

CONTEXT-while descending the
mountain after the TRANSPORTATION Jesus
conversed with His apostles concerning
Elias. On reaching the plain below He cast
a dumb spirit out OF demoniao boy, which
the nine had failed to do. Again he foretold
his death and resurrection. being the third
time that subject had been mentioned In
ten days. The company then Journeyed
southwark. no record being made of the
events on the way. except that there was
dispute among tho twelve as to their
superiority In the kingdom of heaven mark
TX $50. Arriving at Capernaum, a miracle
was performed to provide money for the
annual taxes. Jesus retired to the house.
probably OF Peter. where he had the inter
view with the apostles outlined In the les
son for today
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS differ concern
ing the primary import of this passage OF
scripture. Many, making the first verse
most prominent. believe that Jesus intended
to answer the question of the apostles by
tnstructing them concerning their Office and
work Some, regarding the last verse as
the climax, think that, taking occasion of
their dispute, He sought to settle II by
showing the place and value of little child
rem In His system Of doctrine. Others, find-
Ing the key In the eleventh verse, contend
that the Master designed, as on other oc-
casions, to direct attention to Himself. Judg-
Ing from the topic the International COM
nittee held the second position. A better
Interpretation unites the main features Of all
these views. Whatever Jesus said concern
Ing the apostles, or childhood. or Himself
bore upon theme In which all His teach
ings found unity, namely. the kingdom Of
heaven. The Jewish nation expected O
Messiah who would set up temporal king
dom. Unlike their countrymen, the apostles
believed Jesus to be the Messiah, but they
were bound by the popular belief concerning
ton, the source Of other errors, must be
corrected. Jesus had previously and fire.
Quently instructed them on the subject, and
He now undertakes by another method to
make them understand He is destined to
fall, however. AS up to the last they thought
OF Him as q restorer of temporal sover-
eighty. Guke xxn:24-30: Acts i:8).
ANALYSIS Beginning with the
kingdom Of heaven, it may be divided into
three great parts, furnishing answers to
many leading questions. First. who are
to be admitted into this kingdom? What
class Of persons? What shall be their gen.
eral character? VIII the kingdom be on
the basis Of race or Of blood or OF moral
Quality7 Second, after certain persons
are admitted. how shall they be treated I
And in order to secure such treatment.
what shall be the proper spirit, attitude
and behavior Of those who administer the
affairs Of the kingdom in the interests OF
the subjects? Third. upon what basis OF
principle and authority OF wisdom and ex-
pediency. does all this rest? How and by
what right are these questions of member
ship and administration adjusted? How
came there to be projected and set UP
such kingdom. unlike those previously
existing? 2. Or. more briefly. we have
here instruction concerning the members,
the agents and the founders of the king
every monarchy-the character OF the frst
the conduct of the second, the spirit OF
the last. BY giving correct views on these
topics. Jesus expects to explain Himself
and His mission, and the place and mission
of His apostles. At the same time He
gives great truths destined to reconstruct
society.
CHARACTER-Who are the members
of the kingdom? Jesus answers In three
ways. l. He gives object lesson. a
little child set In the midst. large enough
to walk (for he came on catD. small enough
to be taken in arms mark. ix:36), proha-
that the child was Ignatius. afterward
Bishop of Antioch. The words Of Jesus on
another occasion (Matt., xix:1D warrant
the belief that He intended to say that
in the Jewish church. Oeut., vi:O The
apostles evidently SO understood. (Eph.
via; 2 Tim, iii:15) He declared that child
like adults were members Of the Kingdom
Solomon and Jeremiah 80 classed them
selves q Kings, iii:7; Jer., I'D. The child
spirit is given In Scripture under four heads
-quietness or submissiveness psalm
cxxxi:2), freedom from malice q Cor, xiv:
oo), desiring instruction Il Pet, ii:2), hui
mility Tvs. 4, lesson, the last being most
prominent here. because Of the circum-
stances g. He showed how the adult ac-
quired the childnkeness. by conversion
That included repentance, or change OF
thought and purpose of life Matt, xiii
15), and expresses state frequently men
toned in scripture under various aspects
It is difficult to the rich GMatt.. xix:23), and
is frequently attended with pain. (Acts
xiv:22) 1t Is the straight or narrow en-
trance way duke, xiii:24, a new birth
John HE'D, resulting in righteousness
Matt, v:20; vii:21) Or briefly. the king
dom Will be composed not of the descend
ants of Abraham Matt, iii:9), but of chill
dren under nurture. and those who by
change of heart and life, return to the
child state, and so become the children OF
God Matt, v:45), constituting a family
(Eph, iii.15, among whom all are equals
Matt, xxiii:S)
CONDUCT-In such a Kingdom there
is no need of rulers to exercise authority
as in human society So far as honor Is
concerned, each must prefer the other
Rom., xii.1o) But there Is needed a class
of officials for service, and they are great