Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
for SUNDAY Scboob.
STAR LESSON FOR MARCH II.
THE TONGUE AND THE TEMpKH." Matthew ,,aas
BY Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DID,.


Stephen. the nrst martyr. when he was
stoned TO death tActs, vii ,eol. and by tho
early missionaries who went into heather
,snds q Cor, WEBB. In all the worlds
radical precept Of religious teacher so
brilliantly illustrated by disciples.
REASONS STATED Oversees ~ "a. 40.
some ne q }i, the semmandS Of Jesus rested sole
lowers to practice what He taught. In
other cases. especially where the require
ment seemed to be difficult He was gem
orally careful to assign a reason, thereby
winning loyalty because of the wisdom OF
the precept. Three reasons are here given
for loving enemies. Erst, because thereby
the disciples become children OF God, a no.
Die distinction that doubtless awakened
their desires John, xi:59. The Divine
Father sends good upon the unjust well
as the just Matt. v:45). Second. there IS
no reward in spiritual way-that IS. the
spiritual nature fs not developed--when love
Is directed toward those only who love us
Jesus was perfected by suffering Qieb.. II:
lU because thereby love was completed.
Third. that love which responds TO another's
love Is that lower Kind which Is exhibited
by men who do not follow Christ, and the
Christian should be superior TO them in his
dispositions and conduct.
DIVINE STANDARD Verse 49,.
Jesus next turns TO emphasize the first or
the above reasons. There is ever q disposi-
ton among men to measure themselves by
other men, to adopt the maxims and prac-
tGeS tflstt Current IN society. as II u
were enough to be and do like others No
one needs to he told that such a standard
is necessarily imperfect, that even the best
OF men refuse TO set themselves as patterns.
Wherefore. Jesus puts forth another and u
sufficient rule. The disciple must strive
after perfection even God IL perfect. O
rule taught also by the apostle. This per
lection may not be absolute-not Divine.
but human. There may be a perfect man
as truly as perfect God. (qen., xvii:iD
In both God and man spiritual perfection
Is attained when love is dominant. John.
iH:16) An English divine of the eighteenth
century said: so to love God with all the
heart and the neighbor as ones self that
out of this fountain of love to God ana
man may flow all the actions Of life this is
Christian perfection" II this principle
could gain control. lying and fighting would
cease and society would be transformed
CLOSING THOUGHTS. - There are
those who think that this whole passage
was intended only for the immediate fol-
lowers of Christ; that He gave to those who
then gathered about Him prudential regu-
lattons suited to their work; that these in
structions are impraoticahle In our day or
strenuous living. This view cannot be &C
Septed. for. If 1t were. all the teaching or
Jesus must be included under the same
head. and 1t would then follow that He
gave no permanent message to the world.
These truths We're evidently spoken for all
times. They form an essential part of the
Christian system and are in full harmony
with all the utterances of our Lord. 1t is
the duty of all who believe in Christ 70
struggle toward this high ideal Of life. The
world will advance in virtue and IN order a
these precepts are loved and obeyed. Tre
largest triumphs of the gospel are yet TO be-
made. The kingdom of truth is coming.
Gentle speech, non-resistance and universal
love will hasten Its coming.