The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-05
The Duty Of
Forgiveness
Sunday School Lesson for July 8. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


debts as we forgive our debtors. Matt
612
TIME.--summer A. d. 20, Immediately |
following last lesson.
PLACE.-Capernaum, near the Sea OF
aGlilee.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - For-
giveness Of God. as an example OF our
forgiving: Ex. 2O.6; 347; Mum. 14:ls; 2
Sam. 1913: Chron. 7l4; eh. 911; Ps |
s21; 81; 1888: 1882: 1904; Prov. 2s:lS; 1sa |
lis; 1925; 555 Jer. S:22; 1:%; Ezek'
1881; 1926; Dan. 9:9; Hos. 4a4; Mic. 7:lS;
Matt 5i5; 6:14 Mark 3:2s; Luke l7I;
Acts 5:3l; 2e:1s; Rom. 2i S;2; 1o1S: Eph'
III; 2I-7; Col. 213; John 1:9. Forgiv-
ing one another: Prov. l9-1l; Matt 6;ZS'
"a; 6:ii; 1874, 22; Mark HE'S; Luke 6:S1;
tl:I; 1873, 5; Cor. 2:7; Eph. 4:32; Col.
3:13; Pet $50. Forgiving enemies: Prov.
A:l7 "a; 1921. %; Matt 5:ii; Luke 6:N;
Rom, 92:14. 1920 Parables Illustrating
Matt. 1s:i2-14 Luke Is. D Our part In
forgiveness: Matt. 1s;23-35; Luke n.so
Examples of forgiveness: Joseph Zen.
4j:5-1D Moses CNum. 1871. 13), David u
Sam. 247; 26:0; Christ duke n,N);
Stephen (Acts 1900; Paul q Tim. +;iel.
Comment and Suggestive Thought
VS.. 1920. In our last lesson we
were warned against giving offense
Here we are taught what to do when
we are the receivers; for offenses are
sure to come. Everyone receives
criticisms and wrongs which try his
temper to the utmost. Especially Is
this true of the ambitious spirits who
seek to be first, as described In our
last lesson. AS Prof. Bruce says,
"An ambitious man is sure to be the
receiver of many offenses, real or
imaginary. He is quick to take Of
fense. and slow to forgive or forget
wrong" But the danger assails all
classes. and even the very young.
1. Go to him privately and alone.
II our object Is to gain our brother
and help him to do right, we will
not make known the wrong to others.
make II matter Of notoriety; for
that makes the settlement far more
difficult. His pride. or even self.re-
spect, will tend to keep him from ac.
knowledging his fault. This is most
important principle. The wise head
Of great asylum told me that in deal
ing with the insane 1t was of the ut
most importance to keep away the
audience; and that almost everyone
was Influenced by the presence Of 9th.
ers. The wisest teacher of my ac-
quaintance deals In the same way
with his boys. Deal with them alone
whenever It Is possible Thus thy
brother will be most likely to hear
thee, and thou hast gained thy broth.
| or. gained him for righteousness, for
salvation. for Christian life. and
probably as a friend.
2. II this fails, then the next step
is to get help from one or two others;
and II this falls. from the larger com
munity. II this fails, he is to be to
you a heathen. and a publican. out.
side of your religious and social COM
pany. but not outside Of your love
and caro- and desire to help. (See
Rom. 1910. 20.) In all cases the OBJ.
jer. is not revenge. but to save and
help the offender. Henry Ward
Beecher used to say that he looked
upon those who maligned him. and
said bitter things against him. as sick
people whom he must try to cure Of
their moral disease.
Then follows a principle concerning
prayer In the familiar discourse OF
Jesus with his disciples 1t was natural
to change from one topic to another.
But this. coming between two discus.
sions on injuries and the treatment
of those who injure us, Is appropri.
ate. II implies that Jesus understood
that his precept was very hard to
practice, almost beyond human pow.
er till filled with the spirit OF God
Therefore he urges not simply prayer
but united prayer, even Of two or
three II more cannot be obtained. Fol-
they mutually encourage each other
in faith and earnestness. Two fire
brands together make larger, hotter
flame than II they were separated
1--WE must not fancy that God has q
partiality for little meeting. or that
there is any virtue in a small mum
ber. Bruce.
VS.. 21, 22. Bishop Warren suggests
that the preceding discourse on for
giveness had so stirred up Peter thai
he put Il into practice. Found fault
with often, as impetuous men are ap
to be, he asks how long he is to beal
It. The rabbis said forgiveness wai
to be exercised three times" Compare
Amos "a and Job 49,: 29 (margin).
VS.. 1927. A Contract Between TIVE
Debts. 23. "a certain king. which
would take account Of" Better al
r. ". make a reckoning with" hi
servants. his officers. as governors o.
mobiles who were farmers Of taxes.
Y. "a. "One was brought unto him.
No debtor would come of his own &C
cord Owed him 10000 talents.
According to the Oxford Cyclopedi
Concordance. a talent Of silver II
New Testament times equaled 500
denarii (the pence Of the parable)
SO that talent was about 1910, an,
the 10000 talents $S,700.000. Harper
Classical Dictionary makes tn
amount a little over $10.00O.O00.
Practical Application.
80 likewise shall my heavenly Fs
ther do also unto you, II ye fror
your hearts" f!ot merely in forr
and in words. not sham or lip pal
don. but real. unreserved, endurin
, pardon, repeated times without nun
, ber as the occasion demands.
I. Only those who forgive. can 4
the nature of things. receive forgive
, ness with Its blessings
2. Our first duty Is. therefore, to b
forgiving toward all those who 81
against us. We cannot even sincerel