Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-05-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 8.

Subject; The Gontile woman's Faith
Mark VIII, 24.3O-Golden TeEt: Matt.
xv., as Memory Verse. 80 - Topic:
| Infringing tho Unsaved to Christ.
l. In heather borders ". 24). "a.
"From thence He arose." That is, af-
! ter delivering the discourses at Caper-
! naum. Borders of Tyre and Sidon."
| Tyre and SdOn were heather cities OH
the east coast of the Mediterranean
Sea- Their religion was 4 base and
corrupting nature -lrorship. Beelze-
bub, the name adopted by the Jews as
| q name for Satan, was one of their del
| ties who was supposed to be the author
| OF "all the pOllutiOns of idol Worship"
"Into an house." In all probability the
house of Jew. Edersheim thinks He
must have tarried here several days;
| the fact that He desired to be kept
| hid, but could not, would suggest this
mo man knew it," He judged 1t pro-
per to conceal Himself awhile from the
| rharisecs, who were plotting against
Him. could not be hid" 1t seems
that He was personally known to many
in this country, who had seen and
| heard Him in Galilce.
III. A mothers request Tvs. %, 26).
%. "Whose young daughter" The
actual suffcrings of the daughter were
! great, but the sulferings which the
mother endured by sympathy were still
| greater. "An unclean spirit" Mat
| thew says her daughter was "griev-
ously vexcd with a devil" This was
J certainly sad case. Nothing can de-
| stroy the peace OF home more than
/ to have a daughter possessed with Sa-
tanic influences. The spirit that pos
sesscd this girl was an unclean-a vile
spirit. AT His feet" This at once
shows the humility of the woman.
2G. "WOman was Greek" by
| language. The Jews called those who
were idolatcrs Greeks, or GCntiles. "A
| Syrophcnician by nation A Syro-
Phoenician. Phocnicia belonged to the
| Roman province Syria. She was Sy-
rian of Phocnicia. Matthew says she
twas woman of Canaan "Bc-
sought Him." Earnestly entreated
| Him. The .asc was an urgent one,
and on her knees at His feet she
poured out her request Would cast
forth" She believed He had power to
| do this. Matthew says she "rricd unto
Him saying, Have mercy on me. .
Lord, Thou son of David She plead
for mercy; she knew she could make
no claim upon Him in any other way.
"The devil" etc. Here Is Il plain.
! straightforward confessions. There IS
no effort to cover up the family trou-
blcs. and gloss over matters. and make
it appear that, after all, le' caugltc'
Is "qulte respectable
III. Faith tested ". 90. -. "JcSu>
said" This womau's discouraged
were great: /. Her advantages had
| been small. She was a heather Woln-
! an with but little means of even OBJ
| tanning the light of the Hebrew Scrip
| lures. 9. At first Jesus did moi reply
/ TO her request Matt. 15:2H. 3. when
Jesus did speak He seemed 10 rcpcl
! her. The soul seeking salvation fire.
quently meets these same tests, and
many become discouraged by .hcm
| The disciples were annoyed. They
said, "Scnd her away, for she cricth at-
ter us" This has been greatly lnsun-
dcrstood. TO "scnd her away" accord
/ ing to Oriental iliomS ~-o''d be to
grant ner requ, st, cure her child and
let her 90. The children" The Jews.
First be filled" They re the favored
people. The gospel was first to be Of
fcred to the Jews. and to them our
Lords personal ministry on earth was
chiefly restricted. "Not meet" 1t Is
not suitable-not the proper thing to
do. "Childrcn's bread" 10 take those
blessings that belong to the Jews.
unto the dogs" For dogs read
"littlc dogs" household pets, such as
ran around the table at meal time. This
| of nj Com
tiles were considered by the Jewish
people as no better than dogs, and
Jesus only used form of speech which
was common; but it must have been
very offensive to the heather. Would
this woman resent it? Would her pride
at last be stirred? No. She "shrunk
and shrlvelcd" into nothingness at His
feet, and her faith still held on for the
desired blessing.
". Faith rewarded Tvs. $500. %.
'Yes, Lord" Truth. Lord" (Matt).
1t is all so. The Jews-the favored
ones ought to be blessed first | know
l am q hcathen-only Gentle dog.
"Yet" Now follows U an answer to
His argument against entertaining her
petition, and (2) most touching APP
peal to His clemcncy. "The dogs-eat
of the chlldrcn's crumbs" | only ask
such kindness as the dogs of any fam
lily enjoy. If l am dog give me at
least dogs fare.
%. "For this saying" Her faith
had triumphcd. Jesus said, 30 wom-
an, great is thy faith" Matt.). Her
faith was great in its earnestness, its
humility, Its overcoming great obsta-
cies.' The hindrances thrown in the
wonan's way only tended to increase
her faith. "The devil is gone out"
Now, at this very moment, thy request
is granted. Though our Lords mission
was to the lost sheep of Israel, yet He
always honored personal faith in Him.
self, wherever found. Persevering faith
and prayer are next to Omnipotent. No
person can thus pray and believe with
out receiving all his soul requires.
This woman had asked a crumb, and
had received a whole loaf of the chill
dren's bread. Although a heathen she
now took her place by the side of Jacob
aud Moses, for she had prevailed.
"Of thy daughter" Her faith Is pecu-
liar in that it obtains BLESSING for an
other. Her intcrcession was success
full. Children who have praying par
ents should be thankful. Here is also
an encouragement for praying parents.
so. Laid upon the bed" A sign of
her perfectly tranquil condition; the
demon had previously driven her hith-
er md thither.