The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-06
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 8.

xv., 20 Memory Verse, 30 Topic:
Bringing the Unsaved to Christ.
1. In heather borders ". 24). "a.
From thence He arose" That is, al
ter delivering the discourses at Caper-
naum. Borders of Tyre and Sidon."
Tyre and Sidon were heather cities on
the east coast of the Mediterranean
Sea. Their religion was a base I'M
corrupting nature worship. Beelze-
bub, the name adopted by the Jews as
a 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 a 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 it pro.
per to conceal Himself awhile from the
Pharisees, who were plotting against
Him. Gould not be hid" 1t seems
that He was personally known to many
in this country, who had seen and
heard Him in Galilee.
IL. A mothers request Tvs. %, 26).
Is. "Whose young daughter" The
actual sufferings of the daughter were
great, but the sufferings which the
mother endured by sympathy were still
greater. can unclean spirit" Mat
thew says her daughter was "grieV-
ously yeXed with a devil" This was
certainly a sad case. Nothing can de-
stroy the peace Of a home more tina
to have a daughter possessed with Sa-
tanic influences. The spirit that pos
sessed this girl was an ~unclean-a vile
spirit. "At His feet" This at once
shows the humility Of the woman.
&c. woman was a Greek" BY
Language. The Jews called those who
were idolaters Greeks, or Gentiles. "A
Syrophenician by nation" A Syro-
Phoenician. Phoenicia belonged to the
Roman province Syria. She was a Sy-
rian of Phoenicia. Matthew says she
was a woman of Canaan" Be
sought Him." Earnestly entreated
Him. The case vas 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 "cried unto
Him saying, Have mercy on me, Q
Lord, Thou son of David" She plead
for mercy; she knew she could make
no claim upon Him in I'M other way.
1.-THE devil" etc. Here is a plain,
straightforward confession. There is
no effort to cover up the family trou-
bles, and gloss yer matters. and make
it appear that, after all, her caughtef
is "quite respectable"
III. Faith tested ". ~. p. Jesus
said.", This woman's discouragements
were great: /. Her advantages had
been small. She was a heather Wom-
IN, with but little means Of even OBJ
tanning the light of the Hebrew Scrip
lures. 2. At first Jesus did not reply
to her request Matt. 1924. 3. When
Jesus did speak He seemed to repel
her. The soul seeking salvation fire.
quently meets these same tests, and
many become discouraged by. them.
The disciples were annoyed. They
said, "Send her away, for she crieth at
ter u.s." This has been greatly misun-
derstood. To "send her away" accord
ing to Oriental idioms ~ou.d be. to
grant her request. cure her child and
let her go. THE children" The Jews.
First be filled" They ere the favored
people. The gospel was first to be Of
fered to the Jews, and to them our
Lords personal ministry on earth was
chiefly restricted. mot meet" 1t Is
not suitable-not the proper thing to
do. "Children's bread" To take those
blessings that belong to the Jews.
Unto the dogs" For dogs read
"little dogs" household pets, such as
ran around the table at meal time. This
was the severest test of all. The Cen
tiles were considered by the Jewish
people as no better than dogs, and
Jesus only used a 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 shriveled" into n~othingness at His
feet, and her faith still held on for the
desired blessing.
w. Faith rewarded Tvs. $500. 2S.
eyes, Lord" Truth, Lord" (Matt.).
1t is all so. The Jews-the favored
ones ought to be blessed first. l know
I am a heathen-only a Gentle dog.
"Yet." Now follows o. an answer to
His argument against entertaining her
petition, and (2) a most touching APP
peal to His clemency. 1.-The dogs-eat
Of the children's crumbs" I only ask
such kindness as the dogs of any fam
lily enjoy. If 1 am a dog give me at
least a dogs fare.
90. For this saying" Her faith
had triumphed. Jesus said, 20 won.
an, great is thy faith" (Matt.). Her
faith was great in its earnestness, its
humility, its overcoming great obsta-
cles." The hindrances thrown in the
woman'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. P~erSevering 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 heather she
now took her place by the side of Jacob
and Moses, for she had prevailed.
"Of thy daughter" Her faith is pecu-
liar in that it obtains a BLESSING for all
other. Her intercession was success
full. Children who have praying par
ents should be thankful. Here is also
an encouragement for praying parents.
80. Laid upon the bed" A sign Of
her perfectly tranquil condition: the
demon had previously driven her hith.
er and thither.