The Tupelo journal., 1906-06-08
PETERS GREAT
CONFESSION
Sunday School Lesson iorJu TO- 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


LESSON TExT.-Matt. 1e:1s-2S; Mem
ory verses "a, 25.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Thou art the Christ
the Son of the Living God."-Matt. 1915.
TIME.-Autumn A. d. 20. soon after
the last lesson.
PLACE.-About 25 miles northeast of
the Sea of Galilee.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Foun
dation Stories: q Pet. 2:i-10; see 1 Cor.
S:10-H; Rev. 21:19, 20 lisa. 2S:16, II; Eph.
2:20, etc. The word church: Matt.
1917; Acts 2:47: 5:11: 1873; Rom. 1885, Eph.
5:24-32; Heb. 1928; Rev. 81, etc. 'Hades":
Acts 2:27, 81; Luke 16:23 Matt. 11:23; Rev.
lis, etc. Distinguish it from "Gehenna":
Matt 5:22;Jas. 3:6, etc. Cross-bearing:
Matt 1928, 80; Gal. 6:14; Heb. 1872; ROM
Sc; Gal. 2:20. etc.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. 13. when Jesus came" When in
his journeying in northern Palestine
he reached this point. Where he came
from, is not stated. "The coasts"
('parts"). The near villages, asked
his disciples" When he was walk
ing with them after season of prayer
(Luke 9:18).
V. IA. Some say :. John the Bap-
tist." Herod, probably also his court.
held this opinion. Some Elias" Eli
jah had been translated e Kings 2:
III, and there was among the Jews
an expectation, founded on the proph-
ecy of Nal. As, that he would return.
"Jeremias." jeremiah "One of the
prophets" Some other one of the an
cient prophets.
" TX "Wbop, coz vo on Tho emnha
sis should be placed on ye. What
others think of Christ is a matter of
little moment to us, compared with our
own opinion of him.
V. 16. Simon Peter answered" He,
as the most ready speaker of the COM
pany, spoke for all. Thou art the
Christ" He declares the firm convic-
tion that Jesus is indeed the Anoint-
ed One, promised by God. Christ" is
the Greek term, Messiah" the He
brew word: both meaning "Anoint-
ed" "The Son." Not merely a son,
member of the human race, but the
Son-the true Son as corresponding ex-
actly in character with the Father;
one with God.
V. II. Blessed" Happy.
V. IS. Thou art Peter; upon this
rock" To appreciate the nice play of
words, we must recollect that Peter
means rock. Jesus had added Peter
to his previous name Simon, giving in
the name divine prophecy that the
tickle, vacillating man would, in time,
be transformed into a rock-like char
acter. In this great confession, We see
this new character manifested. Upon
this rock l will build my church"
Faith in Jesus as the visible express
sion of Gods character, is the rock
upon which Christ builds his church.
In various places in Scripture, as here,
the church is spoken of as building
of which Christ is "the chief corner
stone, the apostles and prophets ''foun-
dation stones"
v. 19. Keys of the kingdom" This,
as part of the commission, relates not
to Peter alone, but to the company of
apostles. Jesus thus gave them au-
thority to teach the truths of his king
dom.
v. 20. 'They should tell no man."
1t would be better that all should learn
to know and value Jesus for his real
worth, until at length, like the apos-
ties, they came to know for themselves
that he was the Christ.
V. q. From that time forth
Jesus had given early hints of his suf-
ferings, but from this time he began
to tell plainly that the way to his
kingdom was the way of love-of COM
plete self-giving. ~~7."
v. %. Get thee behind me, Satan"
Jesus finds Peter being used by the
prince of evil, that old enemy who mad
presented the same temptation to him
In the wilderness, when he offered to
give him the kingdom without the
cross, If he would fall down and wor-
ship him.
V. "a. eff any . will come after
me-" Be like me. "Let him deny him
self" Forget himself in living for God
and fellow-men. "And take up his
cross" Be ready in this loving spirit
to suffer and die for others, as I have
chosen to do.
V. 25. "Whosoever will" Whoever
determines to make this his first
aim Save his life" Secure ease and
pleasure during the present life. "Shall
lose it" Shall lose his higher spiritual
life; lose the blessedness of self-giv-
ing; self-giving is living.
v. 26. "Gain the whole world" OBJ
tain all the satisfaction that can pos
sibly flow from the possession OF
wealth and worldly distinction.
v. 27. For" This great balancing
of accounts is not mere figure of
speech, but will actually occur.
v. %. "Some not taste death,
till they see . kingdom" The full
fllment Of this has by some been ap-
piled to the scene of TRANSPORTATION,
which three of Jesus hearers wit
messed within week.
V. A. Christ Is as sadly misunder-
stood to-day as when he walked on
the earth.-1 Tim. Al.
Practical Points.
v. II. True views of Jesus Christ
are implanted by God in the human
heart Cor. 1878.
v. IS. Placing faith in Christ as the
visible expression of Gods character,
is laying the foundation-stone of true
religion Cor. 3:11.
v. "a. Being Christian is being
at heart as Christ was-John 1875.
v. rs. Self-forgetfulness in love for
o+horc ic tho heart Of Christianitv