Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
for SUNDAY Scbools.
STAR LESSON FOR JULY 20.
BY Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DID,,

SECRETARY OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RELIGIOUS EpucA,


disapprovai. as In that case He would have
been a party to it, and His after reaching
as Wen as His earlier teaching would hava
peen without force {Natthew y:s3 Re-
sloes. some of His disciples were probably
present and He was training them 10 bo
His followers and eNponents This was a
favorable time 10 give them a lesson His
words OF rebuke were delivered IN an ex-
seeoney gentle manner. He showed not
the esii OF pride and ambition which had
oeen displayed, but the possible danger to
which u exposed the guests They might
De removed TO a lower station TO give place
20 one OF more honor. and then they would
De covered with shame. the outcome OF all
self-seeking
ADVISED oversees 10. 1D.-This very
practical direction must have secured a
ready nearing. for all present might see
the wisdom of the remark. Jesus was
therefore prepared to give the positive side.
covering what was proper and wise on such
occasions When bad practice is con-
oemned good practice should be COM
mended. He advised all guests TO select
the lowest seat and to wait for the recog-
milton which IL was the right OF the host to
oestow. That recognition would secure the
honor OF all the others, and the end sought
would be gained. This advice was not new
IL was in harmony with the wisdom OF
oriental scholars, and IL had been expressed
oy one OF the wisest of men proverbs.
xx:e, 4 No one could fail to see that Jesus
had given good counsel. But He went ON
further to confirm and explain what He
had thas advised. The man who exaits
himself Is sure to be abased because others
despise him, while he who humbles himself
Will be praised for his humility, a quality
which they admire who do not possess 1t.
1t would seem that Jesus did not under
value honor Proverbs xxx :23) when
rightly obtained.
BLESSED oversees 12-14).-Attentlon
had thus far been directed TO the guests,
who had learned a lesson which they great
ly needed. Then Jesus turned to the host.
II Dity that a who would viva
dinner should invite such people TO his
table, and his mistake must be shown. He
had called friends, brethren and rich
neighbors, the persons who naturally
sought social distinction, who acted out
their real disposition. and he had done this
expecting that he would In turn receive like
recognition. 1t was therefore a purely COM
mercial transaction in which honor was
bought and sold. The mere statement Of
the case was enough to show how utterly
heartless and worthless was all such inter-
course, and even how surely were bad quail
tiles cultivated Jesus next called atten-
ton to different kind OF feast, in which
the guests would be respectful and thank
ful-a feast composed of poor and unfortu-
nate, who could make no social recon-
pense, but who would therefore claim no
distinction. In that case the host would
receive all that spiritual profit which comes
from generous deed. the fullness of which
would appear in life to come.
SUMMARY.-The two parts of our
lesson, as stated in the introduction and
explained herein. present the two opposite
phases of religion, the first the most COM
mon, the second the most beautiful. Le-
galism, which is Phariseeism, requires con-
formity TO law and deals alone with con-
duct, utterly disregarding the state of the
heart and opposing those who would do
good. Humility. which Is prime virtue
and an invariabe mark of goodness (James,
iv:6), seeks not its own honor, but confers
blessings others and finds reward in the
consciousness of high motive and holy en-
deavor, a reward which follows into the
realities of the unseen world. In this mar
rative Jesus has stripped the mask from
the hypocrites OF His time. those who
moved in fashionable circles, whom He de-
nounced on other occasions as whited sep
ulchres (Matthew, Xxiii:20. He has also
given to all time the true Interpretation Of
law as made for mans good. and the true
rule of social converse as des gned to ele-
vate and bless and not corrupt and de-
grade. A heart filed with love viii minis
ter to the needy and refrain from selfish
department. Make the heart right and It
will regulate conduct (Matthew, xii:35).