The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 26.

faCtS connected with SalVation.
l.. JESUS and the ruler Tvs. It.
22). II. WAS gone forth" From
the house where He had blessed the
children Tvs. 1870. He now starts
again on His journey to Jerusalem.
Came one running" From this and
parallel accounts we learn that this
man was, (1) young, (2) rich, CD a
ruler-probably of a synagogue and
possibly a member of the %Sanhedrin,
"a J very moral, go humble-he fell
at Jesus feet, (6) IN earnest-he
came running, Cd anxious to learn
he came as an inquirer; but he
was also Cd seif-righteous, CD ig-
norant concerning spiritual truth,
90 unwilling to give up his earthly
possessions and worldly prospects,
(4) unwilling to trust all to Christ.
"Kneeled." In this he was showing
Jesus great respect and was recog-
nizing Him as a spiritual authority
above the priest or rabbi. Master"
Or teacher. What shall I do" etc.
His question shows that he believes
in a future state; he was not a Sad
ducee. Eternal life" The divine
life implanted in the soul by the
Holy Spirit. 1t begins in this life
but will endure forever. IS. why
calIest thou Me good?" Christ did
not say that He was not good, or was
not God. If the young man called
Christ good" the question Jesus
asked would lead directly to His d.
vinity.
40. The commandments" Ac-
eordihg to Matthew Jesus said, IF
thou wilt, enter into life, keep the
commandments" The young man
asked Jesus which special or great
commandment He referred to. Jesus
replied by elumerating the COM
mandments in this verse. He re-
ferred only to the second table Of the
law, which relates to the duties Of
a. to man.
r. 20. Have I observed" He was
strictly moral and had lived a good
life outwardly. He then asked
l(Matt. 1920 what he lacked yet.
He was conscious of a lack in his
spiritual life, and this question was a
serious inq Jury as to it's cause.
81. "Jesus-loved him." The Sa-
viour was drawn toward him. He
saw in the young man great POSSIBLE
tiles. Sell - give" Jesus struck
right at the centre of the young
mans difficulty. He was ready to
give all to God but his property; this
was the ,"one thing over which he
was about to stumble and fall. %.
Went away ~grieyed." His counter
ance fell and he went away sorrow
full. He went away reluctantly, but
he went. He wanted eternal life,
but he wanted his possessions more.
II. Jesus statement concerning
riches Tvs. 23-2O., 20. How hard
ly." etc. That is, they shall enter
with great difficulty. This is amply
confirmed by experience. Rich men
seldom become true Christians. =
: a.. Trust in riches" Here is
the. danger, the place where many a
rich man will lose his soul. Riches
cannot drive away anxiety. They
cannot purchase contentment. They
cannot buy friends. They cannot
lure sleep. They cannot buy appre-
citation. They cannot bride death.
They cannot purchase eternal life.
25. THE eye of a needle" 1t
has been suggested that the needles
eye was assmall gate, leading into
the city, intended only for foot pas
sengers, and that the camel could
only Squeeze through with the great
est difficulty, but "it is now generally
thought that the calling this small
gate the needles eye, is modern
custom. and not in use in the time OF
Christ" &c. "Astorished." Like
all Jews, they had been accustomed
to regard worldly prosperity as a
special mark of the favor OF God.
WHO then can be sayed?" All men
by nature share the anne guilt and
love Of the world.
81. with men it is impossible"
According to the power and ability
Of men this is impossible, but God,
by Ills power, is able to so: save a
man that even the things that al
Iured him most will lose their attrac-
ton to him.
= III. Rewards of following Christ
Tvs. 2S-31). 2S. Have left ALL"
Their boats and nets and fish and
father were everything to them. 20.
That hath left house." etc. In the
days of Jesus those who followed
Him were obliged, generally, TO 1or-
sake house and home, and to attend
Him. In our time it is not often re-
uuired that we should literally leave
them, but it is always required that
we love them less than we do Him.
so. AN hundredfold." There
are few greater promises than this.
This is symbolical, and expresses an
~mmeaSurabl BILE advantage Houses"
etc. Not literally a hundred houses,
etc., but he obtains a hundredfold
more of Joy and satisfaction than he
loses. What was a barren rock be-
fore becomes a gold mine" with
prosecutions" That is, he must ex-
pect prosecutions in this world.
Eternal life" Which will infinite
ly more than make up for all the
Christians trials here. Here are
ages of enjoyment that no arithmetic
can compute; can of pleasure,
whose majestic pillows rise from the
Geuths OF infinitude. and break on no
shore. 81. First snail be last"
Tie lesson intended to be taught
here is that those VINO occupy impor-
tant positions and VINO appear to be
first in labor and wisdom here may
Mace to others who have been OF less
in the next world be forced to give
enown here. God does not measure
% en- as we do.
x,,:1, r,1-o Civ Priuatc Roads.