The Tupelo journal., 1906-07-06
The Duty of
Forgiveness
Sunday School Lesson for July8 8. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Matt! 1s:21-S5. Men,
DRY verses 81, %.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Forgive US our
debts as we forgive our debtors" Matt.
6:12.
TIME.-Summer A. D. 20, Immediately
following last lesson.
PLACE.-Capernaum, near the Sea OF
aGlilee.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - For
%giveness of God, as an example OF our
forgiving: Elk. 20;6; BAT; Mum l4:i6, z
Sam. 1913: 2 Chron. TIA; Ell. 9.H; rs
32:1: 81; 1888; 1892; 1904; Prov. 2S:l3; lisa.
IFS: 4s:25:' 55:7: Jer. s:22; s1:34; Eek.
18:31; 1925; Dan. go: Hos. 14:4; Mic. 7:lS;
Matt. 5:45: 6:14; Mark S:2s; Luke III;
Acts 5:31; 26:1S; Rom. Pa; 80; 1913; Eph.
II: PAT; Col. 2:13; 1 John 1:9. forglv-
ing one another: Prov. Bill; Matt. 5:Z5,
"a; 6:14; 1921, %; Mark 11:25; Luke e;S,'
ia; 1f:3. 5; 2 Cor. 2:7; Eph. Az Col
3:13; l Pet. 3:9. Forgiving nemies PROV.
24:17. 10; 25:2l. %; Matt. 5:44; Luke o:z''
Rom. 12:1t, 1920. Parable illustrating
forgiveness: % Forgiveness of Goa
Matt. 1~S:12-14; Luke Is. ~ Our part IN
forgiveness: Matt. ~1S:23-3o; Luke 7;4l-oo'
Examples of forgiveness: Joseph tGen.
45:5-1D; Moses (Num. 12:l. 49,; Davld u
sam. 24:7:1 $3.50; Christ duke ESD;
stephen ACTS 100; Paul q Tim 4:l6l.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
VS.. 1920. In our last lesson we
were warned against giving offense'
Here we are taught what to do when
we are the receivers; for offenses are
sure to come. Everyone receives
criticisms and wrongs which try his
temper to the utmost. Especially is
this true of the ambitious spirits who
seek to be first, as described in our
last lesson. AS Prof. Bruce says,
can ambitious nan is sure to be the
receiver of many %offenses, real or
imaginary. He is quick to take Of
tense, and slow to forgive or forget
wrong" But the danger assails all
classes, and even the very young.
l. Go to him privately and alone.
If our object is to gain u brother
and help him to do right. we will
not make known the wrong to others,
make it a matter of notoriety; for
that makes the settlement far more
difficult. His pride, or even self-re.
spect, will tend to keep him from &C
knowledging his fault. This is a most
important principle. The wise head
of a great asylum told me that in deal,
ing with the insane it was of the ut
most Importance to keep away the
audience; and that almost everyone
was Influenced by the presence Of 9TH
ers. The wisest teacher of my &C.
quaintance deals in the same way
with his boys. Deal with them alone
whenever 1t is possible. Thus thy
brother will be most likely to hear
thee, and thou hast gained thy broth
salvation, for a Christian life, and
probably al a friend.
2. If this fails, then the next step
is to get help from one or two others;
and If this fails, from the larger com
munity. II this fails, he is to be to
you a heather. and a publican, out.
side of your religious and social com.
pany, but not outside of your love
and care and desire to help. (See
Rom. 1919, 20.) In all cases the OBJ
ject is not revenge, but to save and
help the offender. Henry Ward
DStCIcI uSSu " say lila AC loOhCd
upon those who maligned him, and
said bitter things against him, as sick
people whom he must try to cure of
their moral disease.
Then follows a principle concerning
prayer. In the familiar discourse of
Jesus with his disciples it was natural
to change from one topic to another.
But this, coming between two discus
sions on injuries and the treatment
of those who injure us. is appropri-
ate. 1t implies that Jesus understood
that his precept was very hard to
practice, almost beyond human pow
err till filled with the spirit of God.
Therefore he urges not, simply prayer,
but united prayer, even of two or
three if more cannot be obtained. For
they mutually encourage each other
in faith and earnestness. Two fire
brands together make a larger, hotter
fame than if they were separated.
"We must not fancy that God has a
rartiality for a little meeting, or that
there is any virtue in a small num-
her."-Bruce.
VS.. 81, %. Bishop Warren suggests
that the preceding discourse on for
giveness had so stirred up Peter that
he put it into practice. Found fault
with often, as impetuous men are apt
to be, he asks how long he is to bear
it. The rabbis said forgiveness was
to be exercised three times" Compare
Amos IA and Job 1929 (margin).
VS.. 1927. A Contract Between Two
Debts. %. ga certain king. which
would take account Of" Better as
R. ", make a reckoning with" his
servants, his officers, as governors or
mobiles who were farmers Of taxes.
v. "a. Zone was brought unto him."
No debtor would come of his own &C
cord. lowed him 10000 talents"
According to the Oxford Cyclopedic
Concordance, a talent of silver in
New Testament times equaled 5000
denarii (the pence Of the %parable).
So that a talent wa about 1870, and
the 1 1000 talents So, 700, 900. Harper's
Classical Dictionary makes the
amount a little over $4,000, 900.
Practical Application.
$50 likewise shall my heavenly Fa,
Their do also unto you, If We from
your hearts," Not merely in form
- =, uordc not a sham or lin nor.