The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-08-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 20.


Matt. xvi, "a - Topic: Great
Facts Connected With Salvation.
l. Jesus and the ruler Tvs. ~
S2) IL WAS gone forth. From
the house where He had blessed the
children Tvs. 1916. He now starts
agaln on His journey to Jerusalem.
Came one running" From this and
parallel accounts we learn that this
man was, ~ young, f2) rich, (3) a
ruler probably of synagogue and
/ possibly member of the Sanhedrin.
/ ~ very moral, 90 humble-he fell
at Jesus feet, t6) IN earnest-he
came running, Cd anxious to learn
he came as an inquirer; but he
was also Cd self-righteous, (2) ig-
norant concerning spiritual truth,
/ CD unwilling to give up his earthly
possessions and worldly prospects,
! "a unwilling to trust all to Christ.
'kneeled. In this he was showing
Jesus great respect and was recog-
nizing Him as spiritual authoritH
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 It begins in this life
but will endure forever. 49, why
callest thou Me good?" Christ did
not say that He was not good, or was
not God. IT the young man called
Christ good" the question Jesus
asked would lead directly to His di-
vinity.
10. THE commandments. Ac-
cording to Matthew Jesus said III
thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments" The young man
asked Jesus which special or great
commandment He referred to. jesus
replied by enumerating the COM
mandments in this verse. He re-
ferred only to the second table of the
law, which relates to the duties OF
man to man.
20. Have I observed. He was
strictly moral and had lived good
life outwardly He then asked
Matt. 1920 what he lacked yet.
He was conscious of lack in HE
spiritual life, and this question was
serious inquiry as to its cause.
21. 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 lone thing" over which he
was about to stumble and fall. %.
Went away grieved His countens
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 (vs. 23-27)- IS. 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
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.
Is. The eye OF needle" II
has been suggested that the needles
eye was small gate, leading into
the city, intended only for foot pas.
sengers, and that the camel could
est difficulty, but 1T 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. 'Astonished Like
all Jews, they had been accustomed
to regard worldly prosperity as
special mark Of the favor of God
Who then can be saved?" All mer
by nature share the same guilt and
love of the world
~ with men 1t is impossible
According to the power and ability
of men this is impossible, but Cod
by His power, is able to so save
man that even the things that ak
lured him most will lose their attraci
ton to him.
III. Rewards of following Chris
Their boats and nets and fish and
father were everything to them. 29
That hath left house, . etc. In th(
days of Jesus those who followed
Him were Obliged, generally, to for
sake house and home, and to attend
Him. In our time it is not often re-
quired that we should literally leave
them, but it il always required thai
we love them less than we do Him.
80. AN hundredfold There
are few greater promises than this
This is symbolical, and expresses ar
Unreasonable advantage. Houses
etc. Not literally a hundred houses
etc. but he obtains hundredfold
more of Joy and satisfaction than he
loses. What was barren rock be-
fore becomes a gold mine" with
prosecutions, That is, he must ex,
pects 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: oceans of pleasure,
whose majestic pillows rise from the
depths Of infnitude, and break on no
shore. 81. First shall be last. "
The lesson intended to be taught
here is that those who occupy impor-
tant positions and who appear to be
first in labor and wisdom here may
place to others who have been of less
in the next world be forced to give
renown here God does not meaDure
men as we do