The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOI
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 12.

Sons, Luke Xv., 11.32-Golden
Text, Mat. ill.,, = Memory
Verses II, 1S. -.
]. Leaving home Tvs. 11-13). H..
IA certain man" The simple, un-
| pretentious beginning of the most
beautiful of all parallels. The man
is here the image of God the Father.
1.-TWO sons" The two sons may be
said to be representatives of man
kind, for we have in them examples
| of two great phases of alienation
from God the elder is blinded by
self-righteousness, the younger de-
| graded by his unrighteousness. ~.
THE younger" He represents open
ly wicked persons, such as the pub
licans and sinners. He also repre-
sents the thoughtless, careless youth.
13. Not many days" He had
decided upon his course and hast
ened to be gone. This shadows forth
the rapidity (1) of national and (2)
| individual degeneracy. Gathered
all together" Sinners who go astray
from God venture their all. TOOK
his Journey" He was weary of his
! fathers government and desired
I greater liberty. The journey the
prodigal took represents the sinner
in his departure from God. He went
into far country" far from truth.
II. In deep distress Tvs. 14-16).
IA. Spent ALL" He did not stop
until his last dollar was gone. "A
mighty famine" The soul living at
a distance from God, and shut out
from intercourse with Him, will very
soon feel it's utter emptiness. A
mighty famine will follow. "1n
want" Real want is soul want.
IS. Joined himself to a citizen"
The same wicked life that before was
represented by riotous living is here
represented by servile living, for sim
ners are perfect slaves. The devil is
the citizen of that country; he is
both in city and country. ITO feed
swine" This was doubly degrading,
and especially 30 to Jew.
16. with the husks." The husks
were not the pods of some other
fruit, but 1.-The fruit of the carob-tree,
used. for feeding swine" He was
driven to the extremity Of trying to
satisfy his hunger with the food that
was fit only for swine. So sinners
endeavor to satisfy the soul with
earthly and sensual delights.
III. The decision to return home
Tvs. 17-19).
IT. He came to himself" Sin
dethrones the reason. A state of sin
is a state of folly and madness, but
the madness is in the heart (Eccl.
9:3). Bread enough and to spare"
The lowest in my fathers house has
bread to give to the poor. Gods
people are abundantly supplied with
good things. II perish" Sinners
will not come to Christ until they see
themselves ready to perish. 18. II
will arise" He had left home Of his
own free will, and he must return
in the same way. God compels no
one to do right. And 60" Follow
ing the decision there must be an ef-
fort put forth. In returning to God
there is something to do. Il have
sinned." The first thing to do is to
make a full confession of our sins
(1 John i:9; Job 1927, 28).
Against heaven" Against God.
Every sin is a sin against God. 1s.
No more worthy" He is ready to
humble himself. He knows that in
justice his father could shut the door
against him; he pleads for mercy.
". The return and the welcome
Tvs. 20-24).
20. He arose." He Immediately
did all of these things that he had
decided upon. Great way of" He
was coming slowly, in rags, in dis.
grace, questioning about his well
come. Father saw him." The
father was ever watching for his re.
turn. So God knows when we start
toward Him. "And ram etc. This
represents the readiness with which
God receives returning sinners. FL.
THE son said" He makes his con-
fession; he aliases himself.
90. But the father" The faith.
er did not wait until he had finished
his confession. In this we see the
great affection of the father and his
willingness to forgive. Said to his
servants" The fathers JOY is full
and he instantly issues orders to
celebrate his return. Bring forth
quickly" (R. V.)-Let US show at
once by our actions that the wander.
er is fully forgiven and reinstated.
put a ring on his hand" A sign
of affection.
%. BE merry" Be joyful and
happy. The Bible gives the children
of God license to shout for joy. "a.
WAS dead" Lost to all good, giver
up to all evil. us alive again." Hers
was special cause for rejoicing. Who
would not be a nartaker of this JOY?
V. The elder brother Tvs. $500.
2S. He was angry" Our Lord
now holds up to the murmuring
Pharisees a likeness Of themselves.
AS the elder brother is angry at the
Joy which welcomes the prodigal
home from his wanderings, so have
these men murmured at the mercy
with which Jesus has received the
publican and the sinner. "lntreated
him" AS Jesus was then entreating
the captious Pharisees not to spurn
the repenting outcasts. 90, 80. In
these verses Jesus gives, in parable,
the substance of the Pharisaic muir
murings: We are better than others
and should have great respect and
Difference paid US; but you have left
us and interested yourself in these
publicans and sinners. 81. ALI
thine" All is within thy reach. If
you do not enjoy my bounty it is be-
cause you will not. Notice that the
parable leaves the elder brother on
the outside, stubbornly refusing to
eater.