The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-01-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY q.
subjecti The Temptation OF Jesus, Matt.
w.. 1-i1-Goiden Text, Heb. w.. 10
Memory Verse. 4-Topic; Study OF
ChrIat'a Tenptntlcn-- Commentary

]. "Incn. Imnenl0teIN aIlcf Ills
baptism. Such are the violent alterna-
tions of human experience; baptized
and tempted: approved of God and
handed over TO the devil Led up.
our lives are so ordered that we are
carried into places where the metal of
var religion is tried. Temptation is
part of the divine scheme. The devil
is under the control of God. Open the
page of history where you VIII and
YOU can hardly find the story of any
great, noble soul. that has not had its
hour of battle with the powers of dark
ness. "Of the spirit Luke says He
was "full of the Holy Chost:' Mark
says. The spirit driveth Him" A di-
vine influence led Him on Into the
wilderness" Tradition has fixed upon
n high ridge called Quarautania. near
Jericho. ITO be tempted Christ be-
gins His work with personal encOun-
teT with Satan 70 tempt is. literally,
20 stretch out. TO try the strength Of
Temptation is the testing Of person
The three temptations of Christ were
typical ones. comprehendlng all The
forms of temptation by which human
nature can be assailed They cover
the same ground as "the lust of the
pride of life" Il John PIG. THE dew
H." "Dlabolos," always in the singu-
lar and with the definite article
.. Forty days" Moses. Elijah
ana our Lord could fast forty days be-
cause they were in communion with
God and living heavenly life. Luke
says lie was tempted during the whole
forty days "Afterward an hungrcd.'
After the forty days were ended the
reaction came with terrible force.
H. The first temptation Tvs. 8. A.
g. The tempter came How Satan
appeared to Christ We do not know.
but if he came in bodily form 1t must
have been as an angel of light. III
Thou be- Beware OF temptation that
comes with an ''lf'' in It's mouth "The
Son of God" The consciousness of
His divine Sonship may now in IL
measure have been withheld. Alone
in the wilderness and weak and worn
from fasting. Satan saw his chance.
stones bread" You are hungry;
now if You are the Son of God use the
power You have to supply Your neces-
stiles and thus prove Your divinity
4 1T is written" See Deut. S:3.
In each case Jesus answered and de-
feated Satan by proper use of the
word of God. \ man who has scrip
ture hid in his heart has sharp sword
to fight the devil with. Not live by
bread alone" Human support depends
not on bread. but upon Gods unfailing
word of promise and pledge of all need
full proyidential care.
III. The second temptation Tvs. 80.
The order of the temptations is differ
ent in Luke, but this is immaterlal. as
there is no statement that insists on
any particular order. .. "Taketh
Him." SO far as the necessities of the
trial required. yet with no power of
violence or contamination. our Lords
person was in bis hand How else did
Satan take Him to the temples sum-
init or to the mountain top? Into the
holy city" Whedon believes that His
person was transported with the
quickness of a thought, so that He is
not to be conceived as on His way at
any intermediate point" There seems
little reason to doubt that Jesus actu-
ally went with Satan TO the pinnacle
of the temple. pinnacle" Probably
the royal porch built by Herod, over
looking the Cedron.
&. "If Thou be-" etc. Satan presses
his point. In His first reply to the
devil Jesus had shown His unbounded
confidence in God. Now Satan takes
Him at that very point and assumes
that If He did not cast Himself down
it would show that He lacked faith in
God and that His claim to divine Son
ship was unfOunded. Cast Thyself
down" Show your faith in God.
All the world will wonder at so grand
/ an exploit. Prove at once that You
are the Son of God at is written"
In Psalm Oil. -. The devil has a
Bible, but he misquotes and mlsapplies.
This was temptation to presump-
! tion. :. 1T is written again" In
Deut. GIG. There is always danger in
using isolated texts One text eS-
plains and modifies another. The Bible
is often perverted by wicked men.
Not tempt" To tempt God is to put
| Him to the proof-to demand evidence
of His power ana of His will to fulfil
His promises. instead of waiting pa
tiently and trusting. This is mani.
festly wrong. The first temptation ap-
pealed to the animal appetites. This
one rises to the higher sentiment, the
love of show-the qualification of ad
miration
". The third temptation Tvs. SID
s. Exceeding high mountain" Some
high mountain in Judea where n gen
eral view could be had OF the country
"Shcweth - Kingdoms of the world.
The root Of the third temptation lay IL
the supposition that the Kingdoms OF
the world were the devils Kingdoms
and that lie could dispose of them.
"All-glve Thee" BY this Satan evl
dently meant that he would Withdraw
his opposition to Christ and make Hin
n great earthly ruler. IF - WORSHIP
me-" Here the devil appears in hi
true character Christ was tempted t.
idolatry, which is the root of all evil
10. Get thee hence" Jesus parley
With him no longer, but with authority
commands him to 90 to his own place
II. Devil leaveth Him" Satal
had made the strongest effort of whicl
he was capable and had been bafied a
every point. angels" Heavenl
messengers; spiritual beings of high
er order than man. 'Mlnlstered.
Supplied Him with necessary food I
support nature.
Modern Version.
The king had just opened his lus
clous pie and the birds began I
sing
"Ye crowns" spoke the king. smacl
ing his lips. .but this is o dainty dish
] shall eat until | cannot eat more.
But lust then the court nhvsioia,