Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-06-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE 10.

Suhject: Peters Great Confession, Matt.
XVII, 13-28-Goldeu Text: Matt. XVII, 10
Memory Verses, "a. 25-Topic: Con-
fessin< Christ-Commentary.
I. Different opinions concerning
Jesus Tvs. 13, 14). 13. "Caesarea Phi
lippi." 1t seems that Jesus did not en-
ter this city, but taught in it's vicinity.
"Whom do men say?" Christ did not
ask this question Q) for information,
or (2 because He desired the applause
of men. or (3) because He intended to
form His course according to the reply,
but (4) because "He desired to ground
His disciples in the deepest faith"
"Son of man." This was title He fire.
quently applied to Himself.
ii. "Some say" etc. People held
different opinions concerning Christ.
Some said John the Baptist had re-
turned to life. Some thought that He
was Elias (the Greek form for Elijah),
who was to be the forerunner of the
Messiah; others believed Him to be
Jeremias, in accordance with the ira
dition that jeremiah was to come and
reveal the place where the sacred YES
lie was one of the prophets.
II. The great confession Tvs. 15-1O.
IS. "Whom say We" Notice the pro-
noun "ye," plural; Jesus speaks to all
His disciples. 16. peter answered"
He answered as spokesman for all, as
he did in many other cases. Thou art
the Christ" The expected Messiah,
the "anonted One" "Son of the living
God" God is here styled the living
God, because He is the author OF all
life and existence; hence, sclf-existent,
eternal. II. "Blessed art thou" Pc
ter and the apostles were blessed be-
cause they had broken away from Jew
ish prejudices and mad really accepted
Jesus as the Christ. "Bar-jona." The
son of Jonah. Bar means son. "Flesh
and blood" No human being hath re-
vealed it unto thee. Such knowledge
does not originate in the human mind.
III. The sure foundation ". 1S). Is.
"Thou art Peter" Petros, the Greek
word for stone, or piece Of rock.
Jesus gave him this name when He
first met him John 1:42). Upon this
rock" In the Greek this petra or rock
in mass. This verse has ELECTED much
discussion. Regarding it there are
four principal views, all of them sup
ported by good authorities. !. That
Peter was the rock on which Christ
was to build His church. 9. That
Peter and all true believers are the
rock. 3. That the confession Peter
had Just made was the rock. 4. That
Christ hal reference to Himself when
He said upon this rock" "My church"
The word for church properly denoted
a congregation or assemblage of people.
w. Divine authority given Tvs. 10.
2O). 10. "Will give-keys." Keys are
a symbol of power and authority. The
apostles had knowledge and authority
which no one after them needs or eau
rightly claim. "Shalt bind This is
an explanation of the gift Of the keys.
20. "Tell no man." Galilean enthu-
siasm might now endeavor to make
Him king if this announcement were
made openly.
v. Christ foretells His death Tvs.
21-23). q. Began Jesus to shew.'
Heretofore He had spoken obscurely,
but now for the first time He speaks
plainly of His coming sutferings and
death. "Of the elders" etc. The San
hedrin. This detailed enumeration
proves that there was a general con-
spiracy.
%. "Peter took Him." Aside; apart
from the test. "To rebuke Him. The
idea of a suffering Messiah was abhor-
rent to Peter and to all the apostles.
%. "Said unto Peter" Christ per-
ceived that He was but boldly utterins
what the others felt, and this rebuke
was before them all. sect thee behind
Me, Satan" Satan means adversary.
Jesus did not call His apostle devil.
"Thou mindest not OR. W Thou dost
not understand or discern the things
of God; thou art wholly taken up with
the thought that My kingdom IS Of this
world.
vi. Conditions Of discipleship Tvs.
24-2S). "a. Twill come after Me-"
Will follow My directions and be My
disciple. DENY Himself" Christ
shows the apostles the nature of His
kingdom. They must abstain from
all indulgences which stand In the way
of duty" "Take up His cross" Who
soever would follow Christ must be
ready to endure atfliction and even
death for His sake. 25. "WhOsoever
will save" etc. WhosOever succeeds
In obtaining the life of worldly comfort
and pleasure by avoiding the life of
self-denial and at the expense Of right
eousness shall lose even the earthly re-
wards he seeks and also the eternal life
of spiritual joy and blessedness. "For
MY sake" The loss of life for Christ's
sake brings the promised blessing.
26. "What-profited." The question
implies that there is no profit. THE
whole world" Even though it were
possible for man to gain all the
wealth, honor and happiness the world
had to give, and then lose his soul. his
loss would be infinitely greater than
any earthly pleasure he may have had.
"Lose." BE cast away" His own
soul" The Greek word for soul has
the double meaning ''life" and soul"
The soul is the man himself. The only
thing we really and absolutely possess
is our "soul." "In exchange" The
price the worldling pays for carnal de-
lights is his soul. II. "For." Rea-
sons are now given why the soul is Of
such priceless value. "Shall come"
From heaven, at the end of the world,
at the judgment day. %. "There De
some," etc. This verse has ELECTED
much discussion, and concerning it
there is wide difference of opinion.
This verse is parallel with Matt. 1923;
both are fulfilled at Christ's resurrec-
ton. The coming of tn. kingdom of
God with power Mark 9:D was the
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