The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-05-16
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 20.

-
Lesson.
l. King Herod's terrified conscience
Tvs. 14-16l. IA. "Herod." This was
Herod Antlpas, one of the sons of
Herod the Great, and the ruler Of Gal.
lice and Perea. Heard of Him" OF
Jesus Matt. 14:D. Antlpas had heard
of His capitals at Tiberlas, on the Sea
of Galllee. Risen from the dead"
Herod's conscience accused him.
Mighty works" In consequence of
having risen from the dead He is
thought to be possessed of miracle.
working powers. This is Il striking in.
cldental confirmation of John 10:41,
that John wrought no miracle while
living. IL. "Others said" To quiet
the kings fears probably some of his
courtiers made these suggestions.
ELIAS" Greek form for Elijah. "a
prophet" Some new. wonderworking
prophet.
16. "But--Herod-sald His guilty
conscience impelled him to hold TO hic
first opinion. "Whom 1 beheaded."
What a bold confession of guilt was
this! No need for the Baptist now;
conscience performs the office of ten
thousand other accusers.
H. The faithfulness of John the
Baptist Tvs. 1920. II. "In prison."
The place of Johns imprisonment and
death was Macherus, in Perea, on the
eastern side of the Dead Sea, near the
southern frontier of the tetrarchy.
Here Antipas had a palace and
prison under one roof. as was common
in the East. "For Herodias' sake"
This woman was a granddaughter of
Herod the Great. She first married
Herod Philip, her uncle, who was the
father of Salome. Herod had put away
his legal wife. the daughter of Aretus,
king of Arabia Petrea. and had taken
Herodias, though Philip, Herodas'
husband, was still living. 1S. "John."
John was the son of priest and was
born at Juttah in the summer of +.
c. 3. He was a Nazarite, pledged to
drink no wine or strong drink, and TO
let his hair and beard grow uncut, as
n sign of conservation to God (Num.
G). Had said" The Greek verb is in
the imperfect tense and implies that he
, repeatedly reproved him. John was
! bold and fearless. He faced the king
personally. 1t is well when ministers
dare rebuke the sins of politicians and
those in authority. mot lawful"
Herod had put away his wife: had in.
duced Herodias to forsake her hus-
band; and had mcrrled Herodias, his
niece and sister-in-law, con .Tary to the
law Uev. 1871. 1G). ITO have" To
marry her. The force of the original
bears out this Interpretation.
10. "Ha' a quarrel" In the margin
this is rendered had an inward
grudge" agair st him. The Revised
Version renders it, "set herself against
him" She hated John as an enemy
because he had rebuked her sins
"Would have killed" She desired to
kill him. Gould not" Herod would
not yield tc her murderous desires
but merely threw John into prison. 20.
"Herod feared John" He had respect
| for him and feared his words. "Know-
| ing that" etc. This makes Herod's
sin all the more glarlng and henous.
observed him." kept him safe" X.
V. Herod did not allow Herodias to
accomplish her purposes. when he
heard him." Herod went repeatedly to
Johns preaching. Did many things"
Some sins which Herod denounced
Herod forsook.
III. Herod's birthday festivities Tvs.
21-25). 81. Convenient day" For
Herodias, who was watching for an
opportunity to kill John. "Made a sup
per-" This was done, probably at the
Macherus palace with great display.
%. "Daughter-danced" Female
dancers in the East are customary
part of great entertainments. On this
occasion the dancer was of high birth,
being no other than the Princess Sa-
lone, daughter of Herodlas and Philip.
PLEASED Herod." They were probably
half-intoxicated. reclining at the tables
as their custom was. The infamous
saloon system of to-day Is only rem
nant of the ancient revels that were 50
vile and corrupting in their effects
%. Half OF my kingdom" A king
dom for dance! This was the prom
Use of a drunken man, revelng in sen
suous delight. The Moloch of intem
perance does not confine his work tC
the degraded.
"a. "Mother." What mother
Leading her own daughter into the
West crimes. "What-ask." The viii
Herodias was not long in telling her.
%. "With haste" She hastens tt
have the deed perpetrated while tn,
revel is on. probably in the night
Herod drunk will do what Herod sobe
has refused to do. "Give me by anC
by" Forthwith" II. V. Give m,
Immediately. She took Herod by sur
prise and made her demand "on th,
instant, lest Herod should change hi
mind" "In a charger" On a largu
platter. "The head" She is thirstin,
for his blood.
". John the Baptist beheaded Tvs
26-29. 26. Exceeding sorry" Hi
conscience was net entirely dead, ant
he was worried and troubled. "Woult
not reject her" Note the steps tina
had led Herod to this: !. Reiectn,
the truth. 2. Continuing to indulge il
his sins. 3. A drunken feast; liquor i
responsible fog untold crime and mis-
cry. 4. An immoral dance: danclnJ
can but result in sin 3. A wicked
oath. which never should have beel
taken, but, once taken, should hav
been broken Immediately. g. His fea
of the people.
27. "Beheaded him." But his pris
oner was ready. 2S Brought hi
head" What a CHASTITY present! How
lnhuman these wretched women mus
have been. 20. "His disciples" John
disciples ''Took up his corpse" Sor
row brought themto Jesus (Matt14:12
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