Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-03-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL I.

Subject: The Two Foundations. Matt.
vii., 15-29-GoIden Text. James l..
22-M emory Verses. 24.25-Topic:
Counsels In Character Building.
I. The false and the true Tvs. 1920.
Jesus has just been speaking Of the
narrow entrance into His kingdom and
the broad way which leads down to
death; He now turns His attention to
the false guides which lead men astray.
Is. Beware" Be on your guard;
look out for. False prophets" Who
will deceive you and lead you into the
broad way. "Sheep's clothing" A
symbol of deceptive, wicked men put
ting OH the garb Of piety. See Cor.
11:13-15. "Inwardly," etc. Under their
outer covering they hide hearts like
wolves, and are ready to tear and de-
stroy. 1G "Know them" Their real
nature will soon appear, and their false
doctrines will be detected. "Their
fruits" The moral tendency of their
lives and doctrines.
II, IS. Good tree-corrupt tree"
The comparison Of men to trees fire..
quently occurs in the Bible.
10. "Hcwn down." TO this day in
the East trees are valued only so far
as they produce fruit. Cast into the
fire." Fire is the symbol of utter de-
struction.
III. Mere profession not sufficient
Tvs. 21-33). q. "Not every one."
Christ is here laying down the true
test of admittance into the kingdom
of God. He has just told them that
they must enter in through a narrow
gate and walk a narrow way. and now
He intimates that nany will seek to
gain admttance on the ground of mere
profession. "That saith-Lord, Lord"
True religion is more than profession.
We may acknowledge the authority Of
Christ, believe in His divinity and ac.
cept His teachings as truth, and still
without the love of God in the heart
we shall be shut out Of heaven. king.
dom of heaven" Gods spiritual king.
dom where Christ reigns in the hearts
and lives of men. %. "Many." Not
merely an occasional one, but the mum.
Der will be astonishirgly large. I'm
that day" The Judgment day. The
day when the final accounts shall be
brought In, and when each shall re.
ceive his just desert See Acts 1871;
Rom. 14:1O; 2 Cor. 5:1O "Prophesied."
AS the whole gospel is real prophecy,
foretelling the vast future of the hu.
man race-death, Judgment and eter
nifty, so every preacher is n prophet.
%. II never knew you" AS My
disciples. How sad! From this we
sec how easy it is to be deceived Many
are trusting in the church. their good
name, their generosity, their great
gifts, their employment in the minis.
try, their self-sacrifice, their devotion
to the cause, etc, etc, while at heart
they are not right with God and at the
last great day will be cast to the left
hand. They are destitute of the love OF
God, which is the all-essential Il Cor
1919. depart from Me-" Such be
long to the left hand-cOnsigned to the
regions of darkness and despair.
III. The two builders Tvs. 24-27. "a
"TherefOre." Jesus now proceeds to
impress the truth by very striking il
lustration. "WhosOever heareth." See
X. V. Both classes of men hear the
word. So far they are alike. In like
manner the two houses have externally
the same appearance, but the great
day of trial shows the difference"
"DOeth them" Thus making them the
real foundation of his life. "Will lk.
ell him." st. Matthew who, living
near the lake, had often witnessed
such sudden floods as are described,
uses vigorous language and draws tho
picture wildly. "A wise man." Pru.
dent, far-sighted-a man of understand.
ing who looks ahead and sees the dan.
ger and makes use of the best means
Of avoiding 1t. The wise builder is tho
one who hears and obeys the words of
Christ. Built his house." His char.
acter; himself. Each man possesses
house which is his absolutely, and for
which he alone is responsible. Upon
rock Our rock is Jesus Christ (Psa.
1882; Isa. 2S:16; Cor. BID. He is
the sure foundation. AS we centre
our faith in Him, and build according
to the maxims which He has laid
down we shall be safe. %. "The rain
beat" So tempests and storms of
Affections, prosecutions, temptations
and all sorts Of trials beat against the
soul. ut fell not" The religion OF
Jesus Christ in the soul will stand
every test The emblem of house to
represent the religious life is very ap.
prOpriate.
26. "Doeth them not" Fails to d0
what he knows he ought to do; neglects
them; or processes to do and does not
Foolish man." He was short-sighted
and allowed present pleasure, gratiti.
cation and profit to so fill his life that
he failed to look beyond to the result
OF his course. 'The sand" The sand
represents the self-life. 27. 1T fell"
So falls the sinner The floods are
wearing away his sandy foundation,
and soon one tremendous storm shall
beat upon him and he and his hopes
shall forever fall. "Great was the
fall" How great is the loss of the
soul! What terrible fall for soul
created in the image of God, and with
all the glorious possibilities before it of
a life of bliss forever with Christ, to
be cast to the left hand at the last day.
Nv. The people astonished Tvs. %,
29). %. 'These sayings" The ser.
mon just preached. "Astonished."
The teachings of Jesus all through His
life excited admiration, wonder and
amazement. 20. Having authority"
His power lay in Himself and In His
life. BY His speaking with authority
may be meant, /. That the truth He
spake came with authority. 2. That
the majesty and power with which He
spake gave Him authority. "Not as
the scribeS" He did not sneak like n