The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-03
THE SUNDAY sC10oL::
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
N1ENTS FOR OCTOBER Z.
Subject: The Two Great Command
ments-Mark xii, 1884 and 49,
44--Golden Text: Mark xii, 80
-NpmOrv Verses 90 81

Memory Verses, 80, 81.
I. The two great commandments
Tvs. 2S-3D. %. "One of the
scribes." Matthew calls him a law
yer. A doctor of divinity. A pro-
fessional interpreter of the law of
Moses. Came" Probably at the
request of the Pharisees who were
determined to catch and overthrow
the Saviour Having heard-per-
ceiving." He had listened attentive
ly to the discussion of Jesus with the
Herodians about the tribute money
and with the Sadducees about the
resurrection and had been pleased at
the answers Jesus gave. The first
commandment" This was a dis
puted question among their doctors
of the law. Some ascribed first
place to the law of sacrifices, others
to the law of circumcision, others to
the law of the Sabbath, while some
gave this distinction to the law of
meats. But Jesus, with much better
reason, decided in favor of a COM
mandment inclusive Of the whole Of
piety, and leading to every holy tenn
per, word and work.
20. Jesus answered" He quoted
from Deut. 6:4-9. Zone Lord"
Faith in the absolute unity of the
Godhead is the point where the Chris
tian religion antagonizes all heather
religions.
80. "Thou." Christ makes this a
personal matter; He does not speak
in general way, but He brings the
truth home to His questioner.
Shalt" There is no chance for ca
vii here; no ambiguous expressions.
Love the Lord" 1t is impossible to
obey this commandment only as the
love of God has first been shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost (Rom. 5:5). "Heart-soul-
mind-strength." We may under
stand this fourfold enumeration as a
command to devote all the faculties
to the love Of God.
81. The second" The first ta-
BILE of the law defines our duty to
God; the second, our duty to our
neighbor. tIs like" Of a like ma
ture, embracing the whole of our
duty to man. "Neighbor as thyself."
See Lev. 1918. The Jews under
stood neighbor as meaning fellow
Jew, but Jesus taught differently
(Luke 10:25-37).
II. A discreet answer Tvs. .32-34).
80. THE scribe said" He ex-
pressed his disapproval of Christ's
answer. 33. "Is more than-offer-
ings." The scribe gathers up in his
reply some of the great utterances
If the prophets which prove the su-
periority of love to God and man over
all mere ceremonial observances. See
l Sam. 1922; Psa. 81; Hos. sc.
"a. "Discreetly." With knowl-
edge and understanding. mot far"
He was near, but still on the outside.
1t is possible to be near and yet be
lost. mo man." etc. No one under
took to entangle Him in His talk af-
ter this.
III. A warning against hypocrisy
Tvs. 3S-40). In verses 35-3T Jesus
asks the Jews question which they
could not answer. 9S. "1n His doc
trine." In His teaching" R. V.
Beware" Be on your guard.
Long clothing" Literally, in stoles,
long robes reaching to the feet, such
as ladies of rank were accustomed to
wear, and kings, and mobiles, and GER
tain priests, and other high person
ages. "Salutations. They loved
appellations of honor and respect,
such as Rabbi, Father, Master,
Teacher. "Marketplsces." " Any
thoroughfare or public square. Their
ambition was to show themselves off
in these public places. 80. "Chief
seats" The chief seats were at the
upper end of the synagogue near the
chest containing the Book of the
Law. "Uppermost rooms" "Chief
places" R. V.
40. ''Devour." Like ferocious
beasts they devour the substance of
the widows, the most defenseless and
the most deserving of the poor. For
a pretense." Hypocrites indeed!
They made religion a mask, and
through their pretended piety they
sought to gain the confidence of
those whom they were planning to
rob. Greater damnation." Or
condemnation" R. V. Implying a
most terrible punishment. For the
double sin of hypocrisy and fraudu-
lent injustice they should meet ter
rible doom. Pride, hypocrisy and
injustice are kindred sins
~. A lesson on giving Tvs. A.
Az. If this narrative is taken in
connection with the discourse Just
given it places the hypocrisy of these
Pharisees in a most glaring light.
They were religious for gain, while
she, one Of the very class they were
planning to rob, had a religion that
led her to cast into the treasury all
she had. Al. Sat" Probably to
rest. Over against" Opposite.
Tie treasury A name given by
the rabbins to thirteen chests, called
trumpets from their shape, which
stood in the court of the women.
20. Poor" The word rendered
poor is a very strong one, nearly
equivalent to "beggar." 1t implies
utter destitution. The condition of
a poor mans widow in that country
was most helpless. Two mites"
The smallest Jewish coin, about the
value OF one-tifth of cent.
43. Called - disciples" Jesus
directed their attention to this act.
More" More in proportion to their
ability to give, and thus more in the
estimation of God. A. For" etc.
The worth OF gift is to be deter
mined, not by its intrinsic value, but
by what it costs the giveT.
Billion Appropriated by Congress.
Congress appropriated for the is-
cal year 1907 sS79,5S9,1S5.16, an