Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-03-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH 4.

! Subject: Jesus Tells Who Are Blessed.
Matt. W, 1.18-Goldcn Text, Matt. W.
s-Memory Verses, 3-G-Topic: Bible
Secret Of the Blessed Life.
l. The gathering mu.titudes Tvs. 1.
p. I. "Seeing the multitudes" The
multitudes referred to in verse rs OF
the preceding chapter. Attracted by
His miracles the people came In great
numbers from all over Palestine.
Unto a mountain" According to tra.
dition Jesus spoke this sermon on
square shaped hill with two tops,
which gives it tine modern name OF
1.-THE Horns of Hattin." Hattin being
the village on the ridge at its base.
WAS set" The usual position for
teaching among the Jews. They stood
to read the Scriptures. but sat to teach.
"Disciples came unto Him." They oc-
cupied n position near to Him and the
multitude was farther away.
9. Opened His mouth" The ex-
preston marks the solemnity and I'M
portance of the discourse. Taught
them" The moment had come when
the principles of the new covenant are
to he enunciated.
II. The character and privileges OF
Gods people Tvs. 3-12). These verses
contain the eight beatitudes. 3.
Blessed" Blessed means more than
happy. "Poor in spirit" All the be-
attitudes are affixed to unlikely condi-
tlons, to show that the judgment Of
Christ aud Of the world are different.
Theirs is" Now Mt this present time.
| "Kingdom Of heaven" The kingdom
Of heaven and the kingdom of God
mean the same thing. and have refer
ence to that spiritual kingdom which
Christ sets up in the hearts Of His
children. 4. "They that mourn"
That is. those who, conscious Of their
spiritual poverty, mourn. Comfort
cd" The Lord comforts by speaking
the words of pardon and peace to their
hearts.
5. Meek" OF gentle and long-suf-
fering disposition; of peaceable tenn
per: submissive, compliant, yielding.
our Lord promises the abundance Of
spiritual good provided for in the gos-
pei.
6. Hunger and thirst" A figura-
tive expression. "After righteous
ness" The state. or quality, of being
right with God. "Shall ta filed"
With righteousness. Everything else
fails to satisfy. 7. 1.-The merciful."
"The merciful," Gays Erasmus, "are
those who weep over the calamities OF
others, who feed the hungry and clothe
the naked. admonish those In error
and pardon the offending" "Obtain
mercy" AS we deal with others God
will deal with us.
8. Pure In heart" The heart Is the
seat Of the affections. the desires, the
motives, the will; with the pure heart
these will all be pure. "See God"
That is, possess and enjoy God. 0.
"Peacemakers." 'Those who avoid
contention themselves, and labor to re-
store peace wherever 1t is broken"
Children of God" God Is the Father
Of peace, and those who promote 1t are
cuted." Those who are pursued by an
enemy. "For Righteousness sake"
Because of right doing. Kingdom of
heaven" See on verse 3. II. "Re-
vile" TO SANDER; "to be abusive in
speech or act" Falsely for My sake"
1t must not only be false, but for His
sake; because we are Christians and
are bringing forth fruit unto holiness.
y. "Rejolce." To be prosecuted for
Chrlst's sake Is to be crowned (Rev.
2:1O). BE exceeding glad" Leap for
joy. "The prophets" We are to have
an Inheritance with the prophets.
III. The duties and responsibilities
Of Gods people Tvs. 1916. In these
verses we have the relations Of the
citizens of the kingdom to the world"
49, "Ye." Christ's true followers. de-
scribed in the preceding verses. salt
Of the earth" Salt preserves and puri-
fies. and SO Christians spread the
truths of the gospel by which the
world is preserved and purified. Lost
his SAVIOUR" That Is. has become
tasteless, and lost Its saltness. "Where-
with-salted." The question implies
that the salt Is entirely worthless.
Good for nothing" 1t is not only
good for nothing itself, but 1t actually
destroys fertility.
IA. "Are the light" In John S:12
Jesus Gays, II am the light Of the
world" The Christian is not like the
sun, self-luminous. but borrows his
rays. like the moon. from a primal
source. Light is not only opposed to
darkness, but overcomes 1t; SO the
truth and holiness possessed by the
disciples Of Christ, who Is the true
light. dispel the worlds darkness, by
overcoming its ignorance and sin.
Cannot be hid" In the East cities
are often built on hills. The illustra-
ton vividly sets forth the high calling
Of the followers of Christ.
Is. "a CANDLE" Rather. clamp" as
In Revised Version. "a bushel."
Rather, 1.-The bushew (see r. W. that
Is, the common measure found In every
Jewish house. Strictly speaking, the
modius, translated "bushel." denoted q
smaller measure equal to about two
gallons. "Candlestlck." Rather.
'lampstand." The lamps were Of
carthenware or metal, in the shape Of
a saucer, turned ZIP on one side to
hold the wick. Olive oil was used to
burn in them. The idea is that even
men would not be SO foolish as to
light lamp and then cover 1t, and GER
tainly God will not be SO unwise as to
illuminate His people and then keep
them in cOncealment. 1G. Light SO
shine" Where Christ Is in the heart
the spirit of Christ will shine out in
the life. We are commanded to shine
In such a manner that our good deeds
will give glory to God. We cover our