The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-10-23
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
HfENTs FOR OCTOBER a8.
Subject: Jesus Amounted in Bethany,
Matt. xvi, 0-16-GoIden Text,
Matt. xvi, TO- Memory Verses,
10 Cnr11r,,or,farrr
IL, 13-Commcntaly

Matt. XVI, 0-10--GOlden Text.
Matt. xvi, Memory Verses,
AZ, fS-Commcntary.
I. Mary anoints Jesus Tvs. 6, ~
g. In Bethany" Bethany means
House of Dates, or House Of
Comfort This was village beau
tifully situated about two miles
southeast Of Jerusalem on the casts
ern slope of the Mount of Olives. 1t
was often visited by Christ, and it
was here that Hespent several nights
OF the memorable passion week ISL
mon the leper. This man had evil
IDENTIFY been leper and had prob
ably been cured by Jesus. This will
account for his making a feast in
honor Of Christ. According to a ira
dition Simon was the father of Lag
arus; according to others he was the
husband Of Martha, or Martha was
his widow. John tells us that Mar
tina served and that Lazarus was one
of them that sat at the table with
Him. This shows that Lazarus res
direction was no illusion. Martha
seems to have had the entire super
vision of the feast, and the risen Lag
urus was almost as much an object
of curiosity as Jesus Himself
Z. "a woman John tells us
that this woman was Mary Ala
baster box The perfume was in
an alabaster bottle, or flask, which
was made with long, narrow neck
Very precious ointment BY the
ointment we are to understand rath-
er liquid perfume. The ointment
was worth between $45 and $50,
equivalent to about eight or ten
times that amount at the present
time. Poured it on His head
John says she anointed the feet Of
Jesus. There is manifestly neither
contradiction nor divergence here be-
tween the evangelists Mary poured
the ointment over His head and then
over His feet John notices the an
ointing of the feet. not only as the
act Of greatest humility and the
mark of deepest veneration, but from
its unusual character, while anoint-
ing of the head was not SO uncom-
mon.
II. Mary's act criticised Tvs. s,
81. 8. When His disciples saw it, y
John tells US that Judas was the
leader in criticising Mary, and he
urged his opposition until some of
the disciples assented to his ideas.
But he was hypocrite and Jesus re-
buked him. ITO what purpose
expenditure This waste . Judas
complained that the ointment was
wasted because the money was not
put in the treasury where he could
steal it. The other disciples were
evidently sincere, but had too mar
row or distorted vision as to what
were real values" Note that the
apostles do not hesitate to record
even those actions which are discred-
table to themselves. They hide
pothing.
8. Given to the poor How Of
ten does charity serve as cloak for
covetousness. God is sometimes
robbed of His right, under the pre-
tense of devoting what is withheld
to some charitable purpose.
III. Jesus defends Mary Tvs. 1919.
10. Jesus perceiving it, (R W
Jesus understood their murmurings.
Why trouble We the woman?" Ac-
cording to Johns account Jesus said,
Let her alone" 1t was the Ian
guage of sharp rebuke. "a good
work" 1t was high act of a noble
soul. expressing its noblest emotions.
IL. Poor always withyou.,' This
act of Marys will not interfere with
your care for the poor "Me-not
always" Christ's bodily presence
was about to be removed from them.
What they would do for Him must
be done quickly.
10. ION MY body On His head
and on His feet. She did not pre-
pare Me for burial Or. VI Wheth-
er Mary understood Christ's ap.
preaching death, and intended it so,
we cannot tell, but Jesus puts this
construction upon it and confirms
thereby what He had so frequently
told them regarding it. She was en-
balming Him in advance of time.
13. This gospel shall be.
preached. Another remarkable proof
of the precedence of Christ. God has
so disposed matters that this has
continued as firm and regular as the
ordinances of heaven. The way to
anoint Christ to-day is to help 9TH
ers those in prison and distress
should have our earnest attention
(Matt. 25:31-46)
~. Judas seeks to betray Jesus
(vs. 14-16).
IA. Judas Iscariot Judas is
rightly regarded as aninfamous man,
his conduct base and his motives
vile; yet how many to-day bargain
away their Lord for the honors and
pleasures Of this world Unto the
chief priests. This was a favorable
time for the traitor to carry out his
wicked designs Much people had
gathered, not only to see Jesus, but
to see Lazarus, whom He had raised
from the dead, and many were be-
lieving on Christ because of him.
Is. What will We give me2"
Money was his god the love Of filthy
lucre was causing his ruin. Let us
take warning. 1t is not the lack Of
money, but the love of money that is
the root of all evil I" Thirty pieces
Of silver" Silver shekels. This was
the price of slave See Exod. Ill:
80, also zech. 11s13. According to
the oxford Teachers Bible Judas re-
ceived the paltry sum Of $16.96.
16. Sought opportunity. His
hope was to deliver Christ into the
hands or the officers privately His
act was premeditated and SO much
the more dastardly and mean.
- r.,ay,v,iafae Posted