The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-02-09
JI7e
5n7oosl- School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY IA.

Matt. 5:1O---Commit Verses 10,
commentary on the Lesson.
TINIE.-A. D. 30-35. PLACE..
Jerusalem
EXPOSITION.--I. The Arrest and
Delivery of the Apostles, 1924. The
apostles had prayed for deliverance
and that signs and wonders might be
done in the name of Jesus, and this
prayer had been very literally and
very fully answered, but this display
of power had awakened the jealousy
and increased hate of the Sadducees.
No man or company of men has ever
been filled with the Spirit that some
one else was not filled with jealousy
(cf. ch: ID; As; 1873; Matt. 27:18),
The Jealousy in this case was very
bitter. 1t went even to the point of
arresting the whole apostolic COM
pany and casting them into prison.
But while the ecclesiastical authori-
ties were against them, God and His
angels we're for them (cf Heb. 1:14,
r. w.; Ps. BAT; Dan. 3:11-25; 6.22-
"a; Acts 12:7-11). The strongest
prison doors are no barrier to an an
gel of God It is impossible to lock
up the man whom God would have at
liberty prov 1900. With the de-
liverance came the command to go
and stand and speak in the temple to
the people all the words of this life.
This required great courage under !.
the circumstances, but to disobey af-
ter such remarkable deliverance
would nave been gross lngrat1tude-
We, too, have been delivered by so
great and glorious deleverance that
1t would be gross IngratlIude not TO
IL =
speak an the words OIL TINS me, no
matter now great the peril. me oDe-
dlence OF the apostles 70 coos COM
mand was very prompt uayDreaK
iound them IN the Tempe. IL IS 70 pe
reared tnat tnere are some OF US Wnos
IL we We're smut up IN prison Tor
preaching Jesus, Woula keep stiil II
we once got out OF the nx;
IL. Ieter ana the Otner apos1les
BeIofe me 5ahheurim' So-sA Inc
rage OF the Sanhedrlm was tempered
by Tear, ana they brought them with
out violence. Inc nlgn prlesL care
did ne ask, as on former occasion,
In what name the miracles were
wrought facts 4s1.l2): Peter FOUND
way TO testlIy TOT Jesus ana his
resurrection. Inc one point the higR
priest made was that they nad COM
manded them tnat they snouid not
teacn IN THIS name, me nlgn priest
said that IN spite Oh the pronlpiIlon OF
the eccleslastlcal court tney nad nlleo
Jerusalem with their doctrine. Inls
statement OF the high priest was very
mucn to their creolt. Men are much
needed to-day VINO VIII follow IN
their steps ana NIL all places with the
doctrine OF risen and divine saw
Jour. what matters 1t what the most
august assembly on earth commands
II God commands something diner
ent? Peter did not say 1t is our priv
ilege to obey God against the COM
mand OF men, nor We ought to obey
God rather than men" but We must
obey God rather than men" In that
must" there is the secret OF blessed
ness and power. We ought HDe obe-
dent to all properly constkTrOd au~~
tnorlty, eccleslastlcal and civil, as
long as II does not conflict with the
commandments OF God, but Just as
soon as 1t does we should turn deaf
ear to human authority and obey
Goa; inc council mad Didden them
not to teach IN this name, but God
mad SAID, TO and speak ~. 20t.
The high priest further charged them
with trying to bring Jesus blood upon
them. They ought not to have OBJ
Jected to that, for they had said, His
blood be on US Matt. 27;25). With
out any fear OF their stern looks and
implied threats Peter looked them in
the eye and said, The God of our
fathers raised up Jesus, whom we,
slew and hanged upon tree" 1t
shivered their claim to authority, it
exposed the enormity of their guilt.
1t is noticeable how Peter in all his
sermons rings the changes on the
guilt OF man as seen in his treatment
OF Him. To be Prince and a Saw
Jour rms is the twofold office Of
the exalted Christ the two ofiicesg
go together II we wish Him as Sav-s
Jour, we must take Him as Prince.