The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-07-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson v.-.Third Quarter, Fol
July 81, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. xviii, 21-35.
Memory Verses, 81, 22-GoIden Text,
Matt. vi, 14-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns

Our last two lessons have set before
us the building of the church and the
subsequent setting up of the kingdom
during this age and at the close of It.
1t is worth remembering that the
church is said to be builded, never set
up Matt. xvi, IS; Eph. ii, 10, %; l
Pet. IL, 5; Gen. ii, %, margin, with
Eph. v, 81, 32). whereas the kingdom
is said to be set up, not builded Dan.
Ii, AZ. If we would walk worthy of
God who hath called us unto His
kingdom and glory Il Thess. H. 12)
the two features Of todays lesson, hui
nifty and forgiveness should be spe-
cially manifest in us, remembering the
first words Of our Lords discourse on
the principles of the kingdom, BLESS
ed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven" Matt. v, 81,
and also that the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit is in the sight Of God
of great price q Pet. iii, ~.
AS we are to have but one lesson in
this chapter we must consider the
first portion on humility as well as the
last on forgiveness. What a trial it
must have been to our Lord, who had
so humbled Himself, to see these dis
ciples continually thinking and talk
ing about who should be greatest in
His kingdom even up to the last night
before He was crucified and to have
the mother Of two of them asking for
special places Of honor for her sons
(verse ]; Xxx, 20, 81; Luke tx, 46-4S;
xii, 24. What must He think of the
same strife still between denomina-
tons and societies and churches and
Individual believers, whose one aim
should be to exalt Him, for one pc
culiar feature Of the kingdom will be
that the Lord alone shall be exalted
| Qsa. ii. lilo A little child is His
object lesson, first in reference to en-
tering the kingdom and then in refer
ence to greatness in it (verses 2-4), and
the thought seems to be that Of help
nessness. dependence. teachableness
and a readiness to come to Him. In
order to be saved we must come utter
ly empty of self righteousness. simply
pleading guilty In order to position
| in His kingdom we must in conscious
meekness yield to Him that He may
work His works in us. 1t must be
mot i, but the grace of God" Il Cor
XIV. 10Y. See verse IA on His unwilling
ness that any should perish. and COM
pare IL Pet. iii. 8. AS to the safety of
little children who die before they
know right or wrong l find much
comfort in the analogy of Deut. i, 80.
AS to the ministry of angels. see verse
| 10. with Heb. 1, IA. From verse 20
learn never to ask the Lord to be pres
ent at our gatherings. but always to
thank Him that He is present, accord
| ing to this assurance. The instruc
lions Of verses 1919 concerning deal
ing with an offending brother seems
to lead to Peters question. Lord. how
oft shall | forgive him? Till seven
times? Verse 2D.
No doubt Peter thought that he was
suggesting a wide margin when he
spoke of forgiving seven times. so
blind and selfish and earthly were he
and his fellows In all their thoughts
Just so are we also until filled with
to us: How is it that We do not un-
derstand? Have | been so long
time with you. and vet hast thou not
known Me-" Matt. xvi. II; John xiv.
81 Because His thoughts and ways
are as far above ours as heaven is
above the earth Elsa. ". s. o.. let us
become so full of His thoughts. by His
/ Shirt ha0
find no place in us. Our Lords reply
/ to Peter. Il say not unto thee until
seven times. but until seventy times
seven" verse 22,. sends me away back
+ to Gabrel's message TO Daniel concern
4 ing the kingdom in Dan. tx. 24-26
/ Il. ". where we hear him say that
/ after seventy weeks or Sevens the
kingdom will come. bringing in ever
/ lasting righteousness. ! therefore
hear our Lord say to Peter. Keep on
forgiving till the kingdom comes.
always find the clearest light on Scrip
ture in Scripture believing that the
! Spirit is the best interpreter of His
own words. The 666 Of Rev. xiii, IS,
sends me to the 666 of Kings. x. IA.
and I learn that one feature of the
power of the antichrist will be his
control of gold and the use he will
make of it. expect that we will yet
see some connection between the 153
great fishes of the resurrection catch
John xxi. III and the $4,000 strangers
OF II Chron., H. II.
The kingdom is the key to and the
! fulfilling of many things. and many of
| our Lords teachings can only be I'M
derstood in the light of the kingdom
as distinct from the church. The full
| forgiveness of the debtor of verses
24-27 like the forgiveness of TIE two
debtors of Luke vii. Al. ~. is illustra-
/ tive OF The full and free forgiveness
granted 10 every bankrupt sinner who
comes to Christ. for of all such it can
be truly said. Justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus" (Rom. Iii. 24). But
this forgiven one afterward delivered
| to the tormentors till he should pay
all has no parallel in salvation by
grace Even the words OF Isa kill.
o. in reference To tranSgreSsfonS and