Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-04-20
The SUNDAY SCHOOL,.
Lesson iv.-Second Quarter,
For April "a, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Matt. XII, 2s-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Two of the foundations in the Scrip
lures in connection with the great
truth that "other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid, which is
.iesus Christ" are that God is love"
and He is not willing that any should
perish q Cor. fiji. IL; John iii, 16; IL
Pet. iii. 81. Along with this we need
Acts xvii, 80, 81, God now command
eth all men everywhere to repent, be-
cause he hath appointed day in the
which He will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom He
hath ordained, whereof He hath given
assurance unto all men I'm that He
hath raised Him from the dead" We
have seen John and Jesus and the
twelve preaching repentance, and when
we turn to Rev. TX, 20, 81; xvi. ., IL,
and read of the fearful judgments that
will come upon the earth in the time
of the great tribulatlon, after the
church shall have been taken away.
we learn that the object Of all will be
that men may repent. In this connec-
ton see Job NXxiii, 20, So
He had chosen Chorazin. Bethsaida
and Capernaum as centers where He
wrought many mighty works. but they
seemed to be without result. and He
tells them of Judgment to come. when
It will be more tolerable for other
cities which never saw His mighty
works. There are three future judg-
ments spoken of-the Judgment seat
of Christ for believers only. the judg-
ment of nations at the beginning Of
the millennial reign and the judgment
at the great white throne at the end
of the thousand years. Our Lord must
be speaking here of the second or
third of these. Note His Il say unto
you" OF verses %, "a. Remember that
It is the Judge Himself who is speak
ing, and He certainly knows whereof
He afiirms. The words more toler-
able" suggest different degrees of pun
iShment and suffering, as there will be
also different degrees Of glory and of
rewards for believers. First It is a
question of saved or lost: then for the
to works and for the lost punishment
according to desert, and the Judge OF
all the earth will not fail to do right.
The nation being about to reject
Him, He seems to turn TO individuals,
to such as in the time Of His rejec-
ton will let Himself be their rest,
their all He first talks TO His Father
as the Lord of heaven and earth and
therefore as having a perfect right to
do as He pleases with His own ops.
! cxXXv, g.. lie talks to Him as nat
urally as to people about Him, for He
/ is in constant and conscious touch
with heaven and does always those
things that please the Father Although
despised and rejected. He thanks His
| Father, reminding us that we are in all
things to give thanks Il Thess. V, 49,.
Some one has said that he who has
learned to say always THANK Cod
has the key to constant victory. The
Even so. Father" indicates perfect
submission with the most absolute
confidence in and satisfaction with the
Fathers management. Compare
Sam. III, Is; Job i, q. Our Lords
gratitude at this time was in connec
ton with His Fathers hiding certain
things from the wise in their owl
conceit and revealing them to those
who are teachable as babes or very lit
tie children. The mere natural man
however wise, cannot know the thing
of God. for they are foolishness &
him q Cor. 1, liz. "They have rejecte,
the word of the Lord, and what wis
dom is in them?" Ger. vii, o. A
Abraham gave to his only son all tina
he had, so 'the Father loveth tn
Son and hath given all things into HI
hand" Gen. xiv, SO; John iii, $50. A
all the Egyptians and all other cour
tries had to go TO Joseph in order I
obtain corn by which they might liv
Gen. XII, 55-5O, so there is no res
life, no life eternal. no knowledge c
God the Father. except through Jesu
Christ (verse 27).
In this sinful, Christ rejecting az
would you find rest? 1t can be foun
only in Him who knew what it was
rest in His Father. Would you fin
the yoke of the daily life easy and II
burden of the daily toll light? 1t ca
only be by yoking up with Him wi
here so lovingly invites us. This Is a
ancient message, for in lisa. XVIII, !
we read. 'ISIis is the rest wherewi
: we may cause the weary to rest. az
this is the refreshing" But there Il
y prophet had TO add. Yet they wou
not hear" Again, in lisa. xxx. 10. Y
2 read, I'm returning and rest shall
4 be saved; In quietness and in con