The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-09-03
Sabbath School
NOTES BY R. S. HOLMES.
lesson X. September 4, 1910
TWO PARALLELS ON JUDO
MENT.
(Matt. FL: 23~46.)

Matt FL: 23~46)
Golden Text Therefore say | I'M
to you, the Kingdom of God shall be
taken away from you" Matt Fl: 43.
Between what we call Palm Sunday
and the day generally reckoned as the
day of the cruciixion were four days,
which we would call Monday, Tues
day, etc. On two, probably three of
these days. he went with his disciples
into the city, and to the temple,
where in the porches he talked with
all who questioned him. In these dis
courses he was at the height OF his
power. The break between him and
Pharisees and Sadducees was open,
and his words were unsparing. The
conflict with the rulers runs through
the remainder of chapter xxi and all
OF xxi and xiii. Lessons XII and
XII carry the story up to the end OF
chapter xxi. The teacher will do well
who becomes thoroughly familiar with
all up to the end of chapter xiv. The
Uniform Lessons pass entirely by
chapters XIII and xiv. The Fourth
Quarter of 1910 begins with chapter
XIV.
THE LESSON.
vs.. -. Jesus had entered the city
early and gone to the temple, and at
once began his words to the people
This was too much for the authorities
To teach without divine commission
was prohibited. He was only a Cali
lean peasant of the lowest rank The
time to stop him had come. The chief
priests asked the question which they
expected would silence him. He was
an unauthorized teacher This gives
the reason for the particular question
that they asked
vs.. "a. The answer Jesus gave was
audacious. 1t shows him perfectly
ready for the break which he knew
was inevitable He said 81 will an
swer you after you answer me-" He
had lot been arrested, and the ques-
ton put to him was not put officially
The anSwe rwas maSterful He threw
the burden on them The advantage
was on his side at once.
VS.. IS. His question was direct,
about matter that had been MUCK
discussed, concerning man whom the
people had highly ,evcrenced. The
question was practically this. Was
John prophet or not?'
The priests saw at once how aStute
the question was. John had undoubt-
eddy declared that Jesus was the di-
vinely accredited Messiah The verse
tells how they discussed with each
other They were arrant towards. In
the last OF this verse IS they said, I'VE
cannot acknowledge John to have been
divine messenger without acknowl-
edging this carpenter, also. That we
will never do" SO they were traitors
10 themselves.
VS.. 70. Now they show their cow
ardice. III we deny divine authority
to John an dthe people hear, they will
mob us. That means tumut in the
crowded city. That means the Ro-
mans will be upon us from the castle"
VS.. ~. Here is the answer of cow
ards and liars. eve know not" Who
should know in that day, if not they
They were the most religious men of
the world, and supposed to be expert
in spiritual things. Either they knew
or they were not fit to be spiritual
guides. Notice the keenness of the
answer Jesus made then. You do
not know? We'll, then, will not tell
yon by what authority | act. for if
you do not know the lesser, it is use
less to tell you the greater thing"
Notice how he said neither" 1t
implied that he knew that they were
deliberately evadng. 1t was as if he
had said, You will not tello Neither
will L.. He was great in that.
vs.. 2S, Now comes the first OF the
two parallels which suggest the cap
ton that the Committee had given to
this lesson. There are several parts
to it. % The persons of the little
drama. A man and his two sons. (2)
The order OF the father, based on
need, and which he had right to is
sue. (3) The way in which the order
was given; first to one son; perhaps
the elder These facts are in verse 20
VS.. 20. The answer Of the first was
that of the qulck-tempered. impulsive
fellow. Perhaps not always well gov
crned, surely hcadstrong But as with
most impuISivc men, a good impulse
came. No one demonstrated. "tle
repented himself" The good impulse
came ont of his own heart II was
haSty,' he doubtless thought, Il vii
go work in my fathers vineyard It's
his due from me- Then he went.
That is all very natural. Men act like
that yet.
vs.. 80. Here is a different story
The second son was outwardiy wiling.
Go work, said the father "Ill CO.
said the son. But he did not. He
probably never meant to obey to obey
There are men like that now. They
are not pleasant Their characteristic
Is unrcliabiIty
vs.. 81 Then comes the question.