The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-08-06

Golden Text:- Suffer the little
children, and forbid them not, to come
unto Me; for OF such is the Kingdom
OF Heaven" Matt 70: ID.
Verses one and two are only intro
ductory, and are really all the aliusion
to the journey to Jerusalem that the
lesson contains. The title is entirely
misleading. He was really on his way
to Jerusalem for several weeks, and
there were many incidents OF interest.
This lesson contains two events that
are as well known as any in the story
OF the wonderful life. The incident
of the children comes first Then fol-
lows that Of the rich young ruler.
When Jesus had reached Judea he
seems to have have crossed the Jor-
dan. Here as was always the case,
the crowds from the country sought
him. Among them were devout mo-
theirs with little children.
VS.. 49, They brought the children
to have him touch them and pray. That
was beautiful thing. How much
these mothers believed in him is not
plain, but it is clear they thought
there was virtue in, his touch, and
prayed.
No doubt those mothers told the
children all about this in the alter
years when the apostles were every
where procal:ming that j sus had risen
from the dead
The disciples rebuked them They
would not have the Z 'eat man troubled
in such way. They did not compre-
bend that the hope of the Kingdom of
Heaven i sin the children.
VS.. Il But Jesus did This answer
has become household word There
is no land where the name OF Christ is
known into which tn one utterance
has not gone. He did not say the
Kingdom OF Heaven will be composed
of children" When he said, OF such,
etc, he meant thee hild-like spirit is
the spirit of the Kingdom.
Jesus loved children The child was
the pattern on which he would have
formed his followers. Greatness con-
sisted, i'll his thought, in simplicity of
obedience and service.
Where he was stopping at that time
is not told; hut,
vs.. IS Wherever it was, the last
thing he did in it was to lay his hands
on the heads Of children and bless
them. Then he went his way The
next incident is very different.
VS.. 10 "One came saying, Good
Master, etc This is the story of the
nameiess man who came toward Jesus,
but could not reach him because of his
wealth. He was not the last man to
be kept away from Christ by money.
Notice his courtesy. Good MASTER"
That was Oriental We cannot APP
proach the East i'll poiteness.
Notice his idea Of the method of sal
walton. What good thing shall dor
He would earn eternal life" He be-
lieved n it. wanted It, and was willing
to meet the demand if he could. Evil
dent.y he was not satisfied that he vet
had attained what he desired. 1t is a
usual sta OF mind witha man who has
not felt the forgiving love of God in
Christ.
T'>y were believers, then, in 'eter-
nal lie The belief is almost innate.
Ages have sought to obtain it.
vs.. y. The answer OF Jesus was al
most brusque, He would not take the.
Hattery. He would get the man face
to face with himself why dot thou
call me good" DO you believe Lam
good: DO You mean by that to re-
cognlzc that | am God manifest to the
word; "Thofc is but one that is
good. that is Cod You call me good
Do you then acknowledge me to be
God?
Then Jesus deliberately gives the
Old Testament law for eternal life
Keep the commandments" This
does not look as though Jes >, intend
ed to abrogate the Old Testament
The law failed. Paul wrote afterwards
to the Romans not because it was not
satisfactory or complete, but because
men woud not and could not keep it.
For what the law could not do, in
that ii was weak through the flesh,
Paul wrote.
Vss l7-Io. The mans answer was
ready. 1t was a question in one SIN
gle word which," That was a per
feet eXh btion Of the method OF the
day. argument over which command
mcnt was necessary to salvation was
to be heard among the Scribcs and
PharlNecS and Others every day. Had
Jesus named any SPECIAL command
ment III reply there would have been
all argument .lstcad he pract cally
covered the who'c Dacalo. uc He re
peat five ui the Ten Commandment
and the" Summer up the whole ri the
second tGble in one sentence. Notice
he said nothing about love to God as
Aar as Matthew gives us a r@"ort. But
1t is sure proof of love to -od when
one loves his ncighhor as II .msef Pos
SlbIy no one except Jesus ever did
that
VS. 20. The young man was once