The Lambertville record., 1910-07-15
The SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Ill.--ThiTd Quarter, For
JuIy II, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Memory Verse, 26-Golden Text,
Matt. xvi, 16-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Since He said to the Pharisees, "Can
We not discern the signs Of the times?"
verse 81 is it not probable that we
might profit by a similar question?
For there is great need of men under
standing the times. knowing what be-
We need also to beware of the leaven
of false doctrine, which seems to be
fast leayening the lump. But many
are more occupied with bread for the
body than with the Living Bread,
which alone can nourish the soul, so
that our Lord has still to say: DO ye
not yet understand? How Is it that
We do not understand" (Verses 8, IL
When He had finished the parallels of
the kingdom He said. Have We un-
derstood all these things?" (xiii, Sd
AS it is through faith that we under
stand Heb. xi. 81, His question at
least includes the other. do ye be-
lieve these thingS.
Whom say We that | ann" verse
15) or. as He put it in xxi. AZ, What
think We of Christ% is the most i'm
portant question that could be asked
any one What we think Of a par
ticular doctrine is a minor matter, for
right view of Christ Himself will
rectify all else-that is. right views of
His sufferings and His glory. Peters
reply, Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God" (verse 16), was the
right thing to say. Hear him say it
again in John vi. GO. and hear Martha
say it in John xi, 81 Yet this did not
fully establish either Peter or Martha.
although it was heaven revealed
truth, because they did not grasp the
suffering which it included. Not only
does Jesus rejoice with Simon that
God had revealed this to him. but He
speaks for the first time of His church
not as something which He had been
building but in these words: Upon
this rock | will build Ny church"
verse 1S, lie said Thou art Peter
lpetros. little rock]. and upon this
rock (petra. solid ledgel | will build
My church. Not Peter. but the great
truth of Peters confession. is the rock
the solid foundation. See his own tes
timony in Pet ii. &. T. The building
of this church or called out company
from Jews and gentiles does not de
pend upon our faithfulness, for hath
He said and shall He not do it? But
He is willing to use all who are will.
ing to be used. and every living stone
may bring other stones. The con-
summation is sure. whoever may or
may NOT help. and the pearl. the
church. shall be glorious and without
spot or wrinkle or any such thing
(Eph. V. 90.
What comfort it is that no wis
dom from the pit. no unbelief or sci
ence called Christian or aught else can
ever prevail against it. Peter was
commissioned to open the door both
to Jews and gentiles into the present
age mystery Of the kingdom. See
Pentecost and the house of Cornelius.
Note the keys of the kingdom, not the
keys of the church The power of
binding and oosing was shared by the
other disciples Matt. xviii. IS; John
Xxx, %. &C. |. 81 A business man on
the road is in sense the firm which
he represents, and his transactions are
in the name of the firm. So every be-
lever is commissioned in the name of
the Lord Jesus, in the power of the
xir;f TO tpI- hn Of cd nd
show sinners their sins and point them
to the Saviour And If they receive
Him the believer is authorized to show
them in the word the result of their
receiving Him or otherwise.
The disciples had been proclaiming
Jesus as the Christi e.. the cove
nanted King Of a kingdom promised
to the Jews and lat hand" The
church, on the contrary, must be built
upon testimony to Him as cruciied,
risen from the dead. ascended and
made head over all things to the
church" Eph. i. 20-23). &C. l. 81 The
kingdom being postponed, the age Of
the mystery of the kingdom having
been described. the church mentioned
and it's building assured. He now tells
them plainly that He must suffer, be
killed by the Jewish rulers and be
raised again the third day (verse 21;
xvii. %; Xxx. 49, Peter. who had de-
clared the rock foundation truth on
which the church is to be built. now
dares in all his love for Him to say
that He must not talk so, must not
think of being so i'll treated, BE 1t
far from Thee. Lord: this shall not
be unto Thee" (verse 90 or, as in the
margin. pity Thyself, Lord" Thus is
Peter blind to all the Scriptures con-
cerning His sufferings and speaks as
from the wicked one rather than from
the Spirit. as before. When filled with
the Spirit of God no one had more 70
say about the sufferings of Christ and
our suffering with Him than this same
Peter. See his first epistle. Our Lord
then added His oft repeated words
concerning denying self, taking up the
cross, following Him. losing ones life
in order to save it Matt. X. 37-39;
Tuke xiv o6 27 33: John xii 25)