The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson v.-Thlrd Quarter, Fca
July 81, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text CT the Lesson, Matt. xviii, 21-3s
Memory Verses, Fl, 22-GoIden Text
Matt. vi, 14--commentary Prepare,
by Rev. .. NJ. Stearns.
Our last two lessons have set befor,
us the building Of the church and thu
subsequent setting up Of the kingdom
during this age and at the close of it
s 1t Is worth remembering that the
church is said to be builded, never sci
up Matt. xvi. IS; Eph. ii, 10, %: i
Pet, II, 8; Gen. II, %, margin, with
Eph. v, 81, 32), whereas the kingdom
is said to be set up, not builded (Dan
II, 40. II we would walk worthy OF
God who hath called us unto His
kingdom and glory q Thess. ii, IN
the two features of today's lesson, hu.
NIFTY and forgiveness, should be spe-
c1ally manifest in us, remembering the
drst 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. ill, a..
As we are to have but one lesson In
this chapter we must consider the
hrst portion on humility as we'll 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 crucifed and to have
the mother of two Of them asking for
special places of honor for her sons
verse 1; Xxx, 20, 81; Luke tx, 1913:
xxi, 24). What must He think of the
same strife still between denomina-
lions 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
lisa. ii, Hid. A little child is His
object lesson, first In reference to en-
tering the kingdom and then in refer
ence to greatness in it oversees "a, and
the thought seems to be that of help
nessness, dependence, teachableness
and 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 1, but the grace OF God" Il Cor.
Nv, 10). See verse IA on His unwilling.
ness that any should perish, and COM
pare ii Pet. nj. 8. AS to the safety OF
little children who die before thew
know right or wrong find much
comfort in the analogy of Deut. |, 80.
AS to the ministry of angels, see verse
10, with Heb, |, 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 1910 concerning deal
ing with an offending brother seems
TO lead to Peters question, Lord, how
oft shall l forgive him? Till seven
times? (verse 81.
No doubt Peter thought that he was
suggesting 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 filed with |
His Spirit. Well might He often saw
to US: How is it that We do not un.
derstand?" Have I been so long
time with you, and yet hast thou not
known Me?' Matt. xvi, IL; John xiv,
81 Because His thoughts and WAYS
are as far above ours as heaven is
above the earth lisa. w, 8, o., let us
become so full of His thoughts, by His
Spirit and His word, that ours shall
lind no place in us. Our lords reply L
to Peter, II say not unto thee until
seven times. but until seventy times
seven" (verse 22), sends me away back
% Gabrtel's message to Daniel concern.
ng the kingdom in Dan. tx, 24-26. |,
Z. ", where we hear him say that
after seventy weeks or seyens the
kingdom will come, bringing in ever.
asting righteousness. therefore
lear our Lord say to Peter, Keep ON
'orgiving till the kingdom comes. I
always find the clearest light on Scrip
ure in Scripture, believing that the
spirit Is the best interpreter of His
'wn words The 500 OF Rev. xiii. 1S,
ends me to the 666 of / Kings, <. Ia
md ] learn that one feature of the
'ower Of the antichrist will be his
'ontrol Of gold and the use be win
make OF 1t. expect that we will vet
zee some connection between the 1913.
treat fishes OF the resurrection catch
John XXI, I'D and the 153, 900 strangers I
4 ii Chron., ii. IL.
The kingdom Ii the key to and the
utilizing Of many things and many Of
ur Lords teachings can only be un.
lerstood in the light OF the kingdom
. distinct from the church. The fun
OF the debtor of verses
4-27, like the forgiveness of the two
lebtors OF Luke vii, Al. 81. is illustra-
i've Of the full and free forgiveness I
ranted to every bankrupt sinner who /
ONES to Christ. for of all such it can |
'e truly said. Justified freely by His {
race through the redemption that is
n Christ Jesus" (Rom. iii. 24). But
his forgiven one afterward delivered
Q the tormentors till he should pay .