Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-07-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson V.-Third Quarter, For
July 81, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson. Matt. xviii, 21-35.
Memory Verses. n. Problem Text,
Matt. vi, t4-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.


Our last two lessons have set before
us the building OF the church and the
subsequent setting up OF the Kingdom .
during this age and at the close OF ii. 4
1t is worth remembering that the I
church is said to be builded, never set I
up Matt. xvi. is; Eph. ii. 10. 90; l I
Pet II. 3: Gen. II. %. margin. with I
Eph. V, 81. 32I. whereas the Kingdom |
is said to be set up. not builded Dan. I
ii. 40. If we would walk worthy OF /
God who hath called us unto His /
kingdom and glory q Thess. ii, 12) |
the two features OF today's lesson. hui
nifty and forgiveness. should be spe-
first 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 Il Pet. i'll. A..
AS we are to have but one lesson I'm
this chapter we must consider the
first portion on humility as we'll as the
last on forgiveness. What a trial II
must have been to our Lord. who had
so humbled Himself. 10 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 l; IN. 20. 81; Luke tx. 1918;
xxi, pa. What must He think Of the
same strife still between denomina-
tons and societies and churches and
Individual believers. whose Que aim
should be TO exalt Hin. for one pc
Culiar feature OF the kingdom VIII be
that the Lord alone shall be exalted
Elsa. II. 11-10. A little child Is bis
object lesson. first i'm reference to en-
tering the kingdom and then I'm refer
ence to great ess I'm it oversees 2-4l. and
the thought seems TO be that Of help
nessness. dependence. teachabeness
and a readiness to come to Him. In
order to be saved we must come utter
~ empty of self Righteousness. simply
pleading guilty. In order TO position
in His kingdom we must in conscious
meekness yield 10 Him that He may
work His works in us. II must h
Not l, but the grace OF God" q Cor
Nv. 1Ol. See verse II on His unwilling
ness that any should perish. and com
pare ii Pet lii o. As to the safety OF
| little children who die before they
know right or wrong. | find much
comfort in the analogy Of Deut. i. 80.
AS TO the ministry OF angels. see verse
10, with Heb /. II. 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 10 this assurance. The instruc-
lions OF verses 1919 concerning deal
ing with an offending brother seems
to lead 20 Peters question. Lord. how
oft shall ! forgive him? Till sever
times? verse 2D.
No doubt Peter thought that he wa:
suggesting wide margin when he
spoke of forgiving seven times So
blind and selfish and earthly were h'
and his fellows In all their thoughts
Just so are We also until filed will
His Spirit Well might He often sa
to us: How is it that We do not un
derstandT' Have | been so lon
time with you and yet hast thou no
! known Me?" (Slatt. xvi. IL; John xiv
81 Because His thoughts and way
are as far above ours as heaven
above the earth Elsa. w. 8. 81. let u
become so full OF His thoughts. by III
Spirit and His word. that ours Sha
find no place in us. Our Lords repl
to Peter. Il say not unto thee unit
. seven times but until seventy time
seven" Verse ~. sends me away bac
to Gabriel's message to Daniel concerl
ing the kingdom in Dan. TX. 24-2
II. ". where we hear him say th;
=. after seventy weeks or sevenS ii
kingdom will come. bringing in eve
lasting righteousness. | therefor
- hear our Lord say to Peter. Keep {
forgiving till the kingdom comes.
=. always find the clearcst light on Scri
e ture in Scripture. believing that Il
= Spirit is the best Interpreter of II
Z. own words. The GG6 Of Rev. xiii.
:. sends me to the G66 Of Kings. X.
te and / learn that one feature OF
a. power of the antichrist will be
L. control Of gold and the use he W
y make Of It, expect that we will y
v see some connection between the
IL great fishes Of the resurrection cat
i. John xxi. III ana the 153.O00 strange
:. Of III Chron.. ii. Il.
" The Kingdom is the key TO and
~ fulfilling OF many things. and many
il our Lords teachings can only he
y derstoOd in the light of the hingd
" as distinct from the church. The
~ forgiveness Of the debtor of yer
IL 2427. like the forgiveness Of the {
! debtors of LIKE Vii Ill 10 Is illuSt