The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-09
The
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY 20.
Subject: The Golden Rule-Temper-
ance Lesson, Matt. 7:1-12
Commit Verses :. s..

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should do to you, do We even SO to
them, for this is the law and the pro-
phets." Matt. 1912.
TIME.-Midsummer A. D. %.
PLACE.-Horns of Hattin.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Sin and
Folly Of Judging Others, is. Judg-
ing is Gods work, not ours Gro. IA:
"a, 1913; / Cor. 4:3-5; Jas. Ali,
12). We are neither called nor COM
petent to sit in judgment upon others.
If we attempt it we shall reap exactly
what we SOW, we shall be Judged"
We shall be judged by God GAS. 2:
-, 13), by other men (context) and
condemned by ourselves, in the very
judgment we visit upon others (Ro.
2:1). Of course, it is not meant that
we shall abstain from all estimates Of
others (see v.6). It does not mean we
shall not be ready to condemn others
even when appearances are against
them Il Cor. 1875, 7, R. W; and
when for purposes Of deciding what
to do we must form an adverse opin-
ion, even then we must not regard
that opinion as infallible, i~rrevocable
or final, but leave the final and decis-
i've judgment with Him to whom it
belongs, God. The practice Of judg-
ing one another is rending the church
of Christ. If we will not judge 9TH
ers we shall not be judged" (Luke
6:3O. In our giving also, as well as
in our judging we shall reap just
what we sow (Luke $3.50. Men will
give to us as we give to others, and
~ -,flI Hol (Dhs1 4. O. . FOR Q.el
Generosity pays. When we measure
out to others, we are really measuring
to ourselves. Most men are sharp
sighted to see a mote in another's
eye, but pass unnoticed a beam in
their own. Jesus meets this strange
injustice with a startling "why?"
There is no clearer proof of our sell
fshness than that we judge others by
such different standards from those
by which we judge ourselves. One
great reason of our harsh judgment of
others Is that we fancy that it covers
up or atones for our OWN faults to
discover faults in others. 1t does not
Gro. 81, 2, 81; 14:12). Jesus calls
the one so blind to his own faults and
so open-eyed to the faults of others,
by no soft name, ~."hypocrite." That
Is just what he Is.
II. The Folly Of Feeding Hogs
Pearls, 6. There is a proper sphere
for exercising our powers of discrim-
nation. When we give out truth we
should seek to give 1t to those who
will appreciate it, and should suit our
message to our audience. A dog
loves his vomit and a hog wallowing
in the mire e Pet. 2:22). When we
find men welded to their filth, it is
both vain and dangerous to cast the
pearls of Gods holy truth before
them. We should turn from them.
But it Is well to note that verse 6 is
preceded by verses 1-5, and not to
Judge too hastily that another is a
dog Or a hog.
III. The Wisdom Of Prayer, 7-12.
Jesus begins His stirring words on
prayer with three commands. each OF
which is accompanied with a CORE
spending promise. Remarkably brief
are the commands, remarkably ex-
pressive are the promises. The en-
joyment of the promises is condi-
ltioned upon obedience to the COM
uduuS. SOllLudlo ohCt oh'
love on Gods part to command us to
pray as if we were comforting a favor
on Him by doing it. Surely il we
don't obey, it is a grtevous sin n in
suit to Him. If we do, what then?
1T shall be given YOU" 1t is the cas-
lest thing in the world to get things;
Just TASK" for them GAS. Az; CHI.
21:22; Jno. 4:1O; 14:13, IA; 1877;
l Jno. 3:22). We ought always to be
at this duke 1919. But earnest
asking does not stop with asking, it
also seeks and knocks, and it finds
and has the door opened to it. Jesus
puts the power of prayer very strong
ly, 'every one that asketh receiv'
eth" Note that He does not say thai
every one who asks gets everything
he asks, but "every one that asketE
r%eceiveth." There is a way of asking
that gets the very thing asked every
time (Jno. 1877; 1 Jno. 1922; 5:14
Is; Jno. 14:13, 14), but in ~everyone's
prayer there is power, and every real
! prayer effects something. And there
is power in seeking and knocking
| Some men never find anything Of any
worth, for they do not really seek
No door of marvellous opportunity
opens to some men because they have
not the faith and earnestness tc
knock. Jesus argument to prove
Gods readiness to answer prayer Is
beautiful and absolutely conclusive
To sum it up in four words, God is a
Father. How the scientific and met.
aphysical and theological objections
to Gods answering prayer disappear
before that conception Of God. Jesus
POUNDS His Golden Rule" of life
upon this conception of God. He be.
gins it with therefore, Since God
is our Father and gives good things
all good things, prominently the
Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13)-to them
that ask, therefore" everything we
desire men to do to us we should dc
to others. This sums up the whole O.
T. revelation Of duty. The Golden
Rule" requires not merely that we
should not do to others what we
would not have others do to us, that
is negative (the Confucian Golden
Rule); the Christian golden Rule
is positive and requires that we
should do unto others dill that We de-
sire others to do to us.