The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-07-27
Sunday School Column.
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils
BY cHAs. K. MEYERS
SUNDAY SCHOOL COLUMN.
BY CHAs. K. MEYERS

| July 81. A Lesson on Forgiveness,
Matt IS, 21-35.
There will be few lessons in this
year which will exceed the present
one for guide to practical Christian
living.
| How to treat our friends who
wrong us is a hard question indeed,
but when it comes to conduct our
selves as to persistent enemies, the
decision as to the proper line of con-
duct on the part Of the protesting
Christian is a problem most perplex.
ling.
In the lesson verses the disciple
Peter came to Jesus with the enquiry
as to how often to forgive a brother
who did him wrong, adding until sew
en- times?" The reply of the great
Master was startling to His then lis
teners, and even to the masses of the
people of the world today. He said
4 forgive until seventy times seven"
In Luke liza Jesus said if one trespass
or offend you seven times in the day
and seven times turn and ask forgiv-
eness with repentance. that he should
be forgiven.
4 To impress this teaching Jesus gave
a parable, telling of man whose land
lord forgave him big debt because
q of compassion, and later found the
one forgiven hard-hearted to his fel,
lows who owed him small debts. Of
course the landlord called to him the
debtor, reminded him of his vile con-
duct in, not extending to others the
forgiving spirit extended to him, and
punishment followed.
q Everyone who knows the Lords
J prayer has full knowledge of what God
! requires as to forgiveness. OF course,
many times the prayer is repeated
4 without proper thought as to it's words
!, but nevertheless there stands the
declaration Forgive us our trespasses
/ as we forgive those who trespess
!. against us" That covers the case and
in language which cannot be misun.
derstood.
In Matt. Ola, Jesus said, For if We
J. forgive men their trespasses, your
!, heavenly father win nIso forgive you.
here can thus be no doubt how Jesus
looks at the great vital thing of for
q OF n II yryt..
!, great Apostle Paul In Ephesians 4
! 1892, sets forth still further the way
!, christian people should look on the
matter of forgiveness. Paul said '.Le
i, "all bitterness, and wrath and anger
r and clamoring. and evil speaking
y "be put away from you, with all
6 malice and be We kind one to an
/ other, tender-hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's'
sake hath forgiven you"
|. We now have the bible way Of look
ing at forgiveness well before us
Christ died that we might be for
d given our trespasses against God, 8,
the manner and the way sins are for
given occupy the front place in tn,
J. bible from lid to lid. OF course, al
], will agree that the rule of Jesus il
right in theory, but when it comes t,
: practice the trouble begins. Chris
!. tians must have the forgiving spirit
J. They cannot go from day to da.
2 nourishing wrath and revenge. Thei
forgiveness must extend not alone t.
!, friends and brother, but to those wht
4 are enemies. We must overcome evi
with good, love our enemies and dt
u good to those who use us with disre
l spect.
e AS matter of fact one cannot bt
happy with malice and revenge il
his heart. True happiness comes il
e proportion as we can love and be a
: good will with all men and wome1
we know. Paul says as to the mat
ter of revenge and adequate punish
y ment for wrong doing, that God will
, take care of that. All who have tried
melting out revenge, blow for blow
and tooth for tooth, will acknowledge,
that there is little satisfaction. It i:
thus much better to turn that matter
| over to God who will always do right
II