Newark post., 1910-05-11
Sunday School Lesson
By K. s. Holmes

htNH ii4Ni NIL " JESUS. |
(Matt. IL: 2a-32, 3S-42)
Golden Text: "He that is not ,,;+,
me IS against /, me; and he that gather
eth not with me scatteretE" Matt
i2: 80
The last lesson lett the story OF
Jesus with the Pharisees, the religious
people OF the day, plotting how thev
might cause the death OF Jesus. Some
= Gle told him of it, and he sought
safety by going away. This was not
cowardice, but precaution But going
away did not free him from calls upon
his power. lie could not keep himself
out OF sight. Wherever he went was
some poor sufferer, and the friends al
ways heard that Jesus was near, and at
once sought his aid. They were ready
to believe i'll his power and to seek its
aid ii they were nto ready to believe
in him. At this point the lesson be-
gins.
vs.. 22. The man had double ai1l-
iction. His friends thought the devil
possessed him. He was in bad case.
1t is bad to be blind. 1t is worse to be
dumb. Dumb men are usually deaf
also. All the senses the man had LETT
were taste, touch and smell Every
sense lost takes away one-fiith OF
persons power. Of course nature
makes some compensations. But blind
and deaf men have hard time.
How Jesus healed him is not stated
1t makes no difference how. He did it.
That is enough. 1t astonshed every
one. They had probably heard about
his doing things like that, but when
they saw it, they were as amazed as
though they had never heard 1t is
not said there was any faith in any
one. But some one believed he could
do what he did That is why the poor
man was brought to Jesus.
VS.. 20. Now comes the question
which was to divide the nation is
not this the Son OF David" Empha-
size the word the. A particular Son
Of David was meant. The whole ma
ton was expecting and longing for the
coming OF one who was to be known
as the Son OF David" He was to do
mighty things; to set the nation free
from Rome; to open prison doors; to
restore the Kingdom OF Israel.
= This miracle Of healing started the
crowd to discussing. This must be
"the Son OF David" they said. 1t was
dangerous question. The author-
ties had decided that he was not, and
it maddened them to have any one
dare to ask it.
- W "a. The answer OF the Pharisees.
was confession that he did really
cast out devils and was an attempt to
prejudice the crowd against him.
He doth not cast out devils by any
good power or for any good purpose.
He is in league with Beelzebub, prince
OF devils"
How did they know so much? What
foolish answer Why would the de-
vii take possession OF man. and then
cast himself out2 1t was, absurd.
Jesus saw it instantly. Hate almost
always defeats itself. Hate is nearly
always short sighted and foolish.
Vss. 25-32 These verses are little
sermon on the text He casteth out
devils by the prince OF the devils
The argument is in verses 25-27.
The claim ior the real source OF his
power is in verse eS. Verse 20 is an
illustration OF the absurdity OF the
position of the Pharisees. The remain
ing verses are his sentence upon those
who had by their words blasphemed
the Holy Ghost.
vs. IS Here is a general PROPOSE
ton. Divisions i'll State, community
or home are ruinous. History has
proved it to be true The worst wars
the world has known have been civil
wars. Strikes in cities where parties
divide have filed our own time with
bitterness. Family divisions end in
divorces and blasted lives. The talk
about Satan casting out himself was
folly For
vs.. 20 Ii he is divided against him
self his kingdom must perish. Was 1t
likely the devil would aid Jesus i'll
casting him out of men?
VS.. u. 1t would seem from this
verse that the curing Of persons com
monty called demonized was possible,
and was done by men other than Jesus
1t was home thrust he made when
he asked the question of this verse. If
the devil helps me, who is helping your
children when they do what ! dor
VS.. 20. This is Christ's claim OF
spiritual power. do not do these
works OF power. The Holy Spirit does
them. $50 ] repeat he says. the
Kingdom OF Heaven is come. How
true and strong he was. He did not
hesitate everywhere to claim that the
promised Kingdom: had come. How
blinded by Kate his enemies became
How fearful is the retrihuton winch
has been visited upon them.
VS.. 60 The illustration is strong.
| You cannot rob the house OF man
stronger than YOU who is alert, on
guard ami ready Bind him first. The
devil is that strong man. He is alert,
or was. But | have bound him, 1t IS
l because | have that | despoil him.
VS.. 80 "He that is not with me IS
against me-" This is the word OF di-
vision. Only two possible attitudes
with reference to Christ For or
against. No alternative. No man
|. ..ss.l.. q, ,:....;a,, I'D rtlA not