Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-07-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson IIl.-Third Quarter, For
July II, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Matt xvi. 1928.
Memory Verse. 26-Golden Text,
Matt. xvi, 16-Com Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.


Since He said to the rha risees. Can |
We not discern the signs of the timesT" /
(verSe b is il not probable that we
might prof, 10y similar question? |
For there is great need OF men under |
standing the times. knowing what be
levers ought to do q Chron. xii. 32l.
We need also to beware of the leaven
Of false doctrine. which seems to be
fast leavening the lump. But many
are more occupied with bread for the
body than with the Living Bread,
which alone can nouriSh the soul. so
that our Lord has still to say: DO We
not vet understand? How is II that
We do not understands" Verses 8. H.
When He had finished the parallels of
the Kingdom He said. Have ye I'M
derstood all these thingS?' (xiii. 5l1
AS ii is through faith that we under
stand (Heb. XL 81. His question at
least includes the other. DO ye be
lieve these things"
Whom say We that l amp Cverse
l5l or. as He put 1t in xii. ~. what
think We Of CHRISTI" is the most I'M
portant question that could be asked
any one What we think of a par
| ticular doctrine is Il minor matter. for
a right view Of Christ Himself will
rectify all else-that is. right views of
His sufferings and His glory. Peters
reply. Thou art the Christ, the Son
| Of the living God verse 16l, was the
| right thing to say. Hear him say II
again In John vi. 90. and hear Martha
say II in John xi. 81. Yet this did not
fully establish either Peter or Martha.
| although IL was heaven revealed
truth. because they did not grasp the
suffering which II included. Not only
does Jesus rejoice with Simon that
| God had revealed this to him. but He
! speaks for the first time of His church
not as something which He had been
| building, but in these words: Upon
this rock | will build My church"
(verse 49,. lie said. Thou art Peter
Ipetros. a little rockl. and upon this
rock [petra. q solid ledgel | will build
My church" Not Peter. but the great
truth Of Peters confession. is the rock.
the solid foundation. See his own tes-
timony in | Pet II. 6. Z. The building
Of this church or called out company
from Jews and Gentiles does not de
pend upon our faithfulneSs. for hath
He said and shall He not do itf But
He is willing to use all who are will
ing 10 be used. and every living stone
may bring other stones. The con-
summation is sure. whoever may or
may not help. and the pearl, the
church, shall be glorious and without
spot or wrinkle or any such thing
(Eph. V, %.
What a comfort it is that no wis
. dom from the pit. no unbelief or sci
ence called Christian or aught else car
ever prevail against it. Peter was
commissioned to open the door boil
to Jews and gentiles into the present
Q age mystery OF the kingdom. SCI
Pentecost and the house Of Cornelius
Note the keys OF the kingdom, not thu
= keys Of the church. The power O
binding and loosing was shared by tn
Il other disciples Matt. xviii. is; Johl
Xxx, %. &C. |. s.. business man oil
:. the road is in a sense the firm whicl
& he represents. and his transactions ar
4 in the name Of the firm. SO every be
lever is commissioned in the name o
e the Lord Jesus, in the power Of tn
Spirit, to take the word of God an
show sinners their sins and point theI
to the Saviour. And if they receiv
Him the believer IS authorized to sho'
them in the word the result of thel
receiving Him or otherwise.
u The disciples had been proclaimin
IS Jesus as the Christi. G.. the cow
nanted King of a kingdom promise
10 the Jews and lat hand" I'll
church, on the contrary. must be bui
upon testimony to Him as crucifie
q risen from the dead. ascended al
made head over all things to Il
church" Eph. /. 2O-23,. C.. |. s. TT
kingdom being postponed. the age
the mystery of the kingdom havir
been described. the church mentiont
. end its building assured. He now tel
- them plainly that He must suffer.
" killed by the Jewish rulers and
~ raised again the third day verse .
IL xvii. %: Xxx. 19l. Peter. who had
r clared the rock foundation truth
which the church is To be built. nc
~ dares in all his love for Him to 81
IL that lie must not talk 81. must n
Il. think Of being so i'll treated. BE
far from Thee. Lord: this shall Il
~ be unto Thee. (verSe 22J. or. rs i'll t
~ margin. PITY Thyself. Lord" Thus
IL Peter blind to all the Scriptures Ct
y corning His suffrrings and speaks
~ from the wicked one rather than frt
~ the Spirit. as before. When filled W
IL the Spirit of God no one had more