Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-04-21
Warming and
Invitation
Ss,dsy Sehsol Lesson fss April "a, 1910
Specially Arranged for This Paper

WdS u year anu "a uHlI H1tpT our last
lesson, in connection with the mission OF
the seventy. December A. y. 20.
PLACE.-Somewhere In perca, on the
way to Jerusalem.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Our last lesson vas a discussion OF
doubt--honest doubt and dishonest
doubt. We heard u Lord, after
highly praising John, who had proved
his readiness to follow the light as fast
as he received II, turn with stern up.
b~raiding to the scribes and Pharisees,
who had proved themselves unwilling
to receive the light, though brought TO
them in such different ways as by
John and Christ. Our present lesson
carries the same theme further, discus
sing the most important Of all subjects,
the rejection or acceptance of the Sa-
viour.
Rejecting Christ.-When did Christ
speak the words we are to study?
Matthew would seem to imply that he
spoke them Immediately after tho
coming and going of the messenger
from John the Baptist. But Luke
40: 1916. 81, 22) reports almost identi.
cally the same words in connection
with the return Of the seventy, more
than a year later.
What were the cities that Christ up.
braided? The cities of Galilee, where
In most Of his mighty works were
done" Three are named as samples.
Chorazin. probably about one mile
north of the upper part OF the Sea of
Galilee; Bethsaida, n city situated by
the Jordan where It cmpties into the
Sea OF Galilee from the north, and Ca
pernaum. our Lords own city, to which
he removed from Nazareth. and where
he wrought many mighty works.
Why did Christ reproach these
cities? Because, though given so many
opportunities, they had mot rcpcnted."
That was why Christ preached and
worked miracles, to bring men to re-
p%entance.
With what cities did Christ compare
these favored towns OF Galilee? With
Tyre and SidOn, Phoenician cities on
The Mediterranean coast TO the north.
vest. Sidon was a very ancient city,
and Tyre, It's offspring, was in Christ's
day the chief commercial city of Pal
estine, and probably the largest, next
to Jerusalem. Also with Sodom, the
city on the Dead Sea destroyed with
Gomorrah in the days OF Abraham.
Receiving Christ.-Vs. 1927. Christ
then passed from denunciation and
warning to joyful thanksgiving. What
vas the occasion Of the transition? AT
that time" should be translated Or. W
at that season." Luke connects the
following words with the return of
the seventy; they are a prayer of re.
joicing over the favorable reception
accorded them. Perhaps the same
thoughts were uttered or the return Of
the twelve (see v. / or this chapter 2
Of Matthew.
Peace in Christ.--Vs. 1880. We have
studied the picture of those hat reject
Christ and the picture of those that
accept him. The great discourse closes
with n famous picture Of the condition
OF those that will accept Christ, that
will hear and heed his loving invita-.
ton.
To whom Ia Christ's invitation ad.
dressed? In the first place, to "all."
There was need for the insertion OF
that wide word. Had not the
Saviour said a little before, Thou hast
hid these things from the wise and
prudent ?"-Spurgcon In the second
place, to all that labor and are heavy
laden" This describes the burdens OF
humanity both actively and passively,
those that are worn by ceaselcss
toll, and those that In silence and oh.
security are bearing loads that no one
knows about, are alike invited to
Jesus. The poor under the load of
poverty, sinners under the weight OF
guilt, business men staggering under
heavy responsibilities,-all are in.
cluded in the precious invitation. "All
men are miserable; all men are by
nature the children of wrath; all men
are laboring in the vain pursuit OF
earthly happiness: all, therefore, may
consider themselves invited."-Prof
Archibald Alexander.
What are these weary ones invited
to do? Simply TO Come" to Jesus.
The Greek is stronger than our Eng.
lish, and Is, literally, "Hither to me,
all weary and ~burdened!"
And the result OF going to Jesus
is? II will give you rest"
But what IL this rest that Christ will
give? We usually stop here, and lose
the force OF the message. in the first
verse the Physician opens his door to