Greene County herald., 1912-12-13
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNN6YSQIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER IS
FORGIVENESS.
By II. o. SELLERS, Director Of Eve
ming Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago)

another, tender hearted, fOTgiving each
other, even as God also in Christ forgave
you."-Eph. 4:32 r. v.
Our Lords teaching on the subject
Of humility as studied in last weeks
lesson is inseparably connected with
that of today. 1t presents strong
contrast between human and divine
forgiveness. 1t sets before US that
which at first seems to be unattain-
able. Someone has raised the query
whether or not forgiveness is ever
possible where any trace of selfish
ness remains. He who has the shep-
herds heart OF humility has also a
forgiving heart or else he does not
truly care to save lost and wandering
sheep, Wv. II and 13.
This lesson naturally divides itself
into precept Wv. 1922 and parable Wv.
1886.
Precept Is Plain.
/. The precept is very plain and
quite logical. If you have been
wronged, go to him (yCur brother)
who wronged you and frankly come to
an understanding. Go alone and have
it out with him" Most quarrels will
settle themselves If men will only see
"eye to eye" 1t is the repetition OF
our grievances by the second or third
party that usually adds fuef to the
fire. The other steps are just as log
ical. The outcome Is suggested In
verse 18, that to all the disciples, not
to Peter alone, is given the power to
admit and to dismiss from the COM
munion of believer. 1t is the prerog-
ative OF the church to bind and to
loose and TO have agreement in pray
er. The church must erect standards
of conduct, but IN thus erecting stand
ards the church must ever come to
on behalf of the lost sheep.
Verses 10 and 20 have been quoted
in thousands of prayer meetings with
often only the slightest realization Of
their full significance. Three is an
attainable number; more than that is
less easily obtainable, and has the
added danger of harboring hypo-
crite, thereby spelling that harmony
(Acts 2:1) that is SO essential to the
presence of the Holy Spirit.
Peter ". 21) suggests that there
is point of possible limit for our
humility and forgiveness. True, he
goes much further than most of US
go, even to that of the perfect num-
Der seven, but Jesus completes that
and again multiplies it by seven; not
that 400 is the exact number of times
to exercise forgiveness though that
would usually suffice, but rather an IL
limitable number of times. Resent
ment, wrath, anger, Glamour and evil
speaking are admonished to put
away (Eph. 4:31), and in the words
Of the Golden Text, BE kind, tender
hearted, forgiving one another, even
as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven
u.s." There is no deep work of grace
In the human heart until it is willing
10 "let" these things be put aside. AS
though to make assurance doubly
sure in the minds of his followers,
Jesus gives US a parable ". 2S-35)
In which he applies the precept just
given.
God Is King.
God, the King of Heaven, is taking
account with the sons of men, his
bond servants. At the outset one is
brought into his presence who owes
about $12,000,000 Ga talent of gold
equals roughly about $1,200,00O); he is
hopelessly in debt and had not to
pay" This is picture of fallen, lost
humanity standing in the presence OF
q righteous God (Luke 7:42, Ps. 103:
81, etc. This man is brought into the
Kings presence, and so are we
brought John 1879 and Rom. IA:
1O). The terrible ought and ought
not of the law is practically
presented in Matthew 25. The
debt of our sins is hopeless one for
any to pay except mighty Saviour
Il. Peter 2:24).
Let the law have it's course is the
meaning of verse 25 (read Gal. 3:10).
But what a gracious contrast is pre-
sented in verse 26. There we see the
compelling power of the compassion
Of God, as shown In the person OF
Jesus Christ his Son, loosing the
man and setting him absolutely free
from debt. Once men catch a
glimpse of their debt of sin, they, too.
will fall down and cry for mercy. Sal
walton is "by grace" (Eph. 2:S. 81, and
by grace only. From verse 27 on we
see the Lord Immediately dealing with
this servant in grace. There Is NO
future penalty held over his head. So
God stands ready to deal with us so
soon as we acknowledge the absolute
impossibility Of paying the debt and
call upon him for mercy.
The hardness of the human heart
is suggested by tthe awful sin OF in
gratitude pictured in the latter part
of this parable (v. 2S-35). As twelve
millions of dollars is to seventeen,
such is the possible and almost in
credible hardness of the natural heart