Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-04-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson lV.-Second Quarter, For
April %, 1912.
The INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. v, 1-12.
Memory Verses. 2-6@Golden Text.
Matt. v, s-Commentsry Prepared by
Rev. o. M. Stearns

The lesson today and the portion
from Luke vi suggested to be read
with this and which will be our lesson
next week look somewhat like the
same discourse; but, while the subject
matter IS similar. the words were spo-
ken on two different occasions. This
Is seen by comparing Matt. Y. l. and
Luke vi. II. In the former we read
that He went up into a mountain and
when He was set His disciples came
unto Him." and in the latter. He came
down with them and stood In the
plain" Both John the Baptist and Je-
sus had been preaching. Repent. for
the kingdom Of heaven is at hand"
(Matt- iii. ,; iv. 10, and Jesus had been
through all Galllee preaching the Cos
pei Of the kingdom and healing all
manner Of sickness and disease dv. 23l.
In Matt Y to vii we have the principles
Of the kingdom which was then at
hand. which was postponed because
they rejected 1t and Him luke xix. II.
12). but which He will set up on the
earth at His coming again in glory.
The teaching of these chapters does
not set before us life to be lived to
procure salvation. but n life that can
be lived only by saved people. for 1t is
written. His disciples came unto Him.
and He opened His mouth and taught
them oversees l. y. SO that those who
say that this sermon suits them and is
gospel enough for them do not know
what they are saying. for His first ut
terance condemns all pride and self
sufiiciency. just as the first Of the Ten
Commandments lays all low in the dust
and brings in the whole world guilty
before God Qom. iii, 19l. There is a
wonderful analogy between these beat
itudes Of our lesson and the petitions
OF the prayer in chapter VI. 9-13. com
monty known as the Lords Prayer.
more correctly the disciples prayer, an
epitome Of all true prayer Only such
as are saved. who have become chill
dren Of God by receiving Jesus Christ
as their Saviour John l. 10. can truly
say Our Father who art in heaven"
John viii. A. applies to all others. Only
the poor in spirit can say "hallowed
be Thy name" for all others prefer to
magnify their own name. All who
sence and sigh and cry because Of the
denominations they cannot remove
Matt tx. Il. 10; Eek. tx. 40 do pray.
Thy kingdom come" and. being meek
enough TO obey without asking why.
they can heartily say. Thy will be
done in earth as ii is in heaven" That
will be the kingdom. and nothing less
than that will suffice. These first three
petitions refer TO His name. His king
dom and His will and suggest to Us the
Father. the Son. who will Subdue all
things TO Himself and then deliver up
the kingdom TO the Father q Cor. Nv.
pa. and the Spirit. by whom alone the
will Of God can be wrought in US or ol.
the earth The other four PETITIONS
concern Us. Us also do the beatiluG a..
because OF our relation to God. Tie
hungering and thirsting after right
eouSness corresponds with Give us
this day our daily bread" The merci-
full are those who have been forgiven
much and are always ready to forgive
others. The pure in heart are grieved
by the thought OF being overcome by
temptation and pray not to he led into
1t. while the children OF God who be
long TO the God Of Peace are peace
makers and not peace breakers like the
evil one from whom they pray 10 lie
delivered. All such may expect to
know much Of the hatred and power Of
the adversary. for all that will live
cody in Christ Jesus shall suffer per
secution and be hated by the word
which lieth in the wicked one QI IT,
i'll. 10; l John Y. 70. Il. V: John
1920; xvii. III. Eut. thinkin. OF &
kingdom and the power and the clo.
and that He has said that all who W.
prosecuted for His sake are happy OF
blessed people. we can by His grace
rejoice and even be exceeding gl d.
and lean for joy when ill treated ~.
His sake VERSE II: Luke vi - 80
Spirit. through Peter. tells us thtt s.
must not think fiery trials N.r.i,-c
things. but rejoice inaSmuch as we are
partakerS Of ChriSt'S suIsern-S: thar
when His glory shall be revealed we
may be glad also with exceeding jo<
Il Pet. iv. l.. l3l. The Spirit. through
Paul. says. The SufferingS OF this
present time are not worthy to lie com
pared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us" QOm. viii. 49,. 1t is
only as we by His grace manifest this
spirit OF the kingdom that we can
prove ourselves TO be the salt Of the
earth and the light of the world oversees
ID. Id. In His last prayer He made it
very clear that He considers us az here
in His stead. for He said: II am no
more in the world. but these are in the
world. As Thou hast sent me into the
world. even so have l also sent them
into the world" IOhn xviii. IL Is, Tn