The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-07
BROOKLYN TABERNACLE.
GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM.
Matthew xviii. 1-14-Decembers s.

Matthew xviii, 1-14-December s.
I'm heaven their angels do always
behold the face of My Father
V. 10.
Perhaps it was the fact that Peter,
James and John had been favored
more than the others on several oc-
casions that led to the query which
opens today's study: who, then. is
the greatest in the Kingdom of
Jesus, calling to him little child.
set him in the midst of them and
said, Except ye turn CfrOm this spirit
of self seekingl and become as little
children, ye shall in no wise enter into
the Kingdom of Heaven" Whoever
would be greatest in the Kingdom of
Heaven should therefore become as
humble as this little child
A little child asks questions; IT seeks
instruction; it does not profess and
boast wisdom or knowledge is
candid-truthfuL
The Masters lesson is that whoever
would become child of God and be
developed for the glorious position in
the Kingdom to which We were called,
must become childlike-must turn
and hypocrisies and pretentions. They
must confess their ittleness and
ignorance, and go hUmbly to the Lord
for instruction.
Any who refuse to adopt this prop
er, childhke spirit will be refused the
opportunities of the Kingdom, for God
viii have none others@none others
can be taught of God, they will not
learn the lessons necessary, under the
arrangements of this present time
''One Such Little Child
We are not to understand that little
children are members of Christ's
Kingdom class The Lord is seeking
for mature men and women, who have
a chiidlike mind, and who in gladness
and simplicity of heart accept His
10
such little child in My Name, re-
ceiveth Ne" whatsoever SHAH Of
fend," injure, zone of these little ones
that believe in Me, it were better for
him that milestone were hanged
about his neck and he were sunk in
the depths of the sea"
II some one were drowned in the
sea, it would terminate his present
life, but it would not at all endanger
his future life. A future life, by a
restitution awakening, is assured to
Adam and every member of his race
But he who Injuries one of the Lords
little ones comes under such a measure
or Divine displeaSure that it will affect
his interests beyond the grave He
Will be held responsible for his deeds
in proportion as he realizes what he
is doing when he Injuries the Lords
saints The Lord declares that His
faithful ones are as precious to Him
as the apple of His eye, and that all
their interests are subject to Divine
supervision.
Doubtless many saints from Jesus
day down have been prosecuted ig-
norantly, and the Lord will have mercy
upon those prosecutors; but some of the
prosecutors have had such light as to
make them responsible; and it is of this
class that our lesson speaks.
Cut on Hand or Foot.
Here the Master brought in a saving
which has perplexed many: IF thv
foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off
and cast il from thee; it is better to
enter life manned, or halt, than having
two hands or two feet to be cast into
everlasting fire If thine eve offend
thee, pluck it out, and cast if from
thee; it is better to enter into life With
one eye than that having two evas
thou be cast into Gehenna fire"
Those who fail to remember that
Jesus spoke to the people only in par
ables, will be liable to stumble over
these words. His teaching is this IF
you have anything in your makeup
dear to you as a right hand or foot or
eye, that is likely to cause Won 10
stumble and fail to enter the Kingdom.
you would better cut on that tendency.
no matter what 1t costs Would if NOT
be better to enter into life than to 90
into Gehenna fire, the Second Death ? |
Surety Having put our hand to the
pillow, having become followers of
Jesus, we must either go on and be |
conquerors, or must perish
How careful the Lords people shouId
be not TO stumble one another, even |
one of the least OF these little onest
Jesus suggested that a shepherd losing
one Of his sheep would leave all the
others to go and seek that one: and
He rejOices specially at its recovery |
So We the followers of Jesus. should 1
remember that we are all sheep under
the great Shepherd; and that He has
the spirit of loving interest and care
which would go after the straying