Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-12-12
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSOIOCN.
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER IL
FORGIVENESS.

LESSON TExT-Matthew 1s.1s

! GOLDEN TEXT-"Bc We kind a.
another, tender hearted, forr.,.r, ...e
other. even as God also in Christ f.-.'.l
ou."-Eph. 1882 II. V.
Our Lords teaching on the sgI..c.
of humility as studied In last v,r..,
lesson is inseparably connected u.J,
that of today. 1t presents a s,r.. ,
contrast between human and div,
forgiveness. 1t sets before US r,,
which at first seems to be ungft
able. Someone has raised the O.. d,
whether or not forgiveness lis p
possible where any trace OF sol. H.
ness remains. He who has the sh--
herds heart of humility has also a
forgiving heart or else he does m
truly care to save lost and waudrr.-y
sheep, w. - and 10.
This lesson naturally divides i.,r
into precept w. 1922 and parable Wv.
1886.
Precept Is Plain.
1. The preccpt is very plain and
quite logical. II you have been
wronged, go to him (your brother,
who wronged you and frankly come to
an understanding. Go alone and have
it out with him." Most quarrcls will
settle themselves If men will only See
EYE to eye" 1t is the repetition o,
our grievances by the second or third
party that usually adds fuel to the
fire. The other steps are just as log
ical. The outcome is suggested in
verse IS, that to all the disciples. not
to Peter alone, is given the power to
admit and to dismiss from the com.
munion of believers. 1t is the prerog.
alive of the church 10 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
the Father with tender compassion
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 a hypo,
critic, thereby spelling that harmony
(Acts 2:1) that is so essential TO the
presence of the Holy Spirit
Peter ". 21) suggests that there
is a point of possible limit for our
humility and forgiveness. True. be
goes much further than most of us
30, even to that OF the perfect NUN.
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. ADD. and in the words
of the Golden Text, "Be kind. tender
hearted, forgiving one another even
as God for Christs sake hath forgiven
US" There is no deep work Of grace
in the human heart until it is willing
to 'let" these things be put aside As
though to make assurance duuly
sure in the minds of his followers
Jesus gives us a parable ". $3.50
in which he applies the prcccp- just
given.
God is King.
God, the King of Heaven, is taking
account with the sons of men. his
bond servants. At the outset ore Is
brought into his presence who owes
about $12,000,000 "a talent Of gold
equals roughly about 81 100000; be is
al
pay" This is a picture of fallen, lost
humanity standing in the presence OF
righteous God duke 7:42, Ps. iv5.
-, etc. This man is brought into the
Kings presence, and so are we
brought John 1919 and Rom. "a.
10) The terrible ought and ought
not Of the law is practically
presented in Matthew %. me
debt of our sins is hopeless one for
any to pay except a mighty Saviour
Il. Peter 2:2D.
Let the law have its course Is the
meaning of verse % (read Gal. ":Iyl.
But what a gracious contrast is pre-.
scented in verse &c. There we see the
compelling power of the compassion
of God, as shown In the p'iso" w.
Jesus Christ his Son, loosing inc
man and setting him absolutely i'eo
from debt. Once men eaten
glimpse of their debt of sin, they loo'
will fall down and cry for mercy SaL
walton is by grace" (Eph. 2:S 3D. anu
by grace only. From verse p on We
Gee the Lord Immediately dealing VIII"
this servant in grace, There IS No
future penalty held over his head. %
Gcd stands ready to deal with US 81
soon as we acknowledge the abso'u-,
iapoasibility of paying the DEBT '1O
call upon him for mercy.
The hardness of the human u.-.'
is suggested by THE awful sin OF III
gratitude pictured in the latter P..
Of this parable ". 2S-35). AS /" '',
millions of dollars is TO seYeH'o."
ouch is the possible and almost III
credible hardness Of the natural Ny-.
of man. How few of us would u..
to stand upon our rights I'D ,|.
church or as individuals, did We 'r
more often take stock OF Gods u'~'
ings with us in his matches graz