The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-08-05
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by Charles X. Meyers

August 9.-The Barren Fig Tree and
the Dclied Temple. Temperance
Lesson Mark II, 1888.
We have for our lesson this week
verses from which there are much to
DC gained. First, comes the incident
OF the liS tree, which from outward
appearances should have plenty OF
fruit. and which was found to be fruit
less and barren.
1t would appear that one day as
Jesus and Ills disciples were not far
from Jerusalem and on their way to
that city, they We're hungry. AS they
passed along thore came to view Il
fine looking fig tree. 1t mad very many
leaves, and While it was out OF the
exact Zig season, yet the proIusion Of
leaves would lead one TO suppose it
had fruit. 10 the surprise of those
going to it expecting TO get something
to cat, the tree had nothing Jesus
took The occasion to make out of the
incident a great moral lesson. 1t was
to the effect that appearances can be
dCceivinS.
The !5Olden text reads by their
fruits yc shall know them" and this
opens up u very large range CT
thought. The truth was declared by
Jesus when making one of His Won
dcrful talks as to fruit bearing. lie
said that ii was not those who made
the most professions for Him and HIS
gospel, but those who actually did
things who were accepted OF Him and
who would be rewarded. Most of us
can easily apply this thought. We can
call to mind many persons in our eX-
pCricnCe who have made great pro-
LESSONS Of love and regard for us, but
who, when tho time of test came, were
lacking. In religious work we know
of those who seemingly delight like
the pharisccs of old to tell OF their
goodness. but whose lives do not eX
coed in worth those who make but
modest claim to Christian living.
Passing into the city of Jerusalem
and entering the temple Jesus found
4 state of things which moved Him
much. This temple was the holy place
of the Jewish nation. Toward it all
good Jews looked when they prayed.
and to it once 4 year or more, they
"tllt W WI Giiif. taS pa l vi tHc WI
ship was the Offering OF some living
thing, as sin offering, and the CON
tribuliOn of q sum of money. Only
certain kind OF money was accepted,
and so pilgrims had to exchange the
Roman coin, for example. for such as
could be used in the temple So in the
course of years Il very large business
had sprung UP in selling animals for
the sacrifices and furnishing money
of the right kind. In time the mer-
chants actually invaded the temple it.
self, and so i'll certain parts was heard
the noise of disputing over sales and
the proper value Of money. Realizing
this dcsccratlon OF the holy temple.
Jesus personally undertook TO drive
out those who made its courts the
place OF merchandising, saying "ie
have made Ny Fathers house a den
of thieves" The lesson for US is
again plain Commcrciaism and Gain
should not find place in our religious
work There is ever danger that self
ishness will creep into our church
work. and under cover Of doing right, |
wrong get 4 foothold.
In passing the place where the fig
tree stood with all It's leaves Peter
noted that il had withered and called
attention to the fact. Jesus made
this the time to encourage faith. He |
said Have faith in God and added |
that when praying forgive your neigh |
Dor, Or any one, what you may think |
you have against them. That your !
Father which is in heaven may for
give you your trespasses,' Jesus also
said that when praying believe you
have the things you pray for and you
will have them. This command to
forgive others. ii we want forgiveness,
and our requests granted, is most i'm
portant and must not be forgotten.
We now take up the bearing Of the
lealing fig tree and the delilement OF
the temple on the temperance ques-
ton The fig tree which gave prom
isc Of fine truitage and was in the
end so disappointing is a strong pic
t,re or example of the liquor habit.
1t is given out that the drinking OF
wines. whiskey, beer, is most delight
full, will give joy, comfort, sociability,
friendship, health. Thus it is most
enticing to the eye and is very apt to
nrove a snare to those not knowing |
thp truth in the matter. In fact tens
of thousands of boys and girls are led
into the drink habit by its entice-
ments. The scripture says AT last it
biteth like serpent and stingeth like
an adder" and in this the very truth
is told. The drink habit like the leafy