The central record., 1914-03-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-First Quarter, Fol
March IS, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke xiii, 10-17;
xiv, 1-6-Memory Verses, 3-5-Gold-
en- Text, Mark ii, 27-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.


day are Sabbath day incidents. In
the first He healed woman in the
synagogue who had been afflicted
eighteen years, and in the second He
healed man who had the dropsy in
the house of one of the chief Phari-
sees. The ruler of the synagogue was
indignant because the woman had
been healed on the Sabbath day, for
the day was more to them than the
Lord who gave them the day, and
they had not learned that the one in
their midst was the Lord even of the
Sabbath day, greater than the tenn
pie. and that it was lawful to do well
on the Sabbath day GIatt. xii. 6-S. 12).
The late DIR. Weston of CrOzier semi
nary says. in his notes on Matthew.
that the immediate occasion of the
determination by the Jewish rulers to
put Christ to death was His relation
to the Sabbath. Christ claimed that
the Jewish nation were His people:
that as Son of Man He was sreater
than their greatest king. greater than
the temple, greater than the sacrifices.
greater than the Sabbath: that all
these were ordained for the sake of
redemption. that God might through
them show mercy; that His object was
to give, not to receive, and that neces-
sarily the Redeemer was greater than
all the means of redemption.
The Jewish Sabbath was the one pc
culiar and distinctive ordinance of the
nation. 1t was the Jewish national
flag. If the nation is to be deprived
of its distinction from other nations.
what is the use of being Gods people:
Pride. self righteousness, arrogance
had taken possession of them. Incar.
nate love was in their midst doing its
mighty works. and they thought ii
was Satan.
They did not know heaven from hell
sin from holiness. God from the devil
Their case was hopeless. The nation
was doomed. Yet He was slow to cast
them off. Ephraim was Joined to idols
Israel would not frame her doings tC
turn unto her God. yet His cry was
1lO" give IhCC up NI1Oo.
II; V, 4; xi, 81
AS He said in the parable of the un
| fruitful fig tree. Let it alone this yeal
also till shall dig about it and dung
1t, and If it bear fruit. well, and. il
not, then after that thou shalt cut II
down" duke xiii. 6-9). He is slow tt
anger and plenteous in mercy. not will
ing that any should perish, but the
day of the Lord will come Oh Peter iii
9, 10y. He delights in mercy and Low
ing kindness, and judgment is Hi:
| strange work Ger. tx, %, "a; Hos. vi
6; lisa. xviii. 2D.
Sabbath signifies rest and ceasins
from our own works Gen. Ii. 1-3; Heb
iv, 8, 4. 10y, but these hypocrites were
| full of their own works, their owl
days, their own feasts and their owl
ways and were so occupied with then
and blinded by them that they could
not see the light from heaven tha
was In their midst.
| The sicknesses which He healed
were typical of the spiritual condition
/ VI lhC AdIlOh anu VI IhC NOhNllAOh W
multitudes today. This woman in th'
| synagogue was like many who ar,
found in our churches. She was Ions
years bowed down. bound by Satar
and utterly unable to lift herself up
Every unsaved person is bound b!
Satan and unable to loosen or lift vi
himself. and neither the synagogue
nor any mere human agency can d.
any good, for by the deeds of the Law
can no one be justified. for the law
although holy and just and good, can
not give life (Gal. ii. 16; ill. 10. IL, 81
Rom. vii, 12).
By one word, one touch, from Hin
who is the end of the law for right
eousness to every one that believetl
the infirmity of eighteen years instant
| ly disappeared. the bound one wa:
loosed from the bond of Satan. the
people rejoiced. and the adversaries o
the Lord were ashamed.
Thus it was with Saul of TarSu'
| when he saw the same Lord on the
way to Damascus. Thus it will bt
/
shall see the same Jesus coming il
His glory. Thus it has been will
multitudes now in glory and multi
tudes still on earth. and thus it nigh
be with every one still bound b!
Satan if they would let the Lord lay
His hand upon them and speak peace
to them, for the free gift of God i:
eternal life. and whOsoever will may
take it (Rom vi %; Rev. xii. In.
In our second portion He did no
say. (which of you shall see" bu
(which of you shall have an OK or al
ass fallen into pit" Surely He car
save His own property at any tim,
and in any place. but His pitiful cry
Is, "Ye will not come unto me: Israe
would have none of me" John v. 40
Ps lxxxi. III. The woman came t.
Him when He called her (xiii. 12l. ant
so did the little child. but He is say
ing to many: II have called. and "
refused. Ye have set at nauSht al
my counsel and would none of my re
proof prov |. "a. 25I.
These great foundation truths mus
hever be forgotten: God is love;
''The Lord is not willing that any
should perish" He Is still asking
What more could have been done tha
have not done?" lisa. v. A. 1t is still
/ sl1Nl e,;