The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-05-28
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlNS0l00L
LESSON
(By O. E. SELLERS, Director of Even
ing Department The Moody Bible Insti-
tute Of Chicago0
LESSON FOR MAY 81
THE GRATEFUL SAMARITAN.


LESSON TExT-Luke 17:11-1e.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Were there none
found that returned to give glory to God
save this stranger" Luke 17:1S
Jesus and his party are on their
last journey to Jerusalem, a NEST
eventful journey. 1t led him between
Samaria and Galilee ". II, marg) and
into, or through, an unknown, I'M
named village. To us this is the most
heroic and momentous moment in his
tory. Jesus knew that his hour was at
hand. He knew all that awaited him
in Jerusalem, yet he ''set his face
as flint" and nothing could turn him
from his purpose, his GROWING work.
Jesus, however, was never too busy or
compassionate mercy.
The Type of Sir,
!. A Great Need, w. 11-14.-We are
familiar with the awfulness of leprosy
and that it is a type of sin. Like sin,
leprosy begins within, is 1nsidious in
it's progress; it defies, shuts men out
of the society of the clean 1t renders
its victims helpless and hopeless. has
no remedy and receives no help from
men; in consumes and finally kills.
This was a terrible spectacle that
greeted Jesus eyes as he entered the
village, for these lepers we're COM
PEELED to live on the outside. Notice
". 12) that they stood "afar off"
(Erh. 2:13), indeed so far off that
they were compelled to lift their
voices In order to make known their
request, although 1t may have been
that the disease had reached their
vocal organs. The Mosaic law COM
PEELED the leper thus to stand afar off,
Lev. 13:45, 46. Their salutation was
the cry of the needy made to one in
authority. The word Master here
used is not that which usually means
teacher, but rather one that would be
applied to one in authority, an ap-
pointee or a commander. They must
have either recognized his power or,
having heard of his miracles they ap-
pealed to him to exercise a like power
on their behalf. There was no other
who could possibly give them relief,
even SO the sinners only hope is to
meet Jesus. He, and he alone, can
cleanse them from their uncleanness
and Indebtedness. Jesus never
passed that way again, this was their
only opportunity Their need drove
them to him. Outlines our distress
and need are blessings in disguise in
that they drive us to Jesus. Though
afar off, and though only one drew
nigh ". 16), yet it was the privilege of
them all, as it is also our privilege to
draw Nigh" Eph. 2:13. Their cry
did not fall upon deaf ears lisa 59:D
It was a brief, but to the point. peti
ton. They knew what they needed and
drove straight to the point Their ap
peal to his mercy met with immediate
response, so also will the cry of the
needy sinner meet with like re
Spouse Rom. 1913. The record does
not tell us about the faith of these
men and it is useless for us to spec
ulate. The cry of faith will have its
answer, Matt. 9:29. Their prayer was
brief, 1t must have been humble, be
lieving, earnest and specific, for wher
"he saw them" ". 14 he gave direc
tions as to the manner whereby they
night be cleansed. He could have
spoken or have touched them, bu
his way at that time was to utter {
command. This resulted in (a) full
filling of the law, (b) a test for theil
faith, (c) a testimony to the priests
ness by Immediate obedience, they
took him at his word The record Il
wonderfully suggestive, ''as they wen
, they were cleansed" Faith and works
obedience and results When we &C
upon his simple yet sublime word we
too, will receive blessed answer t
, our every need. AS we look to him
, our great high priest, as we take GU
: eyes off Of self, we shall be cleap sed
! John 14:21,23
Bore Witness Before Men.
. H.. A Grateful Heart, w. 15-19.-Th
). revelation of cleansing brought differ
p ent results to these lepers. One o
them came back at once to expires
his gratitude. Before he could scarce
ly speak his petition, now he erie
J with loud voice" This is a sugges
I ton as to the completeness of hi
a cure. He at once uses his restore
;. voice to "glorify Cod" and it looks a
f though he bore this witness before
d testified to men; (a) being heale
r. seems also to have opened his eye
$ as to the character of Jesus. He nc
:. only returned thanks, but "worshipe
+ him." Nor does Jesus refuse to a,
It cept such worship-an evidence of hi
t deity, see Acts 15:25,26; John So
and Heb. 1:6. The nine we're too o.
cupied in rejoicing with their friends
too busy with fulfilling duties fro1
which they had long been separated, t
d express their thanks. It Is significaI
l. that this one was a Samaritan
e stranger" This is the one of who1
IL less would be expected, yet Luke r
1t cords other good things about til
r Samaritan, Oh. 10: 1886. Guke, as til
v companion of Paul, shows us not onl
IL in his gospel, but In his life of Pa
r. Christ's outreachings towards the &c
ID tiles.) The Jews have no dealing
e with the Samaritans John 4:9), b.
n sin makes strange cOmnanions les,