The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-09-15
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 20
JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS.

LEOSONl IElhI-01d&L-- y -S1-4o.
GOLDEN TEXT-Inasmuch as We did It
not unto one of the least, ye did 1t not
unto Me. Matt. 25:l5.
!. The Congregation, w. 1888. This
is one of the difficult and much-con-
troverted passages Of our Lords OIL
vet prophecy The title Son of Man"
is one which refers to our Lords
earthly relations and administration,
and is one not otherwise used in this
prophecy. Jesus is speaking to his
disciples. He looks beyond the dark
! passion so rapidly approaching to the
light Of the ultimate fulfilling of his
purpose for this world. Our Lord here
makes no reference to the final judg-
ment mentioned in the Apocalypse. In
that hour earth and heaven will fee
away. Here there is no such passing
away nor do the dead appear. The
Judgment. He is assisted by the ac-
companying angels. The believer
must appear before the Judgment (II
Cor. $40; Rom. 14:10), but his des-
tiny is decided the moment he be-,
lieves, John 1924. Christ first came In
humiliation, when he comes this time
twill be in glory" ". 81 He may
come at any moment, Matt. 24:42-44,
This scene is more the description Of
a Judgment than of trial. The test
ing is taking place today.
Separating Test.
II. Those Commended, wv. 34-40.
The separating test is the attitude
Of the nations toward the brethren Of
the Lord. Here Jesus emphatically
speaks of his kingship, hence the hon.
ored position, ION his right hand"
In his teaching Jesus had empha-
sized the fact that those who do the
will of God are his next of kin. Here
they are, 'Ye blessed of my father"
This word blessed" means, literally,
well spoken Of" We are blessed of
God in the heavenlies In Christ, Eph.
1:3, but we are also to be blessed
with an Inheritance In the kingdom.
See Gal. 5:19, 81; Eph. 55; Cor. 60,
10 contrasted with II Tim. 2:2 As;
James 2:5; Rev. PET. This blessing is
gift, Luke 1892, which has been
prepared from the foundation of the
world" ". 80. Mans destiny de-
ponds upon the object and act of his
faith, but the test, the proof, the evil
dence of that faith is in his conduct
(GaL. Sc; James 2:17, 49,. Altruism
does not save the soul, but a truly
saved soul will be compassionately
serviceable. 1t is ours to assuage the
thirsty, John Ala, 6:55; ours to feed
the hungry, John 6:32, 35; ours to re-
ceive the stranger, Eph. 2:13, Is, 10;
ours to clothe the naked, Isa- 64:6;
ours to visit the sick, Luke 1858, 70;
and ours to visit the prisoner, Luke
4:18. Note carefully the unconscious
ness of good deeds. The Christian is
so identified with Jesus Christ as to
regard these deeds as not his own,
but Christ within" The real test Is
not so much love for God or Christ
whom we have not seen, but love for
the brethren whom we have seen q
John BID. Our attitude toward our
brethren is the evidence that we have
received Christ Our life Of service,
though we may be the least" will
be commended before the throne and
the assembled nations and angels. He
is identified with the least" This
sentence needs to be interpreted In
the light of the entire scene and its
relationship. Those commended are
sent away into an age-abiding life
of felicity.
The Other Side.
III. Those Condemned, Wv. 4f46.
Turning now to the other side, what a
change we behold Come" is now
depart" not to abiding Joy, but to
age-abiding fire, which is age-abi0ing
punishment. We do not infer that
this parable refers to the place OF
the departed dead, to the final judg-
ment of sin but to the time of his
second advent and that the life that
is blessed and the place of punish
ment are on this earth during the age
Of his niillenntal reign. Such at least
Is as far as We feel we have a right
to go in the Interpretation of this par
able. Those who do not listen to the
come" of Jesus now, will hear his
depart" hereafter. Notice there is
no reference to the father following
the curse such as we find in connec-
ton with the blessed" Men are
cursed by themselves, John $40.
Those who seek to save themselves
are likewise cursed, Gal $40. The
kingdom is prepared for the righteous
and punishment is not prepared for
man. It was prepared for the devfl
! (41) and his cohorts.
w. The Lesson content Admit
ting the difficulty OF Interpretation let
US look at the picture Jesus on
Mount OliVet, sitting in the midst of
his disciples, knew full well what was
awaiting him on Calvary. Judged by
human standards he was defeated and
his defeat was to be made irreyocable
by that ignominous death. So his
enemies confidently believed. Yet he
looks beyond the circumstance to the
coming centuries and through them to
the end of the age, and claims the
victory. He speaks without hesitation
of his hour of triumph and glory
". BID, Of the time of absolute author
ity, of almighty power, when he
should administer affairs in the king
dom of God, prepared for you from
the foundation of the world" His
viewpoint should be ours. We are in
the last stage of his prophecy. Ma
lions are no longer divided by divid-
ing lines Of race, language and local
ity. All the world Is laid upon our
breakfast table along with our toast
and coffee. But spiritual lines OF