Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-07-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR JULY IS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
Commentary Prepared in An Inter-
esting Way by Rev. ID. NJ.
StearnS

WIKI we're SlDlpleS OF WHHI VIII De
more fully when His kingdom comes
dsa. xXXY, f-t1. The blind and all 9th
or afflicted ones We're physical illuStra-
tions OF lsraels spiritual condition. and
He was ms ready to open their eyes as
He was literally u open the eyes Of
few individuals. But the great ones
among them preferred their blindness
because all the time they thought they
saw clearly. Our Lord called them
blind Pharisees, blind leaders of The
blind Matt. xiii. %: XIV. IA. and when
they asked Him. Are we blind also?"
] He said unto them. IF We Were. blind
! We should have no sin. but now We say,
We see: therefore your sin remaineth"
! John tx. 40 III. In their case. as In the
case Of multitudes today. the god of this
world blinded their minds, lest the
/ light of the glorious gospel Of Christ.
who is the image of God, should shine
unto them I'll Cor. iv. ~.
Our lesson story is found in Matt
Xxx. 29-3i as we'll MS IN Mark. and Is
the record Of healing as He left the
city of Jericho. He healed another man
/
| and that man followed Him. clarifying
! God rs He entered ana passed through
/ Jericho duke xviii. 81. to xix. II. Mat
| thew and Mark both say that the heal
ing of our lesson took place as He de-
parted from Jericho. and Matthew says
that there were two blind men. Well
there are no discrepancies and nothing
to reconcile. He healed blind man as
He entered Jericho and two more as
He left the city. and one of the two
was called Rartimaeus, and no doubt
there were many more blind people
healed at different times Matt xi, 10:
xii. %: John ixl. and we cannot but re-
joice with every poor fellow who re-
ceived his sight. feel sorry for those
who did not and pity the spiritually
blind who fancied that they did see. be-
cause they were wise in their own eSti-
nation.
When the kingdom comes we shall
see the King in His beauty. and we
shall then think that we never knew
Him before. He will tie so glorious
Qsa. xxxiii. II. "a; John ill., I. y. Ev-
cry eye shall see Him. either to adore
Him and enjoy Him forever or else to
see Him and hear Him say. Depart
from me; | never knew YOU" The cry
of the man who was healed as He en-
tered Jericho and that of the Others
healed as He left Tie city is so similar
that some cannot think that Luke Is
telling of II separate incident Matt Xxx.
80: Mark X. Al: Luke xviii. 3Sl.
I'm anrh aVpnt IpSi1S stood md cou,-
manded the MAN or men to be brought
unto Him or called them to Him. |
Mark says that those who called him
said, BE Of good comfort: rise: He
calleth thee" That which we have In !
eight words here is just four words in I
the Greek.
| envy those who can read the Greek |
and Hebrew readily: there is such !
fullness of meaning in those languages I
which il is difficult to express In Eng I
fish. There is something very remark
able here. and 1t is this: The words BE /
Of good comfort Greek "tharsei'i are
used by our Lord on five different oc-
casions, all exceedingly interesting and /
helpful, four while lie was on earth
and once after He returned TO heaven
Matt. tx. .. %; xiv. 81; John XVI, SO;
Acts xiii, III. They make beautiful.
helpful Bible study on forgiveness.
peace. victory and the purpose Of God.
The remarkable thing is that this
word. used only elsewhere by our Lord,
is used In our lesson by those who
called the blind man. | wonder why
they should use one of our Lords spe-
cial words. | do not understand it.
only note the fact If ii was the dis
ciples who used the word they did ii as
His representatives. and we think OF
later word OF His. "As my Father hath
sent Me. even SO send | you" John Xxx
2D. If some of the multitude used the
word, then | am perplexed.
Casting away his garment. he came
to Jesus, and | expect that he did so
very-auickly. He knew his need and
that there was deliverer at hand, and
he did not hesitate nor make any ex-
cuse. He was poor, empty. helpless,
ready TO receive. In the song OF Mary
X Is written, He hath filed the hun
CRY with good things. and the rich He
hath sent empty away" luke. |. 53).
il Is also written. blessed are We that
hunger now. FOR We shall be filled"
duke vi. 2b The poor and the needy
are those who obtain help speedily Dps.
lxxii, A.. The rich and the self sufficient
and self righteous are the ones whom
1t is impossible to help.
What wilt thou that | should do
unto thee?" This Is the question ever
coming TO us from Him in whom all
fullness dwells. for has lie not said, IF
ye shall ask anything In My name
will do IT," IF We abide in Me and My
words abide In you We shall ask what
We will and II shall be done unto your
John xiv. IA; XIV. ~ How brief and
definite is the blind mans request,
Lord, that ! might receive my sight"
He did not want FIVE things. nor three
nor two-just one. lie knew well what
he wanted. and he asked for II. IL we