The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-28
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson IX.--Third Quarter, For
Aug. 80, 1919.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text OF the Lesson, Matt. xxi, 1921
Memory Verses, is, 17-GoIden Text,
Matt. xii, 21-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. M. StearnS.
This lesson Of questions by Pharisees
and Herodians and Sadducees, feign-
ing themselves just men. but seeking
to entangle Him In His talk that they
might catch Him in His words and so
deliver Him unto the power and au-
thority Of the governor, is found in
Matthew, Mark and Luke CMark xii.
18; Luke XXX, 20l. His warning to the
disciples to beware OF the leaven or
false teaching Of the same three
classes of people is found in Matt. xvi,
g.; Mark viii. Is. The Pharisees were
the most religious people OF that day.
but were mere Journalists. Everything
was outward to obtain praise Of men;
nothing real before God. The Herodi-
ans, Judging from Herod. could enjoy
a good talk. but preferred the sinful
pleasures Of this world to things real
and eternal. The Sadducees were re-
Ligious, but had no use for things SUI
pernatural, angels or spirits, and did
not believe in any resurrection. None
Of them had any use for Jesus Christ
or His doctrine. Although they could
not deny His wonderful works, His
teaching was to them foolish and inn
practical and impossible. The light Of
His pure, holy life was too great q
contrast to their selfish sinfulness.
Even Daniels enemies had to con-
fess that he was faithful and that
there was neither error nor fault in
him and that 1t would be impossible
to find occasion against him unless In
some way concerning the law Of his
God dan. vi, 4, b.
These enemies of Christ were In a
similar difficulty, but they would not
cease from their purpose. The Phari-
sees and Herodians unite in a scheme
which they think will surely enable
them to find occasion against Him,
and so they come with 5attering words
concerning His being a teacher of
truth and caring not for what people
think Or say of Him (verse 49,. They
PROFOUND a question which it seems to
them will bring from Him an en-
sharing reply: lis it lawful to give
tribute INTO Caesar or not?" Shall
W give, or shall we not give7" Verse
IT, Mark xii, 49,
They probably thought that He
would advise not to give to Caesar
and thus find Him guilty of teaching
against Caesar. They did not begin
to know Him, nor that He could read
their hearts, nor that they were deal
ing with one who knew what was in
man DER. xvii. 10; John Ii. 25). How
scathtng His reply, why tempt ye.
me, ye hypocrites?" How surprising
His request, Show me the tribute
money" or as it is In Mark xii, Is,
Bring me a penny that l may see it,
When they had brought it and in re-
ply to His question told Him whose
image it bore, then He saith unto
them, Render therefore unto Caesar
the things which are Caesars and
unto God the things that are Gods
(Verse 2D. So they could not take
hold of His words, marveled at His
answer, held their peace, left Him
and went their way Verse %; Luke
Xxx, 26).
1t was true On all occasions, Never
man spake like this man" He Him
self said, 1.-THE words that / speak
uDfn vnu I apook mt ~ por.oIe k,S
the Father that dwelleth In me BE
doeth the works" He gave me q
commandment what l should say and
what l should speak" John xiv, 10;
XII, 49l. II we were as fully yielded
to Him as He was to the Father it
would be true Of us, 1T Is not We that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father
which speaketh in you" (Matt. K, 2Ol.
he was the image Of the invisible.
Oh. Cor. ~, 4; Heb. i. 3; Col. /, 49,.
When We become His by redemption
we begin to bear His image and
should day by day be increasingly
conformed to that image, for to that
end all things are intended to work
(Rom. viii, %, 29). II we by faith be-
hold His glory it will be 30 until when
we see Him we shall be like Him III.
Cor. iii. Is; l John Iii, /, q. By crea-
tton they belonged to God. for He
gave them life and breath and all
things, but by choice they denied God
in their works through processing to
know Him Git 1, 16l. God wants
nothing from those who will not ac-
cept His mercy In Christ Jesus. He
must first forgive US as sinners and
give us Himself In Christ and make
us His children before we can render
Him anything, but when we become
His d song should be lever only for
Thee" The words went their way
(verse 22) remind US OF the same I'm
verse s and that all who are not with
Christ in the way are still going their
way to everlasting destruction.
The same day zane the Sadducees
with their question about the seven
brethren who. one after the other. mad
the same woma to wife. "If there bs
a resurrection. then whose wife Shall
she be Of the severn" VERSES 23-as.I
Thus they thought they had shown
the tmpossibility Of a life after this
one. Note His reply. Eye do err. not
knowing the Scriptures MOI the power
OF God" tverse 29). What a farreach-
Ing. comprehensive word and in a
sense applying to all error. for it all
comes from not knowing the Scrip
lures. The only way to be free from