The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-09-18
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER e
JUDGMENT or THE NATIONS.

VII oil GGB06u -
: JUDGMENT or THE NATIONS.
LESSON TExT-Matt. H:3l-6.
GOLDEN TExT-Inasmuch a. ye did 4
not unto one OF the least. ye did It no
unto Ne. Matt. 2s:45.
!. Tho Congregation. w. 31-33. Thia
is n of the difficult and much-con
troverted passages Of u 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 ID speaking to hia
disciples. He looks beyond the dark
passion 30 rapidly approaching to the
light Of the ultimate fulfilling OF hs
purpose for this world. Our Lord here
makes no reference to the final judy
ment mentioned in the Apocalypse. In
that hour earth and heaven will fee
away. Here there 10 no such passing
away nor do the dead appear. The
son Is enthroned. He administers
Judgment. He Is assisted by the ac-
companying angels. The believer
must appear before the judgment III
Cor. $40: Rom. 14:10). but his des-
tiny Is decided the morhsnt he be-
lieves, John 5:24. Christ FIRST came In
humiliation, when he 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 q trial. The test
ing Is taking place today.
Separating Test.
II. Those Commended, w. 34-4o.
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.
lib, but we are also to be blessed
with an Inheritance in the kingdom.
See Gal. 5:19, 81; Eph. b.5; ! Cor. SO.
10 c~ontrasted with II Tim. "a; AS;
James 2:5; Rev. 21:7. This blessing Is
a gift, Luke 1899, which has been
prepared from the foundation of the
world" ". a4). Mans destiny de-
ponds upon the object and act of his
faith, but the test, the proof, the evi.
dence OF that faith Is in his conduct
(Gal. SO; James 2:17, 1s). Altruism
does not save the soul, but a truly
saved soul will be compassionately
serviceable. It ia ours to assuage the
thirsty, John Ala, 6:55; ours to feed
the hungry, John 6:32, IS: ours to re-
ceive the stranger, Eph. 2:13, Is, 10;
ours to clothe the naked, lisa. 64:6;
ours to visit the sick, Luke 1853, rs;
and urs to visit the prisoner, Luke
Ais. Note carefully the unconscious
ness Of good deeds. The Christian IL
SO identified with Jesus Christ as to
regard these deeds as not his own,
but Christ within" The real test ID
not SO much love for God or Christ
whom we have not seen, but love for
the brethren whom we have seen Il
John 3:17). Our attitude toward our
brethren IL the evidence that we have
received Christ. Our life of service,
though we may be 'the least win
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, w. 4t46,
Turning o to the other side. what q
change we behold Come" Is now
depart" not to age-abiding Joy, but to
a~ge-abiding lre, which 10 age-abiding
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 millennial reign. Such at least
Is 10 far Is we feel we have q right
to 60 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 Ii
no reference to the father following
the curse such az we md In connec-
tion with the blessed. Men are
cursed by themselves, John $40.
Those who seek to save themselves
are likewise cursed. Gal. 1910. The
kingdom Is prepared for the righteous
and punishment 10 not prepared for
man. It was prepared for the devfl
(41) and his cohorts.
~. Tho Lesson content. Admit.
ting the difficulty Of Interpretation lst
US look at the picture. Jesus "a
Mount Olivet, sitting In the midst u
his discfples, knew full well what was
awaiting him O Calvary. Judged "
human standards he was defeated ana
his defeat was to be made trrevocAble
by that ignominous death. So iii
enemies confidently believed. Yet 10
looks beyond the circumstance to the
coming centuries md through them 70