Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-09-17
SON FoR SEPTEMBER 20
IupaMgNT O: TAE NATIONS.

LESSON TEXTs-Matt. es:si-sG.
GOLDEN TEXr-Inasmuch as ye did y,
not untc one OF tile least. ye ga u ho'
un, Me. Matt, Is IS.
!. The Congregation, w. s'-sS. THIS
Ia one o! the dinleult and much-con-
troyerted passages of II Lords Oh.
vet prophecy. The title Son OF Man"
Is one witch refers to our Lords
earthly relations aad administration.
and is one not otherwise used In this
prophecy. Jesus is speaking to MS
disciples. lie 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-
r.ent mentioned in the Apocalypse. In
that hour earth and heaven will fee
away. Here there is no such passing
away nor do the IDEAS appear. n
son IS enthroned. He administers
judgment. He IS assisted by the nc
coiapanying angels. The believe
mu It appear before. the Judgment q
Cor. $40; Rom. 14:1O) but his de
tiny is decided the moment he b
Ii. yas. John 5:24 Christ first came II
humiliation, when he cones this tir
twill be in "glorS' ". 81. He ma
come 81 ny moment. Matt. 24:42-l
This scene is more the description I
, judgment than ,f'a trial. The ties :
ing is taking place today,
Separating Test.
n. Those Commended, Wv. $3.50
The separating test is the attitude
of tie nations toward the brethren Of
the Lord. Here Jesus emphatically
speaks of his king ship, hence the hon
orsd position, "on 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 'bleseed" means, literally
well spoken Of We are blessed o
| God in the heaycnlies in Christ, Eph
ll:3. but we are also to be blessed
with an inheritance in the kingdom
See Gal. $40, II; Eph. SIS; l Cor. G:9
10 contrasted with II Tim. 2:2; AS
James ass; Rev. 31:7. This blessing !
a gift, Luke 1882, which has beef
prepared from the foun lation of tn
world" ". 34). Mans destiny de
ponds upon the object and act of hi
faith, but the test, the proof, the evl
dence of that faith is in his conduc
(Gal. 5;6;. James Ell, 49,. Altruisr
does not save the soul, but a trul
saved soul will be compassionate
~seryiceable. 1t is ours 10 assuaga tn
thirsty, John ALA, 6:55; ours to fee
the hungry, John 1892, SIS; ours to r.
ceive the stranger, Eph. 2:13, Is, 10
ours to clothe the naked, lisa. G4.6
ours to visit the sick, Luke 1:6S, rs
and ours to visit the prisoner, LUX
4:1s. Note carefully the unconscious
ness of good deeds. Ths Christian !
SO identified with Jesus Christ as t
regard these deeds as not his Owl
but Christ within" The real test |
not SO much love for God or Chris
whom we have not seen, but o TO
the brethren whom we have seen I
John SID. Our attitude toward gu
bretaren is the evidence that we hav
received Christ. Our life of service
though we may be "the least" wi
be commended before the throne an
the assembled nations and angels. H
Is identified with the least" Thi
sentence needs to be interpreted l
the tight of the entire scene and 1t
relationship. Those commended ar
sent away into an age-abiding lif
Of felicity.
The Other Side.
III. Those Condemned, wv. 41-4i
Turning now to the other side, what
change we behold! Come is nov
depart" not to age-abiding joy. but t
age-abiding fire, which is ageabidin
punishment. We do not infer tina
this parable refers to the place c
the departed dead, to the final juds
ment of sin but to the time Of hi
second advent and that the life ths
is blessed and the place Of punisf
ment are on this earth during the ag
OF his millennial reign. Such at leas
is as far as we feel we have a righ
to go in the Interpretation Of this pal
able. Those who do not listen to tn
come Of Jesus now, will hear hi
depart" hereafter. Notice there !
no reference to the father followin
the curse such as we find in conne'
ton with the blessed" Men ar
cursed by themselves. John 5:4'
Those who seek to gav themselve
are likewise cursed, Gal. $40. TIL
kingdom Ia prepared for the righteou
and punishment is not prepared fc
man. 1t was prepared for the dev
(41) and his cohorts
w. The Lesson content Admi
ting the difficulty Of Interpretation le
us look at the picture. Jesus 0
Mount olivet, sitting in the midst {
his disciples, knew full well what wa
awaiting him on Calvary. Judged b
human standards he was defeated an
his defeat was to be made %irrevocabl
by that ignominous death. So hi
enemies confidently believed. Yet h
looks beyond the circumstance to tn
coming centuries and through them
the end Of the age, and claims tn
victory. He speaks without hesitatio
OF his hour Of triumph and glory