Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR APRIL Is
by Lee w. Ames.

pSNhoipi III Ai-NJ anu TIC
OF three parallels (3-32). We study
the occasion, and the first two para
bles in today's lesson, the last parable
next Sunday. Let us look at the three
together, before examining them indi-
vidually. After the heart-searching
words of chapter IA, not the scribes
and Pharisees, but the publicans and
sinners drew near to Him, bringing
forth the rebuke OF former, who
should have shepherded these out
casts instead Of Withdrawing them
selves from them. Here then are the
false shepherds who care not for the
sheep. The murmuring of the enc
mics Is the occasion for the three
parallels. The three parallels are
alike in one respect-there is joy over
the finding of that which was lost. re-
vealing TO us the heart of God, as con-
trasted with the Pharisees and scribes.
In the first parable the shepherd re-
joices (v So, friends and neighbors
rejoice (v 90, there is JOY in heaven
(v -; in the second friends rejoice
with the woman " 81, joy is in the
presence of the angels " 10); in the
third there is merriment (v 23), they
began to be merry (v 24, il was meet
that they should be merry (v 32). And
yet each parable is different from the
others. The first two end without any
direct reference to the heartless Phar-
isees. while in the third they are re-
ferred to by the mention of the older
brother. Again, in the first we see
the Son seeking the lost, in the sec
ond the Holy Spirit is at work with
the lamp (Word of God, while the
third the Father love is seen-thus
we have before us the Trinity in these
three parallels The question of back
sliding is not in the foreground here,
if indeed it is at all in mind. While
the Father is represented in the third
parable, yet the words Il have sinned
against heaven, and before thee"
(v is, 21) make il clear that a dis
tinction is intended here. In these
parallels our Lord is not occupied with
the subject of hacksliding; He is talk
ing about the joy that is occasioned
by the finding Of that which was lost.
Confirm or confute this by our own
study OF the chapter. With this gen
eral view of the whole chapter, we
will now approach our lesson.
LESSON DIVISIONS
J. The Unrighteous.
III. The Self Righteous.
Ill The Righteous.
The Outline Developed.
In our lesson we have three classes,
as indicated by the outline-the UNI
righteous, the self-righteous and the
righteous. After He had told them
l.; Ia e
ciple, the unrighteous drew near UNI
to him." while the self-righteous be-
gan to murmur, with the result that
the Righteous One, the Blessed Man
of Psalm L. uttered the words regard
ing the sheep and the coin. 1t is the
Word of God that causes people TO
draw near unto Him, because it re-
veals the heart OF God, the love of God,
the Son of God, the salvation of God,
the righteousness of God, the wrath
of God. one big reason why the boys
and girls, young men and women, and
older ones do not draw near unto
Christ to hear Him, is that there is
such a famine for the Word of God
in some of the Sunday Schools and
churches. We must believe that the
Bible says Draw nigh TO God, and He
will draw nigh to you" We must also
believe that God has drawing power,
And ]. if |. be lifted up from the earth
will draw all men unto me" John
12:32), by which He referred to His
death. Instead of the Cross of Christ
being repulsive to people, and driving
them away, our Lord says that in it
is drawing power-yea, the preaching
Of tn cross is the power Of God 81
Cor. 1:1S, 24). And yet, it looks as
though some were of the faith of the
woman in Samaria, who said Sir,
thou hast nothing TO draw with
to Him, when they forsake the preach
ing and teaching of the gospel and are
turned unto fables. In time OF
Judgment Abraham drew near to Him
(Gen 1929. Philip preached Jesus
to the eunuch, and he drew near To
God. The saints at Thessalonica were
drawn to God to serve Him and 10
wait for His Son from heaven. q
Thes. 1:1O). In our lesson, the invita-
ton 10 deny self for Him drew men
near to Him. And so the love Of God,
the death of Christ. the fear OF Judg-
ment, the opportunity for service, the
hope of reward--all these and other
gospel truths draw men to Christ.
These unrighteous people wanted TO
hear Him" Even though His Words
pierce the heart, yet there is healing
in them. Hear Him today, He calleth
for thee: sit at His feet as did Mary,
learn Of Him (Mt. HEED, let Him
speak peace To thy soul, and then let
Him speak peace TO others through
thee.
In the second verse we find the self
righteous. Thy were pretty well sat
isfied with themselves, but the publ
cans and sinners could get no mercy
from them, and even God Himself was
not without His faults in their eyes
Today you will find those who are so
much better than others, who see no
need Of being saved by the blood OF
Christ, and who will somtimes even
criticise God and the cross They are
a hard class Of people to reach with