Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-05-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR MAY "a
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Commentary Prepared I'm An Inter-
csting Way by Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns


ways between every part OF the Scrip
lures and the context. that which goes
before or after. but sometimes IL is
little difficult to see It. In all our Bible
study We must rely wholly upon the
author. the Holy Spirit. but we are oft
times slow to hear or see How much
we do need anointed eyes and ears.
The unavoidable conflict between light
and darkness will always cause Of
lenses. so the Pharlsees were often Of
Tended with Christ Matt kill. 81.
Ii had been prophesied OF Christ that
He would he rock OF offense to both
the houses of Israel lisa. viii. 14,, and
SO he proved 10 Ice according to Rom.
TX, 33: | Cor |. 23: Pet. Ii, g. Even
John the Baptist seems 10 have been
offended with Christ luke VII. 1929,
and on that last night He told His dis
ciples that even though He might allow
them to be put out OF the synagogues
and TO be killed they must not be Of.
Tended tJohn xvi, l-3l. Yet be told
them that they would be offended be-
cause OF Hin that very night Matt
XVI. 3I.
There was time when He said to
Peter. Get thee behind me. Satan;
thou art an oifense unto me. for thou
savourest not the things that be Of
God. but those that he OF man" Matt
xvi. 23I
Perhaps we have here the key to at
A Of ,hnt
lenses: the things OF God are an Of.
Tense TO men. and the things OF men
are an offense TO God. or. as He said In
the context OF the last lesson, THAT
which IL highly esteemed among men
Is an abominaton In the sight OF God"
In the first two verses Of our lesson
has He reference to the rich mans
being an offense or stumbling block to
the poor beggar. and Is the truth the
same as when He said Of Judas Is.
CARROT. 1T had been good for that man
IL he had not been bornT Matt. xvi.
pa Ii any OF our members should
cause us TO stumble into hell fire Il
would be better for us not to have
them Matt. xviii. y. 8: Mark TX, 43-4S)
We must use all care not to be an
offense 10 others. even In our ating
and drinking from. xiv. l3. 81; l Cor
viii, 13l. II others offend us We must
forgive them when they repent. even so
often as seven times In a day verses 3.
~. When Peter asked If he should for
give as many as seven times our Lord
answered until seventy times seven
Matt. xviii, ~. 22I. which ! understand
to mean Till the kingdom comes. the
complete fulfiliment OF the seventy
seyens OF Dan. tx. "a We all need for
giveness 50 often that we cannot but
continually forgive others. We can only
freely and constantly forgive others
and be kept from being an offense to
others as we live I'm the power Of the
reality OF the coming kingdom. when
Kill. AZ. A living faith. for grain OF
mustard seed suggests life. will accom-
plish great things Matt. xvii, 20: xxi.
q, 22), but who Is there who can show
a ful6llment OF the words. "All things
whatsoever We shall ask In prayer, be-
lieving. We shall receiver" What is our
difficulty? Why do we not know more
Of the power Of God and His kingdom
in our lives? Is 1t because, like the
elder brother. we are trying to do our
duty, but not understanding our
Fathers love nor the abundance that
Is ours. saying TO Him, Thou never
gavest me Kid that | might make
merry with my friends" while He is
saying TO us. Thou art ever with me.
and all that ! have IL thine?" luke
XIV, 20, 81 As the riches OF His grace
and glory control us we shall be less
apt TO be offended. even as II IL writ
ten. Great peace have they who love
the law, and nothing shall offend
them" FPS. cxix. 1861.
We shall also in the same power be
better able 10 yield TO others, and
yielding pacfieth. great offenses'
(Eccl K. ~. The love OF God. which
In Christ and by virtue OF His great
sacrifice makes us sure of a welcome
such as the prodigal received and
OF bliss beyond this life such as the
poor beggar entered into. should con.
strain us TO have nothing but love for
all. even for those who hate US. IL such
there be: the love that is kind. that suf-
fers long. that seeketh not her own
and is not provoked tlI Cor. VIA. 10; l
Cor. Kill. A.,
The word duty. which is found In the
last verse OF our lesson. Is not word
for the believer. for we read that when
we have done our duty we are unproflt-
able servants. and no believer should
be an Improbable servant. Yet how
often we hear the word In reference to
our daily life. because love Is not
known. Imagine a man loving his
wife, or a wife her husband. from a
sense OF duty What kind Of a home
.a.,Id tIat Lx.a I 1..,l... h.,a I'd n MAILMAN