Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-08-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson K.-Third Quarter, For
Aug. 80, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Matt. xxi, 1872.
Memory Verses, 16, 17-Golden Text,
Matt. xxi, 21-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. M. Stearns.

Matt. xxi, 21-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. NJ. stearns.
This lesson OF questions by Pbarisees
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 Mark xii,
ID; 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.
q: 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 su-
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 i'm
practical and impossible. The light Of
His pure, holy life was too great a
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 it would be impossible
to find occasion against him unless in
some way concerning the law of his
God dan. vi. 4, 81.
These enemies of Christ were in
similar difficulty, but they would not
cease from their purpose. The Pharj-
sees and Herodians unite in a scheme
which they think viii surely enable
them to find occasion against Him,
and so they come with flattering words
concerning His being teacher of
truth and caring not for what people
think or say of Him verse 16). They
PROFOUND a question which it seems to
them will bring from Him an en-
sharing reply: rs it lawful to give
tribute unto Caesar or notT'' shall
we give, or shall we not give?" Verse
II. Mark xii, 15.)
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. 90. How
scathing His reply, why tempt ye
me, We hypocrites?" How surprising
His request. Show me the tribute
money" or as 1t is in Mark Xii, Is,
Bring me 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 vent their way Verse %; Luke
Xxx, 26).
1t was true on all occasions. We've,
man spake like this man." He Him.
self said, THE words that / speak
unto you ! speak not Of myself, but
the Father that dwelleth in me He
doeth the works. He gave me a
commandment what / should say and
what l should speak" John xiv, 10;
XII 40. If 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. X, 20.
He was the image of the invisible
God III. Cor. Nv, 4; Heb. /. 3; Col i, 15i.
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. IS. 29l. If we by faith be-
hold His glory it will be so until when
We see Him we shall be like Him I'll
Cor. Iii, IS; John iii, /, 2. By crea-
ton they belonged to God. for He
gave them life and breath and all
things, but by choice they denied God
In their works through protesting to
know Him Git i. l6l. God wants
nothing from those who will not ae-
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 our song should be lever only for
Thee" The words went their way
(verse %, remind us of the same in
verse and that all who are not with
Christ in the way are still going their
own way to everlasting destruction.
The same day came the Sadducees
with their question about the seven
brethren who. one after the other, had
the same woman to wife. IF there be
a resurrection. then whose wife shall