The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-06
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlNS0lO0L
LESSON
(By E. 0. SELLERS, Director of Evening
Department. The Moody Bible Institute
LESSON FOR AUGUST 9
THE BARREN FIG TREE AND THE
DEFILED TEMPLE.


DEFILED TEMPLE.
Temperance
LESSON TExT-Mark 11:12-s3
GOLDEN TEXT-"By their fruits ye
shall know them" Matt. 7:2o
Event crowds fast upon the heels OF |
event during the days of this most |
tragic week in all the history of the |
world. Temperance means restraint |
and constrainingly proper use of God |
given appetites and privileges, hence |
the significance of this lesson as en-
phasizing the principles of temper
ance.
|. Sealing, w. 1914. The day fol-
lowing his triumphal entry into Jeru-
salem Jesus and his disciples journeyed
from Bethany, his abiding place, each
night, into the city. Seeing leaves
upon the fig trees, he had a right
to look for fruit, for the fruit of that
tree comes before the foliage. But
none is found, and Jesus seals its
barrenness. His act was a parable
in action, Hosea 1911. Profession had
superseded possession, and Israel is
therefore to be judged, set aside, un-
til the day when they shall look upon
him whom they have pierced. Moth
ing but leaves is condemned to per-
petual fruitlessness because Of the
sin Of fruitlessness. His act was
ratification of the condition of the
tree.
Cleansed the Temple.
II. Cleansing, w. 1913. Entering
the familiar scenes of the city and
temple, whence the hosannas had
echoed so loudly the day previous,
Jesus saw its dissertation and degrada-
ton. Outwardly a delight, it was in
wardly deceitful, "a den of robbers"
and his anger waxed hot. Everything
he saw and banished was in some way
connected with the temple worship.
Even SO the most holy things created
by the wisdom of a loving God may be-
come the instruments of the most des-
picable degradation. Ostensibly in
the name Of religion these temple mer-
chants were in reality ministering to
self and private gain. AS at the
beginning of his ministry SO again
Jesus exercised his authority and
cleansed the temple from it's pollution
and for time ". 16) guarded it
from further dissertation
The temperance application at this
point is very clear. Appetite, men,
tai or physical, is God given faculty,
but must be kept within control. Prop
erly used they are a delight, a bless
ing to the man and his friends. AL
| lowed ~ r-117o ennafiIoC fQrrif-
ic task masters Purify the fountain
of mans heart govern his motive
and the stream of his acts will bless
all, himself included.
III. Forgiving, w. POPS. The next
day on the way from Bethany to Je
rusalem they again passed the fig
tree and 1t was withe-ed. The disci
pies marveled at the swift execution
of his curse and Peter calls attention
to it, v. 81, Matt. Pip, 20. In reply
Jesus again emphasizes the lesson
Have faith in God" This does not
mean that this is an explanation Of
how he withered the tree, but rather
why it had died. Israel was placing
it's trust elsewhere than in God, anC
therefore withers from the roots up
ward" Notice that the root is no
blasted, and a beautiful tree will agar
. blossom forth from the living root
So Israel shall once again spring VI
into a new and fruitful nation. lisa
27:6. Jesus teaching by this tree Il
, an illustration of wherein Israel hat
failed. They had not faith in God
Faith can remove mountains, and NJ
i, difficulty can hinder those who hav'
, faith in God, Mark 1928. Faith grow
upon the word, Rom 1877, yet love i
greater, l Cor. 1872. If we really de
! sire the things we pray for, we "shal
I have them" We not only expect bu
: go beyond in our petition and coun
f as ours the things asked for. Tn
lack of forgiving spirit will effect
+ ualIy shut us out from God. A warn
e breath breathed upon the tense of
=. telescope will effectually shut out tn
f heavens SO shadow Of doubt or
breath of suspicion of others in tn
kingdom will shut us off from the al
I swer to our petitions ". 25). 1t
g remarkable that Jesus links with hi
declarations concerning the possibil
ties of prayer the charge that in
We mus. 0XCIClS0 Iuc S4dCO VI III s
n ness. 1t is here that we learn VIII
> many of our prayers are not al
l. swered.
Il Authority Challenged.
/ ~. Challenged, w. 27-33. Upo
y again entering the city and the ten
pie, there came to Jesus the chic
- priests, scribes and elders who cha
u lenged the authority by which b
wrought these things, undoubtedly r
ferring to his triumphal entry and
his cleansing of the temple. H
u reply is a counter challenge concer
e ing the baptism of John. For at lea
% two years John had been dead ar
+ his voice silent with probable 70
" getfulness on the part of these me
o. and a decreasing influence of his me
- sage upon their lives. Yet the que
u ton of Jesus had projected power
Sc he brought John back to them vii
le this question as to his authority, "w;
- it from heaven, or of men?' TIL
- there was keen sarcasm and cold log
q embodied in his question is reveal'
by the recorded dilemma of his en-
~ mics. w. 81, 80. Their answer w