The citizen., 1918-05-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson 8-Second Quarter, May
26, 1918.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of the Lesson, Mark t2:t.f2-
Memory Verses, Mark t2:2e.3t-
Golden Text, Mark t2:t7-commen
tary Prepared by Rev. o. M. stearns.

10 us hre Dut rev out or this chapter, l
feel led 10 consider the whole chapter,
and this we will endeavor to do. The
parable Of the wicked husbandman, the
topic Of lesson verses 1-i2, was one Of
many parallels which he spoke 10 them
during that last week, In all Of which
they might have seen themselves and
their treatment Of him. II they had eyes
20 see, and ears to hear. and were not
80 utterly blind and deaf. The parable
or the two sons (Matt. 21 :2s-32), In
which he taught that II was easier to
save the openly wicked than self-right-
eous people, was probably spoken just
before the parable Of our lesson, which
Is found also In Matt. n and Luke 20.
and clearly sets forth Israers trent
ment OF him as the Lord OF the vine
yard. In lisa. a Is Il written "the
vineyard OF the Lord Of Hosts is the
house Of Israel. and the men OF Judah
his pleasant plant" and he asks
what could have been done more to
my vineyard. that I have not done in
ftr' vet instead OF fruit he only re-
ceived wild grapes. The situation Is
summed up In 2 Chron. 36:15, 10.
where II is written that although he
had compassion on his people, and on
his dwelling place. and zealously sent
them many messengers. they Knocked
the messengers Of God. and despised
his words. and misused his prophets,
until the wrath OF the Lord arose
against his people. TIL there was no
remedy. Then followed the seventy
years captivity q Chr. 20 :21). In the
parable OF today's lesson the story Is
brought down TO his own time, and the
rejection Of himself as the well-beloved
son and heir. and the consequent Civ
In Matt. p :43 his saying IL "rhe king
dom OF God shall be taken from you.
and given 20 nation bringing forth
the fruits thereof" so that Israel has
lost something which might have been
hers. and yet he has not cast her OF
forever. See Rom. IL : I. IL; 10: 25, 26
IL was all foreseen and foretold. and the
rejected stone OF Israel has become the
church's one foundation. and when the
church has been completed. and pre-
sented to himself. a glorious church.
not having spot or wrinkle. or any such
thing. then shall he come as the stone
without hands. and break In pieces all
Kingdoms. and set up his own kingdom.
which shall never be destroyed. vss.
1912: Cor. 3:ii: Eph. 5 :27; Dan.
2:44. 4o.) See also Ps. 1ls %.
In verses 1894. the Pharisees and
Herodians. and the Sadducees, and the
scribes, all seek 90 entangle him In
his talk. and catch him In his words.
How utterly unbearable would all such
conduct be TO all but himself, yet he
came to save even such as these, but
they would not have him.
Following the parable OF the vine
yard IL is probable that he spoke the
parable Of the marriage OF the kings
son (Matt. - 10. in which he set
forth their rejection OF all his provision
for them. As to the Sadducees. who
did not believe In any resurrection
nor In angels nor spirits Tvs. 1S; Acts
% 81. and who came with their foolish
question about the woman who had
seven husbands; his answer TO them
was. "Ye do err. not knowing the
Scriptures. nor the power OF God" Tvs.
"a and Matt IL :20). Although in the
resurrection there will be neither mar
rying. nor giving In marriage, he did
not say that those who are specially
dear 10 each other here will not be as
dear there; and like TO think OF the
way he loved to reunite families down
here and give back their loved ones,
as In the case OF Jalrus. the widow,
and Bethany. As TO those whom we
call dead being now alive. and In due
time the resurrection OF their bodies,
see vss. 25-27. The question of the
scribe seemed more honest. and he
seemed to understand In some meas
ure. but there Is no contradiction In our
Lords reply TO the great truth that the
law cannot give life. and that Christ !
Is the end OF the law for righteousness
TO every one that belieyeth (vss. 1884;
Gal. 3:21, %: Rom. 10:4).
Verses 35-37 are more fully recorded |
In Matt. % :41-46, and the great ques-
tion is. "What think ye of Christi" or |
Pilates question. "What shall do with
Jesus. who Is called Christi" Matt. |
2T :SS). Note his quotation from Ps. |
l10:1, and think OF him as still at the !
right hand of the Father. waiting for
the time OF his kingdom. As II Is writ
ten In Heb. 1912. 13. From hence
forth expecting till his enemies be
made his footstool."
In verses 3s 40 he warns against the
of a mere formal and out
ward religion. which loves a religious
and for pretense makes long
prayers. while ut the same time op-
pressing the poor and devouring wild
ows' houses. How strange that poor
mortals could imagine thus to deceive
God.
In verses 41-44 he tells Us what he
thinks of some poor oppressed widows
and their gifts. Surely the Lord seeth
not as man seeth; man looketh on the
outward but the Lord looketh on the
heart Il Sam. 16;D. Think Of the
Lord valuing this widows offering
more than all the gifts Of tho rich.
Never speak OF Il as the widows mite. |