Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-09-26
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlHyS0IOOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright, 1919, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER %
REVIEW: JESUS OUR SAVIOUR
AND KING, OR PARALLELS
OF THE KINGDOM,

The method of review should be de-
termined by the grade of the class.
For the Primary the review should
center in the topic, "Jesus and the
Children" the Junior, Choosing
Jesus as Saviour" intermediate. "Ac-
cepting Christ's Program for Our
Lives;'' for the Senior and Adult
grades the subject of the church, not
ing its membership, ordinances, wor-
ship, and service. A better way would
be to study more fully the parallels of
the kingdom as set forth in Matthew
Is :44-50.
|. The Parable of the Hid Treasure
". 14).
The usual Interpretation of this
parable, making Christ the hid treas
ure for which a sinner must give up
everything in order to buy his saliva
ton, must be rejected for the follow
ing reasons: (1) Christ is not hid
den in a field, but has been lifted up
and made q spectacle to the world.
~ Nobody has ever been obliged to
buy the world in order to get Christ.
(3) Salvation cannot be purchased,
for it is Gods free and gracious gift
(G No warrant is ever held out to a
man to conceal his religion after it is
obtained.
1. The field. This is the world
". 3S). Fortunately this landmark
has been made by Christ himself.
2. The treasure. In Psalm 135 4 we
are told that Israel, the chosen people,
is his treasure. The same truth is set
forth in different places and ways
Oeut. 1868; 14:2; 26:1S; 1928, 9).
When Christ uttered this parable the
ten tribes were already concealed from
human observation, and as to the rest
of Israel it was prophecy of that
which was to follow. The kingdom as
&c it's relation and bearing is now hid
den. Christ was primarily sent to the
Jews; for their sake the field was
bought.
8. The Purchaser: the Son of God
(John 3:16).
None but the Son of God had such
resources to buy the world.
4. The purchase price. This was
the precious blood of the Son of God,
which is worth infinitely more than
silver and gold and the treasures of
the earth q Peter 1 :13, 10; Isa. 53).
II. The Parable of the Merchantmen
Seeking GoodIy Pearls (vv. 45, 46).
L. The merchantman. He is ac-
lively engaged in search for pearls
In this search he discovers one pearl
of great price. This merchantmen
is none other than Christ himself. The
whole activity Of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, since the fall of man
has been seeking those who are lost
2. The purchasing price. The mer
chairman sold all-impoverished him
self in order to buy the pearl. The
poor lost sinner could not buy Christ
! His salvation is without money ant
| without price. Christ did impoverist
himself, turned his back upon the
heavenly glory (Phil. 1863 to pur
chase the one pearl of great price b.
his own precious blood (Eph. 5 %;
Pet. Is, 19).
8. The pearl of great price. This 4
the church. The merchantman vii
find other pearls Of value, but tn
peerless gem set above all others VII
be the church which he has purchases
with his own blood.
Ill. The Parable of the Drag Ne
wv. AZ, SOY.
This gives lis a picture of fne cor
summation Of the kingdom. No on
can mistake the meaning here. Note
1. The sea. This word when used i
q figurative sense denotes peoples an
multitudes (Dan, rs, Rev. 7:15).
2. The drag net. The word met"
the authorized version is proper
translated "dragnet"
3. The net drawn to the shore whe
full.
4 The assortment made by Il
| angels.
5. The destiny of the bad fish,
wicked men.