The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-11-18
IMPROVED umroRH INTERNATIONAL
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LESSON
tby REV 2. b. FITZWATER. d. D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of ChicagoD
&c. 1899. Western Newspaper Unionb
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER q
THE TWELVE SENT FORTH.

LESSON TEXT-Matt 10
| GOLDEN TENT-Then saith he unto
his disciples. The harvest truly Is plente-
/ Gus, but the laborers are few; pray ys
| therefore the Lord Of the harvest, that he
will send forth laborers into his harvest
Matt. 9:37, 49,
ADDITIONAL MATERtAL~-Luke sI-s:
lO:l-2O
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Sending out
Helpers
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Twelve Apostles
Sent Forth
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-fleraids of the King.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Recruiting Christian Workers
Having set forth the laws Of the
Kingdom In the sermon on the mount
and his power to administer the af-
fairs Of the kingdom in the miracles
of the eighth and ninth chapters, Mat
thew now sets before us the methods
which the king adopted in the propa-
CATION Of the kingdom. The following
divisions of the chapter suggest the
dispensational aspects of the lesson:
I. instructions Bearing Immediately
Upon the Apostles Work to the Death
Of Christ wv. 1-15).
In slrictness of Interpretation these
teachings have no application to any
later period.
l. The ministers chosen (vv. 1-4).
These II humble men were chosen and
commissioned for the work Of the prop
agatiOn of the kingdom. They were
not commissioned with church truth.
These II stood in a peculiar relation to
Israel.
2. The sphere of their mission tvv.
D, 60. They were only to 90 TO Jews.
and that to respectable ones. They
had no message for gentiles or even
Samaritans. After Pentecost this
sphere was widened tsee Luke "a AS
40; Acts :S). This would be
strange restriction to place upon min
listers today, since the middle wall of
partition" was broken down by the
death of Christ.
3. Their message ". y. "The king
dom of heaven is at hand" This
meant that the promised kingdom of
Israel was at hand. that Jesus Christ,
the promised king, was present and
ready to set up his Kingdom If they
were willing to have 1t. This differs
widely from the message of the min
listers today.
4. The supernatural authorization
of their mission ". 81. They were
clothed with power to work wondrous
miracles. These wonderful works
were really done by the twelve. Where
is the minister today who is so fool
hardy as to try TO fulfill this?
8. Their maintenance wv. 8, 1O).
They were to make no provision for
their support, but to depend wholly
upon the Lord who sent them.
6. Responsibilities Of those to whom
the message was delivered wv. 11-15).
Upon entering the city or town they
were to inquire for a reputable place
to stay. Into that home they were to
bring peace. If the people would not
receive them or hear their message.
they were TO pronounce judgment upon
them, and the turning Of the Lord from
them symbolized by the ministers wip-
ing the dust from their feet when
turning from the people who had re-
jected their message.
u. Instructions Concerning the Tes-
timony from Pentecost Onward wv.
1929. After Pentecost. testimony for
Christ would be fraught with great
danger. Both Jews and gentiles would
assail the messengers with the most
bitter prosecutions. They were
scourged in the synagogues before
heather magistrates. Instead Of
bringing peace into the homes they
brought divisions of the fiercest kinds
among families. In their defense they
were TO rely upon the Holy Spirit to
aid Them. These conditions were lit
orally fulfilled In the period from Pen
tecost to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Since the fall of Jerusalem no one
las ever been scourged In syna-
gogue. Verse % seems to carry the
work forward to the time of the
preaching of the gospel Of the king
dom In the tribulation times The
Lords coming then Is so speedy that
their testimony Is cut short.
~. Teaching Applicable In All
Ages wv. 24-42).
The disciple has the position Of one
ness with his master. He Is TO cOu-
rageously declare the whole counsel
of God, though most violently opposed.
knowing shat all things work togeth-
er for good TO them that love God"
Though their testimony be met with
the most bitter opposition. they should
not be surprised or discouraged. for SO
completely is the Lord Identified with
his disciples that he accepts treatment
OF the disciples as treatment OF him