Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-11-26

REAI-Come unto me all ys
that labor and are heavy laden. and 1 viii
give you rest-Matt I:2s.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI-Luks 1.ia-
%: io:is-b. q. 2; ll:i<-2s. %, n
Jesus. -
Of Jesus
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
hoosing Jesus as Our Teacher.
rouNo PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
OF Jesus srS
Inc teacher should keep In mind
tne progress of thought in Matthew
ana present these lessons accordingly.
In chapters to we have the laws
OF the kingdom; chapters 8 and q the
niehty works to demonstrate the
Kings ability to administer the affairs
OF the kingdom; chapter 10, the prom
agation OF the kingdom through the
sending forth of the twelve; chapters
IL and II. how the kingdom was re-
ceived.
l. Four Glasses Of Hearers (ch. ~.
1. Perplexed hearers like John the
Baptist I'll :2-1D. John believed that
Jesus was the Christ ". 2). but was
somewhat perplexed as to the manner
or the establishment of the kingdom.
In the Old Testament predictions there
were two lines In the Messianic
prophecies; the one set forth Christ
as the suffering one. as In Isaiah SO.
ana the other, as the invlncible Con.
queror, as In Isaiah GO. Indeed, I'm
isaiah COL. 2 we have the two ad.
vents in one view (see Matt. :1O-12).
He said that the ax is laid unto the
root OF the trees and that there was
to be a separation of the chafr from
the wheat and burning of the char,
but now the King was occupied mere
ly with the opening Of the eyes of the
blind, etc. John saw Christ as the
one who would remove the sins of the
people by the shedding of his blood
(John :29). but he failed to see the
interval between the time of his suffer
ings and the time of his triumph.
Since this Interval between the first
and second comings-the nature of the
age In which we live--was not known
until Christ revealed 1t In the parallels
of the thirteenth chapter. we do not
wonder at Johns perplexity. Johns
faith was not falling him. neither did
he send this deputation to Jesus for
the sake of his disciples. He was
true prophet and a faithful man, but
he was perplexed.
2. Violent hearers III :12-19). These
were willing to receive the kingdom
according to their own way, but were
unwilling to conform to Its laws. Their
ears were closed to everything but
their own carnality. They would not
repent when called upon to repent by
John. nor rejoice when called upon by
Christ to rejoice wv. 17-19).
8. The stout-hearted unbelievers
III :20-2G. In Chorazin, Bethsaida,
and Capernaum. Christ had done most
Of his mighty works, but the people
deliberately set their hearts agaIns,
him and his message. 1t was not for
lack OF knowledge and opportunity
that they were unsaved. but for their
purposeful rejection Of Christ. Tyre
and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah were
filled with immoral profilgates and
idolaters, but they will be more toll
erably dealt with In the day of judg.
ment than those who wiifully reject
Christ.
4. Hearers who are babes in spirit
I'll :25-SO. There were some among
those who heard Jesus with childiike
faith. who believed that Christ was the
Messiah. and they opened their hearts
to receive him. Christ invites those
who have the babe-like spirit to come
to him. and to all who come to him
and receive him he gives rest.
u. The AntagonIsm Of the Kingdom.
tch. 12).
In chapter IL we saw the shameful
Indifference of the Jews to their King.
In this chapter we see positive and
bitter antagonism manifesting itself
against him. They are not only with
out heart for him. but do their best
to destroy him. The immediate oc-
casion Of their wicked determination
was Christ's relation to the Sabbath
Because the hungry disciples plucked
corn and Jesus healed the withered
hand on tie Sabbath day. they sought
to destroy him. They accused him Of
being In league with the Devil. Jesus
with unanswerable logic showed them
that they had biasphemed against the
holy Ghost. and were therefore guilty
Of an unpardonable sin. They did not
deny the miracle but sought to account
for It without owning him as the Mes
siah.