McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1920-11-26

LESSON TEXT-Matt. IL and H.
GOLDEN TEXT-Come unto me all We
tnat labor and are heavy laden, and | win
give you rest.-Matt. lips
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI-Luks 7:1S-
10; lo:lS-l5, a. %; 1l:14-26, 2S, 49,
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Kind Deeds of
Jesus. -
JUNIOR ToPIC-Friends and Enemies
Of Jesus.
1NTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Choosing Jesus as Our Teacher.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Ane response of Men to the Ministry
Of Jesus.
Inc teacher should keep in mind
the progress Of thought In Matthew
and present these lessons accordingly
In chapters . to Z we have the laws
OF the kingdom; chapters and o. the
mighty works to demonstrate the
Kings ability to administer the affairs
OF the kingdom; chapter 10, the prop
agation of the kingdom through the
sending forth of the twelve; chapters
III and y, how the kingdom was re-
ceived.
!. Four Glasses of Hearers (ch. 11).
1. Perplexed hearers like John the
Baptlst (ll:2-1D. John believed that
Jesus was the Christ ". p, but was
somewhat perplexed as to the manner
OF the establishment of the Kingdom.
In the Old Testament predictions there
were two lines in the Messanic
prophecies; the one set forth Christ
as the suffering one, as in Isaiah SO.
and the other, as the invincible Con-
queror, as in Isaiah GO. Indeed, In
lSalah COL, 2 we have the two adj
vents in one view (see Matt. 3:10-12).
lie said that the ak is laid unto the
root of the trees and that there was
to be separation of the chaff from
the wheat and burning of the chaff,
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 l: 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 it in the parallels
of the thirteenth chapter we do not
wonder at Johns perplexity. Johns
faith was not failing him, neither did
no SpnH tliS lnp11t1tinv, 70 fnr
the sake Of his disciples. He waH a
true prophet and faithful man, but
he was perplexed.
.. Violent hearers III 1910. These
were willing to receive the kingdom
according to their own way. but were
unwilling to conform to its laws. They
seized it with violent hands. Christ
told them that before the preaching
Of John the Baptist, the prophets and
the law were the sources of ascertain
ing the Divine will, and that if they
would receive John, he would be the
Elijah to lead them into the kingdom
age. Elijah is to appear Immediately
before the coming of Christ in judg-
ment (Alal. As. 81, and direct the
hearts of the people to the King. Their
ears were closed to everything but
their own carnalty. They would not
repent when called upon to repent by
John, nor rejoice when called upon by
Christ to rejoice wv. 17-19).
3. The stout-hearted unbelievers
I'll :20-24). In Chorazin, Bethsaida,
and Capernaum Christ had done most
of his mighty works, but the people
deliberately set their hearts against
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
filed with immoral profligates and
idolaters. but they will be more toll
erably dealt with in the day of judg-
ment than those who wilfully reject
Christ.
4. Hearers who are babes In spirit
III :25-30). There were some among
those who heard Jesus with childike
1HlIH. WHO DSllcNeu tlldt CHfiSt WAS TIE
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.
II. The Antagonism of the Kingdom.
(ch. 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 hirl. 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 the 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 blasphemed against the
Holy Ghost, and were therefore guilty
of an objectionable sin. They did not