South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-11-21


Notwithstanding Christian Work
ers.
Having set forth the laws Of the
kingdom in the sermon on the
mount and his power to administer
the affairs Of the kingdom in the
miracles Of the eighth and ninth
chapters, Matthew now sets before
US the methods which the king
adopted in the propagation OF the
kingdom. The following divisions
Of the chapter suggest the dispen-
sational aspects Of the lesson:
:. Instructions Bearing Immedi-
ateIy Upon the Apostles Work TO
the Death of Christ. CIV. 1-15).
In strictness Of Interpretation
these teachings have no application
10 any later period.
/. The ministers chosen. wv. LAD.
These II humble men were chosen
and commissioned for the work OF
the propagation Of the kingdom.
They were not commissioned with
church truth. These j stood in
peculiar relation 10 Israel
2. The sphere Of their mission.
wv. 8, 60. They were only TO go 10
Jews. and that to respectable ones.
They had no message for gentiles or
even Samaritans. After Pentecost
this sphere was. widened (see Luke
24:46-49; Acts 1:S). This would be
a strange restriction to place upon
ministers today, since the middle
wall of partition" was broken down
by the death of Christ.
8. Their message (v.O. THE
kingdom Of heaven is at hand.
/. This meant that the promised king
dom Of Israel was at hand, that
Jesus Christ. the promised king, was
present and ready 10 set up his
2 Kingdom il they were willing to
have it. This differs widely from
the messages of the ministers to-
day.
4. The supernatural authentica-
| ton of their mission vs.. They
were clothed with power to work
wondrous miracles. These wonder
/ full works were really done by the
I -. Where is the minister today who
+ is so foOlhardy as to try to fulfill
this?
| 3. Their maintenance. wv. Q. 100.
! 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
J wv. 11-15). Upon entering the city
or town they were 10 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
I pronounce judgment upon them,
and the turning Of the Lord from
/ them symbolized by the ministers
| wiping the dust from their feet
when turning from the people who
had reelected their message.
! III. Instructions Concerning the
/ Testimony from PentecOst Onward.
| wv. 1929. After Pentecost, testi-
mony 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 syna-
! gogues 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 literally fulfilled in
the period from PentecOst 10 the de-
struction Of Jerusalem. Since the
/ fall Of Jerusalem no one has ever
| been scourged in a synagogue. Verse
% seems to carry the work forward
TO the time of the preaching Of the
| gospel TO the kingdom in the tribu-
lation times. The Lords coming
then is so speedy that their test
mony is cut short.
III. Teaching Applicable In AL
Ages. wv. 24-42).
The disciple has the position OF
oneness with his master. He is to
/ coura geously declare the whole
/ counsel of God, though most vial
emily opposed, knowing that al
things work together for good tc
them that love God" Though their
testimony be met with the most bit
ter opposition, they should not be
surprised or discouraged, for Sc
completely is the Lord identified
with his disciples that he accepts
treatment Of the disciples as treat
ment of himself.