Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-18

the other mana, JUDAS 1SCdTlOL was
the only one who counted the cost.
He became convinced that following
Christ was too costly, so he sold
out for what he could get. This is
the only kind of man God does not
need.
Their Commission
"These twelve Jesus sent fotth,'
proving Himself to be the Lord Of
the harvest Och. $3.50. The King
is sending out His messengers, and
they are commanded to preach the
sth?e message that HI. '.,ralG has
proclaimed, and rat He Hims.'
FAC spoken-"Tle kingdom of me
heavens is at hand"
A study of the rest of this chap
ter of Matthew shows us what their
commission was. Ordinarily it is
listers and missionaries today. This
is not the case, however. In the
18th, 23d and 42d verses occur the
phrase, Verify L say unto you," and
this phrase ends each of three parts
of the commission, each of which
has it's own characteristic: The first
part Tvs. 5-15) is limited to the
house of Israel. and primarily for
the immediate time the second part
Tvs. 1929 was for a later time and
was wider in it's application, includ-
ing the Gentiles also ". 18) in their
ministry, for the apostles were net
prosecuted until after Pentecost:
still wider application and Includes
every servant of the KING. A proper
appreciation of these time limits
and conditions will guard us from
errors.
For example, the special powers
to heal the sick and cleanse lepers
and raise the dead and cast out
devils were not given to missionaries
Or the Kings servants today any
more than the instruction to confine
our ministry to the house of Israel.
Nor are missionaries to go out eX-
pecting the heather to whom they go
to support them. Jesus limited the
apostles then to the nation Of Israel,
because it was to them He was offer
ing Himself as King. Therefore,
they were to preach, saying the king
dom of the heavens is at hand.
the King did-heal, cleanse, cast out,
Notwithstanding His presence.
They were to limit their ministry to
Israel: therefore they were to make
no provision, but to depend on their
own to support them. And if their
own did not, then it would be more
tolerable for Sodom and Gormorrah
in the day of judgment.
Later their massage was to change
it was to be Testimony" and was
to include the Gentiles. Associated
with this world come persecution.
In fact the Greek word translated
Witnesses is the word from which
we get our work martyrs. This perse-
cution would extend even into the
family circle, so that mans en-
emies should be those of his own
household. And this is true today;
after those who make it hardest for
the follower of Christ are those in
his own circle, instead of trying to
make it easier.
The twenty-third verse has puz-
derstands Matthews Jewish trend
of thought The rejection Of their
King by the nation of Israel inter-
rupted the work Of the messengers. 1t
will be taken up again after me
church parenthesis (Acts 10 :14-lO,
and before it is completed the Son
of Man will come back.
In the meantime the proclamation
Is to be widened; what He tells them
is to be proclaimed on the housetops
where everyone can hear 1t. IN otlce
the gradually widening circle-to the
lost sheep of the house Of Israel
first, then to include the Gentlles,
now upon the housetopsO Persecu-
ton, nderstanding-yes Inc
servant cannot expect more than the
master They call Him Beelzebul-
the dung god-they cannot do more
to His servants. But they are to
be comforted by three facts-their
relation to Him; their Fathers care;
and their sure reward. ~
Disciple. servant, they Of his
household domestic. servants closest
to Him)-these are their relations to
Him their teacher, their Lord, their
master of the house. Surely to bear
such a relation to Him one might
endure anything.
Then their Father cares. Two
sparrows are sold for a farthing,
and five for two farthings,. but the
extra one that is thrown in for moth
ing cannot fall to the ground with
out our Father. 1t is worth His
care. Surely they are too as worth
more than many sparrows.
And their reward is sure. Even
a cup of cold water given in the
name of Christ will not go unre-
warded. Verify say unto you, ne e,
shall in no wise lose his reward,
said Jesus God will not let you
work for Him for nothing.
What matters it then If you are
raNilnd narSpcIltpdI