New Mexico state record., 1920-11-19
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 2
THE TWELVE SENT FORTH.

GOLDEN TEXT-Then saith ne uhto
his disciples, The harvest truly is plente-
Gus, but the laborers are few; pray ye
therefore the Lord Of the harvest, that he
will send forth laborers into his harvest.
Matt. 9:37. S
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Luke 9l-6;
l0:l-20.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Sending out
Helpers.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Twelve Apostles
Sent Forth.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Heralds 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 ar
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 tho
dispensational aspects of the lesson:
!. Instructions Bearing Immediately y
Upon the Apostles Work to the Death
Of Christ wv. lid.
In strictness of Interpretation these
teachings have no application 10 any
later period.
!. The ministers chosen wv. Id.
These j. humble men were chosen and
commissioned for the work of the prop
agation of the kingdom. They were
not commissioned with church truth.
These u stood in a peculiar relation TO
Israel.
2. The sphere of their mission (vv.
8, O.. They were only TO go TO Jews.
and that to respectable ones. They
had no message for gentiles or even
Samaritans. After Pentecost this
sphere was widened (see Luke "a 40
40; Acts 1:S). This would be a
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 ut 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 II they
were willing 10 have II. This differs
widely from the message of the min
listers today. After the church is trans
lated, the same message will be taken
up for brief time by the believing
remnant (see Acts u :13-lS; Rom. IL /;
Rev. -.
4. The supernatural authorization
Of their mission ". 81. They were
clothed with power 10 work wondrors
miracles. These wonderful works
were really done by the twelve. Where
hardy as TO try 10 fulfill this?
8. Their maintenance wv. 0. 1W.
They were, 10 make no provision for
their support. but TO depend wholly
upon the Lord who sent them. They
had received the message and power
gratuitously, and they were TO give II
in the same way ". %. Happy, in
deed, would II be today if we had
more ministers who were willing to
trust the Lord for their support in
stead of bargaining for stated sal
ary. The way this could be remedied
is for the churches with liberal hand
10 support their ministers.
q. Responsibilities of those to whom
the message was delivered wv. 1l-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 10 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.
~. Instructions Concerning the Tes-
timony from Penteeost 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 i'm the synagogues before
heather magistrates. Instead of
bringing peace into the homes they
brought divisions of the fercest kinds
among families. in their defense they
We're 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 I'm the tribulation times. The
Lords coming then is so speedy that
their Testimony is cut short.
~. Teaching Applicable in All
Ages (vv. 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 that all things work togeth-
er for good 10 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
solF