Middletown transcript., 1920-11-20
IMPROVED unlrolM INTERNATIONAL
.S(JNAMS0pD0L
= LESSON,
by REV. p. B. FITZWATER; D. D..
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
: Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
t@ 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 2
THE TWELVE SENT FORTH.

LESSON TEXT-Matt. 10.
GOLDEN TEXT-Then saith he unit
ais disciples, Tho harvest truly is plente
ous, but the laborers are few; pray u
therefore the Lord Of the harvest. that b
0tu send forth l2borers into his harve6S
Matt. S:27. g.
ADDITIONAL NATBR4AL-Luks s:l-s
N:1-20
PRIMARY ToP1c-Jesus Sending oa
JUNIOR roP1c-rhs lively. Apostls'
sent Forth
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Heralds Of the King.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP1(
-Rscruitiny Christian Workers.
Having set forth the laws Of tht
Kingdom in the sermon on the mount
and his power to administer the az
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 tht
dispensational aspects Of the lesson:
I. instructions Bearing Immediately
Upon the Apostles Work to the Death
Of Christ wv. 1-15).
In strictness of Interpretation these
teachings have no application to any
later period.
1. The ministers chosen wv. Id
These II humble men were chosen and
commissioned for the work Of the prop
agation Of the kingdom. They were
not commissioned with church truth
These II stood in peculiar relation to
Israel.
2. The sphere of their mission wv
5, g.. They were only to 60 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 :46'
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 at 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 if they
were willing to have it. 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 a brief time by the believing
remnant (see Acts Is 1918; Rom. II :
Rev. y.
4. The supernatural authorization
Of their mission ". s.. They were
clothed with power to work wondrous
miracles. These wonderful works
were really done hy the twelve. Where
is the minister today who is so fool
hardy as to try to fulfill this?
5. Their maintenance wv. 9, 1O).
They were to 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 it
in the same way ". 81. Happy. in
deed, would it 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
to support their ministers.
6. Responsibilities OF those to whom
the message was delivered wv. 11-15).
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 We're to pronounce judgment upon
them, and the turning of the Lord from
them syn!bolized by the ministers wip-
ing the dust from their feet when
turning from the people who had re-
jected their message.
II. Instructions Concerning the Tes.
timcny from Pentecos. Onward wv.
1929. After Pcntecost. testimony for
Christ would be frausht with great
danger. Both Jews and gentiles would
assail the messengers with the most
bitter prosecutions. They were
scourged in the synagogues before
heather magistrates. Instead Of
bringing peace into the homes they
brought divisions OF the fiercest kinds
anon: families. In their defense they
were 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
has ever been scourged in Il syna-
gOgue. Verse % seems to carry the
work forward to the time of the
preaching Of the gospel of the king
dom in the tribulation times. The
Lords coming then is so speedy that
their testimony is cut short.
III. Teaching Applicable in All
Ages wv. 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 to them that !ove God"
Though their testimony be met with
the most bitter opposition, they should
not be surprised ordiscouraged. for so
completely is the Lord identified with