The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-01-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republi-
can by DR.. u. S. Wright.


SUNDAY, JANUARY 9.
JESUS TEACHES FORGIVENESS
Matt 1s:21-35.
If We forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also
forgive yOu.-Matt. 6:14.
MERCY BY MATHEMATICS.
After numerically condemning any
one who would cause a child to STUN
BILE, the thought of Jesus moves read
lily into the relation of Christian with
Christian. Differences are certain to
arise. Opinions will differ. Policies
are bound to collide if they are pushed
forward at ALL What is to be done in
such circumstances Jesus sets Him
self to solve the perpleXity of fol-
lower when the advance of another
has affected himself. There may be
very real damage and feelings as well
as more substantial things bear posi-
tive injury. Shall one suffer in silence
and submit? "By no MEANS" is the
reply of Jesus. Injustice is to be met
whether it affects ourselves or others
by utter condemnation for the sake
of the good of both the person infiict-
ing it and of the larger circle bound
to bear the final weight of the wrong
full blow. No righteous society can
be builded upon individual wrong.
Therefore it must be resisted. Jesus
scourged the grafters from the mar
ket place and challenged the shifting
of His own cheek. A Christian may
we'll offer to wash the feet of an Of
fender while refusing to bear the mud
from his shoes. The crowd that be-
lieved Christ would become their door
mat had the surprise of their lives.
"Tell thy brother his wrong" said
Jesus, without witnesses" Mans
practice is to tell everybody except
the party most concerned and set the
entire community by the ears. IF
there is no result take witnesses and
if there is still no change tell the
church that the Coolest judgment
possible may be applied to the case,
and if he refuse all consideration save
that of selfish interests refuse any
further dealings with him." So said
Christ, realizing fully that personal
desires were not to be taken out of
the world by ecclesiastical Royalties.
1t was out of discussion such as this
that Peter raised the question of
mathematics in the administration of
mercy. There was the fullest admis-
sion of the need of mercy. Too long
had he lived in the presence of the
level-eyed and level-headed Jesus to
even assume anything else for any
follower of such Lord. Christians
are not to live on the level of a Jew
or of Gentle. But he made the ever
lasting plea: "Give me a rule that
! may follow in all cases" 1t is such
a saving of energy to know just what
to do with no thought of anything be-
low the surface. Follow the rule and
work the problem fits mathematics far
better than it does life. Peter had
grown beyond the old standard of
three and felt quite chesty over his
added four because of this new spirit,
but there was no departing from the
rule idea. Jesus refused constantly
to make rules for conduct that would
of necessity change with the passing
circumstances and steadily proclaim
ed principles that would apply to all
cases, in all time, on all continents.
PauPs admonition about a woman's
headcovering is case in point. Con-
ditions have made the rule valueless.
THE SPIRIT OF MERCY.
Christ tossed aside any rule that
would fetter the spirit. Once may be
too often to forgive or seventy times
seven too few. One can imagine how
Peter caught his breath at the word
that so completely reversed the idea
that he had just expressed. Strange
that no artist has attempted to paint
the utter establishment that was in
his face, though only lover of humor
could do it justice. Every real solu-
ton of social difficulty, for forgiveness
is a social matter, depends upon our
method of approach. Let US study
this question" said member of the
State Department in beginning dis
cussion with a foreign diplomat, "as
a means of agreement instead of a
problem of differences" 1t is need
less to say that an adjustment of the
mooted things was reached. The man
with chip on his shoulder is pretty
certain to have it struck. The man
who believes the worst possible inter-
probation of the others act finds his
judgment justified by events, for we
all try to live up to the opinion held
of US. Garry the spirit of forgive
ness into every transaction" said Je-
sus. 1t is the only common ground
where mon NAV meet No man iS