The Pleasantville press., 1924-10-04
Lesson for October S
THE CHOICE OF THE TWELVE

The CHOICE OF The TWELVE
LESSON TExT-Matt. 10:1-42.
GOLDEN TExT-Freely ye have re-
ceived. freely give.-Matt. 1913.
PRIMARY TOPIC = Jesus Chooses
Twelve Friends.
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Twelve Apostles.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
ToPIc-Partners With Jesus in His
Work
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC Urgent Need for Full Time
Christian Workers.
Having set forth the laws of the
kingdom in the Sermon ON the Mount.
and His power to administer the af-
fairs of the kingdom In the miracles
of the eighth and ninth chapters
Matthew now sets before US the meth
ods which the King adopted in the
propagation of the kingdom. It should
be clearly noted that this chapter
does not outline the policy of mission
airy endeavor In this age. To teach
1t thus will be grievous blunder
The following divisions of the chap
ter suggest the dispensational aspects
of the lesson.
|. instructions Bearing Immediately
Upon the Apostles Work to the Death
of Christ (vv. 1-15).
In strictness of Interpretation these
teachings have no application to any
later period.
1. The Ministers Chosen wv. 1-4).
These twelve humble men were chosen
and commissioned to carry forth the
work of the propagation of the king
dom. They were not commissioned
with church truth. These twelve stood
in a peculiar relation to Israel.
2. The Sphere of Their Mission (vv
8, 81. They were to go only to Jews
They had no message for Gentiles, or
even Samaritans. After Pentecost
this sphere was widened (See Luke
"a :46-49; Acts :s). This would be
strange restriction to place upon
ministers today.
3. Their Message ". y. 1.-The
kingdom 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 wiling to have 1t. This differs
widely from thu message of the min
listers today. After the church is
translated. the same message will be
taken up for a brief time by the re-
naming remnant. (See Acts 15:13-1S;
Rom IL Rev. y.
4. The Supernatural Authorization
of Their Mission ". 81. They were
clothed with power to work miracles.
These wonderful works were really
done by the twelve. Where is the min
lister today who is so foolhardy as to
try to fulfill this?
5. Their Maintenance wv. 9. 10Y.
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 we be today If we had
more ministers who are willing to
trust the Lord for their support in
stead of bargaining for stated sal
aryi
6. Responsibilities of Those to Whom
15). Upon entering the city or town
they were to inquire for a respect
able place to stay. Into that home
they were to bring peace. If the peo-
pie would not receive them or hear
their message, they were to pronounce
Judgment upon them, and the turning
of the Lord from them was symbol
lied by the ministers wiping the dust
from their feet when turning from the
people who rejected their message.
II. Instructions Concerning the Tes-
timony From Pentecost Onward (vv.
1929.
After Pentecost testimony for
Christ would be fraught with great
danger. Both Jews and Gentiies
would assail the messengers with the
most bitter prosecutions. They were
scourged in the synagogues before
heather magistrates. Instead of
bringing peace to the homes they
brought divisions of the fiercest kind
among families In their defense they
were to rely upon the doly spirit 10
aid them. These conditions were lit
orally fulfilled in the period from
Pentecost to the destruction of Jeru-
salem. Since the fall of Jerusalem
no one has ever been scourged in a
synagogue.
III. Teaching Applicable in All Ages
wv. pap.
The disciple has the position of one
ness with his Master. He is to cour-
ageously declare the whole counsel Of
God, though violently opposed, for so
completely is the Lord identified with
His disciples that He accepts treat
ment of them as treatment Of Him
self.