The Coolidge examiner., 1936-03-27

PRIMARY TOPIC-Good News to
Men.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Jesus Talks
About His Kingdom.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
| TOPIC - My Part in Extending
Christ's Kingdom.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
| TOPIC--Requireme for Citizenship
in the Kingdom.
|. Jesus Teaching in the Syna-
gogue wv. 10-2D.
The presence of a sorely afflicted
woman called forth Jesus sympa-
thy and he, therefore, healed her.
This action on the Sabbath day pro-
voked severe criticism on the part
Of the ruler of the synagogue.
Jesus quickly silenced his Objec-
tions by showing that this good
deed was entirely in keeping with
the purpose of the Sabbath day. Not
only were these critics silenced and
shamed, but the people greatly re-
joiced because Of the glorious things
done by Jesus.
l. The parable of the mustard
seed wv. IS. 19).
a. It's unimportant beginnings ".
19).
1t begins as the least Of all seeds
and grows to be the greatest among
herbs. The parentage and humble
circumstances Of Jesus the King
greatly perpleXed the people. That
twelve unlettered fishermen should
be selected as his royal advisors
was still more amazing.
b. Its vigorous growth ". 81.
Though small in its inception, the
work inaugurated by Jesus Christ
has become mighty in power.
c. It's lodging capacity. The birds
which find lOdgment in a tree do not
represent the children Of men who
find safety and salvation in the
church, but they are predatory be-
ings waiting to pluck the tender
buds or to prey upon the ripened
! fruit. The effects Of such lodging
are evil. blighting even to the spoil
ing of the tree.
=. The parable Of the leavened
meal ". 2D. When the scriptural
significance of the meal, the wOm-
an, and the leaven is known, the
Interpretation is easy.
a. The meal. Meal in Scripture
means something wholesome and
nutritious. 1t was used in one Of
the sweet SAVIOR offerings which typ
ify Christ Uev. 2:1-3) and was
the food for the priests Uev. g.:
15-1O.
b. The leaven (v. 2D. In the
Scriptures leaven is invariably a
type of evil, as the following ex-
amples show (Exod. II: :5, Lev. q:
II; Matt. 16 1912; Cor. 5 :6S).
C. The woman. In normal life the
woman is the administrator Of the
home, not its head. Her RESPONSE
biity is to take the bread provided
by the head, prepare and distr.b-
ute it to the household. In Scrip
ture we find false doctrine being
taught by a woman. Dealing with
doctrine is forbidden to woman (
Tim 2:12). In ] Timothy Alb we
find that apOstasy will be brought
in through false teaching in the
ranks of Gods people. The mean
ing Of the parable, therefore is that
the true doctrine of the meal given
| for the nOurishment of the soul will
be officially corrupted by false doc
trine. The children'S food is thus
corrupted by their mother.
u. Jesus Teaching in the Viii
lagos and Cities (vv. 22-3O.
Jesus knew that he was on the
way to Jerusalem TO he crucified.
He was, therefore, making an effort
to reach every person possible with
the gospel message.
l. A question asked ". 23). We
do not know just why this question
was asked. 1t may have been out
Of curiosity or by some Jew who
prided himself on being of the elect.
2. The Lords answer wv. 24-30)
He did not answer directly, but by
| likening the blessing of the king
dom TO a banquet hall in a palace.
a. The gate of the kingdom Is strait
and the way narrow. 1t is easy to
see from his teaching, as we'll as
| from observation, that the saved
are few. The fewness is not due
to either Christ's unwillingness or
inability to save, but the unwilling
ness of the sinner to come to him.
b. The immediate duty set forth
(v. 24). Regardless Of what others
are doing, the personal obligation
is upon everyone to strive to enter.
c. The door to be shut ". 25).
Gods patience will not last for
ever. His mercy is to end and his
| judgment will follow. Love and
grace spurned will eventuate in the
manifestation of divine wrath.
d. Pleading for entrance on the
ground Of knowing Christ wv. %,
26). This plea is met by the awful
command to depart, and even call
ing them workers of iniquity."
e. A day of weeping and gnash-
ing of teeth fv. 2S). The very sight