The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-03-26

LESSON TEXT-Luke I3:1S-3O
GOLDEN TEXT-And they shall come
from the east, and from the west, and
from the north, and from the south,
and shall sit down in the kingdom of
God.-Luke 1929.
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-Requirement for Citizenship
in the Kingdom.
I. Jesus Teaching in the Synagogue
wv. 10-21).
The presence of a sorely afflicted
woman called forth Jesus sympathy
and he, therefore, healed her. This
action on the Sabbath day provoked
severe criticism on the part of the
ruler Of the synagogue. Jesus quickly
silenced his objections by showing that
this good deed was entirely in keeping
with the purpose of the Sabbath day.
/. The parable Of the mustard seed
wv. IS, 19).
a. Its unimportant beginnings ".
19).
J 1t begins as the least of all seeds
and grows to be the greatest among
herbs. The parentage and humble cir
cumstances of Jesus the King greatly
perplexed the people. That twelve I'M
.lettered fishermen should be selected
as his advisers was still more amazing.
) b. It's vigorous growth ". 81.
Though small in its inception, the work
inaugurated by Jesus Christ has be-
come mighty in power.
C. Its lodging capacity. The birds
which find lodgment in tree do not
represent the children of men who
find safety and salvation in the church,
but they are predatory beings waiting
to pluck the tender buds or to prey
upon the ripened fruit. The effects
of such lodging are evil, blighting even
to the spelling Of the tree.
2. The parable Of the leavened
meal ". 2D. When the scriptural
significance of the meal, the woman,
II,
tation is easy.
a. The meal. Meal in Scripture
means something wholesome and nutri-
tious. 1t was used in one Of the sweet
SAVIOUR offerings which typify Christ
(Lev. 2:1-3) and was the food for the
priests (Lev. 6:15-17).
b. The leaven ". 21).> In the
Scriptures leaven is invariably a type
of evil, as the following examples
show (Exod. 1875, Lev. 2:11; Matt.
1876 -; Cor. 5:6-S).
c. The woman. In normal life the
woman is the administrator of the
home, not it's head. Her response
bility is to take the bread provided
by the head, prepare and distribute it
to the household. In Scripture we
find false doctrine being taught by
woman. Dealing with doctrine is for
hidden to women Il Tim. 2 :12). In
Timothy Alb we find that apostasy
will be brought in through false teach
ing in the ranks of Gods people. The
meaning 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
doctrine. The children's food is thus
corrupted by their mother.
u. Jesus Teaching in the Villages
and Cities wv. 22-30).
Jesus knew that he was on the way
to Jerusalem to be crucified. He was.
therefore, making an effort to reach
every person possible with the gospel.
I. A question asked ". 23). We do
not know just why this question was
asked. It may have been out Of curl
Osity or by some Jew who prided him
self on being of the elect.
2. The Lords answer wv. 24-30).
He did not answer directly, but by
likening the blessing Of the kingdom
to banquet hall In palace.
a. The gate of the kingdom is
strait and the way narrow. 1t is easy
to see from his teaching, as well as
from observation, that the saved are
few. The fewness is not due to either
Christ's unwillingness or inability to
save, but the unwillingness Of the sim
ner to come to him.
b. The immediate duty to set forth
". PAY. 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 mani
festation of divine wrath.
d. Pleading for entrance on the
ground of knowing Christ wv. %, 26).
This plea is met by the awful COM
mand to depart, and even calling them
workers of iniquity."
e. A day of weeping and crashing
Of teeth ". 2s). The very sight of
the faithful ones enjoying the blessing
of the kingdom, while they themselves
are shut out, will be extremely awful.
TauOhfer and Tearn