“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”—Neh. 8:8
LESSON XI.—SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1894.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he shall study the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]
1. Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2. The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion; he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
3. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
4. The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.286
5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6. Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who can find?
7. A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.
Golden Text: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Verse 1, A. V.
Introductory Note.—The only verse in this lesson which directly refers to intemperance is verse 1. The sins, however, which are mentioned in the verses which follow really all grow out of intemperance. In fact, as has been well said: “Of all vices, intemperance is the best example and type of all sin. It shows in a common, concrete, visible form the temptations to sin, the course of sin, the barriers to sin, the self-multiplication of sin, the hardening of the heart, the confirmation of character, the physical, mental, moral, and social evils of sin, and its awful punishment.” This lesson will show something of what grows out of intemperance.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. What does the wise man say of wine? Verse 1.
2. What is the meaning of “mock”? Ans.—To defeat, to balk, to disappoint. The meaning of the original word is “to scorn.”
3. What does he say of strong drink?
4. What does he say of those who be deceived thereby? Note 1.
5. In order to avoid being deceived thereby, what advice does the wise man give us?
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it goeth down smoothly.” Prov. 23: 31.
6. What is generally the food and drink of kings?
“Be not desirous of his dainties; seeing they are deceitful meat.” Prov. 23: 3.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” Dan. 1: 8, first part.
7. What rule does the Lord give to those in authority?
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; not for princes to say, Where is strong drink?” Prov. 31: 4.
8. For what reason does God warn them against wine and strong drink?
“Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any that is afflicted.” Prov. 31: 5.
9. What is the character of those who indulge in intoxicants?
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine.” Prov. 23: 29, 30.
10. What, then, may we expect from an intemperate king? Verse 2, lesson scripture.
11. What is it an honor for a man to do? Verse 3, first part.
12. What may we expect of a fool? Verse 3, last part.
13. What is it that leads to strife and quarreling? Verse 1.
14. What other vice grows out of drinking? and what is its effect? Verse 4.
15. What is always needful to those who are rescued from the evils of intemperance? Verses 5, 6.
16. Who only can give us wise counsel?
“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” Isa. 11: 2.
17. And what counsel has he given with respect to intemperance?
“Be not among winebibbers; among gluttonous eaters of flesh; for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” Prov. 23: 20, 21.
18. What is said of him who induces his fellow-men to drink?
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that addest thy venom thereto, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” Hab. 2: 15.
19. What is said of that man who follows this counsel of God? Verse 7 lesson scripture. Note 2.
NOTES.
1. THE marginal reading of verse 2 in the Revised Version is “whosoever reeleth thereby,” and is suggestive. It is the nature of strong drink to make one reel. The common version has it, “whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” In the very act of indulgence the mind reels from the straight path of rectitude and duty. If the first drink were not taken, there would never be a second; and no one can estimate the amount of misery that would be avoided. The error lies always in taking the first step.
2. It may be interesting to note that, according to Edward Atkinson, the famous statistician, published in the Boston Herald of Jan. 30, 1893, the amount of liquors consumed in the United States in 1892 amounted to $15.28 for each person; the amount paid out on the average for each person for each day of the year for spirits, wine, and beer, was over four cents; the amount of expenditure of the United States Government during the same year was only $5.27 for each man, woman, and child; and the cost of running the government, aside from pensions and public debt, amounted to only $2.53, or only about one cent a day. It is said that the manufacture of intoxicating liquors is of benefit to the farmer in the raising of various kinds of grain, and in giving employment to many people. But if there were no intoxicating liquors sold whatever, there would be much more grain raised and produced than at present. The entire abolition of the liquor traffic would mean to the working classes of this country more money saved, more furniture purchased, more clothing, more everything of the products of life, and then this would stimulate manufactures and every branch of industry, and it would also check the enormous tide of woe, and misery, and death which follows intemperance, and would be likewise the means of saving many souls.
17. And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching: and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every village of Galilee and Judæa and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
18. And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19. And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20. And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22. But Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23. Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?
24. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.
25. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
26. And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.
27. And after these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.
28. And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.
29. And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.
30. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?
31. And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.
32. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
33. And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.
34. And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35. But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.
36. And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.
37. And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.
38. But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.
39. And no man having drunk old wine desireth new: for he saith, The old is good.
LET the student review the preceding lesson before beginning this. Hold in mind the two points covered in the first part of the chapter. This lesson is easily classified: (1) The healing of the palsied man, verses 17-26; (2) the call of Levi; verses 27, 28; (3) the feast at Levi’s house, including the murmuring of the scribes and Pharisees, and the reproof and instruction which the Lord gave; verses 29-39.
1. Who was sitting by on a certain occasion when Jesus was teaching?
2. What influence was present? For what purpose?
3. Whom did some people endeavor to bring to Jesus?
4. When they could not get through the crowd, what did they do?
5. When Jesus saw their faith, what did he say?
6. What did the scribes and Pharisees begin to do?
7. What did they say?
8. Did they say this aloud?
9. By what question did he show that he knew their thoughts?
10. Between what two things did he ask them to decide?
11. How did he show them that he had power on earth to forgive sins?
12. At the command of Jesus, what did the palsied man do?
13. What effect did this miracle have on the people?
14. What did they say?
15. Tell who Levi was, and where Jesus saw him.
16. What did Jesus say to him?
17. How did Levi show his regard for the word of Jesus?
18. What did he do in honor of Jesus?
19. What kind of company was present?
20. How did the scribes and Pharisees feel about this?
21. What did they say?
22. What answer did Jesus make them?
23. Whom did Jesus say that he came to call?
24. To the question why his disciples did not fast, what did he reply?
25. By what parable did Jesus show that he could not use the established leaders of the Jews in his work?
NOTES.
1. “THERE were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, . . . and the power of the Lord was with him to heal,” margin, “that he should heal them.” How often has a similar thing taken place! How often the power of the Lord is present to heal people of all their sins, and they do not know it! They do not feel the need of any more power than they possess. They do not care anything for the power, unless all their doubts are first removed. Jesus would remove all their doubts, if they would yield to him; but they want their doubts reasoned away, and that is not the way that doubts are removed. Men cannot reason out the power and mercy of God. “The world by wisdom knew not God.” 1 Cor. 1: 21. Faith is the healer of doubt and the imparter of wisdom.
2. “AND when he saw their faith.” This does not mean simply the faith of the men who carried the palsied man, but his faith also. It must have been in response to his faith that they brought him.
3. How strangely hard the human heart is! The Pharisees murmured against Christ, because he said, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” They said, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” They did not know that Christ is “the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor. 1: 24. Therefore Christ gave them an evidence of his power, by instantly healing the infirm man. No power but that of God could have done that, and the common people acknowledged it; but the Pharisees would not admit that the power of the Lord was present. What an opportunity for them to have been healed of their sins, for that was just why the power of God was present!
4. THERE are many who are not bigoted as the Pharisees were, who really want their sins forgiven, yet they do not receive forgiveness, because they cannot feel that God forgives them. This miracle was recorded for just such persons. God forgives sins just as Christ healed the palsied man. He said, Be strong, and the man was strong. When God says that we are forgiven, then we are forgiven. His word ends the matter. We can believe that a friend whom we have grieved forgives us; why is it not much easier to believe that God forgives, since he has shown his desire to do so, in giving his Son? “But if I could only hear him say that he forgives me, I would be sure of it.” Well, then, hear him: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9. This is the word of the Lord, and it could not be any more true, or more plainly uttered, if we heard his audible voice. Those who do not believe this word, would not believe if they should hear the tones of God’s voice.
5. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”287“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1: 15. Happy the man who, with Paul, can add, “of whom I am chief.” The man who is really convicted of sin, and the one who has known the depths of the Saviour’s love in forgiving sin, can never think that there is anyone in the world more sinful and less deserving than himself, and this will always lead him to manifest tenderness and love toward the erring. Such an one will have the blessing of forgiveness. Jesus can heal only those who are willing to be healed, for he never uses force. The fact that Jesus mingled so freely with publicans and sinners, should forever shut off the saying, “I am so sinful he will not receive me.” The sinners are the ones whom Christ came to save. He associated with sinners in order that sinners in all time to come might know that he gladly receives them. Strange that men will think that Christ will not receive sinners, when he died for the express purpose of saving them! Can they think that Christ gave his life for nothing? “Him that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out.” John 6: 37.
6. When Jesus came there was a regularly organized church. The Jews were not simply a race of people, they were the church of God. There were hundreds and even thousands of priests—ministers. See Joel 2: 17. The church had every facility for carrying on evangelistic work. But the new garment of Christ’s righteousness could not be patched onto the filthy rags of Jewish self-righteousness. The new wine of the gospel could not be put into the old vessels. That does not mean that Christ would not have been glad to have the priests and Levites join him in his work, but that they could not be used unless they would consent to be made all over new. This they would not agree to, and so Jesus had to go out and select men who would acknowledge that they were sinners, and ignorant, and who would meekly learn of him.