p. 101 | The Sabbath-School

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 2, 1882

The Sabbath-School.

Notes on Lesson for March 9.

"AND he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem." Jesus was at this time in Perea, beyond the Jordan, where he went after he escaped from those who were determined to stone him. See John 10 : 39-42. He seems to have taken a large circuit, teaching by the way, and did not, probably, visit Jerusalem again until after the resurrection of Lazarus, not until the time of his crucifixion.

As he was teaching, one said to him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" The man probably inferred from the teaching of Christ that but few would be saved, and may have been prompted merely by idle curiosity. It may be that he had a sinister design; that he wished Jesus to make some statement that would prejudice the people against him on account of the unpopularity of his work. At any rate, our Lord did not answer the question, but showed what would be necessary in order that any should be saved. Thus he showed, as it has been expressed by one, that "it does not concern us to know how many shall be saved, but how we may be saved."

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." There is a strong antithesis here. "Strive to enter in." The original is agonizesthe — agonize; put forth every effort; exert all your powers, both physical and mental; contend, as with a personal foe. Campbell gives it thus: "Force yourselves in at the strait gate." It is no light task. In this may be found an answer to the question that was asked. Those will be saved who have the courage and perseverance to contend for the prize. The Christian life is always represented in the Scriptures as a battle or a race. See Eph. 6 : 10-18; 2 Cor. 10 : 3, 4; 1 Cor. 9 : 24, 25; 2 Tim. 4 : 7, etc. "For many shall seek, and shall not be able." There are many who desire eternal life, perhaps all do, but they love their ease. They cannot suffer present discomfort, in the hope of future good. The gate is strait—narrow. May we not learn from this the necessity for humility? If the gate is so narrow, we shall have to become very small— to rid ourselves of everything that would hinder our progress.

"When once the master of the house hath risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not, whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." There will be a time when probation will close. "My Spirit shall not always strive with man," says the Lord. Awful thought, that many who desire eternal life, will take their ease until it is too late—that when they do begin to ask in earnest, God will not listen to them. This time is graphically described in Amos 8 : 11, 12, and Prov. 1 : 24-31. Let us be warned in time. "We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets." Familiarity with the work of God does not ensure us an entrance into his kingdom. It is not enough even that we are permitted to be connected with God's cause. We must have a connection with him.

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15 : 6, 7. See Matt. 7 : 21-23.

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" — grinding of teeth—indicative of intense pain and anguish. The time when this will be fulfilled —"when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out"—is described in Rev. 20 : 9.

The Pharisees, envious of Jesus, and fearful of his influence, sought to drive him away, by telling him that Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee and Perea, wished to kill him. His reply was: "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day, and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." It is thought by many that Christ here referred to his death. It is hard to harmonize this idea with the statement that he was to be perfected the third day, since it was then some months before his crucifixion, and he himself said, "I must walk [teach] to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following." It is probable that his meaning was this: "I have more work to do here yet, in casting out devils and healing the sick. This will require three days more, and then my work here will be finished and I can pass on. I do not, however, fear Herod, for my sentence of death and execution must take place in Jerusalem."

E. J. W.