LESSON VI.—SABBATH, AUGUST 5, 1893.
REVIEW QUESTIONS.—(a) For what great object has God chosen and blessed his people here? (b) What should be their conduct toward those without? and why? (c) What should be their attitude toward civil laws? Verses 17, 18: "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward."- How should all souls be regarded? and why? Note 1.
- How should we regard the children of God?
- What should be our attitude toward God?
- How should rulers be regarded?
- How should servants treat their masters? Note 2.
- To what classes should they be faithful?
- If they are Christ's, whom are they really serving? See Eph. 6:6-8.
Verses 19-25: "For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."- What kind of service is pleasing to God?
- Is there credit in being patient under reproof which we deserve?
- How are the faith and character of Christ in us shown?
- Are we to expect such suffering?
- Who is an example to us in this respect?
- In all his unjust suffering, what character did he manifest?
- What did his faith lead him to do?
- For what purpose were all these sufferings? Note 3.
- What do these do for every sinner who believes?
- What is said of the past and present of our lives? Verse 25; Ps. 23:1.
1. THE practical duties enjoined in this lesson are those which are very apt to be overlooked. Honor all men.—"Some are not worthy of honor," says one; neither are we. We are by nature the same as they (Eph. 2:3; Ps. 51:5); all were made originally in the likeness of the same God as much as we (James 3:9); all are bought by the same precious blood of Christ (1 Tim. 2:6); all are therefore for Christ's sake entitled to the same esteem and honor. Love the brotherhood.—A closer, deeper affection than for all men, bound together by the life and presence of Christ (John 17:23). See also 1 John 4:11; 3:16. Fear God.—The fear of the Lord, not cringing or slavish fear, but loving reverence, which is the foundation of wisdom. He who knows God most fears and loves him most. Honor the king.—Under God he is your ruler; honor his office and respect his authority. See verse 15 of the lesson chapter. This injunction applies to all rulers of State, from czar to president. 2. Servants.—We are all servants, servants of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He was misunderstood, unappreciated, scorned, maligned, crucified; so will we be. Let us do our work faithfully wherever we labor, with all fear of God, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as doing service to God, and not to man. Eph. 6:5-7. A bad servant will many times be patient under a gentle master, but it is only the true and tried and loyal to God who will be patient and true under the froward or cross master. If done for Christ's sake, of Christ will he receive the reward. We are called to thus suffer and deny ourselves. See Matt. 16:24; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12. The word "servants" does not mean "slaves," as in verse 17, but "household servants." They should always treat their masters with proper respect and becoming reverence. 3. That we having died . . . might live.—Christ bare our sins to free us from sin, not to free us or save us in sin. This would be an impossibility, for he who is in sin is a slave of sin. Christ bore our sins in his own body; that is, he died for us. Those who renounce sin and by faith accept of his death for them (for these are the only ones who do renounce sin) are said to have "died unto sin." That is, in Christ they have died; by faith they have died in his death, and by a complete submission of their will to God. This is absolutely necessary in order to the next step—that they "might live unto righteousness." And this also is the only real life there is. Sin tends to death, is death; righteousness tends to life, is life. The two cannot dwell together. Sin must be renounced before righteousness can take its place. 4. WORD THOUGHTS.—Servants (v. 18), "household servants," see margin. The word occurs only in three other places, Luke 16:13; Acts 10:7; Rom. 14:4.—Subjecting, literally, "be subjecting," or "be submitting" yourselves; that is, to do your proper work as they command.—Gentle, from eikos, "reasonable," "not being unduly rigorous." (Vincent.) Considerate.—Froward, literally, "crooked," cross. The English "froward" is literally "from-ward," opposed to "to-ward."591—Acceptable (v. 19), literally, "gracious," worthy of thanks.—Conscience toward God, "of God," margin. Not mere conscientiousness, but the constant sense of one's relation to God; "his consciousness of God." (Vincent.) Doing service as to God, suffering with Christ.—What glory (v. 20). What kind of glory, report, praise, or credit is it to suffer when ye deserve it?—Buffeted, to be struck with the fist. See Matt. 26:67.—Patiently, to endure, not once, but continuously.—Called (v. 21), a definite call named for the purpose. Suffering for Christ is a part of our mission.—Example, the Greek word only occurs here in the New Testament, meaning a "copy" to write after or imitate, such as is set by a writing teacher for his pupils.—Follow, literally, "follow upon," close following. (Vincent.)—Found (v. 22), showing that he had been searched for evil.—Committed (v. 23), gave into the hands of God his sufferings, his cause. See margin.—Bare (v. 24), literally, "bare up," that is, he bore our sins up to the cross, to the altar of his sacrifice.—Tree, literally, "wood." The same term is used in Acts 5:30; 10:39.—Stripes, literally, bruise, see margin; used only here in New Testament. The word means a "bloody wale" which arises on the flesh under a blow, such as the entire back of Jesus was seen to be by Peter himself.—Bishop, "overseer," "overlooker;" see margin. Christ watches over us.