p. 509 | International S. S. Lessons

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 18, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 32.

International S. S. Lessons.

"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 I.—SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1894.

THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 2:1-16.

Now IT came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And all went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
To enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people;
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

Golden Text: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

NOTE.—The time of this lesson is the autumn of B.C. 5, according to our common chronology, so that Jesus was born 1,898 years ago instead of 1,894. The calculations on which our common chronology is based were first published by Dionysius Exiguus, a monk, who published his calculations in A.D. 526. The place was Bethlehem of Judea, a village five or six miles south of Jerusalem. Its name, Beth-le-hem, signifies the house of bread. It is named after the fruitful corn fields adjacent. It was the town of Ruth and Boaz, from which sprung the family of David, and called the house of David, being the place of his birth, and where the records of his family were kept. Here it was that Jerome made the Latin translation of the Bible, called the Vulgate, A.D. 370 to 400. The city now contains about 5,000 inhabitants. The field of the shepherds was about a mile from the village. The rulers at this time were Augustus Cæsar, emperor of Rome, and Herod the Great, the first of the 7 Herods mentioned in the New Testament, king of Judea. But most of the known world was subject to Rome. The population of Palestine is estimated by Hon. Selah Merrill as being at that time about 6,000,000, and of Galilee 2,000,000. Jerusalem is thought by Milman to have had a population of 2,556,000. It was at that time a city of great magnificence. The population of the Roman Empire was, according to the best statistics available, 120,000,000, of which 60,000,000 were slaves, 40,000,000 were tributaries or freedmen, and only 20,000,000 full citizens. The army numbered about 400,000 and the navy about 50,000. The population of Rome was said to be about 6,000,000. The section of history included in this lesson, according to the international plan, takes in John 1:1-18; Luke 1:1-80, and Matt. 1:1-25. Let the student read these scriptures carefully.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

Who was Jesus before he came? Note ¹.
What was the condition of the world at that time? Note ².
What came to pass in those days? Verse 1.
Who only had power to tax the world or to order that the world should be enrolled?
When was this enrollment first made? Verse 2, note ³.
Under Herod where did the people go to be enrolled? Verse 3.
Where did Joseph go? and why? Verse 4.
With whom was he enrolled? Verse 5.
What occurred while they were at Bethlehem? Verse 6.
Under what conditions was her son born? Verse 7.
Who were in that same country? Verse 8.
What was manifest to them? Verse 9.
What message did the angel bring them in their fear? Verse 10.
What was the message of glad tidings? Verse 11.
What sign did he give them that would prove the truthfulness of his words? Verse 12.
Who suddenly appeared with the angel? Verse 13.
What song did they sing? Verse 14, note ⁴.
When the angels were gone away, what did the shepherds say? Verse 15.
What did they do and find? Verse 16, note ⁵.

NOTES.

1. JOHN 1:1-4; Heb. 1:1-3, and other passages reveal to us that Jesus was the eternal Son of God, the One by whom the worlds were created, and who dwelt in ineffable glory with the Father. He emptied himself of his glory (Phil. 2:6, 7, Revised Version), and came down here to this world, took upon himself the form of the flesh, that he might not only redeem man, but be a merciful and faithful High Priest, a sympathizer and helper for man's every need. See Heb. 2:9-18; 4:14-16, and 5:1-9. We should consider him now, not as one who bore our human nature eighteen hundred years ago, but as One who still bears our nature in connection with the divine, and who is just as near to us now as he was when he was upon the earth. His first advent was foretold by many prophecies, as for instance Gen. 3:15; 22:18; 49:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Dan. 9:24; Zech. 9:9, and it was immediately announced by the angel to the virgin Mary, and by John the Baptist.

2. THE world was prepared for his coming. First, it was under the control of one government, that of Rome. The Jews themselves, the people to whom God had revealed his oracles, were scattered through the various nations. The world was at peace for almost the only time, so that the gospel could have free course; and as one government only ruled the world, those who carried the gospel could have protection wherever they went. The Greek language, in which the gospel was written, was spoken everywhere, and as an aid to the gospel work, the Old Testament had, more than 200 years before, been translated into the Greek. Added to this, it was a time of great intellectual activity, when men would be naturally inquisitive to know and learn what was new.

3. ALTHOUGH this enrollment was ordered at the time of the birth of Jesus, yet it was probably not fully carried out until about ten years later, when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. Herod probably began at once to carry it out on Jewish lines, that is, registering the people according to their families and tribes. Later on this was probably regarded by the Romans unsatisfactory, so Cyrenius made a complete Roman census of the people according to the localities in which they lived. This would harmonize all difficulties, and is not at all improbable.

4. Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.—This has ever been the burden of the gospel message. Glory to God is not taking glory to ourselves, but giving him credit for all goodness, all power, and all that is good. Yielding to God all the glory, is submission to his will, and brings peace. God is not at enmity with men, but the carnal heart is enmity against God. But when the heart is fully yielded to God, peace comes, and its blessed healing influences cover all unrighteousness, heal all wounds. This is the peace which the gospel brings, the inward peace from all sin and strife, peace between the soul and God. The good will towards men is God's good will, to save all, not simply the righteous, for Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. But as all on earth have sinned, so the good will of God, or God's good pleasure, is to save all who will come to him, who will open their hearts and take of the peace which is offered in Christ Jesus our Lord. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" It is God's good will, it is God's good pleasure, to save men, and that is what the gospel is for.

5. WE should ever seek God's will just as the shepherds sought the Saviour. As soon as the angel brought to them the message, they said, "Let us now go;" and as soon as they proposed to go, they "came with haste," and they found also. If the Jewish nation had felt as did the shepherds, Christ would have been gladly welcomed by them all. Those who with energy and faithfulness seek Christ for themselves will ever find him just as God said they would, even as the shepherds found him just as the angel said. The obedience of faith always meets its rich reward.

LESSON XXVI.—SABBATH, JUNE 30, 1894.

FALSE PROFESSION REPROVED.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 11: 37-54.

Now as he spake, a Pharisee asketh him to dine with him; and he went in, and sat down to meat.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner.
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?
Howbeit give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.
But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over judgment and the love of God; but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the market places.
Woe unto you! for ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over them know it not.
And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Master, in saying this thou reproachest us also.
And he said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
So ye are witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers; for they killed them, and ye build their tombs.
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall kill and persecute.
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary; yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.
Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
And when he was come out from thence, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
Laying wait for him, to catch something out of his mouth.

THE principle of these lessons being that of continual review, it is not necessary to say anything special for the close of the quarter. Remember that you are not studying for examination, nor to make a good showing in class, but for the purpose of becoming acquainted with God's word, thereby with God himself. With this object in view you will at all times do the most faithful work possible. The subject of this lesson is well outlined by the title. If this portion of Scripture is well learned, it will afford a key to a great deal of the Bible.

As Jesus was teaching, who asked him to dinner?
What caused the Pharisee to marvel?
What did Jesus say of the Pharisees?
What about that which is without and that which is within?
Then if the inside be unclean, what about the whole?
For what did Jesus pronounce a woe upon the Pharisees?
Is it wrong, or is it right, to pay tithes?
Then where was their sin?
For what course in public places did Jesus reprove the Pharisees?
To what did he liken them?
What did one of the lawyers say of Christ's talk to the Pharisees?
For what did Jesus then pronounce a woe upon the lawyers?
What did he say they built?
What did they thereby show?
What did Jesus say that they would do to the apostles and prophets?
What would they thereby bring on themselves?
With what do those who have a bitter, persecuting spirit identify themselves?
What did Jesus say the lawyers had taken away?
How had they dealt with those who would learn?
As Jesus said these things, what did the scribes and Pharisees begin to do?
Why did they do this?

"MAN looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Sam. 16:17. "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23:7. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil." Luke 6:45. Out of the heart are the issues of life. Prov. 4:23. What a man appears to be,—that is, what he is outwardly,—is of little consequence; his character is determined by what is within which man cannot see. "He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom. 2:28, 29. ⁶
"But rather give alms of such things as ye have." The Revised Version has it, "Howbeit give for alms those things which are within." The value of any man's service is determined by what he is. It is the broken and contrite spirit that makes the sacrifice a real one. Everyone must give himself. If Christ dwells within, then every act done is acceptable to God; if Christ is not formed within, the great effort, and toil, and pains are nothing. See Micah 6:6-8. ⁷
"THESE ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." The demonstrative "these" always applies to the things nearest; "those," to things remote. The Saviour therefore said, "Ye ought to do judgment and the love of God; and ye ought not to leave tithing undone. "All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord." Lev. 27:30. That is all that need be said about it, except to ask, "Will a man rob God?" Mal. 3:8. We cannot give a tithe to the Lord, for it is his already; but we may rob him by retaining it. Here is a test as to a man's honesty. The man who gives to every man his due, except to one man, whom he systematically defrauds, cannot be called an honest man. God is greater than man, and to rob him is a greater sin than to rob man. Yet many men who would spurn the idea that they would rob their fellow-men, will rob God without any compunctions of conscience. Why?—Because God does not at once make requisition for that of which he has been defrauded, and they are not found out. Those who, knowing the Scriptures, rob God under such circumstances, thereby show that they would defraud their fellow-men if there were no fear of detection and immediate punishment. ⁸
"Ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets." Praise and honor from men are bestowed only because of what appears outwardly, for no man can see what is within. Therefore those who love praise will pay attention only to that which is without, and to do that is sin. "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" John 5:44. ⁹
On verses 49-51 see 2 Chron. 24:20-22. Jehoida had done great kindness to Joash. After his death Joash and the princes of Judah conspired to leave the house of the Lord, and serve idols. Zechariah, the son of Jehoida, reproved them for transgressing the commandments of the Lord, and they stoned him to death. Their murdering him was exactly of the same nature as their idolatry, and was the natural result of it. Therefore all who stubbornly transgress the commandments of the Lord have murder in their hearts. The Pharisees and lawyers were rejecting Christ himself, of whom all the prophets testified, and who was greater than all of them together. Therefore in rejecting him the blood of all the martyrs came upon them. But the same thing is true of all who reject the teaching of Christ, even though he is not visibly present. ¹⁰
THE Pharisees dogged the steps of Christ continually, to find some cause of accusation against him. On this occasion they began to overwhelm him with questions of the most exasperating nature, in hopes of provoking him to a hasty retort. But nothing of the kind could they get from his lips. The servant of Christ will often be placed in similar circumstances. Unreasonable and wicked men, who have not faith, will ask questions, not sincerely but as a trap. There is where he will need the greatest wisdom. Sometimes it may be best, although it will cost the greatest effort, to make no reply. "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence; I held my peace, even from good." Ps. 39:1, 2. In all cases he will require more than human wisdom. Indeed, since no one but Christ has ever given a perfectly discreet answer to every question, it is evident that he alone can do it. Therefore the servants of Christ are warranted in expecting, not only when before governors and kings, but at all times, the fulfillment of the words, "It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matt. 10:20. ¹¹