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LESSON IV.—SABBATH, JULY 28, 1894

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 16, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 36.

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LESSON IV.—SABBATH, JULY 28, 1894.

LOOSING FROM BONDAGE.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 13: 6-30.
6. AND he spake this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none.
7. And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?
8. And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it;
9. And if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.
10. And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
11. And behold, a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no-wise lift herself up.
12. And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13. And he laid his hands upon her; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14. And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work; in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the Sabbath.
15. But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16. And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?
17. And as he said these things all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18. He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?
19. It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.
20. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21. It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.
22. And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.
23. And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that be saved?
24. And he said unto them, Strive to enter in by the narrow door; for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are.
26. Then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets;
27. And he shall say, I tell you I know not whence ye are; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.
28. There shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without.
29. And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30. And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
This lesson may be subdivided as follows: The parable of the barren fig tree; healing the deformed woman; illustrations of the kingdom of heaven, and exhortations concerning it.
  1. Relate the parable of the barren fig tree.
  2. What lesson does it teach?
  3. Who was present on one occasion as Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues?
  4. What day was it?
  5. How long had the woman been afflicted?
  6. When Jesus saw her, what did he say and do?
  7. What was the immediate result?
  8. How did the ruler of the synagogue feel over the matter?
  9. What did he say to the woman?
  10. How did Jesus reprove him?
  11. What illustration did he use?
  12. Who did he say had bound the woman?
  13. Consequently, whose power was he breaking on the Sabbath day?
  14. How did these words affect the enemies of Jesus?
  15. What effect did the miracle and words of Jesus have on the people?
  16. To what two things did Jesus liken the kingdom of heaven?
  17. What exhortation did he give?
  18. What did he say would be the case with many?
  19. What will many say and do when it is too late?
  20. Who will be seen in the kingdom of God?
  21. What change in position will take place with many?

NOTES.

1. We may learn from the parable of the barren fig tree that those who bear no fruit will be cut off. Compare John 15: 1-6. But we may also learn the long-suffering of Christ, and be encouraged. We well know that one who had taken great pains with a tree, cultivating and dressing it carefully, without seeing any fruit, would not cut it down the fourth year if it bore but a little fruit. "Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit." "He which began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. 1: 6.
2. Jesus said, "It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." Matt. 12: 12. To break the power of Satan is always a good thing, and work most appropriate for the Sabbath day. See Luke 4: 18 for a statement of the special work of Christ. We must not fail to note the ease with which Christ breaks the bonds of Satan. His power is no less now than it was then; and he is present with us no less really than he was then. And the Sabbath day is most appropriate for such deliverances, for it was given for the express purpose of teaching us God's power to save. See Eze. 20: 12; Ps. 92: 1-4.
3. Notice that Jesus did not give a direct answer to the question of curiosity, "Are there few that be saved?" He told us, indeed, that the multitude will go the broad way, but we are not therefore to boast, as though we were better than they. We are not to indulge in speculations as to who will or will not be saved. When one said to Jesus, "Are there few that be saved?" he replied, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate," as much as to say, "Look out for yourself, and don't speculate about somebody else." When Peter was curious as to what was to become of John, Jesus said to him, "What is that to thee? follow thou me." John 21: 21, 22.
4. "STRIVE to enter in." People misuse this text in two directions. Some say, "I have striven with all the power I had, and it is of no use, because I failed every time; I might as well give up; I am too weak to do anything." Others will think that it means that the power is in themselves, and that they are required to do it all. They have made failures, but they attribute them to the fact that they did not strive hard enough. Jesus says, "Without me ye can do nothing." John 15: 5. This shows that there is no power in man. All power in heaven and earth belongs to Christ. Matt. 28: 18. It is his Spirit that supplies the power with which we are to strive. See Eph. 3: 16; Col. 1: 11-13; Zech. 4: 6. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2: 12, 13. The apostle Paul said, "I labor, striving according to His working, that worketh in me mightily." Col. 1: 29. Remember that, although Jacob wrestled all night, he gained no victory until his strength was gone and he had to throw himself upon the Lord for support.