International S. S. Lessons.
By Editor
"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 VII.—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 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 studies 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.] 20. AND He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. 21. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh. 22. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. 23. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25. Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. 27. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. 28. Bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. 29. To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also. 30. Give to everyone that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Golden Text: "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6: 31. NOTE.—This lesson is, to our mind, wrongly named. "The Sermon on the Plain" would be better, for we are told in verse 17 that he came down with his disciples, and stood on a level place. The chronological setting, as well as the differences between the teachings of this discourse in Luke 6 and that in Matthew, chapters 5 to 7, show that they are not identical, but were spoken on different occasions, and it is not at all unreasonable to suppose that this would be the case. Christ spoke what the people needed, and the same blessed truths that he spoke to the throng, as recorded in Matthew, were just as much needed by those to whom he spoke as were the words recorded in Luke. 1. When the multitude were gathered around Jesus to whom did he directly address himself? Verse 20. 2. What blessing did he pronounce upon the poor? and why? Compare with Matt. 5: 3. 3. What did he say of those who hungered for righteousness? Verse 21. 4. What blessing did he pronounce upon those who wept because of sin? 5. What did he say of those who suffered for his sake? Verse 22. 6. Instead of mourning because of their persecution, what should they do? and why? Verse 23. 7. What ones did he mention as having received just such treatment? 8. What did he pronounce upon those who felt themselves rich? Verse 24. 9. Upon what other classes did he pronounce woes? Verse 25. 10. Should we be pleased when all men speak well of us? Verse 26. 11. How is a true disciple to regard his enemies and those who hate him? Verse 27. 12. What should he do toward those who curse him and persecute him? Verse 28. 13. How should he treat those who take away his goods wrongfully because he is Christ's disciple? Verses 29, 30. 14. What general rule does he give which applies in all these cases? See golden text. THE Golden Rule, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise," is one which, if followed, would never permit persecution for the sake of religion. There certainly is not a heathen in the world who would desire to be persecuted by a Christian; and, if he did by the Christian as he desired the Christian to do by him, he certainly would not persecute the Christian. This is just as true on the other side. There is no Christian who desires to be persecuted by a heathen, or who would desire to have his liberty to worship God in any way infringed upon. He, therefore, ought not to demand that the liberty of the heathen to worship his conception of God should be infringed upon. Of course, no so-called liberty should infringe upon the rights of other men. That is not the liberty which our Lord enjoins. What Christianity demands is absolute equality. That is what is implied in the Golden Rule. Absolute equality in religious worship has to do simply and solely with the relations which exist between man and his God, or his conception of God. The relations between man, so far as the overt acts are concerned, are regulated by civil law, which does not come within the sphere of religion at all. If a religious devotee transgresses the civil law, he is punished because of his crime against the law, and not because of his relation to God or against God. For instance, the Sabbath is a day which is to be kept holy unto the Lord. It cannot be kept holy unto man. It has nothing whatever to do with man's relation to his fellow-man. It belongs unto God; it bears his image and superscription. The infidel, if he observes the Golden Rule, would have no right whatever to say that the Christian should not observe the Sabbath. The Christian, if he observed the Golden Rule, would have no right whatever to say that the infidel should observe the Sabbath. That is a matter which lies between him and his God alone. There would be no Sabbath law and no need of Sabbath law where the Golden Rule was believed and practiced.