LESSON IX.—SABBATH, AUGUST 26, 1899.
BLASPHEMY OF THE PHARISEES.
1 “In the meantime, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trode one upon another, He began to say unto His disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; 3 and hid, that shall not be known. Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them which kill the body, and after that have 5 no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom ye shall fear; Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast 6 into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? and not one of them is forgotten 7 in the sight of God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; ye are of more value than many spar8 rows. And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the 9 angels of God; but he that denieth Me in the presence of men 10 shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God. And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but unto him that blasphemeth against 11 the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, 12 be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say; for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.
13 “And one out of the multitude said unto Him, Master, bid 14 my brother divide the inheritance with me. But He said unto 15 him, Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you? And He said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance 16 of the things which he possesseth. And He spake a parable 17 unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought 18 forth plentifully; and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do; I will pull down my barns, and 19 build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn and my 20 goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 21 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, 22 whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
23 “And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your 24 body, what ye shall put on. For the life is more than food, 25 and the body than the raiment. Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor 26 barn; and God feedeth them; of how much more value are ye 27 than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add 28 a cubit unto his stature? If then ye are not able to do even 29 that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest? 30 Consider the lilies, how they grow; they toil not, neither do 31 they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory 32 was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe 33 the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast 34 into the oven; how much more shall He clothe you, O ye of 35 little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye 36 shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these 37 things do the nations of the world seek after; but your Father 38 knoweth that ye have need of these things. Howbeit seek ye 39 His kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. Fear 40 not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give 41 you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; make for 42 yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heav43 ens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither 44 moth destroyeth. For where your treasure is, there will your 45 heart be also.
“Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. Be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
“And Peter said, Lord, speakest Thou this parable unto us, or even unto all? And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.”
NOTE.—The texts enclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further. - What warning did Jesus deliver to His disciples in hearing of the multitude? Luke 12:1.
- What reason did He give for this warning? Verses 2, 3.
- Whom did He say we should not fear? Verse 4.
- Whom should we fear? Verse 5.
- What beautiful illustration of God’s care for His creatures did Jesus then give? Verses 6-9. (Two farthings, Assaria, about three cents.)
- What did Jesus say would be the result of confessing and denying Him? Verses 8, 9.
- What will be the result of speaking against the Holy Ghost? Verse 10.
- If we retain the presence of the Spirit, what is promised in time of persecution? Verses 11, 12. (Rom. 8:26.)
- What request did one of the company make? What reply did Jesus make? Verse 13, 14.
- What did Jesus teach in regard to covetousness? What reason did He give? Verse 15.
- Repeat the parable of the foolish rich man. Verses 16-20.
- What application did the Saviour make of this parable? Verses 21-30. (James 2:5; Ps. 147:9.)
- What promise is given to God’s people? Verses 31, 32.
- What duty is enjoined upon the little flock at this time? Verses 33-36.
- What assurance is given to them who are watching? Verses 37, 38.
- What promise is made to the faithful steward? Vs. 42-44.
- What is said of the servant who says, “My Lord delayeth His coming”? Verses 45, 46.
Side Lights.—“Desire of Ages,” chapter 44.