Scripture Study

JOH 20In this chapter Mary of Magdala represents the believing remnant of the Jews transferred into the new position and power of our present blessings in Christ: while Thomas represents the Jews who will not believe till Christ appears in glory. All is the blessed result of the work of Christ in atonement.

Verse 1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Had she taken into her heart what the Lord had said, she would not have been there; not because of indifference on her part, for she loved Him very devotedly, as we can see by her presence there, but because, as the Messiah, He had delivered her from the power of the devil, and she still had Him before her soul in that character. She did not yet know Him as the Son of God, nor the power of His resurrection.

Verse 2. On seeing the empty tomb, and not understanding why it was so, she ran and told Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him."

Verses 3-10. These two then ran to the sepulcher; the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the sepulcre. He stooped down and looked in and saw the linen clothes lying, yet went he not in. When Peter came, he went in and saw the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. The other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they knew not the scriptures that He must rise again from the dead. There had been no haste, but perfect calmness and composure marked the tomb, even lo the wrapping up the napkin taken off His blessed head. Then the disciples go away to their own home, as if they had no further interest. They did not lay hold of God's thoughts of His Son yet. They saw and believed.

Verses 11-18. But Mary could not go away. Where else could she find Him whom her soul loved? She stood there weeping, and stooping down, and looking into the sepulcher. She sees two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. They say to her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" She replied, "Because they have taken away My Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." How great was her affection for Him! too great for angels to satisfy.

The Lord will answer it, for as she turned herself back she saw Jesus standing, but did not yet recognize Him. Jesus says to her, "Woman, Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, "Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus saith unto her, "Mary." She turned herself, and saith unto Him, "Rabboni", "Master." She knows Him now.

"He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." (John 10:3) He is now leading her out of her old position in Judaism under the law, into the new position in Christ as a child of God the Father. But the manner of her knowing Him is now to be changed, so He says, "Touch Me not." It is by faith she is to know Him henceforth, (2 Cor. 5:16,) no longer as Messiah on earth, for He is going back. to His Father and God, but in a spiritual way now, that is, by faith, but before He goes He gives her a message to convey-the new blessing to His brethren. For the first time, He calls them His brethren. "Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." Such words were never heard before. This is outside the fold; it is the flock now, the family of God. It is association with the Son of God raised from the dead, and ascended to the Father's right hand. In its fullness, it could only be entered into, and enjoyed when the Holy Spirit was given. Mary did not forget a word of it. She came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her. She was ignorant no longer.

Verses 19, 20. It was the news of the risen, living One, that brought them all together the evening of the same day, being the first day of the week, marking a new epoch, and giving it its character from the resurrection day. It was the "morrow after the Sabbath" (Lev. 23.) When the wave sheaf was offered; it was not the Sabbath changed. For the Christian it is, "the Lord's day." They were together with the doors shut, apart from the antagonistic world and its religion. It was complete separation from it. The doors were shut for fear of the Jews, and there the Lord comes and takes His place in their midst, with the loving salutation, "Peace (be) unto you." He then showed them His hands and His side as the fullest proof that it is Himself, and that His work of atonement is finished and accepted by God who raised Him from the dead for their perfect peace and eternal salvation. He now is their gathering center Himself in their midst. (Math. 18:20.) Blessed be His name, that was the beginning of it, but the blessing of His presence is given to the two or three still.

Verses 21-23. This blessed story is for others also. He again says, "Peace unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." When He had so said, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose so ever sins ye retain, they are retained." They were thus His sent ones bearing the message of forgiveness to those who would receive it, and to the condemnation of those who reject it.

While this was true in a special manner of His apostles, it is also true in the measure of grace given to each one here to represent the Lord, but to fit them for such a mission, we see Linn here breathing on them-as God breathed into man's nostrils at the beginning the breath of life, and man became a living soul; (Gen. 2.) so here the living, risen Man, (Col. 3:1-4) the first born from the dead, gives them His risen life, and the Holy Spirit, as its power, which not only frees them from the law of sin and death, (Rom. 8:2) but also gave them to bear witness for a heavenly Christ in this the scene of His rejection. While this 23rd verse was in a special manner true of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must remember, it is in connection here with the gospel that brings the sinner to know His sins all put away forever from God's sight, through the death of Christ, His well beloved Son. It is not the assembly forgiveness or discipline. (as in 1 Cor. 5 or 2 Cor. 2.) It is the forgiveness through the work of Christ, which the gospel brings to us.

Verses 24, 25. Thomas represents the Jews who will not believe till Christ appears in glory.(Zech. 12.)

Verses 26-28. This is a distinct period, after eight days. It pictures for us how the Jews will be convinced of their sins, at least, of crucifying the Lord of Glory, when they shall look on Him whom they pierced, and shall mourn for Him, and then be restored as a nation. So Thomas is convinced, and said, "My Lord, and my God." (Compare Zech. 13:9.) It is a Jewish confession.

Verse 29. Jesus' answer to Thomas is, "Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Here we find in the time to come, that is, the tribulation period, those who have been converted before the appearing of Christ, (compare Rev. 12Th and 14th chapters.) It is the testimony of Jesus, during that time of trial. They are nourished and preserved of the Lord, and they follow the Lamb wheresoever He goeth, that is, they are faithful to Him then.

In 1 Peter 1:8, we find the Jews who have not seen Christ, but believed on Him during the period of grace. These are brought into the body of Christ; these have a heavenly calling, and a heavenly inheritance.

The last two verses tell us much more was done by Jesus than is told. God selected for the evangelist what was necessary that we might believe on Him as Son of God, and that believing we might have life through His name.

It is what is especially given to teach us of that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. (1 John 1:2 and 5:20.)

Scripture Study: Acts 3

ACT 3The Holy Spirit, in this chapter, through the miracle performed upon the lame man, leads Peter and John to put before the people their terrible guilt in crucifying the Lord Jesus, the Servant of the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the Holy One, and the Just, the Prince of Life, whom they denied in the presence of Pilate when he had determined to let Him go. They desired a murderer in preference. Now, as the risen and glorified One, whom God raised from the dead and glorified, His power was manifest in this man who healed was a cripple from his birth, being perfectly Peter and John disclaim any power or holiness of their own in this. It was the power of the NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, through faith in His name, that had made this well-known man strong. The faith which is by Him had given him this perfect soundness in the presence of them all.

We must notice in this chapter that it is not calling individuals to own the name of Jesus Christ in order to receive remission of sins, and the Holy Spirit; or to separate themselves from the untoward generation, as in chap. 2, but it is to all as a nation, and Peter alluding to Jesus' words on the cross, says, "Now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers."

The offer is given that, if, as a nation, they would repent, Jesus Christ as Lord and King would return at once, and fulfill all the unfulfilled prophecies given by the mouth of all His prophets since the world began. It was prophesied that the heavens, after His sufferings on earth, were to receive Him till the time of the restoring of all things, of which they had spoken, had taken place.

Jesus Christ was the prophet Moses spoke of, and judgment would come upon them, or any who would not hear Him. They were the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with their fathers, through Abraham, "In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." It was to them first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus (that is, in His life time), sent Him to bless them in turning each one of them from their iniquities.

Let us now look over the chapter, reading it carefully.

Verse 1. Peter and John are going to the temple at the ninth hour-the Jewish hour of prayer. The Christian prays always (Eph. 6: 18), and everywhere (1 Tim. 2:8).

Verse 2. The temple, outwardly beautiful, has a witness lying at the gate daily of their helpless poverty before God. (Ex. 15:26.)

Verse 3-5. This cripple begs of Peter and John.

Verse 6. Peter and John, God's witnesses, "poor in this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom" (James 2:5), said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."

Verses 7-9. He took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God."

Verses 10, 11. They knew the man, and were filled with wonder and amazement, and as the man held Peter and John, the crowd gathered around them, greatly wondering.

Verses 12-16 bring Israel's sin before them, in rejecting Christ, and also God, who raised and glorified His Servant Jesus.

Verse 17. This is an answer to the Lord's prayer in Luke 23: 34.

Verse 18. The sufferings and rejection of Christ, which were foretold in the prophets, are at this time fulfilled. (Isa. 53; Psa. 22.)

Verses 19-26. They were called to repent and be converted, that their sins might be blotted out, (not "when," but) so that the times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Lord; and Jesus Christ would come back and set up His promised kingdom.

We may wonder how then the Church could be called out? God knew that they would not repent, but as we saw in chap. 1:6, 7, He still waits in long-suffering till Israel's rejection of Christ, was completed not only while He was on earth, but till they fully manifested their rejection of Him as the glorified One at God's right hand. We shall also see in Stephen's testimony and murder, how completely the nation of Israel were now under Satan's power. Jehovah said unto His Servant Jesus Christ, "Sit Thou at My right hand till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." Psa. 110:1.

Israel shall be brought to repentance before their blessing as a nation can come. This is God's way; Jer. 18:7-11 illustrates it. So it is now also for individual Jews or Gentiles before they can be saved -" Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21.

Scripture Study: Acts 4

ACT 4What the flesh is in its enmity to God is seen in this chapter, contrasted with the grace of God shining out in the words and behavior of the apostles. Peter has just given a fresh offer of pardon to Israel. The answer is the arrest of the apostles by the priests and captains of the temple; and the Sadducees, who are vexed that they teach the people of the resurrection of Jesus which proved that there will be a resurrection of the dead, (1 Cor. 15:12, 13), contrary to their doctrine (Acts 23:8). The healing of the lame man displayed the power of God with the apostles, and the priests were jealous, lest it weaken their authority. They were the synagogue of Satan of that day (Rev. 3:9), the thieves and robbers of John 10:1, assuming an authority in opposition to God, and they cast the apostles into prison for the night, thus for the time stopping the preaching of the Word, but they cannot stop the work of grace in men's hearts, for many believed the Word of God, for it was not bound, making the number about five thousand. There is no hope of Israel's repentance now, for the leaders are trying to stamp out the name of Jesus, and the power is in their hands, so the servants must be as their Master-sufferers for the truth.

The next day these self-appointed judges come together to do what they can to destroy the story of God's forgiving love, and to resist the power of the Holy Spirit, with all the power of Satan. The apostles, Peter and John, are set before them, and are asked, 'By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we be this day examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye have crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

What courage of faith, given by God, is now seen in these servants, by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. They do not resist the enemy, but they will obey God, and they tell forth the story again with calmness and boldness, as kept in dependence, the Holy Spirit speaking through them. (Luke 12:11, 12.)

Nothing is seen in those rulers but willful blindness, madness, hardness of heart, and lack of conscience. They could not deny the miracle; it was the work of God, yet they try to hush it up. Their office was in danger, their authority was fading away. The power of God was outside of the temple and the priests. It was now with the apostles and the assembly. These men feared the people but did not fear God. They were adversaries, and consciously ranged themselves up in opposition to God. They were the builders who rejected God's corner stone.

They marveled at the boldness of Peter and John, perceiving that they were unlearned and ignorant men, but they recognized that they had been companions of Jesus, and there is the healed man, standing with them. What can they do? They commanded the apostles to go out of the counsel till they confer, and though it was all so plainly of God, yet they will command them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, and threaten them.

Again the apostles speak. They do not boast, but they will speak of their authority, it is from God. "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye, for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." What courage of faith! what obedience! not terrified by their adversaries, but sanctifying the Lord in their hearts, as Peter wrote to believers afterward (1 Peter 3:14, 15). They were sustained and kept by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a state for Israel! God is no longer found among them; they rejected their Messiah; the Kingdom is now postponed. God will fulfill all His promises to them, but it will be after the assembly is gathered, and taken to heaven. Then He will gather Israel again in pure grace, working repentance in them for their past sins. Now they are put aside, though still separate from the 'Gentiles.

Verse 21, They further threatened them, and let them go, because of the people, for all glorified God for that which was done.

Verse 23. So now they return to their own company, and report all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. Then they unburdened their souls, and strengthened their hands in God, with one accord lifting up their voices to God. Here we find with them the power of the living God. They said, "Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, 'Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.' For of a truth against Thy holy Servant Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy Servant Jesus."

They quote the 2nd Psalm for the rejection of the Messiah, but they do not ask for the establishing of the Kingdom, but for grace and boldness to speak the word, and that God's hand in power may witness that the word is His.

Then God manifested His presence with them, and the place where they were assembled, shakes. His presence was with them, and He also dwelt in them. They were born of the Spirit, too. We can see these things distinguished in Scripture.

It was a wonderful display of God's power, and we see those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither said any of them that what he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common, and with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. A wonderful time when the love of Christ was uppermost in every heart. None lacked, all were supplied, and many sold their estates, and laid the money at the apostles' feet. Barnabas, a Levite, of the country of Cyprus, is specially mentioned here as one who did this.

The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, but it is also to be desired to be filled with Him, that He may be the source of our thoughts, and that what we may do, might be done in dependence, and that our hearts might be filled with the fruit of His presence, and that as we are called on, we might confess the Lord faithfully before men. In principle, this blessed state belongs today to every Christian. May we earnestly seek to let the Holy Spirit fill us with Christ.

Scripture Study: Acts 1

ACT 1Luke, the beloved physician (Col. 4:14), was well fitted for the work which the Holy Spirit did through him, to write this second letter or treatise, and it is a most important link in the chain of inspiration of God, to fulfill the Word of God. In the body of the book, toward the end, we shall find him a companion of Paul in his journeyings. Like the gospel, it is addressed to Theophilus.

It is most interesting and instructive to notice the ways of God in the unfoldings of this book. May the Lord graciously help us, and give us discernment, and the ready mind to receive what He would communicate.

We see in the first and second verses how the writer connects the gospel with this. "Of all that Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen." Here we see the Lord as a man, risen from the dead, and the Holy Ghost dwelling in Him still. A precious token to us that the Holy Ghost will dwell in us also, when risen and caught up to be with the Lord in glory. No fear of us grieving Him then, for there will be no sin in us then to hinder our entering into His thoughts, nor to occupy us in restraining our wills, or mortifying the flesh. What a difference "when flesh and sense deceive no more," "forever on Himself to gaze," and in all the energy of that blessed Holy Spirit to enter into the enjoyment of His love, and worship and adore. "Yes, Savior, Thou shalt have full praise," but our hearts say even now He is worthy of it all, "And, O eternity's too short to utter all His praise."

Verses 3-5. For forty days He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen of them and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

But they were to wait at Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (John 14:16). "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." We see from 1 Cor. 12:13 that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is forming the saints into one body, and uniting them to Christ the Head. We have not found in the Scriptures that any individual is spoken of as baptized with the. Holy Ghost. Individuals are sealed by the Holy Ghost (Eph. 1:13), and thus added to the body. The truth of the one body could not yet be unfolded, till His long suffering with the nation of Israel was over, for the present interval of grace, though begun, was not fully declared.

Verses 6-8. When they were together, they asked of Him, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" His answer would indicate that He waited for something further. "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power (right or authority), but ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be My witnesses." He had told them this before (John 15:26, 27.) They were to begin at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47), and then in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. They were to tell of how He fulfilled the prophets, and the Old Testament scriptures, in suffering for sin, in giving Himself in love, and by the will of God, and how He rose again, and is now in glory, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations. Blessed, old, old story, though ever fresh and new!

Verses 9-11. And when all had been told to them that they needed to know for the present, He was taken up (or received up), and a cloud received Him out of their sight. What a loss to them, it seemed! Would intimacy with Him now cease? No. He had said, "I will not leave you (orphans) comfortless: I will come to you." In the meantime that Holy Spirit was not come, but two heavenly messengers, men in white apparel stood by them, and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." What they announce here is not His coming for His saints, but His manifestation to set up His Kingdom on earth.

Verses 12-26. They return to Jerusalem as they were bidden, and we find them (about one hundred and twenty men and women) with the, apostles continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication.

We find the disciples still in the expectation that the earthly Kingdom might be set up at that time, and this chapter leads us to see them still on the ground of Jews.

Peter, who was given authority from the Lord (Matt. 16:19), also having their hearts opened by the Spirit to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45), rose up and explained to the rest the necessity that one should be chosen who had the qualifications necessary (as companying with the Lord in His ministrations) to fill up the place of Judas, according to Psa. 109:8. This they do in their Jewish fashion (not yet having the Holy Spirit), looking to the Lord to give a just lot. So Matthias was numbered with the eleven apostles. The words "ordained to be" are not in the text.

An extract from Collected Writings is worth giving here. "Since I have spoken of the descent of the Holy Spirit, it must be under stood that the 'new birth' is not the point here (though that may be accomplished by the same Spirit), but rather the personal coming of the Spirit, when the Son of man ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit has worked divinely since the foundation of the world. He it was who moved upon the face of the waters, who inspired the prophets, who has been the immediate instrument of all that God has done on the earth and in the heavens. But He only came here below when the Son of man went to sit down at the right hand of God (John 7: 37-39), and is only received when we believe (Gal. 4:6 Eph. 1:13.) This is seen also clearly elsewhere: we are sealed when we have believed, and especially when we have believed in the value of the blood of Christ. Washed in this precious blood, we are fit to be the habitation of God. "Know ye not," says the apostle Paul, "that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:19). As when the leper was cleansed and purified under the law, he was first washed in water, then sprinkled with the blood, then anointed with oil (Lev. 14:8, 9, 14-18)-clear figure of our purification by means of the Word of God when we are converted and born again; then of the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, and finally of the anointing of the Holy Spirit by which we are sealed for the final day of redemption.

"Also all gifts, the exercise of which is found in the Church, are the manifestation of the Holy Spirit who works there. But here, in the Acts, the exposition of the operations of the Spirit is not found, but the fact itself of His coming in order to work."

Scripture Study: John 21

JOH 21We have here a fresh testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, presented to us in a mysterious way, to picture for us the Millennial gathering of Israel.

Verse 2. Peter, Thomas and Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee are especially mentioned, with two others.

Verse 3. Simon Peter says, "I go a fishing," and the others say, "We also go with thee." This was their employment when Jesus met them at the first, and, as at the first, they labor all night and catch nothing. It pictures for us the human efforts of the Jews to restore themselves to their former estate. This-is what we find during the period between the taking up of the heavenly saints, and His coming with them to reign; but they, and their city Jerusalem, shall be under Gentile rule till the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24.)

Verses 4, 5. But the morning comes at last, and Jesus stood on the shore, only, as yet, they fail to recognize Him. Strange and mysterious this is, and different from Mary in Chap. 20. There, it was in keeping with 2 Cor. 5:16-that which belonged to a new creation. Here, it is His showing Himself to the godly, remnant of the Jews, who are converted after the church is caught away. He asks, "Children, have ye any meat?" They say, "No."

Verses 6-10. He said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." This was a test; they obey, and now they are not able to draw the net for the multitude of fishes. The beloved disciple recognizes the Lord in it, and Peter hearing it, prepares himself for the Lord's presence, and hurries to meet the Lord, while the rest drag the net loaded with fishes. The blessing has at last come to Israel, but the remnant of godly ones who have already confessed their sins, and the sins of the nation, are gathered first. We see this pictured in the fire, and the fish already laid thereon, and bread, and Jesus told them to bring of the fish which they had caught.

Verse 11. Then the description of the fishing is, "great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three," and for all there were so many, yet was the net not broken. In this present time the nets brake; but in the future the fishing will be perfect, and all Israel will be gathered. It is perfect administration and divine power.

Verses 12, 13. Jesus said unto them, "Come and dine." None of the disciples durst ask Him, "Who art Thou?" knowing that it was the Lord. Here is seen this mysterious distance between them, which marks the earthly people with their heavenly King. This we see in Thomas, who would not be convinced till his eyes saw the marks of Jesus' crucifixion, but here their toils are turned to feasting with Himself.

Verse 14. There are three appearings here: first, to His heavenly brethren. The second, Thomas is restored, i.e., the Jews as a nation. The third is the full restoration of all Israel.

Verses 15-17. Now the dinner is over, and we have a touching, heart-searching scene. Peter had boasted of his love and faithfulness to Jesus above them all; though all should forsake Him, he would follow Him to prison and to death, so he had said, and then, in the moment of trial, he had denied his Lord three times with oaths and curses, but at that look of Jesus', he had gone out and wept bitterly. Jesus also had met him after His resurrection, and so he was ready to cast himself into the sea to meet Him without fear. But the Lord has still further blessings for him, to make him His servant.

Before public restoration to such a place, it was needful to test him as to his boastful self-confidence, so the Lord asks him the question, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?" Peter replied very humbly, "Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love (hast affection for) Thee." He said unto him, "Feed My lambs."

A second time He said, "Simon, son of Jonas, hast thou affection for Me?" He uses the word which Peter used, to test him deeper. Peter answers Him as he did before Jesus said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

Still the probe goes deeper, by repeating the question, till Peter is grieved, and sorely reminded of his boasted strength and self-confidence, but he can only reply, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I have affection for Thee." Jesus answered, "Feed My sheep."

Thus the Lord works in the soul of His servant to remove all boastfulness and confidence of the flesh, and to teach him the need of prayer and watchfulness, that he might also be able to strengthen his brethren. He does not only forgive us our sins when we confess them, but He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and from leaning on any false props. As with Peter, when we cannot trust ourselves, then He will use us for the blessing of others. This grace to failing saints is wonderful, in Num. 19:19. The third-day-sprinkling, was as when the Lord looked at Peter, and he went out and wept bitterly. The seventh-day-sprinkling, restored to communion, as when the Lord met Peter, and gave him a visit all by himself. (1 Cor. 15:5). But this seems beyond that, and gives him a commission as His servant, and the privilege of following Him, even to prison and to death; and thus to drink from the hands of men (allowed of God), the cup his Master had drunk of.

Verses 18, 19. But Peter would have no choice in this. When he was young, he did all in natural energy; but when he would be grown old, he would stretch forth his hands, and another would gird him, and carry him whither he would not. This He spake, signifying by what death he was to glorify God. Peter, through grace, remained heartily content that it should be so, as the Lord had said, (2 Peter 1:14), but grace would be given him to glorify God in life or in death. He then saith unto him, "Follow Me." He had said it before, (Matt. 4:19), but then they did not know Him as the rejected One on earth, and glorified on high; but now Peter is to follow One whom the world has cast out, and share the outcast place, for that is what it means to share with Jesus now. We also have our place with Him where He is, and there, inside the vail, with Him, we find strength to suffer and to serve in the world where He is not.

Verses 20-25. Peter, turning about, and seeing the beloved disciple following, (for that is what real love does without being told), and feeling interested, perhaps curious to know, said, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Jesus answered, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me." The brethren thought by that saying that John was not to die, but the evangelist warns that He did not say, "he was not to die," but, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"

This is one of those mysterious sayings, from which we may draw some lesson, and as we look at John's written ministry, which goes beyond the present time, we can well think of what he wrote as truth needed till Christ comes to reign. John has passed away, but he remains ministering to us through the word. We also find in Revelation his ministry still going on, till the new heaven and the new earth are included. It was only that which was needed that was written, for God, the Word, is infinite, and the world could not contain all that is true of Him.

Scripture Study: Acts 2

In this chapter we get the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in redeemed men, and with the assembly, or Church, on earth. We have seen it figuratively in the Old Testament, (as in Exo. 15:2, 13, 17) in the tabernacle, and in the temple at Jerusalem, and God dwelt among them in the pillar of cloud. Also God visited Adam, Abraham, Joshua and others; but in this chapter God comes actually to dwell in and with His people on earth. The atoning work of His beloved Son on the cross, has made it possible, and believers, ever since Pentecost, have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them forever (John 7:39; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Rom. 8:9.) We cannot now pray for the Holy Spirit to be sent, for He has already come, and is here. Here to lead and to teach His people the deep things of God (Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 2:10, 12; 1 John 2:20, 27.)

The great sin of Christendom today is, that they do not recognize His presence, and by their human arrangements, set Him aside. "The day of Pentecost," this leads us back to the feasts of Jehovah in Lev. 23. The passover (ver. 5) points to the death of Christ.

The wave sheaf (vs. 10, 11) points to the resurrection of Christ; and notice, it was waved on the morrow after the sabbath, that is, the first day of the week, what we call the Lord's day (Rev. 1:10); for Christians, not being under the law, have no sabbath, but they have the Lord's day, a day to use for the Lord.

Then we count from the wave sheaf (ver. 15) fifty days, i.e., Pentecost, and again on the morrow after the sabbath we find a new meat offering offered, two wave loaves baken with leaven. This is the type of the Church, though the Church is a redeemed people, yet it is baken with leaven. (There is no leaven or honey in any type of Christ (Lev. 2:11), leaven is a type of evil.)

This assembly is formed by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them; by this they are baptized into one body, and are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:22.) It is in the Epistles written through Paul that these truths are unfolded. 1 Cor. 6:19 is the individual believer; 1 Cor. 3:16 is the whole house together.

Verses 1-4. We have seen the believers together in prayer and supplication since the Lord went on high (1:14), and here on the fiftieth day, the first day of the week, they were again all with one accord in one place. Suddenly a sound is heard as of a mighty wind. It came from heaven, and filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them divided tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, or languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This was not like the dove descending upon the Lord Jesus, but, as we can see, it was for testimony. It testifies to their redemption, and also is their power for testimony for Christ. What a contrast from under the law (as in 1 Kings 8:11), where the priest could not enter into the temple because of the glory, but enter into Himself has come to dwell in men redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Under the law, the high priest never went inside the veil with the garments of glory and beauty on (see Lev. 16), but now, the sound of the golden bells around the skirt of His garments of glory and honor, tells us of the acceptance glory and fruit of His work done on Calvary's tree, and of the place prepared for His redeemed ones there with the blessed Son of God, a Man in the glory with the Father.

The judgment of God fell on Babel when men confederated to make themselves a name to forget God, but now the grace of God makes them speak with tongues, or languages, intelligent to all those from the different countries who were present, and a plain indication that the gospel is to all.

Verses 5-21. The pious Jews recognize what they say, as the wonderful works of God, though they Were uneducated Galileans, It confounded and troubled them and made them ready to hear the testimony of the truth, and they say, "What meaneth this?"

"Others mocking"; it seems the Jews of Judea and Jerusalem say, "These men are full of new wine." But Peter, standing up with the eleven, addresses them, "Be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." Then he quotes Joel 2:28-32 not to show as if it was fulfilled, but to lead their minds to see that it was the outpouring of the Spirit, though in a different way, and for a different purpose. Joel will be fulfilled in the time of Israel's restoration, but this was not on all flesh, but to form the Church, or assembly, of God.

Verses 22-36. "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know; Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it." Then he proved by the 16th Psalm that David did not speak of himself, but, being a prophet, he spoke of Christ, for David is both dead and buried, and saw corruption, but David's greater Son, who was to sit on David's throne, was to be raised up, and to see no corruption. "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, 'The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Verses 37-42. This convinced many of them of their guilt, and they said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Peter's answer is ready, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Spirit, for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." With many other words also did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation."

Here is God bringing good out of man's wickedness; God's love meeting man's need at the very time when man's enmity was declared in its deepest way: God bringing salvation to the rebel that would own his guilt, and baptism was the way to express it. It was submission to the One hitherto despised and rejected, and it was separation from the murderers. They were brought among the believers by being baptized, and thus forgiveness of sins was administered to them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Compare John 20:22.)

How different are sheep in their feelings and behavior when shut up in a sheepfold, and when at liberty outside the fold following the shepherd into the green pastures and by the still waters! So is it with those now brought out of Judaism into the liberty of grace (compare John 10:3 with ver. 9). So we find those newly delivered ones continuing steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers. The Lord, by His Holy Spirit given to them, feeds them, and leads them in this blessed liberty of grace. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." This is not license to do what the flesh likes, but to be in subjection, ever careful lest we should grieve or quench the Spirit. So we get nothing to copy: there are no meetings described, no forms given us; we need to gather the mind of the Lord from Scripture for the occasion. We see in such a verse as 46, how we need to feed on the Word; and we are to remember the Lord; and we are to be together in prayer. So we should not forsake the assembling together of ourselves for these purposes, and each meeting would have its own character. The Holy Spirit, and the presence of the Lord, are there, but the presence of the Lord should engage us, and will, if the Spirit has His way.

Verse 43. Miracles and signs were needed then to confirm the word (Heb. 2:4). As they are not needed now, we do not have them.

Verses 44, 45 show us that these were a community, and still waiting for the King to come back from heaven. They were still on Jewish ground in their minds; they continued daily with one accord in the temple; their remembrance of the Lord in His death for them was daily, and they lived with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.

The Lord added daily to their number such as should be saved: that means, the godly ones were brought in from among the ungodly Jews, as well as some who were newly brought to the Lord.

Scripture Study: Acts 5

ACT 5If the flesh is allowed a place, it shows itself just the same in the Christian as it is in the world. Ananias with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. The two agreed to keep back part of the price, and to lay -part at the apostles' feet, as if they had given it all. They wanted the reputation of whole-hearted devotedness, while gratifying their love of money. They did not consider that God, the Holy Spirit, was dwelling with them and in them, and that they were lying to Him. Each in turn lied to God, and each fell down dead. How solemn! This first sin seen in the Church of God, receives its judgment at once, witnessing that God's presence in the assembly was in power. How different now, though His presence is still in the Church on earth and in every believer, but O! how grieved, how set aside He has been, and is, by men's ways. Yet, He is faithful, wherever men honor His presence, to lead them and to guide them into all truth.

In the beginning, God gave the testimony against sin, and to the presence of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were filled with the Spirit, and all was done in His power. But the assembly of God has been unfaithful; He has been grieved, and we see no longer those actions which bore testimony to His presence.

Sill He is with the Church on earth. The word is, He shall dwell with you," and He is able to accomplish the will of God in His children now, as in the apostles' days, though it may not be seen in the same mariner. He manifests His presence in the assembly, in those who depend on Him, and are filled with Him, though it is not shown outwardly in the fallen Church, as when the assembly was in its first faithfulness. God changes not, His grace and power are the same, and are as available as ever for all that is necessary, and all that is suitable to the state of the Church: and He still does all that is requisite for His glory and our blessing. May we keep it in mind, and not hinder Him by our unbelief.

This judgment that fell on Ananias and Sapphira caused great fear upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things; and the power of God, the Holy Spirit, wrought, by the apostles' hands, many signs and wonders among the people.

Solomon's porch was their large meeting-place. They were there with one accord, and none others durst join them. The people magnified them, but the Lord used it to bring more to Himself-multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least, the shadow of Peter passing by, might overshadow sonic of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Does this not remind us of John 14:12? It was truly great and wonderful, the works that the Lord Jesus wrought, also by the Spirit, but to see such works done by the Holy Spirit sent down from Jesus, exalted to the Father's right hand, done through sinful, mortal men, His redeemed ones, is greater still. Yet He is the author of it all. Blessed be His worthy name!

But all this excited the envy and anger of the chief priests; the power and authority had passed out of their hands, and they were unwilling to own it, or to acknowledge it elsewhere. They could not prevent it, but they will do it if they can, so they, filled with wrath, arrest the apostles, and put them in the public prison, and God allowed them to do it.

This only makes a fresh display of God's power, which they cannot hinder. This is not the Holy Spirit working in them, but God's power sending His angel to open the prison doors. No bolts or bars could remain barriers to His will. The angel led them out, and said, "Go, stand and speak in the temple all the words of this life." Obedient to the Lord, they go very early into the temple and teach. When the high priest and council and all the elder-hood of the sons of Israel were gathered, they sent to the prison to have them brought. The officers returned and reported the prison shut with all security, the guards all in their places at the doors, but the prisoners were not there. This was most perplexing. What will all this come to? is the question in their minds.

Some one came and reported to them, "Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, teaching the people."

The captain with the. officers went and brought them without violence. They were afraid they might be stoned by the people. But Christians must suffer and bear their testimony.

Again the high priest accuses them of teaching in the name of Jesus, and filling Jerusalem with their doctrines, to bring the murder of Jesus against them. Peter and the apostles answer, "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to them that obey Him."

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Blinded by Satan, having committed one crime, they, goaded on to desperation by a guilty conscience, are ready to persecute the witnesses to death. Here again God works deliverance through the human wisdom of Gamaliel the Pharisee, who brings up the folly in several examples of fighting against God. God uses his argument to preserve His servants from the hand of their enemies.

They take the counsel of Gamaliel, their hearts are not changed, the enmity is still there, but they are afraid of more trouble to themselves; they know not what to do. They call the apostles, for they had put them out that they might confer together. They beat them and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. How terrible the condition of these blinded men.

But the apostles departed, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ.

Scripture Study: Ephesians 1:1-11

In this Epistle, God is declaring Himself, unfolding His counsels and purposes regarding His own Beloved Son, as Head over all things, and Head of His body the assembly; and in what He in sovereign grace chose to do for those who are called to be companions for His Son in making them like Him, in grace that wrought through Him for them, suiting them for His high glory. The glory of God's grace, and the beauty of Christ displayed in them.

Verse 1. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God." Called and sent by Christ in glory, he writes to all the saints,-all who believe on the Lord in sincerity, spoken of here as "the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Verse 2. "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the desire of the Lord for their happiness and peace, the portion for all the saints of this present day of grace.

Verse 3, begins with worship which expresses our relationships, and our blessings. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ is our God. What He is to Christ as a man, such also He is to believers, as men. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is our Father (compare John 20:17). What the Son, His Beloved Son, is to the Father, such also are we, through grace. We are through redemption thus associated with Him. Wondrous grace! We are now blessed with all spiritual blessings (not one lacking), in heavenly places in Christ.

First, we are quickened in new creation life, and are thus suited with this new life, to God's character and nature.

Second, we are led by the Spirit into the intimacy and love of the Father to His children, after the pattern of the Son, who ever dwelt in the bosom of the Father. It is the privilege of believers now to share all the blessedness that flows from these relationships, and also from the blessed truth, that we are members of the body of Christ our glorified Head.

“Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ," is the Christian's land of promise, of which we have now a view and a foretaste of its heavenly fruit, though still on our journey. Like Eschol's grapes and figs and pomegranates, brought to us by the Holy Spirit, making us long for the time when we shall be with Him. The Holy Spirit takes care to remind us of where our path leads, not into temporal or earthly mercies, but spiritual and heavenly blessings; and in the glorified Christ is where our blessings are found. The best blessings, in the best place, and in the best Person.

Verse 4. According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." The name of God is connected with this verse; He chose us as individuals, and fitted us according to His own nature and character to be before Him holy and blameless and in love. For this He must therefore impart to us the new life, and it was before the foundation of the world that He chose us. It is a life different from what is in the world, and will exist after the fashion of the world has passed away.

God has done this altogether apart from any circumstances of our own, and therefore perfectly suited us to Himself with a life that hates darkness and evil, and loves light and good. This is His sovereign love to us, which cannot be explained by anything in or about us. We bow and worship Him whose wisdom and ways exceed all human thought!

Verses 5, 6 speak of Him as Father. "Having predestinated (marked out beforehand) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself." Here all the privileges of sons are ours, and it is "According to the good pleasure of His will." Since we possess this new life in Christ, and the relationship and intimacy of dear children, sons with the Son, these united in us have fitted us to delight in God our Father, and to see also that He delights in us, thus brought near to Himself. These are our precious relationships, marvelous to us! but according to His eternal counsels and thoughts, told out to us, and "to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted (brought us into favor) in the Beloved." All its fullness reveals itself in His ways toward us, the purposes of God which have no other source than His own heart, in and by which He reveals Himself and glorifies Himself by their accomplishment.

It is in "the Beloved" the object above all of His affections, that we are brought into favor, thus bringing Him in a special way before us in this grace bestowed upon us in Him, connecting our blessing with what is dearest to His own heart, for it was "according to the good pleasure of His will, and to the praise of the glory of His grace." The Son who satisfies and delights the Father's heart, is the One in whom we are accepted. He has unfolded this to us that we too might be filled with this fullness.

It was when there was no world, outside of all that regards ourselves, that He chose us in His

Son according to the good pleasure of His will. There is no mention yet of the condition in which this grace found us. It is all the purposes of heavenly blessing, of a heavenly people, who are to the praise of the glory of His grace (our condition previously is found from next verse).

Verse 7 "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace." Here it comes before us that we were slaves of sin, alienated from God, sinners against Him, and now thoughts of Jesus, the Lamb of God, crowd into our minds. "He gave Himself for our sins." "We are reconciled to God through the death of His Son," "washed in His blood," perfected forever by that one offering, and it is all according to the riches of His grace! God had to be glorified about the sin question before we could be fitted for His presence.

All this and much more is assumed here, and now we are "in Christ," and in "the Beloved;" "the righteousness of God," and "the love of the Father" is our blessed and eternal portion. We see the glory of His grace in the wonderful heights to which we are brought in heavenly places "in Christ." And we see the "riches of His grace" that stooped so low to lift us up out of "the hole of the pit," from whence we were digged.

The woman at the well in John 4, and the woman as the bride, in Gen. 24, are through grace the same. It is "the riches of His grace," that met our low estate; it is "the glory o His grace" that puts us with Christ in glory. We think of our blessing here, not according to our need, but according to the riches of His grace.

Verses 8 to 11. In this same grace and intimacy, God reveals to us His thoughts respecting the glory of Christ Himself. We are made to know, in wisdom and intelligence, the settled purpose of His counsels with regard to His Son as Head over all things in heaven and on earth.

It has pleased Him to make known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself. This is an immense favor granted us, as interested in the glory of Christ, in whatever way it comes, and here we are seen in the intimacy of friends to whom He can confide what His glory is to be, a glory in which we shall share, not only the love known in the Father's House, but also the glory of the Kingdom in its widest range. Christ Himself its Head and Center, and in Him also we have obtained an inheritance. This begins in the reign of Christ, and when He reigns, we shall reign with Him.

It is the good pleasure of God to unite all heaven and earth in one, with Christ as center, as the administrator, and He shall reign till every enemy is put under His feet, and we are to be with Him in it. What can we do but praise Him for all this grace!

.We are also marked out for this beforehand, so that it does not depend on our greatness or otherwise, but all shall be disposed according to the will of the Father and the Lord Jesus, "King of kings and Lord of lords." We are "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." It is all "according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.”

(To be continued)

“MY MEDITATION OF HIM SHALL BE SWEET”

An old Scotch lady, who was alone for the greater part of the day, was asked,

“What do you do during the day?" She answered,

“Well, I get my hymn book, and I sing a little hymn of praise to the Lord, then,'' she added, "I get my Bible and let the Lord speak to me. When I am tired reading, and I get done singing, I just sit still, and let the Lord love me.''

Do you ever sit still in the presence of your Savior and hear Him say, "I do love thee, I have loved thee, I shall love thee to the end!”

Scripture Study: Ephesians 1:12-19

Ephesians 1EPH 1

Verses 12-14. "That we (the Jews) should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted (pre-trusted) in Christ." These had been Jews, and now were in Christ, trusted in Him before the nation.

“In whom ye (the Gentiles) also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed (or having believed), ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.”

In our relationships, we shall be to the praise of the glory of His grace, but seen in connection with the inheritance, we are seen in display to the praise of His glory. This refers to the fullness of times when the Lord Jesus shall be manifested in His Kingly glory, reigning over all things in heaven and on earth. In the eternal state, righteousness dwells. In the reign of Christ, we reign with Him. Gentiles were not, according to the flesh, heirs of any promises, but in the present time, Jews and Gentiles alike brought to God through grace, are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of the inheritance. Those who heard His word, and believed the gospel of their salvation, are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, and will share in all this glory of and with Christ, even as now it belongs to them to be in the glory of His grace.

The price has been paid (John 1:29), but as yet the inheritance is not delivered, the time for it has not yet come, the redemption of the sons must come first (Rom. 8:23), when the power of Christ will deliver them (Rom. 8:19). The earnest of the inheritance we have, and the love of God He sheds abroad already in our hearts. The kingdom and its glories wait for the completion of His body and bride. He will receive His assembly home first, before taking the inheritance.

Verses 15-18. "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." He prays that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding (or heart) being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

If we were reading our title to an earthly inheritance, how carefully we would consider every word, to catch the true and full meaning of it; so here, we might well pray with the apostle that we might have heart to consider well what concerns us so much, and which He desires us to know.

The prayer in chap 3 is to "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," that we might realize in communion our portion. Here it is to "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory," that is, He is the source and author of it. It all flows from what He Himself is in His nature and character. He desires that we may gain the full knowledge of Him, and have our hearts wide open to receive what He would communicate.

There are two things here spoken of; the first is, "The hope of His calling." This refers to verses 3 to 5, that is, the saint’s portion. They are called of God, it is His love that has given us this place.

The second is, the glory of His inheritance in the saints. The second is seen in verse 11, in this it is glory-man shown as enjoying in His Person the fruits of the power and of the counsels of God. In the former, God calls us to be before Him, holy and unblamable in love, and at the same time we are His sons, in the glory of His inheritance in the saints. It is not "our" but "His" calling, though we are the called ones. He characterizes this calling by connecting it with Him who calls, so that we may understand its true character as of God Himself. All the blessing and excellence of it declares the fullness of His grace, worthy of Himself,-this is the hope of His calling.

It is also said, "His" inheritance. Canaan was His land, as He said in the law, which nevertheless He inherited in Israel. Even so, the inheritance of the whole universe, when it shall be filled with His glory, belongs to Him, but He inherits it in the saints. He will fill all things with His glory, and it is in the saints that He will inherit them. These are the two parts of what were to be open to the eyes of the saints. By the calling of God, we are to enjoy the blessedness of His presence, near to Himself, to enjoy that which is above us. The inheritance of God applies to that which is below us, to created things, which are all made subject to Christ, with whom, and in whom, we enjoy the light of the presence of God. It was the apostle's desire that they should know and enjoy these two things.

Verse 19. The other thing the apostle prays for is, "What is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and bath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the assembly, which is His body, the fullness (or complement) of Him that filleth all in all.”

He desires that they may know the power already manifested, which had already wrought to give them part in this blessed and glorious position, for even as they were introduced by the sovereign grace of God by faith into the position of being associated with Christ in glory before God His Father, so also the work which has been wrought in Christ, and the display of the power of God, which took place in raising Him from the dead to the right hand in the heavenly places, far above every name that is named, are the expression and pattern of the action of the same power which works in us who believe. We are raised up from our death in sins, to have part in the glory of this same Christ. He received all this as man from His God who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him, as man, a place above all, of which He was personally worthy, and which He had won by glorifying God in His atoning work. God has therefore given the One who conquered every enemy, the highest place, and put Him over all things to the assembly which is His body, who are raised up from their death in sins by the same power of resurrection, quickening and seating them in the heavenly places in Christ, and this assembly is His body,-the body is the complement of the Head. He fills the universe with His glory, but He is not alone (John 12:24), He has His body, composed of all believers with Him. He is head over all things, He fills all things (Eph. 4:9, 10), and the assembly is His fullness (or complement). When He accomplished redemption, and was exalted to God's right hand, He took the position in which He could be the Head of His body. To Him be all the praise!

It is to the Man in the glory of God to whom we are united, by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us now (1 Cor. 12:12, 13).

(Continued from page 13)

Scripture Study: Matthew 5:17-48

AT 5{Matt. 5:17-20. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." This does not mean His personal obedience to the law-in that also He was ever the Perfect One. He came to make good all that was written in the law and the prophets. He came to complete all God's mind written in them.

Matt. 5:18 declares that all must be fulfilled. (Luke 24:44.) His life on earth was the keeping of it without a flaw; His death on Calvary, bearing its curse for transgressors, maintained its authority. Thus He established it, and in grace bore its curse to set the believer free.

He will not weaken its authority (Matt. 5:19), but it must be the law of God and not the traditions of men, and it must be obedience from the heart and not the outward lip worship and righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes. (Mark 7:6, 7; Psa. 51:6.) The Lord insists on godliness in His people, and works in them desires to please Him. They must judge sin in their ways if they are to walk with God.

Matt. 5:21-24 apply the law to the heart. Violence and anger that end in murder, spring from the heart. Our Lord treats all feelings of contempt or hatred as coming under the same list as murder, in the sight of God. How careful therefore we should be not to allow evil thoughts or words against any one.

Matt. 5:23. "Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gifts." This is in Jewish form, but its meaning is plain, that we are at once to do all we can to be reconciled to the brother offended. We are not supposed to have anything against our brother. Notice that a brother may have something in his mind against us that we cannot remove, but we are to do our utmost to remove it, then we are reconciled to him.

Matt. 5:25 and 26. Israel should have agreed with Jehovah quickly, but did not; consequently they are now as a nation shut out from the promises and are in prison till Isa. 40:1, 2, is fulfilled. They are guilty of Christ's death, and, like the manslayer in the city of refuge, they cannot get their inheritance till the priesthood is changed. (Num. 35:25-28.)

Matt. 5:27-30. Here again the evil in the heart is exposed and judged as if the sin were committed; so in verses 29 and 30, self-judgment is put before the soul as of more importance than a right eye or a right foot; no matter how valuable the thing is, it must be judged, if it leads the soul away from God. Hell here is Gehenna, and answers to the lake of fire as a figure.

Matt. 5:31, 32. The Lord declares the solemnity and lastingness of the marriage tie, going back to its original intention, so that no one can, in the fear of God, break the tie. The only reason adduced as valid to put away a wife, is, where the bond has already been broken by unfaithfulness; and to marry one put away, is to commit adultery.

Matt. 5:33-37. The disciples are warned here to let their language be simple, "yea" and "nay", and this to them should be just as binding as an oath.

This does not hinder the Christian taking the oath in a court of justice. There he is to own the authority of God in the magistrate to govern the world, but in ordinary life anything more comes of the evil one.

Matt. 5:38-42. How different is the path of the disciples of Jesus here than Moses' disciples. It is not retaliation or demanding justice, but "I say unto you, that ye resist not evil," and show grace instead. (Phil. 4:5.) We can suffer, and commit our souls to Him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19) It is acceptable with God if we suffer and take it patiently; but we may show the oppressor his evil ways in what he is doing.

We could not walk in such a path with a fallen nature. Only as sustained by grace divine can we follow our Lord here.

Matt. 5:42. Notice, it does not say, "Give to him that asketh of thee, what he asketh of thee," for then we would be often in fellowship with, and helping on, sin; but we are to give, that is, to meet the need, if we can, before the Lord, but with wisdom from Him. I might only give my advice or sympathy, yet it is meeting the need; that is before us. (1 John 3:17.)

Matt. 5:43-48. We can think of the Lord Jesus carrying out all this in His own life so blessedly. He loved His neighbor more than Himself. He gave His life for us. Let us ponder this portion. He shows us the Father's goodness to all men, as a pattern for His followers. How plain are the words "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven"-that is, in character. This is the perfection that is spoken of here.

(Continued)

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 2

Matthew 13:24-32.AT 13:24-32{

The six following parables are similitudes of the kingdom, not as set up in power, but as during the absence of the rejected King. The first three describe its outward form and are told in the hearing of the multitude (Matthew 13:2). The last three present it as what is precious to God in it, and are told to the disciples alone inside the house (Matthew 13:36); they also get the explanation of the parable of the tares and wheat. The Lord Jesus is rejected on earth as King. The Jews in rejecting Him, condemned themselves. Now it is to be a Kingdom formed by sowing the Word of God. It is not power exercised in righteousness and judgment; that will be when the kingdom appears again; now it is the Word bearing testimony to the hearts of men, and using men to spread it; but God alone can give the increase. He sends the servants and watches over the harvest.

Matthew 13:24-30. The parable of the tares gives a general idea of what follows the committing of the kingdom here below to the care of men. A man sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept (men should have watched), his enemy came and sowed tares. This made the field look unlike the Lord's work; the Lord does not sow that kind of seed, but the carelessness or weakness of the servants let the enemy do his work to bring in those into the field that did not belong to the Lord. This is the evil we see in that which bears the name of Christ. The Lord Jesus and His servants sow good seed. Satan and his servants sow bad seed ̶ teachers of law; teachers trying to uplift the people without redemption or the new birth; and grievous wolves have all found an entrance into it.

Can these tares be rooted out? The servants want to try; the Master says, "no." The mixed condition is to go on to the time of the harvest. Men who lacked spiritual discernment, could not keep the evil from entering, and were not fit to put the evil out after it had come in. So the state of the kingdom is seen here as good and evil growing together in the field ̶ another witness that everything committed to man fails.

We must take care not to confound this with Christian fellowship in the assembly. There we are distinctly told to "put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (1 Cor. 5:12; 13.) It is never the duty of a Christian to have fellowship with evil. (2 Cor. 6:17, 18; 2 Tim. 2:19.) At the time of harvest, the tares will be bound in bundles by the reapers, but the wheat will be gathered into His granary. The servants now are to let the tares alone, and to be occupied with the good. It needs greater knowledge and wisdom than men have to discern who are the Lord's now. It is the tares that are to be bound in bundles. The Lord will take the wheat to Himself.

Matthew 13:31-32. Here we see how that out of a small seed a tree has grown. A tree in Scripture is used to symbolize a power in the world: (See Ezek. 15; 17; 31; Dan. 4.) So the profession of the name of Christ has become a great power among men, and under it others find shelter, as birds under a tree.

But, alas! in truth, every kind of evil shelters itself under the profession of Christianity in the persons of men who are Satan's servants. (2 Cor. 11:13-15.)

(To be Continued.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 3

Matthew 13:33-44.

Matt. 13:33. The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. This is a general profession of doctrine that leavens all Christendom. Leaven is generally used for evil, but here it is its effect of permeating the whole profession that is before the mind of the Spirit, and judgment is not mentioned. The purpose of the parable is to state the fact of the general existence of the external profession of the name of Christ, leaving it to the spiritual discernment of the child of God to judge of that which so exists.

It is not difficult to see how evil is associated with these two parables. The birds of the air lodging under the branches of the tree, lead us to think of the fowls that took away the good seed sown in Matt. 13:4, and interpreted by the Lord to mean "the wicked one." (Matt. 13:19.) And the general appearance of Christendom today is that of a corrupt and corrupting mass.

These three parables then, are the kingdom as viewed on earth by man in its external appearance. A harvest spoiled by the mixture of good and bad. The tree-a great human and political power on the earth.

And the leaven-a general profession of teaching of the name of Christ, without regard to individual state. It is not faith nor life, but a religion it is Christendom.

Matt. 13:34-35. Thus far this teaching is in parables, and to the multitude, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. We shall see that it is to the disciples who follow Him, and are in private with Him, that the interpretation belongs.

Matt. 13:36. It is at this point that the Lord sent the multitude away and went into the house, and there, in privacy and intimacy, unfolds to His disciples the kingdom according to the thoughts arid mind of God. What a place of privilege the believer is seen in here: It is in the secret of His presence that we learn His mind, and to look at things as He looks at them. It is to the disciples He reveals the true character-the object-of the kingdom of heaven, and the judgment of that which is evil in it, so that all in it might be consistent with the character and heart of God.

His disciples say to Him, "Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world (that is, it goes outside of Israel); the good seed are the children of the kingdom (it produced children suited to the kingdom, its heirs), but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the harvest is the end of the world (or age); the reapers are the angels.”

The Son of Man sowed the good seed; the wicked one, the devil sowed the tares. The children of the kingdom were born of the word, but the devil, by his sowing, brought in all sorts of doctrines that produced tares (imitation wheat). There is the mixture of the two, but it will not continue forever; the wheat will be gathered into the barn, safely housed; while the tares, having been already bound into bundles (Matt. 13:30), will be burned in the fire. So shall it be at the end of the age-the Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His (the Son of man's) kingdom, all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

When the Lord Jesus comes for His saints, (1 Thess. 4:16-17) all the believers are taken up-both the dead in Christ and the living. Afterward the Holy Spirit works in Jews and Gentiles, and many believers are thus found waiting for Christ, as King, to set up His kingdom in power. But the wicked are gathered out from them, by the angels, and cast into the furnace of fire, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. We see this again in Matt. 13:49-50. The Son of man's kingdom is on earth when He claims it, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father." These are the heavenly saints in glory with Christ, the true Sun of Righteousness. He has received from His Father the kingdom, and will have His heavenly saints in the glory with Him.

In the following parables we have what is precious to the Lord in the kingdom. Not its outward appearance, as man would see it, as in the first three.

Matt. 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

A man has found treasure hid in a field. The man is Christ. It is not the sinner finding Christ. The sinner has nothing to sell. The treasure He finds is not Israel; it is a new treasure to be possessed when Israel was set aside. It is something of great value to Him, for which He parts with all He has, and buys the field for the treasure He knew it contained. How much it cost Him! All His glory as the Messiah was laid aside that He might do the work of redemption. He surrendered all up that He might have us. It is the work of Christ that is spoken of here. The field was not His object, but He bought it. Thus Christ has purchased the world; it is His by purchase, but it is His people in it that are the hidden treasure, that now He can claim as His own. It is really the Church as the special object before Him-that which His heart sought in this world, according to the counsels and mind of God. It is they who know and enjoy this full redemption through His work on the cross. What grace to wretched sinners this is! He emptied Himself to redeem us-the people whom He loved-all else was laid aside for this.

(To be continued.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 10

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Matt 10:1. The Lord now, in compassion upon His people, calls His twelve disciples, and gives them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and sickness. This is another proof to them that He was Emmanuel, who could not only heal and deliver, but could also confer on others the same power.

Matt 10:2-4. The names of the twelve are given; Matthew does not forget that he had been a publican; grace teaches him to acknowledge it, as Paul did in 1 Tim. 1:15.

Matt 10:5-6. This mission is to the lost sheep of the house of Israel only; Gentiles and Samaritans were as yet left out, but a Gentile centurion and a Canaanitish woman, exercising faith in the Lord, were not shut out. Needy ones always found a refuge in the Savior, but as yet the message was sent to Israel only. (See John 12:20-24.)

Matt 10:7. It is the gospel of the kingdom, that is, the announcement that the King is to appear.

The gospel of the grace of God is to all, and could not be preached till atonement was accomplished (Acts 20:21-24): "How am I straitened till it be accomplished!" (Luke 12:50.) His heart of love desired to flow out unhinderedly to all.

Matt 10:8. These are the signs of a deliverer, coming to meet man's deep need, confirming the Word as His message. (Heb. 2:3-4.) What mercy and grace are expressed in it: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye have received, freely give." This power was given them; it was "the powers of the world to come" (Heb. 6:5), that is, the millennial kingdom will be characterized by this power; Satan will be bound and man delivered.

But we see how the disciples through lack of faith failed to exercise this power as they should. (Matt. 17:19-21.)

Matt 10:9-10. They were not to make provision for the way, they were to depend entirely on the One who sent them, Emmanuel was there. Miracles might prove this to the world. His care over His own proved it to their hearts, they "lacked nothing".

This was during the time of His presence on earth; see the difference when the Lord is away. (Luke 22:35-37.)

Matt 10:11-15. These were as ambassadors, and serious indeed it was for those who did not receive them; it would be worse for them than for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment.

From Matt 10:16, the teaching is more general, and looks on to the time when the Son of man will come. (Matt 10:23.)

The rejection of Christ and consequent scattering of the Jews and destruction of Jerusalem, His atonement and glorification, the Holy Spirit sent down, the Church gathered and caught up and the Jews gathered back to their own land (though not mentioned here), have all come in before the coming of the Son of man.

Matt 10:16. The Lord sent these servants forth as "sheep in the midst of wolves". They were to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves". Like the Lord Himself in this, wisdom from above it would surely be.

Matt 10:17. "Beware of men." Alas! men are opposed to God and to His people, and under the power of Satan; so they persecute the saints of God.

Matt 10:18. The Lord had an object in allowing His servants to be brought before "men" for His sake, as a testimony that they had rejected Him.

Matt 10:19. They could therefore face their trials with the calm, quiet assurance that it would be given them what to say at the right time; "the Spirit of their Father" would speak in them.

Matt 10:21. Their brothers, fathers, children, would rise against them and cause them to be put to death; and they would be "hated of all men for My (His) name's sake". All this shows the terrible enmity of man's heart against the Lord.

Matt 10:22. "But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Notice, the end is the coming of the Son of man. This is the endurance of the saints at the time of the great tribulation, when Satan tries to get them to worship the beast. (Rev. 14:9-12.)

We cannot rightly apply this verse to Christians. (See for our guidance, 1 Cor. 1:8, 9; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:23-24.)

Matt 10:23. During the time when the Jews are back into their own land (but not now), this testimony will be carried from city to city of the land of Israel, and before they are finished, the Son of Man will have come. What a deliverance it will be for them!

Matt 10:24-25. The disciples and servants were to be as their Master, that is, rejected and spoken against. It was their privilege; it is ours also. (Phil. 1:29.)

Matt 10:26-27. Fear them not, proclaim the truth. They are to make known the things which the Lord has communicated to them. He will charge Himself with their care.

Matt 10:28. The enemy may be allowed to kill their body; but, if so, it was as a testimony for the truth. So they were to fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Gehenna-figurative of the place of eternal torments.)

Matt 10:29-31. The comparatively worthless sparrow cannot fall to the ground without your Father, and He has numbered the very hairs of your head: "Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows".

Matt 10:32-33. "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven." Those who deny Him, deny His person and His work. Peter denied that he knew the Lord with oaths and curses; this was certainly very bad, but Peter did not deny that the Lord Jesus was the Son of God. He was a weak believer, but not a blasphemer; afterward he could say, "Ye have denied the holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you." (Acts 3:13-15.)

Matt 10:34-36. Here again the state of man's heart is seen as enmity against God and all that is His, and is stronger than all the ties of nature. The love of Christ in the believer is also to prove stronger than all human love.

Matt 10:37-39. The Lord challenges their hearts to find a worthy object in Himself, dearer than all earthly ties, dearer than life itself. To put self first, is to fall and lose much spiritually.

Matt 10:40-42. In receiving these witnesses, they received Him, and His Father also, who sent Him. And receiving them (in spite of an opposing world), even to the giving a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, would bring them a sure reward. God takes knowledge of how each one acts toward His Son, and judges or rewards accordingly.

Scripture Study: Matthew 12

Matthew 12.AT 12{

In the close of Matt. 11, the Lord, though rejected, promises rest to the heavy laden, laboring ones that will come to Him; this is the saved remnant. In this chapter, Matt. 12, He rejects Israel, severing His relation with them for the present; a new ground of relationship is brought in.

Matt. 12:1-8. The disciples rubbing the ears of grain in their hands and eating it, becomes the occasion for the Pharisees to find fault with them for breaking the Sabbath. The Lord refers to the time when David and his men hungered and ate the showbread that was only for the priests to eat. It was Israel's sin then that David, the true king, was outlawed. It was Israel's sin now that the Son of David, the Great King, was also rejected. God cannot respect ordinances, when the heart is in sin at any time. The Sabbath was the sign, of the covenant Jehovah made with Israel. (Ex. 31:13, 17. Ezek. 20:12, 20.) Now it is set aside. The priests, on the Sabbath Day in the temple, profaned the Sabbath, because sacrifices for sin had to be offered, and here was one greater than the temple. If they had known the meaning of the saying, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, they would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. It was His right to do as He pleased.

Matt. 12:9-16. Here again He acts in grace; they would not scruple to pull their own sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath day. A man is of more value than a sheep, and He will heal this man with the withered hand and answer their question. "Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day." Man's need set aside the Sabbath.

This brought out the malice of those so-called good men, the Pharisees; they "held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him"-the giver of all good. The Lord saw it and withdrew, and many followed Him, and He healed them all. And He charged them that they should not make Him known; the time for that was past.

Matt. 12:17-21. Now the Spirit witnesses to His person. (Isa. 42:1-4.) "Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall show forth judgment to the Gentiles." But though such a wonderful person, He takes a lowly place now, doing His work out of sight of man as much as possible. "Till He send forth judgment unto victory and in His name shall the Gentiles trust." This passage gives an exact picture of His position.

Matt. 12:22-42. A man is brought to Him possessed with a devil, blind and dumb. This is a picture of the people's condition with respect to God. The Lord heals and delivers him, so that the man both spake and saw. The people were amazed and said, "Is not this the Son of David?" But Pharisees, full of malice and jealousy, and opposed to God's testimony, declare that the Lord is doing all this by the power of the devil. The Lord shows the foolishness of the argument. Satan would not cast out Satan; if so he could not stand. They would not say that of their sons, therefore, they should be their judges. But if He cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come upon them; they were resisting God. The Lord hath bound the strong man, else He could not spoil His goods; and the Lord was delivering men, in grace, from the power of Satan that had held them captive. It was plainly the deep-rooted malice of their hearts. With all their religious profession, they were against God, and so against Him. He gathered-they scattered. They blasphemed the Holy Ghost. They knew better; the works of power showed it was the power of God, and not of Satan. Their case was hopeless. Words spoken against the Son of man would be forgiven; but speaking against the Holy Ghost would not be forgiven, neither in that world (the age of law), nor in the world to come (that is, the millennial age). This is not referring to the present period of grace. It has no reference to a poor, backsliding Christian; it refers distinctly to those who, in Christ's lifetime, said, "He hath an unclean spirit." (Mark 3:29, 30.)

They were a corrupt tree, a generation of vipers, evil men out of whose hearts' abundance the evil came, for "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." A good man treasures in his heart good things, and bringeth them forth; an evil man has nothing but evil. A man's words are the index of what is in his heart. And "I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."(Matt. 12:36) May Psa. 19 :14 be our earnest endeavor: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer.”

After all this they ask a sign from Him. What bold wickedness, after all His miracles that they had seen! There was only one sign for them now; it was the sign of the prophet Jonas. They were an evil and adulterous generation. Jonas was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. It was their Messiah cast out, rejected, and put to death. "The Ninevites shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold, a greater than Jonas is here." So also the Queen of Sheba, who came from afar to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and "a greater than Solomon is here." Poor, despised Gentiles heard and understood the Word of God by. the prophet, or the king, better than Jehovah's people, even when spoken by the Great King and Prophet Himself.

Matt. 12:43-45. Here then is their evil state: They are like a man who had been possessed by an unclean spirit; that is, they had been idolaters and this is the reason Israel was sent into captivity. (Acts 7:42, 43.) (Isaiah 40 to 48 judges their idolatry for which they were sent to Babylon captives. Isaiah 49 to 58 judges their rejection of Christ for which they were scattered after the death of Christ.) But this returned remnant had no idolatry. In the clays of the Lord, they were like a house empty, swept and garnished, but they did not receive the Lord. (John 5:43.) So by and by, this same spirit of idolatry will enter into Israel (which ought to be God's house) and with seven other spirits worse than himself, will take possession again; this will be in the tribulation, thus their last state shall be worse than the first. "Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." What a solemn judgment on the Jews; what sorrow they were bringing on themselves.

Matt. 12:46-50. When Jesus' mother and His brethren present themselves to speak with Him, He uses them to illustrate that He had now broken with Israel, His natural relations, and that now those whom He would own were those who would do the will of His Father which is in heaven: the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.

The new position and work He was doing is opened up in the next chapter.

Scripture Study: Matthew 8

AT 8{In the miracles of the Lord Jesus, we have a testimony that God, full of goodness which can meet man's need, has visited the world. The power of God is manifested in goodness and grace. Where the need is felt, there the blessing is realized.

Matt. 8:1-4. The first one brought before us is a leper, a Jew who knows that the Lord has the power, but does not know His willingness to cleanse him. He put forth His hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be thou clean." And lo, the leprosy fled. Any other man would be defiled, but Jehovah-Jesus cleansed him by His touch. None but He could say, "I will"; His word declares it done. And the man is sent to Israel's priest (see Lev. 14), to offer an offering seldom used; for none but God could heal leprosy, and this to the priest bore witness that Emmanuel was come.

Matt. 8:5-13. Here we have the Gentile centurion's servant healed. It is God's purpose to bless Gentiles also. Luke tells us the centurion sent the elders of the Jews to Jesus. This was to show the Gentile's place as getting blessing through them. The centurion's faith was beyond Israel's; for owning his utter unworthiness, he owns the Lord as omnipotent, with all principalities and powers at His command. His faith gets its full answer.

Matt. 8:14, 15. Peter's wife's mother is raised out of a fever by the touch of His hand, and she arose and served Him. What a rest to her spirit to serve Him.

Matt. 8:16, 17. In the evening many were delivered from the power of demons, and healed of their sicknesses by His word, and Isa. 53:4, is fulfilled: "Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses." God was there delivering from the effects of sin and Satan's power; as another has said, "Jesus put Himself in heart under the weight of all the sorrows that oppressed Israel, in order to relieve and heal them.”

Matt. 8:18-22. He does not seek popularity, but to do the Father's will, so He gave commandment to depart to the other side. A scribe proposes to follow Him whithersoever He goeth. Then the truth comes out that He is a homeless stranger, with nowhere to lay His head, and those who follow Him, must be prepared for this. Another of His disciples said, "Suffer me first to go and bury my father," but the Lord's claims are above everything else. If we follow the Lord, we will lose our character as well as our comforts, but we are gainers in the end. (Matt. 19:29.)

Matt. 8:23-27. Then His disciples follow Him, but it leads into a storm where He does not seem to regard their danger. He is testing their faith. How doubting we are. They could not perish with Him in the ship. Can we? The Lord of glory cannot fail; there are no accidents with Him. It was a deep lesson of their unbelief, and His faithfulness, who can raise a storm and calm the winds and waves. What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?

Matt. 8:28-9:1. Here we have the power of Satan holding its victims, and how this poor world would rather be permitted to go on in its own way, living in sin, under the power of Satan and without God. (The gospel turns the world up-side down. Acts 17:6.) Jesus delivers this remnant who own Him as the Son of God, and the demons enter into the swine; a picture of apostate Israel, they rush on to their destruction. They that saw it, who kept the swine, fled and told it in the city, and the whole city came out, not to welcome Him, but besought Him to depart out of their coasts. And entering into a ship, He passed over and came to His own city.

To this day the world does not want the One they put out.

Scripture Study: Matthew 7

AT 7{Matt. 7:1-5. The disciples were to beware of allowing in themselves a fault finding spirit. To imagine evil or to judge motives is forbidden. If any one does, he gives others occasion to blame him. He sees a mote in his brother's eye, but does not see the beam in his own eye. Likely, if the beam was out of his own eye, he would see that the mote was out of his brother's eye. Perhaps he imagined it.

Love hopes all things and believes all things. Hypocrisy is spoken of here in its full character, but we are all in danger from it.

But Christians are to judge evil, in order to have true fellowship. 1 Cor. 5:12-13, instructs us, as an assembly, to refuse evil when it would come in, and to put away wickedness if it has come in. To exercise scriptural discipline, needs godly care, and long-suffering grace, and dependence on the Lord to act for Him. To allow unrighteousness, fundamentally wrong doctrine, or schism to go on unreduced, hinders fellowship in the truth.

2 Tim. 2:19; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, etc., teach us to judge evil individually.

Matt. 7:6. It is right to preach the gospel to every one, in love, meekness and faithfulness, but arguments and loud discussions are worse than fruitless, and to discuss the precious treasures of the riches of Christ with dogs that have no conscience, but bite and devour; or with swine- creatures of no discernment, they cannot chew the cud. If you do, you waste your time, grieve your heart, and the precious truth is degraded. The gospel alone suits the unconverted. There "is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

Matt. 7:7-12. This is to teach confidence in the goodness of God, the Father; giving perseverance in desire, in endeavor and importunity, and this reality obtains the blessing. The Father's goodness is to be counted on as a parent for his child's good. Verse 12, puts them in the giver's place, and in treating others as we would be treated, the Word is fulfilled in us. (Rom. 8:4; James 2:8.)

Matt. 7:13-14. It needs energy to enter the kingdom-"strive." It is easy to enter the wide gate and to walk the broad road, but alas! it leads to destruction. The pleasures of sin are only temporal; the pleasures of Christ are for evermore- it is worth while overcoming difficulties to possess the treasure. What inward satisfaction is formed in the "strait gate," and the "narrow way.”

Matt. 7:15-20, puts them on their guard against false teachers, for their teaching produces bad fruit; and what they teach, leads away from Christ, rather than to Him, and produces coldness, indifference, and other evils. (Acts 20:28-30; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 John 4:1.) We are not called upon in this portion to judge if a man is saved or not. That remains with the Lord who knows them that are His. (2 Tim. 2:19.)

Matt. 7:21-23, is profession without possession of eternal life. Those who are real, seek to do the Father's will, for there may be close imitation and display of power, signs, miracles, yet be workers of iniquity. Judas Iscariot, who had a devil (John 6:70), was sent with the rest to work miracles.

Matt. 7:24-27. Practical obedience is true wisdom. The wise man builds on the Word of God; the foolish heareth but doeth not; then dreadful ruin comes upon them, every one will be tested. We need to dig deep to get down to the rock. (Luke 6:48.)

Matt. 7:28-29. The Lord's teaching was with authority; it was the Word of God. No wonder the multitudes were astonished. The scribes gave their opinions.

Scripture Study: Matthew 11

Matthew 11.AT 11{

Matt. 11:1. The Lord departs to teach and to preach in the cities of Israel.

Matt. 11:2-11. John the Baptist sends from the prison where he is, two disciples who ask, "Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" It must have been perplexing to his mind that the forerunner of the Great King should be rejected, and that the King should remain in such lowly guise. John is not bearing testimony now to the Son of God, but the Son of God bears testimony to John. The Lord does not explain the change of dispensation that is about to take place, but reminds him by the evidence of his senses that Immanuel is among His people. "Go show John again those things which ye do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed; and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them." Isa. 61:1, was now being fulfilled; the Messiah of Israel had come. And then he adds, "Blessed is he, whosoever, shall not be offended in Me." He was the rejected one.

John must rest on the word alone without explanation. John's disciples depart, then the Lord speaks of him as one that looks like "a reed shaken by the wind," nothing grand in his appearance. Yet he was a prophet and more than a prophet. He was the messenger of Mal. 3:1, for faith. And there was none born of women greater than he, notwithstanding the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. This excepts the King who was speaking of John. The kingdom of heaven is not heaven, but the blessing belonging to the time when the Lord is absent in heaven and the Holy Spirit is dwelling in His people on the earth. The least in the kingdom would, therefore, refer to the position the believer has now, the least is higher positionally than any Old Testament saint could be. Now, believers are children of God, members of the body of Christ; their bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost. And when the Lord reigns as King, they will reign with Him. These blessings belong to those believers who lived since Pentecost (Acts 2), till the Lord shall descend to meet them in the air. (1 Thess. 4:16, 17.)

Matt. 11:12-13. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force." The law and the prophets prophesied until John; this indicates a change. The energy of the Spirit would impel men to force their way through every difficulty to the kingdom of a rejected King; they had to do violence to all their former training and now believe in and take part with One rejected by the nation who had been, up to this time, called Jehovah's people. It was, indeed, a strait gate. Had the kingdom appeared in power and glory, this would be just what they expected but instead they must suffice with a rejected One. Thus John was to faith, the Elias that was to come, and those who had ears to hear received his testimony. To the unbelieving nation, Elias is still to come, the many continued in unbelief.

Matt. 11:16-19. There was no response in their hearts Godward. John came in righteousness, Jesus came in grace. Every testimony they reject, so the Lord pronounces judgment upon them.

Matt. 11:20-24. Tire and Sidon would have repented under such privileges, but Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum have "Woe unto thee," "Woe unto thee," pronounced by the Lord, exalted to heaven with privileges, yet cast down to Hades, and in the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon and Sodom than for those favored cities. (Luke 12:47, 48.) The judgment of sin is eternal, (Rev. 21:8) and this would come upon them. Wisdom's children justify God, and condemn themselves, and God justifies them; the publicans receive the grace the Lord Jesus can bestow. John came separate from the sins of the nation, and they said, "He has a devil." Jesus came full of love and pity for wretched sinners, and they called Him a gluttonous man and a winebibber. He was, indeed, a friend of publicans and sinners.

Tire and Sidon had abused the advantages which their Creator-God in His providence, had freely bestowed. They were guilty, but these Jews, possessing the Word of God and the promises, adds to their other sins, rejection and contempt for God's blessed Son. What judgment they deserve, yet do we not see in them what our hearts are capable of?

The Lord felt the contempt of His people. Unrequited love is painful, but as the obedient Man on earth, He submits to the will of His Father, owning Him Sovereign, Lord of heaven and earth, who, acting in divine wisdom, can make no mistakes. Faith ever submits to His perfection. Jesus accepts His Father's will as the very best. Man's wisdom is blind to this the little child spirit can rest in it. "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight," unquestioning submission of perfect confidence.

Matt. 11:27-30. The person of this blessed One, the Incarnate Son of God, was too glorious to be understood by man. His words and works being refused by the nation, left them without excuse. The Father's will was everything to Jesus, yet He felt the pain and sorrow His rejection would bring on the Jews, fresh glories shine out in Him because of this rejection. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father. What a mystery! "Poor, yet making many rich: having nothing, yet possessing all things."(2 Cor. 6:10) All things are in His hand, yet He is a dependent Man on earth and rejected by His People. His person is inscrutable. The eternal Son, yet a man on earth; only the Father can comprehend such a thine.

“The Father only, Thy blest name of Son can comprehend." He further says, "No man knoweth the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." Yes, He can reveal the Father and can reveal Him to whomsoever He pleases-this takes in the poor Gentile dog. Wonderful grace that can bring ruined, sinful men to know God as their Father! And now His invitation goes out. God's grace is like a river flowing on; if obstacles seem to hinder, it rises and flows over and around them. Man's failure and resection make it seek new channels. The multitude may reject it, but He knows there are many laboring, heavy-laden hearts, unsatisfied souls, longing for what they do not know. His invitation is to them. "Come unto Me," "and I will give you rest." It is the Savior's voice; the infinite, omniscient One who can give, promising rest to the weary soul that conies to Him. Come, cease your laboring, lay down your burden at His feet; let Him take it. What kind of rest does He give? The kind a guilty sinner needs, the kind a soul disappointed with the world, and Satan's false promises and allurements needs. You will find pleasures forevermore, peace that passes all understanding, riches that are unsearchable, love that passes knowledge. "I will give you rest." He has made peace through the blood of His cross. Everyone that trusts Him, finds everything righteously and divinely settled there, and such is the effect of that work, that believers are brought nigh to God. In the above passage, Jesus is the Revealer of the Father, so that, included in this rest, is the blessed truth that we know the Father; His God is our God, His Father is our Father.

We can sing:

"Thou great and good! Thou just and wise,

Hail! as our Father and our God!

For we are thine by sacred ties,

Thy sons and daughters bought with blood.”

And again:

“Thou gav'st us in eternal love,

To Him to bring us back to Thee,

Suited to Thine own thought above,

As sons like Him, with Him to be.”

Further blessing He promises in the words, "Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me." His yoke was entire submission to His Father's will.

He has given us the children's place and the children's portion in the love and care of the Father.

And He desires our souls to enjoy it in full submission to our Father's will; this is the path He trod. "Learn of Me; I am meek and lowly in heart." He is our pattern and in so doing He promises that we shall find rest for our souls.

This is rest, rest, rest, not unrest.

Yes, though the tempest 'round us

Seems safety to defy;

Though rocks and shoals surround us

And billows swell on high-

Thou dost from all protect us,

And cheer us by Thy love;

Thy counsels still direct us

Safe to the rest above.

And our blessed Lord says, "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." May our hearts live in this blessed rest, walking with and following our blessed Lord and waiting for Him.

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 4

Matthew 13:45-58.AT 13:45-58{

Matt. 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Here we get Christ again; this time as a merchantman seeking goodly pearls. His discernment and taste for what is beautiful, is gratified in this one pearl.

Here He has found what gratifies His heart, and He is willing (it is of such attraction to Him) to sell all to possess it. He can estimate its value, He buys IT alone.

What a wonderful thing for the Father to show Him His bride, in His purposes, away back in eternity, before anything was created. And then to see this unchanging love carrying it all out. Thus "Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish, (Eph. 5:25-27.) In His eyes it is a pearl of great price; a thing for His affections to center upon. Of beauty and value, He found it„ and looking upon it with delight and love, went and sold all that He had to have it. And what joy it will be to Him when He claims it to His heart, as His bride, adorned for her husband. His heavenly bride, the object of His affections, the companion of His glory. What blessedness it brings to us, to think He loves us so much. What a contrast with Israel's blessing. He will reign over them; we shall reign with Him.

Matt. 13:47 In the next parable we see that the fishermen had cast a net into the sea. All the fish in the sea did not come into the net, but it gathered of every kind; and when it was full, they drew to shore and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Here the spiritual mind is to see that God is gathering out of this world; it is not improving the bad, but it is gathering together the good into companies, leaving the bad on the shore. It is what the spiritual mind sees the Lord occupied with, and therefore what true, intelligent, spiritual, service will be doing. There will be judgment upon the bad, but it is not the fishermen, but the angels who carry that out.

Matt. 13:49 leads us to that. So shall it be at the end of the age: the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just. The wicked are taken away; the just are left, as in Matt. 13:41. These wicked are cast into the furnace of fire, and again the blessed Lord repeats it. "There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth," as if to warn precious souls to flee now to Christ the Savior. "The just" on earth at this time are those converted during the interval between the Lord's coming for His saints, and His coming, as Son of man, with His saints, to take the kingdom by power. They were faithful to Him during the tribulation, and endured to the end, and so are brought into the reign of Christ, but are on earth; not like us, for we will be with Him in heaven: we shall reign with Him.

Matt. 13:51-52 These parables present the kingdom expected by the Jews as taught in prophecy, but in such a new way, that every scribe instructed in these truths, is like a householder that brings forth of his treasure, things new and old.

Matt. 13:53-58 The Lord then leaves His teaching with them, and departs, and coming to His own country, He resumes His teaching, but they see Him only as the son of Joseph, and refuse Him as a prophet, as before they had rejected Him as King. Their unbelief hinders them from receiving the blessing He had for them. Such is man: such were we by nature.

Faith, too, that trusts the blood, through grace,

From that same love we gain;

Else, sweetly as it suits our case,

The gift had been in vain.

Scripture Study: Matthew 6

AT 6{Matt. 6:1-18 is the spirit in which the disciples were to perform good works.

Matt. 6:19-34 is separation from the spirit of the world and from its anxieties.

Matt. 6:1-4. The disciples are to have the sense of being under the Father's eye. Their inner man is with the Father which is in heaven, and this molds their conduct. If they did their righteousnesses to be seen of men, that is all the reward they would get. If done in secret before the Father, He would openly reward them.

“Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”

Matt. 6:5-15. This secrecy is applied also to prayer: "Enter into thy closet" "Shut thy door". It is to tell out their hearts to the Father, and "He will reward thee openly." It is not saying prayers, nor "much speaking'', nor "vain repetition"; the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul each prayed three times for the desires of their heart. (Matt. 26:44; 2 Cor. 12:8) Supplication is prayer intensified, and with what assurance they could ask, when they knew that "the Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him.”

We get no forms of prayer in Scripture. The prayer the Lord taught His disciples was not a form to repeat, but a model to teach them to pray. It was suited to the time before the Lord died, and before the Holy Spirit was given.

We need again to notice the difference of their position from ours. They had an earthly calling, so were taught to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven". "Heavenly Father", or "Father which art in heaven", is not used after redemption is accomplished. We, Christians, have a heavenly calling, are "blessed with all spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, in Christ" (Eph. 1:3); we are also sealed with the Holy Spirit, and say "Father", in nearness and relationship. (Rom. 8:15, 26; Gal. 4:6.) Also we pray now in Christ's name. (John 16:23, 24.) Thus they and we are taught to think whom we are addressing.

“Hallowed be Thy name", expresses the holy reverence they should have in the Father's presence.

“Thy kingdom come", is the Father's kingdom; all that "die in the Lord", and all the living that are changed and caught up, will have their place in the heavenly part of it. (Matt. 13:43.) Israel and the Gentiles who are saved through the tribulation period, will have a place in the kingdom of the Son of man on earth, when the Lord comes to reign. This is what they prayed for. We are waiting for the coming of the Lord to gather His Church home, and now pray that the gospel may reach many souls till His body, the Church, is completed.

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is done in heaven"; this is looking for the fulfillment of the prophecies, and will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth; but now it applies itself to our lives here. Jesus, the Faithful witness, did the Father's will here on earth. He leads us to walk as He walked.

Up to this point they have asked nothing for themselves; teaching us that in prayer, God's glory and the advancement of His interests should have the first place. Next comes what concerns ourselves: "Give us this day our daily (or needed) bread". This is expressing our dependence on God. Thanksgiving would surely accompany this.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Those disciples did not yet know eternal forgiveness through the work of Christ; it was governmental or daily forgiveness. We know and have eternal redemption (Heb. 10:14; 1 John 2:12), but we also need daily forgiveness in connection with communion, if we would as children walk with the Father and the Son. We are told to confess our sins. (1 John 1:9.) We cannot ask forgiveness, for, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

We forgive others because we are already forgiven (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13); but if we do not forgive others, what then? Then our Father will need to deal with His naughty children. (Heb. 12:5-11.) We will lose the sense of His grace in our souls till we do forgive. (Mark 11:25, 26.) This is God's government over His family.

Israel as a nation are now cast off because of their ways (Matt. 5:25, 26; 18:23-35; 1 Thess. 2:14-16); but they will be restored as a nation. (Isa. 40:1, 2,)

The gospel takes in individuals of every nation in that word, "preach the gospel to every creature'', (Mark 16:15.)

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil", expresses their felt weakness and tendency to evil, as if one said, "Father, I have no strength, do not try me, or I will fall; I need Thee to keep me all the way". There in reality the prayer ends, then the Lord emphasizes the seriousness of allowing an unforgiving spirit, (Matt. 6:14, 15.) May we all take heed to it.

Matt. 6:16-18 Fasting expresses humbling and denying of self, and where it is real before God, it is to be out of sight of men, "and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Fasting gives deeper reality to the exercises of the heart before God.

Matt. 6:19-21 tell us where their heart’s object was to be. If the Lord is their treasure, there will their heart be also. They are enjoined not to allow their affections to go after things of earth, or disappointment will result, for loss and decay are felt in temporal things. Nothing fades and no robber can steal the heavenly treasures that are in Christ.

We now are Christ's treasure, and His heart is ever with us. Bless His name!.

Matt. 6:22 and 23 lead the disciples to examine whether the light they are walking by is of man or from God. The Pharisees thought they had light, but it was men's traditions: it was real darkness. (Compare Matt. 15:14, with John 8:12.)

Matt. 6:24. It is impossible to serve two masters. If self is allowed, covetousness (which is idolatry, Col. 3:5), goes after mammon; if our object is Christ, God's claims over us are owned in the soul. Paul said (Phil. 1:27), "To me to live is Christ".

Matt. 6:25 to 34. The Lord would remove from His disciples all anxious care. The fowls of the air neither sow nor reap, nor lay up in store; "your heavenly Father feedeth them", ''Are ye not much better than they?”

And why take thought about raiment; the lilies neither toil nor spin, but surpass Solomon in all his glory. If God clothes the grass of the field, which is but for a day, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? "Therefore take no (anxious) thought, saying, what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," We are not told to seek these things second: Our Father, who knows our need, will give them-"shall be added unto you".

"We have nothing to do with tomorrow,

Our Father will make that His care;

Its grace or its strength we can't borrow,

Then why should we borrow its care.”

“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Note. This does not interfere with our lawful duties, such as parents providing for their families' need. It is to check anxious care, teaching us to trust the Father, who loves us, to supply what we need and have no means of getting.

Scripture Study: Matthew 9

AT 9{Matt. 9:2-8. This is man in his helplessness (paralytic), brought by the faith of other men. The Lord recognizes this and says to him, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee". This is grace to the undeserving, but in the religious mind it was blasphemy. How blind they were to Who was there, even when the multitude saw the man carrying his bed! They were in fear and glorified God, who had given such power to men. Why did they not see that it was Emmanuel, Jehovah, the Savior of His people, the Son of man? Grace that forgives sins, is declared here.

Matt. 9:9. In the calling of Matthew, the publican, grace calls and fits him for the service of Christ.

Matt. 9:10-13. This grace is seen in eating with sinners, calling them to repentance and meeting their need, but the rich pharisee goes away empty.

Matt. 9:14-17. This new wine of grace could not be put into the old forms of Judaism. Man in the flesh could not receive it. (Rom. 8:9.) There must be a new birth, a new righteousness, a new joy. Christ is the bridegroom, and they could not fast while He was there, but His rejection is in view, and they will fast when He would be taken from them. (John 16:20-22.)

Matt. 9:18-26. The history of Israel is pictured. The ruler's daughter is dying, and in fact dead. The Lord, at the ruler's request, goes to heal her, but on the way individual faith gets the blessing. The woman is healed and made glad. Then, when the Lord comes as Son of man, Israel will be raised again, that is, restored as a nation.

Matt. 9:27-31. Two blind men own Him as Son of David and they follow Him into the house. He questions them, and they confess their faith in His ability to open their eyes, and their eyes are opened. This is another picture of the Jewish remnant of faith. Then as they go forth, the dumb man has his mouth opened. The multitudes marvel and confess that this was new in Israel, but the Pharisees show their hatred, putting it down to Satan's work. Such is religious man.

Matt. 9:35. The Lord carries on this service in cities and villages: teaching, preaching and healing- goodness and grace manifested in power.

Matt. 9:36-38. This good Shepherd of Israel is moved with compassion, and pities the flock, and engages the disciples in prayer that the Lord would send forth laborers into His harvest. May we enter into this.

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 1

Matthew 13:1-23.AT 13:1-23{

Matt. 13:1. "The same day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside." This action signifies His leaving Judaism, to teach whosoever would hear; the last verses of Matt. 12 show that relationship by birth is no longer acknowledged, but, "he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven"; so that whosoever received the word, would be brought into blessing in Christ. It is now sowing the seed, a new thing; not seeking fruit from a vine or fig tree, as in Israel, but sowing seed that will produce fruit in the soul, where it is mixed with faith in those who hear it. (Heb. 4:1.)

Matt. 13:2-3. He speaks to the multitude in parables: The Sower is the first. "Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" it illustrates His action.

Matt. 13:4. "And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

Matt. 13:5-6. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Matt. 13:7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them.

Matt. 13:8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold.

Matt. 13:9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

This chapter has seven parables; the last six are similitudes of the kingdom of heaven, i. e., six pictures of those who are professedly under Christ's authority on earth. The first parable is not called a likeness, but is given to show how the kingdom of heaven is formed by the preaching of the Word; those who profess His name are therefore looked at as in it. The next parable will show us that both false and real are there.

Matt. 13:10-11. The disciples ask, "Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?" He answered, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." This marks the difference between the believers-just a remnant-and the mass, or nation, that did not receive Him.

Matt. 13:12. The one would increase in knowledge and possession, the other would lose even what he had.

Matt. 13:13-15 tells us they are the ones spoken of in Isa. 6:9, 10. quoted in verses 14 and 15.

Matt. 13:16-17. It was a blessed time for this remnant that received the Lord, and heard and understood His Word; their eyes were opened to see Jesus as the Sent One of God. Many Old Testament saints and prophets had desired to see and to hear, but had not seen nor heard them.

Matt. 13:18. He begins the explanation of the parable.

Matt. 13:19. The wayside hearer pays no attention to what he had heard; it does not enter his understanding, and Satan takes the seed away. His attention is wholly given to other things. (2 Cor. 4:4.)

Matt. 13:20-21. The stony ground hearer receives the Word without exercise. He has no felt need for it; he rejoices over it, but when it causes him tribulation, he does not want to have any more to do with it; there was no deepness of earth. It looked like conversion, but he had no root in himself; so he can give it up when it does not suit him. The flesh can never stand persecution because of the Word, so he is offended.

Matt. 13:22. The thorny ground hearer heard the Word, and owned the truth of the Word, but failed to put it into practice. The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches engaged all his attention. In him also there is no fruit. Cares and riches do not look like sin, but if permitted in the mind, they shut out God, and all is barrenness.

Matt. 13:23. In the good ground we get reality. The Word is understood, the ground is plowed up, the Word penetrates and produces fruit; but in different degrees, according to the exercises of the soul: in some an hundred-fold, in some sixty-fold, in some thirty-fold. Leaving some of those thorns in the ground (Matt. 13:22), and the lusts of other things, hinder believers from bringing forth fruit as they should. If the believer gets under the power and influence of the world and worldly things, he loses his communion with the Lord; his fruit bearing is hindered; he is sleeping. (Eph. 5:14.) He cannot enjoy the company of those who enjoy and talk of spiritual things, and his conscience reproves him for want of faithfulness.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. 4:23.

Scripture Study: Scripture Study

UK 11{The Word of God and prayer necessarily go together for the spiritual life and progress of the soul. As we read the Word it is the voice of God to us. And prayer is our soul’ link of communion with God. We cannot do without these in our every day life. Here, as in other parts of Scripture, we get them together. Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word; then follows this lesson on prayer.

Verse 1. Jesus Himself was praying in a certain place and when He ceased one of His disciples said unto Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Verses 2-5. It is not a form of words to repeat, but words given that lead their thoughts in true, earnest desire up to God. The words of this prayer in the (R. V.) are: "Father, Thy name be hallowed, Thy Kingdom come. Give us each day our needed bread. And forgive us our sins, for we forgive every one indebted to us, and lead us not into temptation." "Father," expresses their!)place as children. "Hallowed be Thy name," is the desire to have Him glorified, whatever it may cost us. It, puts the Father's glory first in all things. "Thy Kingdom Come,"-the desire to have all in accordance with the will of God, and that everything be removed that would hinder it. "Give us each day our needed bread," expresses our dependence on God' for every day. "And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one indebted to us"-this is the desire for grace to forgive others as we have been forgiven. "And lead us not into temptation:" in this we admit our weakness and that we cannot stand, because the flesh is in us, except His grace is with us.

This prayer is intentionally different from Matt. 6:9-13, this one being more in keeping with the Christian position, but now, that the Holy Spirit is come, we know our place as children better. (see Rom. 8:15; Gal:. 4:6.) And we learn from John 16:23, 24, to ask in the name of the Lord Jesus; and we learn from Rom. 8:26 to depend on the Holy Spirit for words to utter.

Verses 5-8, encourage us in earnest persevering prayer. (see Acts 12:5; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6,7; Col. 4:2, 3,12.) Supplications prayer intensely earnest. This man was heard for his earnest importunity that implored and persevered till he received what he needed. What encouragement for us to persevere in our supplications.

Verses 9-13 still presses this home on our hearts. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." This reminds us of the Father's goodness that delights to bless His children. Now that the Holy Spirit has come, we cannot ask for Him to be sent, but we can ask His help, and guidance, and teaching, and that we may be filled with the Spirit, for though He dwells in us we are not always filled, we should seek to be filled (Eph. 5:18,) with the Spirit.

Verses 14-16. His power is here manifested in grace in casting out the dumb devil, so that the dumb spake and the people wondered, but the enmity of the natural heart of the religious leaders imputes to Him the power of the prince of devils, while others seek a sign of Him from heaven. Could there be greater blindness! and this is from the cultured pharisee, but it is man's heart all the same.

Verses 17-22. The Lord answers their thoughts and proves that their opposition is to God; that He was against Satan and Satan was against Him. He could not build up Satan's kingdom, but He had brought the Kingdom of God to them. Satan was the strong man, but the Lord was the stronger who overcame Satan and took his armor wherein he had trusted, and divided his spoils. The delivered man was a proof of His power.

Verse 23. But he that was not with Him was against Him. And this was plain with them; they did not gather with Him so they scattered.

Verses 24-26. They were outwardly cleansed from pollutions, yet they did not receive Him. And with all their profession, they would go back to seven times worse idolatry than before, and the last state of such an one would be worse than the first-the sad result to every one who rejects Christ.

Verse 27. As He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and spoke of the blessedness of being His mother, but that was only a natural affection, though wrought by miraculous power.

Verse 28. He tells of greater blessing. "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." This brings abiding blessing and pleasures for evermore.

Verses 29-36. Curiosity brought a thick crowd together, but He began to say, "This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; but there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet." Jonas preached to Nineveh without any other sign. The Ninevites heard and repented. The queen of Sheba came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and a greater than Solomon and Jonas was there.

The Son of Man was there bearing witness by word of God and miracles of grace, yet they would not believe. God had sent Him, and He was the light set plainly before them, but their eye was evil, they were guided by a false light of their own; it was darkness. If God and Christ were before their eye, the whole body would be full of light, as when the clear shining of a candle doth give the light. Self was in their eye while they professed to serve God. How often we need to search our hearts and to see that we are seeking only Christ's glory. We may be little, but if Christ is before us, how happy our souls can be.

Verses 37-44. A Pharisee besought Him to dine with him. He goes, but it is to Witness to the truth, and thus to give them a lesson. The pharisee wondered to see Him sitting down without first having washed as was their custom: (Mark 7:3, 4.) The Lord uses the occasion to expose the hollow hypocrisy of outward cleanness and inward filthiness: a show of religion while their inward parts were full of ravening and wickedness. They would tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs growing in their garden, and rob widow's houses at the same time, passing over judgment, and the love of God, and loved to exalt themselves before men, in the synagogues and markets.

They were as graves that appear not: a fair show outside, inside full of dead men's bones.

Verses 45-54. The lawyers felt His scathing judgment on the Pharisees and protested that this condemned them also. And He pronounces judgment on them likewise, as men that laid burdens on others which they would not touch with one of their fingers. Also they rejected the prophets' teachings while they professed to honor them, their fathers had done the same. And now the wisdom of God said that when God sent them the truth by apostles and prophets, some of them they would slay and persecute, and bring upon themselves the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world. Alas! the blood of Christ they were guilty of also, and it shall be required of them. They also took away the key of knowledge; they entered not into the true knowledge of God themselves, and others who would enter they hindered.

The Lord had gone in to dine at the request of the Pharisee, but it was a stormy meal, for He told them the truth. And they vehemently tried to urge and to provoke Him to say things they could find fault with, that they might accuse Him. How, little they knew who was there! And that He was manifesting their satanic opposition which He in mercy to others denounced unsparingly.

Scripture Study: Luke 13

UK 13{Verses 1-5. Those present telling the Lord of what Pilate did wickedly to the Galileans, brings out with fresh force, that there is no escape from the judgment of God for Israel, or for any sinner, but by repentance. The tower of Siloam did not fall without God allowing it. Now was Israel's time to give diligence to be delivered from the Judge, (Luke 12:58,) or they would all likewise perish. Many thousands of them perished at the destruction of Jerusalem, and the rest were scattered because they did not repent. (Matt. 22:7; Luke 19:42-44; 21:28.) There they remain till their deliverance as a nation comes. (Isa. 40:2; Ezek. 37:21.) These scriptures also suggest, that not only in this world do men reap what they sow, (Gal. 6:7, 8) in the government of God, but that wrath from heaven will fall on every sinner out of Christ. (Rom. 1:18; 2:8, 9; Heb. 9:27.)

Verses 6-9. Israel was this fig tree. Everything had been done for it that could be done in the past, and yet it had borne no fruit. At last its judgment is pronounced, but the dresser begs for it another year. So we find Israel spared as a nation till Stephen's murder. The last national offer of pardon is in Acts 3, which they did not accept, but cast the messengers into prison and then stoned Stephen, sending him after his Master. (Luke 19:14.) They rejected their Messiah, smote the Judge of Israel upon the cheek, therefore He gave them up. (Mic. 5:1, 3.) They will not be restored till the church is completed and taken to glory. Individuals out of all nations and out of Israel compose the Church-the body and bride of Christ. And all, both Jew and Gentile, who have died out of Christ are lost forever.

Verses 10-17. The Lord is teaching, going on with His gracious work, despite the sad condition of the Jews. It was the sabbath and here is a woman bowed together for eighteen years with a spirit of infirmity, and could in no wise lift up herself. When Jesus saw her, He called to her, and laid His hands on her, and said, "Woman, thou are loosed from thine infirmity," and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the synagogue was ruled by a hypocrite, who pretended to care for the sabbath-the seal of a conversant (Ex. 31:13-17) that was long since broken, and the Lord Jesus did not once tell them to keep it. He thought of the poor woman, one of Israel's flock, a daughter of Abraham, and set her free, but this hypocrite thought more of his ox, or his ass on the sabbath day. What a scathing rebuke the Lord gives him, and all His adversaries were ashamed, and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Why did they not recognize and own their King?

Verses 18-21. Since the King has been rejected and is going away, the kingdom of God on earth must necessarily take a different form from the kingdom set up in power and glory. It is compared to a grain of mustard seed, sown in a man's garden and grows to a great tree, and the fowls of the air lodge in its branches. It thus pictures a great powerful system, but evil is sheltered under its branches. It is also like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Here we get its teaching laying hold of the people as a great influence: in neither are we to think they are all converted. It is the nominal profession of the name of Christ, which is often called Christendom. It describes its appearance as seen in this world. What is for God, as in Matt. 13.-the wheat, the treasure, the pearl, and the good fish-are' not mentioned here.

Verse 22. He is still journeying towards Jerusalem, teaching as He goes. Moses and Elias talked with Him on the mount, of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem; (Chapter 9:30, 31, 51,) and in the same chapter, He steadfastly set His face to go there.

Verses 23-30. One asked Him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" It may have “been curiosity that led to it, but the Lord speaks an earnest word of exhortation and warning, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 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, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, 'I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.'" This has its direct application to the unsaved of Israel, but it has a strong voice to those now who have not yet trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Savior. As in Matt. 25. "When the Bridegroom come, they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Just think if it should shut today! Which side of the door would you be on? And as here, many from the distant parts of the earth shall be seen associated with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in glory, and the professing Israel cast out with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Likewise, many professing Christians, without a personal Savior, will see the converted heathen with Christ in heavenly glory, and they themselves cast out to eternal darkness, eternal disappointment. "Behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

Verses 31-35. "The same day." We can think how these Pharisees hated to hear such teaching, and professing to be interested in His safety, try to get rid of Him, saying, "Get Thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill Thee." His answer reveals Israel's state more fully, and also His personal glory. He cares nothing for their hypocritical warning, nor for Herod. "Go ye and tell that fox," a usurper on the throne of Israel as king, a hypocrite ruling the synagogue. Yet He falls back on the counsels of God. The Father's will shall be done, "Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." Israel's guilt, Jerusalem's guilt for ages past is manifested. "Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." And now, as the great Jehovah, He pours out His heart over the beloved though guilty Jerusalem, on which His heart was set. (Psa. 132:13.) And even now it is not judged forever, but it is set aside till its chastening is fulfilled. And what prophet, but He who is a Prophet and Jehovah Himself, could say, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen Both gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not." Their rejection of the truth was persistent, and now nothing remains but to pronounce the sentence, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

The nearer the people are to God, if they reject Him, the worse is the sin, and the more dreadful the judgment. Israel was a nation who had God nigh unto them, (Deut. 4:7), and they came near unto Him, (Psa. 148:14,) but now they are cast off till the Lord shall claim His kingdom.

What grace is seen in all this, and how it reminds us of grace now to the Church of God on earth, outwardly ruined as His witness here; ruined by man's interference, and arrangements, and inventions. Yet God, in His sovereign grace, is carrying out His purpose, to have companions in heavenly glory for His Son, as His body and His bride, and nothing can hinder its accomplishment.

Scripture Study: Luke 15

UK 15{

Verses 1, 2. The story of the grace of God to needy sinners attracts them and all the publicans and sinners drew near unto Him to hear Him. What He said suited them so well. The scribes and Pharisees on the contrary murmured saying, "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them." They could not appreciate grace to the undeserving, it was against their creed of self-righteousness. They speak disparagingly of the Lord, "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them." What they put down as His faults, we know was blessedly true; every opened ear rejoices in it. He loves the sinner. He hates the sin, and this the blind Pharisee could not understand; the light that was in them was darkness and was leading them downward.

Verses 3, 4. He spoke a parable unto them, saying, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

This parable has three parts: the first is the shepherd and the sheep. In this one it is the love of the shepherd for his sheep that makes us think of Jesus laying aside His heavenly glory and leaving His bright home above to come down to look after the lost one. (2 Cor. 8:9.)

We know He had, to die. (John 3:14.) Atonement must be made, for God is "light" as well as "love.”

Thou the light that showed our sin,

Showed how guilty we had been:

Thine the love that us to save

Thine own Son for sinners gave.

On Calvary we see Him bearing the judgment of sin, forsaken of God, and then afterward He said, "It is finished," and. then goes down into death. God raised Him from the dead, and crowned Him with glory and honor, to make plain to us that all His claims were satisfied, and now in righteousness He can receive the sinner who believes on Jesus. (Rom: 3:26.) He, the Lord of Glory, came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10.) It is the lost sheep He seeks. There is no salvation for the good people who think they are the ninety and nine. The lost sheep pictures the sinner living in sin and wandering away far from God.

Verse 5. And when He hath found it, He layeth it on His shoulders, rejoicing. When the sheep is found, it is His care, and He carries it all the way home on His shoulders. What a safe place! Is He not almighty? Then is the sheep eternally secure.

Verses -6, 7. And when He cometh home. His friends and neighbors are called in to rejoice with Him. over the lost sheep being found. And there shall be joy in heaven when He brings us all home who were His lost sheep This speaks of the future joy over saved sinners in glory, and till He gets them there He cares for them.

The Shepherd's bosom bears each lamb

O'er rock, and waste, and wild.

The object of that love I am

And carried like a child.

Verses 8-10. The second part of the par, able pictures the work of the Holy Spirit in the woman in her house, out of sight, with her light and broom sweeping the house until she finds her lost piece of silver, which pictures the sinner with the image of God stamped upon him, yet dead in trespasses and sins, lying covered up by the dust of this world till the light of God's. Word reaches him. And she also calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. Likewise there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. and that is present joy over the saved sinner.

In the third part we find the full story of the sinner, and the Father's love, and the self-righteous Pharisee.

Verses 11-24. And He said, "A certain man had two sons." These are seen also in Matt. 21:28-32. Sons by creation, not yet by redemption. (Acts 17:28.) The younger pictures the degraded sinner, the: other the self-righteous sinner. The younger one gets all he can, and goes away, like sinners do now, to have his swing of the world, what he calls "a good time." He is trying to forget God, so that he can do just what he likes, have the pleasures of sin which are for a season. In that far country, where he thinks God cannot see him, he wastes his substance with riotous living. He gets to the end of it. There were plenty of companions when he had lots to spend, but now all is gone, he is ruined, and then a mighty famine arose in that land, and he had nothing to eat. Then as some do, who begin to realize that they are sinners, they try to do their best, but what was his best? He went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. This is Satan's way to keep ruined souls away from Christ, but all their righteousness is but filthy rags, (Isa. 64:6,) and his very occupation was sin to the Jew. The man that is seeking to establish his own righteousness is not submitting himself to the righteousness of God. (Rom. 10:3, 4.) And so sore was this "famine' for the. Word of God," that he tried to eat the swine's food, and no man gave unto him. The Holy Spirit speaks by the Word to the sinner's heart and conscience, so thoughts of the father's house and plenty begin to come. "And he came to himself." Are men that forget God in their senses? It seems not, till they are wakened up. Then he begins to say to himself, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.'”

''Thoughts of his father and of the plenty there, art leading him now-this is the Spirit's work in his soul-so he arose, and came to his father.

Now the father's wonderful love and grace shine out, for "when he is yet d great way off, his Lather saw him." Love's eye is keen. "And had compassion on him, and ran." Love's feet are swift. "And fell on his neck, and covered him with kisses:" And this before he could say a word. He is forgiven, and he, knows it and is humbled by this love. He Said, "Father I have sinned against heaven, and. in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Yes, all true, repentance and confession are there, but he does 'not, he cannot insult the grace and love shown him, by saying,. "Make me as one of thy hired servants." Those kisses forbad it. He is a subject of grace, and must let the father act consistently with his own loving heart. He therefore stands still and hears his father say, "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes oh his feet." O! what a robe the righteousness of God is, and that has been waiting' iii God's heavenly wardrobe ever since Christ died, to put on every sinner who will take the sinner's place before God. (Rom. 3:21, 22; 2 Cor. 5:21)

"Clad in this robe, how bright I 'shine!'

Angels possess not such a dress;

Angels have not a robe 'like mine,-

Jesus the Lord's my righteousness”

Then the ring, the symbol of eternal love' and relationship, is also bestowed upon him, so the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe. (Eph. 1:13.) And the' shoes indicating the liberty of the children to run in and out-in to enjoy the Father's presence and to 'feed' upon Christ, and out to show out His virtues in our lives before men. Then the saved man is fit to go inside the house where the feast' is prepared,' the fatted calf is killed and the Father' and, all His friends, with the returned sinner, feast together in fellowship divine. In Spirit already tasting the joys of heaven. It is' a foretaste of home that we have now by the" Spirit’s blessed power in our souls.

Thus this heavenly merry making began, and, praises God, it never ends. Pleasures that are forever more, are here begun on earth.'

There is only one black spot in all this radiant scene of love and grace: Verses 25-30, The elder son draws near enough to hear, the music and dancing; and he called a servant to, ask what these things meant., The servant replied, "Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound." Yes, he was safe and sound, but this Pharisee was angry, and would not go in. His father came out and intreated him without avail to come in, but he could not dance to that kind of music, it was no music to him, so he could not rejoice in the good of his brother. He answered, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: And yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou has killed for him the fatted calf." What a denial this is that man is a sinner, that all have transgressed, that all are guilty before God. What blind conceit this showed in the Pharisees. And what distance from God this showed them living in.

Verses 31, 32. Now the Father takes him on his profession He does not here prove his guilt, but says, "Son thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found." As much as to say, If you are right yourself, rejoice that your brother has received blessing; but, no, he stays out, and in the next chapter we will find the Pharisee with all his riches and pleasures of this life and religion as well, is lost in hell-such is the end of Phariseeism.

Scripture Study: Luke 16

UK 16{Verses 1-12. Israel particularly, and man generally, is looked at in this chapter as an unfaithful steward who must give an account of his stewardship. The elder son (Chapter 15) said, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment." God's word proves this was hypocrisy. Rom. 3:9, 19, 23, witness that all are guilty before God. It is a good thing when the soul takes its true place, and says, "I have sinned." Real wisdom asks the question, What am I to do?" The gospel replies, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Wisdom's children justify God and condemn themselves, and this makes them think of the future, and to use the present things in view of the future. This is the true wisdom, and the children of God should practice it. In this they should take a lesson from this unjust, but wise, steward, who used the goods of his master which were in his hand to make a home for himself in the future.

Our home is prepared by divine love, and our title as in Christ is a perfect one to it. But we are stewards still, and we are to look upon what the Lord has put in our hands as a means of blessing for the future, and now. For the future, because what we do for the Lord will bring its reward from Him. Now, if we use what we have for the Lord, it proves a blessing to our souls in the fuller enjoyment of our spiritual blessings. But if the things of this world possess our hearts, they hinder us from enjoying our possessions in Christ. (See 1 Tim. 6:17-19.)

The mammon of unrighteousness can be used in such a way that we will be richer spiritually, it is laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come, a profitable investment for the believer's capital. We need wisdom from the Lord for this also, and it matters not how little or how much we have for this, but if the child of God lets his mind dwell on and get engrossed with, this unrighteous mammon, who will commit to his trust the true riches? He is only a steward, and if he is unfaithful in this stewardship, who shall give him what is his own? The believer's own are the blessings he has in Christ. (Eph. 1:3.)

Verse 13. He cannot serve two masters. Which are we serving? What is really life can only be enjoyed by having Christ as the object of the life. Let Him govern our hearts.

Verses 14-18. The Pharisees were covetous, and they derided Him. They lived in their own good estimation, but God condemned them, their religious lives and hypocritical ways were an abomination in God's sight. They thought they had the blessing of Israel in their riches, according to the law, (Deut. 28), but theirs were the riches of fraud and deceit, robbing widows and orphans, and the law would not fail to judge them with its curse, (Matt. 23:14), and now that grace was coming in, everything was altered; Israel had broken Jehovah's covenant, and were like a polluted woman put away for her sin, an adulteress. Here the Lord lifts the curtain, as none but He could do, and shows what is after death: how solemn it is!

Verse 19. Here we get the picture of a man in the best of circumstances, he has everything heart could desire, everything but God. He is poor for eternity.

Verses 20, 21. Here we get another man in miserable, wretched circumstances, neither comfort of health nor wealth, nothing has he, nothing but God. His name is Lazarus, signifying, "My help is in God." He is rich for eternity, because God is his help. This poor beggar, poor in the world's estimation, died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, the Jewish figure of the place of bliss. The rich man also died, his riches could not keep him alive, and he was buried, doubtless a grand funeral with pomp and show, but alas! in hell (the state of the dead) he lift up his eyes being in torments. It is not the resurrection, nor the judgment of the wicked dead, yet he is in a prison of torments where he awaits that day. He seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and he cried, and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." He still speaks as he professed on earth, to be a child of Abraham, but Abraham said, "Son, remember," indeed he cannot forget, but his cry is answered. There is now no mercy for him, it is too late. He can remember his lustful, selfish, sinful life; his wasted opportunities of repentance, his sad neglect of the Word of God in his successful business life. It all comes 'back to him now, and if his five brethren come there through his influence, how it will increase his agonies! Did he warn them? or did he lead them the wrong road? did he help them to forget God and His word-Moses and the prophets? O! that memory! the worm that never dies, for after the great white throne where he receives his eternal sentence, and is cast into the lake of fire which never shall be quenched, that worm will still continue its torments. There is no hope now, he is gone from among living men, is past mercy, there was living water flowing for him before, but he would not drink it then, now there is no mercy, no water, no, not one drop. And Abraham puts him in mind of his neglect and selfish life. He lived for self, and died a lost man, and he must learn now when it is too late, that all hope is over. The great, fixed, impassable gulf will not admit of anyone changing his place after death. Another deeply solemn lesson is added, he thinks of his father's house, and his brethren. Could they be warned of his lost condition, lest they come into the same place of torment? And Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." They and he had the Word of God, why do they not hearken to it? Why did he not hearken? Why do men now not hearken? Because the god of this world has blinded their minds, they pay attention to everything but to God's Word. And Abraham tells him what is so true, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." It had been the days of plenty with him on earth, now it was a terrible famine. No mercy, no water, nothing but a lost, undone eternity. How important to hear Moses and the prophets,-the. Word of God! It is God's message to man. What excuse can they have?

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Scripture Study: Luke 10:1-24

UK 10{Verse 1. The Lord sending the seventy, two by two, before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come, marks another step in His path. He feels and knows that the heart of man rejects Him, though come in grace to them, but His untiring love will not cease to minister where need comes before Him.

Verse 2. Therefore said He unto them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He may send forth laborers into His harvest."' Thus He enlists their hearts' interest in His own interest toward a needy world, though it is opposed to Him.

Verse 3. "Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves." They must be so to be His suited messengers. A lamb cannot fight for itself. It is not a wolf fighting with wolves; they must take suffering at the hands of those whom they came to bless, if they serve after His pattern.

Verse 4. Dependence is to mark them. "Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes." And they were not to spend time on salutations by the way. Devotedness to their mission is seen here.

Verses 5-9. Their reception, or rejection, would be the test of those to whom they came. If the house was friendly to the Messiah, whose servants they were, they were to share its hospitality as His laborers, and not go from house to house, but to eat what was set before them, and to heal the sick, and announce the kingdom of God as come nigh to them.

Verses 10-12. Tell the responsibility and condemnation of those who refuse Him.

Verses 13, 14. Assume that these cities had already rejected Him. Great wickedness had been in Tire and Sidon, but they were not so hardened as the cities favored by the Lord's teaching and works.

Verse 16. Puts them as representing Him. To receive them was to receive Him, and the Father who had sent Him. To despise them was to despise Him and the One that sent Him. How blind were the mass of the people to this.

Verse 17. The seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name." They were elated because of the power put in their hands, but the Lord directs them to what was higher and better.

Verses 18-20. He speaks anticipatively, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Satan is to be cast down, it is written, and it will come in God's time. As yet, like Job 1., Satan presents himself as a servant before the throne of God. Not in the abode of the saints. And we know that "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Rom. 16:20. The power and protection of their Messiah was in their hand, but in this they were not to rejoice, but in the new truth He now presents-"but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." This new blessing was theirs, and brings an altogether new order of things-a place in heaven, instead of a kingdom on earth; to know God as our Father, instead of subjects of the King.

Verse 21. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit." How significant! Outward rejection, inward joy in the Father's love and purposes.

And He gives thanks to Him as the Lord of heaven and earth, that not to the wise and prudent, but to the babes this revelation was given. It was the Father's will and He bows implicitly to it, and is in full fellowship with Him in what He is doing.

Verse 22. In this verse the mystery of His person is brought before us; we cannot comprehend it. We hear Him say, "All things are delivered to Me of My Father; and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father." "The Father only Thy blest name Of Son can comprehend.”

He can reveal the Father to us, and this, blessed be His name, He has done, and brought us into the children's place: our portion with and in Him, fully entered into when the Holy Spirit had come. (Rom. 8:16).

Verses 23, 24. The disciples now have the place which (in vain) prophets and kings had desired to see. The One whose coming had been so much the subject of Scripture, was now on earth, had come at last, and though rejected by the many, their eyes and ears were open to see and to hear Him, but privately. not publicly manifested, as when every eye shall see Him. May we now have our eyes anointed to more fully discern all that is of Him, and the ways of God He has so perfectly displayed.

(Continued from page 328)

(To be continued)

Scripture Study: Mark 16

AR 16{Verses 1, 2. In Matt. 28:1. The women visited the grave at dusk of the Sabbath, just as the first day commenced. They had bought sweet spices and ointments before the Sabbath (Luke 23:56), and early in the morning of the first day they go to complete their work.

Verse 3. They think of the difficulty of that great stone in the way. "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?”

Verse 4. "And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great." How often we, like them, anticipate difficulties in what we do for the Lord, and how often we are made to prove that He goes before us to order the way. (Prov. 3:5-6.)

Verses 5-7. On entering the sepulcher they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. He speaks to them, calming their fears, and tells them the one they sought. Jesus of Nazareth, was risen. He is not in the grave. "Behold the place where they laid Him." He gives them a message to His disciples and Peter to meet Him in Galilee. (Matt. 26:32.)

Verse 8. The women went out quickly and fled from the sepulcher, fear keeping them silent about what they had seen. Afterward they met the Lord Himself and received the message anew. (Matt. 28:9.) How comforting this message would be to Peter, who could see in it that the Lord had not cast him off, but still called him "Peter"-his new name. (Matt. 16:8; John 1:42, margin.) Peter had thrice denied that he knew the Lord, but the Lord would not deny Peter. (2 Tim. 2:13.)

Verses 9-11. Tell of Mary Magdalene, to whom he appeared first, after He was risen, and of the blind unbelief of the disciples who refused to believe in His resurrection.

Verses 12, 13. Tell of another occasion, and again how slow their hearts were about this truth of resurrection.

Verse 14. And when with the eleven He upbraided them about this same unbelief, this truth of resurrection. How important it is! Man's natural mind refuses it, for resurrection bears witness to the almighty power of God, and stamps the work of Christ as that work that has glorified. Him and that has glorified the Son in return ( John 13:31, 32.)

Verses 15, 16. Their commission here is, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Verses 17, 18. Are the signs witnessing that they were sent by God. (Heb. 2:4.) It was power able to deliver from Satan; to speak with new tongues, and thus to convey the gospel to nations in their own languages-the proclamation of grace to all men; death could not touch them without the Lord's permission; and diseases would yield to the authority in trusted to them.

Verses 19, 20. The Lord was eventually received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

In the history of the progress of the gospel we see that all was not fulfilled at once. The apostles did not go from Jerusalem till they could stay there no longer. History outside of the Bible tells us that then they went to different places and labored, and the Lord worked with them. Peter was used to open the door to the bringing in of the Gentiles in Acts 10 as he had done also for the Jew in Acts 2. But it was Paul that took the lead as the apostle to the Gentiles in preaching the gospel to every creature (all creation). Which means that no nationality was excluded, it went beyond the Jews, to all men.

In answer to the Lord's prayer upon the cross (Luke 23:34), another offer was given to the Jews as a nation in Acts 3 that if they repented then the Lord would come back and set up His kingdom, thus fulfilling the unfulfilled prophecies. Instead of repenting, they abused His servants; and stoned Stephen, sending him after His Master. (Luke 19:14.) Stephen sees Jesus standing on the right-hand of God, as if waiting to come. That offer is closed with Stephen's death, henceforth the gospel was to individuals. And the Church was scattered abroad from Jerusalem, except the apostles, and those scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:1, 4.)

And the Lord worked with them also. May we know, too, what that means, "The Lord working with them," in our service.

The word is now established: signs are not needed in this day, to make us see that the gospel is from the living God.

Scripture Study: Luke 11

UK 12{The instruction the Lord gives to His disciples in this chapter is in view of His rejection, putting His disciples in the place of witnesses for Him, the Holy Spirit using the Word through them, and bringing in heavenly and eternal things.

Verses 1-3. In the presence of a multitude of people, He warns His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. He had in the chapter before, told the Pharisees to their faces that they were hypocrites, and warns His disciples of the danger of falling into it-a warning we all need-and we must remember, everything must be uncovered. Their word of testimony and ministry is to be heard in the light and proclaimed from the housetops.

Verses 4, 5. There would be enemies who would oppose them, it might be even to death, but Be speaks with authority and comfort to Ahem as His friends. "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." O how well it is for time and eternity with those who are God's people. Notice, in this passage the man is seen distinct from his body. (Compare 2 Cor. 5:1.)

Verses 6, 7. Even the sparrow is not forgotten before God, and the very hairs of their head were all numbered. "Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." Nothing can touch them without the Father.

Verses 8, 9. This encourages all to confess. Him before men, and He promises to confess them before the angels of God. And those who deny Him before men, will be denied before the angels of God. This is denying His person. Peter, through weakness and unwatchfulness, denied that He knew the Lord.

Verse 10. The Lord took a lowly place to serve. Those who spoke against Him as on of Man might be forgiven; but how serious it is to speak blasphemously against the Holy Ghost, who wrought through Christ, and now would work through the disciples. Such diabolical enmity would not be forgiven.

Verses 11, 12. He would have men recognize the disciples as His servants, and they were not to take thought when brought before tribunals, how or what thing they shall answer, or what to say: "For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say." Thus they were instructed, warned and encouraged for their path.

Verses 13-15. One of the company wanted Him to act as judge. It was not the time for Him to do that. He was there in grace and used this to bring out the uncertainty of time, and the sin and foolishness of laying up treasures on earth, and neglecting the things of God. He said unto them, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth," as much as to say, The man who covets the inheritance and does not have it, is just as bad as the one who has it.

Verses 16-21. This shows us a rich man, whom the world calls a successful man, with super abundance, and he calls on his soul to have a good time, "Eat, drink, and be merry," but he had not made any provision for eternity. God said unto him, "Thou fool," and then he is called away from it all into eternity, lost forever, blinded by earthly prosperity, "the pleasures of sin for a season." "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Verses 22-31. Therefore I say unto you, "Take no thought for your life, (that is anxious, thought,) what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than food, and the body than raiment." "Consider the ravens." "God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?" What good will your worrying do? (Phil. 4:6, 7.) Tell the Father your need, trust Him to meet it. God clothes the lilies with glory greater than Solomon's, and clothes the grass just for its short day, "How much more you, O ye of little faith?" Do not doubt Him. The nations of the world have only present things, seen and temporal, to seek after. "Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Verses 32-34. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." There will be difficulties and trials of divers sorts, but the Father's good pleasure will carry them through to the destined glory with Christ, and this blessed assurance will enable them to sit loose to things here, to "sell that ye have," and turn it into a means of good to others, and thus put it in a secure bank that will not fail, "bags which wax not old," "a treasure in the heavens that faileth not." (1 Tim. 6:17-19.) Where no thief can steal it, nor moth destroy it. "And where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our hearts may be up there with Christ, while we are His treasure, and His heart is with us down here.

Verses 35-39. Then with girded loins, and lights burning, ready to go, they are to be like men that wait for their Lord, ready to open when He knocks. And this readiness is a pleasure to the Lord who will reward it in the glory. He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. It may be at any time, the second watch, or the third. They do not know when, no specified time, neither hour, nor month, nor year, but they are to watch. To His own-the watchers during the night-He will be the Bright and Morning Star. When He comes to the world, it will be like a thief in the night, unexpected and unwelcome.

Verse 40. "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

Verses 41-48. Peter asks who this applies to.

The Lord shows its application, first to the faithful and wise steward, who will be honored by a ruler's place over his Lord's household, and he is called "blessed." Then its application to the unfaithful servant who says in his heart, "My Lord delayeth His coming," and beats his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, tells us of the portion that will fall on Christendom as in heart unbelievers. The terrible end of all false profession. All men will not be judged alike. The servant that knew his Lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but the heathen who knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. Righteous it will be, and terribly solemn.

Verses 49-53. "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?" Had man been in a right state, this result of Christ's coming would have been different, but men rejected Him and so judgment comes to them. Already it could be seen working, for those who would receive Him were rejected with Him, and the nearest ties of earth were separated because of Him. He says, "I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished. In His loving service here till His death, He was straitened. His love could not tell itself out; they could not receive it, or respond to it as they should. At His death the barrier would be removed, and God's grace then could flow out without hindrance. He is not come to give peace on earth, but rather division, and the house is divided on account of Him. Such is man's fallen state. Those who are faithful to Christ must share His outcast place, even with their relatives.

Verses 54-59. They could discern the face of the sky and of the earth, and He asks, "How is it ye do not discern this time?" Israel was going to the magistrate with his adversary. A right discernment would have told them of the danger they were in of being cut off. Here He tells them to "give diligence to be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison." And this has happened, and Israel is now scattered, and in prison, and there must remain "till thou hast paid the very last mite.”

Isa. 40:1, 2 tells us of the time when this deliverance will come. (See also Mic. 5:3.)

Scripture Study: Luke 14

UK 14{Verses 1-6. The Lord exposes the cold, selfish, religious pride of the lawyers and Pharisees in their vain sabbath keeping. He sets it aside to bring in grace to the needy, ever delighting to do good. His compassions fail not. It was the sabbath day, and He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread, and they watched Him. There was a certain man before Him who had the dropsy. Jesus answered their thoughts with the question, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?" They held their peace. He took him, and healed him, and let him go. He answered them with another question, "Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?" Thus they were confounded and their sabbath day set aside. Sin broke God's rest, and they had often broken the covenant of which their sabbath was the sign. (Ex. 31:13-17.) Thus He brings before them their sin against Jehovah.' They had fallen into a pit, and the Lord came down, by His work to pull man out of it. It was not the time now to keep His sabbath.

Verses 7-11. In those who were bidden, He sees how love of honor from men is manifested by seeking the chief places for themselves, and from this He enunciates the true place of blessing from God for us all. We are but sinners, deserving of eternal judgment. If we speak well of ourselves, it but shows our want of feeling of our true state before God. If we feel our true state before Him, humbly own it and look to Him for mercy, we are in the place where His forgiving love can bless us. "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased: and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." To get true blessing from God, we must humble ourselves, that is, take our true place as sinners before Him. It was so when we came to Him as sinners, we found mercy extended to us. It is always true, and the believer learns to progress in the things of God,-to be ever self-emptied before Him. How beautifully perfect we see our blessed Lord in this! He who was ever as a man equal with God, yet in grace, and to do the Father's will, took the servant's place, emptied Himself, and humbled Himself, became obedient unto death, and that the death of the cross. That was-the lowest place. We cannot go there. He went there for us. "Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him.”

Every mark of dark dishonor

Heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow,

All the depths of Thy heart's sorrow

Told in answering glory now.

He hid Himself from glory of men, so may we; and it will find its answer in the glory. (Rev. 2:17.) He is our pattern. "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." John 12:25, 26.

Verses 12-14. To the one that invited Him, He said, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." The reward of service is future. If we serve only those who can serve us in return, it is not true service to Christ. If we serve those who cannot recompense us, that is like the Lord Himself, and it shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. The resurrection of the just points out that there are two resurrections, and not a common one for all. Only the just can serve Him. (Rom. 1:17.)

Verses 15-24. When one of them who sat at meat with Him heard these things, he said unto Him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God." He was thinking of, the glorious time when the Messiah would reign over Israel and the Nations, as prophesied. The answer looks at what takes place before the kingdom is set up in power. It is not seeking fruit now from Israel as a fig tree. It is a man providing a great supper, all at his own cost and inviting many to partake. It is the gospel of the grace of God, bringing salvation without money or without price. But what did it cost Him who made it? (2 Cor. 8:9.) "All that He had." (Matt. 13:46.) He "gave Himself." (Eph. 5:25.) And in God's "due time" all was done and ready. (Rom. 5:6.) He sent His servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, "Come; for all things are now ready.”

The gospel went out to the Jew first-the bidden ones. Alas! the heavenly and spiritual things they do not want. So they all with one consent began to make excuse. Earthly possessions and relationship, though mercies given by God, are made the excuse for rejecting His eternal salvation; the carnal mind finds no pleasure in the things of God. It is not what in itself is sin that keeps them away. Their duties of this life are made the excuse. And so it is today. Men turn away from God's beseechings to receive reconciliation to God, because of present things, but after all there are also the pleasures of sin, made so by their coming between the soul and God.

Reader, are you putting anything between your soul and God? Well, the Master said, "None of those men which were bidden shall taste of My supper.”

The Servant, the Holy Spirit, come down to preach the gospel, came and told His Lord their answers. What has He to tell Him about you? Then the Master of the house being angry, said to His Servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind." This takes in the outcast Jews, as publicans and sinners and the Samaritans. (Acts 8.) Such are glad to come, for they are needy, and the supper of grace is a-comfort and joy to such, for it meets their need, bringing them, into pardon, peace, and everlasting life. And the Servant said, "Lord, it is done as Thou halt commanded, and yet there is room." Still wider goes the order "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled." This takes in those "afar, off," the Gentile dogs, the heathen lands, "every creature." "And compel them to come in." This is no mere cold invitation, it is the drawings of the love of God, the power of the Holy Spirit using the Word that tells of man's need and God's love to the sinner and hatred to sin, while He loves the sinner. This tells him of the feast prepared, and thus forces him in.

'Twas the same love that spread the feast,

That sweetly forced me in;

Else I had still refused to taste

And perished in my sin.

The gospel went out to the Jew first as a nation. They rejected it and are now themselves rejected and scattered, but sovereign grace waits on the individual Jew as on, every creature, (Rom. 11:32.) to give them salvation and a place in the Church of God, if they will bow and own Jesus as Lord. (Rom. 10:9.)

Christendom, like the Jewish nation of old, is turning a deaf ear to God's offered mercy, and making excuses. "And yet there is room." God will have His house filled. Will you be in it, dear reader? Have you come to Christ? The message has gone out to every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and they will be brought in and you, who had such privileges, such opportunities if you neglect this great salvation now, will be shut out forever.

Verses 25-33. Here discipleship is presented which must not be confounded with salvation. We have salvation, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, given to us freely, without money and without price. "Justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." God starts us off as Christians, happy and eternally secure.

Discipleship gives us Christ as our object to live for, and this gives us true happiness. And the only way to be truly happy is to have Christ as our object before father, mother, wife, children, brethren, sisters and his own life also, yea all that he hath is forsaken for Christ. This is the meaning of the word "hate" here. The truth that we are dead with Christ and risen with Christ, and thus are in a new place in Him before God, His love constraining us, helps us to understand and practice this.

It is not that we actually hate our dear ones, but that we as now risen with Christ, have them in this new way from the Lord. And He tells us how to look after them for Him. (See Eph. 5:22 to 6:9; Col. 3:18 to 4:1.) The Lord gives us there to see that they and all our business are to he taken up for Him, and carried by us through His grace and strength, as the man carried his bed in obedience to Jesus. (John 5:8, 9.) We are to count the cost, and if we do we shall be convinced that "without Him we can do nothing." (John 15:5.) We can only build the tower, or fight the enemy, through grace supplied from Him, but this is promised us as we need it. (2 Cor. 9:8; James 4:6.)

Take care, do not make your ability to follow Christ as if your salvation depended on it. We all fail in our walk, but our salvation is perfect. (Heb. 10:14.) And thank God for 1 John 2:1. But we must be careful not to grieve the Spirit. (Eph. 4:30.)

Verses 34:35. If we are not careful to keep the Lord before us, as the salt we will lose our influence for good. Such salt is useless, it is savorless and only to be cast out. Salt upholds what is good. Light bears testimony against evil. (Matt. 5:13.)

Scripture Study: Luke 10

UK 10{Concluded.

Verses 25-29. We now learn some of those ways toward men, and the contrast between law and grace.

A lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He did not know himself as a ruined, helpless sinner, but wise in his own eyes, he tried to confound the Lord. He is in the presence of One who knew his inmost thoughts, and He teaches him by that very law of which he was the professed exponent. "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" The letter of it he knew: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself." The Lord replied, "Thou hast answered right: ' this do, and thou shalt live." Yes, butt this only condemns him, for his inward consciousness tells him he had not done this, and he would like to justify himself. He was altogether mistaken in thinking the law could give life or righteousness. It was a good thing to live by on earth, but it could not give a title to blessing from God, that only comes by grace; but being willing to justify himself, he says, "And who is my neighbor?" His filthy rags of self-righteousness are exposed to himself, (Isa. 64:6,) and he does not like it. The Lord will not argue with him, but tells him a story to illustrate his need of grace as a ruined, 'helpless sinner on the downward road.

Verses 30-32. The man is going downward, from the city of blessing, to the city of the curse, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Can the priest with his ordinances or the Levite with his service, do the helpless sinner good? Ah no! the Savior alone can do helpless sinners good. This poor man had no strength. (Rom. 5:6.)

Verse 33. "A certain Samaritan," whom the Jews hated, (and the carnal mind in all men hates God,) "as he journeyed, came where he was." This reminds us of (2 Cor. 8:9) the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who though He was rich in glory with the Father, yet for our sakes became poor. What a journey from that eternal glory, to become a man that He might glorify God and accomplish redemption. They might call Him a Samaritan, (John 8:48) but He loved them and came to save them from their sins. (Matt. 1:21.) To do this, He must needs suffer. (Isa. 53:5,6.) He must take the sinner's place.

"Our sins, our guilt, in love divine,

Confessed and born by Thee;

The gall, the curse, the wrath were Thine,

To set Thy ransomed free.”

And this He has done. What divine compassion filled His heart, and as He looked upon us in our sins, His compassion was drawn out.

Verse 34. Now He comes right to the sinner bringing salvation. (Titus 2:11.) The wounds are bound up by the good news that He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree and He has poured in the oil and the wine. We have the assurance and the joy of knowing His forgiving love. Still further, "He set him on His own heart and brought him to an inn and took care of him." What riches of grace are here; we are the objects of His care; He lifts us from the roadside, He carries us along, He has put us in safe place It is only an inn yet, but soon it will be the Father's house. (John 14:3.)

Verses 35-37. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him; "Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spec Iciest more, when I come again, I will repay thee." Our blessed Lord has gone to heaven now, to ' the glory He had with the Father before the world was. (John 17:5.) There He has prepared a place for those whom His grace has made His own, but His (two pence) sufficiency-all that He is for us, as our great High Priest and Advocate, is ministered to us by that faithful Comforter in whose care we are left. And we are constantly reminded of what He said in love that our hearts might respond. "I will come again," and "quickly," makes us say, "Amen. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus." (John 14:3, Rev. 22:20.) O, what a neighbor He has been to us! What grace! what mercy! to lost, ruined sinners!

Did the lawyer ever hear of a neighbor like this? Good was it for him if he was robbed, and then if he was saved, the object of sovereign grace and mercy; then indeed could he go and do likewise. This is service above all law, in which we that are saved can have a share in the Lord's work of grace; telling sinners of their ruin, of God's salvation for all men, and also comforting His people; and we can find encouragement in the words of our Lord, if we serve Him, "And what thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee." Our blessed Lord and Master loves His own which are in the world, (John 13:1) and loves them to the end; that means, all the way through. It is our privilege to follow in His steps in this also. And if it costs us a little hard work, or self-denial, or both, let us remember what it cost Him to redeem us and them, and that it was His love which made Him say, "Take care of Him; and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come again, I will repay thee”

Verses 38-42. Martha was one of those that Jesus loved, (John 11:5,) and she received Him into her house. She has that privilege, as well as the toil and care of the house. Her service we see in John 12:2 is specially mentioned, taken notice of as of equal worth with Lazarus' fellowship, and Mary's worship. And this the Lord does not find fault with; it is the spirit in which she is, that rather grieved him, while Mary is spoken of as one who also sat at Jesus' feet listening to His word. This was her characteristic attitude of soul. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, "Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me." Martha's service was very important in her own eyes; her state of soul was more important in His. She tries to tell Him His duty, and finds fault with Mary. That is the way when we get out of communion. We think nobody is so important as ourselves. Our work should be the first thing. It is self again. Our blessed Lord rebukes her firmly, though gently. "Martha, Martha thou are careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, (not the better part) which shall not be taken away from her." How much the Lord appreciated this attitude of soul, and how Mary learned the mind of the Lord as she sat there so that when the time came, she had her sweet savor ointment ready, and poured it upon Him for the day of His burying.

Scripture Study: Mark 6

Verse 1. Jesus now comes to His own country where He had been brought up, and His disciples follow Him.

Verses 2, 3. On the sabbath day He began to teach in the synagogue. Words of wisdom flowed from His lips, and many, hearing Him, were astonished, and question, "From whence has this man these things? What wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? "

They call Him the carpenter; that is all He is to them. They know His family, but they care nothing for Him; they are offended at Him. What unbelief; what hardness of heart; what a display of the flesh that profits nothing! The carnal mind is enmity to God; the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14.) He did not flatter their pride. He did not come with earthly glory, but as a lowly servant. Quite true, He manifested the character of God, but they did not want that. Worldly power and glory would suit their taste, but not a humble servant like Jesus. They were offended at Him; they reject Him, and He will reject them.

Verses 4-6. Jesus said unto them, "A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house, and He could do no mighty work there." What a loss to them!

Their unbelief lost the blessing He had for them, and only a few sick that He laid His hands on, were healed. They were needy, and love will work where it can. The few sick folk profit by this love that seeks their good, but the rest go empty away. What a lesson for us all not to hinder the work of God by our unbelief.

What will He do now? If He can do nothing there because of their unbelief, He will seek a wider field: "And' He went round about the villages, teaching."

Verses 7-11. He now shows His power in calling others into the work, and gives them power over unclean spirits, and sends them out on a mission entirely dependent on Him to supply their every need. They take nothing but their staff for their journey: no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse; sandals they would need, but not two coats. Luke tells us, they lacked nothing. (Luke 22:35.) Those that would not receive them, would receive judgment worse than Sodom and Gomorrha. The house they entered into, there they were to abide while they were in that place.

Verse 12. They went out and preached that men should repent. Doubtless, many did repent and turn to God, and thus escaped the terrible judgment Israel's sins, their sins, deserved.

Verse 13. They cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. What grace is here seen, not only does He send good news, but uses men to carry it. May we,' too, have our hearts filled with the Savior's love, so that we may tell others what we have received, and thus be used of Him to carry blessing to others.

Verses 14-29. We are here told how John, the Baptist's ministry came to an end, a fore-showing of what the Lord's ministry would come to also. (Matt. 17:12.) John rebuked Herod's sin, and he threw John into prison. Herodias would have killed him, but she could not. Herod's respect for John sheltered him from her, but pleasures and excitement laid the snare, and Herod promised with an oath to give the dancing girl what she wished. Her mother told her to ask the head of John the Baptist. The king's false oath bound him, and John was executed. The story shows the heartlessness of Israel's ruler. His disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb. Matt. 14:12 adds, "and went and told Jesus."

When Herod heard of Jesus, it came into his mind what he had done. (He will never forget it to all eternity.) He thought God had raised John from the dead, and therefore mighty works showed themselves forth in him. Others thought Jesus a prophet, such as Elias, perhaps from Mal. 4:5.

(To be Continued).

Scripture Study: Mark 5:1-23

MAR 5In this chapter we have a picture of Israel's state and God's ways in grace. The man possessed of the devil is the delivered remnant, while the swine taken possession of, is unbelieving Israel rushing on to their destruction. The Lord, cast out of the world, leaves the man behind to testify for Him. Jairus continues the picture; he, the believing remnant, is concerned about his daughter, who lay at the point of death. She pictures the Jewish hopes. Jesus goes to heal her; but on the way another picture comes in, that is, the present time-the Church period-when individual faith gets the blessing; this is suited to the Gentile also. When He reaches Jairus' house, the daughter is dead, but the Lord encourages Jairus with the words: "Be not afraid, only believe." She is dead to all but Jesus; then He raises her up and commands them to feed her. This is His care over restored Israel. Let us draw some lessons from the chapter.

Verses 1-5. Here we find man under the power of Satan; his dwelling is among the dead, and no man can bind him with chains, he is untameable, and he is miserable, night and day, crying, and cutting himself with stones. Try to improve the flesh, put it under restraint, all its good resolutions are broken, all its goodness disappears, and it is the same at the end. None but the Lord can meet such a case. It is the same with us all; in reality, there is no difference.

Verses 6-8. "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped Him." Satan tries to hold on to his prey, but must yield to the, Son of God. He said: "Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit."

Verses 9-13. The man is the mouthpiece of the demons; how terrible is his case; but there is a Deliverer. Satan's day with that man is over; the demons do not want to be chained up in the bottomless pit. (See Luke 8:31.) The Lord allows them to enter the herd of swine-unclean Israel in figure-they ran violently down a steep place into the sea and were choked in the sea. Israel's destruction.

Verses 14-17. "And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind." What a change to that dear man; his unrest, his wretchedness, his nakedness are all gone, and there he sits in the presence of his Savior! Were the people glad to see it? No, they were afraid; and when those who saw it, told how it came about, instead of worshiping the Savior, they besought Him to go away out of their country. They had lost their swine, they loved their uncleanness, the pleasures of sin which are for a season. The Lord is the cast out One now. The world seeth Him tic, more. He is the rejected One, cast out by the world.

Verse 18. "And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him." How nice this is, how refreshing to the Lord's heart, that precious soul now delivered from Satan's power, wants His company. Is it so with us, beloved children of God? Is Christ's presence the one desire of our hearts now? But it could not be yet, he was to remain where his Lord was cast out. But his very desire to be with the Lord, showed he was the fit man to represent Him where He was cast out.

Verse 19. "Howbeit, Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." Does the man do it?

Verse 20. "And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5.) Now, He is gone, we are to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. (Phil. 2:15, 16.) May we be able to tell out to others what the Lord has done for us.

Verses 21-23. We find the Lord going on with His ministry. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, when he saw Him, fell at His feet, and besought Him greatly, saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." Jairus, a type of the believing remnant of the Jews, sees his daughter (in figure the hopes of the Jews) dying; he is much concerned. Why should not the Lord, the true Messiah, set up His kingdom at once. The Lord goes with Him. He knew Israel would reject Him, but He waits on them in longsuffering even after He is raised from the dead, giving them another offer (Acts 3), but instead of repenting and receiving Him, they stone Stephen, declaring by it, "We will not have this Man to reign over us." (Luke 19:14.)

(To be Continued).

Scripture Study: Mark 6:30-56

MAR 6Verses 30-34. The apostles now return and tell the Lord all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. Likely they were full of the excitement of their mission. He says: "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile." How kind to them this was, and they needed it so much, to take away their self-importance, and to remind them where the blessing came from, and that they were but His instruments to carry out His will, so that there in His presence in retirement they might find out what they were in truth, and enjoy His love without being puffed up by their usefulness. Notice He does not say, "Go ye yourselves apart," but "Come." It is being in His company that is the rest He desires for our souls; away from others, a desert place in His company.

For there were many corning and going so that they had no leisure so much as to eat. This coming and going does not tell of needy ones sitting at Jesus' feet, and the Lord gets away from them. They departed into a desert place by ship privately. The people saw them departing. He was recognized. The news quickly spread, and out of the cities came the crowd together unto Him. The love of God breaks through His repose to meet man's need again. Jesus coming out saw a great crowd and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things. What a true, faithful, loving Servant we have here. He saw their sad moral condition, and ministers to them the teaching He knew they were most in need of. Their leaders had already rejected Him and blasphemed the Holy Ghost. (Mark 3:22-30.) But His heart goes out to the needy ones in deep loving compassion.

Verses 35, 36. The disciples at length remind Him that the day was far spent and that it was a desert place and advises sending the crowd away that they may go where they can buy themselves bread; for they had nothing to eat. Could He send them away? No, indeed! His compassion on them was greater than that. If He detained them to teach their souls many things, He will also prove Himself able to meet this need also. He will testify that He is the Great Messiah of Psa. 132:15, who of old said, "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread." He will also teach His disciples, what they failed to learn in their mission, that they were His administrators (but see verse 52).

They do not understand this when He says, "Give ye them to eat." They speak about buying bread. He said, "How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew, they say, "Five, and two fishes." He will use His disciples to arrange them in ranks of fifties and hundreds. And He will also use them to distribute what His fullness provides. He now takes the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves, and divided the fishes, and gave them to His disciples to set before them, and they did all eat and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. What proof this was that Jehovah was in their midst blessing the poor of His flock. In this we have a foreshowing of the Messiah's glory and of the place His disciples have with Him. But it is only a picture, He is yet the rejected One.

Verse 45 begins another picture. In figure He dismisses the Jewish nation, constrains His disciples to get into the ship (the Jewish remnant became the Church at Pentecost), while He goes up into a mountain to pray. A picture of this present time when the Church has to face contrary winds and trials, but He is interceding for us on high, and though we are apparently left alone, He is with us now by the Holy Spirit. (John, 14:18.) This time will end with His coming to meet us, not on the earth, but in the air.

His coming to them walking on the water, pictures His coming to the believing remnant of Israel, and calming their fears, and delivering them from the oppressors-the winds and waves of the great tribulation. His coming for us has no signs. His coming to Israel has many signs. He watches over them, and says "Be of good cheer: It is I; be not afraid." And coming up into the boat the storm ceases; but with the Church it is taken up out of the storm. Our rest is not here. In Him we have peace. The disciples were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered, the miracle of the loaves had only hardened their hearts.

Verses 53-56. They now land at Gennesaret, or Gadara, where the man that had the legion cast out was left. Now, what a change! They besought Him to depart before, now they recognize Him and run to bring all their sick to Him, where they heard He was. And besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made whole. This pictures the future blessing of Israel when they are restored to the Lord. God's purposes will be fulfilled without fail, and He knows the end from the very beginning. What a blessed portion is ours now, as saints in light. May we walk according to it!

Continued from page 296.

Scripture Study: Mark 4

MAR 4The Lord in figure has left Israel, of whom He received no fruit. His service in sowing the word is to produce fruit by the word received into the heart. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

It is not national relationship, but individual now.

Verses 1, 2. He sat in a ship with the multitude on the shore before Him, and He taught them many things by parables.

One would naturally think with such a teacher all must be convinced and believe His word, but His first parable shows how mistaken we are in such a thought.

Verses 3-8. "Hearken: Behold, there went out a sower to sow." Some fell by the wayside, some fell on stony ground, and some fell among thorns, and some on good ground. In three places it is without fruit, and on the good ground the seed does not produce alike in every one. Yet it sprang up, and increased and brought forth, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred. And He said unto them, "He that hath ears to hear, let Him hear." Yes, why it should be so with us is worth pondering.

Verses 10-12. When He was alone, they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the parable. He said unto them, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."

This applies to Israel as a nation. Individuals did receive the word and were forgiven (Verse 12 is a quotation from Isa. 6:10. See also Acts 28:25-28.)

Verse 13. He seems to reprove the disciples for not understanding the parable, but graciously goes on to explain it.

Verse 14. "The sower soweth the word." It is the Word of God, and where it finds entrance, it must bring the soul into thoughts of God. This begets exercise in the conscience.

Verse 15. The wayside hearer does not take it in, and Satan immediately comes and takes it away.

Verses 16-18. The stony ground hearer receives it at once with gladness. Grace sounds nice, and is a pleasant story, and has beauty in it, but when it brings affliction and persecution, the natural heart wants none of it.

There was no sense of need, no conscience exercised about having to do with a holy God, so, like those in John 6:66, they go away. When true need is there nothing can satisfy but Jesus. ( John 6:68, 69.) Without this exercise there is no self judgment, it is only surface work, and soon disappears.

Verses 18, 19. The seed sown among thorns pictures those who seem to receive the Word, but soon the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. "Other things" show that God is not first. God has not His true place in the soul.

Verse 20. The good ground brought forth fruit and increased, but we might well ask ourselves, Why do we not bring forth the full measure of fruit? The Sower was good, and the seed was good, so it must be in the tilling of the ground; it could not have been properly cleared of weeds and thorns. We saw in the last instance how these hindered the growth of the seed. We need to be exercised to judge all that is of self and self-interests if we are to bring forth fruit to God. The fruits of the Spirit can only be produced in us by letting the Spirit occupy us with Christ. (Gal. 5:22. 2 Cor. 3:18.)

Verse 21. The seed in good ground keeps growing, and is to be a light to others. The ways and testimony, word and work of believers are not to be covered up by business (the bushel); nor by ease or pleasure (the bed), but is to be set on a candlestick. We receive that we may give. God hath shined in our hearts, that the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ might shine out. (2 Cor. 4:6.) This is more than gift; it is grace in each one to live Christ, to love the truth and to walk the truth, and thus glorify the Savior in our lives, by His grace given to us.

Verse 22. All is intended for manifestation, and will be.

Verse 23. "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." May our hearts ponder this truth.

Verse 24. "Take heed what ye hear," etc. It is the same lesson, and shows that what we receive and practice of the truth, will increase our store and enable us in a measure to meet our responsibility to others. And if we do not practice this precious love and grace, we will lose much in our soul's enjoyment of Christ.

Verse 25. How true this was of the Jews who had many privileges, but did not receive Christ, and so lost what they had. And then to those who received Christ, more was given, for they were to know Him afterward as the Glorified One, and are thus brought into full blessing in Him.

Verses 26-29. The Lord sowed at the beginning "as if a man should cast seed into the ground." Now He has gone away, and it is as if the man should sleep, and rise night and day. and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. So it has been going on as if the Lord was not regarding it, but at the end He is seen again. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately He putteth in the sickle because the harvest is come. We know that all blessing is wrought by His grace, through the Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verses 30-32 give another picture of the kingdom growing from a small seed to a tree greater than all herbs, so that the fowls of the air lodge in its branches. This pictures a great system, that can receive under its branches what is foreign to its character and to the object for which it was intended. The testimony of Christ on earth has become a great political system and under His name every evil finds a shelter.

Verses 33, 34. With many such parables spake He the Word unto them as they were able to hear it, so that those who had ears to hear would receive the suited Word for their souls. And those who were His disciples, when alone with Him, received a full explanation. What love, what intimacy this tells us of and encourages us to go to Himself for our explanations.

Verses 35-41. In this incident we have the Lord's unfailing power and love and care for His own displayed. It was the evening of the same day, the shadows were lengthening, when He leaves to journey across the lake with His disciples. They take Him as He was with them, for He had said, "Let us pass over unto the other side." Those words should have given them assurance that they would get there safely. And there were also with Him other little ships. Did He not care for them also? Were they not also of His company? We may be sure of it, for He upholds all things by the Word of His power. But His people have their trials, their faith must be tested. "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me" ( John 14:1); for "We walk by faith not by sight." To Martha Jesus said, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (1 Peter 1:6, 7.) So, "There arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full." The Lord was asleep on a pillow in the hinder part of the ship. As a laborer, He had seized an opportunity to rest. And they thought He did not care. Did He not know their trouble? Did He not care? Yes. He knew, He cared. It was the testing time they needed that they might know Him better. They could not trust Him, they did not see His care exercised. And with unbelief of heart they awoke Him, saying, "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

What comfort amid the storms that beset the Church of God. What comfort to each of us in our little ship that He is with us. He knows the end from the beginning, and we will reach the other side safely. We may have trials, and be tempted to think He does not care, but "We cannot perish for our Lord is nigh; And His own hand will all our need supply."

"I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you." John 14:18.

Scripture Study: Mark 5:24-43

MAR 5Verse 24. Jesus went with Jarius, but before He gets to Jarius' house another incident comes in: "And much people followed Him, and thronged Him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, 'If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.' And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague." Here is a case of need; a woman with no name, and no claim, except that He is the Savior and she is a needy one, and she has faith in Him. How all this answers to the present time. Now, it is individual salvation, not national. We have no claim as Gentiles but our need. No doctors can work improvement of our hopeless case. Only Jesus can do helpless sinners good. It must be nothing short of personal faith in Christ that can meet our desperate case.'

Verses 30-34. "And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, 'Who touched my clothes?' And His disciples said unto Him, 'Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, who touched Me?' And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth." She was healed; that was all she wanted, but that was not all He wanted. He wanted her to know His love and grace, as well as His power to heal. He wanted her to know His heart, as well as His hand. And so He called her out in confession before Him, so that He might speak to her His words of grace. "And He said unto her, 'Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.' " Is this not another likeness to the present time? In no other period of time was the Lord revealed as now. He called her daughter. We are the children of God the Father; we are members of the body of Christ; we are sealed with the Holy Ghost; blessings only known during this present time on earth, yet they will be ours for all eternity. Full assurance of faith; full assurance of understanding; full assurance of hope, given to us now by His word and Spirit.

This story of the woman suddenly ends and the narrative returns to Jarius again, so when the Church is completed and taken on high to be with the Lord, the prophetic clock will start again just where it left off, to complete Israel's story also. We must not look for the fulfillment of prophecy during the period when the Lord is calling His bride out of the world.

Verses 35-43. "While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, 'Thy daughter is dead: Why troublest thou the Master any further?' As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, 'Be not afraid, only believe.' " Here we see how He encourages the believing remnant of the Jews in the coming day, and will recognize them as those who have not seen and yet have believed ( John 20:29). "And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John, the brother of James; and He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. "Just as the Jews do now at certain seasons, but they are just as ready to laugh the next moment. So when the Lord said, "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth," they laughed Him to scorn. To Him she was but sleeping, awaiting the time when God's promises to Israel would be fulfilled (Ezek. 36). "And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, `Talitha cumi,' which is, damsel, I say unto thee, `Arise.' And straightway the damsel arose, and walked, for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And He charged them straightly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat." So, when Israel is restored again, the Lord will see to it that she will be cared for. His covenant with them will be a covenant of grace. His law will be written in their hearts, and their sins and iniquities will He remember no more (Heb. 8:10-12). But He does not speak to Jairus' daughter as He spoke to the woman. Israel will be His earthly people, but the Church is His body and His bride; she will share His heavenly glory (Eph. 5:25, 26, 27). May our souls enter into His love for us now.

(Continued from page 239.)

Scripture Study: Romans 5:1-11

ROM 5:1-11“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

“Peace with God!" All that was against us cleared away. Christ is risen, the work completed, and God has accepted it. There our souls rest. All has been answered by the Lord. We know it by faith, and not a spot, not a cloud to darken our sky.

“By Him also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." His favor shines down upon us, and we enter into it by faith. We shall find this more fully opened up to us as we go on in this Epistle, but we can look up to God and find His favor, which is better than life, beaming down upon us. In that love our souls can rest.

"So dear, so very dear to God,

More dear I cannot be

The love wherewith He loves the Son,

Such is His love to, me.”

We can rejoice also in hope of the glory of God. We had all come short of that glory, but now all is changed. Such is the worth of the sacrifice of Christ, our place in the glory of God is secured and prepared. He is our hope, and He is there, and He will have us there, and this hope brightens our path through this murky world. The light of heaven cheers us on.

The past all cleared away; the present secured in grace; the future-the joy of being like and with Him who gave Himself for us. This makes us think 'of the Giver of all this wonderful good, and He is for us.

He is our Teacher, but we start our journey well furnished. We have much to learn-much to meet in and about ourselves that needs correcting, subduing, and which hinders our enjoyment, and dims our hope, but the tribulations work endurance, and experience; and hope brightens up and makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us, and dwells in us. This leads us to fuller knowledge of ourselves, and more separation of heart from the things around us, and clearer views of what God is for us on the way, His patient goodness all along the road, pictured in Israel of old, when He humbled, and proved to themselves what they were, and what He was for them, though they were ever unworthy, but here it is God's goodness, and not man's failure that is dwelt upon. It is His dealings with us in order to deepen our spiritual enjoyment, and to wean us from the world, and more to Himself in our spirits.

We are reminded in Verse 6, that we were ungodly, and without strength when Christ died for us. Some would scarcely die for a just man; for a good man, some would even dare to die, but "God commendeth His love to us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." The proof of His love is what He has done for us as sinners. The perfectness and purity of His love was told when we were guilty rebels, ungodly and without strength. The divine nature is seen here in its perfection as Light and Love, reaching down to us.

"Thou the Light that showed our sin,

Showed how guilty we had been;

Thine the Love that us to save,

Thine own Son for sinners gave.”

There was no (reason in us that He should so love us. It was His love,-peculiar to Himself. He saw our need, and His grace brought to us the blessing He alone could supply. The Holy Spirit reasons from what He is, not from what we are. We deserved nothing but condemnation, yet salvation sand 'blessing are made ours through grace and through righteousness. Then the top stone is reached when the Holy Spirit, through the apostle adds, "And not only so." We can make our boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (See the margin.) God receives the atonement; we receive the reconciliation. We find our joy in God himself.

This closes the first division of this Epistle. We rejoice, not only in the blessing received, but in the Blesser Himself. Our terror is gone, God is our Father, we are His children; Christ Jesus is our Lord; the Holy Spirit is given to us, and He dwells in us, shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts. We joy in God now.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 4

1Co 4They were to account these laborers as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. God had committed to them to tell out what He had for men. They endeavored to be faithful, and what the Corinthians said about the apostle did not matter much; he left all that to the Lord. He was not conscious that he was wrong. He might judge wrongly, but the Lord would judge rightly of his service and stewardship, though he was not justifying himself. He would wait on the Lord's judgment. Everything will be made manifest when He comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart's, then each will have his praise from God.

They were quite wrong in setting one above another. He had used his own name and that of Apollos to illustrate what he was rebuking them for. All the teachers and evangelists were stewards, and each would give account to his own Master. Who made them to differ? What they had as gift they had received it from the Giver, so that they had nothing to boast of. It is seen how far they had got into the world. What a contrast their lives, and it may be our lives, were and are from that of this heavenly-minded apostle. We may well take it to heart.

Verse 8. "Already ye are filled;" but not with Christ. "Already ye have been enriched," but it was with the world's gain. They were reigning as kings, but without the apostles. It was worldliness; and in the sorrow of his heart, he says, "I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you." He longed for the day when all the Lord's people would be perfect with the Lord. What suffering was his, his words show. "I think that God has set forth us as the apostles last, as appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." It was a path of suffering for the Lord, and for the truth. "We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ: we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." He was indeed "filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in His flesh for His body's sake, which is the assembly.”

What a contrast is the suffering apostle, from the worldly Christians; and see what tenderness and affection mingled with his authority. He did not write to chide them, but as his beloved children he admonished them. If they had ten thousand instructors, yet not many fathers, for "in Christ. Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel," therefore he lovingly entreated them to be followers of himself in his ways for the Lord's glory. He also sent Timothy to them, as a beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who would bring them into remembrance of his ways, as they were in Christ, as he taught everywhere in all the assemblies.

Then he warns those who were puffed up, as if he would not come to them. His intentions were, however, to come, if the Lord and then he would know, not the words, but the power of those who were puffed up. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. Their attitude would determine what God would lead him to do. So he asks, "What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and in a spirit of meekness?" What joy to his heart when he heard of their exercise, and that they had humbled themselves about their ways. May it be so with us, beloved brethren and sisters. May we in humbleness of spirit, be led to search our hearts, and judge our ways.

Scripture Study: Romans 3:21-31

ROM 3:21-31Up to Verse 20 we have seen what sinners we all are, and no way for us to be better. We have no righteousness of our own. Our best endeavors are filthy rags. (Isa. 64:6.) The law could not produce any: "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

What is to be done? On our part, nothing. We have done too much already,-we are guilty. What can God do? Can He justify the ungodly? Yes, His love has found a way. And now, the righteousness of God, without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ. The work of Jesus Christ, as the Sin bearer, on the cross, has declared God's righteousness, and the sinner who believes, is brought into this new blessing which is unto all (everybody), and upon all believers. None need go away now, in their sins, for there is no difference, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, and sin cannot be excused. It must needs be judged, but the believer is justified freely (without cause) by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. God's righteous judgment fell on Him, whom God bath set forth a mercy-seat through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the passing over of the sins of a past dispensation-God's forbearance with those saints who lived before the cross; their sins were carried forward, and put upon Jesus (Isa. 53:5). Now in the present, we can look back, and see God's righteousness declared, and God is the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

Can the sinner boast of his works? Such a thought is gone. The finished work of Christ declares that it is faith alone; the two will not mix. "Therefore 'we conclude that a man is justified by faith," without any works, or law-keeping. This is as true for the Gentile as for the Jew. God is the one to whom all nations are responsible, and He has made the same provision for all, so both are justified on the principle of believing in what God has done through the work of Christ. Does this make void the law? On the contrary, it establishes the law, for all the weight of the judgment of the law fell upon the blessed Son of God.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 6

1Co 6What a cold, worldly condition of soul these Corinthians were in, yet Paul speaks to them as saints, and appeals to them to behave consistently with their heavenly calling, which for the moment, they seem to have forgotten. He puts it in strong language:

Verses 1-6. "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?" Matters might arise between them, but they are easily settled where grace is working in their hearts-where the heart is going on in communion with the Lord. This is the serious thing in these controversies-the flesh manifests its selfishness. Selfish interests gain such a place, that Christ and His interests are forgotten. He reminds them of their blessed association with the Lord, who has told them that when He reigns, they shall reign with Him.

“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have things to judge pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the assembly." What a shame for saints to go to law with each other. Is there not one among you able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

Verses 7, 8. They were utterly at fault to have suits between themselves, and here the appeal becomes stronger. "Why do ye not rather suffer wrong? Why do ye not rather be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren." How the world takes hold when self is allowed a place! There is the fault -the world has the place where the Lord Jesus Christ should reign. Their love for Him has grown cold, and temporal things have increased in value accordingly, and is it not so with us all? The more we enjoy the Lord Jesus and His riches, the less value we set on the present and temporal things. "Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God," is the word in Col. 3:2, 3, for what we set our minds on, our affections follow after.

Verses 9-11. Again, that word "Know ye not?" would lead them to consider the hole of the pit out of which they have been taken, and that such shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And then the blessed contrast in what the grace of God has made us, for, "Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." What foolishness in those who are made meet, and whose destiny is glory with Christ on high, to go to the unrighteous to judge between brother and brother.

Believers here are washed; it is the practical judgment of evil in themselves-the washing of water by the Word. They are sanctified, that is, set apart by the Spirit, and they are justified freely by His grace, by faith in Him, by His precious blood. So it is "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Verses 12-14. And while thus set free, and all things are lawful unto us, yet all things are not expedient, so the apostle says, "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." The conscience is thus exercised to walk in purity. "Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them," but the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. The lusts and appetites are now to he controlled by the knowledge of the Word in the power of the Spirit, for the body is the Lord's. "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power.”

Verses 15-18. "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?" Therefore I cannot do what I like, or go where I like, for I am a member of the body of Christ. The union of two makes them one body, for two saith He, shall be one flesh. But our union with Christ, by the Spirit, makes us, "One Spirit with the Lord.”

And these Corinthians needed to be reminded to "flee fornication," and this was against his own body who committed it.

Verses 19-20. Again we get that word, "What? Know ye not (how important it is to take heed) that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God?" Is it not wonderful that now the body of the believer is made God's sanctuary, His dwelling place? And besides this, it is added, "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." Our bodies are the members of Christ. We are one Spirit with the Lord, united to Him by the Holy Spirit, who also dwells in us. We are bought with a price, redeemed by Christ's precious blood, and waiting for the adoption, to-wit, the redemption of our body.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 3

1Co 3The natural man does not receive, and cannot know spiritual things. They are foolishness unto him (chapter 2:14). Now in chapter 3:1-4 we have two kinds of Christians-spiritual and carnal. The apostle speaks to the carnal as babes that have not developed properly. They are not the perfect or full-grown ones. They have not been exercised in the things of God. Their worldly minds have not fed on Christ, the wisdom of God and the power of God. Though truly belonging to the Lord, they have failed to discern what the Spirit of God would teach them. This is sad indeed; instead of feasting upon the love of God in Christ Jesus, the world and worldly things have engrossed their mind, so that they even look at spiritual things in a fleshly way. God had given them teachers, and instead of taking the truth from them (for there are no contradictions or opposing elements in the truth of God) it is only those who are carnal that would allow such thoughts; and the apostle, instead of unfolding the deep things of God, needs to begin with them as babes, feeding them on the elementary things of God, teaching them the necessity of being of one mind in the Lord. It was a grief to the apostle's heart to hear that there were strifes among them. This we saw in 1:10-13, and here he tells such, that they "walk as men.”

There are some things mentioned further on, in which they were to be men (14:20). In malice they were to be babes, but in their minds they were to be men; and again (16:13), they were to be vigilant, to stand fast in the faith, to quit themselves like men, to be strong. That was necessary in going against an opposing world under the power of Satan, but in this first and third chapters, it is grievous to see how little progress they had made in divine things.

The mind of God must be one mind, and all the teaching must honor Christ and the Word of God; and it does not divide the children of God into classes, or schools of doctrine. What would the apostle say to see the church now so divided, and calling themselves by so many names, and systems of doctrine taught by them? Surely they are carnal and walk as men, who say and do such things.

Verse 5 begins to explain, though each teacher has his own line of teaching, yet they are all needed to make the whole truth, and they do not contradict one another. This is important now, as well as then. We need Paul and Peter, James, John and Jude, and look upon them, as God, through them, writing His messages and unfoldings of truth, putting it in divers ways to suit our human minds, a n d put it all together as one grand, whole, perfect unfolding of what God is doing and has done, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 6 and 7 bring that before us. Verse 8 gives each one his own place to fill.

Eph. 4:7, 11-16, show us that all true ministry comes from the ascended One, whatever kind of instrument He may use; and each of these servants shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. They were all fellow workmen of God, fitted by God for the work that He meant them to do, and it is really the same still.

We get further information most useful now, to explain to us something of the difference of what God does, and of what is committed to men as servants of the dwelling place of God. We already noticed in 1:2 The address of this book took in all profession, as well as what is real.

Verse 10, the apostle takes the place of a builder-an architect who was building a house for God, and he has laid the foundation, but others build upon it; and each one is to take care how, and what he builds upon this foundation. No other foundation can be laid, for it is Jesus Christ. Alas! we know that man is a failure in all that is entrusted to him, and in this also his failure is manifest.

Verse 12 shows us that both good and bad material can be built in. Gold, silver, precious stones are very different from wood, hay, stubble. How long would these last stand the fire of trial when under the eye of God? And the day of trial will come, and declare all the failure, and true work that has been done. Remark here again that it is building the house or temple of God, and though false material has been built into the profession of Christ on earth, yet what Christ builds (Matt. 16:18; 1 Peter 2:4, 5; Eph. 2:22) shall not fail, and God still dwells in the house or temple of God "which ye are" (ver. 17). How very blessed for our souls this is! God the Holy Ghost dwells in us, and with us, as promised (John 14:16, 17). We do not need to pray God to send His Spirit. He is here, and faith enjoys His presence and leading and teaching.

The apostle alludes to different builders-now, verse 14 shows a builder entering into the thoughts of His Master, the Great Architect, and builds according to His plan, and is rewarded accordingly.

Verse 15 pictures one who, though a truly saved man, does not apprehend the will of the Lord, and so builds up what is not in the Word of God, and his work will be burned up. God cannot reward His own children for disobedience to His Word. They suffer loss, not of their souls, but of His approval of their ways; so we need to watch and learn the Lord's mind in what we are doing for Him. Is it what His word told us to do? We know from chapter 5:4 that he will reward us for all that He can approve. The solemn question of verse 16 should surely make us careful about this. It reminds us of a much needed verse in 2 Tim. 2:15, for He dwells with us in His house on earth. "Ye are" this temple of God, and in 1 Cor. 6:19, "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost." May all our hearts lay hold of this important fact.

Verse 17 shows us the corrupters of this temple, introducing into it things that destroy the truth in the minds of men. We could mention many nowadays, but just read Acts 20:29. Think of grievous wolves under the name of Christians, and it is nothing new now (2 Tim. 2:16-18; 1 Cor. 15:12). Some even then had fallen into damnable heresies (2 Pet. 2:1). But, bear in mind that this is different from Acts 20:30, or Rom. 16:17, 18, which speak of divisions among real children of God; sad indeed it is that we have it to say.

What are they to do? What advice will Paul give them? Just what he has said before-let us own 'our foolishness, throw away our own thoughts and fancied wisdom, and be like the babes that believe unquestioningly every word the Father says, and take the good of all things sent to us of God, not dividing them up, but uniting them together in one mind to follow Christ.

“All things are yours; whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”

How blessed all this is! It leads us to take all from our Father's hand, using all for Him With thanksgiving. That which we cannot thank Him for, we surely could not use for Him. May these things give us exercise of soul to find out His mind for ourselves, to prove all things, and to hold fast that which is good.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 5

1Co 5The apostle now changes the subject to show the necessity of judging evil that may come into a Christian assembly. God uses the evil of man to teach us a lesson needed through all the Church's sojourn on earth. It was the subject of common report that among them was a man living in fornication, such as was not even named among the Gentiles,-that one of them was living in this evil way with his father's wife. They were puffed up, and had not mourned, that he who was guilty was not taken away from among them,-the sin had not been judged. This was grievous to the Lord and to His servant, who now gives them instruction about it.

In verse 5 he emphasizes the necessity of judging the sin. "For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, determined already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit,, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." This is apostolic power; the assembly could not do this. We shall see farther on, that their duty (not power) was to put away from among them the wicked person.

Their glorying in having such a man in their midst was not good. It was allowance of evil, and they were leavened by being associated with it. "A, little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." We sometimes meet with uninstructed Christians who quote, "Let tares and wheat grow together until the harvest" (Matt. 13), but that is in the kingdom of heaven, the great profession of Christianity, which contains both true and false virgins,-both tares and wheat. We cannot get out of that profession, nor put any one out of it,-it will go on till the separation takes place when the Lord comes for His saints.

What we have here, pertains to Christian fellowship. Verse 7 says, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Christian fellowship must be in holiness and truth, and in the unity of the Spirit.

The passover-type is fulfilled in the death and blood shedding of Christ, and we who know this finished work, are now to keep the feast, typified by the week of unleavened bread, in a life in which we are to judge sin in our ways. It means for us to walk in a path of separation, as those who are redeemed.

Verses 9-11 refer to the difference between everyday life, where we have to do with all kinds of people in our business and otherwise. We cannot avoid this, else we must needs go out of the world. "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, etc., with such an one no not to eat." That is, that which expresses fellowship, we are not to do. This verse is not a list of those that we are not to have fellowship with, but samples. There are many others whom we must avoid, such as are mentioned in 2 Tim. 2:17.

In our world path we need to sit at table often with wicked men, hut that is not fellowship with them. We need to have our hearts covered,' and thus kept from evil, so that our speech may be always with grace, seasoned with salt-the fear of God,-that we may know how to answer every man (Numbers 19:15; Col. 4:6).

Verses 12, 13. "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are, within?" So we are to judge. But Matt. 7:15 says, "Judge not, that ye be not judged," and this might look, to some, like a contradiction. If we examine this text, we will discover that we are forbidden to judge each other's motives. Whereas, in the other case, the character of the person is fully manifested. Then it is we need to judge the evil course, to put away evil from amongst us. Them that are without, God judgeth. How solemn it is to think of souls under the judgment of God. "Our God is a consuming fire." It is true also for the believer, as for the unbeliever, that "whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”

“Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." We are thus called on to put away. We therefore need to discern, and wait upon the Lord to help us in it. We see in Matt. 18:18-20 that discipline and prayer go together with the Lord's presence in the midst. This is` important for our guidance. What is stated here is a sad and sorrowful but necessary duty to clear the Lord's name, to which we are gathered, from association with evil, for His name is "holy" and "true" (Rev. 3:7); and to keep the conscience of the gathering from the defilement that the allowance of evil brings.

This must not be classed with delivering to Satan. The apostle did that by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ given to him. (See also 1 Tim. 1:20.)

It is the saints gathered together to the name of the Lord who are to wait on the Lord for His guidance in discipline. No number of brothers have authority to do so. They may gather evidence, and otherwise serve, the Lord in care for souls, but the whole gathering is responsible to judge where evil comes in, and there the Lord's presence is to be counted on for guidance.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 2

1Co 2Verses 1-5. Paul's manner in coming amongst this worldly-wise people to declare God's testimony unto them, was marked by dependence upon God. He avoided using. excellency of speech, or of wisdom, and told out the gospel in simple language. It was the story of One who came from God; One whom the world had crucified as a common criminal; and Who was to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the learned Greeks foolishness. To those who believed the story, it was the power of God unto salvation. He discerned that the only right way was not to know anything among them save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. As one truly dependent upon God he was with, them in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, receiving from God the wisdom and strength he needed, that his speech and his preaching should not be in persuasive words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

The character of the world is plainly seen,- a world that could heap upon the head of the Son of God such reproach, shame, ignominy, and death. It tells out man's enmity to God, and sinful opposition to all that is good, in their treatment of that blessed One. What has man's pride to boast of before God?

Verses 6-8. But there was another kind of wisdom that the apostle could speak of to those who had the opened ear, the understanding heart,-these had believed to the salvation of their souls, and more than! that,-saw Christ, the man, risen from the dead, and their place in Him: these are the "perfect" or "full-grown" ones.

It was not the wisdom of this world, nor of its rulers, who in the end come to naught, that he spoke of to them. It was the wisdom of God in a mystery,-that hidden wisdom which God had ordained before the world, unto our glory, -the secret counsel of God now made known by the Spirit. Had the rulers of this world known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

Verse 9. But as it is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." And that is all the length that even a prophet, before the death of Christ, could see; but now that the Holy Spirit has come, and abides in God's people, we have it said, "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." This is not speaking of the great things of future glory, but of what is our portion in Christ now, in contra-distinction to those who lived before Christ died and rose again. Nor does it notice here the failure of some to take in the full truth of their standing in Christ.

Verse 10. "The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

Verse 11. "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

Verse 12. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

Then in verse 13, "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; communicating spiritual things by spiritual means." This is the real sense of this last part. "The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." But the spiritual man discerneth all things, yet he is discerned of no man. The power of the Spirit in the new life enables him to discern what is true and righteous, and gives him new motives and behavior beyond the understanding of one who is not spiritual.

Verse 16. This quotation from Isa. 40:13, found also in Rom. 11:34, but quoted there with a different object, is here used in contrast with Christianity. "For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him'?" The apostle answers. "But we have the mind of Christ," that is, we have the capacity to take in what the Spirit teaches, and so have the thoughts of Christ which the Spirit communicated.

No cleverness of the natural mind can ever grasp the things of God. How blessed the portion of the believer. He has the Spirit dwelling in him. He receives the truth of God. He has the mind of Christ.

Scripture Study: Romans 5:12-21

ROM 5:12-21From Verse 12 we look at sin, the root, of which sins are the fruit. The sins are forgiven; the sin in us is condemned. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

Adam was the head of a fallen race; Christ became the head of a redeemed race. Adam's one act of sin brought ruin on his race; Christ's one obedience brought blessing on all that are His. Death was the result of Adam's sin; Eternal life is the fruit of Christ's death.

Verses 13-17 is a parenthesis. "Until the law, sin was in the world: but sin it not imputed where there is no law." The law made sin transgression, and charges specific acts on the person, but sin and death are plainly seen from Adam to Moses, even where there was no law to sin against,-no transgression.

Verse 15, But if the offense brought death, the grace of God in Christ, brings life. "If through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus 'Christ, bath abounded unto many." The judgment was of one to condemnation, but the act of favor, or grace, called "the free gift," is of many offenses to justification. If by the offense of one, death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Verse 18 connects with Verse 12. So then as it was by one offense towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life. All connected with Adam were involved in his ruined condition; and all connected with Christ, constituted those associated with Him, righteous, and puts them in that state and condition before God.

Verse 20. Then the law entered, that the offense might abound, and so show out the exceeding sinfulness of sin; but where sin abounded, there grace did much more abound; that as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life 'by Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Grace reigns. God's righteousness without Christ's death, would have condemned us, but Jesus Christ, our Lord, has died and risen again, and we have died with Him. We are made the righteousness of God in Him. We believe on Him, and share His victory. We shall reign in life by Him.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 7

In answer to some questions, and for necessary instruction to the assembly, this chapter on marriage was written. Marriage was instituted by the Lord God when man was created in innocence. In Matt. 19 the Lord Jesus goes back to the original institution to show that it is still binding on the man and the woman in every country and clime where man is found. In this chapter we have directions given to the Christian whether married or single. He begins by telling them that to avoid fornication it was intended that every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband. The servant of the Lord, like Paul who walked in Spiritual power above what was right in natural things, this power given to him of God, is a sample of the exceptions in this chapter to the above rule. It is rare, and generally the servant of the Lord in the Word has free access visiting and ministering in households, because of his greater experience.

Verses 3-5 teach us that the marriage union consummated, the husband and wife' belong to each other, and that they are to act mutually, so that with consent for a time they may give themselves to fasting and prayer and come together again, chaste and happy in the Lord.

This advice he gave them by permission, not of commandment. It could not apply to all.

Verse 7. He would that all men were even as he was. But every man had to do as it was given him of God. His advice to the unmarried and widows, was to 'abide in single life. But if they found the necessity to marry, they should marry. They would be happier then, and go on in it with the Lord, "heirs together of the grace of life.”

Verse 10. Now Paul the apostle commands, but it is the authority of the Lord, "Let not the wife depart from her husband." If that is impossible, and if she depart, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband, and the husband is not to put away his wife.

Verse 12. But as to thee rest speak I, not the Lord: "If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him; for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”

If a Jew under the law married a Gentile woman, God did not respect the marriage. The Jew was profaned, and the children were unclean (see Ezra and Nehemiah); but in Christianity, the marriage is recognized. The unbelieving partner is sanctified by the believing one, and the children are relatively holy, and to be trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).

This does not give license to the believer to take an unconverted partner, in the hope that such a one will be brought to the Lord afterward. Where this has been done, it has often led to a miserable life; and wretched results in the loss of communion with the Lord.

Verse 15. "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”

Verse 16 holds out a hope that the faithful walk and testimony, as grace would lead, might be the means of reaching the conscience of the yet unconverted partner, and of bringing that one into salvation.

Verses 17-24. The great thing therefore is for each to find his own path, and to walk with God in it. It is keeping the commandments of God, that is, obedience of the heart to Him. We need to learn that our times are in the Father's hands, so he was to abide wherein he was called, and therein abide with God. If one was a slave and could be set free, he was to take his freedom; then he was the Lord's slave, so the freed men were to be true servants of the Lord as bought with a price.

"Savior, what a love is Thine!”

How careful the Lord is to gain our affections, and the poor slave under perhaps a hard heathen master could there "adorn the doctrine of God in all things." Titus 2:10.

Verses 25-31. "Now concerning virgins (or unmarried ones, men or women) I have no commandment of the Lord," yet he gives his judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. So he looks at the wretched world in which we are, he thinks of the blessed hope, and of the heavenly calling of the saints, and tries to lift them up in their souls into a heavenly atmosphere. He advises them to go on as they are, and whether married or single, to be occupied with spiritual things. If man and woman marry they have not sinned, nevertheless there will be unavoidable trouble in the flesh, but he spares them, and writes, "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passeth away." The apostle's heart longed for their higher good for they had grown so little in divine knowledge. He would have them weigh the things of time in view of eternity, as his Second Epistle 4:17, 18 brings before them.

Verses 32-34. "I would have you without carefulness." Then he puts their special privilege of devoting themselves, spirit, soul, and body to the things of the Lord, both single men and women, in a deeper way than married persons could. This was the path he walked in himself.

Verse 35. He said this not to cast a snare upon them. He knew the weakness, as well as the evil of the flesh, but for that which is comely, and that they might attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Verses 36-40. "But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward himself" (his virginity-that is what it means) "he does not sin: let them marry." Nevertheless he that standeth steadfast in his heart having no necessity, but hath power over his own will and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virginity, he does well. So he that marries does well, but he that does not marry does better. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth, but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord, but the apostle's judgment was that the greatest happiness was to be as he was,-wholly given up to the Lord; and so the man thought who had the Spirit of God; and who, except our blessed Lord, walked as Paul did'? May we indeed be more like our blessed Master, whether married or single we can seek to own His claims over all we have and are.

Scripture Study: Romans 4

ROM 4Verses 1-8. Faith rests in God. The word is believed; what need of works? God's righteousness is by faith, without works. Abraham cannot boast of anything of his own before God, and so it is written, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." If works could do anything, grace would not be needed; then the reward would have been of debt, and not of grace-the wages or reward of sin is death. Grace comes in; Jesus takes the death and gives the believer life and forgiveness, so to him who does not work, but 'believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. Grace gives righteousness to the ungodly who believe on God. So David, who describes the blessedness of the man to whom God reckons righteousness without works, said, "Blessed are they whose iniquities (lawlessness’s) are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute (or reckon) sin.”

Verses 9-12. This blessedness came to Abraham before he was circumcised. He was reckoned righteous when he believed, and circumcision was given as seal of the righteousness by faith which he already possessed, in order that he might be the father of all them Who believe, who are uncircumcised, that is, the Gentiles are brought in as saved by faith. children of Abraham by faith without circumcision.

Verses 13-25. The promise to Abraham and to his seed was made long before the law was given, so that it was not by keeping of law that righteousness came. If the law made those under it heirs of the blessing, then faith is nothing, and the promise made of no effect.

The law works wrath; it shows the exceeding' sinfulness of sin. Where there is no law, there is no transgression. It curses those who are under it. A sinner can not he justified by trying to keep the law. "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace." Grace the law demands, so that all Gentile sinners without law, and transgressors under law, can all be justified by faith, like Abraham, who is the father of all who believe, as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations." Abraham's faith rested in God to fulfill what He had promised, though it seemed an impossibility,' but he believed God could raise the dead, and call into being things that were not, as though they were, and this faith was rewarded, by the miracle of Isaac's birth. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform, therefore it was counted to him as righteousness. So the saints, of the time before Christ came, who believed God's promises and thus rusted on His word, were counted righteous, and God, on account of what His Son was to do upon the cross, passed over those sins for the time, till they were borne by Jesus, the holy, spotless Lamb of God. God's righteousness was declared when Jesus suffered for sin.

Now it was not written for Abraham's sake alone, that he was counted righteous, but for us also, that we, too, believing on God who has raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead, who was there delivered up to death for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification, should be counted righteous.

How wonderful all this is! What grace to sinners! He gave Himself up to hear our sins. He said, "It is finished," and yielded up His life, and now lives for us on high, bearing in His blessed Person the proofs of a finished work. God is glorified, and we forever justified. Praise His blessed name!

We have now seen that God's grace has freely justified the believer. We have redemption in Christ Jesus. We have a mercy-seat through faith in His blood: God's righteousness declared for remission of sins: justice done, and the ungodly justified by faith his faith counted for righteousness. Christ delivered for our offenses, and raised for our justification. All our guilt fully met in grace by the very One against whom we have sinned. God lets us see His pleasure and satisfaction in 'raising the Lord Jesus from among the dead. He is Just and the Justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

In all this part of the Epistle, and to chapter 5:11, we have nothing of our experience of sin in us, and how we are delivered from its power, but we have our guilt, and what God is in grace. How full is His love and grace to guilty sinners, and its ends with the believer boasting in God Himself, through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom he has received the reconciliation.

Scripture Study: Luke 21

UK 21{The contrast between the widow and the rich men suggests the difference between the devoted, yet poor, remnant of the Jews, and the self-satisfied state of the leaders, who with outward display of religiousness, yet were, as we have seen, far from pleasing Jehovah.

Verses 1-4. And He looked up and saw rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, "Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow had cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had." The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. So it is here. He looks on the heart's motives. The rich men gave out of their superfluous abundance. it was no trial; it brought no freed of carefulness or scantiness to them. But the poor widow gave from a heart devoted to the service of the temple, still owned of Jehovah her all. She was "a widow indeed," and her heart trusted in Jehovah for her next meal. Her confidence was in Him, so she gave all the living she had. The Lord saw her wholeheartedness. She kept back nothing. They kept back their abundance, and gave a little of their superfluity, for selfishness controlled their hearts. And may they dot have been some of those who devoured widows' houses, and for a show made long prayers? (Chapter 20:46,47.) And as their prayers there, so their giving here was abomination to Him who could read their hearts. (Isa. 1:11-15.) Verily I say unto you they have their reward. And what a warning they are to us, as the widow on the other hand is an encouragement. We might argue, how foolish of her to give her all to such a failing testimony, but it is better to see in these days of weakness, that we have a like privilege to go on with what is of God, and own with our company and interest the little remnant Who are truly gathered to the Lord's name, and have His presence in their midst. (Matt. 18:20)

Verses. 5, 6. And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, He said, "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Verse, 7. And they asked Him, saying, "Master, but when shall these things be? And what sign will there be, when these things shall come to pass?”

Verse 8. And He said, "Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, am Christ,' and the time draweth near: go ye not after them." "The time draweth near," speaks of what was about to occur, and did take place after Christ was risen and glorified, and the Holy Spirit had come to form the Church of God on earth. This warned, them of anti-Christs of whom they were to beware. (1 John 2:18,' 19.)

Verse 9 warns of wars and commotions, but tells them not to be terrified. These things must come to pass, but the end was not immediately.

Verses 10, 11, tell of the fearful things that were to happen, and did, before Jerusalem was destroyed.

Verses 12-19. The believers are told of the trials to come on themselves as God's testimony for Christ's namesake, but they were not to be disturbed in their minds and hearts, and not to premeditate what they were to answer. He would give them a mouth and wisdom, which all their adversaries would not be able to gainsay nor resist. Yet He would allow them to suffer even from their own relatives, and some would be put to death, and they would be hated of all men for Christ's namesake. But what-ever was allowed to happen to them, not a hair of their head would perish; all was in the Father's keeping; it was the Father's will, so they could rest, possessing their souls in patience, receiving the end of their faith-soul salvation (1 Peter 1:9). They would be preserved for God's heavenly Kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18). Man's wrath but works out for us the will and glory of God (Psa. 76:10). Their home and portion was not in this world.

Verses 20-24 gives them the signal when to flee to the mountains. (Notice the difference in Matt. 24, which is still' future. "The abomination of desolation.") Those in Jerusalem were to depart; those outside were not to enter into it. For these be the days of vengeance, that all that was written may be fulfilled. In Luke 4:17-20, the Lord read Isa. 61:1, 2, but closed the book at "the acceptable year of the Lord," for then the day of vengeance had not come, but now He tells of its coming. And we can see it has come. Jerusalem was destroyed with great suffering to the Jews. God's wrath has come upon them to the uttermost (1 Thess. 2:14-16), and there they remain scattered. Jerusalem and the land is under Gentile power, and so to continue till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The nations will have power over them till Christ's government is set up. The Turks had it for years; others have it now more favorable to the Jews. The Roman Beast will have it (Rev. Chaps. 13 and 17). But Hos. 3:4 declares the condition of the Jews now. The terrible tribulation will take place before Hos. 3:5. Cain's mark is on them, and they are vagabonds (Gen. 5:14).

Verses 25-27. This is future and gives some description of the scene before the Son of Man appears, "distress of nations." "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." This affects the Gentiles as well as the Jews. (Compare Hag. 2:21, 22; Heb. 12:26, 27.) Yet many of both-Jew and Gentile-will own the name of Jesus as the Messiah before they see Him. It will be a fearful time on earth and outside of the present time of the gospel of God's grace, for when He appears we shall appear with Him, He having come for His saints as seen in 1 Thess. 4:15-17.

Verses 28-31. When the believers on earth see those things happening it will tell them to look up; their deliverance is near. As trees, the fig tree and all the trees, shoot forth and tell that summer is nigh at hand, so they who have eyes to see the signs of the times will know that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand -the time when Christ will take His Kingdom and reign (Rev. 11:15).

Verse 32. Verily, I say unto you, "This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." Alas! how true this is of the Jewish character. And this unbelieving, blind state will be with the Jews as a nation till Christ comes.

Verse 33. Come He will, and all must be fulfilled. Man cannot hinder God's purposes. "Heaven and earth shall pass away; but My words shall not pass away.”

Verses 34-36 are words of warning to the disciples of that day, for they desire to stand before the Son of Man on earth. They are warned to be ready; not to be carried away with this life, and the pleasures and cares of it, for Satan will do all he can to lead them into his snare, therefore they were to watch and pray always. In principle they speak to us also that we might be in the watching and waiting attitude, dependent upon and cleaving to our Lord, till we see Him when caught up to meet him in the air.

Verses 37, 38. The Lord goes on with His ministry till the last. In the daytime teaching the people in the temple, and at night in the Mount of Olives (outside of the corrupt city), alone with the Father in the place where He ascended from (Acts 1), and where His feet shall stand when He returns (Zech. 14:4). And the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple for to hear Him. Does He not still love to speak to the hearing, diligent soul that makes an effort to get early into His presence. May we, like Mary (Luke 10), make choice of it, and taste the blessedness of John 14:18, 21, 23.

Scripture Study: Luke 23

Verses 1-3. The whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate that the Gentile power might carry out their base and murderous intentions. They pour out false accusations in the ears of Pilate. To all of which Jesus made no reply except when asked if He was a king, He confessed, "Thou sayest it.”

Verses 4-25. Pilate said, "I find no fault in this man." But this only stirred up the fire that burned against Him the more fiercely. When Pilate heard that He was a Galileean, he sent Him to Herod, who was glad to see this wonderful man, of whose miracles he had heard, but the Lord took no notice of him. The chief priests continued vehemently accusing Him. Herod and his men of war set Him at naught, and mocked Him; arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him to Pilate and these two enemies became friends over Him that day. Pilate called together His accusers and told them that neither Herod nor he could find any fault in Him. "I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." It was a law to release a criminal to the Jews at their feast, but with one voice they cried out, "Away with this Man, and release unto us Barabbas," who had been guilty of sedition and murder.

Pilate tries again, Nit they cried, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." Again, the third time, Pilate asserts the innocence of Jesus, but they were instant with loud voices requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. Open-eyed, flagrant injustice to please men: priests, whose business it should have been to defend the weak, were His accusers. The judge knowingly condemns the innocent, and plows up His back with the Roman scourge. The murderer is preferred before the Savior. "He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth" (Isa: 53:7). "They compassed Me about also with words of hatred; and fought against Me without a cause. For My love they are My adversaries: but I give Myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded Me evil for good, and hatred for My love." Psa. 109:3-5.

Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required: the murderer whom they desired is released, and Jesus is delivered to their will. Verse 26. They laid hold of one Simon, a Cyrenian, whom they compelled to bear the cross after Jesus, an old writer says, "The decreed burden of every saint." We trust he got blessing through it.

Verses 27-31. There followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are earning, in the which they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.' Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" It would be for them judgment for their rejection of Him, and wrath to the uttermost they brought upon themselves (Luke 1.9:41-44; 21:22-24; 1 Thess. 2:16). Yet His heart breathed out forgiving grace through all.

Verse 33. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and another on the left. "He was numbered with the transgressors.”

Verses 34, 35. Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And Peter's address in Acts 3 is in answer to this prayer. (See also Matt. 5:44.) It was all the love and the obedience the Father delighted in. It was a bright light shining amid the darkness of man, blinded by the enemy. The soldiers gambled over His clothes. The people stood beholding. The rulers also with them derided Him. He was the song of the drunkards. They say, "He saved others, let Him s we Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God." Yes, He saved others, they had to own that. But Himself He could not save; love's stream too deeply flowed.

Verses 36-38. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering vinegar, and saying, "If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself." And there above His head the inscription was written, "This is the King of the Jews," in three languages, so that all might read it.

Verses 39-41. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, "If thou be Christ, save Thyself and us." The two were railing on Him shortly before, but with one a change has come, and he answers the railer, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? and we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss." Here grace is seen doing its work in the man's soul. Its first evidence is: he takes the place of a sinner against God and condemns himself and others before God; and second evidence is: he justified God and declares that this Man hath done nothing amiss. He before all declares the Lord's generation (or character, Isa. 53:8). And then his faith turns to the Lord to find its answer there, nor can the Lord ever disappoint faith in Him. Nay, it will find far more than it sought, for God delights to give.

Verses 42, 43. Arid he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom." This was both the boldness and the confidence of faith! Great boldness, for had he not reviled the Lord a little while ago, and what could he expect if the Lord gave him what he deserved? And great confidence, for he had read aright in Jesus' name and prayer, the grace that delighted to forgive the guilty, then this poor man owned Jesus as Lord and King, and marvels that he should so own Him at the very time when He was a dying man. He owned Him as the mighty Son of God, who would rise from the dead, and in the future appointed time of the Father, come back to set up the Kingdom, and he boldly asked to be remembered then. Yes, surely he will have a place with Him then, but the Lord has something now for him to enjoy before the Kingdom comes. And Jesus said unto him, "Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." Here we get the truth unfolded, that when the believer dies, he is with the Lord, and that when Jesus died, that very day He was absent from the body, He was present with the Father in Paradise, which means-a garden of delights, pleasures forevermore. There is no thought in Scripture of Jesus going to prison. Where Jesus' spirit was, there also was the thief, "With Me." That would surely be the joy of Paradise. And how different this is from waiting for an earthly kingdom to come; yet the earthly Kingdom will come, but all the saints who die will have the heavenly Kingdom.

That day, when everything was finished, Jesus said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit," and then gave up His Spirit. And the soldiers brake the legs of the thieves, to kill them quickly, sending the one, as far as we know, to eternal woe; and the other to be with Him whose precious blood had fitted him for that place. "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." And no other preparation was needed for this thief. It was on the ground of the work He was accomplishing on the cross that the Savior could take the thief to Paradise with Him that day. Jesus rose from the dead, and is now a man ascended and glorified, but the thief's dust still is on earth, awaiting his part in the resurrection of life with many others who have died in faith, and who cannot be perfected in glory, till we, with all the heavenly saints, are perfected also. (Heb. 11:40.) What joy to the poor guilty, yet forgiven, sinner to be with the Lord Jesus. What grace that can say to a sinner like that, I want you with Me in Paradise! It was truth, comforting the Savior as well as the sinner.

Verses 44-46. It was about the sixth hour, and darkness was over the earth until the ninth hour. It was during this period that Jesus was forsaken of God, the work of atonement was wrought, and much more not mentioned in this Gospel took place. Here it mentions the vail of the temple was rent in the midst. It is God declaring all is done. He can come in righteousness and bring sinners into His own immediate presence. "Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." The work of the Lord Jesus on the cross tells of holiness that must judge sin, and of love that provided One to meet the claims of God in atonement. His loud voice proclaimed His finished work, God has raised Him from the dead, and He has entered in, our forerunner.

The vail is rent:-our souls draw near

Unto a throne of grace;

The merits of the Lord appear

They fill the holy place.

Verse 47. The Centurion, when he saw what was done, glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man." Well, we may see that Centurion along with other Centurions (as Matt. 8 and Acts 10), who were godly men and believed on Jesus, when we meet the Lord on the cloud, with us praising and adoring the One he saw put to death by the Jews under Pilate's instructions.

Verses 48, 49. With what mingled feelings the people would return to their abodes that day, for many had not in heart consented to His murder. Joseph of Arimathea was one of this kind.

Verses 50-53. He comes forward, went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Isa. 53:9 in the New Trans. reads, "And (men) appointed His grave with the wicked, but He was with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was there guile in His mouth." So he and Nicodemus, two counselors, took the body down and wrapped it in new fine linen, and laid it in a new sepulcher, hewn out of the rock, wherein never man was laid. Thus again men's plans were defeated, so that no felon's grave held His body, and in going into death, He had the holy confidence given in Psa. 16, "Thou wilt not leave My soul in Sheol (separate from the body), neither wilt Thou suffer Thine holy One to see corruption." So decay was not allowed to touch the body of the Son of God. Soon the time came when He was shown the path of life, and He was saved out of death in answer to His prayer (Heb. 5:7).

Verses 55, 56. The women also watched where the body was laid, and with what time was left before the Sabbath, prepared spices and ointments (though never used, how precious this would be to the Lord), and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. They did not yet understand that all this was set aside and shadowed in the rending of the wail. May we know in our souls the liberty it gives us from all laws and ordinances, as now dead with Christ, and risen with Christ.

Scripture Study: Luke 22

UK 22{In the closing events of the Lord's life on earth, what moral degradation! what enmity against 'God is seen in man's rejection of Christ? Priests, scribes, rulers, disciples, all witness to man's departure from God. The higher a man's position in the world, the more is his wretched condition manifest. But in the Lord, what a contrast! His lowliness, meekness, patient grace, with others, while Himself in suffering, shine out in all this contradiction of sinners.

Verses 1, 2: The time for the Passover lamb to be slain, and the feast of unleavened bread to be kept, drew nigh. The chief priests and scribes, that should care for the oppressed, sought how they might kill Him; they were the oppressors.

Verses 3-6: Satan found a ready instrument in one of His disciples: Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, offered himself to betray Him, and these leaders were glad, and ready to pay the money his avarice demanded. He arranged to betray Him unto them when the crowd was not there, for they were afraid of what the people might do.

Verses 7-13: The day came, when the pass-over should be killed, the day of unleavened bread. The Lord sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat." He tells them where and how to find the place. A man bearing a pitcher of water, follow him, and say to the good man of the house, "The Master (Teacher) saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready." And they found everything just as He said, and there they made ready the passover.

Verse 14: And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Perfect in all His ways, He is a lesson to us, a pattern of punctuality, an example for us. He does not keep His disciples waiting for Him. They should not keep Him waiting for them, when the hour is come.

Verses 15, 16: He tells out the intense desire of His heart to eat this passover with them before He suffered. Redemption was in His mind, not looking back to Egypt as they would do, but redemption from sin, and death and Satan's power. He was the great sacrifice, the true paschal Lamb. They could not fully enter into it yet, but His love desired that as His friends, they should share His feelings. And He tells them in eating it, "I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.

Verses 17, 18: The passover cup (the joy of redemption in figure), He could give thanks for and give to them. He would eat the pass-over, but not drink the cup, until the kingdom of God shall come. He could not have the joy of it, till it was accomplished in His death and resurrection. As yet He was the Nazarite separated from His brethren.

Verses 19, 20: The memorial supper is distinct from the passover, and could only be entered into when He had gone on high, from whence it is given to Christians. (1 Cor. 11:23). It is the precious remembrance of the Lord in death. His body given for us, His blood shed for us. It is a dead Christ that is before us in the symbols. We know Him risen and glorified. We remember Him in His sufferings and death.

This cup is the New Testament (covenant) in My blood." The covenant will be established when Israel is returned to their own land and acknowledged as Jehovah's people. We, the Church, have a nearer place as His body and His bride, and in the friendship of this are called to share in all His joys. We are accepted in Him, "the Beloved," and it is becoming that we should share the spoils of His victory and celebrate His triumphs and proclaim His worth.

Verses 21-23: What a sadness must have fallen on them as He said, "But, behold, the hand of Him that betrayed Me is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goeth, as it was determined, but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed." Alas! one of themselves was the traitor. They believe Him, and begin to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing.

Verses 24-27: And yet there was a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. They could not hide their selfish desire for a place among men, even at such a solemn moment. The Lord brings the true character of the Christian out -the leader must be servant of all, and that is what HE was. "I am among you as one that serveth." He does not reproach them, but gives them credit for their following Him.

Verse 28: "Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations." He knew their hearts, their faith, and their failures, and encouraged them on to think of the glorious future and reward that awaited them.

. Verses 29, 30: "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father hath appointed unto Me; that ye may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." How He appreciates our heart's desire to please Him, though our ways are sometimes so full of failure.

Verses 31-34: And the Lord said: "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." This gracious warning should have aroused Peter's fears and stirred him to prayer to be kept, but he did not know his own weakness. Confident in his own strength and in his love for the Lord, he answered, "Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison and to death." The warning is unheeded and the Lord makes it still more alarming. "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me.”

Peter's faith was sustained by Christ's intercession, it could not fail; he was wheat, but he most be sifted; he was one of Christ's brethren, but he would be turned aside, and so would need to be "turned again," the meaning of "converted" in this passage.

What sorrow and sin it would have saved Peter had he hearkened to the Lord's warning! What a lesson this is for us all to keep humble and dependent on the Lord.

Verses 35-38: And He said unto them, "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything?" And they said, "Nothing." They were as well off under Messiah's care as in the days of Solomon's plenty when Israel was in full blessing. (1 Kings 4:27.) In everything they had been supplied. Now a change was to take place, He was going away. He prepares them for it, saying, "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." This was in view of the fact that He was to be "numbered with the transgressors," as the Scripture foretold, "The things concerning Me have an end," meant that He was not to be King for the present, and they would need to know what resources they had in 'God by the Spirit dwelling in them when He was gone on high. Individual faith would need to be exercised by each one. They did-not understand the figurative language, and thought He was talking of material things, and so said, "Lord; behold, here are two swords." He would not explain further, but replied, "It is enough," as if He would say, you cannot understand this now. Christianity is entirely different from law. It does not interfere with the world, nor try to shape the world's course, but brings in love and grace to meet the present exigencies. It was an officer in Caesar's army that was a man of greater faith than all Israel (Matt. 8.) It was another centurion that was the first Gentile received into the Church of God. Philemon and others in the New Testament had slaves. They were received without putting them under conditions or laws to give up these things. The Lord did not take Peter's sword, or these two swords from them. There was room for grace to work, and doubtless it did work. Philemon set Onesimus free. And Peter by and by would be ashamed of his sword. He would only need the spiritual kind the Lord here refers to. (1 Peter 2:23.) "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in 'God, believe also in Me," provides for us, all we can need, though rejection and suffering may be our lot still, but only by His ordering. Bless His Name!

Verses 39-44: He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the Mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, "Pray that ye enter not into temptation." He felt their need of prayer, as He felt His own. He goes on about a stone's cast from them and kneeled down and prayed, saying, "Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done." His is perfect submission to His Father's will, cost Him what it might. It was deep and real need, and there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly still, till His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. None can tell the depth of sorrow of that moment of strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save Him out of death. (Heb. 5:7.) And He was heard in that He feared. He takes the cup from the Father's hand, and gave Himself up to the death of the cross.

Verses 45, 46: And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, "Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

Verses 47-51: The temptation soon came: While He yet spake, behold a multitude, led by Judas, one of the twelve who drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. Some began to think of fighting, saying, "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" And one of them smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. The only one that was calm was the Lord. He said, "Suffer ye thus far," and He touched his ear and healed him. Thus He gently rebuked His servant and put right what he had put wrong. And what would it be to the man? We think such grace may have touched his heart to learn more about this Savior; perhaps we shall meet him in glory.

Verses 52, 53: He had power as well as pity and compassion, but He will yield up to the enemy for He had taken it in hand; and He said to the chief priests and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to Him, "Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me; but, this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Verses 54-62: Then took they Him, and led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And now around a fire a maid points out Peter as one who had been with Jesus, but he denied that he knew him three times, and the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked on him, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord and went out and wept bitterly. Poor Peter! When he should have been praying, he was sleeping. When Jesus was yielding Himself, Peter was fighting. When Jesus was standing, guarded and treated as a felon, Peter was warming himself at the fire. When Jesus confessed the truth, Peter is hiding himself under a lie, and to prove that he was not of Jesus' company, he curses and swears. (Matt. 26:74.) But that look of love brought him to his senses. It broke him down completely as to what he had done. For Peter truly loved the Lord, and we know the Lord loved Peter with an eternal love, and this look of His is another proof of it. Yes, and He will follow him up to restore his soul again to its communion which it had lost.

Verses 63-65: The men that held Jesus mocked Him and smote Him, blindfolded Him and smote Him on the face and said, "Prophesy who smote Thee?" And many other things blasphemously spake they against Him.

Verses 66-71: When it was day, the great men came together, and led Him into their council, saying, "Art Thou the Christ? Tell us." And He said unto them, "If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I also ask you, ye will not answer Me, nor let Me go. Henceforth shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God." Then said they all, "Art Thou then the Son of God?" And He said unto them, "Ye say that I am." They are condemned out of their own mouth. They refused Him as the Messiah, condemned Him for telling the truth as Son of Man and Son of God! He could not say otherwise. He had nothing to conceal. He confesses who He is and this condemned them. His place henceforth is at the right hand of the power of God. They condemn Him for His own confession, as they rejected Him before as their Messiah. Their blind religious enmity, the worst of all kinds, has destroyed them.

Scripture Study: Luke 20

UK 20{Verses 1-2. The Lord with unwearied patience goes on with His service, teaching the people in the temple and announcing the gospel. On one of these days the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came upon Him. They could not destroy Him. His time was not yet come, but they tried to hinder His work, assuming the right to question Him. "Tell us, by what authority doest Thou these things, or who is He that gave Thee this authority?”

Verses 3-4. He answered and said unto them, "I will also ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?”

The priests had some authority from God, but with the others it was only assumed. Also their moral' condition was far from right. The Lord proved this by the answer they gave to His question.

Verses 5-7 ' They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, from heaven; He will say, Why then believed ye him not? But if we say, of men; all the people will stone us; for they be persuaded that John was a' prophet. And they answered that they could not tell whence it was. Jealousy and untruthfulness, hypocrisy, and the fear of men ruled them, and had not any desire for the glory of God. Their pride of heart would not submit to John's call to repentance from, heaven. Yet they dared not say anything against him for fear of the people. Their heartlessness is manifest.

Verse 8. And Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” They were utterly 'incapable to judge anything according to God.

Verses 9-16. In this parable He shows their failure in responsibility to bring forth fruit to God. Israel had returned no fruit for all God's care, and they, the husbandmen, had persecuted His servants, and lastly the Lord of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send My beloved Son; it may be they will reverence Him when they see Him." But when the husbandmen saw Him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, "This is the heir; come, let us kill Him that the inheritance may be ours." So they cast Him out of the vineyard, and killed Him. "What therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others." These were plain, forcible, words, and they reached their mark. They felt the parable was against them; it was truth and they feared it. And when they heard it, they said, "God forbid." Yet how truly it all came about up to that moment.

Verses 17-18. And He beheld them, and said, "What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Would not that look of His convict them, and pierce their consciences? Doubtless the Lord felt sad needing to speak such words, for they had stumbled on the stumblingstone and would be broken. Yet He was the head of the corner, as it will be seen in Psa. 118, and they were the builders that rejected Him. The words, "But on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder," speak of His coming in judgment on the unbelieveing Gentiles when Israel is restored.

Verse 19. These wicked men the same hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people. The lesson taught but hardened their hearts and stirred up their anger against Him.

Verse 20. Instead of crowning Him King, they lay traps to catch Him, that they might deliver Him up to the authority of the governor. They watched Him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words.

Verses 21-22. And they asked Him, saying, "Master, we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest Thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly; Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or no?”

Verses 23-24. But He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye Me? Show Me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?" They answered and said, "Caesar's.”

Verses 25-26. And He said unto them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." It was an answer that reminded them of their sin against God. They had not rendered unto God the things which are His, and because of it they were now under the Roman's power. And now they must submit to it till God's time to restore them comes, through their repentance. Again their attempt was defeated; they could not take hold of His words before the people; they marveled at His answer and held their peace.

Verses 27-38. Then came to Him certain Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked Him, trying to perplex Him, about the law of brothers taking their deceased brother's wife. Whose would she be in the resurrection? The Lord answers from Moses' writings also, and gives us valuable teaching and proves how blind they are to the things of God. In answer He said unto them, "The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage, but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from (out from among) the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the 'children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord `the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' For He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.”

“This world" and "that world" are contrasted. Those accounted worthy to obtain it and the resurrection from among the dead, (see new trans), speak of believers in the resurrection of life. They are called the children of God and the children of resurrection. The unsaved will not be raised at the same time. Further, notice, all live unto God no one is dead to Him. There is no sleep of the soul. 'Believers who die are asleep as to this world, they know not anything, but they are absent from the body and present with the Lord. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.

Verses 39-40. Certain of the scribes answering said, "Master, Thou hast well said." After that they durst not ask Him any question.

Verses 41-44. But He has something to ask them, "How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool,' David therefore calleth Him Lord, how is He then his son?" They cannot answer. Thank God, we know who He was. "Jehovah," the great "I am." The Almighty, "The Word," "in the beginning, with God and was God." "Whose goings forth hath been from of old from the days of eternity". Great David's greater Son "Jesus" our Lord.

Verses 45-47. In the audience of all the people He said unto His disciples, "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts." It is seeking honor of men, but "they devour widow's houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”

Scripture Study: Matthew 1

AT 1{Matt. 1:1 is the subject of this book. It is about Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

As son of David, He is heir to the throne and kingdom of Israel; as son of Abraham, all the promises are fulfilled in Him. He is the great King foretold in such scriptures as Isa. 9:6, 7; and "All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 2 Cor. 1:20.

Matt. 1:2-17 trace His genealogy to Joseph, His reputed father, who was heir to the throne; this gives Him the legal title. It is clearly traced through the time of Israel's captivity. Verse 17 divides it into three periods of fourteen generations, witnessing God's perfect ways.

In the history, there are four women mentioned, which show man's sinful ways, but God's wonderful grace and miraculous power that has brought a clean thing out of the unclean. Judah's sin with Thamar is the first (Matt. 1:3); then the grace that brought Rachab the harlot into the royal family (Matt. 1:5),; and Ruth the Moabitess also, shows us God's grace reaching over what the law has said (Deut. 23:3) in giving blessing to the believing stranger.

Then king David's sin with the wife of Uriah, tells us that while man in his best estate is altogether vanity, God's grace has provided One to be a Savior.

The Lord's genealogy in Luke is traced through Mary, and she is also of the royal line of David, but descended through Nathan David's son. Joseph comes through Solomon, the king, thus the Lord Jesus is proved legally, and by natural descent the heir to the throne.

Matt. 1:18-25. In Luke we find God speaking to Mary, but here in Matthew all He says is to Joseph as son of David; and this is quite consistent with what we have looked at. Joseph was a pious man, and Mary was espoused to him, but before they came together, she was to he the mother of Jesus. The Holy Ghost's power had done this.

While Joseph was pondering what he should do, an angel of the Lord graciously explained to him Mary's condition, and calls her "Mary, thy wife," and "that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Ghost." "She shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." It was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isa. 7:14. "Emmanuel," i. e. "God with us." What a wonderful person! God come down to earth the deliverer of His people from the state of sin they had fallen into. Joseph believed God, and did as the angel told him to do. This is the simple way of faith; it believes and acts on the word of God, and when her son was born, "he called His name Jesus.”

Israel looked for One to come, a great King to deliver them from their enemies, but this One was to do a greater work, and not only deliver from human enemies, but deliver them from the slavery of sin and Satan, and set them in eternal blessing, but this was not yet unfolded. He who would do this work was come. How happy are they that know His name.

There is no other name than Thine

Jehovah-Jesus! name divine;

On which to rest for sins forgiven,

For peace with God, for hope of heaven.

Name above every name, Thy praise

Shall fill you courts thro' endless days,

Jehovah-Jesus! name divine,

Rock of Salvation Thou art mine.

(Continued)

Scripture Study: Matthew 4

AT 4{THE TEMPTATIONS

(Matt. 4:1-11). In the Lord sealed with the Spirit, we see the One who is Jehovah's delight, as before in His baptism, we see His delight is with the sons of men. (Prov. 8:30,31.) He is "the Second Man, out of heaven." (1 Cor. 15:47, New Trans.) If so, He must be tested to see if He can overcome the enemy of our souls. The first man was tested in the garden of Eden, where in his circumstances, he had everything to help him. The second Man is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he had nothing to help Him, there to be tried on every point wherein man had failed.

When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered; then the devil, the tempter, came to Him and said, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Was He not hungry? And there was nothing wrong in making bread, and He had the power to do it. But Jesus had taken a servant's place, a dependent man's place, and He had no order from His Father. His Father's will must be best. He has no question about that, such as our poor sinful hearts would raise. He is perfect, no sin in Him. He could not fail, though He felt it. All depended on His victory. He won it by obedience, a man that kept His place in dependence on God.

"He answered and said It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Deut. 8:3.) This is what Israel failed in. Israel's history begins afresh with the Lord. He would not exercise His own will. He did the Father's will alone. His physical wants could not give Him a motive for action. His living, as men say, was not His object in this world. What a lesson for us!

The second temptation is on the ground of privilege. Will God be as good as His word? It is this time on the pinnacle of the temple in the Holy City that the devil says to Him: "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone," as if he said, See if God will keep His word. Jesus, ever perfect, answers "Thou shalt not tempt (or try) the Lord thy God," It is written in Deut. 6:16. (For the meaning of "tempt" see Ex. 17:7.) His confidence in His Father is perfect. He does not need to try Him. He knows and trusts God implicitly. The pattern for us all.

These two temptations were wiles of the devil. In the next, Satan the adversary is plainly seen. The devil takes Him up into an exceeding high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and saith unto Him, "All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me." This is plainly against God. Jesus ever true to God the Father, will accept nothing from Satan. He will wait the Father's time and go through all the needful suffering. He at once answers. "Get Thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord Thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Deut. 6:13.) Satan is foiled and driven from Him.

Here is an important lesson for us all: Satan promises a man that he will get on in the world, and get rich faster, if he will only take His way. How many young people, both men and women fall into this trap, because they did not put God first in their hearts. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Lord quoted the scriptures, all from one book; the book given to Israel, with instructions to dwell in their land; one of the five books of Moses that higher critics (so-called) have set aside. The Son of God confirmed them as the word of God, out of God's mouth, but these wolves in sheep's clothing set aside the Lord, also to their eternal destruction.

What a lesson is here on the authority, truth, sufficiency, and suitableness of scripture. (Psa. 17:4; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

Perfect Master, make us more like Thee.

It was here then that Satan was defeated; the second man is victorious; the strong man is bound; Jesus the stronger than he, can now spoil the strong man's goods. (Matt. 12:29.)

Now the trial is over; the devil leaveth Him and angels came and ministered unto Him. A picture of the Father's care over us also. (Heb. 1:14.)

Matt. 4:12-17. Having heard of John being in prison, Jesus leaves Judea and goes into Galilee. It was on this journey He passed through Samaria. (John 4). The sphere of His ministry is Galilee, fulfilling Isa. 9:1, 2. If the Romans held them in captivity, yet their King that could deliver them was there; He was the great and true light of the land.

But His people are in such a condition, blessing can only come to them on the ground of repentance. He announces this, and that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matt. 4:18-22. Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother, at His call, straightway leave their nets and follow Him to become fishers of men. James and John also leave the ship, and their father, and follow Him; companions of Jesus during His ministry, and called to share His rejection and His glory.

Matt. 4:23, is a concise account of His ministry.

Matt. 4:24, 25, tell us the effect of this ministry. It was the power of God manifested in goodness on the earth, telling out the gracious and longsuffering heart of God.

Scripture Study: Matthew 3

AT 3{(Matt. 3:1-6.) John the Baptist is the forerunner of the King, and comes preaching in the wilderness of Judea. He is a prophet; his dress, his food, his place outside, all tell of separation, for Israel is in a sinful condition. He came in righteousness; (Matt. 21:32), his message is a call to repentance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The King is coming; he tells of a change of dispensation. Israel had lost all their blessings by their disobedience; if they were to be blessed, it must be on the ground of grace, they must repent.

(Matt. 3:5, 6). The people flock out to him and were baptized of him in Jordan confessing their sins. Those who thus were baptized, were the excellent of the earth. (Psa. 16:2, 3.) Luke tells us (Luke 7:29) who accepted John's baptism, (and Luke 7:30), the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized of John.

(Matt. 3:7-12.) Seeing the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he calls them the "offspring of vipers" and demands that they bring forth "fruits meet for repentance." It is no use saying they were the children of Abraham; they must have to do with God about their sins. The judgment of God will fall on every unrepentant sinner, no matter what religion he professes. The ax is laid at the root of the tree. Man's trial to produce fruit is nearly over; unless there is good fruit, the tree must be cut down. The King, the Judge, the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost will test every one; the good, that is, those who confess their sins and thus own their badness, will be baptized with the Holy Ghost; and the others, in their sins, will be baptized with the fire of God's judgment, the wheat will be gathered into His garner; the chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire.

(Matt. 3:13-17.) Then Jesus comes from Galilee to Jordan, to be baptized of John. John knows Him and forbad Him saying, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" Here is the great King, Emmanuel, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the dependent man of Psa. 16. What grace! (2 Cor. 8:9).

In reply to John, He says, "Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Who could fulfill righteousness but the Lord Jesus? All the rest of us are sinners against God. Nor is this Christian baptism. Christians are not fulfilling righteousness when they are baptized, for they are baptized unto the death of Christ, thus owning they have no goodness. We do not keep ordinances to obtain righteousness, for Christ is our righteousness. (1 Cor. 1:30.) John's baptism has nothing to do with Christianity; it belongs entirely to the Jewish dispensation.

The Lord Jesus did fulfill righteousness here on earth. Here He associates John as forerunner with Himself, and associates Himself with the remnant of Israel, who confessed their sins. The good trees were those who confessed they were bad, they were the true saints; it was there they must begin, casting themselves on the mercy of God, deserving only judgment.

Jesus takes His place with them. He could have no sins to confess except those of the nation. It was all grace on His part, as on the cross.

Our sins, our guilt, in love divine,

Confessed and borne by Thee,

The gall, the curse, the wrath were Thine,

To set Thy ransomed free.

How comforting to poor failing saints it is to see that when one confesses his sins, the Lord is with him in it.

When John heard His purpose, then he baptized Him, and Jesus went up straightway out of the water, And, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him.

And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo! a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Here we get the Godhead fully revealed. God will not allow any mistake here; this is the sinless Man; the Father's delight is in Him. "Him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27.) In this Man the Holy Spirit could take His abode. Now that redemption is accomplished, the Holy Spirit can dwell in believers, witnessing that the work of Christ has cleansed them from all sin. On the saints before redemption, the Holy Spirit came, and John was full of the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb, but He did not dwell, He was only a visitor. Jesus is the perfect One, the Father's delight. In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Compare Mark 1:11, "Thou Art"-the Servant owned as Son. Luke 3:22, "Thou Art"-the answer to the dependent Man's prayer; here in Matthew it is, "This is"-God thus defends Him before men from all thought of being anything less than His beloved Son, in whom He had found His delight. What a comfort to those earnest, repentant ones to find the Lord in grace among them as one of them in their true position before God: to comfort their hearts by His kindness, to sympathize with their sorrows and difficulties; pointing out the way, and leading them along as the true Shepherd of the sheep. He could not go with men in wickedness, but He could and did go with the repentant remnant.

Well the blessed Savior knew it would lead Him on to death, the only way by which Israel or man could be saved. Such was His great love, nothing could turn Him aside from doing the will of the Father, and from making atonement for sin.

"When blood from a victim must flow,

This Shepherd by pity, was led

To stand between us and the foe,

And willingly died in our stead.”

Scripture Study: Matthew 2:1-2

AT 2{We must not mistake the wise men here for the shepherds in Luke 2. Also in Luke 2 He is the babe in the manger; here He is the young child in the house. In Luke His parents return with Him to Nazareth in Galilee; here they flee into Egypt.

These wise men had seen a star in the sky. They had been led perhaps by the Jewish Scriptures to know the time the Great King was to be born, and rightly judged that it had taken place. Then they start their long journey to see Him.

As Jerusalem is the City of the Great King, they journey thither expecting every one there to know all about Him. They ask, "Where is the King of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen His star in the east, and have come to do Him homage." Matthew 2:3. Instead of this being good news, it troubled Herod and all Jerusalem with him. He calls the chief priests and scribes together and inquires where the Christ should be born; they tell him at Bethlehem, quoting a part of Mic. 5:2, leaving out the part that told of His Godhead glory "Whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity". They tell the wise men where He was to be born, but they do not care to go and see. With all their knowledge, their hearts were far from God. How sad to see this in such a privileged people! Do we not find the same tendency in ourselves? This is lukewarmness; we need to guard against it.

Herod, the false king conspires to kill Him. This is impossible, but it shows man's enmity to God.

These wise men start for Bethlehem, and now the star they had seen at His birth, re-appears to their joy and leads them to the house where the young child and His mother were. How glad they were! They rejoiced with great joy. These were Gentiles from afar- a foreshadowing of the time when Jesus shall reign and "the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts." Psa. 72:10. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child and His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him- they did not worship His mother. Then they opened their treasures and presented unto Him gifts; gold and frankincense, and myrrh. Thus they expressed their joy, and thus too the Lord provided Joseph with necessary means, to keep them while sojourning in Egypt. God could have provided for them in other ways, but He chose this way.

God warned the wise men not to return to Herod, and warned Joseph to flee into Egypt, and this was to fulfill Scripture, that again it might be true, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son." (Hos. 11:1.) Israel’s history, ruined in the first instance, begins again with the Lord in grace.

Herod's slaughter of the infants is a foreshadowing also of the enemy's attempt to destroy Christ and His people. (See Rev. 12.) There, too, God preserves them from the enemy’s power.

Matthew 2:19. Again an angel appears to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, commanding him to take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel. Joseph does so, but goes to Galilee and to Nazareth, for he was warned of God in a dream that Herod's son, who was then king, was just like his father. There we see Jesus as the Nazarene, the rejected One, associated with the poorest of the flock, and hiding from the false king with whom the priests and scribes were associated.

Though He was Son of God and Son of David, He was in the despised place, having come in grace among men.

Scripture Study: Matthew 5:1-16

AT 5{The ministry and miracles of the Lord had attracted the multitude. He took an elevated place and sat down and taught His disciples in the hearing of the multitude. As the prophet, He tells them the character that suited His kingdom. It is His own character that comes out in it all.

Immanuel (Isa. 7:14; 9:6), was here among men. He knew what was before Him; He was rejected and despised of men because of the lowly place He took in grace. His people share with Him in His rejection.

The believing remnant of the Jews, the disciples in that day, were brought into the Church at Pentecost. The believing remnant of the tribulation period will share the kingdom in the millennial age. Believers now are a heavenly people. We are children of the Father; members of the body of Christ; temples of the Holy Spirit. The principles contained in the sermon on the mount apply to us also, but we need to notice the above distinction from those who had an earthly calling.

Matt. 5:3-12 is the character and portion of those who are of the kingdom.

Matt. 5:13-16 is their position in the world.

Matt. 5:17-48 is the connection between the principles of the kingdom and the law.

Let us look at them a little in detail.

Matt. 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is accepting a despised place; it is not seeking great things for self in a scene that is contrary to God-these possess the kingdom.

Christ's character is seen in all these as the example for us. What He taught is what He is. (John 8:25; see new translation.)

Matt. 5:4. "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." This is mourning before God and in sympathy with Him over the sinful condition of men. God comforts them with promise of blessing in which they shall share. (See Mark 7:34; 8:12; John 11:33, 35.)

Matt. 5:5. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Meekness does not maintain its own rights; it does not retaliate, it rather suffers wrong; but God defends the meek. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Matt. 11:29; Psa. 22:26; 25:9; 37:11.), "They shall inherit the earth" applies specially to the earthly calling; but we who are heavenly should receive all things from our God and Father in the same way. We should not be conformed to the world's ways, and should be done with selfishness. He will "supply all your need." (Phil. 4:19.)

Matt. 5:6. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Here is earnest desire for good: the inward condition and activity of the mind hungering and thirsting after the things of God. The answer is, Psa. 107:9; Eph. 3:20.

Matt. 5:7. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." This is consideration for others. It is the deep fountain of God's nature in the believer, for "God is love", and He is "rich in mercy". (1 John 4:8; Eph. 2:4.) In us it is, "bowels of mercies." (Col. 3:12.)

Matt. 5:8. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." We get here the pure motive that keeps God in view. The pure in heart see God's ways in everything.

Matt. 5:9. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." This is indeed the activity of the divine nature; God's character among men, carrying peace with them, their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Eph. 6:15) Thus they would win the title, "sons of God".

Matt. 5:10. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Here we have the treatment from others of those who do the will of God, and walk in practical righteousness before Him. The soul that walks with God cannot do what it knows is wrong. It thus brings persecution upon itself from those affected by its integrity. (Psa. 25:19-21.) Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 5:11, 12. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Notice the change to "ye". It is suffering for Christ; it is precious to Him. He sees it all, and encourages the sufferer with His promise, "great is your reward in heaven." To do well and suffer for it, is indeed acceptable with God, and brings the soul its sure reward (1 Peter 3:14-17), but to suffer for Christ's sake is still more precious (1 Peter 4:12-16); "the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you"; "on your part He is glorified". Thus we are encouraged to bear testimony and to walk in the ways of the Lord.

Matt. 5:13. "Ye are the salt of the earth, etc." As the salt, the believer strengthens and upholds all that God has instituted; it is preserving what is good. If the believer goes with the evil, his influence is lost, and his own communion is marred. It is not a question of losing eternal life- that could not be. It is our influence, as walking in the fear of God.

Matt. 5:14-16. "Ye are the light of the world." "The world lieth in the wicked one" (1. John 5:19), and is in darkness, while the believer is brought out of it. (Eph. 5:8.) They are to bear testimony, like a candle in a candlestick gives light to all in the room, and like a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. Then the warning: if it is put under a measure, the benefit is lost, the things of the world have covered up the testimony. May we ponder verse 16, so that our words and works may glorify the Father which is in heaven. (2 Thess. 2:16, 17.)

This is the first mention of the Father's name, "which is in heaven," as suited to an earthly people. In John 20, when the Lord rose from the dead, He could say, "My God and your God", "My Father and your Father.”

(To be Continued.)

Scripture Study: Why are there Four Gospels?

Why are there four gospels? To give us four distinct views of our Lord Jesus.

What is the leading thought in each?

We can find the answer in each introduction. Matthew presents Him as Son of David- Heir to the throne of Israel, and Son of Abraham- the One to whom all the promises belong. Matt1:1.

Mark presents Him as Servant Son. As the servant He has no genealogy. We do not get His birth recorded, it begins with Him about thirty years of age.

Luke presents Him as Son of Man, a man amongst men His genealogy is traced to Adam and God. Luke 3:38.

John presents Him as Son of God. God manifest in flesh. John 1:1 goes back to eternity, before time began. "In the beginning was the Word"- eternal existence; "and, the word was with God"- distinct personality; "and the word was God"- absolute Deity. John 1:14 is His beginning in time.

Each gospel though giving prominence to Him in its own special character also speaks of Him in all the other characters.

Will it not help us in our study of the word to observe this? We must not try to harmonize them. God has written them differently to bring distinctions before us.

He has used different writers but He held their pens, so that we might know and feed upon the Lord in these different characters. It is wisdom therefore to mark the differences so that we may learn of Him.

Another thing is right to notice. We must not study the scriptures as we would men's books to catch their meaning but rather feed upon the word, and that with a prayerful meditation, that God, who has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, may by His Spirit teach us of His beloved Son. Let us remember as 2 Peter 3:18 says, that growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ go together. It is not by our studying but by God's teaching that we are to know the things of God. 1 Cor. 2:12.

If in our study together what is printed is not plain or in enough detail, questions might be asked by letter, and help be given by those the Lord has taught more fully.

We might take up Matthew's gospel in our next paper. Please read carefully and with prayer the first chapters so that our minds may be more familiar with the text. Some complain of having poor memories, but reading the word often is an immense help.

(To be continued.)

Scripture Study: Mark 13

AR 13{Verses 1, 2. As He went out of the temple, one of His disciples pointed out the magnificence of its stones and buildings. This makes an occasion for Him to tell them of its entire destruction, not one stone to be left on another, all thrown down.

Verses 3, 4. On the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, as He sat, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?”

In reply the Lord gives instruction and guidance for the path of the believing remnant of the Jews who shall be gathered back to the land of Palestine, after the Church is completed, and has been caught up to be with the Lord. Luke 21:8-24 speaks of what happened up to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Mark 13, also Matt. 24, speaks of the future, the great tribulation period. (Compare Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21; Mark 13:19.)

Verses 5, 6. "Take heed lest any man deceive you; for many shall come in My name, saving, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." This is warning them of the dangers of that Verses 7, 8. Wars, rumors of wars, risings of nations, kingdom against kingdom; earthquakes, famines, troubles, will be present; they are but the beginning of sorrows. It is in the land of Palestine and in connection with the Jews, and after the Lord has raised His dead and changed His living heavenly people, and taken them to Himself in heavenly glory.

The regathering of the Jews will have commenced; they are gathered in unbelief (Isa. 18), but a new work will begin, and some had already owned the name of Jesus; this is guidance for them. They have their temple built and go on with their own worship. Matt. 24:15 calls it "the Holy place." (See also Rev. 11:1.) The Holy Spirit will begin a work in some souls, for though the Holy Spirit who dwelt on earth during the Church period, will dwell on earth no longer. Yet all God does is done by Him at all periods of the world's history. This new work is in connection with the gospel that announces the coming of the King to reign (compare Psa. 2:10-12), and what John and Jesus preached.

Verses 9, 10. But those who receive it shall suffer persecution, as well as those who preach it. They should take heed to themselves; they shall be delivered up to councils, and beaten in the synagogues, and brought before rulers and kings for His sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be preached among all the nations. The sheep on the right hand in Matt. 25. are some of those Gentiles who own Jesus as King.

Verse 11, is how they were to conduct themselves when led and delivered up for trial. They were to take no thought beforehand what they should say, nor premeditate (Isa. 26:3), but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. What a comfort to them to know that thus God would be with them, and give them, by the Spirit, the very words they were to utter. Just as in old time, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21.)

Verses 12, 13. To receive the truth that Jesus is the true Messiah, was to incur the hatred and arouse the enmity of man's heart, so that the dearest ties were disregarded, and brother shall betray brother to death, and children shall rise against parents and cause them to be put to death, and ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. From Rev. 14:13; 20:4-6, we see that those martyrs get a place with Christ when He reigns. While those that are faithful to the end, and are spared, do not die"; but have a place on earth in the Kingdom. In Rev. 7 we find Israel and the Gentiles on earth in the Kingdom.

Verses 14-18, alludes to Dan. 9:27 and 12:11. The beast and the false prophet command everyone to worship them; the true God is set aside. The godly must flee to the mountains, to the place prepared for them for a time, times and half a time-that is, three and one-half years, or 42 months, or 1,260 days. (Rev. 12.)

So sharp and sudden should this persecution arise, they were to flee at once, step on to the hill from the housetop, leave all their goods. It would be hard for mothers who could not flee, or leave their sucking babes. And they were to pray that it might be in good weather, when no torrents might block their way.

Verse 19. "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which 'God created unto this time, neither shall he." This is the great tribulation. The mass of the Jews bow to the Antichrist; go in with his idolatry, and will share his doom in the lake of fire. (Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20.) The godly will be preserved. (See the picture of it in Mark 5:13, 15, also Matt. 12:43-45.)

Verse 20. The Lord watches over them; some He allows to be put to death, some He preserves, both of these are overcomers. And He knows how to shorten the days, for His elect's sake whom He has chosen.

Verses 21-23. God allows Satan to raise up miracle-working imposters who pretend to be the Messiah, who seek to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." Obedience to His word would deliver them from the snares of the enemy.

Verses 24-27. The sun, moon, stars, and powers are symbolic of established authority. Their darkening and falling and shaking, speak of confusion and tumult, and from other Scriptures we see that dreadful wars are going on just at that time, and then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He has with Him His mighty angels, and heavenly saints, and deals with Jews and Gentiles, and judges those who rejected Him, delivering His earthly people, and setting up His Kingdom, but here it is the gathering of His elect Israel to their own land. His elect heavenly people are already with Him.

Verses 28-31. The fig tree puts forth her leaves, and summer seems near, but Israel or the Jews are still the same unbelieving generation, and will remain so till Christ comes. "This generation" means their unbelieving character.

Verses 32-37. No one knows the day nor the hour, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. As prophet the Lord knows, and gives what is given Him of His Father. We do not know when the Lord will come for us, but they, and we, are to read a lesson from verses 32-37. "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Our Master has gone, given us our place to fill, and our work to do. If He came today, would He be pleased at what we are doing? He may be here today or tomorrow. "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." What a word for us this is! May we be awake to what is for His honor and glory, and in obedience to His word. May He not catch us sleeping among the dead (Eph. 5:14), so that we can ever rejoice in expectation of soon seeing Him. Would we like Him to come just now? Why not?

Scripture Study: Mark 10:1-31

Mark 10.AR 10{

Verse 1. The Lord comes into the coasts of Judea near the Jordan, and the people resort unto Him; and, as He was wont, He taught them again, unwearied in His service.

Verses 2-12. The Pharisees came to try Him, by the question: "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" In return He asks them: "What did Moses command you?" And they said, "Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away:”

The Lord uses this to teach us the sacredness of the marriage tie, the mystery of two becoming one flesh, as instituted of God at the beginning. Moses, for the hardness of their hearts, suffered them to put away their wives. But from the beginning God made them male and female. "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh. so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Here the Lord puts the marriage tie in its real and original place, and makes it thus binding on all Christians. God's creative hand formed the union, and does still. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. It is very emphatic, His "I say unto you.”

In the house the disciples inquired more about this. He explained to them the seriousness of putting away.

“Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”

Matt. 5:32, and 19:9, makes an exception in putting away, that is: In case of fornication the offending one might be put away, it does not say must, but to marry her that is put away is committing adultery (Matt. 19:9), or to marry another after putting the one away is to commit adultery (Mark 10:12). How serious and sacred then is the marriage tie. Accordingly God has instituted it. (Heb. 13:4.)

The law of Moses, for the hardness of men's hearts, allowed it to be broken. The law of countries may and does allow it now. But the man of God will abide by God's institution, and refuse to take advantage of the legal deflection from the truth to gratify his fleshly desires. Like his Master, and precious Exemplar for his path, he will say, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4.)

Verses 13-16. And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased (indignant), and said unto them, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God." How different are the disciples in their feelings from the Lord. How deeply He is interested in their welfare. He looked with God's compassionate eye upon them, and those who brought them and He was indignant that His disciples should treat them as they did. He saw in those dear children, the simplicity and confidence that was characteristic of all suitable for the Kingdom of God, those who would trust Him implicitly: they had not yet learned the deceitfulness of this world. God values the simple confidence of implicit trust in Him. "Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”

Verses 17-22. As He went on the way, "there came one running and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" This man was honest, moral, instructed in the law, a lovely character, amiable and well disposed, yet altogether blind to his real condition before God. He takes Jesus as a teacher who can inform him just what is lacking to make himself perfect to obtain eternal life. Jesus was only a man to him, so He answers, "Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." This should have let him see his own sinfulness, and that Jesus is God. The Lord adds, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother." The man answered, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth." Jesus, beholding him, loved him. Such a fine disposition, and yet the Lord saw in him that his heart was in his possessions, so said unto him, "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." This disclosed his heart's object, it was earth and possessions, rather than Christ and heaven. A cross here, and glory with Christ above, did not suit him, and one so amiable and moral turns his back on Christ and heaven, and chooses earth, and at the end the lake of fire.

Reader, what is your object? Is it Christ or self? Is your destiny heaven or the lake of fire? 'Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Be warned by this young man who had great possessions; but only for time. He wanted to serve God, but just for his own benefit, though he would not if it took his riches away. His righteousness was all his own work and devising., (Rom. 10:3:)

He is the opposite of Paul who counted all things but loss for Christ, and the excellency of the knowledge of Christ eclipsed everything else. He pressed on that he might win Christ, and be found in Him, with nothing of his own righteousness, which is of the law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Phil. 3:7-11.)

Verses 23-27. Jesus looked round about on the astonished disciples, and said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!" He answered their astonishment by saying, "Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." The disciples thought a rich man had the best opportunity, and say, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." God can humble the richest and proudest of men to take their place as lost, ruined sinners. The proud, rich Nebuchadnezzar experienced this. (Dan. 4:34-37.) He filleth the hungry with good things, the rich He sends empty away. (1 Sam. 2:6-8, Luke 1:53.) The rich man must become poor in spirit, he must feel his need before God or he cannot be saved. He cannot save himself, nor help to save himself. If he attempts it, it is but "dead works." "filthy rags." (Isa. 64:6.) The grace of God brings salvation; those, who feel their need will accept it. (Titus 2:11.) They have nothing to recommend them but their need.

Verses 28-31. Then Peter began to say unto Him, "Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee."' Jesus answered, "Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come life everlasting." The hundredfold is the compensation the soul experiences, given to all that put Christ first, both now and in the future. Israel's "world to come" is the reign of Christ over the earth. We have the promise, in godliness of behavior, of the life that now is, and of that which is to come (1 Tim. 4:8), not of wealth in this world, but of the enjoyment of communion and favor of God that sustains now in the midst of opposition or persecution, and gives a reward in the future. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. We must leave the dispensing of rewards to the One who can rightly value what is done, and give each his place in the kingdom according to His divine wisdom, and not as we would think.

Scripture Study: Mark 11

AR 11{Verses 1-10. The Lord now prepares to fulfill Zech. 9:9; and also Psa. 118; that is, the part of these scriptures that apply to His presentation and rejection as King of Israel and Son of David. He sends two of His disciples, "Go your way into the village over against you; and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." The owners ask "What do ye, loosing the colt?" They answered as Jesus had commanded: And they let them go.

Truly it was the King, Emmanuel, acting here. His all-seeing eye directs them to the place where the colt is. His power and authority over the hearts of men make the owners own His claim as their Lord- Lord of all. It is comfort to the believer to know and own:

"He everywhere hath sway,

And all things serve His might;

His every act pure blessing is,

His path unsullied light.”

And "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." This is but an evidence of that.

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: And others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. It is honoring the King. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, "Hosanna; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Psa. 118.) Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest." It is not yet the time to say, "He is just," for that would announce Him as the Judge. Nor do they say, "And having salvation," for that is His coming to deliver the believing remnant of Israel in the future, but they gave Him the place and glory of the true King, recognizing Him as the royal Messiah. This was the power of God working on the minds of men, making them for the time being bear testimony to the King's presence with them. (See also Luke 19:37.) It was the will of God that this testimony should be borne to Him as King. His actions in Jerusalem are according to this position.

Verse 11. Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: viewed the conditions there, and as it was eventide, He went out into Bethany with the twelve. He does not lodge in Jerusalem any more.

Verses 12-14. And on the morrow, when He was come from Bethany, He was hungry. He sees in the distance a fig tree having leaves. He came, if haply He might find anything thereon: (there ought to have been fruit) and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves-nothing to satisfy the hunger of His spirit-for the time of figs was not yet. No, and it never will be the time of figs for that tree, for it was barren. It had on it only what our first parents used to hide their sinful nakedness in their own eyes.

This tree is the picture of Israel and man after the flesh; he can produce nothing for God. Adam and his wife were not hidden from the eyes of God. The flesh can produce no fruit for God. All man's best efforts are in vain; religious pretension to piety, and forms, and ceremonies are only "filthy rags"; (Isa. 64:6) "dead works," (Heb. 9:14); "Nothing but leaves." Jesus said unto it, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.' And His disciples heard it.

All means have been tried. When left to himself, man filled the earth with corruption and violence. (Gen. 6.) When put under law, he brought a curse upon himself. (Gal. 3:10.) And lastly, God sent His Son to reconcile the world to God. This brought out the enmity of man's heart, and they crucified Him. God pronounces on it: Cut it down. But God can work in man; he must be born again. The death and resurrection of Christ lays the ground for new blessings of grace. Israel can be restored by grace.

Verses 15-19. They come to Jerusalem, and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And He taught, saying unto them, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations, the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves." (Isa. 56:7.)

The Lord felt the condition of things; the "House of prayer," now a "den of thieves." He shows His indignation by turning them all out, and none could resist His power. The scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His doctrine. His holy indignation against their sin stirred the black depth of their murderous hearts against Him. Such is man at his best. Night draws on and He leaves the deep-dyed, sin-polluted, religious city.

Verses 20, 21. In the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. Peter said, "Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursest is withered away.”

This miracle is different from all the rest of Christ's miracles. All were miracles of mercy and love. This one alone bears the character of judgment, and this because it pictures the end of the flesh before God out of which no fruit can come.

Verses 22-24. And Jesus answering, saith unto them, "Have faith in God. Verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

What an encouragement this is for prayer: What an assurance that the answer will be given! "This Mountain," was Judaism, and stood in the way of the disciples, but faith in God removes it and every other mountain that stands, for the believer, in the way of Christ's glory. God would assure all our hearts that His power is unlimited. His wisdom, power, and love, are equal and infinite; they know neither measure nor end.

But we must conform to the conditions that go along with true believing prayer. "Have faith in God." Obstacles are nothing to Him. Where the heart is truly exercised, and Christ's glory is the object, the will of the flesh is set aside, and there is faith from God given. Faith is not our manufacture, faith is the gift of God. (Eph. 2:8.) Our wills are put away. Christ's glory is sought, God's will is bowed to. Thus real prayer searches our heart's motives, and if there is any evil condition allowed there, the judgment of the evil comes in.

Verses 25, 26. In prayer, everything unjudged comes up, asking for a settlement. The Holy Spirit does not forget, He helps us in prayer. (Rom. 8:26.) He also helps us to confess our sins, and to forgive any who may have offended us. And if we refuse to forgive, our Father has a contrition with us until we do. His chastening hand may be laid upon us, even if we get our prayers answered.

Verses 27-33. They come again to Jerusalem: And as He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, and say unto Him, "By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority to do these things?" They question His right to act for God as He had done, and without regard to their authority. Blind officialism trying to keep up its empty claim. His works of power in goodness were no proofs to such as they were. He will test their competency to judge. He replied, "I will also ask of you one question, and answer Me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer Me." They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, from heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, "We cannot tell.”

They are made to confess their incapacity to judge what is of God. Their heartlessness to the truth is seen, it was of no value to them. If they had believed John, they would receive Jesus; and they feared the people, for all generally acknowledged John as a prophet. So they utter a lie, for their consciences told them John was a man sent from God, but they say, "We cannot tell." The Lord replies, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." It was no use to try to satisfy them, they had no real claim that He should answer. The word of wisdom from the Lord had exposed them, and compelled them to confess their incompetency to judge Him.

Scripture Study: Mark 14

AR 14{Verses 1, 2. The circumstances which close the Lord's life on earth are brought before us. It is near the time when the passover should be killed. He was God's passover Lamb, of which the others were but types. The chief priests and scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death; but they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people." They feared the people, there was no fear of God before their eyes. But God's purpose must be fulfilled, and the Lamb of God must be slain on the passover day. They are truly guilty, but they do what God's purpose and counsel had determined before to be done (Acts 2:23; 4:28), and at the time He purposed it. His due time had come. (Rom. 5:6.) Man's trial is at an end. (Heb. 9:26.) Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. 5:7.) And many were present from distant places at the feast. Satan's servants are also ready to do the work of betrayal, false accusation, and murder: and the Gentiles are also willing to join in and imbrue their hands in the guilt of the Jew.

Verse 3. "Being in Bethany (i.e., the house of dates) in the house of Simon, the leper, as He sat at meet, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on His head." It was an act of love; it was Mary who sat at His feet and heard His word. (Luke 10:39.) How sweet it was to the Lord, specially sweet to His spirit at this moment, the storm clouds were gathering over His devoted head. She had read aright the signs about this as well as the words He spoke-He must die. Sitting at His feet gave her spiritual discernment of what suited the occasion.

Verses 4, 5. There were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of ointment made? for it might have been sold for three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor," and they murmured against her. It started with Judas Iscariot's avaricious heart-he was a thief-( John 12:4), then the others joined in. They appear philanthropic. Judas, a hypocrite, wanted that money into his control; the disciples carnally-minded, put the poor before Christ. Such is man's natural heart even in God's own people, the Lord is depreciated to a lower place. See how a wicked man may influence those who are the Lord's, with a plausible suggestion. If we keep Christ first, the world will not favor us, nor will carnal Christians appreciate our service. Anything done for Christ is called waste, unless it appears to be for man's benefit.

Verses 6-9. And Jesus said, "Let her alone: why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken for a memorial of her." What a rebuke to the disciples. What a comfort to the woman, the Lord stamps her action with His approval and speaks of her as of one who had more thought for Him than all the rest had. She had entered deeper than they into His mind. He had spoken to them of His death, but she believed it and anointed Him aforehand for the burying. May the Lord help us to ponder this as a lesson for ourselves. If we are to be found in sympathy and fellowship with Him, we must sit at His feet and there feed on His word, and find His love drawing our hearts out to do the things pleasing to Him. It is only thus we could stand to be misunderstood, and be content with the sense of His approval.

Verses 10,11. Judas Iscariot also discerns the hatred to Jesus and purpose of the chief priests to put Him to death, and greedy for gain, is ready to betray Him. What a contrast with Mary's love and sympathy; the one in fellowship with heaven, the other led on by Satan. The forces of good and evil are seen working here, and are accomplished at the cross.

Verses 12-16. The first day of unleavened bread when they killed the passover (it began at dusk), it is the day when the Lord must suffer, the night in which He was betrayed, but He desires greatly to take the passover with His disciples (Luke 22:15), they said unto Him, "Where wilt Thou that we go and prepare that Thou mayest eat the passover?" He sent two of them, and said unto them, "Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him, and wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house. 'The Master (Teacher), saith, where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?' and he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us." Again we see how the Lord can command the hearts of all, even where rejected and in humiliation. The man freely gives the place furnished and prepared. Here it is a disciple responding to the Teacher's claim. As before, when He wanted the colt, His disciples were to say, "The Lord hath need of him," and the owners 'dent him owning the Creator's claim.

Verse 17. In the evening He cometh with the twelve. Luke 22:14, says, "When the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him." Is not this a lesson in punctuality that we might profit by, and make an effort to be in our places when the hour is come? The Lord is there, we should not make Him wait on us, but wait on Him. Does our punctuality or want of it not tell how much we respect His presence?

Verses 18-21. As they sat and did eat, Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, one of you which eateth with Me shall betray Me." He felt deeply that one so much with Him, and who had seen His love should be guilty of such a crime. He knew who it was, but gave all their hearts to feel what was within each of them. They believed what He said and began to be sorrowful, distrusting themselves, and say unto Him one by one. "Is it I?" and another said, "Is it I?" He answered and said unto them, "It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with Me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.”

The passover supper was the memorial of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt on that night when the first-born of Egypt were destroyed; but to the Lord it had a deeper significance, and far shadowed what He had to pass through that very day to accomplish an eternal redemption. The suffering and death were His to make atonement for sin and to bring us into His company.

Verses 22-25. Accordingly He now institutes a memorial feast for His own to remember Him in His death, during His absence and thus show His death till He come. (1 Cor. 11:23-26.) And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat: this is My body." And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And He said unto them, "This is My blood of the New Testament (covenant), which is shed for many." The bread is the symbol of His body given in death for us: the cup that His blood was shed for us. We know Him now risen from the dead; we remember Him in His death. (Luke 22:19.)

It is not called in Scripture a sacrament, nor do we find instructions for any to partake except they who know that Christ has cleansed them by His blood. (1 Cor. 10:16.) None but those who know that their sins are all forgiven are therefore in a fit state to partake of the supper. 1 Cor. 11:27, 28 is spoken to true Christians exhorting them to see that their ways are clean, to put them in a right state to eat the supper. Every Christian is accepted before God, but needs to behave in a worthy manner to have his place at the table.

(To be continued.)

In His Presence

Lord Jesus, there is music,

In every sacred line

Of Thy sweet gospel story

For every child of Thine.

It tells of peace and gladness,

It tells of treasures rare,

It tells that heaven has fullness

Of joy, for Thou art there.

Lord Jesus, there is darkness

Throughout this world of sin,

Which dulls the things around us

And blights the soul within.

The brightness of Thy glory

Shed o'er us everywhere,

For Jesus, e'en the darkness

Is light, if Thou art there.

Lord Jesus, there are dangers

About us and around,

From which the only safeguard

Is in Thy presence found.

In Thy beloved keeping

E'en Satan can't ensnare;

For in the midst of perils

We're safe, if Thou art there.

Lord Jesus, there are troubles

Through which we have to go,

Which give us many a heartache,

And fill our lives with woe.

We need Thee, blessed Savior,

Our pains to help us bear;

E'en paths of grief and sadness

Are bright, if Thou art there.

Scripture Study: Mark 10:32-52

ar 10{

Verses 32-34. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them; and they were amazed; and as they followed they were afraid. He saw their fear and tells them deliberately what is going to happen to Him. We afterward see how little they received it. "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him; and the third day He shall rise again." He was to die; first His own people would condemn Him, then the Gentiles would put Him on the cross, but the third day He would rise again.

Verses 35-40. James and John make a special request, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on Thy right hand, and the other on Thy left hand, in Thy glory." They knew that He was the King of Israel, they had seen Him on the mount of transfiguration, their faith owned Him. They did not seem to understand that His sufferings must come first. With selfish motives James and John seek to get the nearest and chief places, and perhaps they thought they deserved them. The Lord turns it to instruction; they would share His sufferings. He said unto them, "Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" And they said unto Him, "We can." He replied, "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: but to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not Mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared." He is alone in the work of atonement, but they could suffer rejection and martyrdom, and they would; the place in the kingdom would be given to the ones for whom it was prepared, and as the One who will give it knows to whom to give it according to what they have passed through in this world for Christ.

Verses 41-45. The. ten heard it and began to be much displeased (indignant). That showed the ten were just as selfish as the two. Jesus as the lowly servant,. would not take the right to give James and John their places, and now the same lowly One teaches them the lesson of lowly love. The world seeks to be great in its own eyes and in each other's sight, but the servants of Christ must be like Christ, the greatest is the servant of all. He came down to the lowest place. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:5.)

"Lo, My face to shame and spitting

Did I turn for thee;

If thou art the least and lowest,

Then remember Me.”

“For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." He who is the truest servant of Jesus is small in his own eyes, and he is the greatest, because he is more like his Lord in humility and love.

Verses 46:52. They came to Jericho. He is now nearing the end of His earthly journey. It is the city of the curse, and we are reminded what the Lord passed through on the cross for sin. (Josh. 6:26, Gal. 3:13.) His ministry as prophet is over. He has yet to present Himself as Son of David, the King. We might find Israel's picture in the young, moral, law keeping, rich ruler (verses 17-22), but here is the picture of the blind and, therefore, needy believing remnant-a picture, too, of a needy sinner. "And as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side begging." Here is a picture of need. "And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry cut, and say, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." There was true faith, the despised Nazarene was to him the king, the true Son of David. Opposers he had plenty, for many charged him to hold his peace: he was only a blind beggar, not of any importance, but he cried the more a great deal, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Yes, there is mercy and grace for those who do not deserve blessing, but only judgment; it is abundant mercy for the Jews. (1 Peter 1:3.) Jesus stood still at the call of a blind man. It was in the Lord's heart of love to bless him. Jesus commanded him to be called, and willing servants carry the message. "Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee." And he, casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. He lets nothing hinder him, away goes his garment. The young man wrapped his tighter around him (verse 22), and turned back to eternal destruction; the blind man let everything go. (Phil. 3:4-7.) Jesus said unto him, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" Well He knew, but He loves to heat' us tell Hint our need. And the answer was ready before the request was made. so will it be again with needy Israel. (Isa. 65:24.) "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Bartimeus answered, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." And Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. He is like Paul again. (Phil. 3:7.) The laying aside of hindrances, was true at his conversion, but Verses 8 to 14 tell us he found in Christ an all-absorbing object for his heart. So with the blind man, Jesus said, "Go thy way," and in perfect liberty he follows Jesus. This is the true good works, scripture speaks of, telling of gratitude to Him who loved us first; and by it serving according to the law of liberty.

"O God! What cords of love are Thine,

How gentle, yet how strong!

Thy truth and grace their strength combine,

To draw our souls along.

Drawn by such cords we'll onward move,

Till round the throne we meet,

And, captains in the chains of love,

Embrace our Savior's feet.”

(Continued from page 107)

Scripture Study: Mark 12

AR 12{Verses 1-12. In a parable the Lord shows Israel's failure to answer to their privileges.

Israel was Jehovah's vineyard. (Isa. 5:1-7.) He had bestowed upon it much attention and care, but it rendered to Him no return of acceptable fruit. Here it is the husbandmen's responsibility. From time to time He sent servants to them. They maltreated them shamefully, beating some and killing some. Lastly, He sent His Son, His well beloved, saying, "They will reverence My Son." But those husbandmen said among themselves: "This is the heir; come, let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took Him and killed Him and cast Him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen and will give the vineyard unto others." This is Israel's history, it is one of complete failure to answer to God's will, and proved their hearts were at enmity against God.

How well the Lord know what they would do to Him, yet He tells it out in this lesson with quiet dignity. He is willing to do the Father's will, and they are filling up the measure of their wickedness, their iniquity is manifest. The Lord further quotes, Psa. 118, which foretold their rejection of Him, and also the sovereign grace that will after all work out their blessing as a nation through the Stone the builders rejected. This was the Lord's doing and would be marvelous in their eyes in the day of its fulfillment, when He will set up His new covenant of grace.

In the meantime they have lost their place as the people of God. And the Church is being called out, and is now God's testimony on the earth.

The scribes, chief priests, and Pharisees-the husbandmen-to whom this parable had its immediate application, sought to lay hold of Him for they knew He spake of them, but they feared the people. And thus went their way.

Verses 13-17. The classes of Jews come to catch or judge the Lord. In reality He judges them, defeating their intentions, exposing their ignorance and wickedness.

The Pharisees and Herodians, opposites in doctrine, but united in wicked contradiction of the Lord, come to catch Him with smooth, flattery covering diabolical enmity. "Master, we know that Thou art true, and carest for no man: for Thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" His answer shows His divine wisdom, makes manifest their sin, and God's just chastening upon them for it. He would not assert His right to the throne of Israel, till He had made atonement. He must suffer first before the glories follow. So He answers as the Rich One, now become poor. "Why tempt ye Me? bring Me a penny that I may see it." And they brought it. He saith unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" They said unto Him, "Caesar's." Jesus answered, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

What a complete answer; it rebuked their sin in departing from Jehovah, so that He allowed the enemy to triumph over them, and thus put them under tribute. They should have been head, but were now the tail (Deut. 28:13, 44); now paying tribute to those who should have paid tribute to them. It was Jehovah's chastening. Jesus' answer says they should bow to it. It also shows their need of humbling and repentance, "Render to God the things that are God's." The Lord saw their hypocrisy, they were rebels before God and toward men. They marveled at Him; well they might, they were in His presence who could read the thoughts and intents of their hearts.

Verses 18-27. Then come to Him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection: They cite a case which they think corresponds with what Moses wrote. (Deut. 25:5.) The Lord meets their reasoning with the Word of God, and lets the folly of their reasoning be seen. They reasoned that if there was a resurrection, all would be in confusion of relationships, and because it seemed folly to them, they rejected the truth. The Lord's answer is, “Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage: but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of, Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err." In this answer the Sadducees are silenced, and the resurrection is proved to be a truth found in Scripture, a truth running through from beginning to end.

The Lord quotes Moses, for that was the part the Sadducees professed to believe. The books of Moses contain it; and the Old Testament saints found in it that which they needed to fulfill God's promises, and to enable them to look on to a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

It is a truth of vital importance in all dispensations. It is the evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. (Rom. 1:4.) And that God has accepted His atoning work. (Rom. 4:25.) And that He is the Judge of this world. (Acts 17:31.) It declares His victory over death and hades. (Rev. 1:18.) By it we enter into a new state of full conformity to Christ, and leave all that is of the flesh and sin behind.

All God's plans and purposes of blessing to man are to be fulfilled in resurrection, through the redemption work of Christ the Lord. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who had died, would in resurrection realize the promises made to them by Jehovah.

Verses 28-34. One of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He answered well, asked Him, "which is the first commandment of all?" The fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, seems to be working in this man's heart. It is no idle question he asks. The scribes believed some of the commandments were more important than others for to make up the measure of a man's righteousness. The Lord's answer gives God His true place in man's heart. "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment than these.”

This was Israel's duty, man's duty, plainly expressed. All the rest are covered by these. The Lord brings them out from their places in the divine Word. ( Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:4, 5; 10:12.) The scribe feels the truth of it in his soul, and said, "Well, Master, Thou past said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He: And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that He answered discreetly, He said unto him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." He recognizes the working of truth in the scribe that was forming him morally for the kingdom of God. No man after that durst ask Him any question. He was the faithful and true Witness, the pattern for all His servants to be formed after. (Titus 1:9.)

Verses 35-37. The Lord asks and answers the question, Whose Son is Christ? And shows that David's Son is David's Lord. Psa. 110 showing Him as the One rejected by men, glorified by God at His right hand, waiting till the time when He will take His great power and reign. The leaders of Israel had refused Him, but the common people heard Him gladly.

Verses 38-40. The Lord denounces the scribes for their practices: they loved the honor of men, assumed the leadership of the people, while they defrauded helpless widows who trusted them because of their religious character, and for, a pretense made long prayers, heaping to themselves greater judgment.

Verses 41-44. Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. He knew how to value the gifts. He knew the spirit and motives that led each to give. He knew how those rich men had obtained the riches. And saw them giving out of their abundance. It did not cause them trial or suffering, they had plenty left. He knew whether they were giving to Jehovah, or to make themselves great before others. And some of them would be the very ones who robbed widows' estates to enrich themselves. (James 5:1-6.) And their gifts would but add to their judgment. There came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. The Lord draws His disciples' attention, and said, "Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." She gave her all to the Lord, and He knew it. She did not keep one mite and give the other. She gave both, and her creator God knew it, like another widow in 1 Kings 17:13. She was a widow indeed (1 Tim. 5:5), and would be the object of the Lord's care. Another has said, "Perhaps it helped to pay Judas Iscariot, but it was given to the Lord, and the widow's heart which was occupied about the mite, did not escape the Lord's eyes, nor the notice of His love.

Scripture Study: Mark 15

AR 15{Verses 1-15. In the morning with one consent, the chief priests, scribes, elders, and whole council carry out their evil intention: they bound and carried Jesus away and delivered Him to Pilate. He responds to Pilate's question, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?" saying, "Thou sayest it," but to the accusations of the chief priests He answers nothing, so that Pilate marveled. He saw the envy of the priests and as the people desired the usual favor of loosing a prisoner at the feast, Pilate asks, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?" The priests move the people to ask Barabbas unto them. Pilate again says, "What will ye then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out, "Crucify Him." Pilate says, "Why, what evil hath He done?" but all the more they cry out "Crucify Him." Thus their bitter hatred and enmity to the Lord Jesus is made fully manifest and Pilate without regard to justice, and willing to please them, but pouring contempt upon them at the same time, released Barabbas and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

It was God's will that His Son should suffer, but what brutality marks the behavior of men, while their victim was as a lamb led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. His enemies are determined, and Pilate does not care.

Verses 16-32. The soldiers gather round their victim for sport. They clothe Him with purple (symbol of Gentile royalty), they platted a crown of thorns(the mark of a cursed creation) and put it on His head, and began to salute Him "Hail, King of the Jews!" They smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and bowed their knees doing Him mock homage. Tired of their cruel sport they led Him out to crucify Him. What will such say when they stand before Him as Judge at the great white throne?

Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, is compelled to bear the cross of Christ,. An old writer, G. Herbert, says, "The decreed burden of every saint." This man and his sons have special mention here, suggesting to us that they have a place among the saints.

They bring Him to Golgotha, the place of a skull. He Will not take the stupefying drink; then they crucify dividing His, garments, gambling over His vesture, and over His head His accusation was written, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." They place a thief at each side, and the Scripture is fulfilled, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." They that passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ah, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself, and come down from the cross." Likewise, also, the chief priests, mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." And they that were crucified, with Him reviled Him.

From the third hour (verse 25) till the sixth hour (verse 33) we see the Lord Jesus as a righteous man suffering under the hand of wicked men. It is as if evil had triumphed. Men are glad to get rid of One whose faithful witness for God was a constant rebuke to their wickedness. It is the time of His humiliation; they lowered themselves in trying to degrade Him, but in love and perfect obedience He continues to do the Father's will through it all, through "the outrages, the blindness, the folly, and the wickedness of men and of His people Israel, which alas! filled up the measure of their iniquity." It was love stronger than death; man's hatred could not turn it aside.

“Himself He could not save, Love's stream too deeply flowed." Blessed be His name!

Verses 33-36. A deeper work is spoken of than the outward sufferings of the Lord, though these were deep and real. He is alone, darkness is over the whole land (or earth), there are none with Him to console or sympathize. On man's part desertion and cruelty, on God's part as the sacrifice for sin He is now forsaken. Psa. 22 is His soul's experience at this moment. He may say, "Be not Thou far from Me," but He must endure it alone. And at the ninth hour He cries with a loud voice, "My God, My God! why halt Thou forsaken Me? "This was more than the cruelty of man: it was God's just judgment against sin, that fell upon Him as the Lamb of God.

In the garden of Gethsemane He had it before Him and He sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Here on the cross He is drinking the bitter cup of judgment for sin and so God hides His face from Him.

We know there never was a moment when He was more precious to His Father than at that moment, for He was doing all the Father's will; but as the sin bearer He must endure fully the portion sin must have under the judgment of God. And how perfectly He has glorified God in it we can See in His hearing fully and feeling in His soul all that God is against sin. Precious to the Father is such holy, loving obedience. And also now precious to us as we understand it and see the blessed victory gained over sin and Satan's power. He died for us for our sins. How could we help loving Him!

Verse 37. Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. It was not because of weakness He died, it was because He laid down His life, that He might take it again in resurrection ( John 10:17). He gave up His life when all was finished. All His sufferings were over at His death, and in His resurrection we see His full triumph over sin and death and the grave.

Verse 38. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, it was God's hand that did it, and now the way is open, for all believers, into the holiest (Heb. 10:19,20), where none could enter before. God is fully revealed and we brought nigh through the precious blood of Christ. All our sins are forgiven; we are in Him before God, and we shall be like Him and with Him in glory. This one offering has perfected all believers forever (Heb. 10:14). Sin cannot again be imputed to them. Christ, living at God's right hand, is the witness of it in His own person. Sin in us is also judged in His death, our death with Him (Rom. 6:6), so that we are no longer slaves of sin. And we now can enjoy communion with God our Father, through His Spirit dwelling in us, and worship in His presence. The new creation life teaches us to apply the death of Christ to all that is of the old man and to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And the Holy Spirit turns our eye to see Christ as our object, and' the pattern for our ways.

Verse 39. The Centurion never saw a death like that one; there never was another. When Jesus so cried out and gave up His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46), he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God;" he had put to death one who was righteous in all His ways.

Verses 40-41. The devoted women find honorable mention as those that followed and ministered to Him, and their affection for Him brought them there.

Verses 43-46. Joseph of Arimathea now comes forward. God by his means provided that He should have honor and reverence, and lie with the rich in His death. Man had appointed His grave with the wicked (Isa. 53), but this is not to be, and none but His own were allowed to handle Him. The world never saw Him again (John 14:19). Joseph and Nicodemus seem to gain courage that they did not show during His life (John 19:38,39).

Pilate marveled if He were already dead. On being assured of it by the Centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. With fine linen and spices (expressive of His own purity and fragrance) He is buried in Joseph's new tomb hewn out of the rock. The stone is rolled to the door and the precious body of the Lord is left there, under the power of death, which could hold Him just till the appointed time.

Verse 47. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus saw where He was laid. Love cannot do without Him.

Scripture Study: Mark 9

AR 9{Verse 1. And He said unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." In the previous chapter He could speak of Himself as Son of Man who must suffer, be rejected, killed, and rise again. (Verse 31.) And in verse 38, He is the Son of Man who will come in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. And now He will show some of them a sample of the kingdom come with power.

Verses 2-8. "And after six days, Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them." What a sight for mortal eyes to behold! the glory of the Son of God, shining through the vail of His flesh. Peter, and James, and John, were upon the earth, but they saw Elias with Moses, who were talking with Jesus in all that bright glory. Luke 9:31 tells us the subject of their conversation. It was that precious death of the cross, the foundation of all blessing to man as well as the maintaining of the glory of God's throne, and without which He must remain forever alone. (John 12:24.)

Peter said, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." What a privilege for those disciples to see and hear such wondrous things. But alas! Peter does not see Jesus as the alone Worthy One, that the glory was in Him, while Moses and Elias were in the glory sharing it with Him; as the saints raised from the dead, and the living saints changed, shall share it in the fixture. But Peter wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. Then the bright glory cloud came over them, and the voice out of the cloud said, "This is My Beloved Son: hear Him." No saints, however great, before men can be put for one instant on equality with Christ. His voice is alone to be heard, "Hear Him." Moses the law-giver, and Elias the law-restorer, as such must disappear. Jesus' testimony alone remains. What they taught was true, but grace has told a more blessed story. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 2 Peter 1:16 says, "We made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ... We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with Him on the holy mount.”

Verses 9-13. "And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of Man were risen from (`among' see N. T.) the dead." He had told them (8:31) of His death and resurrection, but they were not able to receive it. And now they were questioning among themselves: What the rising from among the dead should mean. They had yet to learn that all blessing to man was to be through Christ dead and risen and glorified at God's right hand.

The Jews believed in resurrection of the dead, but did not discern between the resurrection of the just and of the wicked.

Christ is the first fruits from the dead of those who are His. The wicked will also be raised, but at another time to stand at the great white throne to be judged about their sins. The just have their sins already judged in the death of Christ, and when glorified will stand at the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of themselves to God. All the saints who die will have part in the first resurrection, which is resurrection from among the dead.

Another difficulty presents itself to the disciples. "Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?" that is, before the Son of Man sets up His kingdom. They see Him as the King, and expect He is going to set up His kingdom; they are still leaving out the suffering and rejection. The Lord explains that Elias will come as in Mal. 4, and restore all things, but one has come in the spirit and power of Elias, as Isa. 40. "I say unto you, that Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him." They rejected John and also his Savior, of whom he testified.

Verses 14-29. And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them, and straightway all the people, when they beheld Him., were amazed and saluted Him. He asked the scribes, "What question ye with them?" One of the multitude answered, "Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth and pineth away: and I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not." His disciples did not know how to use the power He gave them. It was all in Him, and given to them if faith were in real exercise. The Lord felt this, and answered, "O, faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall 1 suffer you?" He would soon be away from them, but their faithlessness is not allowed to hinder His goodness meeting in compassion the man's need. He says, "Bring him unto Me." Faith, however small, He will strengthen and answer; the man will find sufficiency in Christ.

The child's state is very serious, the father's faith very feeble, but the Lord has taken the matter in hand, and will see it through. And he brought him unto Him; and when he saw Him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed, foaming. And He asked his father, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" And he said, "Of a child, and ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." The Lord answers him, that the "if Thou canst" is on his part. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth," and straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, with tears, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." The Lord answers his faith. And seeing the people coming together, curious to see what was going on, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee come out of him, and enter no more into him." And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him; and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose. His disciples in the house asked Him privately, "Why could not we cast him out?" What a word His answer is to us all. May our exercise in this be deepened, and strengthened. "This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting." Intimate communion with God must ever be in true dependence, and setting aside of all self-pleasing. This is fasting in its real sense before God. Perfect Servant! ever hiding Himself and glorifying Him who sent Him. And what heights and depths we see here. In Chapter 8:31, He is obedient unto death; in verse 38 He is coming in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. In Chapter 9:2-7, He is the center of the excellent glory, and His Majesty revealed to the disciples. (2 Peter 1:16, 17, 18.) Now He comes down to meet Satan, and to deliver the one under his power; and this in perfect dependence upon God. Here we see also the deep compassion of His heart to the needy.

Verses 30-35; But He is rejected, and so as He passes through Galilee, He would have no man know it, for He is on His way to be delivered into the hands of men. Death is before Him, and then resurrection on-the third day, but the disciples could not understand, and were afraid to ask Him.

The reason why they could not understand such teaching was because they were thinking of themselves, of their own importance. He brought this out by asking them in the house in Capernaum, "What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?" But they held their peace; for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. He sat down, and called the twelve, to teach them the way of true greatness; and saith unto them, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." How contrary to the world this is; love delights to serve; selfishness to be served.

Verses 36, 37. "And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them; and when He had taken him in His. arms, He said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me; and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me." "In My name"; that is the touchstone. Receiving one such little child in His name, was receiving Him., and also Him that sent Him. "In My name," showed regard for Him.

Verses 38-42. John had showed regard for His name, in a wrong way. He evidently thought this man casting out devils in Christ's name was not right, because "he followeth not us," and he forbad him. "Us" is very important, and tells of self-love instead of singleness of eye for Christ's glory. And Jesus said, "Forbid him not; for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me; for he that is not against us is on our part, for whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily, I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." How important this name is, how much is in it! (Heb. 6:10.) This love for His name accompanies salvation.

And sad indeed is the fate of any who would spread a snare to cause the little ones who believe in Him to stumble; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. It would be opposition to God, and would bring down His judgment on such.

Verses 43-48. Another great lesson for them was to be faithful for Christ, and if it were something of as great value as a hand, a foot, or an eye, it. was better to get rid of it; better to enter into life maimed or halt, than to be lost, to go into the hell (gehenna) of fire that never shall be quenched. And three times the Lord says, "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." The pleasures of sin are only for a season, and then eternity.

With Christ it is pleasures begun now, and lasting for evermore.

Verses 49, 50. For every one shall be salted with fire. This applies to all. The judgment of God consumes the dross of the saints' ways; their sins' judgment was borne by their Savior on the cross. The sinner in his sins will be under this judgment of God forever. Salted by fire. And every sacrifice shall be salted with salt (see Lev. 2:13). The salt connects the sacrifice with God; it keeps it from what is defiling. We are to judge daily what is suitable to God, and thus to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, our intelligent service. (Rom. 12:1, 2.) If we mix up with what is of the world; the salt may lose its saltness. "Wherewith will ye season it?" Have salt in yourselves. We need diligence to keep our sanctification before God, and be at peace one with another, walking with each other in the fear of God.

Scripture Study: Mark 3

MAR 3The Son of Man, as Lord of the Sabbath, would not allow man's thoughts of it to hinder Him from meeting the need of a ruined world and showing mercy to the needy ones who came before Him. It is God in grace, telling out His heart to His needy creature: it is love finding its true rest, amidst evil, in blessing man.

Verses 1-5. He was in the synagogue again and it was the Sabbath day. There was a man there, who had a withered hand, and they watched Him, whether He would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. He knew what they were thinking and said to the man which had the withered hand, "Stand forth," and He saith unto them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" But they held their peace. Their guilty consciences would not own their state. They would do any evil their traditions allowed them to do, but, of mercy for the needy man, they had none. They were silent before Him. He was angry with their wickedness, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts, and saith unto the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And he stretched it out and his hand was restored whole as the other. His heart was in His work. It was God who delighted to bless and to give: His service declared it. It was not law, demanding; it was grace, giving. Divine goodness thus set aside a Sabbath that was only an ordinance, to bring in mercy and to show if they had eyes to see their need of that mercy, and that it was for them. They had not kept the law and He could not honor their keeping of a Sabbath.

Verse 6. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. Such was their wickedness, that even the Sabbath did not hinder them plotting for His destruction, and these hitherto enemies to each other, became of one mind in their zeal to destroy the Lord. The most open enemies united to oppose Him.

The Lord set aside the dispensation of law since Jewish forms could not be mixed with Christian grace. God's love and delight to bless ruined men was manifest in the works and words of Jesus, but it ran counter to man's religion and worldly opposition. This was the character of the Lord's service, yet men counseled how they might destroy Him.

Verses 7-12. Jesus withdrew Himself with His disciples to the sea. A great multitude from many places followed Him, having heard what great things He did. He spoke to His disciples, that a little ship should wait on Him, that the multitude might not throng Him; for He healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him. As many as had plagues, and unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying. "Thou art the Son of God." He straightly charged them that they should not make Him known. Man's enmity could not drive Him out of His path, as the servant doing the Father's will. He went into new and larger fields, to proclaim the truth, to heal the diseased to deliver the captives out of Satan's power. The love and power of God were seen in Him. It was not demanding righteousness from man, but giving to him, blessing, forgiveness and the righteousness of God.

Verses 13-19. He went apart from the multitude up into a mountain, and called unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. He appointed twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Not only could He work miracles, but He could give the power to others to do the same, that is, the power and authority of God. These twelve were His apostles for His mission on earth. He gave some of them names, according to their character, which He knew from the first.

Verses 20, 21. In the house the crowd was so great that they could not so much as eat bread. His relatives thought it was time for them to interfere and went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, "He is beside Himself" (out of His mind). How little any of them understood who He was!

Verses 22-26. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, "He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth He out devils." They owned that He had the power, and that He could cast out devils, but they said it was the power of Satan. He called them to Him and reasoned with them in parables. How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Satan divided against himself hath an end.

Verses 27-30. This world was Satan's house. A stronger than he was now come and had bound the strong man, Satan (in the temptations), and now was spoiling Satan's goods by delivering the captives out of his power. But their malice and enmity to God showed itself in ascribing to Satan what they knew was done through the power of God. They might not and did not understand the person of the Son of Man, but they knew that none, but the power of the Holy Ghost, could cast out Satan. This was the sin that had never forgiveness, for he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost is in danger of eternal damnation. This does not refer to a Christian at all. It was in the dispensation of law, when the Lord was on earth, and when they said, "He hath an unclean spirit" (v. 30). In this time, we can say, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all (every) sin" (1 John 1:7), and, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

Verses 31-35. We find in the figure of His mother and His brethren (His natural relationships), Israel set aside. Here the principle is seen of not knowing any man after the flesh. Relationship is doing the will of God and this is formed by the word of God, when received into the soul.

Israel's story ended in their rejection of Christ, until grace restores them again, after the Church is removed from the earth.

Scripture Study: Matthew 28

Matthew 28.MAT 28

Verse 1. "The end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn (really dusk) toward the first day of the week." The Jewish day begins about sundown, so that this was Saturday, near evening. Those women showed their devoted affection and came to the grave to see it. It was all quiet and not opened. Jesus' body still lay in death.

Verses 2-10. This is not consecutive; verse 5 is in the morning. We are not told when the earthquake took place, nor when the angel rolled away the stone and sat upon it. But early in the morning the women saw it was rolled away when they came again. The soldiers shook with fear and became as dead men. The angel comforts the women, "Fear not ye. I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here; He is risen, as He said Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him; lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear, and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word."

But they are to have more reward for their devotedness than seeing an empty grave or hearing an angel's word, for "as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail, and they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him." They see and hear and hold Him; they know He is risen now; it is made plain to their senses. And this is in keeping with this gospel that presents Him as the Messiah. It is not the ascended One as we now know Him by faith, as in John 20:17-23, and where His God and Father is our God and Father.

It is the risen Messiah rejected at Jerusalem, but known and recognized by the believing remnant; and who promises to be with them to the end of the age in which Jesus lived on earth, which continues again after the present Church period is finished.

Verses 11-15. What perfidy and antagonism are seen in the leaders of Israel? The soldiers witness to them that Christ is risen. They try to hide it by giving bribes to the soldiers to say, "His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept." And they promised to corrupt the governor also if it was needed for their object. All to blind the eyes of those who did not want to see.

Verses 16-18. Galilee is the place where He met His disciples to instruct them; it is the poor of the flock now. The Holy Spirit records that "when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted." After satisfying them that it was Himself, He said: "All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth." What comforting words these are, and must have been to them. He was still the rejected One, but all resources are in His hand, and nothing can happen to them without His permission. This is just as true for us now as for them.

Verses 19-20. "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

There are two distinct testimonies sent out by the Lord in Matthew's gospel: One to the house of Israel only (Chapter 10:5, 6) and before this one is completed the Son of Man will have come (Chapter 10:23). Then Matt. 24:14 is a message to the nations, or Gentiles, "And then shall the end come." Here in Matt. 28 we find the disciples sent with the authority of their risen Messiah to receive the nations (Psa. 2:8-12). And they were to baptize them to the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost; as such the God of Israel- Jehovah-was now fully revealed. The teachings of the great prophet (Deut. 18:18), which they had heard in His lifetime, were what they were to give to the nations for their obedience.

This is not Paul's commission, it is not the Church, nor do we find that they are children of the Father having the spirit of adoption, nor are they members of the body of Christ, nor temples of the Holy Ghost. Paul could say "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." And the gospel Paul preached was the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4); those who receive it belong to Christ in heavenly glory. Paul's converts were baptized, but it was individuals called out of the world. Here it is nations, and is the preparation for the setting up of Christ's earthly kingdom, the kingdom of the Son of Man.

The Ministry in Acts is the continuation of Luke's gospel. Paul preached to every creature (Col. 1:23). His was more fully ministry of an ascended and glorified Savior, to which the Church belongs. This in Matthew stands alone; the disciples are not sent to Jews. Jerusalem is rejected and the remnant attached to Christ, called His brethren, are sent to the nations. This has had no fulfillment. It has given place to the gospel that calls out the Church. After the Church is caught up, this testimony will go forth before the Lord comes with His Saints.

What a strengthening word to them. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." They could count on His presence and protection and provision for all their need in the midst of the upheavals of their time. And, beloved children of God, have we not the same promise and the Spirit to make it all good to us? "I will not leave you comfortless (orphans); I will come to you." (John 14:18; Heb. 13:5). Our ever-present Savior known to our faith will not fail us.

Scripture Study: 2 Thessalonians 1

The First Epistle was written to explain the coming of the Lord for His saints, that both the living ones on the earth, and those who were fallen asleep,-all His own from the beginning of man's history, till that time, would be caught up together to be with the Lord, "They that are Christ's at His coming." 1 Cor. 15:23.

The Second Epistle is to let them understand about what is to happen before the day of the Lord comes. Some had been troubled, having been misled, to think that the day of the Lord was present.

Verses 1, 2 are about the same as in the First Epistle, and it is precious to think that whatever changes might be in them, their position and relationship continued the same, and also grace and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, flowed out to them in full and plentiful supply as ever. And we may well comfort our hearts that it is the same toward us in our day.

Verses 3-6 show a difference from the First Epistle, for the patience of hope is not mentioned here. The apostle writes,

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.”

The apostle explains to them that suffering thus for Christ was a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, who counted them worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which they were suffering; and then it would also be righteous in God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble them.

Instead of it being the sufferings of the remnant in the day of the Lord, as these false teachers had led them for a little to think, it was genuine sufferings for Christ, as we also find in Philippians 1:28, 29,

“In nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

Their blessing was not earthly, but heavenly; not like the Jews, but now as belonging to God the Father whom, the Jews did not know; and to the Lord Jesus Christ whom they had crucified.

Verses 7-10. "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." When that takes place, the saints raised and changed will rest with Christ, and with the apostles, as he writes, "rest with us.”

The day of the Lord will indeed be a day (or period) of trouble to all who stand in opposition to Christ. (Compare Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; Joel 2:1, 2; Amos 5:18).

The day of the Lord will be distress to the wicked, but now these were privileged to suffer for Christ's sake. When we see how these Thessalonians had been led astray to think that the day of the Lord had already come, the meaning of this chapter is clear.

He encourages them to see this, and that God thought them worthy of the Kingdom, and it marked them out as His, while their persecutors were marked out as children of perdition.

Then the blessed assurance is also theirs, that when the Lord is manifested in glory, they would be at rest and happiness with Him.

Those that are judged, it is because they did not know God, and they did not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The judgment would fall on godless men, and on men who rejected the testimony of the grace of God, to sinful men, "who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all that have believed in Him," and the Thessalonians might then say, "That surely includes us.”

This would deliver them from the false thoughts that these teachers had advanced. They had believed the testimony when he told them at first, and the truth does not change. They could then rest in it again.

Verses 11, 12. "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our Lord would count you worthy of this calling; and. 'fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness," and that the Lord would be glorified in them by the power of faith, which would now shine all the brighter through their persecutions by the grace of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus these dear saints would have their hearts set at rest, and be prepared to learn next what was bound to take place before the Lord could begin to claim His Kingdom.

Scripture Study: Acts 16

ACT 16The gospel was now spreading in many directions, through men gifted by the Lord, and working independently of each other; but to Paul was committed the truth of the Church of God, and its administration among the Gentiles. The narrative follows telling how the Holy Spirit led Paul and his companions on in the work. It is there we shall see the workings of the truth by the Spirit.

At Lystra and Derbe was a certain disciple called Timotheus, a son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek. Timotheus was already well reported of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. Paul chose him as a suitable companion in the work. He circumcised him, probably to save trouble among the Jews who still wanted to follow the law, and yet this was not even according to law, as we see in Ezra and Nehemiah. He would not submit to them when they wanted Titus to be circumcised. (Gal. 2:3-5.) And they were careful to instruct the assemblies wherever they went, in the decrees sent out from the apostles at Jerusalem, freeing the Gentiles from law and circumcision, as we saw in the preceding chapter, ever reminding the Judaizing teachers in this way that their leaders at Jerusalem were against putting the Gentiles under law. The Jews at this time did not see fully their own deliverance from the law and ordinances as Paul did. (See Gal. 2:19, 20.) So the assemblies were established in the faith, and increased in numbers daily.

In 1 Tim. 1:18; 3:14; 2 Tim. 1:6, we gather that Timotheus was specially fitted, and encouraged, to go on with this work, by prophecy to that effect, Paul conferring on him in this way the gift of God by the putting on of his hands, and with the laying on of the hands of the elder hood. In Paul's second letter, he exhorts him to stir up this gift.

In verse 6 we see that not only are the servants given a general commission to preach the gospel to every creature, but that each servant needs guidance daily for His path, and this guidance is given in such varied ways that the servant's heart is exercised in order that he may go on in his service with the certainty that he is doing the Lord's will. Waiting on the Lord continually is his only right attitude.

Here we find these devoted servants traveling on from place to, place, bearers of God's good news. When they had gone through Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. It was not the Lord's will for them to go there just then. After they were come to Mysia, they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. Then in a vision of the night a man appeared to Paul, and prayed him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." In answer to this Macedonian's earnest appeal, Paul concluded that the Lord wanted them there. And Luke, who had now joined the company, says: "We endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." They sailed straight for Philippi, the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony, and were there abiding certain days. As usual, they began with the Jews. "On the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side." It was not a holiday; the Jews kept their Sabbath, though in a foreign land. There was apparently no synagogue, but it was the place where they usually met for prayer. There they sat down, and spoke unto the women which had assembled.

"A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira"-this shows her Gentile origin, yet she was one who worshiped God; one who feared God; she may have been a proselyte to the Jewish faith. She had her ears opened to hear and to receive the truth spoken by Paul-the first convert spoken of in that city. She at once, with her household, was baptized thus owning the Lord's claims on all she had; and she threw her house open to the Lord's servants, beseeching them: "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there;" and she constrained us. This was the beginning of the assembly at Philippi. The servants of the Lord were hospitably entertained there-her house was a place of meeting for the brethren. (Ver. 40.)

Verse 16. We have the enemy here trying to spoil the work of the Gospel. A woman possessed with an evil spirit of fortune-telling, who made large sums of money for her owners, followed the apostles, and cried, saying, "These are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation," and this she did many days. An evil spirit will not confess Jesus Christ as Lord; he takes his way to deceive and to seduce; calls them the servants of the most high God, as if the world at present, was owned by God; as if Christ was not rejected; as if the world was not guilty of His death. The enemy here comes as an angel of light to corrupt the truth. (2 Cor. 11: 14.)

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out the same hour. Paul had borne with it for many days. He would not unnecessarily raise opposition, but he could not allow the Gospel testimony to become corrupted. And now when the enemy could no longer deceive or seduce through this woman, he used the covetousness of her owners to persecute. The wiles of the serpent are now changed to the roar of the lion. They caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market place unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, saying, "These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans." And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. When they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

The Lord allowed His faithful servants to suffer for His sake and the Gospel. He told them so beforehand. But, "in Me ye have peace." He did not forsake them. God's purposes were being worked out in it, and faith can say, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them which are called according to His purpose." Their sufferings gave character to their testimony. They serve the One whom the world hated, for men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. The Lord will not fail to stand by them, and to comfort their hearts, and to give them the sense of His approval.

The world has shut them in prison, but it cannot shut them out from the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). They lift up their hearts in prayer in the holiest of all, and then it changes to praise; the Lord has calmed their hearts, helped them to bear their sufferings, and the unwonted sounds of prayer and praise reach the prisoners' ears. We do not know what words those early Christians used, but we can think it would be praise to the Lord, the gracious Redeemer, who had brought them to Himself, and had given them the grace to be His servants, to tell the wondrous story of the love of Jesus who was sent by God, the Father, to die for sinners on the cross. Think of them, dear Christians, with their feet fast in the stocks, sitting up or lying down on their sore backs in a filthy prison-a wretched picture of misery in men's eyes, and yet their hearts are filled with joy, and their lips with praise. How little of this our easy-going Christianity knows in our day. And how persecution, rightly taken, brings the soul into deeper communion with the Lord. And now we see,

"God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform."

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the jailer awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." The earthquake did no harm; it awoke the jailer out of his sleep, and knowing his life was forfeited if his prisoners had escaped, rather than be dishonored, he would kill himself, when Paul cried out, and saved his life.

What woke up his soul to the knowledge that he was a lost sinner? It was this word of grace, the grace of God in those prisoners for Christ 's sake, who, a little moment ago, were in the presence of God as holy priests, worshiping the Father and the Son; and now as royal priests show out His virtues in their love to their enemy. As Jesus said, "Father, forgive them." And Stephen said, "Lay not this sin to their charge." So now the apostle, in the same grace, shows mercy to the jailer; and his behavior, with the testimony of Christ's love in bringing salvation to lost men, works in his soul, he is aroused, he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" An important question from an anxious sinner, who has no good works to offer, nothing but a full acknowledgment that he is lost. Very likely the preaching of the apostles in the city had reached his ears, and made it known to him, and now his conscience is stirred, he realizes that he is lost, in a lost state, on the broad road that leads to eternal wee. How can he escape?

Yes, there is good news to the lost sinner. "Christ died for the ungodly." "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Christ's heralds can declare it (1 Tim. 2:5, 6), and, like an echo, it comes from the heart of God, through His servants, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The rejected, crucified, risen and glorified One is the Savior. Believe on Him. And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, with all that were in his house. What a morning of it they had in that house, hearing the good news opened out to them of the wonderful forgiving love of God to sinners, that makes them as believers in the Lord Jesus, saints, children of God, members of the body of Christ, temples of the Holy Ghost.

Then the jailer begins to attend to their wants. He began by washing their sore backs plowed up by the Roman scourge; then he and all his were baptized straightway. He has every one of his household put under the name of Christ, as did Lydia, and in this she was judged faithful to the Lord. They owned His claim on all they had. Then he set food before them as his guests-heavenly messengers on earth-and they had a love feast, and rejoiced with all his house, having believed in God.

When it was day, a message comes to the jailer from the officers, "Let these men go," and he told this saying to Paul, "The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore depart, and go in peace." But Paul replied, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison and now do they thrust us out privately? Nay, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out." The magistrates had broken the Roman law, and when they heard what Paul said, they feared, on hearing they were Romans, and they came and besought them, and brought them out and desired them to depart out of the city. It was injustice to the prisoners, but more, it was against their own law. Paul does not prosecute the case against them,, but in their terror they become suppliants, and beseech them to go away, and this they do, as it suited them, but they first go to Lydia's house, and see the brethren there, and in their visit minister to their comfort, and then depart, leaving behind them a little assembly gathered to the name of the Lord. (Math. 18:20). Their work for the present is finished in Philippi.

Fragment

All our ways are known to the Lord; every turn in the way is noticed by Him. Yesterday's trial He knew. Today's difficulty is under His eye. Tomorrow's care is seen by Him and He says, "Let not your heart be troubled." John 14:1.

Scripture Study: Acts 18

ACT 18The idolatrous, corrupt city of Corinth is now to hear the story of the grace of God that brings salvation to all men, so Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth. The house of a Jew, named Aquilla, with his wife, Priscilla, lately come from Italy (Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome), became his lodging place. He was of the same trade, so he worked with them, making tents. On the Sabbath days, he reasoned in the synagogues, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. He begins with the Jews, but others were there also to hears The message of reconciliation to God is for all. The presence of Silas and Timotheus, who now come from Macedonia, adds to his burdened heart fresh spiritual energy, and he still more earnestly pressed upon them the truth that affected them all so much, that Jesus was and is the Christ, not now in His Kingdom On earth, but glorified at God's right hand in heaven. When the Jews opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said. "Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean: from hence forth I will go unto the Gentiles." He departed from them into a certain man's house, named Justus, a worshiper of God, though not a Jew, who lived close to the synagogue, and probably he heard the gospel there. We see that Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing the truth, believed and were baptized. Notice that as all are believers in this case, they are not baptized as a household, but as individuals. (See 1 Cor. 1:14, 16.)

It is here recorded that the. Lord now spoke to Paul in a vision of the night, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." What an encouragement this was to the Lord's servant, and that he was there by the Lord's will, and that he had His approval and protection. Afterward he could write to the same people, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord:" 1 Cor. 15:58.

The servant of the Lord can own that it is the Lord that both opens and shuts the door for his service. He may not get a vision to direct and encourage him, but the Lord can make His will known just as clearly, and will do so where the servant waits earnestly on Hint in true devotedness and humility of heart.

Paul therefore continues there for eighteen months. It must have been that the Lord saw the need of much teaching there, and the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians shows us their unspiritual state as an assembly, but there were exceptions to this among them. (1 Cor. 11:19.) It was not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, that he came to them, declaring unto them the testimony of God. He says, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." He sought to free them from the wisdom of the world, and from its corruption that he found them in, and how he grieved over them when they did not grow spiritual, but remained carnal Christians.

To teach them these lessons, he would not take money from them as an assembly, though many of them were rich. A few spiritual ones supplied some of his needs, and refreshed his spirit. (1 Cor. 16:17, 18; 2 Cor. 11:8, 9.) He taught them that Christ was the power of God and the wisdom of God. What the Greeks called foolishness of God was wiser than men, and His weakness was stronger than men. The flesh is exposed as worse than useless; no flesh can glory in His presence. What a portion the believers have in Him! We can glory in Him alone. (Ch. 1:29-31.)

While he was in Corinth the mad jealousy of the Jews rose up against the gospel. They dragged Paul to the judgment seat before the deputy of the country. Gallio would not interest himself, and he rightly drove them away, saying: "If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you; but if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters."' He did not care; such questions were to him contemptible superstitions separating those who held them from society in general, and they were just getting, in his eyes, what they deserved. Then the Greeks took another Jew, Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio did not care, so the Jews' attack upon the apostle only made their own case worse.

After this, Paul remained there a good while, then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquilla. Here we find the old Jewish customs. have their influence still over the apostle He had a vow and shaved his head. And then, though a door seems open at Ephesus for service, he goes on to Jerusalem to keep the feast there. Such is fallen man at his very best, even though redeemed.

How different is what he writes in the prison afterward. (Col. 2:20.) But he still reasons with the Jews in the synagogue (Ver. 19) as he goes along, and promises to come back (if God well) to Ephesus. He left Priscilla and Aquilla there, and goes to Cesearea and Jerusalem and back to Antioch for a time, then over the country of Galatia and Phrygea in order, strengthening the disciples. What wonderful energy of the Spirit we see in this ambassador of Christ.

Ver. 24. Here and in chap. 19: 1-7 we see believers, but only taught up to John's baptism brought now into Christianity. A Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. When Aquilla and Priscilla heard him they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. This made him a Christian worker of repute, and with the commendation of the brethren, he went on his way, and he was able to greatly help those who had believed through grace. We see in him a laborer in fellowship, yet acting solely on his own responsibility to the Lord. (1 Cor. 16:12.)

Scripture Study: Mark 2:18-28

MAR 2Verses 18-20. "And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto Him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days." The fasting of John's disciples was in accord with conviction under a broken law. Jesus' disciples could not fast for they had the Bridegroom with them; they were the children of the bridechamber, and so could not fast, but rejoice that He was with them. But when He was gone, the joy of His presence would be turned into the sorrow his absence would create in their hearts; then shall they fast in those days. But see John 16:16-22, for their joy after his resurrection, which gives another reason for their not fasting.

Verses 21-22. "No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment, else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but the new wine must be put into new bottles." The old is Judaism; the new is Christianity. The new wine-the truth and spiritual ceremonies of Judaism. The new wine would burst the old skin bottles; the new cloth-God's righteousness-would not agree with man's efforts to work out his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3, 4).

Grace and law do not mix; it is important for us to have done with what recognizes the first man. We have a new life; Christ risen from the dead, is the beginning of the creation of God (Col. 1:18; Rev. 3:14). We are redeemed, and are children of God the Father. Christianity is not Judaism improved; it is a new order of things in the power of the Hoy Ghost. Yet Christians have tried to mix up the two opposites-law and grace-which has resulted in a corrupt thing which we speak of as Christendom. The truth abides, may we abide by it.

Verses 23-28. And it came to pass, that He went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and His disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto Him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful? And He said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he and they that were with him? How He went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the show bread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath."

The institution of the Sabbath, the sign of God's covenant with Israel, was founded by God (Ex. 1:17). When God ended creating, He rested the seventh day; it was given to man (Exo. 16) with the Manna. When Israel was put under law it was given again. It is not "a" seventh day, but “the" seventh day. Israel did not keep the law; they transgressed, the covenant was broken.

But the Sabbath was made for man. The Lord brings before them the time when David was the rejected king and he ate the show bread. Now a greater than David was rejected, even God's beloved Son, and could God delight in their keeping the Sabbath when they had broken His command? No. But the Son of Man is Lord of it, and He can Use it for man's benefit. This is what pleased Him, to show mercy to needy men. God could not respect those who despised and rejected His beloved Son. This is brought out in Chapter 3:1-5.

(Continued from page 131.)

Scripture Study: 2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians, 2.2Th 2

Verse 1. "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him.”

He had already unfolded to them how this would take place, and that it was the first Scriptural event that was to happen, and they were to keep this before their hearts and minds. He is using it here as an argument that nothing of prophecy could be fulfilled till all the heavenly saints were raised and changed and caught up to that wonderful gathering to meet the Lord in the air.

Verse 2. If they kept this before them, they could not be soon shaken in mind, nor be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as if it came from the apostle himself, as if the day of the Lord was already come (see N. T.).

Some false teaching had gone in among them as if it came from the apostle. We find some timorous souls now, not well established, and even teachers that once seemed to know better, that have lost their hold on the truth. Perhaps the better way would be to say, that this truth had not laid hold of them.

Verses 3, 4. "Let no man deceive you by any means." The day of the Lord cannot come, till the apostasy have first come. ("Falling away" here means "Apostasy"). "And that Man of Sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.”

What poor, silly, rebellious creatures men are. Yet this was the very thing the devil said to the woman to get her to eat the forbidden fruit. "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

After the saints are caught up, we find two men,-one at Rome, and one at Jerusalem, setting themselves up as God.

Satan has a trinity in imitation of God,-the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon (Rev. 13:4, 11-17; Rev. 16:13).

We cannot go into this subject here, but we may say, this one we have in our chapter, the Man of Sin, the self-willed man, is the apostate king of the Jews whom the Roman Emperor puts on the throne in Palestine to carry out his own evil purposes. His end is the lake of fire (Isa. 30:33; Rev. 19:20; 20:10, along with the beast and the dragon, when God's purposes with him are fulfilled).

Verses 5-8. It is evident that Paul had told them these things already, and he also had told them that which hindered the evil, even then, from coming to a head that he might be revealed in his time.

“For a mystery of iniquity (lawlessness) doth already work: only He who now letteth will let (read it, hindereth will hinder), until He be taken out of the way.”

The Holy Spirit is now dwelling in the Church on earth, and by means of the powers that be (Rom. 13:1) which are in God's hand, the mystery of lawlessness is kept in check. When the Lord takes His Church home, the Holy Spirit will not dwell on earth, though He will ever work as in the Old Testament times, in both Jews and Gentiles that are yet to be saved, but having an earthly calling. Then that wicked one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Verses 9-12. We see this wicked man's coming is full of Satanic delusions, "with all power and signs and lying wonders"-imitation of Christ-(Acts 2:22), "and with all deceivable of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

The Lord Jesus came in His Father's name, and they would not receive Him. "Another shall come in his own name, and him they will receive" (John 5:43).

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: and that all might be judged that believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

This Man of Sin is a religious fraud, an imitation of Christ. The graces of Christ, and even His works of power, are all imitated by this king of the Jews, and he fills the temple at Jerusalem with his lying wonders (verse 4). The God of Israel will take vengeance on him. All this will happen after we are caught up, and before the Lord comes with us to set up His Kingdom, and to judge the living nations. It is then that the day of the Lord will begin, when He comes with us.

This lawless man, the antichrist, the false prophet, the king of the Jews, promises the Jews their freedom to worship in the temple. Later he sets up his idol abomination, the image of the beast, compelling them to bow to it (Isa. 28:15, 18; Dan. 9:27; Math. 24:15; Rev. 13:12, 13-17). He makes fire to come down from heaven. We also find that he denies Christianity,-the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22). How complete the deception is!

The unfolding of all this to the Thessalonians would quite free them from their fears, assuring them that these troubles could not come on them, but only on those who did not receive the gospel, and these neglectors and rejectors left behind when the saints are caught up, would be speedily carried away by the lies of the enemy. This judicial blindness has happened to men of the nations (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28); and to the Jews (Isa. 6:9, 10), and so it will come to the professing church left behind, and to the Jews who receive the mark of the beast.

The apostle turns now with thanksgiving to God for them,

Verses 13, 14. "Brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How different that is from what troubled them. Their portion is glory with Christ above, chosen from the beginning to salvation, set apart through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, and called to be with Christ in His heavenly glory.

Verse 15. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the instructions which ye have been taught, whether by word or by Epistle.”

Verses 16, 17. "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.”

Scripture Study: Acts 14

ACT 14At Iconium they proceed to the synagogue, and experience the same thing; a great door is open to them. The adversaries are many, but the synagogue is open to them, and there they declare the glad tidings of God's salvation, so that a great multitude, both of the Jews and of the Greeks, believed.

The unbelieving Jews are at their work of the adversary, stirring up the Gentile minds, with evil effect against the brethren. Still for a long time they stayed there, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of His grace, and He 'granted that many signs and wonders should be done by their hands.

The city was divided; part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. Then an assault was made upon, them by both Gentiles, and Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them. They were made aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lyconia, and into the region that lies round about, and there they preached the gospel.

Nothing stops them in their labors. When the door is shut in one place, it is open at another, and thus the gospel spreads.

At Lystra, there sat a certain man, a cripple, who had no power in his feet, had never been able to walk. He listened to Paul telling the story of the love of God, giving Christ the Son to die for sinners. And Paul beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on thy feet," and the man leaped and walked. This is the first time we get faith in the one that is healed. When the poor, ignorant, Gentile idolaters saw what Paul had done, they cried out in their native language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men," and they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter came with oxen and garlands to sacrifice to them. When Paul and Barnabas heard of it, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Thus the apostles sought to persuade the Gentiles of Lystra to give up their idols, and to believe in Him. But how fickle is man! here they preached, to lead them to know and to believe in Him. But how fickle is man! here they were going to worship the apostles, and the next thing we hear, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the people to stone Paul, and then drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Such is man, when he has not the truth. Paul himself had persecuted the saints, and this in a religious way. What a change the gospel received, and grace active in the heart, makes in a man in such a world as this.

But the Lord took care of His servant, and it was not His will yet to take him home. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city, and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. The Lord used them there again to the blessing of many, then undaunted by what had been allowed to happen to them, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium and Antioch, this time to confirm the souls of the disciples in the truth, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must, through much tribulation, enter into the Kingdom of God. Then they chose elders for the assembly in each place, and prayed with fasting, and commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Thus the disciples were warned and instructed, and made aware in each assembly, what a world they were in, and what the portion of the godly man is: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim. 3:12.

Yet if the Christian conforms to the world, it will bear with him, but he will lose the joy of the Holy Ghost, and of communion with God-a loss nothing can make up for: When in the company of the world, such an one is ill at ease. And in spiritual company, his conscience reproves him for walking badly; that which is pleasure to them, is a reproof to him.

Note also that here we get elders in the assembles mentioned for the first time. They are chosen and appointed by the apostles. In no case do we find the assembly choosing them, and the Epistle to Titus confirms this. All the elders are really called bishops and overseers. (Acts 20:17, 28. Titus 1:5-9.) It is important to notice these things, to get a Scriptural view of the assembly at the beginning, and to understand how terrible has been the departure that began, even in the days of the apostles. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Jude 4; 1 John 2:18, 19; Matt. 13: 28-30.) All around us is disorder, confusion, and corruption, but we need to learn the truth as the °pasties gave it to us. In Acts 20, Paul by the Spirit tells of what is coming, and now we see it has come.

Verse 24 tells of their continued activity. At Perga it is specially mentioned that they preached the Word, then they go to Attalia, and from there sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. Thus Antioch is marked out as the place from whence they started, and Jerusalem has ceased to be the earthly center of God's activities in the assemblies.

When they were come, and had gathered the assembly together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. "And there they abode a long time with the disciples."

What calm superiority to circumstances is seen in these true servants of God, as another "Outrage and violence neither impede the work, nor enfeeble the courage of the servants. When the Lord so wills it, they return in peace to the very places from whence they have been driven. It is beautiful to see the calm superiority of faith Over the violence of man, and how God conducts the hearts of His servants. They submit to, or, if possible, avoid violence; but if the work requires it, God opens the door, and the laborers are there with it again."

Scripture Study: Mark 1:1-20

MAR 1Verse 1. "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God."

Verses 2, 3. Mal. 3:1, and Isa. 40:3, are quoted to announce John as the messenger preparing Messiah's way, but do not tell of the result. God's thought is for blessing; judgment will result if the blessing be rejected.

Verse 4. "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." This was good news to the remnant of Israel that felt their sins and their low estate. In answer to this preaching, many consciences were stirred, and Verse 5. "There went out unto Him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins." We know some refused to bow in humiliation before Jehovah, but the excellent of the earth confessed their sins.

Verse 6. John's clothing and food and isolation in the wilderness (Luke 1:80), tell of his separation from Israel's state; his message was a righteous one, demanding repentance.

Verses 7, 8. He told of One coming "mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." John thus introduces Him as Jehovah, and as the One who, when the work is accomplished, and the Lord glorified, will baptize those who believe on Him with the Holy Ghost. Remission of sins for the repentant, that is, governmental forgiveness and a promise of blessing from the coming One, was the place John's baptism brought them into Note:-This is not justification as in Romans (See Ex. 32:14, 34; 2 Sam. 12:13, 14.) Repentant Israel in the last days will be justified through the work of Christ. Believers are now justified eternally.

Verse 9. "And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan." How wonderful that one equal with Jehovah, should take a place among those repentant ones, showing His delight in them as the excellent of the earth. Confessed sinners they were, and He in lowly grace is with them in this right step. (Psa. 16:2, 3.)

Verses 10, 11. "And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." John saw and heard, but the words are addressed to the Lord for His comfort. He has taken the servant's place, but He is none the less the Father's beloved Son, the Father's delight; heaven is opened. He is heaven's object. He is sealed and anointed. He is the peerless, spotless, perfect Man.

Verses 12, 13. "And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness, and He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto Him." this obedience is proved, He goes into the wilderness and is there forty days. Adam was tried in the Garden of Eden. Jesus was tried tempted of Satan, in the wilderness. Adam fell. Jesus was victorious, and bound the strong man. And what can wild beasts do against their Creator? When the trial is over, the angels minister to Him, the obedient One. There are no details of the temptations, as in Matthew or Luke, but enough to show us the servant fully fitted for the work to which He has given Himself. The Father has owned Him as His beloved Son; heaven is opened upon Him; Satan is overcome by Him; the wild beasts cannot harm Him-the Lord of all Creation; and the angels minister to Him. Wonderful Servant with whom none can compare.

Verses 14, 15. Isa. 40:4, and Mal. 3:2, are not fulfilled yet. Instead, John is put in prison, and "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." It is good news He has come to bring, and not the judgment man so fully deserved. It is the time of the fulfillment of the ways of God, and men are called on to repent, take their place low before God, own their guilt and believe the gospel. There is forgiveness with God (Psa. 130), plenteous redemption.

Verses 16-20. He calls others into the work with Him. They are called to this ministry. "Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." Simon and Andrew, at the call, forsook their nets and followed Him; James and John, sons of Zebadee, also left their father, ship and hired servants, and went after Him. They had been personally called before, but now it is to serve with Him. May we also know something of this call:

"Yet I will wait, in labor still

In Thy blest service here:

What Thou hast given me to fulfill-

Thy will-to me is dear!

Lord! let me wait, for Thee alone:

My life be only this-

To serve Thee, here on earth unknown;

Then share Thy heavenly bliss."

(To be continued.)

Scripture Study: Acts 21

ACT 21Paul and his companions journey on their way to reach Jerusalem. He goes bound in his spirit to that point, but this is natural affection for his nation; it is not led on in the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are often reminded in Scripture that every man is a failure in himself, and in this beloved servant of the Lord, we find no exception. Jesus Christ, the Lord, is alone the faithful and true witness. Since his will, even in love to his people, is allowed to rule him, his walk is not any longer in the power of the Holy Spirit.

At Tire it is manifest by some disciples who said to him, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. It was a solemn warning from the Spirit, by the mouths of the brethren, but he did not heed it. The Spirit did not say it to Paul himself; then it would have been disobedience, but the Lord allows him here to follow Him in a far off way Jesus waited on the Father, to do the Father's will at all times. O, that we might learn by this to be single-eyed, to get our guidance from God!

Again we find (ver. 5) the affectionate parting of the dear saints with prayer. In Philip the evangelist's house, they tarried many days. We are reminded here of Philip's faithful service when acting as one of the seven in Acts 6 (see 1 Tim. 3:13). His four daughters were those that prophesied.

Agabus, a certain prophet, came down from Judea, and foretold what was awaiting Paul at Jerusalem, but Paul was deaf to all the reasonings and attempts to dissuade him from his purpose, and answered, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Seeing they could not persuade him, they said, "The will of the Lord be done." Doubtless the Lord was over it all, and was still with His beloved servant, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," but he is not the servant now acting in the power of the Holy Spirit.

At Jerusalem the brethren received them gladly. He is now in the center of Judaism, not bearing testimony that God is done with it, but in his friendly affection for his Jewish brethren goes in with the customs and ordinances of the law.

The brethren glorified the Lord when he told them of his ministry among the Gentiles, and of what God had wrought among them through him. Then James and the elders persuade him to show himself to the thousands of Jews that believed, that he was a good Jew, subject to the law, in order to uphold the reputation of their religion, and to unite Christianity with Judaism. Paul falls into this snare, and accedes to their proposal, and was about to have an offering sacrificed for himself and those he was with, as if these were not abolished by the sacrifice of Christ. It results in no good to the Jews-they are not won by it. It is not the path of obedience.

The authority of the law, is not the liberty of grace. The power of ancient habits has dimmed the light, and men's influence led him out of the way. This put an end to the public testimony of the apostle. God, in overruling providence, orders it so that he is taken as a prisoner to Rome, where he served Him in the truth, but he is not sent there as he wished to go, that is, as an apostle. He is the prisoner of the Lord. Yet out of that prison he could write, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the thing which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places." Phil. 1:13. The Lord cannot forget the faithful service of His beloved servant.

Paul's action here only helped on their faith in their Jewish customs, and aroused the Jewish feelings against himself being seen with Trophimus, a Gentile, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. The mob drew him out of the temple, and tried to kill him. The Roman captain carried him off to safety; the multitude following with shouts of, "Away with him."

Paul tells the captain who he is-a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city, and asks leave to speak unto the people. He spoke in Greek to the officer, and when there was silence, he addressed the people in the Hebrew tongue.

Scripture Study: Mark's Gospel

Each gospel has its own character of the Lord to present, and unfolds the truth in the view laid on the heart of the evangelist by the Holy Spirit. His divine and human nature in His person shines through each gospel. May we, as we read and meditate, do so with worshiping hearts.

We have seen how to Matthew it was given to write of Him as Son of David, and Son of Abraham, Emmanuel. Luke specially unfolds His beauty and grace as Son of Man.

John tells of the eternal word made flesh, the "only begotten Son" of the Father's love.

Mark tells of Him as the "servant," and leads us to consider His perfect abnegation and hiding of Himself as the instrument, that God might be known. His birth is not recorded, nor His genealogy given. If His family is mentioned, it is but to show His lowly parentage. Those who are offended at Him, call Him "the carpenter."

Scripture Study: Acts 17

ACT 17The power and energy of the Spirit is abundant in the apostles, suffering persecution, yet their hearts are filled with prayer and praise to God, and they go on their way as witnessing for the truth, servants of God, preaching Christ. The next place is Thessalonica, and after their manner they enter a synagogue of the Jews, and for three Sabbath days Paul reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging "that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Some of the Jews believed, and associated themselves with Paul and Silas. Also of the god-fearing Greeks a great multitude, and a good number of the chief women. In 1 Thess. 1:9, we hear of idolaters being converted, "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven; their deliverer from the coming wrath."

We learn in that Epistle (Chap. 2:14) what persecution they endured from the other idolaters, as the converted Jews also suffered from their unconverted nation, bringing the wrath of God upon themselves to the uttermost.

Paul preached Christ rejected, who suffered death, and was risen from the dead, the true King; so the kingdom was now connected with Christ in glory, a Kingdom not of this world. (John 18:36.) So His followers must share His place on earth (Phil. 1:29) as well as in heaven. The truth of the Church, the body of Christ, is not unfolded here. In both Epistles to the Thessalonians (Verse 1) it is the Church which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is therefore as children of the Father, those who own Christ as their Lord, that we are spoken of here.

The Jews cannot bear the truth that sets aside their religion, given to them by God through Moses, though now useless, because the substance of all their shadows had come. Moved with envy they employ lewd fellows of low character to help them in their satanic opposition to Christ. They stir up the mob and assault Jason's house, setting the city on an uproar, and tried to find Paul and Silas to bring them out to the people. They could not find the apostle, so they drew out Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also, whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another King, one Jesus."

These things troubled the people and the rulers of the city, but they contented themselves by taking security of Jason, and the other, and let them go.

The brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea; and are again at their work in the synagogue among the Jews.

These Bereans "were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those thing were so." Therefore, many of them believed, also of honorable Greek women, and a good number of men. "Faith cometh by hearing," and where there is this readiness of mind, the soul is soon led into peace, in the assurance the Word gives of the work of Christ that has put away our sins, and fills our heart with the love of Christ.

But the Jews of Thessalonica heard of the work at Berea, and with diabolical energy, and enmity of heart, came and stirred up the people. The brethren immediately sent Paul away as it were to the sea; but Silas and Timotheus remained there at Berea. Paul's companions brought him to Athens, and he commanded them to send Silas and Timotheus to him with all speed, then they departed.

Though it is not recorded here, we see in 1 Thess, 3:1, that Paul sent Timotheus back to visit the Thessalonians, to comfort, and to establish them in the faith, and in verse 6 we see Timotheus back at Athens again with good tidings of their faith and love, and of their affection for the apostle, and desire to see him again.

Paul at Athens waiting for Silas and Timotheus has his spirit stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. He reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met him. This drew the attention of the philosophers of the Epicureans and stoics (the one tasted everything the streams of earth could afford in their search for happiness; the other affected indifference to suffering). He spoke to them of Jesus and the resurrection. The false gods went in pairs, so they thought this was a new pair. They brought him up to Mars Hill, the highest court in Athens, and asked him to unfold this new doctrine. "We would know therefore what these things mean."

Paul, with divine wisdom and observation, said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious, for as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, 'To the Unknown God.' Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you." The people of the city, idle and at heart skeptical, were given up to idolatry; and the circle of the gods being exhausted, they had dedicated an altar to the unknown God. None of their idols could satisfy them as being the right one. It shows that in man's heart, the idea of a supreme being still finds a place that infidelity cannot remove, but Satan has conspired to corrupt man's mind into idolatry. Creation is God's witness (Psa. 19; Romans 1:19, 20) in every part of the universe.

We do not get all that Paul declared here, but only an epitome. He sets forth God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. Too great to be contained in temples made with hands. He needs nothing from men. He has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the earth; has fore-arranged day and night and all the seasons; and He has placed the boundaries of the dwelling of the nations, that they may seek God; and He is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being. We are His offspring. God made man upright, but man has sought out many inventions. No creature form can represent Him. God, therefore, having borne with man's ignorance in the past, now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He bath raised Him from the dead. No doubt Paul would be led to open out the truth of man's responsibility as a creature to his Creator, and bring his sins before him, as to that for which he must give account to God. This is apparent from what is given us. The man Christ Jesus, Lord of all creation, rejected and crucified, is now risen, and is the man appointed as judge to judge the world in righteousness. It is long suffering mercy now; it will be judgment then without mercy.

When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked-man would love to have that proved untrue. No, the past will not cover up, every one shall be raised from the dead, so said our blessed Lord. (John 5:28, 29). He Himself is risen from the dead, and this is assurance to all men that the judgment is coming to them. There is only one way to be saved; it is Jesus. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

Others said, "We will hear thee again of this matter." These are the procrastinators: How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? They had other business in view and the soul is left to perish. We did not hear of the more convenient season ever coming to Felix. And reader, it may never come to you. The Lord used Paul to give out His testimony in this vain city. So Paul left them. Howbeit certain men slave to him, and believed. A few are gathered out to the name of Christ Jesus out of this pleasure-loving, frivolous city of pretentiously wise men. "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these thing from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." Matt. 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:18, 29.

Scripture Study: Acts 20

ACT 20No doubt, with a distinct purpose, Paul does not tell us much of his own sufferings. He reminds Timothy of what he knew of them as an example to him; or in 1 Cor. 15:32, to show the foolishness of suffering for Christ, if there is no resurrection of the dead. In 2 Cor. 11:21-28, when, to show to the boasters their folly, he says, "I speak as a fool." In 2 Cor. 1:8-10 and 4:12, when we hear him tell of death's sentence carried in his soul, and of the God of comfort who has delivered, does deliver, and shall deliver, that the Corinthians might know their resource in time of need.

The writer in the Acts passes on rapidly in his narrative, but what a history it gives of the devoted servant given up to do the Master's will. We know fallen man will fail, and he did also, but how like, in self-sacrificing love, he is to his Master and Lord!

After the stormy time just gone through, Paul called the disciples, and embraced them, and started for Macedonia, where he spent a while in earnest exhortation and instruction. Then he came to Greece, and spent three months. As he was leaving for Syria, a treacherous plot against him came to light, so that he purposed returning to Macedonia. Verse 4 tells us of some of the company that went with him. These went before, and waited for him at Troas. The rest of the company, of whom Luke, the narrator, was one, sailed from Philippi, and reached Troas in five days, and stayed there seven days.

Here we find (In verse seven) the custom of the disciples in those days was to come together to break bread on the first day of the week, marking out for us our privilege to come together on that day, which we rightly, with John, by the Holy Spirit, in Rev. 1:10, call the Lord's Day. As they came together for the purpose of remembering the Lord in His death, this would doubtless be done, and Paul being present, began to unfold the truth which was necessary for them to know, and this he continued till midnight.

We must remember that at that time there was no legal holiday as we have now; they therefore met at the most convenient time for 'all, and that was evening.

It was an upper room, and there were many lights burning. A young man, Eutychus, sank into a deep sleep, and after a while fell down from the third loft, and was taken up for dead. Paul went down, and embracing him, said, "Trouble not yourselves, for his life (soul) is in him." Then he went up to his place again, and after having refreshments, he went on with the meeting, till day break, and then departed: It was a comfort to them that the young man was alive.

Paul journeyed on to Assos afoot, while his company went in a ship. From there they went on to Miletus; for Paul, with true Jewish feelings, wanted to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. From Miletus, he sent and called the elders of the Church, and gave them his farewell address, which is therefore important to us as instruction needed when we have no apostles. He could speak of his faithful, yet humble service, and the trials he passed through; of how he declared to them everything that was profitable for them to know, and taught them publicly, and from house to house. "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Now he was going on to Jerusalem, not knowing what was before him, except that the Holy Spirit witnessed in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions were his lot. But none of these things deterred him, neither did he count his life dear unto himself. It was his aim to finish his course with joy, and to fulfill the ministry which the Lord entrusted to him, to declare the gospel of the grace of God. He adds, "Behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God." "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Lord bath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with the blood of His own (Son)."

And how we see this fulfilled. (Ver. 29). How many grievous wolves have succeeded the apostles, to destroy the teachings, and to scatter the flock! Thank God, they cannot destroy the Scriptures; the foundation of God standeth sure; they cannot change the purposes of God, nor His love, nor Christ's love to His Church which is His body, and this embraces all who are truly saved souls. We can still say, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling." Eph. 4:4.

In verse 30, he tells of another danger, and that comes from Christians themselves "speaking perverse things," and so succeed in making divisions-centers of themselves, which we may fitly call "men's tables." We find the first mention of such in "all Asia" turning away from the apostle's teachings. (2 Tim. 1:15). Since then, it spread till all was lost as to divine ground of gatherings in confusion of sects. And since, in these days, God has recovered to many the truth that "There is one body," One Head, One Center for the Holy Spirit to gather His people to. We find the enemy has succeeded, as he did at the first, in again setting up "men's tables" in division, while still with the pretense of being gathered to the name of the Lord, they say, "We all have the Lord's table." Alas! What a contradiction to the truth, where they have not separation from evil, and the Unity of the Spirit, and are gathered in independency.

More than ever we need the apostle's word, "Therefore watch." We need to remember his tears, his warnings, and all the words the Holy Spirit ministered to him.

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

We do well to let our souls dwell on this-God, the living God; and the Word, the unchanging Word of His grace, a solid rock under our feet, an unfailing refuge from every storm that can arise. May He find our hearts simple, obedient, dependent on Him. And find an example in our blessed Lord, and in His apostles, in their walking in His footsteps, ministering to the needs of others as Paul did, caring for the weak and needy ones, and remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." What lessons for our souls to ponder!

Then Paul knelt and prayed with them all, and they all wept sore, and fell on his neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. They accompanied him unto the ship.

It is a serious question for every child of God in the present day to answer. Are you endeavoring to walk according to the truth of Paul's teaching? Have you found out that God has a center, where, if allowed, the Holy Spirit would gather you while you wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus? Do you know the approval of the Lord in your path? He will give it to you, if you seek His face. (Psa. 105:4)

Scripture Study: Mark 2:1-17

Verse 1. After some days He comes into Capernaum again, and it was noised that He was in the house.

Verse 2. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the word unto them. This is the special service He has before Him, and faithfully He attends to it. It would be the truth-what He Himself is, unfolded from the Scriptures, and new things from the divine storehouse; Israel's Messiah promised; the Savior of men, who can meet man's need. His works conforming His word, carrying with it delivering power from every evil.

Verse 3. And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy (paralysis) which was borne of four. Here is the helpless sinner who cannot come, but four men who have confidence in the Lord carry him.

Verse 4. And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was; and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Their perseverance expressed their confidence in Jesus, in His love and in His power. Faith overcomes obstacles and presses on till its object is gained. The man is needy. Jesus alone can meet his need and they have confidence that He will heal him.

Verse 5. When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." The cause of man's ruin was sin. Sin was the root of all the trouble and disease that had come upon man. Now the one who can meet the need is come, the great Messiah of whom it was written (Psa. 103) "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases." He tells the man the cause of the trouble-it is sin. This is the teaching of God that draws the sinner to Christ (John 6:45). There He meets us and gives us soul healing-the remission of sins. It is the same faith we need to exercise now as Christians, that, making us feel our need, keeps us as needy ones drawing from His fullness, and assures us that He will not fail us. He will teach us patience and prove us, but He will answer the soul that relies upon Him. This is the Holy Spirit's work in us.

Verses 6-11. The scribes reason in their hearts, "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" They are blind to the things of God; it is the carnal mind (Rom. 8:7), and it cannot receive the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14). Jesus knew their thoughts, for He was God manifest in the flesh who was present among them, and He answers them, "Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, Thy sins be forgiven thee: or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins (He saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed and go thy way into thine house." God had come in love to pardon and to heal. He had the right and the power in His own person as Son of Man to meet man's wretchedness, and to free him from the sufferings of body which sin had brought in; and to forgive His sins. Isa. 53:4-6 tells us what it was to cost Him. He could speak it to the man, well knowing that God's justice would be maintained by His finished work at the cross. Thus He proved Himself to be the Friend of Sinners, forgiving their sins and delivering them from sins forever, and by His grace attracting them to Himself as a loving Savior.

Verse 12. "And immediately He arose, took up his bed, and went forth before them: insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, we never saw it on this fashion." The man's walk is a witness" to the new power given him by the Lord Jesus.

Verse 13. "And He went forth again by the seaside; and all the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them." This is His special work again.

Verse 14. "And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him." The publicans were considered the lowest of the Jews, and were hated, as servants of the Romans, for collecting the Roman tributes from their brethren. The Jews hated to pay this tax. They were continually reminded by it of their sin that put them under the Roman yoke. The publicans were, therefore, despised and detested. Some of them grew rich and were blamed for defrauding the Jews to enrich themselves. In calling Levi, the Lord shows the true character of His mission, that it was to seek the lost, the needy sinner, that He came.

Verse 15. "And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and His disciples: for there were many and they followed Him." Luke 5:29, tells us that Levi (or Matthew) made a great feast to Jesus; it seems to be this same occasion.

Verse 16. The scribes and Pharisees show their ignorance of their own state under their religious garb, questioning His disciples. "How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?"

Verse 17. "When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I Came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." What a rebuke to them, to their pretended sanctity, and what grace to the lowly confessed sinner-grace in seeking the lost; forgiving the guilty; welcoming and gathering the needy repentant souls, to give to them remission of sins.

This is not law; the law demanded righteousness from man and cursed him for not having it (Gal. 3:10). But the Lord Jesus is full of grace and truth seeking sinners to forgive their sins, as we know (Rom. 3:25), righteously, because of the work He would do upon the cross., "There is none righteous" otherwise (Rom. 3:10). He does not send the sinner away, but seeks him and sits and eats with him while still being Himself altogether holy. This is the love of God winning the hearts of men, and producing confidence towards God in these hearts; to give them a perfect object, and to form them after His image. May we contemplate His glory as thus revealed, that we may be drawn after Him.

God is revealed to us in the gift of His Son; the cross manifests that love in giving Him for us. And in righteousness, too, for there we see the blessed Lord made sin for us, and we are now made the righteousness of God in Him, and have an inheritance awaiting us in glory. We are also God's dear children. What a contrast with law which demands and gives nothing.

(To be Continued.)

Scripture Study: Acts 15

ACT 15While the work of the gospel of the grace of God, and the calling out of assemblies through the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, is now steadily going on from Antioch, danger of division loomed up and we see in this chapter how God, in His grace, wrought to avert it.

Judaizing teachers now appear among the Gentile converts, saying: "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." This raised dissension and disputation, between them and the apostles. A number were sent with Paul and Barnabas up to Jerusalem about the question. We see from the teachings of Paul to the Galatians, how opposed such a thing is from the Gospel of the grace of God, but God revealed to Paul (Gal. 2:1, 2) that he was to go up to Jerusalem to have it settled by the apostles and assembly there. Being brought on their way by the assembly, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, and gave great joy to the brethren, telling the conversion of the Gentiles.

At Jerusalem they were received of the assembly and apostles and elders. There also, they declared all that God had done with them. Then some of the Pharisees, who had believed, rose up anti said: "That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."

Paul and Barnabas sat still and heard the discussion, but they had taken care to go over it with those of reputation privately, "lest by any means," says Paul, "I should run, or had run in vain." They can wait on the Lord, and see His delivering grace. The discussion by minor voices at last ceased. All seem to have been allowed a voice. At last Peter rose up, and said unto them: "Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe, and God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

Then amid the silence of the multitude, Paul and Barnabas declared what miracles and wonders of grace God had wrought among the Gentiles. Well they knew, as the Galatian Epistle unfolds, that law and grace will not mix. If a man seeks to be justified by the law, he is fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4), but they could let it be all fully discussed, so that the Jewish Christians themselves would be left to declare that the Gentile Christians were not to be put under law. So that no division of thought on that point could separate them.

James then sums up, and gives the sentence, quoting Amos to prove God's intention to bring in the Gentiles, which sentence brings in what is true for all men, that is, to respect the sanctity of the marriage institution; also to own that life belongs to God-the blood is His portion, and abstain also from the pollutions of idolatry, for idolatry denies the living and true God, the Creator of all things. Marriage dates from Adam and Eve. Gen. 9 tells Noah to pour out the blood. Abraham was called out to worship the Almighty God.

Then all agreed to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. They selected Judas and Silas, prominent men among the brethren. Their letter read, "The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ye must be circumcised and keep the law; to Whom we gave no such commandment; it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."

When they came to Antioch, and read the letter to the gathered multitude, they rejoiced for the consolation. Judas and Silas, being prophets, stayed with them for a time, exhorting and confirming them. When they were free to go, Judas departed, but Silas preferred to labor on among the Gentiles. So did Paul and Barnabas for a time. Then Paul suggested unto Barnabas, "Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they do."

Barnabas determined to take with them John, his nephew, whose surname was Mark. Paul could not agree to this, for he had turned back from it before. The contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other. Barnabas took his nephew Mark and went off to Cyprus. He still labored for the Lord, but not in the forefront of the battle. Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren, to the grace of God, and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.

"We do not forget the real worth of Barnabas, a true servant of Jesus, to whom the Holy Ghost Himself has borne witness; only he was not suited to that work. We learn ourselves that a heart consecrated to the Lord, without other attachment, separated from everything, is alone suited to represent Christ in a ministry such as that of Paul, and indeed in every true ministry."

"Affection is good, but it is not consecration. Woe to us if we have not natural affection-it is a sign of the last times (2 Tim. 3:8); but these are not suited to such a work, a work which demands that one should not know anything after the flesh."

"It is happy to find that, after this, Paul speaks of Barnabas with entire affection; and desires that Mark should come to him, having found him profitable for the ministry."

Scripture Study: Acts 22

ACT 22Paul tells them of his birth, and education at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the perfect manner of the law of the Jewish fathers, and was zealous toward God, as they were. He had persecuted those of this way unto death and prison, both men and women, and that with authority from the priests and elders. He tells the story of his conversion, and of the godly Annanias, of good report among all the Jews, used for his blessing. And tells of the Lord saying to him, "Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me." He tells of his zeal in the cause of Jewish hatred to Christ, till the message he received from the Lord is mentioned: "Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." What was he doing there then?

His position was a false one; it contradicted his mission, but the Jews here again manifest their rejection of Christ, and gave up to the Gentiles, the grace offered to them. They would not own the authority of Jesus, and at the mention of the Gentiles, their wrath breaks out afresh (1 Thess. 2:14-16). They lifted up their voices, and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live", and they behaved outrageously.

The captain commanded that Paul be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging, to find out why they cried so against him. As they bound him with thongs, Paul, who knew the Roman law, said to the centurion that stood by, "Is it lawful to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" That stopped the scourging, by Paul asserting that he was a free-born Roman. The captain was afraid that he had gone too far in binding him, yet left him bound till the next day, till he could try him before the chief priests and the Jewish council.

"In the apostle's discourse, the Lord still calls Himself Jesus of Nazareth. We know that He was glorified, but this makes Him shine with a light more brilliant than that of the sun. He is ever the same benign and gentle man who learned human sorrows in the midst of men. He thinks of others, and considers all Christians as part of Himself. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. Infinitely precious truth! Then we find in Paul the same liberty as we have seen in Annanias. He reasons with the Lord (Ver. 18-21), saying that more than any other he was fit for testimony at Jerusalem. And here, too, we see what a perfect conscience is by grace, and by the blood of Christ. He recounts to Christ all his sins, and the hatred which at the beginning had been in his heart to the Lord's name; how he had persecuted the members of Christ, and taken part in the death of Stephen; and all this he presents to the Lord as a motive for his mission to the Jews. But his conscience was pure now.

The companions of Paul saw the light, but did not hear the voice of Him who spoke with him. In Chapter 9 we read that they heard the voice; but saw no one. They did not see the Lord, nor did they hear His words, but they saw a great light, and heard a voice without being able to distinguish the words. This is just what was necessary. They were undeniable witnesses that the vision was true and real, but the communication was for Paul alone. Only he saw the Lord. (Acts 22:14, 15.) For he had to be taught by Him, and hear testimony as an ocular witness that he had seen Him."

Scripture Study: Matthew 27

(Matthew 27.)MAT 27

Matt. 27:1:2. In the morning the chief priests and elders of the people formally condemn the Lord to death. They bound Him and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate, the Gentile ruler (Matt. 20:18- 19).

Matt. 27:3-10. Judas, in despair at seeing Him condemned, repented himself. He no doubt thought he would get the money, and that the Lord would deliver Himself out of their hands. It was not godly sorrow for sin. It was the sorrow of the world that works death (2 Cor. 7:10); he went and hanged himself. His guilty conscience is another witness to the guilt of the Jewish leaders and to the Lord's innocence. The priests, full of religious scruples, could not put the money into the treasury; they buy a field that is a perpetual monument to their guilt in selling the Lord their King. It was a place to bury Gentiles in. Truly the Gentiles came to rich blessing through it. Zech. 11:12-13 is fulfilled.

Matt. 27:11-18. The question before the chief priest was, "Art Thou the Son of God?" The question before the Gentile ruler is, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?" He answers, "Thou sayest." To all their accusations He answers nothing, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Pilate has another, a notable prisoner, Barabbas. He knew the envy of the Jews, and said, "Which will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ?"

Matt. 27:19-24. Pilate's wife now adds her testimony, warning her husband to have nothing to do with that just Man, for she had suffered many things that day because of Him. The chief priests and elders persuade the multitude to ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus, and to Pilate's question, "What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ?" they all say unto him, "Let Him be crucified," but there is no justice in it. Pilate says, "Why, what evil hath He done?" And again, with louder shout, they answer, "Let Him be crucified."

Pilate, who should have carried out righteousness, as the ruler of the people, washed his hands, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." What will he do when he stands before Christ to be judged?

Matt. 27:25-26. But the people are willing to take the guilt upon themselves, and say, "His blood be on us, and on our children." Abel's blood called for vengeance; the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, speaks infinite, eternal blessing to all who believe upon Him, but terrible judgment to those who reject Him (Heb. 10:29).

Matt. 27:26. They get their choice-"Barabbas" (which means son of the father)-a true child of the devil, like themselves (John 8:44). Then he scourged Jesus-made furrows on His back (Psa. 129:3)-and delivered Him to be crucified.

Matt. 27:27-32. The soldiers now display their brutality and enmity of heart. Gathering all their band, they strip Him, and array Him in mock glory; a scarlet robe, and a crown of thorns, a reed for a scepter in His right hand, and bowing the knee before Him, mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head. After that they had mocked Him, they took off the robe and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

He endures it all in patient submission. His obedience was perfect. He bore it all without relief, doing the Father's will.

John tells us He bearing His cross went forth; here Simon of Cyrene is compelled to bear it. An old writer says, "The decreed burden of every saint." Afterward, Simon would feel it was an honor God had put upon him. Each one is shown out in his real character here by the Lord. Everything finds its true place as it touches Him.

Matt. 27:33-54. It is the place of execution. He refuses the stupefying cup. He will not avoid the suffering entailed in His path as the One doing the Father's will. Psa. 22 is His experience now, also Psa. 69 and others. The Jews must bear the shame; their King was rejected and suffering, yet they revile and insult Him. Their hearts and the malefactors speak alike. But the deep anguish of the Lord grows deeper still. The depth of all His sufferings, who could conceive as wave after wave broke upon Him! As another has said, "His heart, His soul-the vessel of a divine love-could alone go deeper than the bottom of that abyss which sin had opened for man, to bring up those who lay there, after that He had endured its pains in His own soul." A heart that had been ever faithful was forsaken of God. Where sin had brought man, love brought the Lord, but with a nature and an apprehension in which there was no distance, no separation, so that it should be felt in all its fullness. No one but He who was in that place could fathom or feel it.

It is also a wonderful spectacle to see the One righteous Man in the world declare at the end of His life that He was forsaken of God. But thus it was He glorified Him as none else could have done-made sin, in the presence of God as such with no veil to hide, no mercy to cover or bear it with."

"Himself He could not save,

Love's stream too deeply flowed."

His enemies fulfilled the prophecies in their hatred and ignorance. He fulfilled them in suffering love, bore all the weight of the divine judgment against sin. There He made propitiation for our sins, made sin, Himself the sinless One; and at the close, out of the darkness that cry came which told of what His portion was from God as the sin bearer. Perfect as He ever was, this perfection shows itself when He says, "My God." When He was abandoned His faith remained firm. He asks "Why," but justified God in His forsaking, in the words, "But Thou art holy." Here He is the offering for sin, made sin for us; here God is glorified, His righteousness manifested. Men did not understand, and said, "He is calling for Elias." He is alone in this work of the cross. And now that the Scripture is fulfilled, His thirst quenched, He cried with a loud voice. His strength is manifest in it. He gave up the ghost, He laid down His life, a willing victim. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. God is hidden no longer; the entrance into the holy place is made manifest-the "new and living way" which God has consecrated for us through the veil.

Now we can sing:

"The veil is rent, our souls draw near

Unto a throne of grace."

Here is the witness that the Word is done, God's hand rends the veil from the top to the bottom, the sin is put away, the believer is fitted to draw near. In His love we are brought nigh through His own precious work.

The earth did quake, the rocks were rent, the graves were opened. God's power is manifest not only in creation, but also in resurrection, and Scripture tells us that after His resurrection many bodies of the saints arose, and came out of their graves, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many, witnessing that death's power is annulled by Him who died upon the cross.

No wonder the centurion, and they that were with him, were so struck that they bore witness to the greatness of His person. They feared greatly, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God."

We may yet see this chief executioner in the glory with Christ-fruit of that scene of death that made him utter this confession. It is the testimony of the far-off Gentile (Eph. 2:13).

Matt. 27:55, 56. Notice is taken of those devoted women who watched the crucifixion of tile One they loved, the Lord appreciates it fully and records it here.

Matt. 27:57-66. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council, becomes bold to ask the body of Jesus, and shows he is of a different spirit from those who condemned the Lord (Luke 23:51). Through him and Nicodemus, special care was taken of the Lord's body, as Isa. 53:9 reads (New Trans.), "and (men) appointed His grave with the wicked, but He was with the rich in His death" (John 19:38-42). Man cannot go further than God allows him to go (Psa. 76:10).

The rich men, god-fearing men, are there at the right moment with the spices and linen and the new sepulcher wherein never man was laid, to care for the body that never saw corruption (Psa. 16), but it was the grave in which the Lord of life and glory lay for the appointed time. A great stone was rolled against the door and they departed, but there those two faithful, devoted women sat after all the others had gone.

The next day, which was the Sabbath, the chief priests apply to Pilate for soldiers to watch the sepulcher. They remember His words, "After three days I will rise again," and try to hinder Him from rising. The soldiers become witnesses to the power of God, and the corruption of those religious leaders.

Christian Warfare.

We are hearing today a great deal about war. Very many young men are being enrolled under various banners to fight for king and country. They are being trained to be good soldiers, fitted to endure the hardness of the battle-field. There is a lesson for young Christians in all this. We are all called to be soldiers, but not to be soldiers of the world, not to fight for its glory and honor, with the terribly destructive weapons of the day. We are called to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, enrolled under His banner-Love-to fight the good fight of faith. The rightful King has been rejected, and has gone away into a "far country." Once He was here, and when a band of soldiers came to apprehend Him, one of His followers impetuously drew his sword and sought to deliver Him but the hour had not come to set up His kingdom on the earth, and He bade Peter put up his sword into its sheath, very graciously healing the wound he had inflicted. His kingdom was not of this world, else His servants on the earth would fight. His Father would have given Him more than twelve legions of angels, if He had prayed for them. But He would be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He had come to save sinners.

In the Epistle to the Church at Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul seems, after the manner of men, to have contended as with wild beasts, he brings before the believers Christ's exaltation and tells them that the Church is the fullness, or completeness, of Him that filleth all in all, that believers have been raised up together with Christ, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Him, that in the ages to come, God might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known through (not by) the Church the manifold, or all varied, wisdom of God. At the end of the Epistle, he tells them that they have to wrestle against these principalities, and powers, against world rulers of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. What a terrible conflict! How can we wage such a war, in which it takes mightiest efforts simply to withstand and stand, to stubbornly maintain and retain? The power for this is, to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I am united to Him, who has not only bound the strong man, taken away his armor and spoiled his goods, but has also destroyed him that had the power of death, by bruising his head at the cross. We are to fight the Lord's battles against His enemies; for this the armor of God is provided, and we are to put it on-the whole armor. Let not any part be wanting, or our ever-vigilant foe will at once discover the weak spot and direct his attack against us there. The first thing to be put on is the girdle of truth. The loins, the place of strength, are to be girded, that there may be no hindrance to free action. The word of God is to curb us, to brace us up for conflict, thus are we to obtain the firmness needed, the strength and comeliness of Christian character. Having then begun to prepare to meet the enemy by allowing the truth to search through and through and detect all that is contrary to God, the next thing is to put on the breastplate of righteousness-condition of the conscience-to have a conscience void of offense before God and man. Practical righteousness enables us to meet the foe fearlessly. When a soul is walking with God, the enemy is unable to accuse; where the breastplate of righteousness protects the vital parts, no self-accusation weakens the defense. The righteous is as bold as a lion. Then too, the believer's walk must be that which becometh the gospel of peace, and so his feet must be protected by the strong, enduring, and not burdensome sandals of the preparation of the gospel of peaces Walk, life and conduct are to be such as becomes the gospel, which preaches peace by Jesus Christ: Having then the condition of soul shown by the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness; and the sandals of the gospel of peace, we are to take besides these the shield of faith over all, capable of being turned hither and thither to meet every attack and whereon the fiery darts will fall harmless and dead. Confidence in God, in the knowledge of Him as revealed in Jesus Christ. All the enemy's darts are tipped with unbelief, and can only be quenched by the shield of faith-trust in God, as to what He is in Himself, and what He is for me-with a corresponding mistrust of myself. "Hangs my helpless soul on thee."

An example of confidence is told in connection with Napoleon Bonaparte. His horse taking fright, he was in imminent danger of being thrown, when a private soldier, springing from his place in the ranks, at the risk of his own life, seized the bridle and respectfully restored it to the emperor. "Thank you, Captain," said the emperor. "Of what regiment, sir?" asked the soldier, saluting the emperor with unquestioning confidence. "Of my own guards," replied the emperor, charmed with such a manifestation of faith and sincerity, and he galloped away. Instantly acting on the emperor's word, the soldier laid down his gun, intimated his new rank to his companions, and passed over to the group of staff officers. "What does this fellow want?" haughtily asked one. "The fellow," said the soldier, "is a captain of the emperor's guards." "A captain," cried another; "who said so?" "The emperor said so," replied the soldier. On which the officers immediately greeted him as one of themselves.

Then we have the helmet of salvation to protect the head-the seat of thought-a proper sense of our salvation in Christ Jesus. "O, God, the strength of my salvation. Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle" (Psa. 140:7).

The believer, then, braced up by the truth, with a good conscience, his path peaceful, having a perfect confidence in God, and a conscious joy of salvation has to take the sword of the Spirit. It is a two-edged one. How it is to be used, the Lord has Himself shown us when He encountered the enemy in the temptation in the wilderness, with the words, "It is written." He applied the Scriptures to Himself, rebuked Satan so that he departed for a season. We cannot destroy him, but the soldier of the Lord arrayed in the whole armor of God, is assured, emboldened to withstand his attacks, and can hold his ground against him. ''When we are weak then are we strong," seems a paradox, but it teaches us that the a aspirations of our soul must mount always towards its source and its Deliverer, so that we are exhorted to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and to watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Thus the soldier of Jesus Christ is not only to be equipped with the whole armor of God, but must be also in entire dependence upon Him, who has called him to be a soldier, ever seeking guidance, ever waiting His commands, ever vigilant.

There is also a negative side in connection with Christian warfare. "We do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh." There is always a danger of the Christian forgetting this. It is only as we walk in the Spirit, we are preserved from the activities of the flesh. Had Simon Peter's loins been girded with the truth, he would not have drawn the sword on Malchus, when the Scriptures were being fulfilled, which said, "He was led as a Lamb to the slaughter," and "Smite the Shepherd of the sheep, and the sheep shall be scattered." When David girded on Saul's armor he put it off again, because he had not proved it, but he went against Goliath girded with the truth-the uncircumcised Philistine had defied the armies of the Living God. When charged with pride and haughtiness of heart, he could answer with divine intelligence and a good conscience, "Is there not a cause?" He had been saved by God from the lion and the bear. On his head was the helmet of salvation, while the Shield of Faith, his confidence in God, gave him assurance of deliverance.

We have need to remember that the conflict into which we are brought, is one of the Devil against God, and His purposes of Grace. Once we were on the other side as slaves of Satan, but now as the children of God, we need not shrink from the conflict, for greater is He that is for us, than all that be against us. So many give up when they find that there is a conflict to be waged. You get in John 6:60-71 many going back. The fight is too hard, too strenuous. Let the question, "Will ye also go away?" test us, and may our answer be, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." And so may we take up the cross daily and follow Him.

"Lead on, Almighty Lord,

Lead on to victory;

Encouraged by Thy blessed Word,

With joy we follow Thee.

Till of the prize possessed,

We hear of war no more,

And O, sweet thought! forever rest

On yonder peaceful shore."

Scripture Study: Mark 1:21-45

MAR 1Verse 21. The words "forthwith." "immediately," "straightway," "anon," tell us of the diligent Servant filling His day, doing the Father's will. It is not like a memoir when the writer does all he can to eulogize the one he speaks of. It is the Holy Spirit giving us a life picture that to the opened eye and ear, shows how the blessed Lord hid Himself, and in the overflowing goodness of His heart in untiring patience, meeting the needs of all who came to Him.

Verse 22. "They were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes." Their teachings were opinions of man; His teaching had with it the authority of the word of God. He spoke the truth, He was the truth, and the word He spoke being the word of God, aroused the opposition of Satan.

Verses 23, 24. There was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, "Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth?... I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God." What a state for man to be in-possessed by a demon; the Lord's presence makes his state manifest, and the demon owns Jesus of Nazareth the Holy One of God, a man to whom Satan must submit.

Verses 25, 26. Jesus rebuked him, saying: "Hold thy peace, and come out of him." He will not have testimony from Satan, and He delivers the man from his power. The unclean spirit, showing the reality of his presence and his evil influence, tore the man, and having cried with a loud voice, came out of him. It was the power of God, in the word of Jesus, who, as a man, had overcome the enemy in the temptations, and was now spoiling his goods.

Verse 27. "They were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying.

What, thing is this? What new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him." Satan cannot stand before Him. He is the Deliverer foretold in Isa. 61:1.

Verse 28. "And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee."

Verses 29-31. They now leave the synagogue and go into the home of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever. Straightway her state is laid before Him. And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. This is a case of violent fever, but the same power of good is with Him to rebuke it. The desire of His people is answered; they do not tell Him of her in vain. He took her by the hand, the fever fled at His touch, and she was able to serve them.

Verses 32-34. "And at even, when the sun did set (that is when the Sabbath was over), they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils, and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him."

He meets the need of poor, ruined men, but He will not allow the evil spirits to speak of Him. It is ever Satan's effort to spoil the work of God by mixing evil with it. The perfect Servant knows this, and will not allow it.

Verse 35. It seems that He accepted the hospitality of that house for the night. "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed unto a solitary place, and there prayed." He is the dependent One, ever doing the Father's will. His communion was ever perfect, and here we see Him early in the morning seeking the presence of the Father alone in that solitary place, as He says in Isa. 50:4, "The Lord God hath given Me the tongue of the learned (that is one instructed), that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learned." There is the source of His strength and guidance-walking in communion with His Father. What diligence we see in Him in this also. What a lesson for us to be much in prayer.

Verse 36. "And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him." This is very nice, but they seem a long way behind. The spirit indeed may be willing, but with us the flesh is weak. And they followed after Him; they have Him in view, and that is what we should seek.

Verse 37. And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, "All men seek for Thee." But He had been with the Father, and had already His way laid out in which He should go. He will not be turned aside for men; He did not seek fame nor numbers of followers.

Verses 38, 39. And He said unto them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth." This was His special mission-to preach the Word. He keeps it before Him; healing comes in by the way. "And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils." His word was with power, and delivered men from the yoke of sin and Satan: it is the goodness and power of divine love shown out in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Verse 40. And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." It was bold for a leper to come so close. He was to stay in isolation, and when any one came near, he was to cry. "Unclean, unclean" (Lev. 13:45, 46), but this leper was drawn to Jesus, he was convinced of His power, but was not sure of His willingness. It was a sad picture of the defiling character of sin. He was a loathsome leper, but here he is drawn to Jesus, humbled on his knees and yearning for the healing power of Jesus. He did not know the love that was in His heart for him.

Verse 41. "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." Elisha could not do this for Naaman. (2 Kings 5.) Elisha would have been defiled; but Jesus, the Holy One, could not be contaminated; instead, the leprosy fled at His touch, thus declaring that God was present. His deep compassion reached out to the man's need; He came so near as to touch him. God had come down in love and grace. The leper is healed, cleansed.

Verse 42. "And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was cleansed." What gladness would fill that man's heart.

Verses 43-45. "And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Could he keep such news to himself? Impossible, the vessel was too full; it must run over. The Lord owned the priest, sent the man there, and sought to hide Himself, but this new wine could not be contained in old bottles. The man went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter-a crowd too great for the narrow streets to contain.

(Continued from page 75.)

Scripture Study: Acts 19

ACT 19The Lord is gathering together in one, the children of God scattered abroad. Aquilla and Priscilla helped Apollos to see his place. Paul, who was now at Ephesus, instructs twelve disciples of John the Baptist in the truth. He evidently saw in them something lacking, so he asked them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" They replied, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." They did not know that the Holy Ghost had come. They knew there was such a person, for John taught of Him. Paul inquires further, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Unto John's baptism." Paul explains that John's baptism, which was unto repentance, was only pointing to One that was coming after him, on whom they were to believe, that is, on Christ Jesus.

The death and resurrection of Christ, and His place in glory at the Father's right hand, having finished the work of atonement, and the sending of the Spirit, that other Comforter at Pentecost, all this would be joyful news to them; and when they heard these things, they were baptized in, or, to the name of the Lord Jesus. They were thus brought into the Church, or house of God, and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, thus making them members of the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12, 13.)

They were born again when they were John's disciples; now they have the Holy Spirit, the seal of faith dwelling in them. The difference is manifest, for they spoke with tongues and prophesied. This is intelligent speaking of the things of God; it is one of the three instances mentioned in Acts of speaking with tongues. In each case that Which was spoken was understood by those present. It is not to he compared with the unintelligent jabbering of the so-called tongues of the present day spiritism.

Paul goes on boldly speaking the things of God and His Kingdom. For three months he persuades and disputes with the Jews, till the opposition became so great that some hardened unbelievers, speaking evil of that way before the multitude, made Paul go away from them, and he separating the disciples, went on with his work in the school of one Tyrannus. This ministry he continued for over two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

God bore witness by signs and wonders and various acts of power, that Paul was His apostle, so that a number were healed and evil spirits cast out. It was the power of God in a man, but when some Jews who went about pretending to cast out evil spirits, had taken upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." There were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, who were doing this, but the evil spirit answered, and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" Then the spirit-possessed man leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all the Jews and Greeks dwelling at Ephesus, and the Lord used it to arouse consciences. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many that believed came and confessed the things which they had done. Many of them also which used curious arts (charms) brought their books together, and burned them before all, and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. The power of God' is greater than that of Satan. Thus with might the word of the Lord increased and prevailed. Men's consciences are reached when God is before the soul, and the enemy is held in check till the work is accomplished.

After about three years in Ephesus, Paul has it on his mind to go to Jerusalem, by way of Macedonia. He purposed in his spirit to see Rome also. He sent Timotheus and Erastus there to Macedonia, but he remained awhile longer. in Asia.

Again the Lord allows a storm to rise. Demetrius, the silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana, feels his idolatrous gains arc diminishing, called together his fellow craftsmen, and said, "Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover, ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands; so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth." Satan works here by selfish interests, and the self-importance of our city and country, to oppose the blessed salvation that the love and grace of God provided.

Demetrius' speech fills the city with wrath. The mob caught Gains and Aristarchus, and rushed them to the theater. Paul wanted to go also, but the disciples kept him back, and some of the chief men, officers, who were his friends, sent unto him, advising him not to go. For two hours the mob kept up their shouts and cries: "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." The city was filled with confusion, some crying one thing, and some another. Some did not know what it was all about, and all this after nearly three years of hearing the gospel through Paul and his companions. Yet there were many who had been delivered from Satan's power in that place.

The Jews now put Alexander forward. He, beckoning with his hand, would have made his defense unto the people, but they did not want the Jew either, and with their shouts, kept up the commotion. The town clerk appeased the people by praising Diana, and asserting that Gains and Aristarchus had done nothing against the law; that Demetrius had the means, to accuse anyone who had wronged him, and that they might be called in question about the uproar before the authorities, and they would be unable to give any account. Then he dismissed the assembly.

We have found in this chapter, the conflict between the Spirit of God working in the Lord's servants, and the power of Satan kept in check, and overcome by God as long as the work was going on; the Jew and his religion powerless of good; the assembly of God growing amidst the opposition of man, under Satan's power. In our day, the conflict goes on between truth and error. Though miracles are not needed now, and so have ceased, yet the Lord takes care of His servants. His love and grace are ever the same. He Opens the door, or shuts the door, as and when He will, and sees fit so to do.

Scripture Study: John 11

OH 11{ Here the Lord is seen marked out as Son of God in power, according to the resurrection of the dead. (Rom. 1:4.) He is the Resurrection and the Life, proved in the raising of Lazarus, and here perfectly are seen the human and the divine commingled-love, sympathy, power, and the perfect knowledge of the Father's will all blended together.

The chapter opens with the sickness of Lazarus of Bethany. Mary and Martha, his sisters, count on the Lord's interest in them, as His loved ones, to stay the disease. They send the message, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick." And this would be enough for true human affection, and none so true as His, but He has something deeper, and this He states, though not yet understood by any about Him, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

Verse 5. There was no doubt of His love to Martha, Mary and Lazarus, but death must come in: for man (or Israel) is seen here as dead to God, and Lazarus' death is to illustrate their case-the full ruin of man, the consequence of sin, is seen in death. His power and goodness had been witnessed already to heal the sick, and to deliver man from the enemy; but in death, the full consequences of sin are seen, except in the judgment that will follow those that are lost. No doctors can do a dead man any good. It must be the power of God to bestow life on the dead.

Verse 6. When He heard, therefore, that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where Ike was. He would not be guided by His affection for those loved and troubled ones, but by His knowledge of the Father's will and devotedness to His glory, and this He waited on the Father for every morning. (Isa. 50:4.)

Verses 7-10. After that He saith to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." This, to the disciples, meant danger or even death, and they say, "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again?" But to avoid danger is not His guide, any more than love. His Father's will is His motive. There are twelve hours in the day, and it is daylight that He is walking in-walking with the Father, and no danger can hinder Him. No death can touch the One who is the resurrection and the life, till it is the Father's time; then, He in the same power gives Himself up to death, and for us.

Verses 11-14. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." This He must explain to them, "Lazarus is dead."

Verse 15. "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

Verse 16. Thomas said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." How great the contrast of what was in His mind to what was in theirs. He is the life-giver going to give the dead life. They see nothing before Him and them but danger and death. They cannot enter into His thoughts, while, doubtless, it was genuine human affection that prompted Thomas to say it. The Lord could appreciate that also.

Verses 17-19. On arriving near the place the Lord found that Lazarus had been in the grave four days already. To man it is an utterly hopeless case. Many of the Jews were there to comfort Martha and Mary concerning their brother. Theirs is helpless, hopeless, human sympathy. How different is His. The news goes before to the bereaved house that Jesus was coming.

Verse 20. Martha, as soon as she heard it, went and met Him: but Mary sat still in the house. At our first glance one might think Mary was behind in love to the Lord, but we soon notice, that she is more like the Lord than Martha, who goes on the first suggestion of her mind, while Mary waits for the Master's guidance. And this is in keeping with her habitual attitude. (Luke 10:39.) She sat at His feet and heard His word.

Verses 21-43. Martha said unto Jesus, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee." This does not include the thought of resurrection, only she has confidence in Him as the true Messiah, the Son of God, and she seems to feel that had He been present, death had not come in. When He answers, "Thy brother shall rise again," it has no present meaning to her. Nor does she understand anything beyond a general resurrection at the last day. Not even when He says, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he have died, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" She can only answer: "Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

It is all above her, and her inward thoughts tell her Mary could understand Him better, so she went her way, and called Mary secretly, saying, "The Master is come and calleth for thee." Mary was waiting for the word, and arose quickly, and came unto Him. Her sympathizers followed her, thinking she was going to the grave to weep there. When Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died." It was the same words as Martha said, but evidently it is the deep sorrow of a soul that had its all in Him, and it drew out of the blessed Lord His deep feeling as to what sin had wrought and His sympathy with the bereaved in their sorrow-sorrow that was necessary and in the end would bring new comfort to their hearts. He said,

"Where have ye laid Him?" They answered,

"Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. All can see His love to Lazarus, but none yet can understand why death was allowed to do its work. Some of them said, "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?" None there understood Him. It was a scene of death, but He was the life giver. They came to the grave hopeless. He came feeling the ruin sin had brought in, but He was the One who had power to undo the works of the devil, and death could not remain in His presence."

His next word is, "Take ye away the stone." Martha does not want corruption uncovered, and says so, "He hath been dead four days." In her mind it is now worse than useless. Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid, and Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me, and I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me." And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." Now their tears are wiped away, and joy springs up in their hearts, glad wonder to see Lazarus come forth. Was it not worth while to have tears and sorrow that were necessary, if they were to know Him as the resurrection and the life, and to have those tears wiped away, and those sorrows all removed by His power; and to see the glory of God, and the Son of God glorified thereby? It is so now as we see souls brought into life, eternal life and liberty, and it will be so at the day of Israel's restoration. (Isa. 12 and 65:17-19; 66:8-13.)

Verse 44. He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Life is there, he is risen from the dead by the power of the Lord of life. What a triumph over the full power of the enemy. The corruption has vanished, but full deliverance is yet to be given him, and they have to do with this, for he is bound about with graveclothes. Jesus saith unto them, "Loose him and let him go," and the next place we see him he is seated at the table with the Lord. (Chapter 12:2.)

When Israel is restored, the Lord will direct their blessing and make His everlasting covenant with them. (Isa. 35:10; Heb. 8:10-12.)

And now He directs His servants into the Word that sets the soul free and happy in His presence to serve Him in the liberty of grace. (Rom. 3:24; 4:16; 5:1, 2, 17, 21; 8:1, 2, 38, 39

12:1, 2.)

Verse 45. No wonder that many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen. the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.

Verse 46. What a proof of the enmity of the heart of man to God, that with such a witness to His person as the resurrection and the life before it, yet can go away to join His enemies in their efforts to get rid of Him!

Verses 47-50. The Pharisees and chief priests hold a council, and while they own "this man doeth many miracles," they conspire to destroy Him, and speak of the Roman, coming to take away both our place and out nation. God and Jehovah's nation are displaced by our own cause, and no crime is too bad to gain their object. The high priest, with his satanic invention of a prophecy to put the Lord to death to save the nation from being carried away, puts before them that for which the Lord actually scattered them for doing. (Mic. 5:1, 3.) "They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek... therefore will He give them up." (Zech. 13:6, 7; Rom. 11:7; Matt. 27:25.)

Verses 51, 52. But God overruled their machinations to carry out His great work of atonement; that should result in blessing to that nation, and not only to that nation, "but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad." And again it is fulfilled, "Surely, the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain." (Psa. 76:10.)

Verse 53. From that day their one thought was to murder Him. Joseph's brethren sought Joseph's destruction. God in marvelous wisdom was working out His purpose through Joseph to save their lives by a great deliverance. (Gen. 45:7; 50:20.)

Verses 54-57. The Lord quietly goes on with His service in a more secluded place, till it is time again to present Himself. Men cannot lay hands upon Him till it is the Father's will, and He is content to serve with His disciples in the city Ephraim near the wilderness.

The Jews' passover was nigh at hand. Many go up to get ready for it, and they wonder if He will come up to the feast. The chief priests and Pharisees have given commandment to any who knew where the Lord was, to let it be known, that they might take Him.

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 5

2Co 5Verse 1. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." In this passage our body is looked at as the tent or house in which we dwell; it may return to dust, but we have in view our new resurrection body, which will be eternal in the heavens, bearing the image of the heavenly (1 Cor. 15:49). There is no uncertainty about it. "We know" is full assurance, given us from the Word.

Verses 2, 3. "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked." This is supposing us to be children of God. The unconverted dead must also be raised, that is, clothed in the body, but will be found naked in their sins before God. "Naked" applies to their state before God. as in Gen. 3:10,11; and Rev. 3:17,18.

Verse 4. "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." The groaning here is not to get rid of the troubles of life, nor because of any uncertainty as to the future, but because the body was a hindrance to the full enjoyment of the divine life, and tended to depress the spirit. The apostle saw by faith, and longed for the glory that he knew awaited the children of God when the Lord comes. His desire was not to be unclothed, but clothed upon with the resurrection body, when mortality will be swallowed up of life. What a triumph over all the ruin and bondage that sin had brought! His hope was not to die, but to be with and like Christ in heavenly glory.

Verse 5. "Now He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing, is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." Here we are told that God has begun the work in us already, and in all that we pass through in His dealing with us, tend to the same blessed end, to be companions with Christ in glory; it is of necessity that we be formed after His pattern. Here it is not that our souls are resting on His finished work, though through grace we do that also, but here it is His Work in us,-'We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10. And in order that we might have this blessed hope of being with and like the Lord ever consciously before us, God who wrought us for this self-same thing, hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. He is the pledge and proof to our souls that all His purpose will be accomplished in us. We know that the Lord has gained the victory over sin and death and Satan's power, and now after going through death, He lives to die no more.

He but awaits the moment purposed of God when He will come, and we who are living shall then be changed into His likeness in glory, and be with Him without dying, as we saw in 1 Cor. 15. "This mortal," "the living ones," shall put on immortality; and this "corruptible," the bodies gone to dust, shall put on incorruption. Mortality shall be swallowed up of life.

We may die, but there is no necessity. Whether living or dead, the result through Christ's work will be the same. What grace to us this is!

Verses 6-8. "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. (For we walk by faith, not by sight.) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." We do not speak now of being in hades-the unseen-but rather we know that we are absent from the Lord while still in the body, and the apostle puts it as walking by faith and not by sight; that he was, willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. The Lord has indeed lifted the veil, so that now we speak of being with Christ when we die, and we know that it is far better than any life here. To die is gain (Phil. 1:21-23).

Verse 9. "Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be acceptable to Him." "We are accepted in the beloved." Eph. 1:6. Here it is the thought of being zealous to be well-pleasing to the Lord, so that whether in the body or out of the body when He comes, we might have His approval of our ways.

Verse 10. "For we must all appear (be manifested) before the judgment seat of Christ: that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." We are already brought into the light of God's presence as believers, and have seen in the finished work of Christ, the judgment of all our sins. The light of God's holy presence can find not a spot on those washed in that precious blood, and we are to have our glorified bodies like our blessed Lord. Yet assuredly the Lord means us to think of that manifestation when we shall each one see our past life on earth in that holy light. Are we afraid of it? No, how could we be afraid? Yet we think of all our crookedness, and it should have a salutary effect on us now, to see that our ways in the present are such that we would not be ashamed to look at, up there in the glory. It is great gain to the soul to have everything out with God. We could not then fear the judgment seat, for in the light of God's presence we see that, all is forever settled and put away. We have not to be judged for anything. Christ has settled it all long ago, but this is stated to have its present effect on the conscience. If we have failed to judge ourselves, and judge others wrongly, and allowed evil in any way, the thought of this rightly leads to heart searching, and to a solemn reverence for God and His holiness that should produce an exercised conscience and a careful walk.

Verse 11 leads us to think of the unsaved who will have to stand at the great white throne and be judged for all the sins they have committed. It is profitable to the soul to have a sense of the judgment of God against sin, and it is only under grace that it could, be maintained in its truth, for who otherwise could bear the thought of receiving that which he had done in his body? None but one who is completely blinded.

We stand at the judgment seat in bodies like Christ's body of glory. Grace has triumphed and put us there; there are no traces of sin in us then. We can look back at all the way God has led us, in grace, helped, lifted us up when falling, kept us in the way. What a tale of grace and mercy! If we look back now, our sins do not rest on our conscience. We hate them, but they are all put away, and we know that we are made the righteousness of God in Christ. We have the sense of God's love and patience, goodness and grace, and this blessed effect on the soul will be ours perfectly when all is manifested.

The apostle not only says, "We persuade men" hut also "We are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." He does not fear being manifested, it will give him to see more of God's ways toward him when he is in the glory; but he was living in it at that moment; the sense of God's eye upon him had its sanctifying power in his walk here on earth.

Verses 12, 13. He would not commend himself to the saints again, but he gave them occasion to glory in his behalf, to answer those who blamed him wrongly, and who boasted in appearance and not in heart. He then said, "Whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause." He walked soberly for their good. He had in view the glory of God, and the good of the saints.

Verses 14, 15. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again." The love of Christ witnessed in His atoning death, was a fresh motive to make known to men their state and need, for if one died for all, it declared that all were in that dead state, and it became a fresh motive for the believer's living, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again. This is a new order of things; believers are living, all else are dead; they are alive in Christ risen, it is a new creation of which Christ is the type and the head. He was once known to some as Messiah of Israel. They were men on earth and in the flesh.

Verses 16, 17. "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (there is a new creation. N. T.): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." It is a new heavenly order of things to which every believer now belongs. In this new order of things,

“All things are of the God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. but the world would not have Him, yet He did not judge them, did not impute their transgression to them, but made atonement for sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and now in divine righteousness, gives to the apostles the ministry of reconciliation. This makes them ambassadors for Christ, so they, as though God did beseech by us, we pray in Christ's stead "Be ye reconciled to God." For He hath made Him sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. God had set His love upon us where we were in our sins, and gave His Son, who was without spot or motion or principle of sin, to be a sacrifice for sin, that we should be made the righteousness of God in Him. Alan has no righteousness for God. God has made the saints in. Jesus, His righteousness; in Christ first and then in us as in Him.

And now, a righteousness divine Is all my glory, all my trust; Nor will I fear since that is mine While Thou dost live and God is just. Clad in this robe, how bright I shine! Angels possess not such a dress; Angels have not a robe like mine, Jesus, the Lord's my righteousness.

Scripture Study: Colossians 2

Colossians 2COL 2

Verses 1-7. "For I would have you know what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.”

The apostle's great desire was that they might realize their union with Christ. He had not seen them, but had heard of them, and understood the dangers that beset them through false teachers, and he sought to put Christ before them as the object of their hearts, so that each believer by the truth presented them, should be a reflection of Christ, and grow up in His likeness. He desired that their hearts might be encouraged and united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery God, in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

He knew that union with Christ, realized in their hearts, would keep them from the wiles of the enemy of their souls. He labored in prayer, for this, that they might realize their union with their glorified Head on high, and thus see that He was all they needed, and that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were found in this wondrous truth,-that they with Christ were one.

They did not need to look beyond Christ. He was enough without anything that man might try to add by science falsely so-called, using enticing words to beguile them.

Though the apostle was absent from them, yet in spirit he was with them, joying and beholding their order, and the steadfastness of their faith in Christ, and taking advantage of this, before such evils could enter, he exhorts them,

“As ye therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk ye in Him; rooted and built up in Him and established, or (confirmed) in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

That is, they were to go on learning more of what they had in Him. It is by cleaving to Christ and His truth alone, that genuine progress is made.

Verse 8. They were to beware of men's theories of advancement, philosophies and vain deceit; these would lead them away from Christ; they can only bring in the religion of the flesh, which is ever against God and Christ.

Verses 9-12. "For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Here we have one who is a real man, and yet God, in all His fullness, dwells in Him. And in Him is our completeness. We need nothing more. He is the head of all principality and power. In Him we are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. In these verses they were to see themselves dead with Christ, buried with Christ, risen with Christ.

Verse 13. They had been dead in their sins as Gentiles, and in the circumcision of their flesh, but were now quickened together with Him, and all their sins were forgiven.

Verse 14 settles everything for the Jew by the same death of Christ.

Verse 15. Christ has vanquished all principalities and powers on the, cross, made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. All that was against the believer, He has put aside to introduce us, entirely set free into our new position.

Verses 16, 17. The believer is therefore set free from all religious ordinances of the law, which are shadows of things to come. We have now the reality of it all in Christ.

Verse 18. All pretentions and imaginations connected with the unseen world, as worshiping angels or saints, is therefore set aside; such belongs only to the pride of man's heart, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the head. Man's fleshly thoughts lead away from Christ. It denies the work of the cross; denies the believer 's position as dead and risen with Christ; denies the Godhead glory of Christ the Son of God.

Verse 19. "And not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”

How important it is therefore that each individual should hold the head, should endeavor to realize and walk in the strength of communion with Christ our head in glory, though we are still here on earth.

Verses 20-23. "Wherefore, if ye be (it has been proved that we are) dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living (alive) in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?" A dead man is freed from such. "Touch not, taste not, handle not." Such injunctions are only men's rules. They may appear good in their eyes, but death with Christ, and being risen with Christ has put the believer out of their application to him.

Religious ordinances are imposed to satisfy the flesh; they have an appearance of wisdom in voluntary worship, and humility, but it is all at the best, the filthy rags of man's efforts at righteousness.

Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 21Th 2

What clear and decided conversions we see in those Thessalonians, like the apostles who told them of God's good news. It was in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. And immediately they followed the apostles, in following the Lord, through afflictions, and shared the joy of the Holy Ghost. They turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.

Verse 1. So the apostles could write, "For ye know yourselves, brethren, that our entrance unto you was not in vain." All the countryside about them talked about the way they now behaved themselves.

Verse 2. These servants of the Lord had been shamefully treated in the prison, and by the people in Philippi. Then they came in the strength of the Lord, and spoke to the Thessalonians the gospel of God with boldness and much contention from the Jews (see Acts 17).

Verses 3-8. It was a message from God, "Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile." It was the unfoldings of the heart of God according to His purposes of grace and love to unworthy sinners, and faithful to their charge, even so they spoke, not as pleasing men, but God that proves what is in every man's heart. On no occasion or time did they use flattering words, nor seek anything from them. God, the One who delights to give, was their witness.

They did not seek glory of men,-neither of them nor of others,-when they might have been a charge to them as the apostles of Christ. They had been gentle among them, even as a nurse cares for her own children. And thus yearning over them, they were willing to have imparted unto them, not the gospel of God only, but would have given their lives also for them, they had become so dear to them.

Verses 9-12. "For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

What an example for all who seek to serve the Lord in ministering to others. What devoted unselfishness! What love and tenderness, like a mother nursing her children; like a father guiding, advising, comforting, exhorting his children, to get them to walk worthy of God who had called them to His kingdom and glory. Blessed hope!

Verse 13. They gave therefore increasing thanks to God, because, when they received the Word of God, which they heard of the apostles, they received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which wrought effectually in those that believe. Their consciences and hearts had been well plowed up, it made good ground and brought forth fruit (Luke 8:15).

Verses 14-16. "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches (assemblies) of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews; who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men; forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved; to fill up their sins alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”

The Jewish religion, though given through Moses from God, had, through the rejection of Christ, and according to the purpose of God, now been set aside, and Christianity had come in. This made the Jews exceedingly mad against the Gospel, so they persecuted the Christians (Gal. 4:29). Zealous for their religion, they became the enemies of God.

What grave charges are made against them (verses 15, 16), and now wrath had come upon them, driving them out of the land which was to be their possession.

Israel will have the land yet, but not till the assembly is in the glory with Christ, and when the Lord comes with His saints to give it to them.

Their loss has given us now a heavenly calling to a heavenly portion, and inheritance with Christ in heavenly glory.

The Jews who became Christians were greatly despised and persecuted by the Jews; and the Gentile believers were also persecuted by their own countrymen. Their separate walk from the world around them brought the hatred of the natural heart against them (John 15:18; 16:2, 33; 17:14-18.)

The religion of the Jews had become pure jealousy; their pretension to be Jehovah's people was denied by their state, and God in His sovereign grace was blessing others who had no right claim to any blessing. Christians now are put into the enjoyment of better privileges than the Jews ever had. It is now to those who receive the Word. Hereditary privileges are not now.

Sovereign grace is working now, for God is sovereign and God is love. Christians are brought into relationship in grace, and by faith in God's Word. It is the source of their confidence, the revelation of God who is light, and who is love, who gave His Son to save sinners.

Verse 17. "But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.”

The opposition and persecution that drove the apostles away, serves to strengthen and to make manifest the love of Christ in them. It joined them together in heart, and made them look on to the coming of the Lord. Unable for the moment to satisfy the desires of his heart, he looks on to the moment they also were waiting for, when evil shall no longer be present to hinder the happiness of the new man in his enjoyment of that which is good; in his fellowship with those whom he called the beloved of God (Chapter 1:4, margin); and specially in enjoying together the presence of their glorified Lord and Savior.

Verse 18. "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”

Verses 19, 20. Here we see that the apostle will enjoy, when with the Lord, the fruits of his labors in his beloved Thessalonians,

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”

The great joy of all the saints in glory will be to be with the Lord Jesus, to see Him and to be like Him; but there are particular fruits in connection with the Holy Spirit's work in us, and by us in others, that have formed links which are of the same order as we see in the apostle in those verses. (See also Phil. 2:16, 17; 1 John 2:28; 2 John verse 8), and as the apostles could look forward to seeing those who had been helped and blessed through them, so will it be with other laborers in the Word. Paul's heart will be satisfied by seeing those who were the fruit of his labors, with the Lord in glory. "For ye are our glory and joy.”

Scripture Study: John 15

OH 15{Verses 1, 2. The parable of the True Vine is a beautiful and important lesson on fruit-bearing. Israel had been planted as a vine to bear fruit for Jehovah (Psa. 80:8), but Israel in the flesh failed, and became a degenerate plant (Jer. 2:21), and was judged (Ezek. 15:6). The Lord, while here on earth, says of Himself, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman." He too came out of Egypt. (Matt. 2:15.) Many branches were attached to Him-some real, who felt their need of Him and couldn't go away; others could go away when anything offended them. (Compare John 2:23-25 with Chapt. 6:66-70.) Those who brought forth fruit were born again, and are purged to bring forth more fruit.

Verses 3-5. Those He was speaking to, He recognizes as truly His own, and were clean through His word which He had spoken unto them. It was needful for them to abide in Him, and He in them. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more could they except by abiding in Him. He again in Verse 5 avers, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." Without Him they could do nothing, but abiding in Him and He in them, they would bring forth much fruit.

Verse 6. "If a man abide not in Me"-here He speaks of those who externally associated themselves with Him, yet were not really His. Judgment was their portion at the last.

Verses 7, S. "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." The will of the disciple is completely resigned to the Lord's will. He wants nothing but what is for the Lord's glory, and herein is the Father glorified, that they thus bear much fruit, and show the reality of being followers of their Lord. But the Lord is not on earth now, He is glorified at the Father's right hand. Every believer now is united to Him by the Holy Spirit, as a member of His body. This is Paul's line of teaching the Spirit. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:4.) John's Gospel and Epistles give us oneness of life with Him, but not union. Instead of speaking of ourselves as branches of the vine, we speak of being members of His body. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 6:19), and we say now, "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8; Gal. 4), taking our place in full assurance as children of God, the Father, and having eternal life. (1 John 3:1.) It is, therefore, in the light of our new relationships with Christ in glory, that we apply to ourselves the truth of this parable-relationships that were not possible till Christ was glorified (John 7:39), giving us, as possessing them, the sense of God's eternal love and faithfulness, and also the sense of our eternal security, but it is true that constant dependence is needed to bear fruit. It is true now, as then, "Without Me ye can do nothing." It was a hard lesson for Paul to learn, but when learned, what a joy it was to his heart (2 Cor. 12:9) to do everything by the power of. Christ. And again, "I have strength for all things in Him who gives me power." (Phil. 4:13, new trans.) There are also professors now, who don't possess life in Christ, and who are passing on to eternal judgment. They cannot bear fruit, they have no life. Their socalled "good works" are only "dead works," filthy rags of religion without a Savior, yet if they own they are lost, He will welcome them and give them life and peace through His finished work, but they must come to Him now.

Then we all, who are children of God, need what answers to purging us, to bring forth more fruit. (Heb. 12:6-11; 2 Cor. 4:7-11.) It is good to be humbled, if we will not humble ourselves, for the flesh is in us each one, and needs to be kept under the sentence of the death of Christ (Rom. 6:6,11), so that we may bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22, 23.) How necessary it is for us to abide in Him, and let His words abide in us, for us to see and do what is for His and the Father's glory, and walk in His steps. (1 Peter 2:21.)

The danger of not doing so is also marked out in the Epistles. One may be a true child of God, and yet sink into the state of Eph. 5:14 -sleeping among the dead, that is: a Christian becoming like the world, his heart has parted company with Christ as His object; his feet are not being kept clean, and he has no part with Christ. (John 13:8.) Peter describes him as "blind and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." What a sad condition for a redeemed man to be in! (2 Peter 1:9.) An unhappy life is his, and worse than useless. He is no testimony for Christ; his light is hid under the bushel or the bed (business or pleasure) and thus sowing to the flesh, he of the flesh reaps corruption; whereas he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal. 6:8.)

Verses 9-11. To those who abide in Him, and His words in them, all the Father's resources are available. They bear much fruit, the Father is glorified in them, they bear the marks of true followers of Christ, and they learn to know and dwell in the sense of His love-love measured by the Father's love to Him. Thus they are enabled to keep His commandments, and abide in His love, as He had kept His Father's commandments, and abode in His love. The joy of the Son doing the Father's will, becomes their joy in walking in His steps. Divinely perfect He ever was in it, but what grace and intimacy they are brought into, to share in such a path of dependence, obedience and love. All this belongs to the life we have in Him. It is for us the law of liberty (James 1:25; 2:12.)

Verses 12-15. "This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." His love to them rose above all their weakness and failures, and they were to carry out this also. If they were living in the power of the Spirit, they would do so, for love is the nature of the new life which they have received. He laid down His life for His enemies.

"Thou for Thine enemies wast slain,

What love with Thine can vie."

We also are to walk in this path of love (1 John 3:16; Eph. 5:1), if we are to enjoy the intimacy of the place He gives us as. His friends, and He calls us friends. A servant is told what to do, but He unfolds to us all things He has heard of the Father, making us to know His purposes before they are carried out. It is as friends we serve Him.

Verses 16-21. They had not chosen Him; it was He who had chosen them, and appointed them that they should go and bring forth fruit, and fruit that should remain, so that they in their weakness could certainly count on the Father supporting them in their path,, and giving them whatsoever they would ask Him in Christ's name. Strength and grace are thus assured to them for the path they were distinctly called to walk in. Here again His commandment is given them, that they love one another. They would meet the hatred of the world, for it hated Him. Had they been of the world, it would have loved them, but He had separated them, calling them out of the world, then the world's hatred turned upon them also. When they endured persecution, they were to think of this, that they, as servants, were not greater than their Master, but those who persecuted Him, would persecute them, and those who kept His word, would keep theirs also. And all these things would they do to them for His name's sake, because they knew not the One who had sent Him.

Verses 22-25. It was the coming of the Lord into this world that fully manifested its character. Not only were they transgressors of the law, but their hearts were enmity against God. Their state was bad before; now it is shown out in all its reality to be what it is-hatred to Christ, the Lord, and to the Father also. His word that He had spoken, and the works He had done, were all from the Father, manifestly from the Father, so now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. They were dead to all right thoughts of God, and active in hatred to the Father and the Son. It Proved and fulfilled the word written in their own law: "They hated Me without a cause."

Verses 26, 27. But the Comforter would come. The Lord would send Him unto them from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall bear witness of Christ, the Son, and they also, in the power of that Spirit, would be His suitable witnesses, because they had been with Him from the beginning.

This is the testimony to His heavenly glory. Jesus, the Son of God, now exalted to the Father's right hand, into the glory now as a man, the glory He had with the Father before the world was, it was from Him the Spirit was sent. "I will send," and He could tell of the glory He had with the Father, and they were witnesses to His life and ways on earth. It was a new testimony, different entirely from the vine and its branches, for this is heavenly in its character.

What marvelous ways of God, that makes man's sin and rejection of His Son, the occasion to unfold His heavenly treasures in putting His people now in association with a glorified Lord, a man in heaven. It is to this heavenly One that all believers belong. What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness!

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 2

2Co 2Paul's anxiety in the First Epistle was to see the Corinthians hating and judging the sin that led to the offender being put away from among them. Now that the sin has been dealt with as it should, his anxiety is, lest they should fail in their love to restore the one put away.

Verses 1, 2. He determined that he would not come to them in heaviness. He wanted to see them happy in the Lord so that they and he could rejoice together again.

Verses 3-8. It was out of great trial and anguish of heart and many tears that he wrote the letter,-not to grieve them but a proof of his genuine love to them; and now he shared their grief over their sin, and was anxious that they should confirm their love to the poor repentant one, and to forgive him, lest perhaps he should be swallowed up with over much sorrow.

Verses 9-13. This had proved their obedience, and now he was ready to join in their forgiveness to the man, that he might be restored to his place among them. He, as the ambassador, could speak for his Master's forgiveness also, lest Satan should gain an advantage over them. The apostle knew the enemy's ways and thoughts-It was first to keep the man in the assembly with his sin unjudged: but now it was to keep the man out after his sin had been fully judged and confessed, and Satan had been defeated in this effort to divide their hearts from the apostle.

Verse 12. Paul had been so anxious about them that when he came to Troas, where a door was open to him of the Lord, he could not settle down to the work, because Titus had not come; so taking leave of them, he went away to meet him (see his exercises in chap. 7:6, 7), and then he rejoiced to see how grace had wrought in them. There could be no true restoration without self-judgment which here had evidently been accomplished in the offender, and Paul sees also brokenness in them.

Verses 14-16. The best reading is, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in the Christ, and makes manifest the odor of His knowledge through us in every place." He comforts himself about missing the open door at Corinth, by the thought that after all, God led him in triumph. He was a sweet savor of Christ, to those who are saved, and it was life unto life; but to the Christ rejector, it was a savor of death unto death. This testimony of Christ was pure in his hands. It was not mixed with man's thoughts. He labored in integrity, and Christian understanding before God. He was a true ambassador, as the Lord Jesus has said in another place, "He that receiveth you receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me." Matt. 10:40.

Verse 17 (N. T.). "For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, before God, speak we in Christ."

Scripture Study: Philippians 4

Verse 1. "Therefore, my beloved brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”

Such loving words most surely breathe the atmosphere of heaven, the outcome of the life of Christ in the apostle. He is very solicitous that they stand fast in the Lord.

Verse 2. He beseeches Euodias, and Syntyche that they be of one mind in the Lord. They seemed to be nice, earnest sisters, and helpers in the gospel, but they did not pull together in everything, and this spoiled Paul's enjoyment of their full fellowship. We see in 1:27 and 2:2-4 that it kept his joy in the Philippians from being full. How careful we should all be lest self pleasing should bring in jealousy or vainglory into our service, thus hindering the work of the Lord, both in ourselves and others.

Verse 3. "And I intreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life." It probably was Epaphroditus writing at Paul's dictation, who was asked to help those mentioned, that had labored with the apostle. The grace that he had seen in them, assured him that their names were in the Lamb's book of life. The women are here encouraged in their fellowship and work in the gospel, without stepping out of the womanly position (1 Cor. 14:34, and 1 Tim. 2:11, 12).

We do not get women preachers and teachers and evangelists in Scripture, but apart from that place that men are called to fill, we can think of a multitude of ways in which sisters in the Lord can serve Him in the gospel. What helpers also in prayer they are when their hearts are in the work, and the word "help" means here-to assist them in what they are seeking to do for the Lord. We all need help in this way as in this verse.

Verse 4. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, 'Rejoice.'" We saw the apostle weeping (3:18). Here we find his joy always in the Lord, and this is blessed that amid whatever sorrow the Lord may allow to overtake us, our joy is ever in the Lord; his years in prison still find him rejoicing in the Lord, even if chained to a soldier.

"Our Lord, our life, our rest, our shield,

Our rock, our food, our light;

Each thought of Thee doth constant yield

Unchanging fresh delight.”

Verse 5. "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." This is really gentle yieldingness of spirit. They were to trust Him, not acting in the spirit of the world, but to be lowly and meek. The Lord is our refuge, we can ever commit ourselves to Him in whatever tries us. A little while, and all our difficulties will be over, what men strive for now will be nothing then.

Verses 6, 7. "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Here we get God's provision for our cares and anxieties. He loves His saints, and desires to hear from themselves. He wants us to know that He cares for us, so that we may unburden all to Him, whatever it is, great or small; if it is our interest, it is His also. It is not a mere formal statement that we are to make in our prayer; but in everything by prayer and supplication, more earnest prayer (compare Luke 22:44 with Heb. 5:7) which gives us to realize that we are heard, even though we may not get what we ask, and it brings in thanksgiving, and the peace of God into our souls. Peace which passes all understanding, shall then keep (or garrison) our hearts by Christ Jesus.

This is grace indeed, that even our cares and anxieties are a means of our souls being more and more led into communion with Him.

“Peace with God" we received by faith in Christ's finished work about our sins.

“The peace of God" we have to keep our hearts and minds through faithful prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. What a comfort this is. May we learn to maintain this true living intercourse with God.

Verse 8. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The Lord is now directing us how to use our minds. What we give our minds up to, forms our ways. We can direct our minds into good or evil. The things mentioned in that verse, point to everything that is praiseworthy. We must have some object to be occupied with. If we let our thoughts be governed by the flesh in us, we shall surely get out of communion with the Lord, and be in danger of falling into other evils.

Verse 9. "Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." This goes still further. The obedient heart that walks in this path, walks with God, and "the God of peace shall be with you." Not only the peace of God shall keep your hearts, but also, "The God of peace shall be with you.”

Verse 10. He now refers to their gift of loving fellowship. He rejoiced that their care over him had again appeared, but they lacked opportunity. It was a comfort to him to see their love to him. It seems that he had been in need, but it had just led him to trust the Lord all the more. And he had learned in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content. He had passed through times of need, and times of abundance. It taught him both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to suffer need. The result in his soul was that he could say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

He would have them know that the Lord did not fail him in his need. Still it was well that they did communicate with his affliction; they were the Lord's instrument in ministering to him. They had been used of the Lord before, indeed they were the only Assembly at the first that had done so, and in Thessalonica they had sent once and again to meet his necessity.

What pleased him was to see grace working in them. He desired fruit to their account before God, and he had all and abounded through what Epaphroditus had brought from them. It was an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

His heart found its rest in all circumstances in God, and he thus expresses it to the Philippians. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." He does not say God may do so, but he has such confidence in God's care over himself that he says, "my God." The One who cared for him in all the varied circumstances He had passed him through, had never failed to meet him, and would do the same for them, "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

His path so full of trials, sorrows, and joys, had taught him to say, "my God." He concluded with the benediction, "Now unto God our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

He is our God and Father, and he proves it to all who trust Him. Then he sends his salutations, and also those who were with him were included, and those of Caesar’s household join in it. This is his salutation; "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." In Philippians the new divine life of Christ in the power of the Spirit in the saints is seen in its four great characteristics: in its affection; in its lowly obedience; in its spiritual energy, and in its perfect dependence.

Chapter 1 presents Christ as our motive for living or dying (ver. 21).

Chapter 2 presents Christ as our great example of our lowly obedience (ver. 5).

Chapter 3 presents Christ as our goal in glory (ver. 14).

Chapter 4 presents Christ as our all-sufficient resource (vers, 13-19)

Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 4

Verses 1, 2. "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.”

Though these were happy, earnest Christians at this time, yet the apostle felt the need, because of the loose morals of the idolaters, which they had been, and among whom they were living as neighbors day by day, to warn them of the need of holy living and purity of walk. He had been very careful in his own behavior among them (chapter 2:10).

Verses 3-6. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which knew not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in the matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have forewarned you and testified.”

Verses 7, 8. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.”

We might not think such warnings are needed as were given to newly converted Gentiles, but do we not see in our day how loosely the marriage tie is held by many. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we have the life of Christ in us, therefore we have no excuse to yield for an instant, in thought, in word, or deed, but to keep our body for the honor of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. It is important also to let the Holy Spirit turn our thoughts to the Lord Jesus Christ, the true object for our hearts.

Verses 9, 10. "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren in Macedonia: but we beseech you brethren, that ye increase more and more." That is part of the divine nature given by the Lord to all His own.

“This is My commandment, That ye love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12.

We might well take it to ourselves to seek to increase in this practical brotherly love more and more.

Verses 11, 12. "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, that ye may have need of no one." We see in the apostle an example of this (chap 2:9), and indeed he supported others as well (Acts 20:34) By this also they would honor the Lord before the Gentiles.

Verses 13-18. "But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

They needed instruction, for they seemed to think that at the coming of the Lord with His

saints, the dead ones would not be there. They knew of the coming of the Lord with His saints, but they needed this revelation specially given to Paul about the coming of the Lord for His saints first.

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”

The question is: How will He do it? and verses 15 to 18 is a parenthesis telling us how it will take place. It is a special revelation given to Paul.

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (or anticipate) them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

The comfort is that the dead in Christ shall rise first, and are therefore ready to go with the living ones to meet the Lord in the air. So the Thessalonian saints were still further encouraged to wait for the Lord's coming. He had to come for them all first, so that they could all return with Him when He appeared to judge the world. The sleeping saints will be raised; those that are alive will be transformed, and all will be like Him, and see Him as He is.

There is no mention here of where the dead are now. That was not the trouble then; it may not be out of place to mention it, because of questions raised now. We see in 2 Cor. 5:8, that they are now present with the Lord, though absent from the body, and in Phil. 1:23 Paul says,

“Having a desire to depart and be with Christ; which is far better.”

Luke 23:43, tells us that it is "paradise," the garden of delights, where the Lord is. It is like two waiting places, the departed spirits wait there with the Lord for that moment. While those that are alive and remain, wait here for Him.

Then 1 Cor. 15:49, 53, 54, tells us of the likeness to the Lord the saints will have when He comes. Also our bodies will be fashioned like unto His body of glory. (Phil. 3:20, 21.)

What a joy to the Lord's heart to have all His heavenly saints together with Himself. His will be the exceeding joy when He shall set them with exultation blameless before the presence of His glory (Jude 24).

“They that are Christ's at His coming" (1 Cor. 15:23). This verse takes them all in, both those who are alive and remain, and those who died in faith from the beginning (Heb. 11:13, 40).

We have a threefold call here; first the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. How precious is His love! He will not send for us, His voice well known to His saints now will be heard. It is a shout of relationship, like a captain to His company.

Next, the Archangel's voice of authority is heard. Then the trump of God's irresistible power, raises the dead, changes the living, and all find themselves, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in new creation glory, like the Lord, and with Him in glory.

What triumph and joy for Him! And what gladness will be ours!

"To dwell with Him, to see His face,

And sing the glories of His grace.”

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Scripture Study: John 13

OH 13{The time for the Lord's departure is now at hand.

Verse 1. "When Jesus knew that His hour was come, that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." That unchanging love now begins to unfold the provision necessary for His own, His loved ones, who would for the present be left behind. This must necessarily be in accordance with the new position He will have as glorified; no longer as the Messiah on earth with His disciples, but as rejected, crucified, raised, and glorified at the Father's right hand, and they sharing His rejection on earth, but also the blessing of communion with Him, and the Father, by the Holy Spirit, and the hope of glory with Him at His coming for them.

Verses 2-4. The instrument of His betrayal is there with the rest of His disciples at the passover supper, and the devil has put it into his heart already to betray Him. "Knowing that all things were given into His hand by the Father, and that He was come from God and went to God, He rises from supper, and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself." In this we see the place of a servant still taken by Him on high. As the servant in Ex. 21. "He would not go out free." This picture shows us how His love stoops to wash our feet from the defilement of this present evil world as we pass through it.

Verse 5. The water in the basin figures the Word of God, that is to be applied to our walk and ways (Psa. 17:4; 119:9; John 15:3; Eph. 5:26). He began to wash their feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. What lowly grace it is, that occupies Him with what is needed for our happiness, and for God's glory in us! Grace that teaches us, and helps us to judge our ways, and to own our failures, as well as being our Advocate on high with the Father (1 John 2:1), charging all to Himself as Jesus Christ, the righteous.

Verses 6-10. Peter could not understand the Lord taking such a humble place, and is not going to allow His Master to wash his feet. Jesus answers, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou 'shalt know hereafter." This should plainly show that it signified something else than literal washing of feet. It was only to be, understood in the period when the Lord was on high. Peter answers, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." We need not blame Peter, for have we not sometimes refused the Lord's gracious service for a far worse reason than Peter's? Oftentimes, in pride of heart, we would not say, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psa. 139:23, 24. And perhaps we kept Him knocking at our door a while, before we would break down.

(Rev. 3:20.)

The Lord's gentle challenge to Peter's affections soon won him. "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me." This touched him, for He loved the Lord, and with his usual force of speech, he says, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Yes, he wanted part with Him-all he could have of it. And surely so do we. Part in Him every believer, through grace, has, and that can never be forfeited, thank God for it! That is secured for us by the Lord living for us on high (Heb. 10:14; 1 John 4:17), but we need to learn that "without Him we can do nothing," and we need our consciences exercised day by day, to walk in the truth, for His name is "holy" and "true," and we cannot walk with Him if we do not seek holiness and truth.

This speech of Peter's gives the Lord the occasion to unfold more of the truth, so He answers him: "He that is washed (bathed all over) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." This is an allusion to the priestly consecration when the priests were washed all over. Afterward they washed their hands and feet before going into the tabernacle for the service of Jehovah. So we now have been cleansed (1 Cor. 6:11) by the water and the blood. We know redemption through His blood, and by it we have been brought nigh to God. Our standing before God could not be more perfect, for it is Christ Himself (1 Cor. 1:30), but we need our feet washed, every day, all the time, and let us remember that our blessed Lord Jesus says, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me." Though not now in ignorance of what it means, should we not all the more in the glad sense of His love, express our desire to be fully in His hands, and let Him by the word mold and fashion us according to His own will?

Verse 11. The Lord knew who should betray Him and that they were not all clean, but He treated them all alike, for Judas was not yet manifested as the betrayer.

Verses 12-17. Another lesson for us now is, that we are to have a part in this gracious and loving service toward each other. "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." But how shall we ever be able for such a service? How can we let this mind be in us which was also in Him? Only by humbly seeking His face, by laying aside our garments and humbling ourselves into our true place before Him, and by letting His love to all His own fill our hearts; then we will be much in prayer for ourselves and all His own, bearing them up in His presence, and there learning His will about them. Then it will be no difficulty if a brother be taken in a fault to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, and to consider how easily we ourselves can be tempted. Or like the husband and wife who expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:26.) For it is no small part of this service to supply what is lacking in ones knowledge of our holy and heavenly calling. What a joy it is to lead one another to walk with the Lord.

Verses 18-25. Again, the Lord refers to Judas Iscariot, who was now about to manifest himself. Judas' apostleship is recognized in I words, "He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me." But it was deep sorrow to the Lord that made Him testify, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me." The disciples looked at on another doubting of whom He spake. In another gospel they say, "Is it I?" and were very sorrowful, but John, who knew Jesus' love so much, was in his place in His bosom. Peter beckoned to him to ask who it should be of whom He spake. John lay back on Jesus' breast, and said, "Lord, who is it?" He is in the right place to receive the Lord's communications, though he was not there for that purpose; it was love that took him there, appreciation of Christ's love for him.

Verse 26. Jesus answered, "He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when He had dipped the sop He gave it to Judas Iscariot." All this should have appealed to Judas, but he was evidently hardened, and likely thought he would get the money and the Lord could free Himself. So He could, but that was not the Father's way for Him.

Verses 27-30. Now Satan takes possession of this poor hardened one who had allowed the devil to deceive him, and he goes out immediately. He parted company with the Lord and His disciples, to hurry out into an eternal night of despair in his own place. (Acts 1:25) The Lord knew what he was going to do. The disciples thought he was sent out to carry out some commission for the Lord.

Verses 31-35. When he was gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me: and, as I said unto the Jews. `Whither I go, ye cannot come'; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another; as I have loved you that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."

He spake of His death in which He would glorify God as the sin-bearer in making atonement for sin. It was His glory to accomplish that work which would glorify God. There on the cross where all the power of Satan, and all that sin was and had done, and God's judgment upon it were manifested, and where the question was settled; where Satan's power in man was seen in its awful reality against God. There God was glorified, and all His blessed character upheld in righteousness. His perfect, righteous judgment against sin as the Holy One, but in it His perfect love to sinners in giving His Only-begotten Son to die for them.

Hereby know we love, as another has said, "At the cross we find: man in absolute evil-the hatred of what was good; Satan's full power over the world-the prince of this world. Man (Christ) in perfect goodness, obedience, and love to the Father at all cost to Himself; God, in absolute, infinite righteousness against sin, and infinite, divine love to the sinner. Good and evil were fully settled forever, and salvation wrought, the foundation of the new heavens and the new earth laid. Well may we say, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him!" God now blesses in grace reigning in righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

"God could not pass the sinner by,

His sin demands that he must die;

But in the cross of Christ we see

How God can save, yet righteous be."

God is just and justifies in grace. He is love, and in that love bestows His righteousness on man, all through the death of the Son of man. If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him. This is what God has done -raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at God's right hand in heavenly glory and crowned Him with glory and honor. This is the present expression of God's delight in Him, and declares our full acceptance in Him, shall share the glory with Him, but now we see Him victorious, the One who has gained the victory by His work of obedience.

He announces to His disciples that He was going where they could not go. He alone could be there, and it was for them. And here His new commandment, that new divine nature of love, would enable them to love one another, and this was a sure mark that they were His disciples, if they had love one to another, and this would help to support them in His absence.

Verses 36-38. Simon Peter tries to solve the mystery, and penetrate into what mortal man could not do. The Lord Jesus only could enter God's presence by the path of death, and the judgment of God. Peter's question draws out his inability to follow Him at this time, and he says further, "I will lay down my life for Thy sake." Self-confident, he is warned and rebuked, and told that when tried he would be an utter failure, for fleshly confidence cannel stand. Strength from God alone can hold us up. But Peter afterward was given the privilege to lay down his life for Christ's sake (John 21:18,19).

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 7

2Co 7Verse 1. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The promises referred to here are quoted in chapter 6:16-18, applying Lev. 26:12 to us, though first written for Israel; and Isa. 52:11 is also. Holiness be comes God's house forever (Psa. 93:5), to be suitable for His presence, and that is where we are brought to. We must "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, "that is, in our outward life and circumstances: and of "the spirit," and that is in our thoughts and mind, occupying ourselves with good, and this is necessary if we are to have the Spirit dwelling, in us ungrieved, and that we might be in communion by the Spirit with God as our Father.

It is while here in this evil world we need to learn to fill our place for Christ and be in spirit out of it.

The words used are plain and emphatic, "Come out," "be ye separate," "touch not the unclean thing." And it is surely worth while with this promise, "I will be to you for a Father, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

What encouragement this is to walk in simple obedience to His Word and in dependence on Him who is Almighty. It is to us, as to Abraham of old, "I am the Almighty God: walk before Me, and be thou perfect." Gen. 17:1. He will not fail any of those who put their trust in Him.

Verses 2-7. Having gone over what ministry is in its reality, he now returns to his own relationship with the Corinthians, that the bond of love in the truth might be strengthened which had been formed between them by the power of the Holy Spirit. He had been true to them. He had not wronged, nor corrupted, nor made gain of any one. It was in his heart still to die and live with them. He wanted them to know what satisfaction he had in their repentance. He was filled with comfort, and was joyful in his tribulation. Before he knew of their repentance, he had no rest; he was troubled for their souls; without were fightings, within were fears, but God who comforteth those that are cast down, comforted him by the coming of Titus; not only to see him again, but to hear the story, how they had comforted him, when he saw their earnest desire; how they mourned over their sin, and how they were sorry to grieve the apostle so much, so that now it was rejoicing to him.

Verses 8-10. He had been so long in hearing the answer to his letter which he was sure would make them sorry, that he regretted sending it; but now he did not regret it, for he saw the fruit of it was good, and their sorrow was to repentance. Their sorrow was godly sorrow, and not to their hurt but for their blessing, for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be regretted; the sorrow of the world worketh death. His joy now went beyond his sorrow, for he saw reality in them in their judgment of their ways. Now he seeks to bind up the wounds he had felt it necessary to make, and it was written by the inspiration of God.

Verse 11 tells what mingled exercise of soul they had gone through, and in the end approved themselves clear in the matter.

Verses 12-14. He had written, not for his cause who had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that his care for them in the sight of God might be seen by them. He was comforted in their comfort, and he rejoiced in the joy of Titus, because they had refreshed his spirit also, and his boasting to Titus of their reality, proved to be true.

What a true hearted shepherd is here seen, like a gentle nurse cherishing little children, and like a wise father exhorting them (1 Thess. 2:7, 11).

Verse 15. His inward affection is increased and deepened towards them, while he remembers their obedience to the truth, and how with fear and trembling they received him, and he rejoices that his confidence in them as an assembly is unabated. He knows that some individuals may not have fully judged themselves, as we see in chapter 12, but that did not hinder his joy in the many.

In our chapter we see how God fits His Word to our human mind. We see the difference between the individuality of the apostle, and what inspiration is. We had in 1 Cor. 7, the distinction between what he said as the result of his experience, and what he wrote as the commandments of the Lord. The difference here is in the experience itself. He wrote an inspired Epistle, and in his anxiety for them, fearing they had rejected him, regretted that he had sent it; then when the glad news came of their repentance, he is rejoicing in the good that had reached them, and his own sorrow is forgotten. All this is recorded by inspiration for our edification, that we might, in our small measure, be able to help others.

Scripture Study: Colossians 4

Verse 1. "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”

Here the master is exhorted to do justice to his slave, for he also has a master to whom he will need to give account. The, slave may be sadly tried in serving an ungodly master, especially if asked to do things against his conscience or against Christ Himself, but he is to prove himself a faithful servant for his master's interests (1 Tim. 6:1, 2).

Christianity does not interfere with the laws of a country, but brings in grace in God's people (Titus 2:9, 10).

Philemon is the story of Onesimus whom grace set free. Philemon was the godly master who set him free to serve the Lord in the gospel with Paul who was the means of his conversion.

Verse 2. The apostle desires the saints to continue in prayer, in communion with God, and with thanksgiving; watching that the reality of dependence on God, and consciousness of His nearness be observed. The soul must know and enjoy its own communion with God while praying for Christ's interests in others, and in those who are specially His servants. There is conflict with evil as we go on our way. We must therefore watch in prayer, not merely occasionally, or as a cry of need, but maintaining our dependence on Him continually. Paul desired prayer for Himself, and that he might be able to make the truth manifest to souls.

Verse 5. "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time," that is: buying up opportunities to serve the Lord.

Verse 6. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how to answer every man." Notice, in these verses that we are to think of those without, and to use our opportunities to gain them. The speech might be gracious or amiable enough, but it is grace, the grace of God that brings in something of the fear of God.

He can use us as His voice when we are walking with Him. Our speech ought always to be the expression of separation from evil,-this is the salt; it brings in the thought of God into the soul.

Verses 7-9. Tychicus was to tell them all about the apostle's state as a prisoner. He was a faithful minister, and fellow servant, and Paul sent him to know how they were, and to comfort their hearts, with Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother. They together could tell them all they wanted to know about him in Rome.

Verses 10-16. Aristarchus, another prisoner of the Lord, sent his love to them, and Marcus, Barnabas' nephew, is seen here as one of the Lord's servants now restored to Paul's company (see also 2 Tim. 4:11). Jesus called Justus another of the circumcision. It seems that not many of the circumcision labored with Paul, for he says, "These only are my fellow-workers unto the Kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me." The others would be of the Gentiles. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. He is called a fellow laborer (Philem. 1:24). His story is told in 2 Tim. 4:10. It is a sad one, he forsook Paul having loved the world.

Epaphras, a faithful servant of Christ, sent his love "always laboring fervently for them in his prayers, that they might stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." This service was used of God to give us this Epistle, and he might be used for other places too. Nymphas seems to have the assembly in his house in Laodicea. Other letters might have been written, but not needed to fill up the inspired Word of God, and therefore did not need to be preserved so those that were inspired could be copied and circulated.

Verses 17, 18, have a word for us, and many brethren may profit by it, "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it." Remember Paul's bonds. Christ is glorified, but is still rejected on earth. Let us take our share (2 Tim. 1:8, 2:1, 3) in suffering with Him.

Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 3

Verses 1-5. Paul had ardently desired to see these dear young Christians again, in whom he had found such a warm response to the truth he preached, but as the way was not opened up by the Lord for him to see them, he concluded to stay in Athens alone. He sent Timotheus, a brother in the truth, and one who labored with him in the work, as a minister of God's glad tidings of Christ, to confirm them in the truth and to comfort and to encourage them concerning their faith.

He thought of the persecutions they might still be passing through, and had already explained to them that such trials must come on all those who would live godly in Christ Jesus, and they knew already of the things he had suffered.

Phil. 1:29 tells that it is given to all believers to suffer for Christ in this world that hated Him. Yet he was afraid that some wile of the enemy might come to tempt and lead them away from the Lord, and in his deep exercise and prayer he sent Timotheus to see them lest his labor as a servant should be in vain. The answer is:

Verses 6-10. "But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity (love), and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you. Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”

What a true, faithful, loving servant of God the apostle proved himself to be. He was no hireling that would flee from the enemy of the sheep. He was a much tried servant, and was still ready to lay down his life for the sheep, after the pattern of his Master (Col. 1:24).

How it cheers his heart to hear of their faith and love still abounding as when he was present with them, and then of their good remembrance of him always, and of their great desire to see him again, just as he desired to see them. So that his cup of, affliction and distress was alleviated, and his heart comforted to hear of their progress and of their firm faith. And he writes,

“For now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord! For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" His loving heart yearned over them for their good as the dear flock of Christ.

But Paul, though an apostle, was not the Master. He was only a servant, and had to wait on the Lord for his orders where and when to go, and all such servants are honored (Prov. 27:18; John 12:26). It seems a number of years passed before he was allowed to be with them again. The Lord had other servants who could carry on the work who also companied Paul (Acts 20:4).

Verse 11. "Now God our father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you." He thus submits himself to the will of God, and casts them on the tender affection of the Father's heart for His children, who orders ever what is best for them according to His perfect wisdom which takes them all into account for their good in both spiritual and temporal things.

“And our Lord Jesus Christ." This leads us to think of them as an assembly of which He is Head, and Son over God's house. The apostle eared for them in their need for their progress and development in spiritual things.

In Eph. 4:11-16 we see that this provision of Christ the Head of His assembly, will not cease till we are all perfected in glory with Him.

Verse 12. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another; and toward all, even as we do toward you: to the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

The apostle's desire for them is that the Lord may make them increase and abound in love, and puts in, "as we do toward you." This power of love maintains the heart in the presence of God, and to find its joy there in light and desires it for all saints, that they may be kept sensibly in communion in their hearts. This is the development of the divine nature in us. Love is the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:14), the true means of holiness.

The heart is kept from the thoughts and ways of the flesh, as long as the soul is enjoying the pure light of the presence of God. And the apostle prays that the Lord may make them to increase and abound in love, in order to establish their hearts unblameable in holiness before God our Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all His saints.

This is our actual and present hope. We are awaiting for that appearing or manifestation, where all His saints will come with Him, unblameable in holiness. We taste the love, and enjoy the sense of His holiness in us now, but then we will be in all His perfection. It will be the accomplishment of Phil. 1:6.

We shall see Him in glory; we shall see all the saints in whom He will be admired, and see them then as we would like to see them now. He will be glorified in His saints, who will have been then taken up already to be forever with Him. They were given to Him of the Father, and they are the precious fruit of His work upon the cross. He will present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, and manifest His glory to be admired in them when He comes with them.

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 6

2Co 6Verse 1. "But (as) fellow workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (N. T.). What it means is, that as workers with one another the apostle beseeches that the Corinthians would not receive the grace of God in vain. They had received it outwardly, but whether they had all received it in their hearts, was the important point. While fully acknowledging their profession of Christ, he had become troubled about their behavior, for if they did receive it in vain, they were still in their sins; they were not quickened at all. If we have truly received grace, we are saved by it. We have believed the gospel by which we are saved. A person may make a profession of faith in Christ, without the reality in his soul (as in Matt. 13:20-22).

Verse 2 is a parenthesis quoting from Isa. 49, where the Lord was not only saving Israel, but also the Gentiles; but He being rejected, Israel is set aside, and the gospel of the grace of God is going out to both Jew and Gentile before the fulfillment of Isa. 49 comes. This is the Church period, not mentioned in that chapter. But the apostle applies it in the words, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation," a blessed and important truth for the present time.

Verses 3-10. It was the ministry of reconciliation that he had proclaimed as an ambassador to the world around, without which none could be saved, and those who were, were made the righteousness of God in Christ. And he is showing to them how he exercised this ministry in the varied ways and trials that he had passed through. He was indeed and in truth a minister of God, and he was careful to act in ways becoming the One who sent him, worthily representing Him in whose name he spoke, giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; in all things approving himself as one who was sent, showing out the character of the One who sent him. What patience he exercised, in the midst of his afflictions, his necessities, his distresses, with such spiritual energy that told how greatly he realized his important commission, and his need of constant dependence for supply of strength and wisdom, to endure such stripes and imprisonments, such tumults and labors, in watchings and fastings, going through it all in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Ghost, in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the arms (see N. T.) of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceiving, but trite; as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold we live; as disciplined, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things. What a path the apostle had to tread, as the Lord said of him at his conversion, "I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." Another has written on this:

“Thus he showed himself to be the minister of God in everything which could test him; in pureness, in kindness, in love; as a vessel of power; whether disgraced or applauded; unknown to the world, and known and eminent; outwardly trodden under foot of man and chastened, inwardly victorious and joyful, poor and enriching others, having nothing, and in possession of all things. Here ends his description of the sources, the character, the victory over circumstances, of a ministry which displayed the power of God in a vessel of weakness, whose best portion was death.”

Verses 11 to 13. Here he tells them that he speaks freely to them now, and that his affections are flowing out to them, theirs are straitened or hindered toward him, and he asks, as an answer to his love for them, to let their hearts expand in affection to him. They were his children, and it was as a father that he spoke to them. Love ever begets love.

Verses 14-18. He gives them instruction to choose their company, and specially not to be yoked together with unbelievers in any voluntary association. As a matter of employment, and filling our place in the world, we need to mix with it all the day long in most cases, but that is not what is mentioned here. Our voluntary associations are to be with the children of God, as in Acts 4:23, "And being let go, they went to their own company." It was an unequal yoke for King Jehoshaphat to go to war with Ahab, and so partnership with the world is forbidden here. One can do business legitimately with any, if it is a legitimate business for a Christian, and not be yoked with him. The difference between the believer and the unbeliever is very great, the one is righteousness, the other doing as he pleases. What fellowship has light with darkness? What concord hath Christ with Belial? and what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? and Christians are the temple of the living God; as God hath said (see Lev. 26:12), "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Here he again in his love is impressing upon them how God has separated them to Himself, and seeks to detach them from what would hinder communion with God, and hinder his pleasure in them, and to attach them more firmly in love to Christ. So now he exhorts them to come out from the yokes that belong to this world. A Christian is not to enter marriage with one who is unconverted, but if already married he or she is not to leave the unconverted partner, but he is to separate from everything that denies the position of one who has his life and his interests in the new creation, of which Christ is the Head in heavenly glory. He cannot put himself under the same yoke with those who can have only worldly motives. He is to separate from one who can only live for self, being unconverted; while being converted, should live for Christ.

So the Christian is enjoined to "come out from among them," and "be separated from them," and "touch not the unclean thing," and "I will receive you" (they were already saints, and children of God their Father), "and will be to you a Father, and ye shall to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Under this title God declares that He will provide for and protect and guide those who thus walk in true heart obedience and separation to Him, owning them as His dear dependent ones, His special care in this world, and it is as the Lord Almighty He promises it.

Scripture Study: John 16

OH 16{Verses 1-4. The Lord tells them what kind of treatment they may expect from those who thought they were serving God, though these had truth given of God, yet it applied to men in the flesh, and the revelations of God, the Father, and the Son, was truth which the flesh cannot take in, so they put them out of the synagogues; and thought they were doing God service in killing them. Jesus says, "These things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.'' It was the pride and enmity of traditional religion, without the reality of being in the presence of God. Truth of God must be received by faith that depends on His Word alone. When the time came they would remember His instruction. He was telling them now because He was going away.

Verses 5, 6. They did not enter into the necessity of His going away. They thought of their loss, whereas He was going away for their good. Nature thinks of what it loses. Faith believes what God says, and is rich in the certainty of future blessings with Him. They truly loved the Lord, and felt to part with Him, and the Lord graciously leads them on to understand afterward, if not just then, how necessary it was for Him to go away. None of them said, "Whither goest Thou?" Sorrow filled their hearts only on their own account. Verses 7, 8. Nevertheless it was necessary that He should go away, that He might send the Comforter unto them, whose presence with them would demonstrate the world's sin, and the righteousness of God, and of judgment of Satan.

Verse 9. "Of sin, because they believe not on Me." This is not speaking of the sins of the world, though they had plenty. In the conversion of souls they are convicted of sin against God, but here it is the treatment the world gave Christ and refused to believe on Him. God was revealed in love in the Son, yet the world would not be reconciled to Him. His love and grace were slighted, and the Lord was crucified between two thieves. Man hated both Him and His Father, and they slew Him.

Verse 10. "Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more." The presence of the Comforter on earth declares that Christ is glorified in heaven. God the Father hath highly exalted Him. Man's wickedness crucified Him. To fulfill the purposes of God in grace, and to make atonement for sin, He allowed them to do it. Yea, He gave His life to do it, and since then the world sees Him no more. (14:9.) Now God declares His righteousness in heavenly glory, setting Him at His own right hand on high. And righteousness, to all who believe on Him, is freely bestowed. The presence of the Comforter on earth demonstrates this righteousness that the One crucified by men, and forsaken of God, is now glorified-God's blessed answer to all His sufferings.

"Every mark of dark dishonor

Heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow,

All the depths of Thy heart's sorrow

Told in answering glory now."

Verse 11. "Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." Satan is now proved to be the prince of this world, by his leading on all classes of men against the Lord Jesus, and He did not resist them in order that He might finish the work given Him to do. He gave Himself up to death to destroy and disarm, disannul the enemy's power. His rising from the dead declares it done-the-prince of this world is judged. The presence of the Comforter declares it. The world itself is not yet judged, but in God's time it will be, its judgment is declared.

Verses 12-14. The presence of the Holy Spirit is for great blessings to those disciples, to unfold to them what they could not bear when the Lord was here. He, the Spirit of truth, would guide them into all truth. He would not speak from Himself. He would act as the mouth-piece for the Lord, and what He heard, He would speak, and would show them things to come. He would glorify the Lord, He would receive the things of Christ, and would show them unto them. Heavenly things and future things He would unfold to their souls. Verse 15. All these things were of the Father and were His. What rich unfoldings to their souls! May we too long to have them imparted to us, that we may know the Father and the Son.

Verses 16-33. Now He speaks of the little while of His absence from their sight, and they do not understand. He goes on to tell them of a time of sorrow, when they would weep and lament, and the world would rejoice, but their sorrow would be turned into joy at His resurrection, with a joy no man could take from them. Still He is the absent One, and this little while of His absence will end by His coming for us to receive us to Himself.

From the time of the Comforter's presence with them those new redemption-relationships would be theirs to enjoy, and henceforth they would pray the Father in His name. They would go directly to the Father, and Jesus would not need to pray the Father for them, for they were loved by the Father Himself, because they loved Him, and believed that He came out from God. They were to ask and receive that their joy might be full. His disciples thought they understood, but how little they did understand, but He further tells them of the trial that would come upon Him and them. They would all be scattered every man to his own, and would leave Him alone, and yet He would have the Father's presence sensibly with Him.

So He would encourage them, that, though passing through tribulation in the world, they were to know that in Him they were to have peace, so they could be of good cheer since He had overcome the world. (Rom. 8:35-39.)

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 16

1Co 16The apostle, in the preceding chapters having faithfully gone over the disorders and given instructions they needed concerning the ways they had fallen into, can now close the Epistle with a few remarks.

Verses 1-3 refer to the collection made for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Their poverty gave occasion for the Gentile assemblies to show their gratitude for the spiritual things ministered to them from Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26, 27). On the first day of the week, each was to devote what they felt right to give as God had prospered them, so that when Paul or those he sent came, the money would be ready for them. Here we see that each one carried his own purse, by the instruction of the Word through the apostle. The common purse ceased with the saints being scattered from Jerusalem (Acts 8), after the stoning of Stephen. Each one since then had to depend on God for himself. It was at this second time of bringing alms to his people (Acts 11:30; 24:17) that Paul was arrested and carried to Rome as a prisoner.

Verses 5-9. In the meantime, he would not come to see them. The Second Epistle tells us why to give them time to express their repentance with exercised consciences, but he intended to come when he passed that way. He would visit Ephesus, for there a great door and effectual was opened to him, and there were also many adversaries.

Verses 10-12 show us the liberty of the Spirit in ministry, independent of Paul's oversight. They were to keep Timothy, conducting him on his way in peace; recognizing him as a fellow laborer with the other brethren and Paul. Apollos, on the other hand, goes the way he believes the Lord would have him, and though Paul greatly desired him to go to Corinth, his will was not to go at the present time; but when he counted it the convenient time to go. then he would visit them. There is no opposition in serving according to the truth, and each servant is responsible to his own Master.

Verses 13 14 exhort the saints to watchful steadfastness in the faith. The Spirit adopts the saying of the Philistines here (1 Sam. 4:9) to encourage the Christians to faithfully fight against all evils that might come up.

Verses 15, 16. We get the house of Stephanas, the first ones converted to Christ in Achaia, that they gave themselves up to serve the saints, who in their turn were to submit themselves unto such, and to all who joined in the work and labored.

Verses 17, 18. There Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus filled up the lack in the Corinthians, so his need was supplied, and his spirit and theirs was accordingly refreshed, so that they also were to be acknowledged in their service.

Verses 19, 20. The assemblies of Asia saluted them. Aquila and Priscilla, and the assembly in their house, saluted them much. All the brethren greeted them, and they were to greet each other, as was the customary greeting of Christians, with an holy kiss.

Verse 21 tells us that others wrote what the apostle dictated, and then he put his salutation with his own hand (2 Thess. 3:17).

Verse 22. What a solemn truth is written here. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha;" which means, that such a person is eternally lost at the coming of the Lord. He may have passed as a Christian with men, but is lost forever.

Verses 23, 24. But the apostle's heart flows out to the Corinthians after all he has said, and now closes with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 3

2Co 3What the apostle wrote in chap. 2, leads him now to give an exposition of the gospel in contrast with the law, which false teachers mixed together. Law and grace do not go together. The law demands; grace bestows.

Verses 1-3. "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we as some others, epistles of commendation to you or from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." They were his letters of commendation; the proof of the power of his ministry was seen in their conversion. They were ever in his heart, and he could tell it out afresh, since he was assured of their obedience. They were his letter, because in their faith they were the expression of his doctrine. They were the epistle of Christ, his ministry was used to make them that, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on the fleshy tables of the heart by the power of the Holy Ghost, as the law had been engraven on stones by God.

Verses 4-6. Paul was confident in regard to his ministry,-"such trust have we through Christ toward God." Yet it was not trusting in himself; his ordination and authority was from and of God. His competency was from God who hath made us new Covenant ministers, which ministry was not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life, and the Lord is that Spirit (see verse 17). Every sacrifice and ordinance pointed to Him.

Verses 7-16 is a parenthesis to show the difference between law and righteousness. The law graven on stones was brought in with glory, so that the children of Israel could not bear to look at Moses' face for the glory of it, yet it was all to pass away, for it was the ministry of death and condemnation. The ministry of the Spirit began with glory, the glory in the face of Jesus Christ, and there it ever subsists. It is the ministration of God's righteousness in Him, and therefore exceeds in glory. The glory of the law had no glory, compared with Christ's glory that excelleth. If that which was done away was glorious, much more that which abides is glorious.

There is a danger of Christians making a law of Christ Himself, and thinking of His love as a fresh motive to oblige them to love Him, making it an obligation, which they are powerless to meet to their satisfaction, and consequently they feel condemned in their consciences.

The ministry which the apostle fulfilled was not law. It was the ministry of righteousness and of the Spirit, not demanding righteousness to stand before God, but revealing it in Christ, who was made this righteousness of God for us, and we are made the righteousness of God in Him. The gospel proclaimed righteousness on God's part for man, instead of demanding it under the law. The Holy Ghost is the seal of that righteousness.

He sealed the Man who was without sin, "Him hath God the Father sealed," He was approved of God. The Holy Ghost also dwells in all believers, because they are made the righteousness of God in Christ. Thus it was the ministry of the Spirit given to us on our believing the gospel of our salvation. This makes it possible for us to understand the mind and purposes of God revealed to us in the Person of a glorified Christ, in whom the righteousness of God was revealed and subsisted eternally before Him.

Verses 17, 18. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." They were no longer under the yoke of the law, nor of the fear of death or condemnation as one has said, "They were in Christ before God, in peace before Him according to perfect love and the favor that is better than life, even as it shone upon Christ without a veil, according to the grace which reigns by righteousness.”

“When it is said, Now the Lord is that Spirit, allusion is made to verse 6. (7-16 is a parenthesis.) Christ glorified, is the true thought of the Spirit which God had previously hidden under figures, and here is the practical result; they beheld the Lord with open (that is, with unveiled) face; they were able to do this. The glory of the face of Moses judged the thoughts and intents of the hearts, causing terror by threatening the disobedient and the sinner with death and condemnation. Who could stand in the presence of God? But the glory of the face of Jesus, a man on high, is the proof that all the sins of those who behold it are blotted out; for He who is there, bore them all before He ascended, and He needed to put them all away in order to enter into that glory. We contemplate that glory by the Spirit, who has been given to us in virtue of Christ's having ascended into it. He did not say, I will go up; peradventure I shall make atonement. He made the atonement and then went up. Therefore we gaze upon it with joy, we love to behold it; each ray that we see is the proof that in the eyes of God our sins are no more. Christ has been made sin for us; He is in the glory. Now, in thus beholding the glory with affection, with intelligence, taking delight in it, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the power of the Holy Spirit who enables us to realize and to enjoy these things; and in this is Christian progress. Thus the assembly, too, becomes the epistle of Christ.

The allusion made to the Jews at the end of the parenthesis, where the apostle makes a comparison between the two systems, is most touching. The veil, he says, is taken away in Christ. Nothing is now veiled. The glorious substance is accomplished. The veil is on the heart of the Jews, when they read the Old Testament. Every time that Moses entered into the tabernacle to speak to God, or to hear Him, he took off his veil. Thus, says the apostle, when Israel shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

The glory of the Person of Jesus Christ, is the substance or spirit of that which the Jewish ordinances represented only in figures.

Scripture Study: Colossians 3

We have seen that we all as believers are looked upon in the sight of God as dead, buried, and risen with Christ. We are viewed as on earth, not seated in heavenly places as in Ephesians, where we are looking at the purposes of God. Our faith is to see our new position as one with Christ, possessing Him as our new life, -this is where our chapter begins.

Verses 1-4. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.”

This leads our hearts up to Him who is our life, and inclines us to "set our affections on things above," thus turning our minds to heavenly and spiritual things, "not on things on the earth," because of our new position. "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

He is our life. When He appears, then shall all His saints appear with Him in glory. He cannot appear without them, for they are one with Him.

Verses 5-7 tell us that sin in the flesh is in us still. This verse uncovers to us how vile it is. We are not to allow it to live, we are to keep it in the place God has given it,-in the death of Christ. We can turn our eyes to Him and sing,

"O fix our earnest gaze

So wholly, Lord, on Thee,

That, with Thy beauty occupied,

We elsewhere none may see.”

In this occupation with Him, we find strength for victory over sin and Satan's power. Our Lord Jesus bore the penalty of our sins, and gives us the victory over the power of sin in our members.

The disobedient sinner who will not come to the Savior, must bear the wrath of God, because of living in sin. "In the which ye also walked sometime when ye lived in them." What an escape we had! Well may we thank God for His great mercy toward us, in opening our eyes to see our lost condition, and then to see His love in giving His Son to die for our sins.

Verses 8-11. That which would come out of those members is to be put off, not allowed. We are to put off "anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication" out of our mouths. We are not to lie to one another, seeing that we have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that has created him.

Truth is what Christ is, and the new life in the believer has His character of life, and will not be satisfied to walk in any other path but His. It is Christ in us, and is to come out in our ways, as we shall see in what follows. All human distinctions disappear in this new life. It is the same life of Christ, and acts the same in every person.

Believers have put off the old man, and have put on the new in the death and resurrection of Christ; and in their practice now, are to put off (verse 8) what would come from the members of the old man, and now in practice, are to put on the dress of the new. The inner man, Christ in us, desires to clothe-us with what suits Him. "Christ is all, and in all.”

Verses 12-14. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved." God calls us His elect, chosen ones, holy and beloved, and as such, the things that were seen in the Lord on earth in all perfection, are now to be grown as fruit for Him in us who have Christ as our life.

Bowels of compassion gives us the thought of the deep well spring of His heart, that has flowed into ours, to flow out again in kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a complaint against any: even as Christ forgave us, so we are to forgive one another.

What a deep stream of blessing it was that flowed out from Him to His disciples, and all that came to Him. Alas! how small has been the measure of blessing that has flowed from us to others. Blessed Master, help us to be more like Thee!

Then to all these we are to add love, the bond of perfectness, that which gives godliness the first place in our actions and ministry to others. Not amiability of nature, but holiness to the Lord. It is the flowing out of the grace that has come to us from Himself.

Verse 15. Also the peace of Christ is to preside over every other thought that might arise. The peace in which God dwells (Phil. 4:7) is the peace in which Christ walked through this world where there were so many things to try Him, as He walked with His God and Father. Phil. 4:6 is how we can obtain it, and dwell in it. And also in this verse 15, it is with one another as members of the one body walking in unity.

And then comes these important words, "And be ye thankful." This is bowing to God's will, yea, expresses satisfaction with God's ordering for us. A thankful heart is always a happy heart. It finds no room for murmuring, though it may sorrow and mourn over sin, as when the Lord wept over guilty Jerusalem.

Verse 16. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another; in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

In Ephesians we find all these things connected with the Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer. In this Epistle it is, we repeat, Christ our life, and all these are the outcome of Christ our life and our object.

The Word of Christ dwelling in us gives wisdom, and in rich measure, teaching us how to apply it to ourselves and others. And our happy hearts unite in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. A little fortaste of heaven's joy.

Verse 17. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." How completely our life is seen here in conscious relationship with Christ, in the life which we have in Him. We can apply it in everything we do. He is the object that controls us, and everything is done to suit Him; and through Him, dwelling in the consciousness of divine love, we give thanks to our God and Father. The Christian life is characterized by having Christ Himself as its aim and object in all we do in every respect.

Verses 18 to chapter 4:1. Apply this life to the circle of our relationships as given and established by God, with wise advice and warnings in view of our wills bringing in difficulties.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.”

“Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”

The wives and husbands are thus to exercise grace toward each other in the exercises necessary to live together in the grace of eternal life. To love his wife is especially enjoined on the husband, and not to allow bitterness in his heart toward her, and that alludes to the failure, or tendency to it in the wife in her subjection, and in the husband in his love.

Children are to be obedient to their parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers are to be careful not to provoke their children,-not to discourage them. God our Father is careful not to discourage His children, though needing to discipline them every day. The precious home (if Christ is acknowledged) of kind affections practiced in the home, is a safeguard to the children, needed increasingly as the state of this world grows darker.

“Servants (that is, slaves), obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

The slave is Christ's freeman, and the freeman is Christ's slave (1 Cor. 7:22). This exhortation to the slave is excellent for all Christians as to the spirit in which we all should serve the Lord Christ. It is the life of Christ, and how He served the Father, is the example for us all.

May the Lord help us to serve Him in singleness of heart, that He may be able to say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Scripture Study: John 19

OH 19{Verses 1-27. The heartlessness of Pilate comes out. He took One he held to be innocent and scourged Him. The Roman scourge plowed furrows on His blessed back by Pilate's orders, and the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, the mark of a cursed creation (Gen. 3:18), and put it on His head. The purple robe of Jewish royalty was put on Him in mockery, and they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they smote Him with their hands. Pilate brought Him forth, even then, to let them know that he found no fault in Him.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, and Pilate said unto them, "Behold the Man!" They cried out, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." Pilate said, "Take ye Him, and crucify Him; for I find no fault in Him." They answered, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." This made Pilate still more afraid. Again in the judgment hall he asked Him, "Whence art Thou?” but Jesus made him no answer, for Pilate had already owned Him innocent. Pilate pleads his authority, to put Him to death, or release Him. Jesus answered, "Thou hast no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above;" and so the one that delivered Him unto Pilate had the greater sin. From thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, "If thou let this Man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. He that maketh Himself a King speaketh against Caesar." That touches his personal interests, and he proceeded to deliver Jesus up to be crucified, but Pilate will first taunt and insult the Jews. "Behold your King," he says, and they cry out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him." Pilate said, "Shall I Crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he delivered Him up to be crucified, and they took Jesus and led Him away. He, bearing His cross, went forth into a place called the place of a skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. Pilate wrote a title, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." This title then read many of the Jews. It was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. They found fault with it, and wanted it to read, "He said, I am King of the Jews," but Pilate said, insolently, "What I have written, I have written."

Thus Jew and Gentile tell out their sin and shame in the rejection and murder of the Son of God. Jesus alone bears witness to the truth, and goes on to accomplish the work of atonement on the cross for sin, that both Jew or Gentile, standing guilty before God, might yet find eternal salvation through His name, and look upon that blessed Lamb of God as having been made a sacrifice for their sins. The soldiers also fulfilled Scripture, dividing His garments among them, and casting lots on His vesture. (Psa. 22.)

Hanging upon the cross, we see Him in real affection, recognizing His mother and John, and committing her to his care, so that henceforth John took Mary to his own home. She would think of what was said to her long ago by old Simeon (Luke 2:35), "Yea a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also," and surely it would when she saw Him on the cross.

Verses 28-30. There was but one thing more now. The Scripture is fulfilled, and He says, "I thirst." Some one puts a sponge filled with vinegar to His mouth. He received it, then He said those wonderful memorable words, "It is finished," and He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit to His Father; it was a divine act. He laid down His life, that He might take it again in obedience to his Father's will, and yet of His own accord.

Verses 31-37. Though they cared nothing for righteousness, mercy or the love of God, yet the Jews were full of zeal for their ordinances, and wanted the bodies removed before the Sabbath began-that is, by sundown. To them, that Sabbath day was an high day-an empty form, or a mockery to God, for they had put His Son to death, and now His body was to lie in the sepulcher during that day. Pilate granted their request. Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the two thieves, sending one after the Lord into paradise, and the other to where there is no hope; but when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they broke not His legs, but one of the soldiers, with a spear, pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. "He that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe." Again Scripture is fulfilled, "A bone of Him shall not be broken;" and again, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

It is from a dead Savior that the tokens of an eternal and perfect salvation flow forth-the blood and the water. The one tells of expiation or atonement for sins; the other of cleansing for the sinner. John saw it, and bears witness that we might believe. He saw much more, but these are what the Holy Spirit used him to record. The other evangelists give the rest. The words are what were given him by the Holy Ghost.

Verses 38-42. It is written in Isa. 53:9, "And (men) appointed His grave with the wicked, but He was with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was there guile in His mouth." God took care of the body of His Son; it was not allowed to see corruption, and the right instruments came forward to take charge of it, with hearts and thoughts that did not consent to the deeds of the Jews in condemning the Lord to death.

Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, both disciples, but secretly for fear of the Jews, came forward boldly and besought Pilate for the body of Jesus, and took charge of it, winding it in spices and fine linen, as the manner of the Jews is to bury, and laid it with reverent hands in the new tomb wherein no man was ever laid. It was near to the place where He had been crucified. It was all that could be done at the time, and it surely was a strong protest from these two secret disciples against the act of their fellow counselors and the priests.

Scripture Study: John 12

OH 12{Verses 1-8. What a beautiful picture we find here of what grace works in souls. The man who was raised from the dead is now seated at the table with the Lord. It pictures the restored remnant of Israel, brought back as from the dead; but also the place of communion of every believer. We are indeed blessed with all spiritual blessings, dead with Christ and risen with Him.

Bethany, the house of sweet fruit, tells of His delight to be in the company of His saints. They made Him a supper; they, too, delighted to be in His company. Martha served, without carefulness or cumberings now. Lazarus is there sitting with Him. And Mary's ointment is worship. Have we not three parts of our Christian character seen here in their activity? communion, service and worship.

Mary's affection produces her pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly. She has kept this for some time and now her spiritual discernment saw it the proper occasion to anoint the Lord against the day of His burying: She anointed His feet, and wiped them with her hair, and the house was filled with the sweet perfume. Precious it was to Him! He knew what it cost her, and why she did it.

Judas Iscariot, the one to betray Him, said, ' "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?'' And alas! others joined in with him. The influence of a bad man, pretending to be good, may, indeed, often does, lead saints wrong. How watchful we need to be! The natural mind does not rise above itself, or man's good; can pass as a friend of the poor, sees everything waste that is expended on Christ, while at the bottom it is real selfishness. Judas wanted badly to get his hands on that money; he cared nothing for the poor, he was a thief.

The Lord said, "Let her alone: against the day of My burying hath she kept this." Mary's heart would certainly rejoice at this assurance of His approval. (See Matt. 26:10-13; Mark 14:6-9.) She had learned by sitting at His feet, and there hearing His word, to do the best thing at the right time. She had taken it in to her soul that men were seeking His life, and that He was to die. How refreshing all this on her part was to the blessed Lord, when all about Him was coldness and rejection.

Verses 9-11. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there, and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead. This stirs the wicked hearts of the chief priests, who consult to put the newly raised Lazarus again to death, because he is the means of others believing on Jesus. How true it is, "If the world hate you, we know that it hated Me before it hated you," "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (John 15:18; 2 Tim. 3:12.) The natural man in his religiousness, is the great opposer of the truth. (Rom. 8:7.)

Verses 12-19. The next day much people who heard that He was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." And Jesus comes in riding on the ass' colt, as the prophet foretold. "Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy king cometh, sitting on an ass's colt." At this time the disciples did not understand the meaning of these things, but when 'He was glorified, then they could see the significance of it. It was His presentation as Son of David, King of Israel, but it was as rejected we see Him. God moved their hearts to proclaim Him King, as a testimony to Israel.

The raising of Lazarus testified that He was the Son of God; the believing remnant in Bethany is His heart's comfort; the multitude testify to His being King; the Romans remain silent; the Pharisees mourn that the world is gone after Him.

Verses 20-24. There were certain Greeks, that is, Gentiles, among them that came up to the feast to worship. They came to Philip, saying, "We would see Jesus." Philip tells Andrew and both tell Jesus. Jesus answered saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of ma should be glorified."

It is not the time yet for Him to receive the Gentiles. He will yet be the Head of the heathen (Psa. 18:43), and a light to the Gentiles, Jehovah's salvation to the end of the earth (Isa. 49:6). He must first die. "Except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." He was the corn of wheat that abode alone; the perfect One on whom death had no claim, but He would not be alone. And to have us there, He gave Himself to the death of the cross that we might live with Him, the fruit of His death. Men were dead, their works were dead works, and they were living in sin. They must die to what they were alive in, that they might live to what they were dead to-in trespasses and sins. And this only could be through Christ's death and resurrection. The Lord Jesus knew and felt that death, the death of the cross, was what was before Him, to give us a place with Him in that resurrection glory and blessing.

Verse 25. "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." Those who turn from Him to enjoy this life shall be losers; those who turn from this life to Him shall enjoy eternal blessing.

Verse 26. "If any man serve Me, let him tallow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." Is He rejected and despised of men? So will His servant be. Is He honored of the Father? So will those who serve Him be. (Phil. 1:20; 2:5; 3:10.)

Verses 27-33. "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from t his hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” He will not pray to escape the dreadful hour when. God's righteous judgment must be endured, if those purposes of grace are to be accomplished, and God is to be glorified and sinners saved.

But He will say, "Father, glorify Thy name.' An audible voice from heaven replied, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." He had glorified it in the raising of Lazarus, and would again in the resurrection of Jesus. The people said it thundered. The Lord said, "This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes." Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die. The world is judged in the death of Christ; it would not have Him. Satan, its prince is cast out. His power is annulled. Christ has gained the victory when apparently defeated, and is become as lifted up upon the cross, the point of attraction for all men; that through Him they might be brought to God; that they come to Him there and obtain eternal life through the Savior's death.

Verses 34-36. The people talk about the Messiah abiding forever, and ask, "Who is this Son of Man" that must be lifted up? His answer is to take the opportunity while the light is with them, to believe in the light and become thus children of light.

Verses 37-41. Then He hides Himself. And the evangelist tells us how in rejecting the Lord they fulfilled Isa. 53:1 and Isa. 6:10. Isaiah saw this same Lord Jesus, as Jehovah, in His temple in glory. "These things said Esaias when he saw His glory and spake of Him."

Verses 42, 43. Many of the chief rulers believed on Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Verses 44-50. Jesus cried, and said, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And He that seeth Me, seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me. He gave Me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak. And T know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak."

He was declaring the Father. To receive His testimony was to receive the Father; to reject Him was to reject His Father, and lose eternal blessing.

Scripture Study: John 14

OH 14{ Verses 1-11. Here the Lord enters upon His last words to His disciples in view of His departure from them. He begins with words of comfort. "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me." They would still be the objects of His care; and though they could not have Him any more personally as the Messiah with them, as they believed in God whom they could not see, so now they were to believe in Him, who, though out of sight, would be nearer to them than ever before, and He would have them ever on His heart. In His Father's house were many abodes-room for them all-and He was going to prepare a place for them there. He was parting company with them just for a purpose, and only for a little while. He had to go to the cross to prepare them for the place, and He had to go to heaven to prepare the place for them, then He would come again and receive them unto Himself, so that where He was, there they should be also. Now they knew whither He was going and they knew the way. But Thomas did not understand Him, and said, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me, if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him and have seen Him." We have already seen that the words Ile spoke were not from Himself, and that the Father did all His works through Him. But Philip has not understood this, and says, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." The Lord draws his attention to Himself, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet past thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father, that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the very works' sake." "In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. 2:9.) "The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." John 1:18. And yet, "No man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father.'' Luke 10:22. "He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20. "God manifest in the flesh." How those dear disciples would wonder afterward at their slowness to apprehend the blessed person that He was that walked with them those three years and a half of His servant path on earth, Where they saw all His works and heard His words all spoken and done as a man dependent on the Father. We cannot fathom such mysteries, but faith believes and worships.

Verses 12-14. " Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that v. ill I do, that the Father may be glorified in he Son if ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." In the words of another, "After He was gone, they would do even greater works than He did, because they should act in connection with his greater nearness to the Father. This was requisite to His glory. It was even unlimited. He placed them in immediate connection with the Father by the power of His work and of His name; and whatsoever they should ask the Father in His name, Christ Him self would do it for them. Their request should be heard and granted by the Father-showing hat nearness He had acquired for them; and (Christ) would do all they should ask. For power of the Son was not, and could not wanting to the Father's will: there was no limit to His power." (Synopsis J. N. D.) These are works done by the Lord through disciples in connection with His glorified place-works that are for His glory, not necessarily, or only, miracles for testimony, though it would also include them. (See Acts 19:11, 12.) And it is certainly more wonderful to see such works done by Christ's power in a redeemed man-a weak vessel in himself-than to see them done by Him whom we know is God over all, blessed forever.

Verse 15. Their love was to show itself by keeping His commandments. Obedience was ever His on earth, and they are to walk in the same path; not the obedience of the law, but the delight of the heart that loves Him, to do what pleases the one it loves. It was this they were set apart for (1 Peter 1:2), and love delights to own His claims upon it, as a purchased one.

Verse 16. "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever." What divine unity of mind and purpose we constantly see in these three persons, as in this verse. And here the Son prays the Father that the Holy Spirit may abide with them forever-a comforter that will never leave them, but will take possession of them as redeemed ones, for time and eternity.

Verses 17, 18. He is the Spirit of truth, but the world cannot receive Him. They would not receive the Son whom they could see, and this one they can neither see nor know, but His own would know Him. He would dwell with them, and should be in them, and He would give them to know the presence of the Lord with them. They would not be left (orphans) comfortless. He, the Lord, would come to them. How different when in the days of His flesh He companied with them, and they could see Him, but how much more intimately would they enjoy, in spirit, His presence now by the Holy Spirit's power, and so for all believers. everywhere, and at once. For now it is the privilege of each believer to know His presence, and to walk with Him. Praise His blessed name!

Verse 19. “Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more." The world has lost Christ. They put Him on the cross, and then saw Him no more. (Acts 10:40, 41.) When it sees Him again He will come as a judge, ''Every eye shall see Him... And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him." "But ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also." Yes, as believers, we now see Jesus crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2) and in His life we live. How safe is the life that is hid with Christ in God! Because I live, ye shall live also. Nothing can touch that blessed One there, and we are in Him, and He is in us.

Verse 20. "At that day (that is, when the Holy Spirit had come) ye shall know that am in My Father, and ye in Me, and in you." This expresses our new position in the Father and the Son, and He in us down here.

In the epistles it is more developed. (Eph. 1:3.)

Verse 21. This life that is ours in Him, expresses its love in having and keeping His commandments, and where it is so, where we express our love to our blessed Lord, we find a deep and warm response in the Father's love, and in the Son's love; and, blessed manifestations of Himself to us.

Verse 22. Judas (not Iscariot) could not understand how the world would not see Him also, if manifested.

Verse 23. This should convince Judas that it was spiritual manifestation, and something much to be desired in our lives here below. "If a man love Me, he will keep My word; (that is, the mind of God, though not expressed directly in commandments, as Mary knew it by sitting at Jesus' feet), and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." What comfort of love to the obedient heart this must be! What intimacy of love and communion this gives! O, that our souls knew practically what it means to have the Father and the Son making their abode with us, while we wait for our Lord to come and take us to dwell with Him in the Father's presence, in the home prepared for us, and where we shall go no more out.

No more as here, mid snares, to fear

A thought or wish unholy;

No more to pain the Lamb once slain,

But live to love Thee wholly!"

"Lord, haste that day."

Verse 24. But there were those who did not love Him, and kept not His sayings; yet the word was not His, but the Father's and in rejecting Him they also rejected the Father.

Verses 25, 26. He had told them all these things while He was present with them, but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send in His name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. He has here two special works to do-to teach them, and to bring all things to their remembrance. What a comforter He is!

Verse 27. Now He bequeaths to them "Peace," but, O, what trouble He had to go through that we might have it. "He made peace by the blood of His cross," and "He is our Peace." With all that work of the cross before Him, opposition from man and Satan's power, and all the judgment of God to be borne, He can speak as assured of victory. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." It is for us, and given to those who walk in His footsteps. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." This is the path Jesus walked in, depending on His Father. He does not give as the world gives, He shares with us what He has proved and enjoyed with the Father here below.

Verses 28, 29. Here He counts on their hearts rejoicing in His going to the Father, but it seems only to bring sorrow to them because of their loss. (Chapter 16:6.) They thought of it afterward.

Verse 30. His conversation with them is near an end. The prince of this world was again allowed to come against Him, only to find nothing in Him.

Verse 31. He will finish His path of loving obedience to the Father's will at all cost.

"The Lord then ceases to speak, and goes forth. He is no longer seated with His own, as of this world. He arises and quits it." (Synopsis J. N. D.)

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 4

2Co 4Verses 1-4. The apostle wrote (chap. 3:6) that God made them able ministers of the spirit of the new covenant, and that their sufficiency was of God. Here he tells that they received mercy to carry it out, and therefore could say, "We faint not." Sustained by divine power, they gave out the Word in the same purity in which they had received it. They rejected the hidden things of shame; they did not walk in deceit, nor falsify the Word of God, but by manifestation of the truth in doctrine and practice, commended themselves to every conscience of man in the sight of God. The truth had its full force in going out from him. It was not veiled; if men did not see it, they had put a veil on their hearts.

“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost;" the god of this world, that is Satan, hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the good news of the glory of Christ who is the image of God, should shine forth for them. The glory of Christ risen and ascended, tells of God's righteousness and love, shining out for guilty, ruined sinners. His delight is seen in the glory in which the Lord Jesus now is seen and known to faith.

Verses 5, 6. The apostles therefore did not preach about themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and themselves servants for Jesus' sake. To be such, God had wrought in them. As at the beginning, God had said, "Let there be light," and there was light. So now God had shined into their hearts, and this shining in, was that the light might shine forth,-the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

Verses 7-14. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not from us. A vessel needs to be empty. An instrument needs to have no will of its own, so God must deal with the vessel to reduce it to nothingness, and this is done by circumstances of trial with the teaching of the Word by the Holy Spirit, to bring the flesh in the vessel into the place of death. This is what we have in verses 8 to 11:

“We are troubled on every side," that is, the vessel; "yet not distressed," because God was with it. "Perplexed," that is, the vessel; "but not in despair," for God is there. "Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." Submission to the will of God, even unto death, is wrought thus in the soul. It was found in its perfection in Jesus. And so it is, "always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." Wonderful that such a life could be produced in sinful men with mortal bodies. "For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.". We see how this was the actual experience of the apostle (2 Cor. 1:8 to 10). He realized in his heart, as the Lord's servant, what death is, and his life preserved was from God who raises the dead.

The more that the man is set aside as nothing, the more the life of Jesus is seen in the submission to God's will, the dependence on God, and obedience to His Word, and thus the life of Jesus is seen in his mortal flesh. This is conformity to Christ in the heart by God's power made good in man's weakness. So death worked in the servants, that life might work in the converts. What a difference between the prophets of the Old Testament who searched their own prophecies seeking to understand them; and the apostles who knew, understood and felt the truth and taught it, walking in it before God and men. The apostle could quote Psa. 116:10: "1 believe, therefore have I spoken." It was all a living reality to him. We having the same spirit of faith, we also believe, and therefore speak.

It is the same with us all; we cannot rightly minister beyond what we have received. If we go further, we are but a clanging cymbal.

This lesson is meant to teach us that we must have the glory of Christ before our souls, subduing our wills, thus bringing in the power of God, and thus death morally in the servant 'produced life in the hearers. Death had lost its terror to the apostles, "Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and present us with you." Blessed assurance of hope given by the resurrection of Christ Jesus to the apostles and also to us.

Verse 15. "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." What God passed the apostles through in their service in testimony for Christ, was all for the elect's sake (see Col. 1:24 and 2 Tim. 2:10), giving the character of a rejected One on earth, now glorified at God's right hand. To serve such a Master, the servant must be like Him.

The Lord suffered also in atonement in which none can share. Sufferings from man, and in testimony for God we all who are believers may have part in. "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Phil. 1:29. The Lord sa'd about Paul (Acts 9:16), "I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." Paul knew that the end was glory with Christ above, both for him and for them, and he unites their thanksgivings with his own (2 Cor. 1:11). "For this cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day," for the trials of the present moment were only temporary, and would soon be over; and besides, as he says, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment," in comparison to eternity, "worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The knowledge of this comforted and sustained the soul to go through the trials and sufferings that God saw fit to allow to come upon His servants.

In all this, the apostles show us the way, as examples that in our path of suffering and service, this truth might comfort and sustain our souls, amid the discouragements of a Christ-rejecting world, which after all he calls "light," and "but for a moment," and working, for all His saints, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. It must be so, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which arc not seen, for the things which are seen, are temporal, but the unseen things are eternal. The power of divine life, with its consequences, were developed in their souls by faith. They knew the result of everything on God's part.

Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 1

In Acts 17 we see that Paul and Silas were three Sabbath days reasoning with the Jews at Thessalonica, and some were converted, and consorted with them; also many of the Greeks, and not a few of the chief women. Then persecution drove the apostles away.

Verses 1-4. They left behind them a new company who are spoken of and written to, called the Assembly at Thessalonica, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way they are spoken of as the children of God the Father, belonging by redemption to the Lord Jesus Christ, a redeemed company.

The solution is, "Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." What comfort to their souls such a message from heaven should be. Then it continues,

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father; knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election.”

What a change this indicates in them, from what they had been before. Now they were begotten of God, their enmity was gone, and they were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Their work of faith that acted on the Word of God, their labor of love that pursued its path through difficulties and trials, their patience of hope that waited for the Lord to come, were abundant evidence that they now were the Lord's, and children of the Father, of His chosen ones (John 15:6).

Verses 5-7. "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.”

They had observed the behavior of the apostles, and became followers of them and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

It cost them suffering and shame, but it proved the reality of their conversion, and brought to them corresponding joy of the Holy Ghost that they were suffering for Christ, and thus they were ensamples to all that were already believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Verses 8-10. It is remarkable that their devoted, godly walk is here spoken of as "sounding out the word of the Lord" in these places, and not only there, but in every place their faith to Godward was spread abroad, so that the apostles did not need to tell it of them.

What lovely consistency with the truth they had believed, is seen in them, and had been spoken of, how readily they received God's messengers, and turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.

This indeed is the true and only way, for we have no strength to turn from idols before we turn to God. Turning in reality to Him makes our deliverance sure from the power of sin. He is our strength and our salvation.

We, also, like them, wait for the Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who also will deliver us from the coming wrath which will fall upon the world yet, but it will be after His Assembly is taken home to be with Himself (Rev. 3:10).

The wrath is future, "We shall be saved from wrath through Him." Rom. 5:9

Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 51Th 5

Verses 1-3. The beginning of this chapter connects with chapter 4:14, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

This is the coming of the Lord with His saints, at or near the end of the great tribulation period, and surely it will be terrible for godless, Christ rejecting souls (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 12:40; 17:24, 21:26, 27, 36).

In Rev. 3:3 we see that they who are godless professors in the church, left behind when the Lord comes for His saints, will share in that judgment when He comes as a thief in the night. Some will be dwelling in fancied security; some will fear and tremble for what is coming on the earth (Luke 21:10, 11).

Verses 4-7. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”

How blessed this is! We have everything out; nothing to hide, and a life given us that hates darkness and distance from God. We now can delight in His presence. Yet we need the exhortation because the flesh, sin, is in us still, we will not get rid of that till our bodies are changed, but we are not its servants now.

“Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night." Spiritual sloth, and indulging in pleasures, are fleshly lusts which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11).

Verses 8-11. "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

This is the armor for the wilderness for our journey through Satan's world. Faith and love and hope-three qualities of our new life as children of God.

Faith connects us with God and His Word, that reveals the Lord Jesus to our souls, so that we can have communion with the Father and the Son.

Love is also what has laid hold of us, and is in us toward God and our Lord Jesus and to the saints, and toward the world for their good.

Hope of Salvation is our helmet that covers our head. Hope has laid hold of the promise of His coming, and of our being with Him. There is no uncertainty about this our blessed hope (See Titus 2:13). And in the loving confidence we thus have, we can say,

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

Salvation here is our full deliverance. We belong to the Lord. "He died for us, so that whether we `wake', i.e., are alive when He comes, or whether we `sleep,' it is the same result, we shall live together with Him." This we saw in chapter 4:16, 17.

“Wherefore encourage one another, and build up each one the other, even as also ye do.”

Verses 12, 13. "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.”

There is no mention of office here: it is more shepherding and caring for them to guide them aright, that they might grow in grace (See chapter 2:7, 11). "Be at peace among yourselves" is a word we often need.

Verses 14, 15. "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all (men).”

How we need to be in the presence of God, and our hearts in love bearing each other up. Communion with God is the power, and His Word the guide in so doing.

They were never to render evil for evil unto any man or person, but ever to follow that which is good, both among themselves and to all. And then what precious words follow,

Verse 16. "Rejoice evermore" (Phil. 4:4). We have so much to be glad over, that even amid sorrow we can rejoice in the Lord.

Verse 17. "Pray without ceasing." In communion with the Lord, is where the soul finds relief, speaking to God, unburdening our souls to Him. Our times are in His hand.

Verse 18. "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

O help us Lord, to observe these little verses with diligent endeavor to carry them out!

Verse 19. "Quench not the Spirit." They were not to hinder the action of the Spirit in their midst, nor despise what He said.

Verses 20-21. "Despise not prophesying" (Compare 1 Cor. 14:3). We may quench the Spirit by not speaking when God gives us the word; or we might refuse to hear the word spoken to us by God. In either case we would quench the Spirit. We are to prove all things; and hold fast that which is good,-good advice and easily understood.

Verse 22. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." It really means every form of evil.

Verse 23. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and (I pray God) your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is the only passage where man is thus expressed.

In the soul, our affections and desires are expressed.

In our spirit, it is our mind and intelligence. The body is the tent the soul dwells in.

“The Holy Spirit then wills that man, reconciled with God, should be consecrated, in every part of his being, to the God who has brought him into relationship with Himself by the revelation of His love, and by the work of His grace, and that nothing in the man should admit an object beneath the divine nature of which he is partaker; so that he should thus be preserved blameless unto the coming of Christ.”

This consecration is to be carried out in our every relationship of life (as in Eph. 5:21 to 6:9). And for this we can count on God for grace and wisdom and strength in dependence on Him. This is our practical day by day sanctification in our behavior.

Heb. 10:14 is absolute, it is done once for all, that is: our person and position as now belonging to Christ.

Verse 24. "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." Let us then gladly submit to Him in all our ways, that He may work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).

Verse 25. "Brethren, pray for us." How much we all need this!

Verse 26. His loving salutation as in Eastern countries.

Verse 27. All the brethren are to read this Epistle.

Verse 28. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Scripture Study: John 18

OH 18{The last events of our Lord's life are given in keeping with the character of the whole gospel. The perfect obedience, and the divine personality of the blessed Lord shine out, also the full rejection of the Jews. His agony in the garden, and His sufferings as forsaken of God, are not seen, nor His sufferings from the hands of men, as in the other gospels. In Matthew and Mark He is seen as the Lamb led to the slaughter, yet opening not His mouth; and in Luke, what He suffered as a good man from the hands of men, and His agony in the garden are dwelt upon; but in John He is the Son of God accomplishing the Father's will, yet in perfect obedience, yielding Himself up to His enemies, and giving up His spirit to the Father in death.

Verses 1-3. It was in His usual place of retirement, where He ofttimes resorted to hold communion with His Father, that was selected for His arrest. Judas knew the place, and led a band of men and officers from the chief priests and pharisees, with lanterns and torches and weapons to the spot.

Verses 4-9. Jesus knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth to meet them, and said, "Whom seek ye?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus saith unto them, "I am He." At His word they go backward, and fall to the ground. They cannot touch Him till He allows it. He could easily have made His escape, but He was not come for that. It was God's time for Him to yield Himself, so He says again, "Whom seek ye?" and again they answer, "Jesus of Nazareth." He answered them, "I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way." His word in Chapter 18:8 had to be fulfilled. He is the good shepherd giving His life for the sheep, yet protecting them. It is His voluntary offering up of Himself, we see he-e, according to the Father's will.

Verses 10, 11. Simon Peter used his sword, and cut off the high priest's servant's ear. But the Lord tells him to put up his sword into its sheath, and take the place of obedience and submission to the Father's will, saying, "The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall 1 not drink it?"

Verses 12-28. They took Him, and bound Him, and led Him away to the high priest's house. Peter and another disciple followed in. The damsel who kept the door asked Peter if he was a disciple of Jesus, but he denied it, saying, "I am not." The high priest asked Jesus of His doctrine, but He answered him, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou Me? ask them which heard Me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I have said." He does not recognize the high priest's authority at all, and when one of the officers struck Him on the face, He said with quiet forcible dignity, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me?"

Then He is sent to Caiaphas, the man who had prophesied that one man should die for the nation. (11:49-52.)

Peter goes on denying Him till the cock crew. What a witness to what the flesh is, even in a believer.

At last they bring Him to Pilate's judgment seat. It was early in the morning, but they would not go in lest they should be defiled, and thus not able to eat the passover. Their consciences allowed them to have murder in them, but zeal for religious ordinances at the same time. How terribly corrupt is fallen human nature.

Verses 29-40. Pilate would rather that they should dispose of the case without him, but they would not, so he needs to take the matter up. The Lord owns his authority, answers his questions, explains to him about His kingdom being not of this world, and Pilate is quite convinced that Jesus is an innocent man, and wants to release Him, but they resist, and resolutely and decidedly choose to let the robber Barabbas go free instead of Christ. Barabbas means, son of the father, but the devil was his father, and the true Son of God the Father, in heaven, is condemned on earth to die.

Scripture Study: Colossians 1

We will see the object for which this Epistle was written as we look into it.

Verses 1, 2. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus, our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is important to notice that all God's redeemed ones are called saints, or holy and faithful brethren, because they are truly believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace they can enjoy from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, for they are children of God. Our behavior in our lives, flows from our conscious knowledge that we are His.

Verses 3-6. The apostle gives thanks for them. He heard of their faith in Christ Jesus, and of their love to all the saints, and of the hope laid up for them in heaven, which they had heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. This characterizes believers; faith, love, and hope are qualities of the life they have in Christ (see 1 Thess. 1:3), and bring forth fruit in those who have received and known the grace of God in truth.

Verses 7, 8. Epaphras, a dear fellow-servant, and a faithful minister, or servant of Christ for them, had been used for their blessing, and he told the apostle of their love in the Spirit, and how they prayed together (chapter 4:12) about their state, which led the apostle under God to write this letter, which the Lord foresaw would be needed down through all the ages, till Christ comes to take home all His people.

Verses 9-14. He desired for them that they might be filled with the full knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so as to walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing by the true knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to His power in glory; unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

In this Epistle we see the Lord risen and glorified, sitting at the right hand of God. So that the life we have in Him is resurrection life, and we are one with Him. We are to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, and we can only do this by being strengthened with all might according to His power in glory. We draw our strength from Him. He is the fountain of a life on high which flows in us now on earth; we are to keep our eyes on Him. We find too that we are in the path that He walked in, a path of trial and difficulty where we need to exercise patience and longsuffering, yet with joyfulness.

When the Lord Jesus walked through this world as a dependent man, He was sustained by communion with the Father (John 6:57); so with us now, we need to be sustained by Him strengthened with all might according to His power in glory, for the path of trial and faithfulness for God on earth. It is strength to endure suffering. It is the character of the life of Christ in this world. We lay aside our own will in the world, to bear with others, and yet enjoy happy fellowship with God.

We give thanks to the Father who has already made us fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light. Our relationship is established with the Father. We are not yet with Him there, but in spirit taste the bliss that belongs to it.

“In spirit there already; soon we ourselves shall be in soul and body perfect, All glorified with Thee.”

Thus we see, the state of the soul; the character of the walk; and the strength to carry it out, and fitness for our place with the saints in light. We are delivered from the power of darkness, and are translated into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. In no other place is it thus written. (The Kingdom of the Son of Man is His manifestation when He comes in glory and in government).

It is what expresses to us our position in grace now, as loved with the love wherewith the Father loves the Son. And wondrous grace it is that has given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of His love now. How perfect and precious is this favor of God! It is what is needed to keep our souls now away from the bondage of fleshly religion, and reasonings of the mind of the flesh. There is to be occupation with Him in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. It is the knowledge of Him that keeps our hearts.

Verses 15-17. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Adam was the figure of this, and was set in dominion as the center, but the Lord is the Firstborn. This does not mean the first one that was born, it means the highest, it means that the Lord, when He took part in what He created, must necessarily be the Highest of it all. He was God, and became man, and was, and is the image of the invisible God, and set over all creation-the Highest. He is the Head. He created it. It is the Son who creates.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”

He declared all that God is (John 1:18; 1 John 1:2). This is His personal glory, all else radiates, from it. Being God Himself, He fills all things perfectly and declares all that God is. The Son, the Word, is the creator God, and by Him all things consist, upholding all things by the word of His power, the effulgence of His glory, and the expression of His substance (Heb. 1:3 N. T.). Yet He took manhood, perfect sinless manhood, and in it tasted death by the grace of God. Death had no claim upon Him, yet that was before Him in coming into this world.

It was part of God's counsels seen in type in Gen. 1 That He should have dominion, His bride with Him, and for this He had to make atonement, passed through death, into glory, as a victorious man over sin and death and Satan's power. He is the Redeemer as well as the Creator, and now in resurrection we have more of His glory unfolded.

Verses 18-20. "And He is the Head of the body, the Assembly; Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence." He, the risen glorified Man, is Head of His body the Assembly, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14). Atonement is completed, God is glorified, every claim of the throne is settled. He is the victorious Man now crowned with glory and honor. And He will have His companions with Him in that same glory, before He claims the kingdom as His own. The work is complete, He is seated on the Father's throne, the highest place is His. He is waiting now in patience, and we are waiting with Him (2 Thess. 3:5 N.T.).

His headship over creation was His divine right.

His headship of the Assembly was gained by His work and victory over the enemy's power as a man.

His place now in glory proclaims God glorified, and the enemy vanquished, and we are now, as believers, one with Him as the glorified Man our Head in Heaven.

The Man Christ Jesus, God manifest in flesh, is our Savior, Lord and Head. We know the Father revealed in Him, and the Holy Spirit in all His fullness was and is in Him. As the One Who finished the work of atonement, He also received the Holy Spirit for us (Acts 2:33). God Himself in all His fullness was revealed in the person of Christ. All the fullness was pleased to dwell in Him (Verse 19 and chapter 2:9).

He has fully declared that God is light and love, and this has given us title to be with Him; for creation, and those who were to compose the Assembly were alike far from God. We were alienated in our minds by wicked works. Our wills were antagonistic to God, and we thus needed reconciliation. This was done by the Lord's death, He made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven. And these things will be yet reconciled perfectly in the new heavens and the new earth. The ground work is laid in His finished work (John 1:29).

Verses 21, 22. But Christians, "You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet how hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:”

We are to see how His blessed work has glorified God, and given us the consciousness that nothing now stands against us in the sight of God, and God has there shown His love, and thus our hearts are captured in chains of love by the death of God's Son. What wondrous ways of love! What grace to make us holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight.

Verse 23 alludes to the tendency seen in some to get occupied with keeping days and ordinances, or of allowing vain superstitions or philosophies to get into their minds. He therefore dwells much on our union with Christ, the living Head in glory. The grace proclaimed in the gospel has now gone beyond the Jews, to every creature, taking in mankind wherever found.

Verse 24. The apostle was its minister, he was also minister of the Assembly according to God's dispensation. And for this he had to suffer in the path of rejection with Christ, and in His body go through what was necessary of the afflictions of Christ in His flesh, to make the truth plain to them. Paul in this way suffered with the gospel (2 Tim. 1:8). Christ alone suffered in atonement. Paul suffered in his path as a servant in his ministry, and will share the glory with Him, and those he preached to (2 Tim. 2:10).

Verses 25-29 are to tell us that the subjects of Scripture were completed by his ministry. The truth of the Church or Assembly of God is the last; others wrote after him, but no new subject was told out. This that was committed to him, was the mystery that the Assembly and Christ are one. This was never known before it was given to Paul: it was hid in God from ages and generations, but is now made manifest to the believers of the present time, to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Wondrous truth! Christ dwelling in the hearts of men who once had no hope, and were without God in the world, and are now made one with Him on high. And Paul preached Christ, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom: that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. All his labor in subjection to the Lord, and by the power of the Lord working in him mightily, was to this end.

Scripture Study: John 17

OH 17{Verses 1-3. He now addresses the Father, and His disciples are privileged to hear what He says. Lifting His eyes from His loved disciples, and directing His gaze to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee." He speaks anticipatively, on the ground that all is completed. He had glorified the Father in all His life of obedience, and in His obedience unto death; and now victorious over death and the grave, He awaits the glory with the Father that belongs to Him, that He may glorify the Father in what He will do for those the Father had given Him. "As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him." Power over all flesh is not displayed here as Messiah subduing the nations, (Psa. 2:8, 9.) but as the heavenly One, giving His disciples eternal life. "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." It is not now the Almighty, as Abraham knew God; nor Jehovah, as revealed to Israel. It is the knowledge of the Father and the Son; the Son revealing the Father, and thus bringing those who received Him, into fellowship with the Father and the Son. (1 John 1:3, 4.)

Verses 4, 5. "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me, with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." He had completed all that was needed for the glory of the Father, and to bring His own into blessing, in association with Himself. He was ever the Son in the Father's bosom, a divine person, but here He is speaking as one who as sent of the Father, a man on earth, and could now claim as one who had won it by His work, as well as being the eternal Son, the place He had with the Father before the world was. Though His by right, He still says "glorify Thou Me," and takes His place there as given by the Father, a man in glory, and that we might be there also. Thus we have in these verses His position defined.

Verses 6-8. Now He speaks of His disciples. "I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me: and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me." They were given by the Father to the Son, and He had told them all about the Father, and so they knew the Father, and were brought into the children's place. They believed it all, though as yet they had not intelligently entered into it, as they could afterward, when the Holy Spirit had come. The Lord here recognizes them according to His appreciation of their faith as He knew it, and not by their intelligent entering into it; as He said to Philip, (14:7.) "From henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him." He saw this in them, they had acknowledged that He came forth from the Father with the Father's authority, sent by the Father. This is the position He gives them.

Verses 9-13. This is contrast with Psa. 2:8, 9-the Messiah's portion. He, as rejected, has postponed Israel's blessing, and now it is the heavenly saints, or family of God, the Father. "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine, and all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them." Wonderful place of love they are put into, and He prays for them because "They are Thine," and because they were to glorify Him when He was on high. Therefore He prays, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are. While 1 was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition: that the scriptures might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves." He commits them to the Holy Father's care to be kept in His name, because of His affection for them, and because the Son's glory was to be seen in, and heard from them, so that they were doubly dear to the Father and to the Son. Their interests could not be separated-one in mind and purpose in everything. They were to be kept according to the Father's love, and according to the holiness of His nature. Christ had kept them in that name when with them down here, and so He can say, "Holy Father, keep them in Thy name which Thou hast given Me." It was this He had lived in, on earth Himself, and He prays that they may also glorify the Father's name, that they may be one as we are. One in mind, thoughts, acts, and will, as Christ and the Father were one. This could only be by the Holy Spirit's power in, and with, the life they had received, though the Spirit is not mentioned here, giving them in their whole moral existence, one object and aim. This was His thoughts for them, their carrying it out must be by strength, His strength perfected in their weakness, carried along by the Spirit's power. While He was with them in the world He kept them in the Father's name, and none of them were lost but the son of perdition that the scriptures might be fulfilled. He spoke these things in their hearing while still in the world, that they might have His joy fulfilled in themselves. Wonderful grace to have such a position! and to lose sight of Him for a little was only to know Him and the Father in deeper and more intimate communion than ever, as sons with Him in the enjoyment of the love He had imparted to them. It is something for us also. (1 John 1:1-4.)

Verses 14-19. Here He speaks of their relationship with the world. "I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." This word committed to them, divided between them and the world. They were not of it aid their witness condemned the world, and the world hated them accordingly, yet they were sent into the world as the Father had sent Christ into the world. Now the measure and character of their separation from it, was Christ in glory. For their sakes, I sanctify Myself, (set Myself apart, that is, at the Father's right hand) that they also might be sanctified (or set apart) through the truth. Christ is therefore the measure of their and our separation from the world. He is our object in glory. They were to witness of Him, Thy WORD is truth, and all that is of the world is opposition to the Father. (1 John 2:15.)

Verses 20, 21. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." This is the oneness of communion with the Father and the Son and with one another (compare 1 John 1:3, 4, the blessing ministered by the apostles to all believers) but how little our souls enter into it is alas! very manifest.

Verses 22, 23. "And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me." This oneness cannot fail, for it is in the glory, the sure ending of every true believer, and notice that in each of these three unities seen, it is in the world, (verses 11, 21, 23.) and the world will know when they see the saints manifested in glory with the Son, that the Father has sent Him, "and has loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." The proof is before the world's eyes then, when He comes to reign.

Verse 24. "Father I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world." In this case it is a heavenly scene. He desires their presence with Him in glory. And that they might behold the glory the Father gave Him in answer to all the sorrows and trials He had passed through on earth, for God's glory and for them. He acquired it by His obedience and suffering, yet He had a rightful claim to it in His person, and He desires that we behold it, share the delight of the Father also, in the One He loved before the foundation of the world. He wants us to be where He is, and that we should enjoy what He enjoys, and the Father's delight in Him, the glorified Man.

Verses 25, 26. "O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but T have known Thee, and these have known that Thou halt sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou host loved Me may be in them and I in them." The righteous Father exalts His Son to His right hand, and by it the world is condemned. (Compare 16:10). The world did not know the Father, had no eyes to behold Him declared in the Son. The Son knew Him, and the disciples knew Him, and to them, when on earth, the Father's name was declared and known; and again, when He had gone on high, the Holy Spirit came declaring the Father's name, that the love wherewith the Father loved the Son, might be in them in full assurance, and enjoyment, and He the Son in them also. O, that our hearts were more alive to this wonderful love of the Father and the Son!

Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 1

2Co 1The second letter to the Corinthians is a sequel to the first. The state of the Corinthian saints had caused the apostle much sorrow and exercise of heart. He had also passed through great trial at Ephesus, so that he had despaired of life, and now he writes with a heart full of thankfulness, and seeks to encourage them and to confirm them in their judgment of their evil ways, and also to show them, when the evil is judged by the offender, how to restore him. In a loving way he seeks to lead them on in love to each other, and in faithfulness to the Lord.

Verse 1. He addresses not only the assembly at Corinth, but also all the saints which are in all Achaia, which shows us that their state at Corinth was generally known, and that their behavior would have a far reaching influence on others for bad, if their sin had not been judged; and also for good, if they pursued the path, of faithfulness to the Holy Name to which they were gathered. He again asserts his apostleship, for some had thrown doubt upon it (Chapter 12:12, 13). He associates Timothy with himself as a servant of Christ, as one who cared for them with genuine feeling.

Verse 2. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ," is his earnest salutation and desire for them.

Verses 3, 4. His heart overflows with worship, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies (compassions), and the God of all comfort (encouragement); who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Verses 5-7. "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, and whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the endurance of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation, and our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation.”

That is simple and precious. God balances things for us: the more suffering for Christ, the greater encouragement He gives.

Verses 8-11 tell how deep his trial was, and how great his consolation, and how the God who raiseth the dead, was made known to his soul in the trial as He "who delivered him from so great a death, and doth deliver: and will yet we trust deliver;" and in verses 13, 14 he associates the prayers of the saints with this gift of deliverance, and gives them also a share in the thanksgivings on his behalf.

Verses. 12-14. He could boast in this, that his conscience was clear, that in simplicity and godly sincerity (not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God), he had walked before the world, and more abundantly toward them, teaching them what he had ever taught, and what they had acknowledged was the truth and he hoped that they would ever acknowledge it to be the truth even to the end.

They had acknowledged that he brought the truth to them, and he had rejoiced in them also, and in the day of the Lord Jesus, when with Christ in glory, they would still be his rejoicing.

Verses 15-17. It was for their benefit he had spoken of coming to them on his way to and from Macedonia, and when he changed his purpose, it was not the lightness or changeableness of the flesh, he was still thinking of their blessing (see verse 23).

Verses 18-20. "As God is true (faithful), our word toward you was not yea and nay." Here the apostle digresses from his subject to show us the One who makes all the promises of God good to us. It was Christ that he and Silvanus and Timotheus preached. He was not yea and nay, "but in Him was yea, for all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

We bless Thee, O Thou great Amen!

Jehovah's pledge to sinful men,

Confirming all His Word!

Doubtful no promises remain

For all are Yea, and all Amen,

In Thee, the faithful Lord.

How great the grace of God to bless

By Thee, the Lord, our righteousness!

By Thee, we say again:

For to us all things are made sure,

Through life, in death, and evermore,

By Thee, the great Amen.

Gladly His promises we hear,

For God's "Amen" dispels all fear,

His faithfulness it proves:

And while such grace from God is shown.

To His Amen we add our own;

For our Amen He loves.

God does not change nor His Word,-all the promises are made good in Christ Jesus the Son of God; He fulfills them all. In Him is the Yea, and in Him the Amen, unto the glory of God by us,-life, glory, righteousness, pardon, the gift of the Spirit, all is in Him, it is in Him that all is true-Yea and Amen; believers are the objects of these counsels of God; they are to the glory of God by us.

Verses 21, 22. We are in Christ, but not according to the changing will of man, or his transitory and changeable works or feelings. "He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us with you, is God" Himself, the accomplishment of all depends on Him. Under the law, or under conditions, the fulfillment of which depended on the stability of man, the effect of the promise was never attained. Man could not attain it by his righteousness, his state was unable to accomplish it,-all is made good in Christ alone. "To the glory of God by us." We are firmly established in Christ, in whom all the promises subsist, so that we securely possess in Him all that is promised us, but not as something that we have attained to ourselves.

God has anointed us, also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

It is by the Spirit that we understand the deep things of God which are freely given to us (1 Cor. 2:10-12).

By His Spirit we are sealed marked out as God's children, and the Spirit of God is also the earnest in our hearts, of that which we shall fully possess hereafter in Christ.

By Him we understand; by Him we are marked out as God's possession, by Him we enjoy what God has given to us, and look forward to the possession of the inheritance of all that glory which we shall have with Christ.

Verses 23, 24, tell us why the apostle did not come to Corinth,-it was to spare them; he would not come with a rod, but in love, and in the spirit of meekness (1 Cor. 4:21). He would not rule over them, but be fellow-work-men of their joy; as he was to the Thessalonians (see 1 Thess. 2:7, 11) a gentle nurse, and a loving, faithful father, remembering that each of us stands by faith. God's sheep are to be fed and led, and not driven.

Scripture Study: Acts 23

ACT 23Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said:

“Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." If any, and it is certainly not many, who could truly say that. His sin against God and Christ, and His people, had been done as service for God. Jesus Himself had spoken of this in John 16:2. Paul afterward tells it of others as mistaken zeal, not according to knowledge. (Rom. 10:2, 3)

This hypocritical high priest who could only judge by himself, commanded them that stood by to "smite him on the mouth". The warmth of the flesh in Paul is stirred by such gross injustice, and he replied to him, "God shall smite thee, thou whited wall (Matt. 23:27); for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?”

Some standing by, said, "Revilest thou God's high priest?'' Paul answered, "I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of Thy people.”

Grace had taught the blessed apostle to judge the risings of the flesh at their first appearance, and to allow the Word of God to judge him.

We also should learn this of him, but more from our blessed Lord, that no injustice of man's could lead Him out of the way. (John 18: 19-23.)

Still Paul is not bearing testimony for Christ here, as one walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, but rather engages the adversaries with their own opposite thoughts, and takes his place as a Pharisee of the class called Pharisees, and says of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. This is Jewish testimony. Christianity goes farther, and would speak of resurrection from among the dead.

It was an apple of discord he threw down for his enemies to fight over, for the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither is there any angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both, so the multitude was divided, and they strove with each other. The scribes of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God." The dissension became so great, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

And still the blessed Lord was watching over His servant, and the night following He came to Paul, and stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

What precious grace of the Lord this is to His servant. He does not speak of any failures, but of his faith. Paul hears he is going to Rome, not as an apostle, but as a prisoner, to testify of the Lord Jesus, the rejected, crucified, now risen and glorified One; and nothing the enemy can do, and nothing that Paul can do or say, will hinder the Lord from carrying out His purposes of grace.

We shall see the way in which it is done-not the direct leading of the Spirit, but God, providentially, working out His will. A conspiracy of over forty Jews is formed, and they bound themselves together under a great curse with an oath that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. They told the chief priests, and elders, and they did not reprove their sin, but fell in with their plan to ask the chief captain to bring Paul down into the council, as if they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly, so that they might assassinate him on the way.

But Paul's sister's son, of whom we now hear for the first time, heard of it, and went into the castle and told Paul. Paul called a centurion, and said, "Bring this young Man unto the chief captain; for he has something to tell him." The chief captain took him by the hand, and led him aside, and listened to the story of the conspiracy, and added, "Do not thou yield unto them; * * * and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.”

The captain, who now seems to be favoring Paul, and placing himself in a better attitude, making up for his first mistake, said to Paul's nephew, "See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me." Then he called two centurions, and ordered them to prepare a strong escort to take Paul to Cesarea. Two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, to start at the third hour of the night, to bring Paul safely to Felix, the governor. Then he wrote a letter (26th to 30th verses), in which he makes himself safe, representing things falsely to do it.

Still the Lord uses all to take Paul on his way to Rome, and to bring his testimony of the Lord Jesus before men. The governor read the letter, and commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall, till his accusers should come from Jerusalem to accuse him, as the captain had ordered them to do. (Ver. 30.)

What comfort Paul, the prisoner, would have in the words of Verse 11, "Be of good cheer, Paul", words spoken to him by the Lord Himself, to cheer him during all the way.

Scripture Study: Matthew 26:1-30

Matthew 26.AT 26{

Verse 1. As the great prophet, foretold by Moses (Deut. 18:15-19), the Lord has now finished His discourses. We enter now on the last circumstances of His life, and that led on to His death. He knows what is before Him, and said to His disciples: Verse 2. "Ye know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified." No excitement appears, but the calm, quiet spirit of one doing the Father's will.

Verses 3-5. It was decided by Israel's leaders to put Him to death, and the high priest's palace is their meeting place. They mean to murder the Son of God. It is their intention to do it with subtlety, and not on the feast day, for they feared the people. But that was the very day decreed of God. The Lord has announced it to His disciples. Man's wickedness is seen, but God overrules; it was the will of God that Jesus should suffer at that very time.

Verses 6-13. What a comfort to the Lord's spirit the act of this woman must have been. It is at Bethany-the house of dates-in the house of Simon the leper. There she pours the precious ointment on His head; there she anoints His body for its burial. Did she not discern the storm clouds gathering over His head? Did she not see the looks, and hear the words of spite and hatred uttered against Him? And did she not hear His own words, "The Son of man is delivered to be crucified"? One soul at least is feeling sympathy with Him.

But the disciples, seeing it, had indignation; first Judas Iscariot ( John 12:4), then the disciples join in saying, "To what purpose is this waste? for this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor." The world and worldly-minded Christians count waste what is expended on Jesus only; and good men fall under the influence of one altogether bad. Man's good is man's highest object. Christ is the Father's object of delight; the world has self in some form as its object. Judas Iscariot posed as a philanthropist, but he was actually a thief, a covetous man, yet the disciples fell in with his thoughts; they were earthly-minded.

King David appreciated the devoted love of those three men (2 Sam. 23:13-17) who risked their lives to fetch him the drink of water he longed for, but he would not drink it; it was so precious in his sight, he poured it out before the Lord. How much more precious is this woman's act to the Lord! He is her anointed King, although rejected by men. He defends her and rebukes them, "Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon Me. For ye have the poor always with you, but Me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial. Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." What a cheer to her this was. The Lord knew her love for Him, and appreciated it; gave her His "well done," and rebuked the faultfinders. He declared it a good work, let others say what they please. The sense of His approval, "I know thy works" (Rev. 3:8), may be ours, should be ours, also.

She was thinking of His sufferings and of His death. She was in communion with Him, and this was a special time that they did not notice. It is good to help the poor, but to confess the Lord, to be with Him in the time of His rejection, is a privilege we will not have in heaven. She was ahead of all the rest. Joseph of Arimathea, Cornelius, and the other women, all showed their love and did their part, but this woman anticipated His death, and her Lord understood her. What matters then the frown of the world or of men, since He is pleased and refreshed?

And what honorable mention is given this deed? "Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." How well worth repeating this story is! It is not doing good to man, nor is it quantity of work. It is what is done for and in communion with Christ that gains His "well done." It needs no gift; it is not too high for a child to reach. We can refresh His heart, but it commences with sitting at His feet; it is the outcome of being in His company and of hearing His words. May our souls know more of this.

Verses 14-16. Judas Iscariot's covetousness now leads him to offer his services in the work of Satan, and these so-called leaders of Israel accept his services, and the Lord of glory is sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a common slave. From that time Judas watches his opportunity to deliver Him up. The love of money is a root from which every evil springs. No teaching of Jesus entered his heart to hinder his downward course. It had been good for that man if he had not been born. How great his privileges! How terrible his judgment!

Verses 17-25. The first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples ask Him, "Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the passover? And He said, Go into the city to such a man and say unto him, The Master saith My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with My disciples." Here was another He counted on to own His claim. In Mark and Luke it is a man bearing a pitcher of water (the figure of the word for his path) that guides them to the place. There they made ready the passover. "When the evening was come, He sat down with the twelve, and as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me. And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and began everyone of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I? And He answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me. The Son of Man goeth as it is written of Him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed Him, answered and said, Master is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”

What an appeal and warning to Judas this is! The Lord knows his hypocrisy, but he is given up to Satan (John 13:2, 27). And after the sop Satan enters into him to carry out his foul purpose.

Verse 26. "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament (covenant), which was shed for many for the remission of sins.”

This is the memorial supper of the true pass-over, for Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7). It is a Savior who died for us that is to be remembered. It is not the remembrance of Israel brought out of Egyptian bondage, but of the Lord, the true Lamb of God, whose blood was shed for many for the remission of sins-the blood on which the new covenant with Israel will be founded. "Shed for many" tells of others besides Israel, and takes us in, though by nature Gentile dogs. It was not like the blood of Ex. 24, to ratify their promise of obedience. It was because they were sinners, and was for the remission of sins. In Luke it is added, "Was shed for you." (Luke 22:20.)

In the supper, we remember the Lord in His death; the bread and wine, His body and His blood are separate, bringing Him before us in death. He is now glorified at the Father's right hand. They are to expect to be with Him there, for He says, "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new (in a new way) with you in My Father's Kingdom." And having sung an hymn, they went out, into the Mount of Olives. Does this not bear witness that the joys of redemption rise over all the sorrows and trials of this present life?

(To be Continued.)

Scripture Study: Acts 26

ACT 26Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "Thou art permitted to speak for thyself." Paul answers with perfect freedom and dignity, and as one now in communion with God. He tells the story of his life and conversion from Judaism to Christ; his zeal for the law, and as a Pharisee, and the promise of God of One to come, and be raised from the dead.

“Why should it be a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" Here he connects the teachings of Christ, with the hopes of the Jews.

He had thought that he ought to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and this he did with all the energy of his character as a devout Jew, giving his voice against them, to put the disciples of Jesus to death, and compelling them to blaspheme that dear name by which they were called. And being exceedingly mad against them, persecuted them, even unto strange cities. It was while in this occupation that the Lord met him on the way to Damascus with authority and commission by the chief priests.

Verse 13. "At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, `Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?' And I said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest; but rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee: delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.' Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having, therefore, obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”

Thus he showed his change, and his path had been marked out by the Lord Himself. He was called to tell of the glory he had seen, and to give evidence that Jesus was in the glory, and that his commission came from Jesus in that glory, who called him in separation from both Jews and Gentiles, to send him to them with His message, that, if received, would change their position; also, would open their eyes, and bring them out of darkness into light, from the power of Satan unto God, giving them an inheritance among the sanctified. This simple history put the case of Paul, and the conduct of the Jews, in the clearest light.

To Festus, this was but an excitement of the mind, and he says, "Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness; for the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely, for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner." Then he appeals to King Agrippa with such dignity and assurance of his knowledge of the facts of the ease, that the king does not say, It is not true, but rather turns the appeal into lightness, to hide his own feelings, but his heart was unchanged, and so he says, as it were, "You'll soon be making a Christian of me.”

How blessedly the apostle has recovered his spiritual state! We see in him here a heart filled with the Spirit, and the love of God. His imprisonment for two years has wrought good in his soul; has set him free from Jewish connections, and brought him into the mind of God. His answer to Agrippa shows it. He said, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." What happiness and love are told out in these words! A prisoner, but how rich in his spirit, his heart filled with compassion for his judges, and well he might be happy, for he knew his possessions were in Christ, and all things in Him. He was now serving the Lord, and witnessing for Him in the power and liberty of an ungrieved Spirit.

His judges heard and considered his case. "This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds." "This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar." But the Lord had spoken to His servant (Chap. 23:11), "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." So to Rome he must go, and if sent there unjustly, yet the Lord is with him every step of the way. And all the discipline he passes through, is measured by the One who loved him, and bought him with His blood, and called him by His grace to this path of testimony and suffering. Paul realized it when he wrote: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the Church." Col. 1:24. Devoted servant he was, but compelled by grace into his path. At the same time, if we compare him with the Lord, blessed as he is, he grows dim, and is eclipsed before Christ, so that we could no longer think of Paul, but of Him who was perfect, the perfect subject of the testimony itself.

Scripture Study: Mark 8

AR 8{Verses 1-9. Here the goodness of God comes out in His care over those who have been already three days with Him. Jesus had compassion on the multitude because they had nothing to eat, and if He sent them away fasting, to their own houses, they would faint by the way, for divers of them came from far. His disciples, invited to share His thoughts, can only express their helplessness, and say, "From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?" Is this helplessness from unbelief? But Jesus acts in divine goodness, "How many loaves have ye?" And they said, "Seven." He commanded them to sit down on the ground, and He took the seven loaves and gave thanks and brake, and gave to His disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and He blessed and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and He sent them away.

God's riches are unsearchable; He has abundance and something over. Though here rejected as Messiah, He acts in goodness toward His needy people. His disciples could not enter into His thoughts of compassion.

Verses 10-13. Here in Dalmanutha, the Pharisees question Him, seeking a sign from heaven. He sighs deeply in His spirit, and saith, “Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, there shall no sign be given unto this generation." No signs can satisfy unbelief. They had seen plenty, and signs from heaven are signs of judgment, as before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. His signs were signs of grace, and He had given abundance of them; so He left them, and entering into the ship again, departed to the other side. Now Israel's leaders were blinded. There were no proofs given to unbelief; He offered none. His patient love had waited on them till there was no hope. (Deut. 32:5.)

Verses 14-26. The condition of the disciples is seen here in how little they understand what is before the Lord's mind. He would warn them of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and of the worldliness of the Herodians; but though twice they had full proof of His ability to feed the thousands, they think He is speaking of their not having bread with them. They lacked spiritual perception. And this is further illustrated by the blind man at Bethsaida whom they brought to Him. Their blindness was natural, and the slowness to get their eyes open, told of how their former habits and teaching hindered them from seeing light in His light.

The Lord takes the blind man by the hand and leads him out of the town; and then He spit on his eyes and put His hands upon him, and asked if he saw ought. And he looked up and said, "I see men as trees walking." After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored and saw every man clearly. When the Holy Ghost came, and they lost sight of men, then indeed they saw clearly. Then they could enter more into His glories. And He sent him away to his house, saying: "Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town." The time for testimony to Israel was at an end. He would avoid the curiosity of the crowd, that at the best only hindered the soul work.

Verses 27-38. "Whom do men say that I am?" It is men and their opinions: John the Baptist; some say, Elias; some, one of the prophets. "But whom do ye say that I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ." And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him. The Jews had not received Him, and now He announces that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He spake that saying openly. This was the great mystery of a better blessing, a better life, a new thing, that God was to bring in, by man's rejection of Himself.

It would condemn man's religion and all his works. Peter did not like it; the cross goes against the natural heart, it would be the loss of influence among the people, and in his fleshly wisdom he began to rebuke the Lord. He did not consider Christ's glory as Son of man, a higher and wider glory, to be obtained only through death and resurrection. A rejected, suffering Son of man did not suit Peter. The Lord, turned, looked on His disciples and rebuked Peter, saying, "Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." Man and God were at issue: and the Lord must make plain the solemn condition in which men were; so, calling the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me ank of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

What a view of the glory, and the Lord coming in glory, we have here suddenly opened up to us, and how solemn to be found a Christ-rejecter in that day!

Scripture Study: Matthew 24:1-20

AT 24{Verses 1, 2. The Lord Jesus went out, and departed from the temple. He had already pronounced its judgment, but now He carries it out, a solemn act, the house is left desolate; the disciples do not enter into this, but want to show Him its grandeur. The Lord announces that even that shall be utterly destroyed.

Verse 3. As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world (or age)?”

In Luke 21 The Lord leads them on to what follows till Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus. In this chapter, it is told in words that apply to the future period, after the Church is caught up to be with the Lord. The disciples are looked at as the godly remnant of Israel, spoken of in the Psalms and Prophets, that will be waiting for Christ as Son of David to reign over Israel's kingdom.

Verses 4, 5. They were to take heed of men who would come as deceivers, saying, "I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Those who know that Christ is at the right hand of God in heavenly glory, could not be deceived in that way. He will meet us on the cloud in the air. (1 Thess. 4:17.)

Verses 6-13. They must expect wars and rumors of wars and yet not be disturbed; such things must be, but the end is not seen in them. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; with famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

All these have happened time after time during the Church period, but we must remember there is no prophecy being fulfilled now.

The true disciples will be greatly tried, afflicted, some killed, and generally hated of all nations for My name's sake. Not only that, but many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another and many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity abounds,)de love of many shall wax cold. But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. The true believer endures to the end, then as now. He may grow cold and appear disheartened, but he cannot deny that Jesus is Lord and Christ. He may feel his own weakness and be sadly troubled, but God is faithful to carry him through.

The enduring to the end, here is during the time when all Satan's power is exerted to get the godly Jews to deny Jesus as the Christ. The end is when He appears, and they are saved into the millennial reign of Christ as His subjects on earth.

Some are put to death during the beginning of sorrows, for "the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus." And some during the great tribulation, because they refuse the mark of the beast and will not worship his image. They are distinguished in Rev. 20:4. (N. T.)

Verse 14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. This is not the gospel that is preached now. It is not the gospel of the grace of God to all alike, Jew and Gentile, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel of the kingdom tells of the King coming to establish His dominion, and says, "Kiss ye the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His anger is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that trust in Him." (Psa. 2:12.) It is this gospel that is to be preached to the nations. It demands their subjection.

(Psa. 110:2, 5.) It is a witness to all nations, that the Great King is about to claim His rights.

Verses 15-20. But Satan now brings his masterpiece out. In Rev. 12 he is cast out of heaven; in Rev. 13 you have the satanic trinity-the beast, the antichrist or false prophet, and the dragon. The beast, by Satan's power, sets himself up to be worshiped as the only God. He is the Head of the Roman Empire. The antichrist, king of the Jews, made a covenant that all the Jews were to be allowed to worship in the temple, but now, and suddenly it is declared that every one must worship the beast, whose image is set up in the holy place: this is the abomination spoken of by Daniel the prophet (9:27, whoso readeth let him understand), i. e., take particular notice, it is a warning, "Flee to the mountains." The covenant was a wrong one; it was made with the powers of darkness, and it could not stand. (Isa. 28:15, 18.) Many of the Jews will worship the beast to save their lives, and will be lost forever. (Rev. 14:11; Rev. 13:4-8, 12-14.) What can the godly do but flee?

(To be continued.)

Scripture Study: Acts 28

ACT 28They had landed on the island of Melita, and God laid it on the hearts of the uncivilized inhabitants to show them kindness, and this they did liberally. They kindled a fire, and received every one of them because of the rain that was falling, and because of the cold.

Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, and a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. The barbarians saw it, and said among themselves, "No doubt, this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet Nemesis, the god of vengeance, suffereth not to live." They watched him for a while, expecting that he would suddenly drop dead, but as nothing unusual happened, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

In the same quarters, Publius, the chief man of the island, had possessions. His father was sick with fever. Paul went in and prayed and laid his hands on him, and healed him. Others also on the island, who had diseases, came and were healed. These honored Paul and his companions with many honors; and when they departed, they loaded them with such things as were necessary.

We are not told of any evangelizing on the journey. After three months, when the winter was gone; a ship lying there took them to Puteoli, where they found brethren, and were asked to tarry with them seven days. This was another green spot in the desert world!

Then they journeyed toward Rome. At Appii forum, and The Three Taverns, the brethren from Rome came to meet them, and this cheered the heart of Paul somewhat. He knew what awaited him in every city, for was he not going to bear testimony to, a rejected Lord, whose prisoner he afterward called himself? The Lord knows how to strengthen and to help His dear servants in the hour of trial.

It was not the time yet for his trial before Augustus Caesar. The testimony of Paul, the prisoner, must go forth; and God prepares the place and the people, and gives Paul exceptional privileges to have his own hired house with a soldier as his guard. After three days he called the chief men among the Jews together, and told them how he had been falsely accused, and that he was wearing the prisoner's chain for the hope of Israel. They were willing to hear of this sect that was everywhere spoken against, so, on the day appointed, many came to him into his lodging, to whom he expounded, and testified the kingdom of God, out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets all the day long. But a suffering, and rejected Messiah was not the kind of king they wanted. So some believed and some believed not. A king that would give them Palestine, and prosperity, and peace on the earth, would suit them, but the Man in the glory, calling out the Church as His body and His bride did not suit them. Things new as well as old, He had to tell them (Matt. 13:52), but they would not hear. It was earth they wanted, not heaven.

Paul therefore, before they left, quoted to them part of Isa. 6, "Well spake Isaias the prophet by the Holy Ghost to our fathers, saying, 'Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.' Be it known therefore, unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it." (See Isa. 6:9, 10; Matt. 13:14, 15.) The long suffering of God is over for the present to the nation of Israel, till the Church is completed. Israel is now not the people of God. Those of them who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now, are brought in on the ground of mercy to all, for He hath con eluded all in unbelief, that He might have mercy on them all. (Rom. 11:32.) Now the gospel goes out freely to the Gentiles.

Having thus declared the truth to them, they departed with great reasonings among themselves. Paul was allowed to go on bearing his testimony for two whole years, yet as a prisoner. The Word of God does not tell us of an apostle ever being sent there. God has no "See"; no ecclesiastical center on earth.

Christianity dates from a glorified, earth rejected Christ in heaven. Here ends the history of the acts of the Holy Ghost through the apostles.

Paul, from the prison, wrote the Epistles-Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon-a rich feast for the soul, taught of God by them.

Scripture Study: Acts 24

ACT 24What a contrast we see between the heartless, lying accusations of the Jews, through the practiced orator, Tertullus, and the manly and honest declarations of one whose ways were a testimony for the Lord, whom he served with a good conscience. He could appeal to the conscience of his judges, and show a spirit above the passions and interests that surrounded him. How different from the selfishness of Lysias and Festus, who set forth their own conduct, as if it was only in pursuance of duty, and regard for justice. The Lord was above it all for Paul, His servant, and made all things work to carry out His purpose.

Every one can see the uprightness of the prisoner, and that all the Jews' enmity of heart and defense was, because the truth was taking away their importance; and their opposition was opposition to God.

But Felix, though he knew better, did not free him, but put off his decision to hear what Lysias would say. He let Paul have some liberty, so that any who wished could visit him unhinderedly.

Afterward, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith of Christ. And Paul reasoned with him of righteousness, of temperance (or self control), and of the judgment to come. Felix trembled, but like some others (see John 8:9), he would not take his place as guilty before God, but said: "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Poor worldly heart! He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener; and communed with him, but there is no record given of his taking thought about his soul's salvation.

After two years, Porcius Festus came into Felix's office; and Felix, willing to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Thus the wrath of man accomplishes the will of God. Little is said in Scripture of those years of bondage. What lessons were in them for Paul! He afterward wrote of himself, "the prisoner of the Lord." What unfoldings of the truth were there given to him as we see in the Epistles! What depth of love was there made known to him; love that passeth knowledge; unsearchable riches of Christ; peace that passeth all understanding. And there, despite his miserable surroundings, joy unspeakable and roll of glory, would fill his soul.

The hatred of the Jews; the injustice or his judges; their selfish egotism was all so plainly seen, but out of it all, good came to the prisoner of the Lord, making him to prove afresh that what he had written was ever true.

“All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Rom. 8:28.

Scripture Study: Mark 7

AR 7{In this chapter the Lord exposes the foolishness of man's heart in putting religious forms and washings before the Word of God, and that men's traditions oppose and make of none effect the Word of God, then He tells what comes out of the hearts of men, and in His miracles we see His own love and goodness unfolded.

Verses 1-5. The Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem came together unto Him, and when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault. The tradition of the elders had added this. It seemed right, and were they not wise men that came to the conclusion that it should be done? So they ask Him, "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?”

Verses 6-13. He answered and said unto them, "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites (He could read their hearts through and through), as it is written, This people honoreth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and man other such like things ye do." Then He gives them a sample of how they set the Word of God aside: He said unto them, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." Such were the Pharisees and the Scribes, and we must not think they are all dead yet, though some of them would be grievously offended if one said they were Pharisees. A Pharisee trusts in himself to work out his own righteousness, and thinks himself far better than a poor sinner, like the publicans. (Luke 18:9.) The Lord calls them hypocrites. What they do religiously seems very nice, but on examination it proves to be dead works, and sets aside the finished work of Christ and the Word of God. Man's religion consists of outward observances. It does not necessarily take a Jewish from or character; it may be thought to be Christianity, but it puts forms and outward show instead of Christ. It is generally called church work; they may be duly baptized members, and take the communion, belong to Christian Endeavors, be Sunday School teachers, or leaders in class meetings, and mingle with those who are truly washed from their sins in the blood of Christ, and yet be only Pharisees, hypocrites, imitation of Christians; and all they do is displeasing to God, for they do not know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. They never realized that they were guilty, lost sinners, needing a Savior. A true Christian is one who has found out that he was a guilty sinner in the sight of God, and who came to Jesus as the One who died on the Cross for his sins. Have you, dear reader, come to Christ yet? Each one of us must begin there.

What greater sin can be committed than to set aside the Word of God and the work of atonement. Hearken to the Word, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Rom. 4:5.) Let not Isa. 29:13 be true of you.

Verse 14-16. He called all the people unto Him, and said, "Hearken unto Me, every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." Man looks at the outward appearance; the Lord looks on the heart. The tradition of the elders let a man off from supporting his parents, if he gave the money to the priests, or for the temple. God held them guilty of setting aside His Word. We cannot improve the World; we must take it, let it judge our ways, and let it lead us in His way. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (nor outward ordinances), but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Rom. 14:17.) God always begins inside.

Verses 17-23. The disciples did not understand what He taught in verses 14 and 15, so asked Him concerning the parable. He gently rebuked their lack of spiritual understanding and explained to them not only the natural course of food, but what was more important and serious-the moral degradation of man: of each one of us by nature. How humbling it is to know that Verses 21, 22 is the state of my heart and your heart by nature. (Prov. 27:19.) Where is my righteousness to come from, since that is my picture? If I compare it with Rom. 3:9-20 I see I can produce none. Blessed be the name of the Lord. He can and has done it. He is my righteousness. (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 15:21.) And here in Rom. 3 we are told this righteousness is unto all (everybody), and upon all that believe. (Rom. 3:21, 22.) And now that we are the Lord's, and cleansed by His blood, we need to remember that that which is born of the flesh is flesh still; it will never improve. And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Thank God, the Holy Spirit also dwells in us, giving us Christ as our object and power to keep the flesh from working; it is not our master now. Our old man is crucified with Christ, and now we are to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:6, 11.) We need to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. The Lord can and will keep us if we remain in dependence on Him. How readily Peter cursed and swore. (Mark 14:71.)

The Galatian saints were warned of the danger of allowing the flesh to work. (Gal. 5:15-26.) See also what is said to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 12:7, 20, 21.) Paul, the apostle, needed a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above measure. Thank God, our eternal salvation He secures for us. ( John 5:24; 10: 28, 29; Phil. 1:6.)

It was because He loved us that He told us of the evil that was in us, and made us feel our need of Him.

Verses 24-31. The Lord went to the borders of Tire and Sidon, that part of Israel's land where Gentiles still lived, and entered into a house, and would have no man know it. He was rejected and felt it. He was a true servant hiding Himself, but He could not be hid, for a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at his feet. She believed He had the power; she believed in His goodness also, and though she was one of Israel's enemies, a Cannanite, "She besought Him that He would cast forth the demon out of her daughter." She must take her true place first; she must own she is only a Gentile dog, an outcast from God. "Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled; for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." She owns it is all grace, she has no claim, but the sense of His goodness that delights to meet the needy one. "And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." She is now under the table, and down come the crumbs to her in abundance. "And He said unto her, For this saying, go thy way: the demon is gone out of thy daughter." And when she was come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. Faith always finds its answer in the heart of God, as untiring in His goodness where need puts in its claim. Hidden from the Jews, the children spoken of here, He is full of grace to the sinner who owns his unworthiness.

Verses 31-37. He goes back to Decapolis again. They bring a man unto Him who cannot hear right, and cannot speak right, and they beseech Him to put His hands on him. He took him aside from the multitude and then looking up to heaven He sighed. The Lord felt the unbelief of Israel, and sighed over their condition, as deaf to hear the voice of their God, and incapable of praising Him. And now the deaf ears are opened, and the string of his tongue is loosed to speak plain. He charged them that they should tell no man; but the more Ile charged them, so much more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying” He hath done all things well lie maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak." He separates Himself from the multitude; this expresses their unbelief. He sighed and looked up to heaven; this tells of His sorrow in sympathy with heaven, while His power in goodness restores the remnant.

And above all the rest this note shall swell, Cur Savior has done all things well.”

Scripture Study: Acts 27

ACT 27Looking over Paul's interesting history, we can see the grace of God in His ways toward His servant. Paul might question himself, and be cast down at the knowledge of his failure to walk in the power of the Spirit. The Lord comes to him to cheer him, and tells him that, as at Jerusalem he had witnessed for Him, so would he do at Rome. (Acts 23:11.)

So that all along the way he might be assured that the Lord was taking him there. All the enemy's efforts, through men, to destroy him, were unavailing. God was making the, wrath of man to praise Him, and to fulfill His purposes, and Paul had to succumb to all the discipline His divine Master and Lord put on him by the way, His grace at the same time fully restoring him to communion with Himself, and making all his sufferings, sufferings for Christ, and clearly showing that the apostle was like his Master in suffering rejection for the truth's sake.

In this part of his history, we find grace makes him superior to all around him in the sense of the Lord's goodness, protecting him and others with him, and truly wonderful to see how like Joseph in the prison all his words come true.

Verse 1. With other prisoners, Paul is given in charge of Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. Luke is there, but it is not said as a prisoner. The Lord makes Julius favorable to Paul, so that when the ship touched at Sidon, he allowed Paul the liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. No doubt, his companions, Aristarchus and Luke, would share this joy of Christian fellowship with him. Another refreshment by the way from the Good Shepherd of the sheep.

Luke gives us a vivid picture of the voyage, and Paul is seen in it, not as a prisoner, but in reality directing and encouraging the whole company. They did not at the start take his advice (Vers. 9-11), but as the storm rages, and all despair of their lives, Paul stood forth, and said, "Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of life of any of you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, saying 'Fear not, Paul; thou 'must be brought before Caesar; and lo, God bath given thee all them that sail with thee.' Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. How be it we must be cast on a certain island.”

In Ver. 31 he prevents the sailors from fleeing out of the ship, and then encourages all to take food (they had had no regular meals for fourteen days), with the promise that their lives would be spared, and it was necessary for their health. Then he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some food.

But the ship was doomed, and their lives were spared as Paul had declared. The soldiers, soldier-like, wanted to kill the prisoners to hinder any of them from escaping; but Julius, the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should first get to land, and the rest, some on boards, and some on anything of the ship that would hold them up. And so it came to pass that they all escaped safe to land.

Scripture Study: Matthew 24:32-51

AT 24{In Luke 21, the Christians were to flee when they saw Jerusalem encompassed with armies. They were warned, and got out in time. Here it is plainly future, as spoken by Daniel the prophet. Sudden and sharp would be the enemy's action; no time to be lost; escape to the mountain from off the roof, without anything. Do not go to the field, for the clothes left there. Woe to those who had to care for their young; how hard for them to escape, or in the winter, when the roads and gullies would be running streams, or on the Sabbath when only allowed to go a short distance, by the law. Here is another mark that it is Jewish (the Sabbath is not mentioned in Luke 21). Some of the Gentiles join in the persecution, others help the persecuted. (Math. 25:40, 45.)

Verses 21, 22. This brings us into the night of the great tribulation (Dan. 12:1; Jer. 30:7), such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The Lord will prepare a place of safety for His people (Rev. 12:6, 14, and will encourage them with His promises. (Rev. 14:12, 13.) Some will suffer much, others will be killed, but the Word will encourage them. A voice from heaven bade John write for them, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." If they lose their lives on earth, they will gain a heavenly place, and their works will follow them there. And then they will rest.

What comfort the suffering saints of that time will find in the Psalms, such as, "My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." (Psa. 31.) The Lord's eye will he upon them, like the refiner of silver, watching till their dross is purged-He will shorten the days for His elect's sake.

Verses 23, 24. False prophets and false Christs arise with great signs and wonders, if possible to deceive the very elect. How easily cheated men are with a show of power, God has warned His people about this. (Deut. 13:1-3.) Satan's works of power are getting very plentiful now, but it will be full blown in that day. (2 Thess. 2:9.) By such means souls are enticed and destroyed, led from the truth of God's Word and ruined for eternity. Those that hearken to God's Word will be kept in His path.

Verses 26, 27. They, being warned of God, and knowing that Jesus is on high, will not look for Him in the desert, or in the secret chamber; they will look for Him coming as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; coming as the Son of man from heaven, appearing in glory.

How blessed this divine certainty is, as we, the Church, know it. We will be caught up to be with Him in the air. This is our blessed hope. (1 Thess. 4:15-17.)

Verse 28. With what unerring precision, and swiftness, the judgment will fall on the ungodly. There is no escape for them then.

Verses 29, 30. Now moral chaos and physical derangements, causing dire perplexity and fear in men's hearts (see Luke 21:25-27), and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Joel 2:30, 31.) And then appears the sign of the Son of man in heaven. He appears, to the great disappointment of all those who looked for an earthly Messiah to arise, who find after all it is the despised Jesus; but what joy to those who believed, and waited for Him to come from heaven. (Isa. 25:9.) Then shall all the tribes of the land mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

In Zech. 12:10-14, grace is at work in giving repentance; here it is but worldly disappointment. The one is faith; the other, unbelief's bitter fruit.

Verse 31. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, from one end of heaven to the other. (Isa. 27:13; Zech. 2:16.) The elect, in this chapter we learn by the context, is Israel. (Isa. 65:9, 22.) There are others who are elect, but the heavenly saints are caught up before this to meet the Lord in the air. There are also elect angels. (1 Tim. 5:21.) The object of this prophecy is to show His coming for the relief and ingathering of Israel. He is King and Judge, and the angels sound the trumpet loudly to gather them.

(Continued from page 188.)

(To be Continued.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 26:31-75

AT 26{Verses 31-35. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night; for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." The smiting and the scattering must be, but He would again be with them when raised from the dead. (John 18:8,9.) Peter knew not his own weakness; means to be faithful, and says, "Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." This natural energy that carried him on made a fall further than the rest, but all forsook Him and fled. All had asserted their faithfulness. "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”

Verses 36-45 present the solemn scene of His interview with His Father about His atoning sufferings on the cross. It was on the cross alone that He was made sin for us. Here He isolates Himself to present to the Father in supplication the sufferings He was about to endure. Peter, James and John go on with Him. He began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, Tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I but as Thou wilt." Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:7, show us how great was His agony.

He comes to His disciples and finds them asleep, and says unto Peter, "What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The flesh profiteth nothing. Satan's power is trying to overwhelm the Lord by this trial that is to be endured, and His holy soul desires to be relieved, but it must be the Father's will. Three times He presents His petition; and then comes to His disciples, saving, `Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the hour at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hand of sinners." The Lord's submission is perfect. Ile was distressed and full of anguish, but His communion with His Father was not interrupted. It was love to His Father and obedience to His will that brought Him there. He takes it from the Father; the cross must be endured, death must be entered into to put away our sins, and to annul him who had the power of death lie knew what this meant in its sting, as the wages of sin, and the curse of God's judgment. If God was to be glorified in Him who had come to undertake this work, and sinners were to be saved, He must drink this terrible cup. No creature could do it, only He who was Jehovah's fellow, God manifest in the flesh.

“Sleep on now, and take your rest." Now, it is all settled; in the purpose of His heart it is done; He will not draw back, but will yield Himself up to His enemies. Man and Satan are the instruments to nail Him to the cross, hut it is the will of God, and He will not look at second causes. What a lesson for us is here!

Verse 46. "Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand that doth betray Me." He is ready to submit Himself to the suffering that awaits Him.

Verses 47-50. Judas comes with the multitude with swords and staves to take Him, the unresisting Lamb, and is betrayed with kisses, the pretense of love. Judas salutes Him, "Hail, Master," and kissed Him caressingly. This son of perdition, slave of Satan, will not be warned. Jesus replies, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" A polished hypocrite, coming as a friend. The only one to own Jesus now was His betrayer.

Verses 51-68. When the Lord was praying in the garden, Peter was sleeping; he could not watch one hour. Now the Lord is yielding Himself up; Peter is fighting. The Lord rebukes him, "Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." It is not the path of those who belong to a suffering and rejected Christ to fight with carnal weapons, and if they do they will reap what they sow. (Gal. 6:7, 8.)

The Lord could, have twelve legions of angels to succor Him, but then how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be. And to the multitude He could say, "Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me." It was the hour now for Him to be taken, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

They led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, who with the scribes and elders were assembled, waiting for the victim.

But Peter followed Him afar off, and went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

They have Him now without any witness of evil against Him. They seek false witness, and many are willing to witness against Him, but they have nothing to say. At last two false witnesses think they have something against Him. It was but the witness of His power in resurrection (John 2:18-22), and declared Him to be the Son of God with power. (Rom. 1:4.) There is nothing to condemn Him by. The Lord is silent before them as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, till the high priest adjures Him by the living God to tell whether He is the Christ, the Son of God. Then He confesses the glory of His person, and declares that henceforth they shall see Him as Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. He will be Judge then. In pretended sanctity, the high priest declares He has spoken blasphemy, and all agree to put Him to death. Their malice breaks forth in insults, and they spit in His face and buffet Him. Others smite Him with the palms of their hands, saying, "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote Thee?" There is no justice for Him; they condemn and insult the One who came in grace to be their Savior, their own Messiah. He bore it all in meekness, and without a murmur. What a solemn moment for them!

Verses 69-75. Peter is now to learn his weakness. His failure is seen; the flesh could not stand; he lies and curses and swears that he did not know Jesus. O, how helpless we are, unless kept in dependence on the Lord for strength. The Lord's word is fulfilled, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.”

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus. It began to work in his conscience; the look of Jesus brought it home to him, and he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61, 62.)

(Continued from page 302.)

Scripture Study: Romans 2; Romans 3:1-20

“Thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance? But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds." It is solemnly important that every one who reads these lines, should think of having to do with God. How can the sinner escape that judgment?

Reader, are you among "those who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life," or are you among those "that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," upon whom comes "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish?" For this will come upon every soul of man that doeth evil, 'of the Jew first, and also of the Greek. But to the believer in Christ-the only one who can have good works,-it will be glory, honor and peace, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, for "there is no respect of persons with God.”

Those who have sinned without law, shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. This is true of all who have died without Christ, except those who have professed Christ's name, yet have not been born again, will have this terrible sin added to all their sins,-that they have not put on the wedding garment. (Matt. 22;12.) These stand in their own self-righteous rags. (Isa. 64:6.) The 'believer has on God's righteousness in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21.)

Verses 13-15 are a parenthesis. A godly Gentile was more to God than an ungodly Jew, though the Jew had greater privileges. So here it is not the hearers, but the doers of the law, that are justified before God. The Gentiles were never put under law before God, yet they have a conscience that tells them it is wrong to lie, murder, steal, etc. The law gives that which is every man's duty to God and to his neighbor, except the fourth commandment, which was given only to Israel, and this shows, not the law, but the work of the law written in their hearts, so that their conscience bears witness, and their thoughts, the meanwhile, keep accusing or excusing one another.

Verse 16. This is not judgment on earth; it is the wrath of God from heaven (1:18), and it will find out the very secrets of the heart when God shall judge men according to Paul's gospel by Jesus Christ, that is, the gospel of the glory, which witnesses to man's sin, and to God 's righteousness.

Verses 17-29. The boasting Jew is next seen, but God looks at the heart, and not at the outward privileges, which if not taken advantage of, and walked in, serve only to condemn. The word "Jew" means "praise", so it is the one who is humbled in heart before God, whose praise is not of men, but of God, that shall not be condemned. The law in which the Jew boasts, condemns him, for he cannot keep it, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

In Chapter 3:1-8 this is proved. The Jews had privileges, especially having had the oracles of God committed to them. God's Word wood ever stand true, though some of them did not believe. God must punish sin, and if not sheltered by the grace of God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness must be maintained in the judgment of sin. On the other hand, those who said, "Let us do evil, that good may come," deserve damnation.

Verses 9-19. He quotes the Psalms and the prophets to show the Jews what the law says to them who are under it, and we see that which is true of these privileged ones, proves that the whole world is guilty before God. What a description is found here of man at his best-all under sin,-none righteous,-none that understandeth,-none that seeketh after God,-all gone out of the way,-together become unprofitable, none that doeth good,-their throat is an open sepulcher,-with their tongues they have used deceit,-the poison of asps is under their lips,-their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness,-their feet are swift to shed blood,-destruction and misery are in their ways,-the way of peace have they not known,-no fear of God before their eyes! All this is true of us by nature, nor can we be any different till the grace of God is received into our hearts, giving us new life, and the forgiveness of sins. How sweeping this is, ALL THE WORLD guilty before God!

Verse 20 adds, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Except we realize God's forgiveness, we must be condemned to eternal woe. Justice must condemn; grace can forgive.

Scripture Study: Acts 25

ACT 25Again we find the efforts of the Jews defeated by God's good providence in Festus refusing to bring Paul to Jerusalem, as they intended to kill him on the way. He ordered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that his accusers should go down there and prove their accusations. When he was come there, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem, laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all.”

Again in Festus we see the injustice in pandering to the Jews, and Paul seeing the injustice, appeals to Caesar, at whose judgment seat he then stood. Festus then conferred with the Council and answered, "Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Unto Caesar shalt thou go." To Rome, therefore he must go, not as an apostle, but as a prisoner. But Paul must also witness, to other great ones of the earth. Festus takes occasion by the visit of King Agrippa and his wife, to bring Paul's case before them, and their curiosity is aroused to hear of this wonderful man, and the superstitions of the Jews and of the teachings of Paul. With the object of having some accusation to lay before Caesar, and to gratify the curiosity of King Agrippa and his wife, they meet with great pomp to give his case a hearing, specifically to find out what crimes were laid against him. Thus he is permitted to testify to his own conversion, and to the truth that Jesus was risen and glorified.

Scripture Study: Romans 1

ROM 1Paul to the Saints at Rome

Verse 1. "Paul, a servant (or slave) of Jesus Christ." Wonderful grace of God, that called, and made captive in the chains of love, such a man. A sincere man walking before, and serving God from his forefathers with a pure conscience; "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless," yet the open, avowed enemy of Christ, till God opened his eyes to see himself. After that he wrote. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am the chief," and in the same chapter (1 Tim. 1:12, 13) wrote of himself, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me power, that He has counted me faithful, appointing to ministry him who before was a blasphemer and persecutor, and an insolent, overbearing man." (New Trans.) Wonderful change!

It was the Lord that spoke to him, and showed Himself to him; then he saw the road on which he was traveling was the broad road that leads to destruction. He was an apostle by calling, separated; taken out from the Jews and from the Gentiles to tell out to them the Gospel of God. "To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:18.

Verse 2 tells us that the prophets wrote of God's promise to send this glad tidings. This is parenthetical.

Verse 3. "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord," how important to notice this. It is God telling out the glories of His Son. In the story we shall find how He made propitiation for sin, and declared righteousness of God and grace to sinners; but above all, the person of the Son is seen, as heir to the throne of David according to the flesh, marked out as Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by resurrection of the dead. He could say, I am the resurrection and the life," and then call Lazarus from among the dead. He is our Lord, and it was His power in grace that gave Paul his grace and apostleship to preach in His name, for the obedience of faith among all nations; and those called ones in Rome were some of them. They were saints by God's calling. The words "to be" lead to a wrong thought here. All believers are at once made saints. They belong to Christ, and not to the world. His death and resurrection place them on new ground. Christ is Son of God in resurrection. In this, God's approval is stamped upon His person and His work.

Then the apostle sends grace and peace to them from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 8. He begins with "thanking God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world," and he says, "God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers;" and he desires that the way might be opened that he could come to them by the will of God. He longed to see them, to impart some spiritual benefit to them, and to establish them in the truth, that he and they might be comforted together by their mutual faith. He wanted them to know that he oftentimes purposed to come to them (but was hindered); to have some fruit among them also, even as he had among other Gentiles.

Verse 14. He counted himself a debtor to all kinds of men, and as far as it depended on him, to preach the good news to them who were in Rome also. What a true servant, serving with his spirit in the glad tidings of God! He was not ashamed of the gospel, for he knew it was the power of God to salvation, to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The righteousness of God is revealed therein, on the principle of faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.”

How blessed indeed to the sinner convinced of his lost condition, to see God's righteousness declared in that Christ died for sin, and now grace flows out to sinners who believe in Him. He can say,

"And now, a righteousness divine

Is all my glory, all my trust,

Nor will I fear since that is mine,

While Thou dost live, and God is just.”

All is settled, Christ is risen; God has approved of the sacrifice. We are as believers in Him. Here we see that no flesh can be justified in God's sight for, "The just shall live by faith." It is faith that makes them out as the just. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness." (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3.)

After this introduction, we are led to see that the righteousness of God must deal with the unrighteousness of men, and the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

God made man upright, but man has sought out many inventions, and now we see the down grade from innocence to the depths of sin's degradation traversed by man, till he becomes lower in his lusts than the brute beast.

Verses 19, 20. God's power and wisdom were seen in creation telling of His supremacy, so that man was inexcusable. Up to the flood, the knowledge of the true God was seen in man. After the flood, idolatry perverted this knowledge, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and beasts, and creeping things. Then God gave them up to their vile lusts. It is terrible to think what more we, as sinners, were capable of, who knowing the righteous judgment of God, and that they who do these things are worthy of death, not only practice them, but have delight in them that do them.

Can such a creature be improved? No, but God has found a way whereby He can save, and bring them to Himself, and make those, who are saved, companions for His Son.

May the Lord give us the attentive heart to meditate on His grace, and to receive what He would communicate to us.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

Scripture Study: Matthew 25

AT 25{The servant at the end of the previous chapter pictures collective responsibility; in this parable. it is individual readiness to go in with the Bridegroom, and pictures the end of this present period of time by the Lord's coming as a Bridegroom for His people. He could not present the bride here, for it is individual responsibility represented by ten virgins.

Verse 1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom, and five of them were wise and five were foolish: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. They all had lamps, that is profession; the difference is, the wise had oil in their vessels with their lamps; they all seem the same till the testing time comes.

They all went forth to meet the Bridegroom, they all are nominally in the same position, the position of the Church is outside this world's religion and ways, it goes forth.

Verse 5. While the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept, they lost their separate character and went in to sleep again in worldly religion and ways, but still keeping their profession. But though the Church has lost its heavenly character, saints are always saints though sleeping among the dead (Eph. 5:14). A worldly saint is very much like the world.

This parable corresponds to the professing church and what has happened in it.

Verse 6. At midnight there was a cry made, "Behold the Bridegroom (cometh), go ye out to meet Him.”

“Go ye out to meet Him" had to be said again to call them out of their wrong state. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

The thought of the Lord's return wakens them up and activity begins. In trimming their lamps the foolish find out they lack the oil, their lamps (or torches) were going out (see margin). An empty profession gives no light. The foolish need oil, but seek it from man, their neighbors; they cannot find it there. Their religion does not satisfy them now; man might think them all right, but they have no grace of life or the Spirit; the reality is wanting; they must have to do with God. If they go to Him they can buy it without money and without price.

Since the cry has gone forth, "Behold the Bridegroom," what religious activity is seen, but nothing avails except Christ and His finished work. It is having done with self and resting on Him as the Savior that is the way to obtain this oil in the vessel. Not even God's people can impart it; only the Lord Himself. How near His coming is now.

Verse 10. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage; and the door was shut. The foolish have no part in this, they are left out and kept out, for the door was shut.

Verse 11. They plead, "Lord, Lord, open to us," but He answers "Verily, I say unto you, I know you not." It is too late. Church members, professing Christians, but not born of God and not having the Spirit of Christ, these are beyond hope when left behind. Do not believe Satan's lie; believe God's word, and come to Christ now.

The midnight cry has gone forth, the Lord is coming. He may come today. Are you ready? Are von sheltered from the judgment of God by the work of Christ? Only those who have the oil go in with the Bridegroom to the marriage. He refuses to own all others. They had no light, their lamps were useless, they had no title to the feast like those who went in with the Bridegroom.

Quite true, the faithful ones had fallen asleep for a while, but it was a joy to them to be wakened, for they were ready, they had the oil, and the truth was revived in their souls.

None of the Lord's own will fail to hear the shout. (1 Thess. 4:16.) All His own will go in with Him.

Will you be there or will you be left out?

Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour. This is a warning. The Lord may come at any moment. We are to be watching as well as waiting for Him. The verse ends here. (See New or Revised Trans.)

Verse 14. In this parable each servant's individual faithfulness is tested. It is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. The Lord has gone into heaven, the goods to trade with are the gifts He gives for His service. The Lord notices the ability or capacity of each vessel, and gives accordingly. (Eph. 4:7, 8, 11.) The servant is fitted by the Lord for what He gives him to do, and he needs no other authority than the Lord's to serve Him. The true servant can count on the goodness and love he has seen in his Master, and labors in confidence of His approval, counting on Him to bless his labors. In this the wicked and slothful servant fails; he misjudges his Master, and has no confidence in Him to serve Him.

Verse 19. After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, Thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Verses 22, 23. He goes over the same to the one with two talents and He gets the same blessed word of approval; they share alike the joy of their Lord.

Verse 24. The third one had digged in the earth and hid his Lord's money; then when called to account, he calls his Master a hard man, dealing in unrighteousness, and he was afraid. What did he know of the grace of his Master? Nothing at all. After all, he is a wicked man, and because he is in the profession of a servant, he is a wicked and slothful servant. What he has is taken from him and given to the one who gained the ten talents; but for him there is outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth. What a sad end for one professedly serving Christ. (1 Cor. 3:17.)

'That which we gain spiritually here, in spiritual intelligence and in the knowledge of God in power, is not lost in the other world. On the contrary, we receive more, and the glory of the inheritance is given us in proportion to our work. All is grace." (J. N D. Synopsis. Luke 19.)

There is also danger of a true child of God neglecting the ministry given to him of the Lord. (See Col. 4:17.)

Verse 31. We are again looking at the coming of the Son of Man as King, coming in heavenly glory, and all the holy angels with Him, to sit upon the throne of His glory. In 24:30, 31, He appeared with the great sound of a trumpet calling together His elect earthly people. Here it is the living nations who had taken part in helping or persecuting the suffering Jews during the tribulation.

There is no resurrection of the dead here; the unsaved dead will be raised after the thousand years of Christ's reign are over. This is at the commencement of it.

The gospel of the kingdom has been preached; in the sheep we see those who received it; in the goats those who did not believe in the Lord's coming as King. Now He divides them asunder, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. The King speaks: "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (God's purposes for the Church are before the foundation of the world). For' was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.”

And in answer to their question when did they do these things, He answers: "Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”

The Church is the Lord's brethren; the Jews here are the King's brethren. These sheep had helped them during their sufferings from their enemies. Their love to His people speaks to Him of their faith in Him.

How solemn the word to those on the left hand: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;" they were enemies of His brethren, and thus His enemies. "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." These righteous possess eternal life on earth under the reign of Christ, and on the new earth in the eternal state. For the wicked it is the lake of fire forever.

Scripture Study: Matthew 15

Matthew 15.AT 15{

What a contrast is seen here between man and God. Man satisfies himself with outward show. God desires the purity and obedience that suits the light of His presence. Man used the law and ordinances to adorn himself. God had given it to prove to him the exceeding sinfulness of sin. The Pharisees' systematic teaching set aside the Word of God, and in pretended piety went on with concealed Iniquity, lower than natural conscience. They used the law to minister to their pride, instead of seeing the corruptness of their hearts. Their own will and indulgence in lust was preferred to the duties God imposed upon them- washing their hands instead of purifying their hearts. It was outside show; God could not accept the worship of hypocrites.

This is what we find in Matt. 15:1-9. The scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem spoke to Him of His disciples transgressing the traditions of the elders. It seemed serious to them that such ancient rules should be set aside. The Lord goes straight to the point. "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. (Ex. 21:17.) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free." If instead of supporting their parents, the money needed to do so was given to the priest, or temple service, then the children were free, that is, they did not need to support their parents. "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." The Lord uncovers the heart of these hypocrites who set aside His Word to carry out their own traditions. It did not look bad to wash their hands before eating, but the Lord saw that it was only outward show, and God was not known in His true character.

And does not the Lord still see this evil in the professing church? Is not His Word set aside by the imposed rules and regulations of men? The living Savior is neglected for ordinances called means of grace.

The Holy Spirit's presence on earth is set aside by the minister or chairman of today who rules the meetings. The living reality of His presence in the Christian is slighted by repeating prayers or reading them out of a book (Rom. 8:26; Jude 20), and what is called church membership is claimed instead of "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". And well might Esaias prophesy also of this present generation, for 2 Tim. 3:1-7, is descriptive of Christendom now.

Matt. 15:10-11. The Lord now calls the multitude and said unto them, "Hear and understand: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." God begins inside; man is a sinner, his heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9.)

Matt. 15:12. But this offends those religious hypocrites, and the disciples tell Him of it. "Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?" The Lord now tells their terrible condition.

Matt. 15:13-14 "Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Terrible indeed was their condition, and terrible is the end of all Christless profession.

Matt. 15:15-20 But Peter did not understand it, and said, "Declare unto us this parable." The Lord answered, "Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draft? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." What a sink of iniquity the heart of fallen man is, including my heart and yours! How necessary it is to know that Rom. 6:6, is God's judgment upon it, and that now we are to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord: and this we are to do diligently.

Matt. 15:21 The Lord now departs, leaving the learned professors and infidels with their religion and their arguments, to go to the cities of Tire and Sidon-cities famous for their ignorant wickedness. (Matt. 11:21,22.)

Matt. 15:22-28 A woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and her daughter is possessed of a demon. She cries unto Him: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil" (demon). But as "Son of David" she had not the slightest claim on His mercy, nevertheless, her faith recognizes Him as such. He answers her not a word, yet His heart is full of mercy, He is but wanting the proper condition in her to give the blessing. The disciples do not understand, they came and besought Him, "Send her away, for she crieth after us." As "Son of David He could not help her, neither would he send her away. His answer to them is", "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him. Her faith owned He was Israel's Messiah, but greater still, He was God; He could meet her need, so she said, "Lord, help me." Can His loving heart resist such an appeal? It was needful to do so for a moment, while He says, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." This seemed hard, but it was true; there were no promises to Gentile dogs, God had chosen Israel as His people. Yes, she owned that, too; but her faith counted on the grace of His heart, and she said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Master's table." How this pleased Him, as faith ever does; and how His heart gives forth the pent up blessing: "O, woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

Matt. 15:29-39 Next we see the Lord on a mountain in Galilee. There the afflicted and needy remnant of Israel have all their needs met, and they glorified the God of Israel. He proves again, as He had done before, that Emmanuel was with them, both in healing their diseases and in feeding the hungry. (Psa. 103, and Psa. 132:15-16.) Here He is acting out of His own blessed perfection as seen in the seven loaves and seven baskets. He provides perfectly for the remnant of His people Israel: and it is ours to prove that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, to meet our every need. (Heb. 13:8.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 23

Matthew 23.AT 23{

The disciples are looked at here as the godly remnant of the Jews. The leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, are seen as teachers of the law. Sitting in Moses' seat, they were to be obeyed in all they said according to that law, although they were behaving the opposite. The disciples were to recognize all that was of God, but they were also to recognize and avoid the sinful behavior of those leaders.

It is a chapter of denunciation of the wicked ways of those leaders.

Verse 4. They bind heavy burdens on others, but would not move them with one of their fingers. They were but fingerposts pointing the way, but they never went themselves.

Verse 5. Their works and religious dress and outward sanctity were but to be seen of men, and (verses 6, 7) to be honored of men.

Verse 8. But the disciples were not to be called Rabbi, for Christ was their Master; they were brethren.

Verse 9. They were to call no roan father upon earth for One is their. Father, who is in heaven. This forbids the religious titles of today. that men take assuming authority above others. Not even Master (teacher), for Christ is your instructor (verse 10)

Verses 11, 12. The service of Christ is lowly service. God will exalt the humble, but will humble those who exalt themselves.

Verse 13. "But Woe unto von, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" seven times repeated in this chapter.

Were they not well warned?

They would not go into the blessing God had provided and they hindered others from going in, they shut up the kingdom of heaven against men.

Verse 14. "Woe unto you." etc., for ye devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayer; therefore ye shall receive the greater judgment.

Verse 15. Great zeal to proselytize, only to make the convert more a child of hell than themselves, if possible!

Verses 16-22. "Woe unto you, blind guides." Their folly is shown out in making more of their gift than of God himself.

Verses 23, 24. They paid great attention to small things and neglected what was weighty and substantial-"judgment, mercy and faith." Blind guides, straining out the gnat, and drinking down the camel.

Verses 25-28. Clean outside, filthy inside, full of 'extortion and excess. Begin to cleanse inside first, then the outside will follow; but they were whitewashed sepulchers-outwardly beautiful, within full of death and corruption and of all uncleanness. Outwardly appearing righteous, but within full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

What a difference from one washed white, owning his guilty condition before God, and receiving remission of sins! (Isa. 1:18.)

Verses 29-32. They build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, "If we had been in the (lays of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets." Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents. ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Gehenna, the lake of fire.)

Verse 34. "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes." Some of those were the very disciples there at that moment, but spoken of in Jewish terms. This would test those leaders, and the Lord tells beforehand what would happen. "Some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.”

Verses 35, 36. Frightful was the amount of guilt that was upon their heads. From Abel downwards they had heard the story of their wicked obduracy, and of God's long suffering mercy. Now this long suffering was run out and they were obdurate and rebellious still, and upon their heads would be poured out the accumulated wrath of God. "Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation.”

Ecclesiastical assumption of authority, with profession of orthodoxy, has ever been the persecuting power and opposition to truth in every age and country. The Scriptures record it of Israel; the scribes and Pharisees finish the story here. The Lord Himself testifies to it.

Verses 37-39. But with what tender pathos the Lord now pronounces judgment on His beloved city. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not!" How often as Jehovah had He sent His warnings and entreaties? (Psa. 81:13-16; Isa. 48:18) Now ail was at an end. "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, ye shall not see me, henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Psa. 118.) They rejected Him who is the Sun of Righteousness, so must lie desolate till repentance is wrought (proposed but still refused in Acts 3). In the appointed time they will as a nation realize their sin, and long for His coming and reign, and rejoice in that day when He comes. "This is the day Jehovah hath made; we will be glad and rejoice in it." (Psa. 118:21-29.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 19

Matthew 19.AT 19{

Matt. 19:1-2. The Lord is in Judea again, continuing His gracious work upon the multitude that followed Him.

Matt. 19:3-9. He teaches here that what is instituted for man, Judaism cannot put aside, and Christianity must uphold it. The Pharisees tempting Him, say, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" The Lord leads them back to God's original institution, That abides, one man and one woman were to unite in marriage; they are one in the sight of God. "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whoso marrieth her that is put away, committeth adultery." It is man's lust that sets aside God's institution, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Heb. 13:4. The Lord's authority "I SAY unto you," establishes this. The only case where separation is allowed, is where the bond has been already broken by sin.

The converted Gentiles had to be taught to respect this tie as a necessary thing. (Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Thess. 4:3-7.) Christianity, by Christ's authority, puts marriage in its place as a divine institution for man.

Matt. 19:10-12. Here another principle is brought in. Some were not able to receive what He said, only those to whom it was given. Some were unfitted for marriage naturally, some were unfitted by men, but there were others, such as the apostle Paul, who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of God, gave himself entirely up to the Lord's service. (1 Cor. 7:7, 37.) If a man in the power of the Holy Spirit has the gift from the Lord to do this, and be entirely heavenly, so much the better, yet it would be evil to condemn or speak against the relationship which God originally instituted. (1 Cor. 7:7.)

Matt. 19:13-15. The Lord shows His affection for the children. It is human nature again in its simple, lonely, confiding character before being outwardly defiled by practice of sin. In Matt. 18, the child illustrated the spirit suited to the kingdom. How encouraging to parents to see the Lord receiving the children; laying His hands on them, and rebuking His disciples who rebuked those who brought them, by saying. "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." He knew the value of a child. He laid His hands on them. What encouragement to parents. What will we ask of Him for our children?

"I ask no worldly portion for my child;

I seek not of Thee gold, or rank, or fame;

Save it from sin; from human passions wild;

An interest in Thy love is all I claim.

Lord, make it Thine-Thine only-is my plea,

To love, and serve, and live alone for Thee.”

-J. G. D.

Matt. 19:16-22. In the young man we see one in nature outwardly good and amiable, but the evil in him leads him to turn his back on the Lord and go away from Him. He shows desire to learn the right way, and he admires the Lord's goodness, and he wanted to have eternal life. He had not learned himself. He says, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" He thought he was good, and could do good. The Lord answered, "Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Notice the Lord leaves "eternal" out, for the law was for life on earth, for living by, not to gain heaven by. But the young man thinks he can and had kept the commandments from his youth up, and asks further, "What lack I yet?" Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow Me." Will he do it? Alas! possessions are his god, the true God is shut out. The Lord exposed his covetous heart, and he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." (Ex. 20:3.) "The rich He sends empty away." Irreproachable in his behavior, the Lord tries his heart; he loves earthly things, and God is left out, he clings to his possessions. What he desired to possess is not esteemed. Man at his best estate is altogether vanity, his heart is away from God. Possessions, which in the Jew's mind, were a mark of divine favor, are seen here holding the heart away from God, and spiritual blessing is not esteemed.

Matt. 19:23, 24. "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." What a complete change to the disciples' minds this was. "Who, then can be saved?" Impossible with men, but with God all things are possible: The rich cannot save himself, but God can reduce him to nothing but a sinner in his own eyes, and then will save him. (1 Sam. 2:6-8; Luke 1:53.) The Lord knows how to humble the rich spirit, and to make it poor before Him. He knows how to make a Saul of Tarsus, to feel that his righteousness is filthy rags, and that he is the very chief of sinners. The disciples had to learn that all of self and earth was worthless for salvation in the sight of God, but that God could find the way of salvation for the humbled soul.

Matt. 19:27-29. "Then answered Peter, and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee! what shall we have therefore?" and Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." The regeneration means, the renewed world, what we speak of as the millennium or reign of Christ. The disciples are to have the center places in the kingdom to reign over and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who had left all that by nature they loved, for Christ's name, would have an hundred fold (heavenly comforts for the soul, but with persecutions, see Mark) in this life. What we lose now for Christ, is heavenly gain now in realizing our possessions in Christ. We realize now what eternal life is, and shall enter into its fullness at the end.

Matt. 19:30. "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." This is the Lord's sovereignty in calling and rewarding His servants. Matt. 20:1-16 continues it.

Scripture Study: Matthew 21

AT 21{Verses 1-6. As the Lord draws near to Jerusalem, He prepares for His last presentation to Israel as their Messiah. He sent two of His disciples, saying, "Go into the village (Bethphage) over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto Me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them." This was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet (Zech. 9:9), saying, "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." The Lord hath need of them, points to Jehovah's claim on the hearts of men. So will it be in the day of His glory. (Psa. 110:3.) Comparing Zech. 9:9 with verse 5, we see that this is a testimony to His person but not yet the setting up of His kingdom in power. He is still the meek and lowly One.

Verses 9-16. They brought the ass and colt, and spread their clothes on them, and set Him thereon. A very great multitude was there, moved by God to bear testimony to Him; and they spread their garments in the way, and cut down branches and strewed them in the way. "And the multitudes that went before. and that followed, cried, 'Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.'" This is from Psa. 118:25, 26. Verse 24 speaks of the rest under the reign of Christ. "The day Jehovah hath made." This testimony to His Messiahship, the power of God constrains them to give. Happy for them if it was from their hearts. When He was come into Jerusalem, the city or people were moved, saying, "Who is this?" The multitude with Him replies, "Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." The despised Nazarene is for the moment seen as the King of Israel. He will also show His authority in the temple, bearing witness against the evils there, yet still He is the lowly One. He cast out all who bought and sold in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those who sold doves, and said unto them, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer (Isa. 56:7), but ye have made it a den of thieves." ( Jer. 7:11.)

His righteousness is seen here: "Thou lovest righteousness;" but what is He to the needy ones there before Him-the lame and the blind? He healed them; He is their Savior and Healer. (Psa. 103:2, 3.) He is perfect in grace also.

The chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things He did, and heard the children crying in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David." It displeased them much, and they spoke to Him about it. He answered: "Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou has perfected praise?" (Psa. 8.) It is a testimony to Him as Son of Man, but He is rejected.

Verse 17. He leaves them; He could not lodge there, so He went out to Bethany.

Verses 18-22. In the morning, as He returned into the city, being hungry, He saw a fig tree, but on looking at it found no fruit, only leaves, and said unto it, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever." And presently the fig tree withered away. This is a figure of Israel-man in the flesh; man did not and cannot bear fruit for God, the flesh profiteth nothing. God will act in grace under the new covenant, and Israel in that new condition will bear fruit, but not as the fig tree. It is useless to spend efforts on it to make it better. Culture will not help the flesh to produce fruit for God. It withered away. The disciples marveled at it, and the Lord says: "Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

That mountain has been cast into the sea; Israel, as a nation, has lost her place, scattered in the sea of the nations. The believing remnant of them are brought into the Church of God, and are members of the body of Christ. But we see also great encouragement to exercise faith in going to God in prayer. Lord, help us to exercise our hearts in believing prayer.

Verses 23-27. The chief priests come to Him demanding: "By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?" The Lord tests their capability to judge by asking a question, which, if they will answer, He, also, will answer their demand. "The baptism of John, Whence was it? from heaven or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven. He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe Him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet," and they answered Jesus and said, "We cannot tell. And He said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”

They had neither conscience for God and the truth, nor had they any competency to judge. They were judged by Him. God's work does not need the authority of man. If a servant has the authority of Christ as his Master, he needs no other. If Christ has not given him authority, what he can get from man counts nothing with God. It is wicked assumption.

Verses 28-32. The Lord goes farther. In this parable He convicts those very men, religious leaders as they were, of being worse before God than the publicans and harlots whom they despised. They pretended to do God's will like the one who said, "I go, sir," and went not. Whereas, the one who said, "I will not," afterward repented and went. They admitted that the one who repented and went, was the one who did his father's will. Jesus saith unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, that the publicans and harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Like the elder brother in Luke 15, they refused to humble themselves or recognize the work of grace in others.

Verses 33-46. This parable shows Israel's failure in their responsibility to God; everything had been done for them, but they rendered nothing in return. His servants which were sent to them, received abuse, were rejected, persecuted, killed, and lastly, He sent His Son, and they said, "This is the heir; come let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance." And they caught him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. When the lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? they say unto Him, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons." They speak their own sentence; it is just what they were doing. The Lord applies to these builders Psa. 118:22, 23. They were in open rebellion against their God. Therefore, I say unto you, "The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth-the fruits there-of, and whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken." That is what they did. (Rom. 9:32, 33.) "But On whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." This speaks of what will happen to the rebellious nation when the Lord comes again to them.

Dull as the Pharisees were, they perceived that He spake of them. They would fain have laid hands on Him, but they feared the multitude, because they regarded Him as a prophet.

His warnings were unheeded or despised, and all His testimonies to their need of a Savior only brought out the enmity that filled their hearts. Such is man, such are we, till grace has wrought in our souls.

Scripture Study: Matthew 17, Part 1

MATTHEW 17.AT 17{

The transfiguration scene was a sample of the glory in which the Lord Jesus will yet appear and this sample is the fulfilling of the promise that some standing there should not see death before seeing the kingdom of the Son of Man. Peter's First Epistle refers Matt. 16; his Second Epistle to this one, Matt. 17. He says (1 Pet. 1:16): "We made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." "Were eye witnesses of His Majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is MY beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount." This confirmed the word of prophecy it was given in view of His death to confirm the faith of His disciples.

Matt. 17:1-2. After six days the Lord brings Peter, James and John with Him into a high mountain apart; and there was transfigured before them. "His face did shine as the sun and His raiment was white as the light". The glory of His person shone out before their eyes.

Matt. 17:3-9. "And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him." Luke tells us the subject of their conversation was the Lord's decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem; this was the great theme of heaven. Moses was the great law giver, who died and was buried by Jehovah, no man knows where, so no one could worship his burying place. Elias was the prophet, the great law restorer, and was taken to heaven without dying. These might figure the heavenly saints with Christ, the dead raised, and the living changed. Peter, James and John on earth, represent the saints in the kingdom of the Son of Man.

Peter, in his human thought, forgetful of the glory of the revelation the Father gave him of the Lord's person, desires to make three tabernacles, to put the three persons on the one level. How slow we are to apprehend God's thoughts of His own Son. Grace put Moses and Elias in His company, in the same glory, but how foolish to think of them as having equal authority over the heart of the believer, a place none can occupy but Christ. And if we should try to do so, the Father must vindicate the rights of His Son. Peter may and did feel it good to be there, but he is not done speaking when the bright cloud overshadowed them; it was the glory cloud of God's presence. Peter called it "the excellent glory." And the Father's voice is heard proclaiming the glory of the person of His beloved Son, the object of His affection, and in whom is His delight. He is the one the disciples are to hear-"Hear Him." Moses and Elias disappear, and the Lord is there alone, worthy of all honor, the One to teach those who hear the Father's voice. The Father's voice proclaims Him, the Father's delight, and worthy of our affections. What grace! to put such a One before our hearts. What wondrous grace! Here the law, and all attempts to restore man to it, have passed away. The Lord Jesus, the glorified Son of Man, Son of the living God, abides, unfolding to us the knowledge and the mind of God. The disciples, as they heard it, fell on their faces, sore afraid. Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and be not afraid." "And when they lifted up their eves, they saw no man save Jesus only." How He encourages them, and sets them at ease with Himself as a man. He who was manifesting the glory of God, was their Lord and Friend, the same as before, better known now than ever. And what blessing is in seeing no man "save Jesus only.”

Matt. 17:9-13. "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen up from (among) the dead." He was to suffer, and God would have witness with power in His resurrection, and He would ascend up as Son of Man where He was before as Son of God.

His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come" Jesus answered, "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them.'' Then the disciples understood that He spake of John the Baptist. John came in the spirit and power of Elias, and acknowledged that he is the forerunner of the Messiah, the rejected One (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1), but not the Elias of Mal. 4:5-6 who is still to come before the Lord appears in power and glory to restore Israel. But to His disciples He could say, for they had received Him, I say unto you he has come already. (Matt. 11:14.) They belonged to the rejected Messiah, whom men would cause to suffer as John did.

The Scriptures had foretold of the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that were to follow but the natural man looked for the glories, and forgot that the suffering came first. Jesus, the Son of Man, the Father's well-beloved Son, is now rejected by man, and is going on to suffer death on the cross; this was needful for the glory of God and for the cleansing of the kingdom. Atonement must be accomplished, if redemption, eternal glory and God revealed in grace to man in righteousness, was to be known. The work of the cross secured it all, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." (John 13:31.) The kingdom on earth would be part of the fruit of it, in resurrection glory of Christ. God would restore all things. When He brings again His Firstborn Son into the world ( Acts 3:19; Heb. 1:6), then all His promises for Israel would be fulfilled.

Scripture Study: Matthew 16, Part 2

Matthew 16.AT 16{

Matt. 16:19, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Now this is not the Church; there are no keys for it, nor do men build with keys, nor are there any keys for heaven. The present aspect of the kingdom is the place of profession of Christ's name on earth, it is therefore a kingdom where the King is absent in heaven, so it is called the kingdom of heaven; and the keys given to Peter, was Christ's authority for Peter to act for Him in opening the door for the Jewish converts in Acts 2, and for the Gentile converts in Acts 10: after that the door is open to both Jew and Gentile. It was Peter that gave the last offer to the nation of the Jews in Acts 3. This was in answer to Christ's prayer on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," but this offer closed with the murder of Stephen, fulfilling Luke 19:14. It was Peter also that bound the first sin in the assembly on Ananias and Sapphira so that they were disciplined by the Lord and carried out dead. (Discipline is not eternal judgment, 1 Cor. 11:32.) It was Peter, with John, who prayed that the Samaritan converts might receive the Holy Spirit, and thus the feud was removed between Jews and Samaritans, and the Lord preserved unity. It was Peter who pronounced Simon the sorcerer, not a true child of God at all. All this was clearly apostolic authority, which the Lord conferred on Peter. There were other apostles also to whom the Lord gave authority, but this was specially Peter's. There is no apostolic succession in the Word of God. They gave us the Word of God, but those who came after them were grievous wolves. (Acts 20:29.) The Word of God has been ever since our only authority.

Matt. 16:20, "Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was the Christ." That testimony is over. He shows to them that He must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Ah, how that touches them; and, favored Peter, how will he take it?

That means loss to them, and a path of suffering, instead of a great and glorious place, and Peter lets nature guide him instead of the thoughts of God. No doubt, it was kindness, but it opposed the cross, and without the cross we could not share the glory. And Peter said, "Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee." The Lord turned and said unto Peter, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Peter was not an enemy of Christ. He was a true disciple, but led astray by his own thoughts, he acts as an enemy of the cross of Christ. Alas! through unwatchfulness, how often this happens with us now! Peter, privileged to receive revelations from the Father in heaven, in the same chapter is called Satan, by the Lord. The old nature, even in an apostle, is no better than in any of us. If Paul was caught up to the third heavens, and he was, he must wear a thorn in the flesh ever after to keep him humble. (2 Cor. 12.) How closely do we need to cleave to Christ, and not trust our own hearts for a moment, or we make some mistake. But it does not alter the love and grace of Christ. He just goes on to make the lesson good in their hearts, saying, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." It is association with one rejected by this world, so the rejected path must be the lot of the one who will come after Me." It must be the setting aside of self. If I put self first, it is a wasted life, I will lose it. If I put Christ first, it is gain now, in the joy of His approval, and gain for all eternity.

What profit would it be to possess the whole world, and lose the soul? The world cannot give happiness now, and the soul without Christ will be eternally miserable. Christ can give happiness now, and an eternity of bliss in His own company. "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Which is better? -a good time now-the pleasures of sin for a brief moment, or rejection with Christ, but assurance of His love and grace, and pleasures which are forever more and fullness of joy with Him for all eternity?

Matt. 16:27, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." What new thoughts these must have been to them; thoughts of the Son of man's kingdom, but to have it He must now be the rejected, suffering, crucified, Son of man. He is the Savior now. He will be the Judge then.

Matt. 16:28, This verse connects with the transfiguration which some of them would see; and notice that it is a true sample of the kingdom, witnessing His power and coming and majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)

(Continued.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 16, Part 1

Matthew 16.AT 16{

Matt. 16:1. "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting, desired Him that He would show them a sign from heaven," plainly as John 1:5 says, "The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." Though directly opposed to each other, the Pharisees and Sadducees unite in opposing the Lord, and the truth. At another time Herod and Pilate, at enmity with each other, join hands over Christ. (Luke 23:12.) Here self-righteousness and infidelity join hypocritically and ask a sign from heaven. How perverse the will of man is, and that after all the display of His goodness and grace that has been done before their eyes, in healing the sick and feeding the hungry. They could read the face of the sky, and see when fine or foul weather was coming. Why did they not read, in the Lord's presence and miracles, the promise of blessing to the needy? or why did they not read, in the condition of Israel at that moment, that an awful storm of judgment must soon fall upon them? Surely it was because their sin had blinded them, and the Lord tells them that they are a wicked and adulterous generation, for with all their profession of defending the law, they were hypocrites; serving themselves, mammon worshipers, covering up their awful sins. No sign could be given to them but the sign of the prophet Jonas. "And He left them and departed." The prophet Jonas was typical of death and resurrection. And at this point they lose the Christ.

Matt. 16:5-12, manifest the slowness of the disciples to enter into the thoughts of God. Living in things seen and temporal, they need explanations to get their minds to see the spiritual meaning of what was in the Lord's words, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The leaven of the Pharisees is self-righteous hypocrisy. They and we are in danger of it. If we know God, we know that in ourselves-in our flesh-good does not dwell; we have a heart that is, by nature, deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. The leaven of the Sadducees was infidelity-free-thinking-really unbelief of God and His Word. We cannot trust our own hearts. He that trusts his own heart is a fool. (Prov. 28:26.)We must believe God, His Word is true, His power is almighty. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor. 10:5.) "The shield of faith"-I believe God-quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Eph. 6:16.)

What a rebuke He gave them in reminding them of His feeding five thousand with the five loaves, and the four thousand with the seven loaves, and how many baskets of bread were left. Why should they think Him anxious about bread? He was seeking the good of their souls, to protect them from the evil doctrines that they failed to notice.

Matt. 16:13, A third form of unbelief appears when He asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" Some say one thing, some another. Why are such differences seen? Simply because these people are indifferent. They have not felt the need of an object for their hearts; they have not had their consciences stirred; it is with them just a matter of opinion. The mind may work, but the conscience is not exercised. They do not feel the need of a Savior, and other things interest them as much, or perhaps more. Satan blinds the eyes with the things of time and sense. (2 Cor. 4:4.)

Matt. 16:15, "But whom do ye say that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, ''Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

This home question found an answer in Simon Peter's soul. He had felt his need and had found in the Person of the Lord Jesus that which met it; as he says at another time (John 6:68), "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." He alone can satisfy the awakened conscience and heart. But how did Simon Peter know this one? It was a distinct revelation the Father gave him. Jesus answered, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven." It was not education, nor imagination, but revelation. And now the Lord speaks according to this revealed character, and gives him his new name. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (a stone) and upon this rock I will build My Church (assembly) and the gates of hell (hades) shall not prevail against it." Here the Lord tells us of what was to be recognized of Him on earth when Israel was set aside. "I will build," expresses intention. It began at Pentecost by the Holy Spirit coming down and uniting the disciples into one body. It was Christ's assembly, and built of living stones (1 Peter 2:5) on the Rock-Christ, the Son of the living God; the power of death-the gates of hades-could not prevail against it. Many individuals have been martyred for Christ, but the Church can never die. The Lord will come and take it home to share His heavenly glory: this is its destiny.

There were men of faith-saints all down through the ages of man's history-but not the Church of God. This is entirely new since Pentecost, after Christ was glorified at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples (Acts 2) baptizing them into one body, uniting them together, and uniting them to Christ, the glorified Head in heaven. (1 Cor. 12:13.) Peter speaks of it as "living stones, built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5), but Paul unfolds the truth of the mystery of Christ and the Church, His body and His bride, for to Paul alone was it given to do so. (Eph. 3:4-10.) This verse in Matt. 16:18 is the first time the Church is mentioned in Scripture, and it is mentioned as a then future thing.

(To be continued.)

Scripture Study: Matthew 20

AT 20{Matt. 20:1-16. In this parable is shown the sovereignty of the Lord in calling and rewarding the laborers in His vineyard. It is not a question of obtaining salvation, for we do not labor for salvation. It is to teach us that He is our Master. Peter said, "What shall we have therefore?" Here is the answer even to those who begin late in the day, ''Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give." Laboring for Christ because we love Him, and trust Him, is better than laboring for reward. It is grace, not law. We love to do it because of His grace to us: He made us His.

Reward is encouragement to those who are serving Him with His approval. It is not the motive to lead us to serve. Those who bargained for the penny, received it; those who trusted and served Him, received what His heart delighted to give them. "What is right I will give you;" they trusted Him. The assurance of reward is given when the Lord is the motive for the labor. If we get the reward as the motive for laboring, it falsifies the character of true service for Him. Then Peter and the disciples must learn that it is His to do with as He pleases, and, therefore, many that are last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. It is the sovereign grace of God that is the source of true blessing. Peter was called, and a place given him by the Lord. Paul came in later on, as last, but he was a chosen vessel to unfold the heavenly mystery of Christ and the Church as a stronger testimony to grace, so the last was first, and the first last. Each has his place to fill as given by the Lord. (Eph. 4:8.) Again, notice, this is not salvation, but service after we are saved.

Matt. 20:17-23. On the way up to Jerusalem the Lord takes His disciples apart to tell them privately what is to befall Him in the very place where He should have been crowned king. It is the Son of Man, despised and rejected.

“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall. deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day He shall rise again." Sad tale of man's sin, and of the shameful treatment the Lord received at his hands. Were there none to sympathize? Alas! even His disciples are thinking of their own glory. At the moment the Lord announces His going down to the lowest place in suffering service, the sons of Zebedee and their mother come to seek the highest place. They seek their own glory; He sought to do the Father's will. He is the dependent man; He must suffer; He can share that with them, and in answer to the mother's request for them, that they may sit, the one on His right hand, and the other on His left in His Kingdom. He replies, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto Him, We are able. And He saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left, is not Mine to give, but for whom it is prepared of My Father." They can share His sufferings, the inward and the outward sufferings (except atonement; in this He is alone). The rewards He leaves to the Father to give as He had prepared in His sovereignty and purpose. He renounces all claim except to do the Father's will, and those who serve Him must trust the Father for the recompense.

Matt. 20:24-28. When the ten heard it they were full of indignation. Were they better than the two? The Lord's explanations show their need of rebuke also. "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (or servant); and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (or slave). Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life, a ransom for many." In the world, authority was sought after; but the spirit of Christ sought to serve others. It led to the humblest place, and to seek the good of others. It was the grace that ever shone in bright perfection in the blessed Lord displayed before them-an example for them to depend on the grace of Him whom they served, to take the lowest place in service for others, after the pattern He had put before them.

“These are the principles of the heavenly kingdom: perfect self-renunciation, to be contented in thorough devotedness; this is the fruit of love that seeketh not her own-the yieldingness that flows from the absence of self-seeking; submission when despised; meekness and lowliness of heart. The spirit of service to others is that which love produces at the same time as the humility which is satisfied with this place. The Lord fulfilled this, even unto death, giving His life as a ransom for many.”

Matt. 20:29 begins the closing events of the Lord's life on earth. It is His last presentation to Israel as the Son of David, the Lord, the true King of Israel, the Messiah. It began at Jericho, where Israel entered the land-the place where the curse so long rested. The two blind men who own Him as Lord, Son of David, have their eyes opened; these are His believing people, and they follow Him.

These picture the believing remnant of Israel, His people, who, in the future day, will wait for His appearing.

Scripture Study: Matthew 14

Matthew 14.AT 14{

This chapter gives another step in the rejection of the Lord, and then an outline picture of what follows the rejection of the Lord as King.

Matt. 14:1-12 Herod, hearing of Jesus' fame, recalls what he had done to John the Baptist, and concludes that John was raised from the dead, therefore mighty works displayed themselves in him. His conscience seems to be troubling him; conscience will trouble every unsaved one. In the lake of fire it will be their worm that dieth not-they will never forget their sins. The spirit tells the heartless wickedness of those ruling over Israel at this time. Herod put John in prison because he bore a faithful testimony against his sin in having his brother's wife. "It is not lawful for thee to have her," and Herod desired to kill him. He was held back from doing it by his fear of the people, for all held John to be a prophet. But Herod's birthday comes round, and with it the revelings in sin that the world calls a good time, and God is forgotten. Herodias' daughter dances to please the king and with an oath he promises to give her whatever she asks. The wicked mother sets her on to ask the head of the faithful servant of God. The king is grieved but his false honor is at stake before his court, so John's head is brought in and given to this wicked woman.

God has permitted it for the fulfillment of His purposes, and John exchanges an earthly prison for a heavenly paradise. The changes of dispensations, which he could not understand here, will be understood in a brighter scene. His disciples came and took the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. We may think of what all this was to the Lord. It is not only a faithful servant removed; it is God's testimony rejected and a precursor of His own sufferings, though personally far above John, and this place of testimony the Lord Himself took in grace as "the faithful witness." (Psa. 40:9-10.) He therefore retires into a desert place. How He must have felt His position! What sufferings were His in this way also, for He never became hardened to things. He felt the growing evils and knew what it all led on to. His love for Israel; His separation from evil; His constancy in His Father's presence made Him feel everything keenly.

Matt. 14:13-14 But He does not allow Israel's state to hinder His goodness from flowing out to the needy. The people have followed Him on foot out of the cities and brought their sick; and as He goes forth and looks on them, His heart is moved with compassion, and He heals their sick. (Psa. 103:3.)

Matt. 14:15-18. How different with the disciples! They see the multitude, and in their helplessness to meet their need, they want Him to send them away, but He answers, "They need not depart; give ye them to eat." They express their weakness, "We have here but five loaves and two fishes." And He said, "Bring them hither to Me." Have we not often been guilty of such ways, when we should have taken up the case of the needy ones and reckoned on His fullness to meet the need? "Send the multitude away." Away where? Away from Jesus! Can disciples give advice like this? Perfect servant! Patient and gracious Master! Make us more like Thee. Slow we are to count on His power and goodness, though we have proved it so often.

Matt. 14:19-21 "And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled; and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full, and they that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children." Here the power and goodness of the Lord shine out in perfection. He is indeed seen as the Messiah who feeds His poor with bread. (Psa. 132:15.) What plain proof of Emmanuel's presence on earth.

Matt. 14:22-23 Following the rejection of the Lord as King, the Lord took His place on high as the great High Priest. Here we have it pictured: His disciples are constrained to get into a ship to go before Him to the other side, while he sent the multitude away. Then He goes up into a mountain to pray, and there He is alone. His disciples appear to be left alone to bear their troubles that follow, being attached to a rejected King, but in reality they benefit by His heavenly position. (Heb. 7:25.) He is absent from them; and so it is "the night" to the believer, while man has his day in the world. On high, He prays for His own, outwardly separated from them, but in reality spiritually nearer to them than ever. What a picture this is of the present time externally; but we know another Comforter has come, making good to us now, in a spiritual way, the presence of the Lord. ( John 14:18, 21, 23.)

Matt. 14:24-31 The remnant of the Jews will also pass through trouble, and in the midst of this, the Lord comes to them, walking on the sea. They see Him, and are troubled, but He calms their fears, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Peter, taking courage, says, "If it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." This seems to bring out the path of faith; he had the word for his path, and the Lord before him as his object; thus he walked, sustained by the Lord's power, till he took his eyes off the Lord; then he saw the wind boisterous (yet it is as easy to walk on rough as on smooth water), and he was afraid and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord save me." We are well reminded of our foolishness here; the Lord is enough. If we keep the eye on Him, all is well; but nature might take credit, and Peter might have boasted of his attainment as he might have called it. But now he cannot; his failure is manifest; he walked only by the strength of Jesus. And now that he has failed, will the Lord let him sink? No, that faithful Savior is just the same, and immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, "O, thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt:" We may fail, and fear in the path of faith, but the Lord will not fail at our cry of need and His strong hand will hold us up, though we are humbled rightly by our unbelief. May we learn to keep our eye fixed on the Lord.

Peter began to sink, just enough to make him get back in dependence on the Lord, and to make him feel his nothingness. How he would enjoy the care of the Lord on his way back to the ship, upheld by Jesus, but when in the ship he could not boast of his faith above the rest, yet after all he had proved the goodness of the Lord, and His faithfulness to him in a way those in the ship did not know. What comfort to Peter to lean on the Savior's arm all the way back to the ship. Blessed journey! When we have proved what a resource He is for us.

Matt. 14:32-33 Here He is come into the ship. Israel's troubles are over when He comes back to them, and they worship Him as Son of God.

Matt. 14:34-36, go further still. It is a foreshadowing of the Lord when He is joyfully received in the very world that once rejected Him; as one has said, "It is the blessing and healing of a distressed and groaning world, consequent on His return in acknowledged power and glory.”

Scripture Study: Matthew 22

AT 22{Verses 1-14. In the first part of this parable of the kingdom of heaven we have another view of Israel's failure. Not this time their responsibility to bear fruit, but on the ground of grace-the grace of the gospel-which, if received, would produce fruit.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a king, which made a marriage for his son. God would have His Son honored. The Jews, the invited ones, are bidden to the wedding, but they would not come. In the second vex se the message was during the Lord's lifetime on earth. (cf. Matt. 10:5-6.) But it was rejected; they would not come. In the fourth verse again the message goes 'forth, after the death and resurrection of Christ, when the work of atonement was finished: I have prepared My dinner" * * * "and all things are ready; come unto the marriage." "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." These are only seeking their own interests and shutting God out. The rest took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. This is the religious opposition; the nation is hardened in its sins. Peter, in Acts 3, preached grace to the. nation, but the grace was rejected; Stephen was murdered. And because of it the King sent His armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. They, refusing grace for themselves, and also "forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fill up their sins al-way; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost" (1 Thess. 2:15, 16; cf. Matt. 18:23-34), are now an outcast nation, though there is still a remnant of them saved as individuals, and brought into the Church. (Rom. 11:5; 1 Cor. 12:13.)

Verses 8, 9. The servants are now sent to the highways (that is, the Gentiles) and gather together all, as many as they found, both bad and good; thus the wedding was furnished with guests. Whatever the character of the guests before, to be there they must have on the wedding garment, and at such an occasion this was furnished by the King. The standing of the guests depended on having it. High or low, rich or poor, religious or irreligious, moral or immoral, none are suited to the place without the wedding garment. All must be tested. This world is the robbing room; the righteousness of God put on by faith is the wedding garment. A sample is shown us of this testing. The King came in to see the guests and saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and He saith unto him, "Friend (he was really an enemy but is taken on his profession), how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" He had nothing to say; no excuse, for a garment was provided; no use to say anything of his own goodness. It is. the wedding garment alone that will fit him to be there. Then said the King to the servants (not the gospel preachers this time, but the angels, Matt. 13:41-49), "Bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The end of the empty professor is eternity with the lost; his privileges have added to his torment; he is beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:47.) The Jew will be judged by the law, and the Gentile shall perish without law (Rom. 2:12), but the Christ rejector has added to his many sins the worst of all in rejecting the Savior.

Verse 14. "For many are called, but few are chosen." The gospel goes out to all and may seem to bring in many. Some say, "I am a church member." Yes, but have you taken your place as a lost sinner before God? Have you submitted yourself to God's righteousness? (Rom. 10:3.) This is what marks out those who are chosen. The good news calls them, but they do not let the need into their souls. "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor. 4:3, 4.) The marks of those chosen of God are, they own their no goodness, and believe the gospel. (2 Thess. 2:13, 14.)

Verses 15-22. Different classes now come forward. The Pharisees take counsel how they Might entagle Him in His talk. They send their disciples with the Herodians (Herodians favored the Roman authority; Pharisees were opposed to it. Here they come together), saying, "Master, we know that Thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth; neither carest Thou for any man; for Thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and suprescription? They say unto Him, Caesar's. Then saith He unto them: Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they heard these words they marveled, and left Him and went their way." Perfect in knowledge of their wickedness and want of conscience, His answer, wise and comprehensive, exposed their sin that had brought upon themselves this chastening of God. They wanted Him to renounce His claim as Messiah. or become an offender against the Roman government. He did neither, but showed them that they had, by their sin, come under this yoke, and now must bear it. Had they rendered to God what was due to Him they would not have been under Caesar. Let them render to God the things that are His, and to Caesar the things which are his. (cf. Deut. 28:13, 44.)

Verses 23-33. The same day the Sadducees, who profess to believe Moses, but say that there is no resurrection of the dead, came to catch Him on that question. A woman had seven husbands and no children. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her. "Jesus answered them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saving, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." They are still living though dead, and will be raised again. How different from mere animals? How could the promises of God be fulfilled if the dead rise not? Their infidelity attacked the word of God and the power of God. Jesus reminded them that what was spoken to Moses was spoken to them. What a proof is here of the abiding character of the word of God!

Verses 34-40. The multitude are astonished, the Sadducees are silenced, and now the Pharisees gather together. One of them, a lawyer, that is, a teacher of the law of Moses, tempting Him, said: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." These are the gist or substance of all the law; in keeping these, all are kept. Christ kept it perfectly; yea, went beyond it, and gave Himself for us. Could any sinner do so? No; God's word lays bare man's evil and helplessness. Grace comes in where failure is owned, but that is not law.

Verses 41-46. The Lord now asks them a question which brings out the position He will soon take. Could they understand it? By it they are effectually silenced. "What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?" They say unto Him, David's. He saith unto them, How then Both David in spirit call Him Lord, saying: The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He His son?" Here we see the rejected Christ ascended and sitting at the right hand of God, until God gives Him the kingdom and establishes His throne in Zion. He is seated there now, and now grace is gathering out His heavenly companions. The Pharisees could not understand it, nor could the prophets (1 Peter, 1: 10-12), or they would have understood all the ways of God in His sufferings and glories. And also His glorious person, as the eternal Son of God, David's Lord, as well as David's son. It is our blessed portion now to know these things. (1 Cor. 2:9, 10.)

From that time they durst not ask Him any more questions.

Scripture Study: Matthew 18

The teaching of this chapter is important for the present time, when Christ is rejected and absent, and before the kingdom in glory, as in the 17th chapter, has come. It is connected with the 16th chapter, and unfolds the principles that belong to the kingdom and the church, as seen at the present time. It reveals the ways of God in regard to the assembly, and the character suited for this testimony.

Matt. 18:1-17. The disciples ask. "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily, I say unto you, expect ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." In the little child we get the spirit of dependence, meekness and humility, and they must become as little children. This is the proper spirit for one connected with a rejected Lord. "Whosoever therefore shall humble him self as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name, receiveth Me.”

On the other hand, he who caused one of the Lord's believing little ones to be stumbled, should be visited with terrible judgment. Woe unto the world, because of such offenses. And it matters not, if what hinders is as valuable to the disciples as a hand or foot or eye, it is better to be losers now, than be lost for eternity: better to enter into life maimed or with one eye, rather than to be cast into eternal fire.

They must exercise the greatest care in grace to help those believing little ones, and use the most unrelenting severity towards themselves in whatever might ensnare them. That which is only for time, is nothing compared to eternity. Severity toward self, and caring in grace for others, is the rule of the kingdom.

They were not to despise the little ones, such as the Lord set before them, for if unable to look after themselves, they were the objects of the Father's care, and they had one to represent them in His presence. They were not without sin in them, but sin not active, for they were but infants. The Father did not despise them, and the Son of man came to save that which was lost. Here the child's sinful state is seen, and the sacrifice of Christ is also seen meeting it. (Note: The word "seek" is not in this chapter, indicating that He is speaking of one who has not yet reached the years of responsibility.) In Luke 19:10, He speaks of those grown up.

The disciples were to have the humble and confiding spirit of a little child, and they were also to have the spirit of the Father, in their care over the weak and the lowly. This is the character suited to the kingdom. (Matt. 5:43-48.)

In regard to offenses against one's self, the spirit of meekness and regard for the offender's good was to be exercised; he was to gain his brother. He was to go and tell him his fault alone; if he hearkened to him, his brother's soul would be restored, and the matter would end there; if he would not hearken, he was to take one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established; if these means of restoration failed, it was to be made known to the assembly; and if this did not break him down, he was to leave him alone, as one of the nations or tax-gatherers-one not suitable company for a believer.

This is not discipline in the assembly; nor is it telling the assembly how to act. (The assembly must find out how to exercise discipline from the Lord in their midst.) This is instruction to a Christian, and shows the spirit he should walk in towards one who had offended him; and desire to gain his brother, is to be his object.

Matt. 18:18-20 gives the assembly with Christ in their midst. In Matt. 16:18, He spoke of building it. Here it is a gathered company, and what was exercised by Peter as an apostle in Matt. 16:19, is here conferred on the assembly with the Lord's presence in their midst.

The without and the within applies now to the assembly. (1 Cor. 5:12.)

If we look at Paul's writings we will find much instruction about the Holy Spirit's presence and power in the assembly, and gathering Christians as members of one body to Christ the Head; but in Matthew the assembly is recognized with Christ's presence in the midst of those gathered to His name.

Matt. 18:18-20. Heaven binds what is bound by the assembly-the two or three.

Matt. 18:19. The Father grants what they ask in prayer. "For where two or three are gathered together to My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

The unity of the spirit (Eph. 4:3) would teach us that what is done in one place in Christ's name, is done for the whole Church of God everywhere.

Deeply important are these verses. Wondrous favor and dignity put upon the two or three when truly gathered to His name. But sad, indeed, when claimed by some who only pretend to it, in whose lives or associations there lacks separation from evil, or the unity of the spirit-qualities which are invoked in that worthy name-His name.

Matt. 18:21 leads us to another characteristic of Christ in the believer as suited to His kingdom; viz., pardoning grace. The children of the kingdom are imitators of God (Eph. 5:1, 2), who is always ready to forgive. The assembly, having the Lord in the midst, needs to judge evil through discipline in order to clear His name from that which is not in keeping with His character. His name must not be associated with evil; and for the good of the one who sinned, that his conscience may be aroused to see God's hatred to evil. But individually, we need to be ready to pardon without end, when the wrong is confessed.

Matt. 18:23. In this parable we have a picture of the Jews. They had not only broken the law, but crucified the Son of God. On the cross the Lord interceded for them: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" This prayer is answered in Acts 3 by Peter giving them, as a nation, another offer of pardon. This also was refused. From Stephen's murder, they are given up as a nation, to punishment. Their wickedness is still seen in 1 Thess. 2:14-16, and there they will remain until the Lord can say, "Comfort ye, comfort ye, My people, saith your God;... she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." (Isa. 40:1-2.)

Salvation is individual at this present time, for Jew or Gentile, but "not My people" is written now upon the Jews till the day of their restoration comes. (Hos. 1:9-10.)

Matt. 18:35 gives this a practical application for us all. If the spirit of grace and forgiving love is not filling our hearts, we are not in happy communion with our Father.

Thus we see that the spirit of the kingdom now is not outward power, but lowliness wrought in us by the Father's love and grace; the enjoyed favor of God keeps us from seeking earthly greatness. Filled with the spirit of grace, we will cherish the lowly, and pardon those who have wronged us. The character of God is seen in us as we walk in communion with Him.

The assembly is made up of individuals, so that each of us should have this character. The assembly represents Christ on earth, for He is in their midst, and what is of God should be seen in it. May He give us grace to enter into this blessed place and portion, as two or three gathered to Christ's name.

Scripture Study: Matthew 17, Part 2

Matthew 17.AT 17{

Matt. 17:14-18. Here a new scene shows the incapacity of the disciples to act on what was in Him for their faith to use, also shows His never-failing compassion to the needy father whose son was a lunatic, and possessed by a demon, "Have mercy on my son, I brought him to Thy disciples and they could not cure him." How slow they were to apprehend their place. He had to rebuke them in the presence of the glory, on the mount, and now again before the world and Satan's power. O, faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I stiffer you? They cannot profit by His presence, and He must leave them, but He will not fail to meet the need of individual faith, so in the same breath He says, "Bring him hither to Me." The distressed father gets for his child the desired blessing, for Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matt. 17:19-21. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said, "Why could not we cast him out?" And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." If faith was in exercise, however small it might be, the difficulty would be overcome. So He adds, "How be it this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Prayer is felt dependence expressed to God; fasting is abnegation of self. It is giving oneself up to divine things, so that for the time bodily desires are set aside. There must be this practical energy of faith to avail ourselves of His power.

Matt. 17:22-23. Again the Lord explains definitely to them what was to happen to Him, and they are very sorry. It was necessary for the glory of God to bring in redemption, yet by the hands of men He would suffer.

Matt. 17:24-27. This tribute was a temple-tax that every godly Israelite would be willing to pay. When the collectors came to Peter, and asked, "Doth not your Master pay tribute?" Peter said at once, "Yes." And on going into the house, the Lord anticipated him by asking, "What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?" Peter saith unto Him, "Of strangers." Jesus saith unto him, "Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, (stumble them) go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee.”

What a rebuke to Peter's forgetfulness of His divine person.

What lowly grace to associate the disciples with Himself as sons of the great King of the temple. What making nothing of Himself to do the Father's will, and "lest we should stumble them." He, the Son of God, yet He took this lowly place in grace. He would condescend to pay tribute money for the repairs of the temple, yet in doing it shows Peter that He is Sovereign, Lord of all creation, but how it would bind the heart to Himself when He said, "That give for Me and thee.”

(Continued from page 296.)

Scripture Study: Philippians 3

Verses 1, 2. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”

As a shepherd under the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:2-4), the apostle, in his love for them, warns them of the danger from false teachers who would bring them into bondage. It was the admixture of Judaizing principles (that are now so common) with the truth of a glorified Christ, under the guise of religious zeal for the God given law. They destroyed the grace of Christianity as the Galatian Epistle unfolds; they reinstated the flesh as able to be improved. And Paul considering the falseness of them, in his love for the Christians, speaks in unmistakable earnestness,

“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." He treats this doctrine with contempt, and uses words, the strength of which is justified by his loving care for the assembly.

Dogs have no conscience; they were wicked workers; they were the concision trimming and improving the flesh, which in God's sight profits nothing, in which dwells no good thing (John 6:63; Rom. 7:18).

He knew it was only a bait of the enemy, seeking to destroy the assurance of believers, and that their sins are washed away in the blood of Christ, so here he teaches them the necessity of taking a firm stand against what contradicts the gospel of the grace of God. Having done this, he leaves it, to occupy their minds with the truth.

Verse 3. "For we are the circumcision, i.e., put to death with Christ, which worship God by the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Compare Col. 2:11). It means that in the death of Christ, we died; and in His resurrection, we are risen. It is the putting off the body of the flesh in, the death of Christ. The law cannot apply to one who is dead, and alive in a new position in Christ Jesus. We rejoice in Christ Jesus. He is our all and in us all, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Verses 4-6. If anyone might have confidence in the flesh, it was Saul of Tarsus, duly circumcised the eighth day, of the pure stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin who followed David. An Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; and he was one of the straitest of the religious leaders of that day. Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church; touching the righteousness of the law, blameless.

Saul of Tarsus was no hypocrite; he was sincere, religious, walked in all good conscience, and had shown great zeal in persecuting the Church of God, yet he was on the downward way, living in a mistake, till Christ in glory called him, stopped him on his downward way, as a child of wrath going on to eternal destruction (Eph. 2:3). His eyes were opened, and all his own righteousnesses he now sees, are but filthy rags (Psa. 143:2; Isa. 64:6). One look at Christ in the glory of God, declared the holiness of God, the worthiness of Christ, and his own ruined condition, and reduced him to know himself a lost, ruined, guilty sinner, a child of wrath, on the downward road to destruction. What a happy thing for him that the Lord stopped him before it was too late.

It was not the sins of the flesh that came before him, but it was the religiousness of the flesh that shocked him, henceforth, as he says,

Verse 7. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." In Christ he saw divine righteousness for man, and a divine glory in a Man; and as when the sun rises, the darkness is dispelled, and in its brightness the stars disappear, so in the excellency of the glory of Christ Jesus the Lord, who acknowledged the poor feeble believers as His members, as part of Himself, changed all his boasted goodness into filth and dross. All disappeared before the righteousness of God, and the glory of Christ. His whole moral being was changed now, as he afterward wrote, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Tim. 1:15. He called himself "less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8); and "not meet to be called an apostle." And not only that, but this glory of Christ shining in his soul, makes him now write,

Verse 8. "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ; and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection from among the dead.”

Here he speaks as in the wilderness path, and he is reaching forward, desiring to win Christ, and to know Him fully, and the righteousness of God. He desired to follow the Lord in His sufferings, and be made conformable unto His death; and he had to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, that he might follow Him in His sufferings.

His circumstances in prison helped to keep this before him. From his heart he desired to follow Christ. If death came in by the way, he was all the more like Christ, and whatever it cost, he desired to attain to the resurrection from among the dead; and with spiritual energy he presses on to win Him as He is.

Verse 12. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfected: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." He is keeping before himself the fact that the Lord arrested him to make him like Himself in glory.

Verses 13, 14. "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (or got possession): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ

Jesus." The glory with Christ before him, dimmed all else; he forgot himself in the blessed prospect. Every earthly advantage lost its value in this light. He was a happy Christian. He had an undivided heart for Christ.

Verses 15, 16. "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." He expects us all to be full grown; that is, to know ourselves as belonging to Christ in glory, and those who are full grown are to go on thus minded,-that is, with one thing before us, to be with and like Christ in glory. "And if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." How precious that is! It is not a question of our knowledge, but of having Christ in glory as our object, then God will reveal the rest to us. And what we have attained to, let us walk according to it, thus going on together in the Lord.

Verse 17. "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so that ye have us for an ensample." In this Epistle specially, and in Paul's teachings generally, we have the glorified Christ in view more than from the other apostles; he has just unfolded Him as the object in glory to whom we are pressing on, so he takes this place as pointing us all to press on to that object,-the glorified One that we are to be with and like. This is why he says; "Be ye followers of me." This does not turn our eyes from Christ, but rather to Him. His gaze was fixed on the heavenly One who ever shone before him.

Verses 18, 19, is a sad parenthesis that tells us of the departure of many in the assembly from their first love, and from their right condition. "For many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ." They had been a disappointment to the apostle, even to tears.

This he is not applying to the assembly at Phillipi only, but to the condition of the assemblies generally. Many had already professed the name of Christ whose lives had only earth and earthly things in view. The apostle did not own them; spirituality was lowered, and many who had no life at all, could walk among them in such an unspiritual condition, and their presence only made the state worse. But the apostle could see it, and warns the faithful that these are the enemies of the cross of Christ; their end was destruction; their god was their belly: and in their own desires, they were earthly minded.

Verses 20, 21. "For our conversation (or citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body (rather, body of humiliation), that it may be fashioned according to His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

This is what we wait for,-the coming of our Lord, as Savior, to save us out of this world by His power, and to have us like Himself in glory. This is the salvation set before us in this Epistle, the result due to the almighty power of our Lord and Savior. Then when He shall take His assembly to Himself in heavenly glory, we shall be what we have desired to be all along (1 John 3:2), then we shall have the resurrection from among the dead.

We are not led to occupy ourselves with our attainment here below, but occupied with Christ in glory; and that we are to be with Him and like Him there, leads us to seek to be like Him here also.

Scripture Study: Ephesians 2

In the prayer of Chapter 1 we had the distinct parts:

1St "That we may know what is the hope of His calling" (verses 3-5).

2nd "What is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (verse 11).

3rd "What is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe" as seen in Christ's resurrection and ascension. This last is more developed in Chapter 2.

In this Epistle, the moral corruption in which man is living, is not described as in Romans. Here man is seen as dead to God in trespasses and sins. It was needful in Romans to bring in death on the sinner. It is needful in Ephesians to give the dead sinner life in new creation.

Verses 1, 2 address the Gentile, "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." They were under Satan's power.

Verse 3. We have the Jew, "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." They were no better than the Gentiles.

Both Jew and Gentile were therefore dead to God. God must work in resurrection power to give them life: such was our terrible condition!

Verses 4-7. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." It is not here the sinner coming to Christ. It is God working in mighty power and sovereign grace to bring the sinner in.

“God, who is rich in mercy" (if otherwise we could not have been saved), "for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins," this passes all our understanding, how He could love us, yet He did, and saved us by His grace, and quickened us together with Christ, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ, that in the ages to come (that is forever) He might display the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. He found us dead in sins, and brought us out of death with Christ, as in His resurrection by the power of life, to set us in light, and in the favor of God as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Jew and Gentile are alike in this new position in Christ; distinctions are gone; all are one in Christ.

Verses 8-10. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The precious faith and all, is of God (2 Peter 1:1). "Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The fruit is of the same kind as the life. It is not works of the flesh, but what is produced by His Spirit in our new resurrection life, that is, life in the Risen Christ. All is the fruit of God's grace in the new position and character of the life received. We are to walk worthy of Him as the Head of a new creation who has prepared us for this very thing, and given us His Spirit as our power to keep Christ as our pattern before us.

Verse 11. The Gentiles were to remember how deeply they had sunken. The apostle does not recognize good in circumcision of the flesh in the Jew here, but it serves to intensify the place of distance the Gentiles were in. They "were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." What a change to the present position that grace has given them!

Verse 13. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

"So nigh, so very nigh to God,

We cannot nearer be;

For in the person of His Son,

We are as near as He.”

Verses 14, 15. "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of (enclosure) partition, having abolished (or annulled) the enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances; for to make in Himself of the twain, one new man, so making peace." All that kept the two separate is gone, for the man in the flesh is gone, and both are in Christ risen from the dead, law or ordinances are done with in this new position.

Verses 16-18. "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." They are both one now, one body, members one of another, and both have privileges exceeding even the priests of Israel. "For through Him, we both have access by One Spirit unto the Father." What blessedness is ours now to enjoy! What holy intimacy! We might well ponder this verse. There is no veil for us now. Through Christ Jesus we enter, the blessed Holy Spirit leading us into the presence of our God and Father, there to delight in all that He delights in.

Verse 19. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." We are of the household of God, the family. Heaven is our home, there is our citizenship, we are fellow citizens now, but we have become strangers on earth, and have lost our citizenship here. Our home is where He is, to whom we belong.

Verse 20. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone." These are the New Testament apostles and prophets. The Old Testament prophets did not know anything of the blessings of this present period of grace-the Mystery that was hid from before the foundation of the world.

Verse 21. "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord." This is progressive; it is going on, but is not complete yet. It answers in figure to Solomon's Temple. All the stones cut out and prepared according to the Great Architect's plan, all fitting their own peculiar place in that glorious scene, only to be seen in all its grandeur when it is completed in glory, when it will be to His glory "by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (3:21).

Verse 22. Here we have another aspect of the house: this is always complete for our use all the way home, like the Tabernacle on the journey, God dwelling in His house here on earth. We have the blessing of this blessed fact now.

In 1 Cor. 3 we have it under man's responsible hand in building, and so wood, hay and stubble, have come into it, but however great the ruin of it outwardly, to faith we can recognize God dwelling with us as it is spoken of here, "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Here it is looked at as a fact in the blessing of it without reference to human responsibility in building.

No one can be a true member of Christ, without being really united to Christ the Head; neither a true stone in the house of God; but the house can be the dwelling place of God, although that which is not a true stone may enter into its construction.

How wonderful are God's ways in all these unfoldings. May we have the eyes of our hearts opened intelligently to them more and more!

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 12

1Co 12Let it be well understood by us all, that every one who has believed the gospel of his salvation, is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). The Spirit of God dwells in him (1 Cor. 6:19), and the Spirit is the seal, the anointing, and the earnest in our hearts (2 Cor. 1:21, 22). He also dwells in the assembly as a whole (1 Cor. 3:16).

There are anxious souls who are seeking to walk in the right way, and show marks of life, but have not seen Christ as the one in whom they are perfected (Heb. 10:14). They have not settled peace (Rom. 5:1); we do not speak of these as Christians. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," and these are yet in bondage. Safe as trusting in Christ, but not yet knowing salvation where no condemnation can ever come.

The Holy Spirit dwells in those who are redeemed; they do not pray for the Holy Ghost to be given to them then.

This chapter speaks of spiritual manifestations. The apostle wishes them to know the distinctive marks of the Holy Spirit's presence and actings.

Verses 2, 3, refer to how the evil spirits spoke and acted with the heathen, and the Corinthians were such before conversion, and had allowed themselves to be led just as the evil spirits desired. One speaking in the power of the Spirit of God, would never say, "Curse on Jesus." No demon would own the Lordship of Christ. Christians, speaking in the power of the Spirit of God, gladly own Jesus as Lord. This is the contrast, not between a true Christian and one who is only a professor, but between heathenism and Christianity.

In the present-day we find Christians yielding to the influence of evil spirits, and are led by them into extravagancies of behavior; and what they call "speaking with tongues" is entirely contrary to Scripture, and they think that they are led by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit would ever lead us into obedience to the Word of God. The enemy is active now as ever, to lead astray the children of God. Some, not having Christ as the satisfying portion of the heart, and seeking for higher spiritual life, as it is sometimes called, have fallen victims to these influences which exercise power over their minds,-it is the deluding power of the enemy in these last days.

Verses 4-7. Here we get instructions, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." But to each, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for profit. There is no thought in verse 7 of every man in the world having the Spirit. He is speaking only to the Church of God. It is given to each member to fill his place according to the gift he has received from God in the power of the Spirit. It is by the Spirit that communion is maintained and enjoyed. We could not realize the character, and discern the will of God without this communion, or be able to witness for God on earth. Our strength, our joy, and our spiritual intelligence would fail. The Lord saw the condition of the Church at Ephesus, and said, "Thou hast left thy first love," while others might think her a bright witness for the Lord, and if we are walking in the power of the Spirit, we are occupied with the Lord; not with ourselves, our blessings, or our attainments, or progress, nor with the Holy Spirit. He occupies us with Christ who reveals the Father to us. All three work together as one in mind and purpose, so that the Spirit is in power, carrying out the will of God to glorify the Father and the Son, and for profit of the assembly, and using the members of the body to minister to each other.

Verse S. "For to one by the Spirit is given the word of wisdom." "Wisdom is the application of divine light to right and wrong, and to all the circumstances through which we pass-a perception of the true nature of things, and of their relationship to each other, and of conduct with regard to both, which, coming from God, guides us through the difficulties of the way, and enables us to avoid that which would place us in a false position towards God and man." "To another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit." Knowledge is intelligence in the mind of God as it is revealed to us.

Verse 9. "To another faith by the same spirit." "Faith is not here, simple faith in the gospel (that is, not a distinctive gift which one believer may possess and another not), This is evident. It is the faith, the energy, given by God which overcomes difficulties, which rises above dangers, which confronts them without being alarmed by them.”

Verse 10. "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy" (that is, receiving the revelation from God in some special way about His mind, before the Scriptures were completed. Acts 21:9).

“To another discerning of spirits." "The discerning of spirits is not that of a man's condition of soul-it has nothing to do with it. It is the knowledge how to discern, by the mighty energy of the Spirit of God, the actings of evil spirits, and to bring them to light if necessary, in contrast with the action of the Spirit of God.”

“To another divers kind of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues." These two last with working of miracles, and gifts of healing, are today shamefully used by Satan's imitation to deceive godly people. And many calling themselves Christians are carrying on the delusion, and many dear children of God have their happiness ruined by going with them.

The apostle is not giving in this chapter what is to continue to the end, as he does in Eph. 4:11-14, but what was going on at that time when the Church was all together, and God was working specially for its establishment in the truth. It is Satan's miracles that are found at the end of the Church period (2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 16:14; Matt. 7:21-23). There is no such thing as speaking in tongues, or interpreting of tongues today. The last is a gross deception where it is asserted that they can interpret. The speaking is an evil and uncontrolled influence that has no use or meaning to it,-no real language in it. It is the influence of evil spirits in those who have yielded themselves to it.

Verse 11. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." Another quotation, "The Spirit was one, he had said, working diversely in the members according to His will. The importance of His personality, and the immense import of His divinity (if we reflect that it is He who works in and by man) is very evident when we observe that He is the center and the living power of the unity of the whole body, so that the individuals, in the exercise of their gifts, are but the members of the one and the same body divinely formed by the power and the presence of the, Spirit. This point the apostle develops largely, in connection with the oneness of the body, the mutual dependence of the members, and the relationship of each one to the body as a whole.”

Verses 12, 13. These verses show that the body of Christ, with its many members, has been formed by the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and that it includes all Jews and Gentiles who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

This was not possible before Christ died and rose again, and was exalted to glory at God's right hand (John 7:39; Acts 2:33; Eph. 3:2-10). Now it is a blessed fact, and it becomes every Christian to believe it, and to behave accordingly. And not only are we One body, but the word says, "And have been all made to drink into One Spirit." "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." 1 Cor. 6:17.

"One spirit with the Lord;”

O blessed, wondrous word!

What heavenly light, what power divine,

Doth that sweet word afford!

“One spirit with the Lord,”

Jesus, the glorified,

Esteems the Church for which He bled,

His body and His bride.

It looks like an allusion to the cup we partake of in the Lord's supper; he is not speaking there of the Holy Ghost: one spirit was the state of the believers, the word being used in contrast with one body, associated in one heart and mind by the Spirit,-participating in Christ, so that we are by the Spirit formed into one body and are all made partakers, are animated individually by one and the same Spirit.

Verses 14-25. All the members are needed to form the one body, and have need of each other, is all the members of a person's body need each other. "And even those gifts which were the most shining, were comparatively of the least value, even as a man clothes and ornaments the least honorable parts of his body, and leaves the more beautiful parts uncovered.”

Verse 26. This gives common interests in all the members, either in caring for, or suffering, or honoring each other.

Verse 27. "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular," and though that assembly was only part of the body of Christ, it was the local expression of the whole body.

There is no other membership in the New Testament, and this looks at all Christians as members joined together by the Holy Ghost, and while meeting in different towns or countries, we take them all in when the one loaf is before us on the table (1 Cor. 10:16, 17). Notice also that this One Body is not a tree with branches; it recognizes believers every where, as one.

Alas! scattering and divisions exist, and while a few gather to the Name of the Lord Jesus as members of the body of Christ, we could not say of such a meeting now, "Ye are the body of Christ and members in particular," but we might say, "We are gathered as members of His body, to Christ the Head," and that is the only ground in Scripture to gather upon with the Lord's approval, and such a gathering is in the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3, 4).

Verses 28-31. "God hath set some in the assembly." Notice that the word is changed. The assembly has no members; the body has. The apostle takes in the whole assembly everywhere as one assembly. It is God's assembly on earth, and by the One Spirit who dwells in it, He is ministering gifts necessary for its building up. This is not a complete list of the gifts, but to mark their order and importance (the evangelist is not even mentioned here), and some of these are needed no longer. Apostles and prophets laid the foundation (Eph. 2). Sign-gifts have disappeared. All were right in their place, but he says, "Covet earnestly the best gifts," those which minister edification to the assembly.

Eph. 4:11-16, gives what is to continue to the coming of the Lord. No gifts which are signs of power to others, are mentioned there. The Lord has left to us what is needed for the upbuilding of the saints.

Then we get a more excellent way shown us in the next chapter,-love the spring of it all,-the love of Christ in its activity in His members.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 15

1Co 15The resurrection, especially of the saints, is the subject of this chapter. Some were so blinded by Satan as to say that there is no resurrection of the dead. This undermined the truth of the gospel; therefore the apostle enters fully into it to recover them, and to establish them in the truth, that they might be "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that their labor is not in vain in the Lord" (verse 58).

Verses 1, 2. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory (or hold fast) what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." It would indeed be in vain, if Christ be not raised. For the comfort of some trembling ones, we remark, that no believer can believe in vain, now that Christ is risen, living, and glorified at God's right hand,-the proof that God is satisfied, and that we are justified (Rom. 5:1).

Verses 3, 4. "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." This is the first great proof. Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets (Luke 24:26, 27, 44-47) all bear abundant witness to the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. To deny it, is to deny the whole Word of God. Every one must believe it, or they cannot be saved (Acts 4:12); and none can be lost who believe on Him (John 10:9; Rom. 10:9). His word to the believer now is, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14:19. What full assurance this gives! We have boldness now for the day of judgment, "because as He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17.

Verses 5-8. The apostle mentions other witnesses who had seen Christ risen: Cephas, the twelve, five hundred brethren at once, many of them living at the time Paul wrote; then James, then all the apostles, and lastly Paul saw Him in the glory of God. A sevenfold, or complete witness.

Verses 8-10. But the apostle cannot let this pass without reflecting on the grace that saved one so unworthy, and made him an apostle, who in his own mind was the least of the apostles, and was not worthy to be called an apostle, because, as he said, "I persecuted the Assembly of God," and added, "By the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Verses 11-19. But it was the same blessed gospel that Paul and the other apostles preached, and which the Corinthians had believed, and if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how false the thought that there is no resurrection. If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then the preaching was in vain, and the believing was all in vain, and the apostles were false witnesses of God, for they testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not, for if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised: and if Christ be not raised, their faith is vain: they were yet in their sins, and consequently the martyrs, who had fallen asleep in Christ, had perished. If Christ was not risen there was no salvation. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." The Christian's prospect is suffering here, and glory to come.

Verses 20-28 are a parenthesis, giving fuller explanation. "But now is Christ risen from (among) the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." He is viewed as man who has undergone death, and God has raised Him by His favor and power, to bring Him back from among the dead, as those also who are His own, possessing life in Him, will also be raised from among the dead. He was the One who had in grace gone down into death to accomplish and to display the deliverance of man in Christ from the power of Satan and death, verifying the work of atonement as complete and showing openly in man the victory over all the power of the enemy.

“Thus Christ arose from among all the other dead (for death could not hold Him), and established the glorious principle of this divine and complete deliverance, and became the first fruits of them that slept, who having His life, await the exercise of His power, which will awaken them by virtue of His Spirit that dwells in them. It needed to be by man.”

Verse 21. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead." "No doubt, the power of God can call men back from the tomb. He will do so, acting in the person of His Son, to Whom all judgment is given. But that will not be a victory gained in human nature over death, which held men captive. This it is which Christ has done. He was willing to be given up to death for us, in order (as man) to gain the victory over death, and over him who had the power of death. By man came death; by man, resurrection. Glorious victory I complete triumph! We come out of the state where sin and its consequences fully reached us. Evil cannot enter the place into which we are brought out. We have crossed the frontiers forever. Sin, the power of the enemy, remains outside this new creation, which is the fruit of the power of God after evil had come in, and which the responsibility of man shall not mar. It is God who maintains it is connection with Himself: it depends on Him.”

Verse 22. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Outside the garden of Eden, the fallen Adam became the father of sinful man. In resurrection-life Christ became the Head of the new creation, which believers have part in now. Christ, in whom is life, communicated it to them; it is life in the power of resurrection, without which they could not have it (John 12:24). He would have remained alone. But He died for their sins, and now He imparts life to them,-all their sins being forgiven them. It is true, the wicked dead will be raised by Christ, but that is not the subject here. His power will accomplish it.

Verse 23. "But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ 's at His coming." Those who are in Christ are quickened according to the power of the life which is in Him; it is the resurrection of life, the resurrection of the blessed and holy, those to whom He had already given eternal life, and this power which He exercises in raising the saints, goes on till all things are subdued unto Himself (Phil. 3:21). Then cometh the end when He takes the kingdom and acts as King, His power subduing all things to Himself; during which all power and all authority shall be abolished, then He delivers up the kingdom to God, even the Father. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). This is the second death; this is what is said in this chapter about the unsaved. It is not annihilation, it is the lake of fire. The Son of Man is the judge of all. His power raises from the dead, and thus death is destroyed.

They are passed over here in silence, only that death's dominion is gone, for even the unsaved are then raised from death,-that is the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29 tells of resurrection of saved and unsaved). When the Lord has put all His enemies under His feet, and put down all rule and authority and power till the last enemy is destroyed, and the kingdom rule is finished, then He gives it back to the Father. His mediation is needed no longer; all is reconciled to God, and sin's terrible results are in the lake of fire. Then righteousness dwells in the new heavens and the new earth; all God's glory made good, then the Son takes His place still as a Man, subject to the will of the Father.

Can we not see in this His wonderful, infinite love that we might forever enjoy His presence with us thus in blessed nearness and intimacy. He said before the worlds came into existence, "My delights were with the sons of men." His heart will then be fully satisfied.

(To be continued)

Scripture Study: Ephesians 4:20-32

Verses 20-24, give the contrast. "But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: (namely) your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts; and being renewed in the spirit of your mind; and (your) having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness" (N. T.). What a change now in the believer! The flesh is still unimproved in him, but now he is set free from its slavery, and he can walk according to the new life, and in the work that God ordained for him to walk (chapter 2:8-10). We have learned Christ, and the truth is in Jesus. He is the Truth. We find it only in Him. So we are to walk in His steps (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6), and put on in our walk what is practically of Him (compare Col. 3:12, 13).

As we go on, we will find these contrasts between what is of the old man to be put off, and what is of the new to be put on practically, we having been quickened together with Christ.

Verse 25. "Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another." We might notice here that the works of the flesh are always false in themselves. It is not merely saying what is not true, but it is also occupation with evil. We might speak of things that took place without a doubt, and still be occupied with evil. Speaking truth is the contrast here, and the truth is in Jesus; it is holiness of truth, and this would be helpful to all, for we are members one of another (see verse 16).

Verses 26, 27. To understand these verses we need to contrast 26 with verse 31, for evidently the one is of the new man, and the other is of the old. In the one we are told to be angry, and in the other we are to put anger away. It helps us to look at the Lord Jesus in Mark 3:5. He "looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts." This was divine anger against man's sin. So in verse 26 of our chapter we too are to "Be angry." The sin in us would be, if we were not angry. So it reads "Be ye angry, and sin not." It is not fleshly passion. We have heard of some in fleshly temper, when reproved for it, say, "It is righteous indignation." What we have here is refusal to have fellowship with evil ways or evil doctrine. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath," is like Joshua who said, "Thou sun stand still, and thou moon in the valley of Ajalon, till the people be avenged of their enemies." So we must be always opposed to what is evil; we must not cease being angry, in that way, for if we cease to be angry at sin, we are giving place to Satan, and it says distinctly, "Neither give place to the devil." The contrast is between what is of God in verse 26, and what is of the flesh in verse 31. It could not mean, as some have thought, that two who had quarreled should make it up before sundown. In quarreling they were allowing the flesh a place, and sinning against the Lord, and disobeying verse 31.

Verse 28. Again we have the contrast between the selfishness of man as fallen, and of God's free giving as seen in Christ Jesus. Selfishness seeks to appropriate everything to his own gain. The saints are therefore warned not to steal any more, as they did before conversion, and were still in danger of doing it again, for covetousness is idolatry: it is all for self.

How different with the Lord Jesus who became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich; and God who delights to give, gave for us His only begotten Son, and with Him freely gives us all things (Rom. 8:32). This is to be the principle of our giving. Working with our hands is needful for us, all that is good for our families and necessary things, and then our privilege besides is, that we may have to give to him that needeth, but this also needs to be done with guidance from the Lord who is all wise to know when to give and when to with-hold from giving, but the principle frees our motives from selfishness.

Verses 29, 30 are also, important; we need to take care what we say. If it is corrupt, as all of the flesh in us is, it is damaging to those who hear it; it hurts our own communion, and it grieves the Holy Spirit. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." What carefulness we therefore should exercise in our talk, and in our walk, lest our fellowship be broken, though we know even as this verse reminds us, that He will never leave us. We are sealed unto the day of redemption, when our bodies will be changed or raised, and we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, so to be forever with Him.

Verses 31, 32. What a contrast is here. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Thank God, we are no longer slaves of sin. We have the new creation life, and the Holy Spirit, and a new object and pattern. We are now children of obedience, so we can set aside all the foregoing, and now practice the following, "And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake (or God in Christ) hath forgiven you.”

How vast, how full, how free, His mercy has been in forgiving love! Let us follow His example in this also.

(Continued from page 155)

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 10

1Co 10In this chapter Israel is used to further illustrate this mixture of life and godliness on the one hand: and with profession of religion on the other: both externally occupying the same position. All Israel, including the mixed multitude that left Egypt with them, were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Freed from the tyranny of Pharaoh, and placed under the leadership of Moses, they did eat the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

We see this in the followers of Christ when He was on earth. (Compare John 2:23-25 with 6:66-71.) In the parables we find tares in the wheat fields; good and bad fish in the net (Matt. 13); the man without the wedding garment (Matt. 22); wise and foolish virgins waiting for the Bridegroom (Matt. 25); good and wicked servants. And in the history of the professing church, as the witness for Christ, we find the mixture (Rev. 2 and 3).

All who are real are born of God, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, and are members of the body of Christ. No unconverted can be in that body (1 Cor. 12:12, 13; Eph. 4:4).

It is therefore into this external place that baptism admits us. We may take the Lord's supper, and be attentive to all the meetings, but none of these can save the soul. If we have not eternal life, we will assuredly be left behind when the Lord comes for His people, and will eventually be cast into the lake of fire.

Verse 5. "With many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness." This does not mean that they were lost. All the men who left Egypt died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. The things that happened to Israel are to teach us. Moses, Aaron, Miriam all needed chastening. Moses, the law, could not bring them into the land. Joshua, the Savior, can bring us in, but we need chastening on the way (Heb. 12:5-11). There is much about us all that needs self-judgment constantly. Our great High Priest strengthens us. Our Advocate with the Father maintains us if any man sin. So we are chastened and exercised by God's dealings with us.

“If ye live after the flesh ye shall die" (Rom. 8:13). That is one who has no spiritual life; he may be all that pleases men, but he cannot bear fruit for God. We cannot always point them out. "The Lord knoweth them that are His.”

If you have any doubts about your salvation, dear reader, get it settled at once. Go straight to the Lord, and get from Him by His Word, this full assurance of faith.

In our behaviors we all more or less fail, but our standing in Christ is eternally perfect. He is perfected in glory now, and "by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." This blessed assurance should encourage us in faithfulness to the Lord in our ways.

Verse 6. Lust is gratifying the flesh.

Verse 7. Through idolatry, the true God is displaced from our souls.

Verse 8. Instead of fornication, purity of life is a necessity.

Verse 9. Tempting the Lord, is not trusting Him. Satan wanted the Lord to try if God would be faithful (Matt. 4:6, 7).

Verse 11. All these things happened as types, and were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages are come. Let us therefore hear the warning, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." None of us are safe from falling now, though we may be saved for eternity.

Next we see God's faithfulness (verse 13), "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it." This should make our hearts rejoice, and encourage us to look to Him as our resource in time of trial.

Verses 14-17. "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say." And to clear their minds fully he speaks of the ground of communion of Christians, Jews and Idolaters.

Verses 16 and 17 is Christian communion. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ`? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." It seems plain that no unconverted person could take this place. Notice that the cup comes first here; when we believe the gospel of our salvation, our sins are washed away, and we learn that we are forgiven, and then God gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, uniting us to Christ our living Head in glory. Our communion is therefore on this ground:-that our sins are cleansed away by His blood, and we are now members of His body, and this is expressed in partaking of this bread.

The One bread or loaf alludes to this oneness of Christ and His members. We shall see in chapter 11 That we partake of it in remembrance of Christ in His death. But in this chapter (10) it is the communion of the blood and the body of Christ, and thus in our minds we may include every member as we look upon that One bread.

Verse 18. Israel after the flesh partook of the sacrifices, and were thus identified with Israel's altar.

Verses 19-22. "What say I then?" and he brings out the serious truth to those who had been idolaters, that eating their sacrifices offered to idols was having fellowship with demons (evil spirits), for while an idol is nothing in itself, yet the power of Satan is behind it, to keep men's hearts away from the living and true God (Deut. 32:17). This should deliver the Christians from doing such a thing, for it was morally impossible to go on with the table of the Lord, and the table of devils; they could not have fellowship with both. It would be to provoke the Lord to jealousy. Are we stronger than He?

Some Christians have ignorantly spoken of sectarian tables as tables of devils. This is entirely wrong, yet we see in such passages as Acts 20:30 that Christian men-your own selves-arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (see also Rom. 16:17, 18; and 2 Tim. 1:15). These are clearly in division, and walk as men (chapters 1 and 3), and we could not say that they are gathered to Christ's name, as in Matt. 18:20. They rather might be spoken of as men's tables, though that expression is not in the Word; one could not put the Lord's name to their gathering. Another thing, we know that godly souls, earnest and sincere, enjoy personal communion with the Lord in whatever company they are. How gracious the Lord is with His people in all the confusion that has come in.

Verses 23, 24. The instructions teach us to seek the edification of others, even in what we feel at liberty to do. We are to seek each other's good. In chapter 8, we had the importance of this, lest we should turn a brother from the Lord.

Verse 25. That which was bought in the markets, they could eat without inquiry, for the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof: and if they went to a feast, they were to eat what was set before them, asking no question for conscience sake; but if said to them, "This is offered in sacrifice to idols," then he was not to eat, because of the man's conscience who said it, yet they gave thanks, and were going to partake of it as coming from the Lord. Why should this be? The answer is, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all things to God's glory. Giving no occasion of stumbling, neither to the Jew, nor to the Greek, nor to the Church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Blessed happy servant he! and he added: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).

Extract From J. N. D: Also Scripture Study, Ephesians 6

“Keep yourselves in the love of God." This is state and shows that when the Christian profession had slipped and was slipping, more personal dependence comes in urgently. The moment I let this in, I let in all the light, and gradually my eyes get to see clearly. Christ is that light, and when we have to do with Him the subtlety of evil is seen; but, besides the light, grace and present dependence are needed.

Let us delight in dependence, and that a person above us should minister to us and care for us.

MEDITATIONS ON SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 6EPH 6

How encouraging it is to find our God and Father interested in all that concerns His children, and to have directions given us to carry out all our relationships of life in obedience and subjection to Him; and to find in all, as with wife and husband, children and parents, servants and masters, His love and grace the power to carry out the obedience and subjection to, and with each other.

Verses 1-3. Here He claims the attention of the children of Christian parents, and speaks to them, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." He teaches them their duty to their parents, thus helping children to be subject and to obey, with a promise of His governmental care over them attached to their obedience.

Verse 4. "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Surely this is after the pattern of His government over us. A loving father seeks the best he can do for His children, and even his discipline over them is ever with a view to their good; and so we believe it is with our God and Father, though often our natural hearts are slow to give Him the credit. How much we need to think of Him as slow to anger and of great mercy.

How carefully we need to guard our tempers in chastening our children, or in speaking to them. Instruction and advice is to be given with patient grace and love. How much many of us can see how we have failed in this. We are slow learners in divine things.

How perfect, was our Savior in all. "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God." He carried it out in thought and word and deed.

Verses 5-8. "Servants (slaves, bondmen) be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ: not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart: with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not unto men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

This is surely the obedience of Christ to which every believer is sanctified (1 Peter 1:2), and such behavior is truly adorning the doctrine of God in all things (Titus 2:10),-a true pattern for us all in our service to our Lord.

It is not fear and trembling in dread of punishment, it is holy reverence lest he should grieve his Master in heaven who is giving him these orders, and on whom he can count for the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. What dignity is here given to the Christian slave who thus carries himself through grace, serving his Master as if he was the Lord Himself. And it was to be the same, no matter if his master was a wicked man, he was still to be the servant of Christ. His reward is sure.

Verse 9. "And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him." Here we get the Christian master tested; forbearing threatening intimates that his slave might fail in his obedience and behavior, yet the master is to have grace in his dealings with his servants, even as our Master in heaven has to bear so much with us in our poor service, so often marked with slothfulness and cold neglect. What abundance of grace is in the Lord for us, to carry us through in our behavior to all others, to His glory.

We are now to see what enemies we have, and how to defeat them, and before he mentions them he says:

Verses 10-13. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Israel under Joshua had to fight for the land that was given them (Deut. 32:8, and 7:16), but others had possession of it, and had to be exterminated or subdued.

Israel's possessions were the land of Canaan. Our possessions are our blessings in heavenly places in Christ. "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread on shall be yours," was said to them (Deut. 11:24). Likewise, we need to claim our blessings before we can enjoy them.

The twelve spies sent by Moses to view the land, reported that it was a good land, flowing with milk and honey, but the cities were walled, and there were giants of great stature. Ten of the twelve discouraged the people, but the two, Joshua and Caleb said, It is "an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land flowing with milk and honey. Only 'rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not." Num. 14:7-9.

Unbelief cannot enter into the land. Now it is the same with our blessings in heavenly places. We have read in these former chapters what the purposes of God are concerning His Son, and what He has given us in Him.

We need to lay hold of it all by faith, and having taken possession, we need to keep our selves in the enjoyment of it. So we have, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." We are weakness in ourselves. But now we are to "put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

It is good to begin with, to know that Christ our Lord has defeated this enemy. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" is the word, and in this we see that it is not against flesh and blood that we wrestle, but with the unseen powers of darkness, against wicked spirits in heavenly places. We know little about them, only Satan and his host are the inveterate enemies of God and truth. In dependence on God and confidence in Him, every enemy is overcome, and the armor of God is provided for us to have on. Seven parts of it are mentioned, but in their use, like the colors of the rainbow, they are all blended together and all used together. The last mentioned is prayer, and that underlies the use of all, for unless in dependence on God, we cannot profit by it.

Self confidence is the armor of the flesh, and while we speak of these wicked principalities and powers, it is good to remember that there are others (Eph. 3:10) who are the willing messengers of God, ready to carry out the mind of God for His people. As the centurion said to the Lord Jesus "Only speak the word, and my servant shall be healed." Wonderful to think that these heavenly beings can learn from us (Compare also 1 Cor. 11:10; 1 Peter 1:12; Heb. 1:14; Psa. 68:17 Margin). We are children of the light now, and do not walk in darkness; and in the light of God's presence, for God is light, these creatures of darkness have no power. God is ever supreme (Psa. 103:19).

Verse 14. "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth," that is, truth controlling the conscience and heart, truth in the inward parts. The Lord when tempted by Satan said, "Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word of God." It is the obedience of Christ in us, and is the fruit of walking with God.

“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness." This is practical righteousness; without this on we cannot stand before the enemy. He will roar at us, and our guilty conscience makes us powerless to stand. We must maintain a good conscience in practical righteousness.

Verse 15. "Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." This is our character as children of God (Matt. 5:9; James 3:18). Our ways marked as a man of peace. We walk in a peaceful spirit with others, and we enjoy the peace of God. He is the God of peace (Phil. 4:9).

Verse 16. "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." This is a defensive part. Satan tries to throw into the soul some suggestion of doubt that will irritate and inflame, unless quenched, the shield of faith. "I believe God quenches at once all spiritual doubts. We have our confidence in God and His Word.”

Verse 17. "And take the helmet of salvation." Yes, this is our helmet. We are saved (Eph. 2:8), we know it, we have it, we rejoice in it.

In 1 Thess. 5:8, where we are seen in the wilderness, and on our journey, we have as a helmet, "the hope of salvation," that is the Lord's coming to save us out of the world; that is all right there, but in Ephesians we are in our promised land in spirit already, and we have salvation already in blessed assurance.

“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." This is active warfare, both offensive and defensive. If the soul is not in communion with God, it cannot use this sword. If the Word has not done its work in our soul, how can we use it for others. When the Lord met Satan in the wilderness, He quoted the word in its application to Himself,-He lived in obedience to it. That completely defeated the enemy, whose effort was to get Him to do His own will, without the word from His Father. So we need the Word for our own path, and that defeats the enemy.

Verse 18. "Praying always," this lies under the whole armor; this is our constant dependence on God. It is not "saying our prayers," it is "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." It is the reality of having to do with God, and it goes out in all God's interests, "watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." It takes in God's message going forth in this world. We have not the ambassadors now, but we have heralds, messengers, who can echo out the message of reconciliation, "Be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5:20, 21. Watchful perseverance is needed here. The apostle desired their prayerful interest in his service and suffering for Christ.

Verses 21, 22, show their affectionate interest in him. Tychicus conveyed it.

Verse 23. "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Verse 24. "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, Amen.”

Scripture Study: Philippians 1

Philippians 1.PHI 1

This Epistle is the normal experience of Christian life under the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to see in it a beautiful sample of the truths that enlighten us with rules and motives for our walk. Paul was in prison and the Philippians, who had great affection for him, had sent him help again by Epaphroditus; they had done so before at the beginning of his labors. This time it came to him when in need. Epaphroditus was sick, nigh unto death, in bringing the money to him. Then he felt that the assembly of God was deprived of his watchful care over it. This, judging from the letter, was the occasion the Lord used for the apostle to write it.

In this Epistle, the saints are looked at as on the journey through the wilderness. It was the accomplished work of Christ, known in their souls, that made them strangers and pilgrims, and they are pressing on to be with Him in glory, where full salvation will be theirs with Him.

Verses 1, 2. "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In this address and salutation with his fellow laborer's name attached, we may see that it is not an Epistle of authority, but of loving fellowship with dear saints in whom he had much confidence, and including the bishops and deacons as caretakers over the assembly, shows that the truth was needed for all.

Verses 3-6. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." We may notice here that this prayer of the apostle is not merely a word of assurance of eternal salvation, but expresses his confidence that the good work in them which is evidently likeness to Christ, will be continued by God in them till they are with and like the Lord in glory, for that is the day of Jesus Christ, when He sees with exceeding joy that they are all fully like Him in His glory (Jude 24).

Verses 7, 8. He goes on reminding them of their mutual love with him, and how they had shared through grace with him in his sufferings and work in the gospel. "Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart (margin), inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers ("with-me" margin) of my grace, for God is my witness, how greatly I long after you all in the affections of Jesus Christ." Here the apostle has them in his heart.

Verses 9-11 tells us what he prayed for: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in (full) knowledge and (all intelligence N. T.): that ye may approve (or try) things that are (more) excellent: that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ: being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

Paul remembered with loving tenderness the way in which they had always acted toward him.

It drew out his desires for them that God who had wrought in them would produce for their own blessing, the perfect, plentiful fruits of that love. He could not be with them, but he wants them to know that they have an inexhaustible source of strength in God Himself.

Verses 12, 13. "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places." They could see that it was for Christ that he was suffering, and not as a criminal.

Verses 14-21. "And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of goodwill. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds; but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

Happy servant of the Lord, upheld by divine grace, his spirit rejoices that Christ is preached in whatever way it is done, and those whose selfish jealousy and envy tried to add affliction to his bonds, find nothing in him to answer to their efforts, for in Paul was found the pure desire that Christ should be made known.

The assembly had not then departed so far from its true condition as it has now done, but evils were already springing up. "All seek their own," says the apostle, "not the things of Jesus Christ," and God allowed it to be so during the apostle's life, that we might know His thoughts about it, and be guided to the true resources of His grace in such circumstances.

It is when things are going wrong that men of God come into prominence. It must have been trying to Paul to be shut up in prison when he knew the assemblies needed care and shepherding, but he knew that if Satan had put him in prison, God had a purpose in Satan being allowed to do it, and this purpose included the advancement of the truth of the gospel, thus gaining fresh victories over the enemy, and by it the servants of Ceaser knew the truth. Paul counted on the prayers of the saints, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. He had the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, and so has each believer, but there is something we also should pray for, and count on God for, "the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ." What was it for? Hear His words, "According to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death, for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." What faith this is! if Christ is glorified, he is content, even if the Lord has laid him aside, he gloried more and more in the sure victory of Christ in which he shared; and in suffering for Him, he did not know when he might be called to lay down his life, it would only be gain for him; if he lived, it was Christ. The work was precious to him, but the Lord Himself was more precious, and now after four years in prison, he knew that the Lord was working out His own purposes in the work of the gospel also. In the sense of this, Paul decides as to his own fate; without thinking what Ceaser might do, he was looking at what the Lord would do. Paul knew that Christ loved the Assembly, therefore, if he was needed for the assembly he would be spared to minister to it. So he reasons and writes

“Verses 22-26. But if I live in the flesh (is my lot), this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not, for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ: which is far better. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you, and having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again." But he does not forget to remind them that they too should be careful about their behavior.

Verses 27, 28. "Only let your conversation (or conduct) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries; which to them is a token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God." They were to be of one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel, and they were to remember that however loud the lion might roar against them, God Himself was for them above it all. They could expect rejection:

Verses 29, 30. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake: having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." This proclaimed a terrible judgment on the persecutors; but to those persecuted for Christ's sake, it was a token of salvation and that of God. It was given to them, where accepted it always brings joy. It was a further and a precious portion in suffering with Christ and for Christ, and communion with His faithful servant in suffering for His sake, united them more closely in spirit in Him.

Nepenthes: Also Scripture Study, Ephesians 4

Far away in the tropics there grow some remarkable plants, called Nepenthes. They are veritable death-traps to flies and small insects, from which they largely derive their growth.

Their method of catching these insects is one of the wonders of Nature, and affords a striking example of how Satan allures and traps unwary Christians.

At the end of a long stalk is held out a jug-shaped flower, having a narrow neck, but widening out below. In the neck are spikes, all pointing downwards, and these, along with the outer rim, are coated with honey.

The insects are attracted by the honey, and in their eagerness to drink it in, they gradually enter the neck of the flower, going lower and lower, till all at once the honey ceases, and they find themselves prisoners. Escape is well-nigh impossible, as the inside of the flower is slippery and affords no foothold, while the spikes pointing downwards form an effectual guard to the entrance, and thus the poor little insects are left to perish.

It is in exactly this way that Satan ensnares young believers. Enticing them with that which is sweet to the natural taste, but not according to God, he gradually encloses them in his grasp a little at a time, but each leading farther away from the heart that loves them.

The ways of Satan are always seductive; he knows our natural hearts, and will offer all kinds of things as sweet as honey to our taste, to lead us on a wrong path. The spikes are unnoticed as we go his way, but they will assuredly be felt on the way back, should we be restored in self judgment to the Lord.

It is worth remarking that only hungry insects are caught in these death-traps, and we may rest assured that as long as our hearts are filled with Christ and His love, Satan is powerless, and no matter how seductively he offers his "Nepenthes," we shall, through grace, be able to turn away, conscious that we have that which is sweeter than honey, even the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

“If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honor." John 12:26.

MEDITATIONS ON SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4EPH 4

After the parenthesis of chapter 3, the apostle takes up the subject of chapter 2 again.. Christians out of both Jews and Gentiles, united into one body, one new man, and united to Christ their glorified Head, their whole position before God in Christ is their vocation or calling.

Verse 1. The apostle is in prison, suffering with the gospel that he preached (2 Tim. 1:8). The union of Jew and Gentile in one was obnoxious to the Jews who refused the gospel, which sets aside the law and the ordinances that were given by Moses; it also condemned the idolatry of the Gentiles. It was new blessing, and gave a new hope to those who believed the gospel (2 Tim. 1:11, 12 and 2:9, 10). Believers were now one with Christ in glory, and the Holy Spirit was now on earth dwelling in them and with them. And by the Holy Spirit they both had access, as worshippers, before God their Father. They were the habitation of God and the body of Christ. He beseeches them to walk worthy, that is, in a way consistent with their calling.

Verse 2. It is to be done "with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love," for each of us has the flesh in us, and our varied dispositions require that we guard against our own wills, which seek to have our own way. We need to practice putting self aside, that we may be of one mind in the Lord. If we look at the pattern of our blessed Lord, it is, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart;" and what longsuffering He ever showed with His disciples, warning and exhorting and encouraging them, but never driving them from Him; and it is only thus that we could carry out the truth of the next verse,

Verse 8. "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." These three things are important.

First, we are to walk worthy of our calling.

Second, it is to be done in lowliness and meekness and long-suffering love.

Third, we are to use diligence to maintain with all the members of the one body, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It means the recognition of the truth that all Christians are members of the same body, united to the same blessed Head in glory, and to each other, by the Spirit who dwells in us each one. Consistent with this, we own that Christ is the only center of gathering. To gather Christians together without Christ as the center, is in reality only scattering them. His presence is given only to those gathered to His Name (Matt. 18:20). This truth sets all divisions, schisms, and societies of men, aside, and gives with the true center the only union that God's Word recognizes.

In the Acts of the Apostles we see how this was carried out. In chapter 8, God did not give to any of the Samaritans the Holy Spirit, though they were saved and baptized until Peter and John came from Jerusalem, and prayed and laid their hands on them, thus witnessing that the old schism was gone, and that they were one with those at Jerusalem; the unity of the Spirit was maintained.

In Acts 10, Peter was called to receive the first Gentile believers into the Assembly; this took place at Caesarea. The Lord overcame his natural prejudice by giving them the Holy Spirit, and Peter acknowledged the fact by commanding their reception by baptism; here also the unity was maintained, and when they of the circumcision blamed him for receiving them, he patiently went over how God led him to do it, and ended by saying, "Who was I, that I could withstand God?" This turned their opposition into rejoicing that God had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life; thus the unity of the Spirit was maintained.

In Acts 15, the question arose as to circumcising believers from among the Gentiles. The apostle Paul knew that this was contrary to Christianity, and would not allow it. The Lord did not allow divisions to come in between the Assembly at Jerusalem and the Assembly at Antioch, so he told Paul to go to Jerusalem to settle it there (Gal. 2:2). They had a conference with the Assembly, the apostles and elders; and there again we see the unity of the Spirit is maintained.

In Gal. 2, we have an instance where Peter did not notice that he was failing in this point, and Paul withstood him to the face (verse 11).

And again in Acts 15, we find Barnabas letting natural ties interfere with the service of the gospel, for his nephew John Mark had forsaken the work at Pamphylia (Acts 13:13), and went to Jerusalem where, at that time, persecution was not so much. So Paul would not take him, and because of it, Barnabas went with him to their home in Cyprus. In these last instances we see that this truth needs to be maintained toward individuals, as well as by Assemblies, toward each other.

From 1 Cor. 9:6 we conclude that Barnabas still labored in the gospel, and we see in Col. 4:10; and 2 Tim. 4:11 That Mark was still a profitable companion to Paul, but he made a breach at the time.

In 2 Tim. 1:15 we find that all in Asia had turned from the truth that Paul taught, and it has continued to get worse. Nearly all Christendom is in division. How few there are now that understand the necessity of it, or it may be that they are quite in ignorance of this truth of the unity of the body of Christ, to which the unity of the Spirit applies. And yet it is a truth that brings before the heart how dear we are to the Lord, even as members of His body, so that He feels all that we feel.

In verses 4 to 6 we have three circles of unity: Verse 4 takes in only those who are saved and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 5 takes in all profession, both true and false.

Verse 6 takes in all creation.

Verse 4. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling." There is only one body, and all who have received the Holy Spirit are its members. Christ is its Head. We have therefore the same hope of Glory with Christ above. This is our true, eternal, abiding unity.

Verse 5. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." This is connected with the Lord. It is the public recognition of the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so includes all who have been baptized to His name. We know that many have been baptized who are not yet saved. So that this circle is wider than verse 4.

Verse 6. "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all," and coming back to Christians, he adds, "and in you all." This is the omnipresent One, Who is above all, and through all, but by His Holy Spirit, He dwells in all Christians. We saw in Chapter 3:14, 15, that every family in heaven and earth is under Him. Only those who are Christ's can by the Spirit call Him "Father," and take their place as members of the one body.

We can see in all this that while it would not be right to accept what is not the truth, yet often we need to bear with each other, but our common portion in the privileges of our position, leads us into the mutual joy in the love and the happiness of all the members.

Verse 7. "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." He is Head over all things to the Assembly, and gives to each as His sovereign wisdom sees fit to bestow. In our position and joy in Christ, we are all one. In our service to Him and for Him and the saints, we all differ.

(To be continued)

Scripture Study: John 9

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In this chapter we see something of the education of the soul, and how a man blind from his birth, a beggar, is led on from blindness and beggary to see and know and have the company of the Son of God outside of man's religion.

Verse 1. As Jesus passed by, escaping from those who rejected Him, and sought to stone Him, He saw a man who was blind from his birth-a picture of the Jew's and man's condition.

Verse 2. His disciples asked Him, "Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They thought of Ex. 34:6-7, but that was abrogated (Ezek. 18:4).

Verse 3. Jesus answered, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." His case was but the misery and wretchedness of a fallen creation, which manifested the mighty work of God in grace: a fit state in which to display His grace.

Verses 4, 5. The Lord continues, "I must work the works of Rim that sent Me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." And this is how He chose to do it.

Verse 6. He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, but that seemed to make matters worse, as Jesus here in incarnation showed man's blindness more than before.

Verse 7. Now He says to the man, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent)." He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. And it is when the soul believes on Jesus as the Sent. One of the Father that eyesight begins. The Jews, looking on Jesus in humiliation, could see nothing in Him. "A root out of a dry ground, having no form nor comeliness;" "No beauty that we should desire Him." Isa. 53:2. It is altogether different when we see Him as sent of the Father. He came seeing; he does not know much, but he has eyesight, and so he has the capacity to learn more.

Verses 8, 9. The neighbors notice the change, and begin to remark, "Is not this he that sat and begged?" Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." But he said, "I am he."

Verses 10-12. Then they want to know, "How were thine eyes opened?" He answered, "A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.' And I went and washed, and I received sight." It was the simple obedience of faith that brought the blessing, but as yet the Savior is to him "a man called Jesus," and when asked, "Where is He?" answers, "I know not."

Verses 13, 14. They brought Him to the Pharisees, for it was done on the Sabbath Day.

It was setting aside their religion that could go on with sin, and yet glory in their Sabbath Day. The Lord had given them a lesson that it was not Jehovah's Sabbath (John 5:17), but they did not believe Him, they would not take into account that they had already broken it. And this inquisition set themselves to prove the Lord's guilt.

Verses 15-17. They make the man tell his oft-repeated story, and they say, "This Man is not of God, because He keepeth not the Sabbath Day." Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" So they were divided about it. They ask the man's opinion about Him, and he boldly answers, "He is a prophet."

Verses 18-23. They next try the parents, who give evidence to corroborate that he was their son, and that he was born blind, but decline to say more, lest they be put out of the synagogue, for already the Jews had agreed to put out anyone who confessed that Jesus was the Christ, so they said, "He is of age, ask him."

Verse 24. Again they call the man Who had his eyes opened, and begin very religiously, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner."

Verse 25. He answered, "Whether He be a sinner or no, 1 know not. One thing know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." Blessed fact, he had his eyesight

Verses 26, 27. Again they ask him, "What did He to thee? How opened He thine eyes?" He answered them, " I have told you already, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?"

Verses 28, 29. Then they reviled him and said, "Thou art His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke unto Moses; as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is." The man can speak now, he increases in knowledge and strength. He goes "from strength to strength." He can bear their revilings, and he answers boldly:

Verses 30-34. "Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshiper of God and cloth His will, him He heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man hath opened the eves of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God he could do nothing." Now he has spoken, his inquisitors can condemn him, but he cares not. They hurl at hind their bitter words, "Thou wart altogether born in sins, and dolt thou teach us?" And they cast him out, out of their decent society, a God-given religion turned into the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2 and 3). But His Master was also cast out, and will share the outcast place with him.

Verses 35-38. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when He had found him, He said unto him, "Dolt thou believe on the Son of God?" He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast both seen Him and it is He that talketh with thee." And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. What a change of manner from the bold front he had shown to the enemies of the truth. He is now all humility and gentleness. He stood firm in conscious righteousness for the truth enduring hardness, but in the presence of his Lord He is melted to love, and he worships Him whom He now has found out to be the Son of God.

Verses 39-41. The blind man saw clearly. Those who professed to see remained in their blindness, blinder and harder than ever, in their Christ-rejecting sin.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 14, Part 1

1Co 14In seeking to understand, and to profit by this portion of the Scriptures, we should notice that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). While the apostle Paul was the instrument God used, God is the Author. The word "inspiration" means God-breathed. "God has magnified His Word above all His name." Psa. 138:2. We, debtors to His mercy and grace, should gladly receive it.

We must not for a moment speak of it, nor even think that it is man's words. "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (verse 37). It claims our obedience just as much as the first day that it was written by the Spirit of God.

We learn from chapter 1:7 that the saints at Corinth came behind in no gift, yet they were not, as we have seen, a spiritual assembly. They did not, as a whole, grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In chapter 3:3, they are spoken of as carnal, and as babes, instead of growing up to Christian maturity in the knowledge of Christ glorified. It is the apostle's desire and effort to minister truth to them that will set this right.

He unfolded to them in chapter 12, that they were one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another, and this was by the Holy Spirit forming them into one body (verses 12, 13). Then the gifts were set in the assembly (verse 28) and in verse 31, he says, "Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

This is the way of love (chapter 13). The gifts are needed, but love is needed to use the gifts to edify the assembly, and if they do not speak with love, they are but clanging cymbals.

It seems that they had been using their gifts, specially the gift of speaking in a foreign tongue, much for their own pleasure. God had given the apostles to speak with tongues at Pentecost, to meet the need created at the tower of Babel, so that all who were there, heard in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. It was useful in that case, but now he endeavors to show them that prophesying is the gift that is most needed. They were exhorted therefore to follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that they might prophecy.

A man might speak in the assembly in a foreign tongue, but it was perfectly useless, except for himself and God. But the one that prophesies speaks unto man to edification, that is building up; and exhortation, stirring up; and comfort, is encouraging. It brought the soul into the presence of God by His Word.

They are encouraged to speak with tongues, if they are led by God, but if there is no interpreter, they were to be silent. If they spoke rightly, it was a revelation, that is, something new, for the Word of God was not completed then as it is now; or it was giving knowledge, or speaking to the conscience, or unfolding doctrine (verse 6), and verses 7-11, show that speaking without an interpreter or without understanding, is just speaking into the air. It is a sound, but no voice, no message in it.

Verse 12. "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the assembly." The one therefore that speaks with a foreign tongue, should pray that he may interpret.

Verses 14-17, further show how out of place it is in the assembly, for nobody can say "Amen" at thy giving of thanks.

Verses 18, 19. Paul thanks God that he spoke with tongues more than they all, then he adds, "yet in the assembly I had rather speak five words (a figure of man's weakness) with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

Verses 21-25. It is a sign gift, not to believers, but to unbelievers, and if used in the assembly, and one unlearned or unconverted comes in and hears it, he will say, this is madness, but if some one is prophesying, it speaks to his conscience, and so he says, "God is in you of a truth.”

Verse 26 shows the liberty of the Spirit to lead the meeting, but the will of men needs to be curbed, and the Lord does this by giving instructions to them. We do not find any place in Scripture that one man is set over a company of people as their minister; that is departure from the liberty of the Spirit. Here the speaking is limited by the words, "Let all things be done to edifying," so the necessity comes of waiting on the Lord, and attending to the instructions.

Verses 27, 28. Only two or three could speak at one meeting, and only one at a time. If it was in tongues, there must be an interpreter. If there was no interpreter, it was strictly forbidden. "Let him keep silence in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God," but be silent.

Verses 29-33. The prophesying was limited to two or at the most three, and only one at a time, and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. No one could rightly say, "I had to speak," "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all assemblies of the saints.”

“That all may learn, and all may be comforted.”

How careful the Lord is in this way, and here we might well remark that enough care is not used that all should hear and understand. We might learn a lesson from Neh. 8:8, "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." Those who take part in the meetings, should make an effort to speak plainly for the edification of all.

Verses 34, 35. Another limitation comes in here, "Let your women keep silence in the assemblies, for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." This is surely plain language, it is unmistakeably plain. "And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the assembly." There are lots of opportunities to ask questions privately. We have already seen in chapter 11 That the man represents Christ, and woman represents the Church: this is God's order in creation, and in redemption also.

Verses 36-38. It seems that Paul felt the spirit of independence that would oppose, s) he adds, "What? came the Word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." But if any man be (willfully) ignorant, let him be ignorant. He must just go on in his willfulness, but in poverty of soul.

Verses 39, 40. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. Notice the three points: 1. "Follow after love" (verse 1; also chapter 16:14). 2. "Let all things be done unto edifying" (verse 26). 3. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (verse 40).

(To be continued)

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 13

1Co 13The apostle had just written, "Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." A way of more surpassing excellency, is the way of love. Charity in the Scriptures means fervent love.

The gifts bestowed on the Corinthian assembly (Chap. 2:3-5) had failed by their use of them, and did not bring edification to the hearers (14:26). They displayed self, and lacked in love that sought the good of the members of the body, 2nd it was not ministry from Christ in glory in the power of the Holy Spirit. Of all the assemblies, they seem to be the most unspiritual (1 Cor. 3:3; Eph. 4:16).

The gifts were given from Christ in glory (Eph. 4:8-12) "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." They should have been channels of blessing flowing from the glorified Head. In this they failed, and the apostle seeks to recall them to their right use.

In this chapter he uses himself as an illustration. 1 Cor. 2:3-5 shows it was not what he had done. The love of Christ for His dear members filled the apostle's heart, so that all he ministered to them, was in love and in the power of the Holy Ghost, and in faithfulness to the assembly as a whole, telling them of what grace had done for them, and would still do for them unto the end, counting on the faithfulness of God to find them blameless in the day of Jesus Christ (1:2-9).

Verse 1. "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love (love in its activity), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling (clanging) cymbal." Fine oratory, beautiful or amusing speeches are but wind and noise that pass away without benefit to the hearer, and, but rather hurt the mind by that which may be true, but misapplied. Truth that does not exercise the conscience, and engage the heart does not help the believer to walk with God.

Verse 2. "And though I have prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing." All is cold and dead without love-the love of Christ to His members. Thank God, He loves every one of them, though He knows all our faults. He seeks to meet us all in love. What need there is then for us to ponder His love, that we might be channels of blessing to all His own as we find opportunity.

Verse 3. Doing good to the poor, even sacrificing myself in any way for a cause, without this love, is to no profit.

Verses 4, 5. We now learn how this love acts -it suffers long (has long patience), is kind. The apostle knew well how to be a gentle nurse cherishing her children, and as a loving father to them, exhorting, comforting and testifying to them how to please God (1 Thess. 2:7, 11, 12). Love envies not. Like Moses when he said to Joshua, "Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!" So Paul welcomed every true laborer for Christ (1 Thess. 5:12, 13). John made a mistake in this (Mark 9:38-40). We need to advance, and love directs us to seek what advances the interests of Christ without regard to ourselves. Again, love is not insolent, or rash, or puffed up, nor does it behave in an unseemly manner, seeketh not its own, and is not easily provoked, nor does it impute evil, by thinking it, before it is proved.

Verses 6, 7. Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; that is, all things with the truth. This is all seen perfectly in our blessed Lord, and in the life we have in Him. Wonderful it is to find this love flowing in our hearts for each other, and so it is as we ponder His love to all His own. His love never fails. He is our priest for our weakness; our advocate, if any man sin. "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." Fellowship with Him keeps us from being accusers of God's people-that is Satan's work.

Verses 8-12. Love never fails). Prophesy has failed except to explain and apply the Word of God which is now complete (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). Tongues are needed no longer as signs to the unconverted, they have ceased. Knowledge also vanishes away, outside of the knowledge of God and of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. For now we know but in part, and cannot view the whole design of God at once, only in part or parts. When the 'Lord comes, how different it will be. Then we shall be perfected in His glory, and all that is imperfect in and about us will have passed away. The child gives place to the man, then childish words, thoughts and understanding disappear. So now our dim vision of the Lord, and of His purposes which we only know and speak of in part or parts, will give place to being with the Lord and seeing Him face to face. Then at His side we will be able to see the length and breadth, the depth and height of all His wondrous purposes and glory, and will know without a cloud, His full, unbounded love, and be filled then unto all the fullness of God. We shall know even as we are known.

Verse 13. And now abideth faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. The time will soon come,

"When faith and hope shall cease

And love abide alone,

Then shall we see Him face to face,

And know as known.

Still shall we lift the voice,

His praise our song shall be;

And we shall in His love rejoice

Who set us free.”

Scripture Study: Ephesians 5

Verses 1, 2. "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savor.”

In the closing verse of chapter 4, we saw how God would lead us to act toward each other, as He had done to us in forgiving love,-kind and compassionate toward offenders. We can read the last sentence, "Even as God in Christ hath forgiven you.”

It turns our thoughts to how much it cost the Father to give up His Son to death,-for nothing less would atone for sins; and how much it cost our blessed Savior to bear that judgment that we deserved, and now, in a minor way (for Christ is alone in the work of atonement), we can be for others an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. We are to be thus imitators of God, as dear children, walking in love.

How short we come in this. If we get our eye off Christ, we are sure to be overcome of evil, instead of overcoming evil with good (Rom. 12:21).

Still we must not get discouraged by past failures, but seeking grace to set the flesh aside, pursue our heavenly way, seeking to walk in the love we see in our blessed Lord and Head. When our souls are consciously in His company, how easy it is to look over what seems to the flesh to be hard knocks or affronts, and answer in love and forgiving grace, which adds to the saint the godly character of these verses.

Verses 3, 4, teach us to avoid letting our minds dwell on evil and its doings. If we have to do with these, there must be self judgment at the same time as we judge it in others (Num. 19:21). Then not only filthiness, but also foolish talking and jesting, are not convenient, and grieve the Holy Spirit, so it is added, "but rather giving of thanks." With this we are reminded of the character and doom of all who are unsaved.

Verses 5, 6. Those mentioned here have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." How fearful the doom of unrepentant sinners. God has made a clear line of demarcation between us and them.

Verses 7, 8. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." They are darkness, and we were that at one time.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

The believer is a child of light. He has had to do with God about his sins; his whole life has been laid bare before Him, and like the woman in John 4, he can say to others about the Lord Jesus,

“Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

And now we walk in the light! this is our place now, and we are to take care to walk as children of light, that is, walking before God from day to day; keeping short accounts, letting nothing rest on our consciences unconfessed, thus maintaining a good conscience from day to day.

Verse 9. "(For the fruit of the Spirit (light is the word here) is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)". These are what suits those who walk with God.

Verses 10-12. "Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." This is the great thing in our walk, and then he adds, "and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." We cannot always reprove them openly, but we can keep aloof, and not allow ourselves to enjoy the filthy conversation of the wicked, and in thus preserving our souls, show our distaste for these things. "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”

Verse 13. "But all things that are reproved (having their true character exposed) are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light." Our blessed Lord in John 3:19, 20 said, "Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil, for every one that doeth evil hateth the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (exposed in their true character).

Verses 14-17. "Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from (among) the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (or, shine upon thee). This verse calls on the believer to awake. He has gone to sleep in worldliness; he is not dead, but being asleep, he does not profit by the light. And the call of the Lord here is that He might Himself be the light to fill their soul, and reveal to them the full knowledge of that which is well-pleasing to God,-that which He loves to see in His children. See therefore that "ye be not unwise," walking carefully, and not as foolish ones, but laying hold of every good opportunity to use it for the Lord; this is what "redeeming the time" means.

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Verses 18-21. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." Wine here takes in all that includes exhilaration or worldly excitement. Believers were to be filled with the Spirit. He dwells in each believer. He is the seal (chap. 4:30). To be filled with the Spirit, is that He should take possession of our affections, our thoughts, our understanding. He will engage our hearts with Christ, and we shall be speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, and sustained by His grace, our hearts will render thanks to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, gladly submitting ourselves to each other in the fear of God.

Verses 22-24. This heavenly character of consistent Christian life is to be carried out in earthly relationships, and these relationships instituted by God at the beginning, we find for us also a picture of our heavenly relationships. So here we find in the wife's submission to her husband, it is to be done as unto the Lord. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Assembly. He is the Savior (preserver) of the body. Therefore as the Assembly is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." This place of submission of the wife, helps to the unfolding of the love of Christ as the Nourisher and Preserver; as Head over all things to her.

Verses 25-30. The husband's love to his wife is to have the character of Christ's love to His Assembly; he can never reach the measure of Christ's love.

We find His precious love told out here in three steps in its work; what it has done in the past; what it is doing now, and what it will yet accomplish in result. He gave Himself for the Assembly; He now sanctifies and cleanses it. He will present it to Himself all glorious. It is all Himself; He loved, He gave Himself in the joy of possessing the bride which the Father gave Him before the world was, and for her very existence He had to go into the deep sleep of death on the cross (Gen. 2:21), "for except the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone" (John 12:24), and now, in the same love, He is sanctifying and cleansing her by the washing of water by the Word.

There is no failure in this work of love, all must be, will be, completed according to His power in glory, and the Holy Spirit is here gathering up, and leading home to the Lamb of God His Bride. He must and will supply every grace needed for her welfare along the home journey.

His love is a deep fountain of inexhaustible rich blessing that not only meets our need as sinners, but will accomplish what He has in view, making us suited to be His companions in glory, and so we ought to take all His dealings with us now, as all working out our web of life with a view to our place with Him on high. So His Word is ministered to our souls, His love chastens us, and proves us that the trying of our faith, more precious to Him than the gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto His praise and honor and glory in the future day. All goes on with the blessed end in view that He will present it to Himself a glorious Assembly.

God. presented Adam's bride to Adam. Christ presents His bride to Himself. She has been the longed-for object of His love down through the ages, and then the moment will be reached when He will present it to Himself a glorious Assembly without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself, for no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ the Assembly, for we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones," and we are one Spirit with the Lord.

Verse 31. The mystery that we are one with Christ is here illustrated in the indissolubility of the marriage tie.

Verses 32, 33. We are united to Him in bonds that never can be severed, though our unfaithfulness now may bring a cloud over our minds regarding it. And so the husband is exhorted to love his wife even as himself-as Christ loves the Assembly; and the wife is to see that she reverences her husband, as the Assembly should be subject to Christ.

Scripture Study: Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3EPH 3

Verse 1. "For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles." He was a prisoner because he preached the gospel to the Gentiles. Then he breaks off to tell them that this ministry had been specially committed to him (Ver. 5). He includes all the New Testament apostles and prophets, but they received it from him; he was the one to unfold that truth. And when it was unfolded, he could say that the subjects of the Word of God were now completed (see Col. 1:25. N. T.).

Verses 2-4. "If ye have heard of the administration of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward; how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words; whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)." In the first and second chapters he had alluded to the same subject.

Verses 5, 6. He goes on to say, "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and (joint) partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Here the Gentile and Jew alike are joint heirs with Christ, both alike members of Christ's body, and both alike sharing all the promises given to Christ for the Church.

Verses 7-9. "Whereof I was made a minister '' (not of man nor by man, Gal. 1:1), "according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of His power," but this did not exalt him in his own eyes, but rather enhances the grace of the Lord in choosing one so unworthy, by his former hatred and opposition to the name of the Lord, as he says, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery (or administration), which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

Verses 10, 11 tell us also that the heavenly hosts now are learning the all-various wisdom of God in this wondrous mystery of Christ and the Assembly, that we with Him are one, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church (Assembly) the manifold (all-various) wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Verse 12. What wonderful ways of grace, that thus God's purposes are made known to us! What a place of intimacy ours is! Can we think of the heavenly hosts learning God's ways with us, and learning through us His wisdom? Yes, for it is in Him we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul was in prison when writing this, but he, was the prisoner, in his mind, not of the Romans, but of the Lord. He knew he was there by the will of God, so he could write,

Verse 13. "Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory" (compare 2 Tim. 2:10). Sufferings in his case were needed to give true character' to the truth he preached (Col. 1:24); and for us, see Phil. 1:29, 30. We are given suffering for Christ as our privilege.'

Verse 14. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." In chapter 1 he prayed to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we might understand and know these wonderful truths which we have in those chapters. This prayer is more that we might realize the benefits, and enjoy our precious portion as children of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. His God is our God as men. His Father is our Father as His children. Who of us could ever have thought for a moment that God our Father could have loved such sinners as we were, and blessed us in His own Beloved Son, and loved us with the same love, making us His real children, for this is what the adoption of children to Himself really means. As our Lord said to the Father in John 17:26, "That the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them and I in them.'' So this prayer would deepen the reality in our heart's enjoyment. It is then of great importance that we should meditate on it, so that it may be more understood by the teaching of His Holy Spirit who dwells in us, and delights to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts (see Rom. 5:5).

Verse 15. "Of whom the whole (or rather `every') family in heaven and earth is named." In chapter 1:10 we read that all things in heaven and on earth are to be gathered in one, under Christ; and Col. 1:16, 17 shows that He is the Creator and Upholder of the universe (Heb. 1:2; John 1:3), so that all the hosts of heaven, Israel and the Nations, as well as the Assembly of God, are included in that verse.

Verse 16. "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man." We had the riches of His grace (chapter 1:7) in our redemption and forgiveness of our sins, and in the display of His kindness toward us in the ages to come (chapter 2:7). Here we think of our Lord in glory, and how He, amid all that riches of glory, is thinking about us, His needy, weak members here on earth, and the prayer is that He would according to the riches of His glory strengthen us in our inner man by His Spirit. May we yield ourselves gladly to Him to be our strength and guide, that we might not hinder the blessing, by grieving the Holy Spirit.

Verse 17 continues, That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length and depth, and height.”

It is true that Christ is in every believer (Rom. 8:10; Col. 1:27; 3:3, 4), but here it is by faith, it is the soul-consciousness of it, the sense of His presence dwelling with us that the believer, in the deep intimacy of a well-known and deeply valued friendship, is rooted and grounded in love, not a quiver of fear or of uncertainty, so that in His company, we can look out, as in the center of it all with Him, on the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. Of what? It does not say, but we may well think of all the glories of Himself, and all that surrounds Him, and of which He is the center and fullness, and what words could better express its infinity, and lead us to feel in comparison how small we are, yet Christ and His assembly is, through His grace to us, and in the purposes of God, the center of it all.

Verse 19 gives us the additional thought, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with (or even unto) all the fullness of God." Glories untold are ours with the Lord, but this touches the heart deeper. His well-known love is too deep to ever think we know it all. It passeth knowledge! and even in time now, how comforting and strengthening, it can never fail, can never grow less; well proved in what it has done, deepening as we go on more and more till we are filled unto all the fullness of God, and God is love. We dwell in Him, and He in us.

Verse 20. "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." He works in us by His Spirit, and He is able to do all, above all, yea, exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, for the glory of God.

Verse 21. "Unto Him be glory in the Church (assembly) by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." The distinctive place and position, as the body and bride of Christ, is thus declared as for all eternity. The tabernacle of God with men (Rev. 21:1-3).

Scripture Study: John 8

OH 8{ Verse 1 belongs to chapter 7.

Verse 2. Early in the morning the Lord came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down and taught them.

Verses 3, 4. He is interrupted by the entry of some scribes and Pharisees who brought unto

Him a woman taken in the act of adultery, and set her in the midst before Him. They want to confound the blessed Lord in His teaching. It was not hatred to sin nor love to the sinner, nor desire to learn the way of God, but they are coming into the light where their motives will be manifest, which was, to tempt the Lord.

Verse 5. They think they have a clear case-"Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?"

Verse 6. The Lord, who knew their object, stooped down and wrote upon the ground with His finger, giving them time to show their persistent wickedness. They have quoted Moses, thinking that the Lord's teachings of God's grace to sinners did not agree with Moses' teaching. Then He will let them have the law, and see how they will stand its searchings.

Verses 7-9. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. How they mistook His teachings. (Matt. 5:17.) He will magnify the law, and declare that it is holy, just and good, (Rom. 7) but He will show them that they have not kept it, and that it condemns all such. (Gal. 3:10, 11.)

He turns its search-light upon them, discovering to themselves their unfitness to carry out the judgment of God on the woman who deserved it, and they deserved its penalty for their own sins which now His word compels them to look at. They were offended at His grace to sinners; now they are to feel His judgment on sin, but it is on their own. As He again writes on the ground, the truth of their guilt is pounding itself into their consciences, and, beginning at the eldest who had the most sin and so was the most guilty and not willing to own it, they file out one by one to hide themselves from His view, till they are all gone, and Jesus is left alone, with the woman standing in the midst. The law was maintained, but He is not the executor. He has not yet taken the place of Judge. He is Jesus the Savior. They may flee from the light now, but they will yet have to stand before God when they cannot flee. They did not think that Sinai's thunders were to be applied to themselves. They had dragged the guilty sinner there to be condemned, but they are now feeling its condemnation themselves, and they cannot help it. They make their escape for the present, convicted of sin, yet unwilling to own it.

Verses 10, 11. And what about the guilty woman? Jesus lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, and said unto her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?"

She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Why did she stay so long? Her accusers were gone; there was no one to hinder her front running away to hide her shame, for she was verily guilty, and had no excuse. She deserved judgment. No, she will not flee. She had seen her accusers go; they also are proved guilty by the same law of Moses. They try to hide it, but she owns it, and stands guilty before God. They tried to prove He was Moses' enemy; He proves that He is Moses' Lord. He is not there to judge. He is there as the Savior, and she cannot flee from Him. She must have felt His pity for her. His words, though condemning her sin, tell her of the grace of forgiveness in His heart, as He says to her, "Go, and sin no more." Forgiveness comes to the one who stands guilty before God. "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." Psa. 51:17.

Verse 12. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Verses 13-19. There were more Pharisees than those who had gone out, and they prove to be as blind as the rest. They refuse His testimony, though it had just been demonstrated that His testimony was a true one. They judged after the flesh and did not see that He was sent of the Father, and that the Father bore witness by both His words and works. If they had known Him, they would have known His Father also.

Verse 20. They could not touch Him, for His hour was not vet come.

Verses 21-24. He convicts them of unbelief in His person, and warns them that because of it, they shall die in their sins. They were from beneath. He was from above. They could not understand Him when He spoke of where He was going. They were of this world. He was not of this world, therefore if they would not believe that "I am," they should die in their sins.

Verses 25, 26. He tells them that He and His word are the same. To their question, "Who art Thou?" Ire answers that His speech presented Himself, "Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning." His word expressed what He Himself is, and this also told out the Father who had sent Him.

Verses 27-29. But all this was lost on them; they understood not that He spoke to them of the Father. And only when the Son of Man was lifted up would they know that He was the "I am." and that all He said was spoken from the Father who was with Him, and He did always the things that please Him.

Verses 30-33. At this point, many believed on Him, perhaps only in appearance and profession, for the Lord said, "If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This they do not like, and rather resent it as implying that they were in bondage. They claim Abraham as their father, and answered Him, "How sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?"

Verses 34-40. Their behavior showed that they were the servants of sin, and though, professedly Jehovah's servants, yet they could not abide in His house. They were Abraham's seed, but not Abraham's children. It was the Son who was the Truth, and if the Son set them free, then were they free indeed. How could they be Abraham's children, when they sought to kill the Lord who had spoken to them of God.

Verses 41, 42. They claim to have God as their father, but the Lord declares that they hated the One whom the Father sent to them.

Verse 43. They did not understand His speech, for they did not believe what He said. They did not receive His thoughts spoken to them, for their minds were against Him?

Verses 44-46. They were of their father the devil. Their behavior bore witness to it.

He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. How terrible it is that man has gone after such a one! Unless the Lord had said it, we would not have thought that even religious men, if still unconverted, were in their moral character, children of the devil; (1 John 3:8-10.) enmity against God. (Rom. 8:7.) It is truly said of every man, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3. The Lord told them the truth, but their minds and hearts were utterly opposed to it, as they were sunk in sin and in unbelief.

Verses 47-51. He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. It is the same today. (Compare what 1 John 4:5,6 says of the apostle's writings.).Yet they say in answer, "Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?"

How great and wonderful a person we see Him to be-One as a man honoring the Father, and yet could say, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death." Christ is above death, it has no claim on. Him, and He has life and gives life, (John 5,) and those that keep His word shall never see death. What is death to such, but just the passing into the presence of the Lord?

Verses 52-56. Their perplexity is here shown. They did not know that here was One greater than Abraham and the prophets-the One Abraham looked forward to by faith, and rejoiced to see His day, and he saw it and was glad.

Verses 57-59. They looked on Him only as a man, and Jesus gives out that wonderful truth, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." He is the great Jehovah God. They answered by taking up stones to stone Him. He hid Himself, and went out of the temple, and though He went through the midst of them and passed by, they could do nothing to Him. Yet man's wretched enmity of heart to Christ, the Son of God, is fully manifest.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 9

1Co 9The subject in this chapter is ministry, specially that of the apostle Paul. He was an apostle called of God, not of men, neither by man (Gal. 1:1). His appointment was from Christ in glory, from whence all true ministry comes.

Some false teachers had influenced the Corinthians to question his apostleship. His answer is, "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord." He had called them his beloved children whom he had begotten through the gospel (chap. 4), and this questioning of his authority leads us to see the liberty and maintenance of the true servants of God in their path of service.

His answer to those who questioned him was, "Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister as wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or, I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?" Here we get a little light on the labors of others in the liberty of the Spirit, and untrammeled by the rules of men. His defense is, they are sent, and they do not go to war on their own charges. They eat of the fruit of the vineyard in which they labor; they drink of the milk of the flock of God which they tend.

Verse 8. Is this his own invention, or saith the law the same also? It is written in the law of Moses, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care of oxen? (Yes. He does. Jonah 4:11), or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" (Gal. 6:6; Rom. 13:25-27.)

Verse 12. "If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”

Verse 13. It was also God's way in the temple: they which ministered about holy things lived of the things of the temple, and they which waited at the altar were partakers with the altar. Even so hath the Lord appointed that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Verse 15. "But," says the apostle, "I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me; for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void." He had nothing to boast of in preaching the gospel. The Lord had committed its administration to him. He was called and sent, and he carried it out under the power of that divine obedience wrought in him, and that precious love of God his soul had drank into, the love of God to sinful lost men, so that he said further "Woe is me, if I preach not the gospel.”

This was not fear of eternal judgment,-Paul was eternally secured from that,-but it was the deep sense of the privilege and responsibility of the mission God had given him as His ambassador, and his reward was, that when he preached the gospel, he made it without charge, with nothing in it for self. He was entirely at liberty from all men. "Yet," he says, "have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." He accommodates himself to every mind in order that thereby he might bring out to them their lost condition, and show to them the love of God in providing a Savior for them; thus it was, to the Jew he became as a Jew, that he might gain the Jews. He could show them how he had proved the emptiness of their religion.

To them that were under the law, as under the law (not being himself under law. See N. T.), that he might gain them that were under the law, and well could he do this also, as we see in Rom. 3:20; 10:3, 4, and how he was delivered from it by the death of Christ (Gal. 2:19, 20; 3:10-13).

To them that were without law, as without law, not being lawless to God, but duly subject to Christ (see N. T)., that he might gain the lawless.

1 John 3:4 should read, "Every one that practices sin, practices lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness." Those under law transgressed, but all have sinned against God, and so are declared guilty before God (Rom. 3:19). There was no law from Adam to Moses, but there was much sin, and judgment fell upon it: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

Verse 22. "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak," and well could the apostle unfold that man was not only a guilty sinner, but also that he was without strength. This was a hard lesson for Paul to learn, and indeed it is hard for the most of us to learn that we can do nothing to make ourselves better, or to help to save ourselves. Paul's endeavor therefore, no matter what state he found the sinner in, was to show him his lost condition, and to present to him the risen, glorified Savior who gave Himself for our sins, and is now crowned with glory and honor at God's right hand, ready to welcome the vilest who will trust in Him. And he adds, "This I do, for the gospel's sake," that I might share in their blessing.

Verse 24. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." But the believers have entered the path of eternal life, and are sure of the prize. (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Paul here has in view some who have professed Christianity, but have not been born anew. They have not started right, they cannot run right. "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." A man cannot live Christ until—lie knows Christ as his Savior. He may be a preacher, and not a Christian. And so Paul here says, "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body.”

How could he keep under his body? Do those who punish their bodies with penances and fastings and other privations, do they keep their bodies under, or is that not trying to improve the flesh, and make them feel better, seeking to be religious? Is it not bringing the death of Christ to bear upon ourselves, and thus reckoning ourselves to be (lead indeed unto sin and alive unto God? (Rom. 6:6-12.) Is this not keeping the body under? And this is how Paul lived (Gal. 2:19, 20). Paul was fully assured of his salvation; not a fear, not a quiver of uncertainty about him, but he transfers the figure to himself as a preacher, to show professors their danger of being even preachers and yet not Christians, whose end will surely be everlasting woe-castaway forever.

This is what it means; it is not a question about whether a true child of God can be lost. We know that is an impossibility, the Lord Jesus said, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish." (John 10:28, 29, and 5:24.)

One may say that he is saved, and yet not be a saved man, nor is it a question of a Christian losing his reward, and yet he himself be saved (1 Cor. 3:15). This is still more serious. It is the case of a man professing to be a Christian, and he might be morally blameless but is not born again, he does not know his sins put away by the atoning death of Christ, and therefore the things that accompany salvation are not, cannot be, seen in him (Heb. 6:9). A true Christian may fall into a slothful condition, like 2 Peter 2:9, and he needs the exhortation, "Make your calling and election sure:" that is, to his own soul, for a poor walk leads to doubts, for such an one does not enjoy happy communion, and is spiritually losing much.

How terrible is the state of one who thinks he is all right, yet who has never found out his lost condition by nature and by practice, and so never knew the joy of knowing his sins all forgiven, and in the end finds out that he was entirely mistaken,-that his trying to be good was not keeping his body under, but was only filthy rags of the works of the flesh. We cannot keep the body under till we realize that in Christ's death we have also died. The foolish virgins (Matt. 25) found out when it was too late, that the lamp of profession was no use without oil in their vessels with their lamps. They were castaways.

Do not rest, dear reader, till you know that your sins are all forgiven you for Christ's name's sake.

Scripture Study: John 10

John 10OH 10{

The man in John 9 that was cast out of the synagogue because he confessed that Jesus was of God, was led to worship Him as the Son of God. The blind Pharisees remain in their sin. The Lord takes this occasion to speak a parable that teaches the change of position of those that are His own sheep who through His rejection are brought out from the Jewish fold of Israel's laws and ordinances, to being in the Flock of God, with Christ as their Shepherd in the blessing of salvation.

Verse 1. Refers to those who assumed authority in the sheepfold, yet cast out the true sheep. They were but thieves and robbers; they cared for their own reputation more than for the sheep, or to please God. The true sheep would not hear such.

Verse 2. The Shepherd of the sheep came in by the door, fulfilling the Word of God in all that was said of Him as the Messiah. He had all the rights as sent of the Father, and the sheep were His. (Mic. 5:2; Psa. 22; Isa. 7:14; 9:6; 53.)

Verse 3. To Him the Porter openeth. His death on the cross and His resurrection was the only way by which He could deliver those under the law. That was the door that God, by His providential ordering, opened for Him, and that is the door by which His believing sheep are brought out. (See Gal. 2:19-20.) See a sample in Mary Magdalene (John 20:16, 17.) He calls her by name and leads her, and the brethren, into the knowledge of God as their Father, by the message He gives her to carry, which is only known outside the sheepfold of Judaism. He calls them "My brethren" for the first time. In His death they died, and are seen as in Him raised from the dead, where law has nothing to say to them. (Rom. 7:4.)

No Jew can get out from under the law and its curse but through the death of the Son of God. (Gal. 3:10-13.)

Verses 4, 5. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice." The stranger's voice they will flee from: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Verse 6. But they did not understand the parable, and how few today understand the liberty into which grace sets those who are the sheep of Christ.

Verses 7, 8. Verily, verily, I say into you, "I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." He is their authority for leaving the sheepfold, and none but He could do the work needed to set them at liberty in grace, and none but the Son could make them know the Father.

Verse 9. This is another door that leads, not into the sheepfold but, into salvation. And its blessings extend far wider than to the Jews, only, it is for any man-every creature, whosoever will. Blessed words! "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Some might say, How can I enter in? Read Rom. 10:9. How simple that is! If you feel your need as a lost sinner, believe on Him who died that you might be saved. The work is finished, God has raised Him from the dead. Confess Him as your Lord, and thou shalt be saved. And what a depth of blessing is in that word "salvation". Your sins are forgiven; you are justified from all things; (Acts 13:39) you are now a child of God, and the Holy Spirit henceforth dwells in you (1 Cor. 6:19). This is the fruit of accomplished redemption. It could not be known till the Lord had died and was risen again. It is what we find in the Epistles-a perfect Savior, and a perfect salvation, a righteousness given by God to all who believe on His Son.

But there is more in this wonderful verse, "And shall go in and out, and find pasture." Here is the picture of the Shepherd leading, (not driving) and feeding His sheep. The "in and out" speak of liberty, to go "in" to God's presence as holy priests with our prayers and our praises; and the "out" speaks of our privilege to show out the virtues of the Lord in our walk and ways before the world, (Compare 1 Peter 2:5, 9.) but this is very important, for it is as we use our privilege to go in to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace for timely help, that we are able at all to represent, even in a feeble way, our Lord before the world. And let us remember that prayer and the Word of God go together: the one is our air as Children of God, the other is our food. Our Shepherd desires to lead His sheep into the green pastures of His Word, and by the quiet waters where our souls can rest in His presence and meditate on His love, where, when our souls are satisfied, we can lie down under His shade with great delight, and His fruit will be sweet to our taste. Thank God, we are saved from eternal judgment, and from the slavery of sin and Satan's power. But this "in and out" and finding pasture, is much more; it is positive enjoyment by faith of all our blessed Savior is for our souls, all we need day by day. May we delight more in Him, and in this new place His grace has given us. Quite true, the Christian has enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, but faith overcomes them all. We are taught that our old man (the flesh in us) is crucified with Christ, and that the devil is a vanquished enemy, so that we are to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And Christ is now our object to live for. He leads us on, caring for and helping us in our feebleness.

`He feeds His flock, He calls their names,

And gently leads the tender lambs."

Verse 10. Warns them of the thief, who comes as a wolf in sheep's clothing, to steal and to kill and to destroy. (2 Cor. 11:13-15; Acts 20:29; 1 John 4:1.) The Good Shepherd came to give them life abundantly, that is, life in Him risen from the dead, and with it the Spirit to dwell in them, the power of that life. (John 20:22; Rom. 8:2.)

Verse 11. "The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." In Heb. 13. He is the Great Shepherd in resurrection. In 1 Peter 5:4. He is the Chief Shepherd, who will reward those who help Him to care for the sheep, with a crown of glory that fadeth not, away. He binds them to Him with cords of love.

Verses 12, 13. The sheep do not belong to the hireling. The hireling is only there for selfish interests; and when there is danger, he fleeth because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. The hireling" may speak about "my flock," but how much better to remember that they are Christ's sheep, the flock of God, as Paul, the apostle, speaks by the Spirit of the whole Church of God. (Acts 20:28; and also 1 Peter 5:2.) Feed the flock of God, and that apart from being an hireling, "Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." How far indeed has the professing church departed from the truth, when they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and think it right to do so.

(2 Tim. 4:3.) The time has come when they will not endure sound doctrine.

Verses 14, 15. The Lord continues, "I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine, as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father: And I lay down My life for the sheep." He gave Himself for them. Well might they rejoice in such love and enjoy this intimate knowledge into which He brings them where they are able to say, "My Beloved is Mine and I am His." And in John 17:10. "Mine are Thine and Thine are Mine." Father and Son delighting in the sheep.

Verse 16. And now He speaks of other sheep that were never in the Jewish sheepfold. That comes close to our hearts who were but Gentiles, afar from God, having no hope, and without God in the world. (Eph. 2.) "Them also," He says, "I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock. (See Revised and New Trans.) and One Shepherd." It is not a sheepfold: an enclosure where there is neither liberty nor pasture. It is the Shepherd who purchased the sheep with His own blood, thus proving His love, and now He cares for them, and leads into association with Himself as the risen One in this place of liberty and blessing. Judaism is distinguished as a fold-a circumference without a center. Christianity, as a flock whose Center and Shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ-a company who belong to the Savior, and who follow Him. They are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, their only enclosure, the love of God.

Verses 17, 18. "Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life that I might take it again." His laying down His life is in itself well pleasing to the Father. We love, because we have been loved, but our blessed Lord could give, in His life and death, fresh motives for the Father's love. In laying down His life it was for the Father's glory, and for the telling forth of His love. Death was the penalty of sin, and it had no claim on Him, "in Him was no sin." He gave His life, laid down His life, and brought in eternal blessing for the sheep, through this redemption. Then the Lord can say, "that I might take it again."

How His divine power shines forth here! His victory over death, and sin and Satan's power are all involved in it, and proclaimed by His words. Man might show his hatred to the Lord as under the power of Satan, but these had no power over the Lord, could not touch Him, unless He gave Himself into their hands for the purpose before Him of glorifying God in making atonement for sin, and then in the same divine power, to take His life again. And He would do as the Father had given Him commandment, still acting as the dependent, obedient man, working out the Father's good pleasure.

Verses 19-21. The Jews have brought on themselves blindness, and that willfully. He gave them proofs of His power, yet they come to Him as if He had said or done nothing definitively,

Verses 24, 25. He reminds them that His works and His words bore witness of Him.

Verses 26. Their unbelief showed they were not His sheep.

Verses 27, 28. His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. And He gives to them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand.

Verses 29, 30. His Father which gave them to Him, is greater than all and none can pluck them out of His Father's hand. He and His Father are one-one in mind and purpose, to hold and care for the sheep. What wonderful grace to bring the sheep into the knowledge of the Father and the Son, as dear children of God.

This is also new, and could not be known under law, it is the fruit of redemption. "This is eternal life, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent." (ch. 17:3.) Jesus risen from the dead declares it. (ch. 20:17.)

Verses 31-38. But this only brings out the Jew's hatred, the enmity of their hearts, and they took up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered their threatenings, "Many good works have I showed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?" They answer, "For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God." The Lord quotes Psa. 82 to prove that judges were called gods, and yet they were but men, and the Scripture cannot be broken. The Word of God came to them, but here was The Word, whom the Father hath sanctified, (set apart,) and sent into this world, and will they say of Him, "Thou blasphemest," because He said, "I am the Son of God"? And still further He puts before them that the works He did were the works of the Father, and if they would believe the works, they would know that the Father was in the Son, and the Son in the Father.

Verses 39-42. They sought to take Him again, but in vain. He escaped out of their hands, His time had not yet come. He went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized, and there He abode, but many follow Him there, and confessed that John's testimony of Him was true. Though John did no miracle, he told the truth about the Lord, and many believed on Him.

Scripture Study: Ephesians 4:1-19

Ephesians 4EPH 4

We saw in chapter 2:1-3 how man's sin had put him under the power of Satan, so he was a slave in body and in mind, and under the power of death that Satan held over him, but only as far as God allowed Satan to go.

The Lord became man, and was led by the Spirit to meet the enemy, and overcame him. He had power to bind him, and to spoil his goods, but man turned from God. Yet the Lord went on and accomplished redemption. To do it He suffered death, and rose again, and broke Satan's power, by glorifying God, and God has glorified Him, setting Him on high over all.

Verses 8-10. "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." In ascending to heaven, He as man is victoriously placed over all things, and has led captive all the power that previously held man captive. His power is not yet seen in deliverances on earth, as when Satan will be bound, but is now seen in the sovereign grace that gives gifts to men for the Assembly. But if He has ascended, what is it but that He first descended as a man into the lower parts of the earth, into the darkness of death and the grave, and now victorious over the enemy's power, and having borne the judgment of His redeemed ones, and having glorified God in His obedience unto death, He has taken His place in the highest glory of the heavens, thus to fill all things. He that descended as man into the grave, is now as man ascended as the triumphant Redeemer, so that all power is in His hands in a sphere filled with blessing,-God and man in His blessed person. How blessed to belong to Him in that place won by His work of suffering on the Cross! He has gone to the lowest, that He might fill all things with the fruits of the redemption that He accomplished for His Assembly, and now gives gifts unto men for the accomplishment of His work of blessing in the Assembly. He received them from God the Father for our blessing (Psa. 68:18; Acts 2:33).

Verse 11. "He gave some apostles; and some prophets," these are the foundation on which the rest are built; "and some evangelists," whose business is in the gospel of the grace of God which may also be called "Paul's gospel," that we believers with Christ are one (Rom. 2:16; 16:25), and "The Gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 1:1,3). Then we have, "and some pastors and teachers," these are occupied with ministry to the saints; teachers unfolding to them the truth as it is in Jesus, and pastors seeking to shepherd and care for the sheep. It is worthy of notice that the gifts in 1 Cor. 12 are not said to continue, as some are sign gifts,-miracles, tongues, etc.-which have passed away. What is spoken of here continues to the end,-that is till every one is full grown, and that will be when the Lord comes and takes us home.

Verse 12. These gifts were for "the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," and continue.

Verse 13. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

It is the work of our glorified Head to minister to His beloved members. All true ministry comes down from Christ in glory; and there is no mention, and therefore no need, of the ordination of man-made ministers, nor of the societies to which such belong.

Verse 14. This ministry was to feed and establish the members of the body so that they would not be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Verses 15, 16. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, Christ. From whom the whole body, fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase unto the edifying of itself in love.”

May our measure of communion with our Head be deep and real, so that we may help to build up and strengthen those members of the body of Christ that we are in contact with from day to day. Here we may all feel humbled that we are so cold in our heart's enjoyment, for this is what hinders ministry of this kind to others.

Verses 17-19. We now come to exhortations befitting the doctrine of the Epistle, the behavior consistent with our new position and relationship, and it will be the fruit of our life, new creation life in Christ risen and glorified. We have here the dark picture of the state of man's heart, and the apostle testifies in the Lord,-that is, by His authority,-that the saints henceforth were not to walk as other Gentiles walk, "in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." This is one of the pictures God draws of the man in the flesh, the mind pursuing vanity, the understanding darkened, alienated from God in ignorance, the heart blinded, past feeling, given up to the pleasures of sin and uncleanness with greediness. How true it is that "in my flesh dwells no good thing." It is worse than lost time to improve it, for it must always end in disappointment.

(Continued from page 126)

(To be continued)

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 11

1Co 11Verse 1 is connected with chapter 10. The apostle was seeking that no one might be stumbled by his walk, and exhorts them to be diligent in the same way.

Verses 2, 3. He gives them credit for keeping the instructions he had given to them, and then brings before them God's order in creation- the woman's head is the man; the man's head Christ. Christ's head is God.

In the apostle's day, as now, the world goes on its way, following its own customs, which are continually changing. God's order never changes, and Christians should find a way to observe God's order, and specially in approaching God in prayer or in prophesying. We do not get women commissioned to preach or to teach in public in the things of God. There are many ways in which the woman can serve the Lord according to God's order in His word. God has magnified His Word above all His name (Psa. 138:2).

It seems easier for the man to obey (verse 4) than it is for the woman to obey (verse 5), and the apostle explains the position of each. The man was created, the image and glory of God. The woman was taken from his side to be an helpmeet for him. She is the glory of the man, and her hair marked the difference-it was given her for a covering. In putting something on her hair, marks the submission of her mind to God's order, and is a lesson to the angels. They learn object-lessons through us (1 Cor. 4:9; 11:10; Eph. 3:10). In Eph. 5, the husband and wife are taken to figure Christ and the Church.

The repentant sinner in Luke 7; and the worshiping saint in John 12, both laid their hair (glory, verse 15) at Jesus' feet. The world's customs or fashions are apt to lead us away, but our souls should be exercised to do honor to God's instructions. Even in religious meetings of many denominations of Christendom, these instructions are neglected. The apostle concludes this subject by saying, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we (the apostles) have no such custom, neither the assemblies of God.”

Verses 17-22. The apostle heard or the condition in which their meetings were, and he speaks with sorrow, especially of the one meeting when they were gathered together to break bread in remembrance of the Lord in His death, and this leads him to give needed instruction about this for all time, comparing the- present-day usages. We cannot but own how sadly Christendom has departed from what is written.

There was no such thing then as a minister set over a congregation to order everything as he pleased. This is better seen in chapter 14. To set up such, choosing their own teachers, is spoken against in 2 Tim. 4:3, 4; and this is what we see now. It is called the deeds of the Nicolaitanes in Rev. 2:6, and their doctrine, in verse 15, which thing the Lord says, "I hate.”

The apostle could pot praise them, but the opposite, for their coming together was not for the better, but for the worse; for first of all he had heard that they were divided in their hearts, and this formed them into schools or parties; but it made manifest some who were approved in their ways, and did not go on with such behavior, for their coming together was not to eat the Lord's supper. Some were eating their own supper before others did, and one would be hungry, and others carousing It was shaming God's assembly, and shaming the poor who had no house to eat in. What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this point? I praise you not. Then the apostle unfolds in all its simplicity, and solemn godly dignity, the way it was instituted at the first, and sets it in its own important and solitary blessedness, apart from all other meetings or meals of their own.

Verses 23-26. The apostle tells us where he got this revelation, and who it came from. He was not with the disciples when Jesus was on earth. He had it from the Lord in heaven, and this gives it increased weight for us to see that it is not neglected.

“I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night on which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said, 'Take, eat, this is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.' After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, ' This cup is the new covenant in My blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of Me: for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.'”

This should have been precious to their redeemed souls, and make them think of Him, who loved them and gave Himself for them. And in like manner it is set before us to keep us in mind of how our blessed Savior suffered in our stead. We might well thank God, that out of all the sad failure of the Corinthians, He gives us this lasting proof that God the Father delights to have us worshiping in His presence, and the presence of our Lord Jesus, and though the church outwardly is so sadly broken up, yet the privilege remains for even the two or three, as well as larger numbers, if gathered to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Matt. 18:20; John 4:23, and like the disciples in Acts 20:7), we can have the weekly remembrance of Him. Not to bring blessing to our souls, though that is increased where the soul enters into it, but to think of our blessed Lord, and gratify His heart, and be in communion with Him. Paul adds to what the Lord said to Him.

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death, till He come." There in it is a witness that the Lord died in this world, was lifted up, put out, and that he will come again. So we go on remembering Him and waiting for Him, and the moment He takes us up, will be the closing of the day of grace and salvation.

Verses 27, 28. Then the danger is stated that whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. The persons are worthy, being true children of God but their manner of doing it was unworthy. So each was to examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup; he is not told to stay away. The word is not damnation in verse 29. There is no condemnation to the believer, but it is bringing judgment or chastening on himself because he was not discerning the Lord's body; he did not connect his eating and drinking with the death of Christ: it had become an ordinance or form to him.

Verse 30. So some were weak and sickly among them and many had fallen asleep. No doubt they went to be with the Lord, but it was chastisement.

Verses 31, 32. They were to judge their own ways and correct them, then the Lord would not need to chastise them. When the Christians are judged, they are chastened from the Lord. When the world is judged, they are condemned forever.

So now (verses 33, 34) when they came together all were to come at the same time; and if any needed a meal, it was to be taken at a different time, so that nothing might interfere with the object of the gathering, and all should he done decently and in order, with due soberness and solemnity.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 14, Part 2

Speaking with tongues was given only to some, whereas every Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him (Rom. 8:9; John 7:39). The Christian has believed the gospel of his salvation, and has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. He does not pray for the Spirit; he prays by the Spirit (Rom. 8:26). He says, "Abba, Father" by the Spirit (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).

In Acts 2 The converts did not speak with tongues, nor in Acts 8. It was the preachers that spoke with tongues, so that all could hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God.

In Acts 10:44 the Gentile converts spoke with tongues, and magnified God, so that the Jewish prejudice was overcome, and Peter, who had the keys of the Kingdom, commanded in the Name of the Lord that they should be baptized into the assembly on earth.

In Acts 19, Paul found some twelve disciples of John the Baptist who had never learned that the Holy Spirit had come down to dwell in the assembly. He told them of Christ Jesus, and baptized them in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and laid his hands on them; then the Holy Ghost came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Among all the many conversions narrated in the Acts, these are the only three eases of speaking with tongues, and in each case what they said was fully understood.

Miracles, gifts of healing, speaking with tongues, have all passed away as no more needed. There is no gospel of healing. There are thousands of sick Christians, and no promise in the Word that they were to believe to be healed. We have all seen answers to our prayers in some eases for our dear sick ones, but not always, as Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus, and others (see 1 Cor. 11:30; 1 John 5). The Christian's blessings are heavenly; he has many mercies here as well.

What is called speaking with tongues in this day is against all Scripture, and the influence under which those who have willingly given themselves up to, is not of the Spirit of God.

Satan has always imitated what God does; he used the magicians to withstand Moses; he set up false gods to worship, so that he could keep men away from the true God. God sent prophets; Satan sent false prophets. God sowed wheat; Satan sowed tares-imitation wheat (Matt. 13). God has wise virgins; Satan has foolish ones (Matt. 25). The Lord sent apostles and prophets; Satan does so also (see Matt. 7:22; 2 Cor. 11:13; 2 Peter 2:1; Rev. 2:2).

He now imitates Christ's miracles. We see them wrought by the enemies of God so-called Christian Science, priests and faith healers. Compare Acts 2:22 for the Lord's miracles, and 2 Thess. 2:9 for Satan's. In the future day he has his trinity also. The beast, the false prophet and the dragon, and lots of miracles then (Rev. 13:12-14; 16:13, 14).

The Lord's coming is near; Satan's miracles are showing themselves, and the poor world is more and more blinded (1 Tim. 4:1, 2; 2 Tim. 3:1-13), and now we would earnestly entreat any dear child of God, who is entangled in any of these snares, and has given himself up to this influence to be led, that he turn to the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to deliver him from what is not of Himself; from what is ruining the souls of so many. It is not the influence of the Spirit of God; it is not what is in the Word of God.

Dear blinded one, look to the Lord Jesus; He alone can set you free. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7.

A Christian wife, in the presence of her husband, said to the writer of this, "My husband's prayers do me no good now. When we go on our knees, this influence comes on him, then I do not understand what he says." When asked if he understood what he was saying, he replied to this effect:

“No, but a man said that I might be praying for some one in a foreign country who speaks that language.”

How sad it is that dear children of God should be so deluded, and the praise and adoration of His dear saints hindered from going up to God who delights to hear His Son well spoken of.

Our only path of safety is in keeping humble before the Lord, and looking to Him to keep us true to His Word and Name.

(Continued from page 16)

Scripture Study: Philippians 2

Philippians 2.PHI 2

Verses 1, 2. "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

This want of one-mindedness in these saints was evidently pressing on the apostle's spirit. He exhorted them to be of one mind in 1:27, and now again in such a way of loving appeal as ought to win their hearts. Their gift sent to him carried consolation of Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, bowels and mercies (tender affection and care), giving him great joy.

One more quality was needed to fulfill his joy in them, and that was that they be of one mind in the Lord, allowing no rivalship in their souls with each other. Something had come in during his absence; his true yoke fellow (4:3) had made him aware of it, and now by all these blessings in Christ, and His love, he beseeches them. Their love to him gives him room to speak to them about it. He goes on:

Verses 3, 4. "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things (or advantages), but every man also on the things of others." He wished their complete happiness, and wished them to love each other as they had loved him, and as he loved them. In such a tender reproof, he added divine love to brotherly love (2 Peter 1:7 N. T.).

Verses 5-8. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Here we have the perfect pattern in the One, Who humbled Himself to do the will of God, and we are thus taught to lay self aside even as the Lord did.

Such a contrast with the first Adam, who sought equality with God by robbery, when he was in the form of a man, and strove to exalt himself (being at the same time disobedient unto death).

Christ Jesus our Lord, when He was in the form of God, emptied Himself (love led Him to do it) of all His outward glory,-of the form of God,-and took the form of a man; and, then still humbled Himself. As God He emptied Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross, and God has highly exalted Him. In this we are reminded of the word, "Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

And what a story of love that cannot be measured this is. A Man has won, by His lowly obedience to God, the highest place above all heavens, the right hand of the throne of the divine majesty.

What a wonderful person that could descend into death, and ascend to the highest, where He fills all things as Redeemer and Lord of Glory! Worthy from all eternity to be at God's right hand, He is now there as the victorious man. God's righteousness has set Him there after He was made sin for us, and we are made God's righteousness in Him, rejoicing in His glory, and by grace we have part in it.

Verses 9-11. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name, which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly, earthly and infernal beings (N. T.); and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." His humiliation declares His Godhead. He Who was rich became poor.

Rich in glory, Thou didst stoop,

Thence is all Thy people's hope;

Thou wast poor, that we might be

Rich in glory, Lord, with Thee.

Only a divine person could do this work; only as a man could He die. He is exalted as a man in the highest place. He is Lord over all as a man, Jesus Christ. It is of Him that the apostle speaks, Who was ever equal with God the Father, emptied Himself, humbled Himself, became obedient unto death, and is now exalted as man, and is now crowned with glory and honor, and to Him every knee,-all creation-must bow and confess Him Lord, to the glory of God the Father. What a story of love and grace without measure! "Let this lowly mind be in you.”

Verses 12, 13. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, 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.”

While he was among them, he had labored and shepherded them. Now he could not be with them, but they had still God working in them, and they could look to Him Who could defeat the enemy that they had to meet. He would show them His will, and also supply the strength and wisdom to carry it out. Their carefulness, their fear and trembling were lest they should do their own will, not His.

Salvation, including the body, is at the end, in this Epistle. Our place in Christ is always perfect. Our relationships are all eternally secure. We are, as believers, always children of God the Father, always members of the body of Christ, always sealed with the Holy Spirit. Working out our salvation is learning in our walk and service to do the will of God. "Your own" is in contrast with when Paul was with them. Now they had to look to God, each for himself, as to his making progress in his pilgrim path. There is no uncertainty about our being saved, or of losing our life. God dwells in us forever by His Spirit (see 1 Cor. 1:8).

Verses 14-18. Here we get some exhortations. "Do all things without murmurings and reasonings; that ye may be blameless and harmless the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life.”

How fully all this was carried out by our blessed Lord as a man. And we need diligence and earnestness to follow in the right way, and though we have a desperate enemy, yet greater is He that is for us, than all that can be against us. There is grace in Christ to meet all our need.

The apostle thus exhorts them to faithfulness, that he might rejoice over them in the day of Christ, that his work with them had not been in vain. He was willing to die for them upon the sacrifice and service of their faith. He rejoices with them in it, and looked for them also to rejoice with him. He thus united his work and reward in the day of Christ with the assembly, and with the joy of the Lord in them.

Verses 19-21. Though confident that the Lord will continue the good work in their souls, He trusts to send Timotheus shortly unto them, that he might be of good comfort when he knew their state. About that servant the apostle says: "I have no man like-minded who will care with genuine feeling how ye get on (N. T.). For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." This also gives us a glimpse of the state of the Assembly everywhere. Men of God were exceptions. He had none else but Timotheus who were filled with love, and sought Christ's glory in the saints, but of him he continues:

Verses 22-24. "But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with a father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him, therefore, I hope to send immediately, as soon as I shall see how it will go with me." And he trusted in the Lord that he himself would come shortly. How solicitous he was for their spiritual well-being.

Verses 25-30. Epaphroditus must also return. He is described as "my brother and fellow 'soldier, and companion in labor, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants." He also longed after the Philippians, and was troubled because they heard that he had been sick, for indeed he was sick, nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him, "and," as Paul says, "not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him, therefore, in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in honor (N. T.), because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life to complete your service toward me." What mutual regard for each other is seen here, brotherly love and divine love intermingled.

This is a chapter of examples: First it is the perfect one. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus'': then Paul, Timotheus, and Epaphroditus, men walking in their path serving the Lord, to whom "to live was Christ, and to die was gain." May it stir our hearts through Christ's grace to do likewise. It is the obedient One we have here as our pattern for our living before men. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 8

1Co 8In this chapter there are instructions concerning eating things offered to idols. One might have knowledge that an idol is nothing. Knowledge of this kind tends to make a man proud, but divine love in his heart would make him careful not to hurt the conscience of another who has not that knowledge. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as' he ought to know. We ought all to be humble and ready to learn, for if 'we truly loved God, we know He knows us through and through.

So that in the eating anything offered to idols, care had to be taken that no one's conscience was defiled. We know there is only one true God, though Pagans have their gods and lords many. To Christians, there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.

The apostle does not unfold the Lord's divinity here, but the place that we as Christians know of God the Father, and, of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is contrasting that with idolatry, which had gods many, and lords many. We who are Christians, think of God as our Father, and of Christ who became man and did not cease to be God, but we address Him as Lord. It is the position (Acts 2:36) they hold toward. us that is considered here, not the divine nature. Both we know are equally divine. The Lord is here, as elsewhere, the active Agent, all things are of the Father, and by the Lord.

Verse 7. Some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol: and their conscience being weak, is defiled. Even if our knowledge was faulty, we must keep a good conscience, or our communion is broken,-we must not do things we believe are wrong. We should be ready to learn from the Word at all times, but doing that which we know or think is wrong may lead to shipwreck. (1 Tim. 1:19. See further on eating 1 Cor. 10:27-29.)

What we eat commends us not to God, but we must acknowledge God in thanksgiving, and eat according to His instructions, taking heed lest our liberty become a stumbling block to them that are weak. "For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in an idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things, which are offered to idols?" Not every converted idolater was delivered from the influence of false gods on his imagination. Thoughts of a real being in the idol still had a hold on him, and knowing it as a false God, when he saw another brother eating in the idol's temple, it was fellowship with the idol. He loses his happiness, and starts on a wrong path.

Verse 11. "Through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died." He was estranged from God by the act. We know from such passages as John 5:24; 10:28, 29, that a true believer could not be eternally lost. The Lord would not let him go on to a lost eternity, but as far as the stronger brother's action went, he was leading him on the downward road. It was against the brethren-it was sin,-and wounded their weak conscience, and it was sin against Christ. It does not excuse one who leads another on the down track, because I know that he will not be finally lost. "Wherefore," says the apostle, "if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I become a stumbling block to my brother." Thus we get an example in the apostle to take care that our liberty, which we think we have, may not be used of Satan to turn aside some dear child of God. This principle applies to more things than fellowship with idolatry.

Scripture Study: Acts 9

We have here the story of Saul's conversion, the chosen vessel to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. His zeal for his religion has already been seen in taking part in the murder of Stephen, and in making havoc of the assembly at Jerusalem, and entering into houses, arresting men and women, and putting them in prison; and here we find him breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the believers, and desiring letters of the high priest to do the same at Damascus, to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. He thought he was doing right as he wrote afterward, "concerning zeal persecuting the Church, touching the righteousness of the law, blameless." Such is the heart of man at the best, and this man, so full of energy, and determination to wipe out the name of Jesus from the earth, God, in sovereign grace, is going to make him His servant, to carry that Name to the Gentiles, and to suffer for it willingly.

As he journeyed to Damascus for this purpose, in the brightness of noonday, a light brighter than any created light shone round about him from heaven, which caused him and his company to fall to the earth. Then he heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" Thus the Lord arrested him, and revealed Himself to his soul, and to his sight, and blinded him to everything else. He saw the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is revealed to him in glory. He had not known Him on earth, as the twelve apostles had. Saul saw the Lord of Glory, but asks, "Who art Thou, Lord?" and receives the answer that changed all his ways, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." His conversion gives character to his ministry. His teaching is of a glorified Christ, and of all believers being members of His body; he preached of the glorified Son of God, with all his zeal and energy, that is now used by God. Jew and Gentile were alike lost by nature, and Jew and Gentile saved by grace are alike members of the body of Christ.

The Lord directs him to go into the city where it should be told him what he was to do. The men who were with him saw the light, and heard the sound, but did not distinguish what was said. When Saul arose from the earth and opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus, and for the three days he sat there, he was blind, and neither did eat nor drink.

God had spoken, he knew now his rebellion against the God he was trying to serve after a carnal manner (Rom. 10:3), but now he submits to the righteousness of God, and owns himself the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:12-16); calls himself a blasphemer, and persecuter, an insolent, over-bearing man, the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, "because," he said, "I persecuted the Church of God" (1 Cor. 15:9).

God had taken him aside where, in the solitude of blindness, he could learn what he was as a man in the flesh, even when maintaining a good conscience (Acts 23:1; Born. 7:18). What a revolution of mind he here went through! Three days of deep agony of soul repentance God allows him, then He sends His messenger, gives Saul notice that God's messenger is coming, and he, now humbled, is ready for the message. A certain man lived there of whom we hear nothing before, and nothing afterward, but one living near enough in his soul's intimacy to the Lord, to hear Him call "Annanias," and he immediately responds, "Behold, I am here, Lord." The Lord gives him full directions as to where to go, and adds, "Behold, he prayeth," (he might often have said prayers before), "and hath seen in a vision a man named Annanias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight." Annanias told the Lord of Saul's character, as if he was afraid to go to such a persecutor, but the Lord replies in words to encourage him to go, yet with firmness, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." Annanias, therefore, goes to him, and putting his hand on him, Said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." Thus his sins were remitted, and he was received into the House of God (John 20:23) by this quiet disciple who does not claim for himself any gift, but just that the Lord Jesus sent him; this was his only authority. He was received by man through baptism into the House of God, and by receiving the Holy Spirit he became a member of the body of Christ (1 Tim. 3:15 1 Cor. 12:12, 13; compare 1 Cor. 3:10 for man's responsibility). He is not a Jew any longer except externally, and he did not become a Gentile. He is in a new place, and his part in God's new creation is where he knows no man after the flesh (2 Cor. 5:16). He knows the

Lord Jesus, and all His people as united to Him, the risen and glorified Head. Jews and Gentiles were alike under the wrath of God in nature as sinners against Him and now as saved ones believers are all one in Christ Jesus. What a, change for Saul! how it filled his soul with new thoughts, new desires, and made him count everything but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, his Lord and newfound Savior, and he saw all his own righteousness as filthy rags, which now he was glad to be rid of (Phil. 3:7-10). Sovereign grace it was that called him, and revealed God's Son to him, and made him His servant to unfold the mystery of Christ and the Church. He is willing now to suffer for the One he before persecuted, and desires to know the fellowship of His sufferings.

It is important to remember that the Lord Jesus is ever a man in the glory of God, and calls us His brethren. He is also ever the blessed God at the same time, and what love to us since its only measure is the Father's love to Him. He knows everything as God, and yet had the experiences of a man. He can take part with us in all our sorrows and trials and there is nothing too small for Him to notice. He has passed through the world, and knows practically its trials and difficulties, and sympathizes with us in everything, but sin. He knows and feels all, and passed through everything to help us, because lie loves us. Precious truth! Wonderful grace! What an encouragement to our feeble faith to trust Him more fully.

Saul continued in Damascus for a number of days, but straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. It surprised the Jews, they were amazed at the change, that the persecutor was now himself a disciple of Jesus. But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus was the very Christ.

We find from Gal. 1:17 that Saul went away about this time to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus before going to Jerusalem. It was needful and proper discipline that he should have opportunity to mature in the truth now committed to him before entering on the commission given him by the Lord. (Compare Acts 22:15; 26:16-18). "After many days," (verse 23) would cover the three years before he went up to Jerusalem. Persecution drove him out of Damascus, let down by the wall in a basket. At Jerusalem the disciples were afraid of him, till Barnabas told them of his wonderful conversion and experience in speaking with the Lord, and in his testimony for the Lord in Damascus preaching boldly in the name of Jesus. His visit there was a short one (Gal. 1:18), about fifteen days going in and out with the disciples, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputing against the Grecians, but they went about to slay him, so that the brethren sent him down to Caesarea, and then to Tarsus, his native city; there we leave him for the present.

At that time, a period of rest came to the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, they were edified, and were walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

Verse 32. We find Peter again here carrying out the ministry given him in the power of the Holy Ghost. Visiting in many places as he goes along, he also came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. A man lay sick there for eight years, paralyzed, called Aeneas. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: Arise, and make thy bed." And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Then the Lord wanted him for a time at Joppa, where a disciple called Tabitha, or Dorcas, lived. She was full of good works and alms-deeds till she became sick and died, whom when they had washed, they laid the body in an upper room. And having heard that Peter was at Lydda, the disciples sent two men beseeching him to come to them without delay.

And Peter arose and went with them. When lie was come they took him into the upper room where all the widows stood by weeping, and showed the coats and garments Dorcas made while with them. But Peter put them all out, and kneeling down, prayed, and turning to the body, said, "Tabitha, arise," and she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. And having given her his hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows presented her living. When it became known, many believed on the Lord, and Peter remained many days in Joppa in the house of one Simon a tanner, waiting on the Lord for his next step.

Scripture Study: Acts 6

Acts 6.ACT 6

With the increase of numbers, came the need of wisdom to direct, and patience to bear with each other. The flesh began to show itself. They were a redeemed company, but the leaven is seen in the Pentecostal cake (Lev. 23:15-17).

There arose a murmuring of the Jews, brought up in Gentile countries (called Helenists), against those brought up in Judah (called Hebrews), because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration of food. How this happened we are not told, but we read in it a lesson of how easily murmuring comes into the heart, and grace towards each other is needed to keep from it, or from doing anything to cause it.

The twelve called the multitude together, and said, "It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables." They direct them to look out seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom they might appoint over this business. "But," said they, "we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." This settled the difficulty. They could not give up their proper work to which the Lord had called them. So seven are selected to serve. The word "deacon" means, "minister" or "servant." They select Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, of whom we shall hear more, and other five. The names of the seven would indicate that they were all Helenists, so that none could blame the Hebrews any more.

The apostles prayed, and laid their hands on them, thus expressing their approval of these men. Thus Eph. 4:2, 3, is carried out in practice, though the doctrine of the One body, and the Unity of the One Spirit had not yet been unfolded; that was given later through the apostle Paul.

It is important to see that with the apostles, prayer and ministry go together; ministry following prayer, by it overcoming the power of evil, and receiving wisdom and strength for their service to be maintained in the power and unction of the truth.

Verse 7. The influence of the Word increased, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem were greatly multiplied; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith, It seems that the opposition without, and the evil within, became an occasion to manifest the truth, and to deepen it in their souls.

Stephen is specially distinguished as full of faith and power, and doing great wonders and miracles among the people. The Holy Spirit selects him as His special witness at this time to meet the Helenists' schools of disputers. They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke, but their enmity Was implacable. They procured men to accuse him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses, and against God, and stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, "This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." From this it is evident that Stephen's testimony told them not only of their sin in crucifying their Messiah, but also of the disastrous judgment that was to fall on Jerusalem, spoken by the Lord (Matt. 22:7). He is the one selected by the Holy Spirit for this occasion, and to bring before them, and us all, the opened heavens, and the Son of Man rejected on earth, in the glory of God. As he stands before the council, all looked steadfastly on him, and saw the heavenly appearance of his face, as it had been the face of an angel. But it does not change their enmity of heart against Christ; they proceed to their diabolical work.

Scripture Study: Acts 8

Verses 1, 2. God uses man's enmity to Himself to carry out His purposes of grace. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee; the remainder of wrath Thou shalt restrain." Psa. 76:10. Satan's greatest triumph ended in his total defeat in the crucifixion of our blessed Lord. (Acts 2:23). The rejection of Christ as Israel's Messiah is here fully completed. The messenger has been sent after Him, saying, "We will not have this Man to reign over us." (Luke 19:14.)

God has His eye upon the man, as yet a leader in his zeal in the persecution of the saints. His hands are imbrued with the blood of Stephen and others (Acts 22:4), yet he is to be the chosen instrument of God to tell out the wonderful Gospel of the glory of Christ, and the mystery of Christ and the Church.

The gospel has been preached to the Jerusalem sinners, and to the Jews generally (Luke 24:46, 47). Now it is to go out wider, to the streets and lanes of the city (Luke 14:21). It was time now for this redeemed community at Jerusalem to be scattered, and when God sends (hem, they must go. And while He cared for them each one, and measured out their trials and their mercies with gracious and. tender care (Luke 21:17-19), He sends them by means of a great persecution that scattered them all abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. They were told to go (Mark 16:15), but they do not go yet, they still cling to Jerusalem.

Godly men carry Stephen's body to its burying-place, and make great lamentations over him, but his work is done and he rests with the Lord. He was faithful unto death.

Verse 3. Saul is mentioned as a self-appointed apostle in religious enmity against the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 4-8. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word. What a defeat to Satan! What power and liberty of the Spirit, giving from the Head in glory the gifts to minister as He will! (Eph. 4:8; 1 Cor. 12:4). And on these outcasts go, telling out of full hearts the story of Jesus and His love to sinful men. They are servants of their rejected Master; they share with Him the rejected place.

And now the faithful record tells of one man's service to show us the actings of the Holy Spirit among men. Then Philip, who had obtained a good degree when serving tables at Jerusalem (1 Tim. 3:13), went to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. His royal Master had gone there before (John 4), and now Philip can reap the fruit of the seed sown then, for "one soweth and another reapeth." And like John 4 again, there was great eagerness to hear the Word, "The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." Many were delivered from the power of Satan, and many were healed. God bearing witness with the gospel in this way (Heb. 2:4), and there was great joy in that city. The good news of a once crucified, and now risen and glorified Christ, filled their hearts with joy.

Verses 9-13. We are now to notice a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God," and for a time they were held under his influence. But when they believed the preaching of Philip concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then they saw and realized the power of God in the joy of their salvation.

"Simon himself believed also." This at first sounds all right, and Philip doubtless thought it was real conversion, but real conversion is, "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Eph. 2:8. Simon's was like John 2:23-25. Jesus would not commit Himself to such, and such could turn away from Him without compunction (John 6:66-68), but those born again would say, like Peter, "To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." But Simon was baptized, and thus brought into the house of God on earth-the first tare we see in the wheat field; the first one answering to the foolish virgins, having a lamp but no oil: in at the feast, but no wedding garment on. (Matt. 13:25; 22:12; 25:3. Compare 1 Cor. 3:10-17). So he continued with Philip, and wondered as he saw the miracles and signs that were done. He was not the sinner coming in his felt need to the Savior, but a man taken by the power he saw, and did not understand, so his great power dissolved into nothing before this.

Verses 14-25. "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) "

We see plainly here the difference between the work of the Spirit in our souls, and the sealing of the Spirit to dwell in us forever, for these Samaritans were born again, and had believed the gospel, but for some reason were not yet sealed.

The long-continued opposition of religions had made a wide division between the Samaritan and the Jew, but now they are to learn that they as believers are one, and when the apostles laid their hands on them, that identified them with Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon them, thus making them members of the One body (1 Cor. 12:12, 13). Thus the Lord was careful to secure the unity of the Spirit among the saints whether they had been Jews or Samaritans before.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostle's hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."

Peter said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee, for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." Simon answered, "Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." He proves ignorant of any true knowledge of what wickedness is, and is only afraid of what might come upon him. He was a professing Christian, without life in his soul, or true knowledge of God.

Peter and John testified and preached the Word unto them, and then returned to Jerusalem, and on the way preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. In Matt. 7:22 and Matt. 10:1-8 where Judas Iscariot, the unconverted apostle (John 6:70), was sent to work miracles, it is proved that working miracles is not any mark of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or of conversion.

Verse 26. Another step in the actings of the Holy Spirit is now seen in the eunuch, an Ethiopian from Abyssinia, a prosolyte to the Jewish faith, a soul hungering after God, and had come to Jerusalem, and had failed to find in its ceremonies, for it was an empty temple, what his soul longed for. The Lord saw him, and Philip's work at Samaria is ended, so the angel of the Lord spake unto him, "Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert." No explanation is given or needed. Philip has confidence in His Master, and he is a willing servant. He arose and went from the busy crowds and young converts, to meet this great man of the world, yet a soul hungering for the truth, now on his return journey, but still eager to hear for he was reading Isa. 53, reading and wondering who it was about. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" And he said, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the Scripture which he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth."

The eunuch answered Philip, "I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"

Then Philip began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. To the Samaritans he preached Christ, for they in His life here had known Jesus, and Philip unfolded to them His new position as risen from the dead and glorified, but to the eunuch, he tells the whole story-His birth, His life, His rejection as the Messiah, His crucifixion, and then His resurrection to God's right hand in glory, consequently "His life is taken from the earth," He is glorified now at the Father's right hand. And as they came to a certain water, the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" He desired association with the Lord Jesus whose life was taken from the earth. It was not obedience, there is no such thing in baptism. It was that he desired the privilege of putting on Christ in baptism. (Gal. 3: 27.) (Verse 37 of Acts 8 is not authentic). He commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him, thus introducing him into the house of God on earth.

Philip's service was done, for when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing in his new found salvation, and to carry the gospel away down to Ethiopia. It is said that traces of the eunuch's testimony remain in that land until this day.

But Philip was found at Azotus; and, like a true evangelist, is active in the gospel, telling it out in passing through all the cities, till he came to Caesarea, where we find him in Acts 21:8 still well known as Philip the evangelist.

Scripture Study: Acts 11:19-30

ACT 11:19-30We were told in chapter 8 of how the Holy Spirit led the believers, who were scattered abroad by persecution, to announce the gospel wherever they went. For the most part, this was confined to the Jews, but some of these were bold enough to preach the glad tidings to the Grecians. The Lord blessed the Word and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. News of this work of God reached the ears of the assembly in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas, to go to Antioch, and see what was doing; who, when he came, and had seen so many trophies of the grace of God, rejoiced, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. It was good advice, and surely needed, not only for that day, but for us also.

Cleaving to the Lord, is abiding with Him. This good man, being full of the Holy Ghost, knew what was needed to keep the heart right How important it is, in these days of much head knowledge, to maintain ourselves in the fresh enjoyment of the love of Christ, and to cleave to Him earnestly, diligently, with spiritual energy; as this word would here put before our souls.

At this time a great crowd was added unto he Lord. It was not through the apostles, but by means of those already saved, though not marked out here as being specially gifted. "The hand of the Lord was with them," and that was the secret of their success. The love of Christ in their hearts, and desire for His glory, claimed others for Him.

Barnabas, good and kind and earnest and full of the Holy Ghost, seems to feel that the work is beyond him, and he goes away to Tarsus to bring Saul to help in this wonderful work of grace. They spent a whole year in Antioch teaching in that assembly. Barnabas had introduced Saul to the assembly at Jerusalem for their fellowship; now he gets his assistance as a teacher of the truth. It was here in Antioch that the disciples were first called distinctively "Christians," a term which is adopted by the Spirit of God, and used to denote those who know redemption, and are thus the true followers of Christ. (1 Peter 4:16). The word "disciple," does not seem to be used in the Epistles.

Interest in Jerusalem is stirred by prophets coming down, and one of them, Agabus, told of a great famine coming on the world, and this came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar and this led the disciples to do what they could to send relief to the brethren in Judea, which also they did, sending it to the elder brethren by Barnabas and Saul. This was some of the fruits of love, and a sweet acknowledgment of their debt of love to those by whom the gospel came to them. (Rom. 15:27.)

Scripture Study: Acts 13

ACT 13In the Antioch assembly there were certain prophets and teachers, all together waiting on the Lord and fasting. In earnest self-denial, they were seeking the mind of the Lord. These were gifts to the. assembly. They had never been ordained or appointed by men. All of them, including Barnabas and Saul, were already servants of the Lord. As they were thus occupied, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Likely one of the prophets received this command and communicated it to all the rest of them. It was the Holy Ghost calling these to a special work; and in obedience to God's Word, they fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, thus expressing their fellowship with them, and so sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the HOLY GHOST, departed to preach the gospel to all men, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. This was a special mission. Paul was an apostle before this, and his apostleship was neither of men, nor by man. (Gal. 1:1.)

The gospel, and the truth as to the assembly, are now sent out for obedience to the faith among all nations; and these two servants are to demonstrate this wherever they go.

Both Jew and Gentile, when converted, are united into one body on the earth to a glorified Christ. It was the authority of the Holy Ghost they were obeying. It was outside of Jerusalem and Judaism, and altogether independent of the twelve chosen by the Lord when on earth It is not Christ as the Messiah after the flesh. He is now known only by faith, as at the right hand of God. It is the continuation of the work begun at Jerusalem, but now clearly dating from heaven, where Christ the Head sits, giving the members a heavenly place and character. This is the object of their testimony, and the Holy Ghost is the energy and authority for their action.

It was Barnabas who presented Saul to the assembly in Jerusalem after his conversion, and was sent to Antioch to confirm the work there, and who also brought Saul there to help in teaching the saints what Christianity is, distinct from Judaism. It was at Antioch the disciples were first called "Christians." God, in His grace, raises up the instruments for His work, and supplies everything needed for the work as they go, never taking them out of the place of dependence, and meeting their need.

It was at Salamis they preached the Word of God in the synagogues to the Jews. John Mark was their attendant. They begin with the Jews. Paul in this way recognizes the counsels and promises of God about that nation, and acts with the patience and longsuffering of God all through his life, though the Jews continued to oppose with implacable hatred.

Saul goes on preaching to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, then truth and grace known in the heart, manifested in God's assembly that there was no difference between them.

God remains the same in His character and is fully revealed; the veil is rent. His love to man, and His hatred to sin, are told out. And sin must ever be the same, and opposed to all that God is. The truth cannot change, and the oneness of the assembly displays the grace that makes both Jew and Gentile one. As Jews they were given the first place, but all are concluded under sin, and are alike subjects of the sovereign grace, that not only saves them, but unites them to Christ in glory, a glory to which the Holy Ghost bears witness to accomplish it here below. This does not hinder him declaring the condition of the Jews, who remained Christ-rejecters, when it was required.

Till now, they possessed all the light that was in the world, but they rejected the Lord-the true Light. They had fallen into darkness, and hated the Light, and jealousy of it now filled their hearts, and God's judgment fell upon them. (1 Thess. 2:14-16.) We find an illustration of their condition in Elymas, the sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew called Bar-jesus. Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, the deputy of the country, called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the Word of God, but this sorcerer withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (whose name now is changed to Paul, changing from Jewish to Roman), filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, "O, full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." Immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy seeing what was done, and being astonished at the teaching of the Lord Jesus, believed.

So the Jews are smitten with blindness, though only for a season, but God carries on His work of grace. Paul and his company, an expression which makes him the principal, go on to Perga in Pamphylia, and John Mark distinguishes himself by returning from the work to Jerusalem. From chap. 15:38 we see his failure and preference for the work under Judaic influence that unfitted him for the rigorous work amongst the Gentiles.

Verse 14. They now come to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down, after the reading of the law and the prophets. The rulers of the synagogue, said, "If ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." Paul begins by rehearsing part of Israel's history to David, to trace the birth of the Lord Jesus according to promise. (Psa. 132:11.) Then John the Baptist had announced His coming, and prepared the way, and asserted, "I am not He. But, behold, there cometh One after me, whose shoes of His feet I am not worthy to loose. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent." He then pictures the rejection and crucifixion of Christ by the rulers at Jerusalem, His burial, and the powerful intervention of God in raising Him from among the dead, and He was seen many days of His followers, and those special witnesses who had companied with Him in the days of His flesh, proving that it was fulfilling God's promise which was made unto the fathers in the 2nd Psalm, and now fulfilled to the children, in raising up Jesus as the servant Son of God: "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." (Leave out the word "again" in verse 33.) The word in verse 34 is also fulfilled in His resurrection, "I will give you the sure mercies of David." (Isa. 55:3.) And in the 16th Psalm, "Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." David fell asleep, and saw corruption, but He, whom God raised from the dead, saw no corruption.

And now he announces the blessed truth of the gospel to them-to all who believe, "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this. Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Also Hab. 1:5.)

As the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached the next Sabbath-and verse 43 tells us many of the Jews and proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Next Sabbath, nearly all the city came to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. They could not bear that another religion than theirs should influence the Gentiles. Man's religion, even in the unconverted, is very dear to him, but the truth brings the heart and conscience into touch with God.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, "It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, 'I have set Thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that Thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.' " (Isa. 49:6.) On this ground the apostles turn to the Gentiles.

Free grace toward the whole world is now proclaimed, "God so loved the world." But the grace of God must enter each heart believingly to possess the truth. So it was here. When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Here again we are shown the natural heart of man, and that the testimony of the gospel is hated by it, and God permits us to see it, and to feel that this is the day still of Christ's rejection. The Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. They shook off the dust of their feet, in testimony of the judgment awaiting those who deliberately reject the grace of God that had brought salvation to them. And the Word records that the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost, ready to enter the next field, which was Iconium.

The world is still Satan's world, but the grace of God calls out of it those who believe.

Scripture Study: Acts 7

Acts 7

Verse 1. The high priest demanded an answer from Stephen, which brought out Israel's condemnation. Stephen, in answering, unfolded parts of their history, which showed God's grace to them, and their resistance of it.

Joseph and Moses were rejected, so that God's purposes should be worked out. The law was given and broken; the golden calf set up; and Israel carried to Babylon. The tabernacle was given till David, then the temple was built, but it could not contain God in it. The prophets were despised, persecuted, and slain; and he concludes: "Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."

This convicting testimony cut them to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Their guilty consciences break out in violence against God's witness.

"But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand Of God."

What calmness of spirit is seen in his behavior! What faithfulness to tell out the truth as led by the Holy Spirit. He had no thought or: his danger, for his eye is fixed on Jesus in the glory of God; and his testimony is so plain and convicting they could not deny the facts.

As he gazed into the opened heavens, he said "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," and when he had said this, he fell asleep.

It was Jesus, and the glory of God, which satisfied his own heart, but his testimony was to the opened heavens, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, rejected on earth, and glorified in heaven. We see Him there now seated, until His foes become His footstool (Psa. 110 and Heb. 10). In the meantime the Holy Spirit has come down, gathering the members of His body on earth.

"And we, by faith, in heaven behold

Jesus, the Christ, our Lord."

Here the Lord is seen standing till His rejection by the Jews was fully come. As soon as i Stephen was slain, this testimony is ended, and Stephen's spirit is with the Lord in glory, and the Lord is seated on the Father's throne.

"For Stephen, heaven is opened, and Jesus is seen in divine glory; and this is what forms his soul in such a beautiful way into the likeness of Jesus. As He prayed for His enemies, so also Stephen prays for his. As the Lord commended His spirit to the Father, so Stephen says 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' The view of Jesus transforms the heart into His likeness.

"That which was seen by Stephen is the object of faith for us, made clearer by what happened to him."

Saul was implicated in Stephen's murder (verse 58).

Scripture Study: Acts 10-11:18

Acts 10. ACT 10

The introduction of the Gentiles into the Christian assembly is seen in this chapter, and Peter, against all his inclinations as a faithful Jew, is the instrument chosen of God to bring them in. To him was given the authority (Matt. 16:19), and God who is thinking of the Gentiles, (He is the God of the Gentiles also) prepares Peter to carry out His purpose.

So also is Cornelius prepared by God for communications from Himself by Peter. Cornelius, and his house, bear the stamp of being converted people, pious and God-fearing, marked by much kindness to the poor, and by their earnest, prayerful life they show their character.

Cornelius saw plainly an angel of God coming to him about the ninth hour of the day, and spoke to him, "Cornelius." He was afraid, and answered, "What is it, Lord?" He said, "Thy prayers and thine alms have gone up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon whose surname is Peter. He lodges with Simon, a tanner, close to the sea." Immediately he sent. a godly soldier, with two of his household servants, his continual attendants, to Joppa to find Peter. It was the next day before they reached Joppa, and as they drew near, Peter went up to the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. He became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and something like a great sheet, knit at the four corners, was let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. There came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." The voice answered, "What God hath cleansed, that call thou not common. This was done three times. While Peter was pondering what it could mean, the messengers arrived from Cornelius. The Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them." So Peter was prepared for the occasion. He went down, and asked what their message was. They told of Cornelius, the centurion, a just man, and one that feared God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for Peter to come to his house, to hear words from him. Peter called them in, and lodged them, and on the morrow went away with them, accompanied by six brethren.

On the morrow, after they arrived in Caesarea, Cornelius was waiting, with all his kinsmen and near friends. He met Peter coming in, and fell down at his feet to do him homage, but Peter took him up, saying, "Rise up: I myself also am a man," and he went in and found many gathered together.

Peter sees now the meaning of the great sheet. He said, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me?"

Cornelius now tells his story, which showed Peter that it was God's voice calling the Gentiles into the same blessing with the Jews, and he cannot refuse what Cornelius says. "Thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

God has put him in company with Gentiles, and Peter said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to Him."

He tells them of the message sent to Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ. (He is Lord of all-Jew and Gentile). Ye know John's testimony, and Jesus' life-works in the power of the Holy Spirit, doing good, and healing all, and delivering men from Satan's power, for God was with Him. Then His rejection, crucifixion, death and resurrection. And God gave Him to be openly seen of witnesses who were chosen before of God, and Peter could say, "We did eat and drink with Him after He rose from among the dead, and He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that He it is who was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead."

Then he told out the word that opened the door for them. "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." What glad hearts were made out of hungry souls as they heard the news for the first time preached to whosoever-any man. They needed no second offer; they heard and received the word. And while Peter was yet speaking, the Holy Ghost fell upon all them that heard the word. They of the circumcision were astonished; they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God, and knew that the Holy Spirit had taken possession of them. The Gentiles also had received the Holy Spirit. There was one thing more that had to be done, and that was to bring them into the House of God. Peter says, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" By the Spirit dwelling in them, they were already members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12, 13), and so Peter, in the name of the Lord, commanded them to be baptized.

They did not become Jews any more than before. Both Jew and Gentile lost their nationality in coming into the assembly of God on earth.

We have now seen the converted of the Jews, Samaritans, proselytes and Gentiles, all brought into the one assembly, all owning the One Name "fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel."

Chapter 11:1-18.

The apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God; and when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision contended with him, saying, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them." But Peter had grace from God to go over the whole story with them. The vision he had, and the vision Cornelius had; and these six brethren were there to confirm his story, and to witness it was all of God, and lastly, "the Holy Spirit fell upon them as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If then God has given them the same gift as also to us when we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; who indeed was I to be able to forbid God?" This closed their objections, and then the tide of feeling changed, and they glorified God, saying, "Then indeed hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

Scripture Study: Acts 12

ACT 12Another instance of God's care and power is here given; man cannot go beyond What God allows.

We are back to Jerusalem, and Herod the king is seeking glory for himself in persecuting the Church. He was allowed to kill James the brother of John with the sword, and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also, intending after the Passover feast to put him to death before the people. Four quaternions of soldiers are deputed to take care of him, and there he is chained with two chains, between two soldiers and humanly speaking, escape is impossible. It pleased God to allow James, the brother of John, to be put to death. God has His purposes with us all, which He does not explain, but expects us to rest in Him. "In your patience possess ye your souls," was said for a time like this. (Luke 21:19; 1 Peter 1:9.) When it is God's time, James is taken, but He has other purposes with Peter.

The Psalmist says, (76:10), "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee; the remainder of wrath Thou shall restrain."

Peter has every prospect of being executed. He would think of What the Lord said to him in John 21:18. He knew it was coming, sure to come, (2 Peter 1:15), but it did not trouble him. He was resting in the prison.

In a house in the city, the assembly were on their faces in prayer to God for him; they are concerned for the valued servant of the Lord. Did they not need him yet? And so they make prayer unceasingly for him. They are the Lord's remembrances (Isa. 62:6 margin), and the Spirit leads them to pray for that which was His mind to do.

That night, before he was to be brought forth to the people, Peter was quietly sleeping chained to his guards by two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came there, and smote him on the side, and roused him up, saying, "Rise up quickly," and his chains fell off his hands. Next, he says, "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals," and so he did. "Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Peter followed the angel out, all the time thinking that it was a dream of the night, a vision.

They go on past the first and second ward, then the iron gate that led to the city opened of its own accord, and they went out, and passed on through one street, then the angel left him. Peter gradually becomes conscious that it was a reality, and no dream, and says, "Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." When he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the entry, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. They said to her, "Thou art mad," but she strenuously asserted that it was Peter. Then they said, "It is his angel." They would not believe that their prayers were answered so quickly, but here it came while they were yet praying. Is that not like ourselves? Zecharias had given up looking for an answer to his prayers. (Luke 1.)

But Peter continued knocking till they opened the door. How astonished they were! But he, beckoning with his hand to them to be silent, told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and said, "Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren," then he departed to another place.

Prayer is indeed a refuge for believing hearts, but how little are we prepared to receive at once a full answer. We do not expect deliverances to come to us in this miraculous way, yet we often find the deliverance is just as perfect by what we might call ordinary circumstances; our hearts are assured that it is the Lord.

Herod, and the soldiers, cannot make it out, how he escaped. Herod condemned the soldiers to death, and going down to Casarea, he allowed men to worship him as if he were God, but his glory turns to corruption, and God smote him.

He expired, eaten by worms. This is the end of man's glory.

"How are they brought into desolation as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors." Psalm 73:18, 19.

But the word of God grew and multiplied. Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John Mark.

Scripture Study: Luke 17:20-37

UK 17{(Concluded.)

To the Samaritan is given full liberty and confirmation of his higher path by the Lord's next words, "Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." The mountain of ordinances, or the tree of wild fruit, is gone, and the once leper stands clean and now walks in the liberty of grace. The priests are left behind in this higher sphere of liberty and grace of the Gospel, and this is God's place for all believers now. Alas! how few enter into it; how many tarry behind in the fleshly attractions of Judaism, instead of joying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the reconciliation. Again we may repeat the question, Where are the nine? Can the soul be satisfied without communion with the Father and the Son? Is our privilege, inside the veil as worshipers, the person and glory of Christ revealed to us not better than all men's arrangements? Why allow our spiritual senses to be dulled by that which ministers to the flesh? Since the Lord Jesus can be known, and enjoyed in blessed reality as the delight of God, and our delight now, too, through grace, let us set our hearts to find our satisfaction in His presence, in this new sphere of liberty of grace.

Verses 20, 21. In answer to the Pharisees' expectations of a kingdom set up in outward display, the Lord answers, The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation (outward show): neither shall they say, `Lo here! or lo there!' for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within (or among) you." The King was there; they should have recognized Him, even though He had come in lowly guise, for He had manifested His perfect grace and power to bless, hut this did not accord with their fleshly minds. His love to the poor and needy, His forgiving love to the guilty, His self-sacrificing greatness were seen in all His ways, but sin had blinded their minds to all that was beautiful and of God, so His wonderful ways were lost to them.

Verses 22-37. To His disciples He said, "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and ye shall not see it, and they shall say unto you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them." This shows the godly remnant of Israel in the tribulation period, rejected and suffering because Christ is rejected 'and the enemy trying to deceive and lead them astray. They would long for the presence of the Son of Man as when He was on earth, but that could not be. They were not to hearken to these seducers, for the next time He would come suddenly as the lightning, shining across the sky, where all would see Him, but He was to suffer first many things and be rejected of this generation. It is easily seen this is not referring to the Christian period, nor what follows to Christ's coming for His Church. It is the coming of the Son of Man in judgment, like the days of Noe when the flood came and carried away all the ungodly; or like the days of Lot, when God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Men will be occupied with business and pleasure when the Son of Man will be revealed from heaven. What a surprise, when the world is having its own way, suddenly called to meet the God they despised. And none in that locality can escape, whether in the house or out in the field, whether by day or night, whether at rest or at work, this judgment will find out the wicked of Israel and carry them off to eternal judgment-. The disciples ask: Where? And the answer is, Where the dead body is, there will the eagles be gathered together. The instruments God will use will find each one out.

Is the present time in Christendom not like the world then? Alas! in many things it is, despite God's dealings with the world, His voice speaking to men in the famines, the wars, the pestilence, the so-called accidents, the many troubles that beset the countries and their governments. Yet men have hardened their hearts, business and pleasure now fill their minds, and the lie of the arch enemy Satan, that deceives men, is hearkened to. Men who once professed to regard God's Word have given it up. As Isaiah the prophet said, "Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment. (Isa. 59:14, 15.) And what is to happen: The coming of the Lord, soon, suddenly, secretly (1 Thess. 4:15-17), will take place, and the doom of thousands is sealed, and they are lost forever-salvation neglected, if not despised.

Reader, are you ready? Are you saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Scripture Study: Luke 19

UK 19{In the end of the previous chapter, the blind man proclaimed Jesus, the "Son of David," while the multitude told him that "Jesus of Nazareth" passeth by. The blind man owned Him as the Messiah. In this chapter He goes on to present Himself at Jerusalem as the King. On the way He acts in sovereign grace, bestowing blessing on the outcast sinner, and entirely opposed to the thoughts of the religious leaders.

Verse 1. Jesus entered and passed through Jericho-the city of the curse-and the city of Israel's entry into the land.

Verses 2.-4. Zacchaeus, the rich chief of the despised tax gatherers, hated because of in the employ of the Roman government and which taxing put the Jews ever in mind of their sin that made them of their sin that made them subject to Gentile rule. It was a position of reproach for a Jew to hold, and all this made him a fine case for grace to display itself in.

This man had an earnest desire to see Jesus, who He was, a desire wrought by the Spirit in his soul, but being little of stature, he could not see Him for the press, so he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was to pass that way.

The grace that had wrought in this man, made him oblivious to what people might say or think. One purpose was before him, and difficulties must be overcome, though it makes him little in the eyes of others. The Lord could rightly estimate this wholeheartedness, and answer the desire He had implanted in his soul. Here we are reminded of how He met us in our need.

Verses 5-8. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”

What a surprise to the publican, and such gracious words, actually inviting Himself to abide in his house. It did not take him long to respond, for he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.

More than he were surprised, for when they saw it, they all murmured, as they had done on another occasion (15:2), saying "That He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”

Yes, indeed, He came for that very purpose. Blessed be His name!

Zacchaeus heard the murmur too. It touched him, and he stood, and said unto the Lord: "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Notice this is not a new beginning, a resolve for the future; it is "I give," "I restore," that is, what he had been doing. It does not say when he commenced doing this. It looks like an apology for his position as tax gatherer, a wrong position for a Jew, but it also shows an upright life, and he could not have said it if it had not been true. Was there another man in the crowd who could say it? Could any of us Christians say it? But what answer does the Lord, make? He ignores it altogether. He needs no apology for His actions, and the ground of His going to a sinner's house is grace alone. It should make the murmuring Pharisees, ashamed of their ways also, and alarmed about themselves, but blind men cannot see; their orthodox religion had no such pity for the poor, nor upright behavior in money affairs, yet they boasted in their goodness. The Lord knew them better(chap. 20:46; 47).

Verses 9, 10. And Jesus said unto hip, ".This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Alan is come to seek and to save that which was lost." There is no merit in the sinner; he cannot make any. The Savior comes to seek, to beget a desire in the sinner's soul; and to save, to satisfy that desire. All the sons of Abraham need a Savior, for all are lost. And he was the good Shepherd of Israel come, calling His lost sheep by name, as one of His own. O blessed day for Zacchaeus! What a happy day in that house where Jesus has come to abide as God's salvation. Does the reader know of joy like this?

Verse 11. Those who heard these things began to think that the Kingdom of God was about to be set up in manifest power. The Lord spake a parable to correct this thought.

Verse 12. He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for him-self a 'kingdom and to return." In this we see the Lord sitting on high at the Father's right hand Waiting the time when He will claim His Kingdom in power and glory.

Verse 13. Meantime his servants left behind are supplied' with the means, and told to "Occupy till I come." This is our present service for Christ.

Verse 14. "But his citizens, the Jews, hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, 'We will 'not have this man to reign over us.'" In Acts 3 Peter was authorized to tell the Jews that if they would repent, Jesus would return and fulfill prophecy and set up the Kingdom, but they arrested and persecuted His servants, and then murdered Stephen, thus sending this message after Him. Jesus received the messenger on high, so the door was closed.

Verse 15. Each of the servants is called to give an account when the lord returns. In this parable each servant receives alike one pound, and is rewarded according as the lord approves his success. In Matt. 25 each is given talents according to his ability, and each good servant receives the same approval, so that Matt. 25 shows the Lord's sovereignty in giving. Here it is more the servant's responsibility in laboring.

Verses 16, 17. Then came the first, saying, "Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds." And he said unto him, "Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." And indeed it is in a very little any of us have been faithful. (See Luke 17:10.) What an enormous reward for a little faithfulness! It surely is all of grace. Even the small return we are able to make is what grace, His grace, has wrought in us.

Verses 18, 19. The second gained five pounds, and to him is given five cities to rule over. Should not these examples stimulate us to more diligence to, please Him?

Verses 20-26. Another came with his lord's pound laid up in a napkin; no use to himself, nor to any one else, nor to his master, but he did not know his master's character, he misjudged him, and feared. Alas! he was a wicked servant, his mind was set on other things than his Lord's service. His Lord judges him out of his own confession. So -what he had is taken from him, and given to the one who had the most, for the more we use, the more we get. Yes, the diligent soul has an entrance ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10, 11.)

Verse 27. The doom of the Christ-rejecting Jews is here declared, "Slay them before me." (And Matt. 22:7; Luke 21:23, 24; 1 Thess. 2:16; tell that it is carried out.)

Verse 28-38. Having thus spoken, He leads the way going up to Jerusalem. He prepares for the entry into Jerusalem. And it is to be noticed, that everything favors this. The divine influence makes the hearts of all respond for the occasion. The owners of the colt let it go, the people place their garments on the colt and strew them in the way. They set Him on the colt, and when He was come nigh, even now to the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples, swayed by the power of God and the remembrance of all they had seen and heard in and of Him, began to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. It is the pathway of the great King entering His city, but, alas! because of man's condition, He is there in lowly grace, the meek and lowly One come to suffer.

Verses 39, 40. A discordant note breaks into this joyful scene. The Pharisees, the religious Christ-rejecters, cannot bear it. They said unto Him, "Master, rebuke Thy disciples." And He answered and said unto them, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Alas! for the hearts that would quench such a song.

But it is "peace in heaven." "It is glory in the highest," and earth is still the abode of sin and opposition to God. And the Savior must be rejected and suffer.

Verses 41-44. His tears now flow as He looks on the beloved city, soon to be in the throes of judgment, to be leveled to the ground because of its sin, because it knew not the day of its visitation. The things which were for its peace were hid from its eyes. Nothing remained for it but judgment.

Verses 45-48. He went into the temple and began to cast out the avaricious dealers that now occupied it, saying unto them, "It is written, My house is the house of prayer" (Isa. 56:7), "but ye have made it a den of thieves" ( Jer. 7:11.1 Still He went on with it, teaching daily. The chief priests, scribes and chief of the people seeking to destroy Him, but unable to find how to do it, as all the people were attentive to hear Him.

Scripture Study: Luke 18

UK 18{Verses 1-8. This parable puts prayer as the resource of God's people passing through the time of judgment described in the previous chapter: They are God's witnesses amid the evils of that day, and are oppressed by the enemy because of their godly ways. Like this widow, they cry to God a Jewish cry for vengeance on their adversaries. The judge hears her because she troubles him, but the Nord looks on tenderly waiting the moment when He can step in for the deliverance of His people. When the right moment is come, He will avenge them speedily. He has heard their day and night cry, and borne with them. "Nevertheless when the Son of Man Cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Alas! while there are many believers, yet how feeble the cry of faith that counts on deliverance in that day. It is more to be relieved of their distress, than to answer to the Lord's thoughts, or to be with Him.

And does this parable not also speak to us?

What encouragement to prayer! Do we know God as our unfailing resource? We may be sure His tender heart takes in our need, and looks for a broken will on our part, and that faith that trusts Him amid the storms of this life, and that looks forward to the happy moment when He shall see of the travail of His soul in having us with Himself. Is it to see Him, or is it to be freed from trouble that we pray? May He have the first place in our souls, so that to be with Him may be our greatest desire.

Verses 9-14. We see the moral character that suits God's Kingdom in contrasting the self-righteous Pharisee „with the self-condemned publican, who go into the temple to pray., The Pharisee, praying with himself, begins with God: but just to thank Him that he is so different from other men. He is so good, does not commit big sins, fasts twice, every week, and gives a tenth of his income for religion. What people call now-a-days "a good church member," yet does not know that he is in, the sight of God, wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Rev. 3:17, 18.)

And the 'Publican, standing afar off, brokenhearted by the conviction of his guilt, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, Wit smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me the sinner." Truly a sinner and humbled before God, this confession sends him down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. How different God's thoughts are from man's. God shows grace to the man who owns his guilt. And the grace of God bringeth salvation, full and free, to those who feel their need of Him.

Verses 15-17. They brought unto Him infants. His disciples rebuked them, but Jesus called them and said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." The lowly, confiding spirit of the simple child that believes what its mother says, is here set before us as a picture of what is suitable to God in us. The Lord delighted to have them brought to Him in their sweet simplicity. And do not our hearts tell us how pleased He is to find in us this simple confiding; trust in Him? Let us sit as little children and hear what He has to say to us.

Verses 18-27. What blind ignorance is seen in this ruler! He does not know his own badness, nor God's goodness, and imagines he can get eternal life by doing good works. He sees in Jesus only a good man. The Lord's answer to this is, "Why tallest thou Me, good? None is good, save one, that is, God." Yes, Jesus was good, for He was God, but the ruler pretends also to be good, and to have kept the law from his youth up. The. Lord knew his covetous heart was set on his riches, and said, "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me." This touched his covetous heart,. his riches were more important than God, or his soul. The eternal life he wanted was second to his riches.. Mammon was his god, and he did not know it till then, and now he goes away grieved, "very. sorrowful: for he was very rich." And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! for it is, easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." What a snare. after all riches are! The heart is twined round them, and what self-importance possessions work in a person's mind. The Jews might argue, "Riches are a blessing from God." Do they ever do the heart good? What grace is needed to use them rightly!

The disciples, are astonished and ask, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus answers, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God He knows how to make the spirit poor and to humble man's pride, and to give one a holy nature Old cleansing from sin through the work of Christ on the cross and by the work of the Holy Spirit in him.

Verses 28-30. What Peter says here is a suggestive word. The Lord's answer takes any self-esteem out of it, so that the truth applies itself to all who have left anything for the kingdom of God's sake, and promises that they shall "receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." "Manifold more." What? Compare Mark 10:30; Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 1:5. And those who are thus, devoted to Christ's interests, can bear witness to His faithfulness at every turn in all their need.

Verses 31-34. He tells them what is to happen to Him at Jerusalem: He must fulfill the Scriptures in suffering, be delivered unto the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on: scourged and put to death: And on the third day rise again. They did not take it in, it was thus hidden from them, they knew not the rejection that would come to them, nor the blessing that they would be brought into through it.

Verses 35-43, begins a new division. He is going up to Jerusalem as the Messiah, and nigh to Jericho a blind man sits by the highway side begging. As the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. They told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. Jesus of Nazareth He was, in the multitude's eyes, but to the blind man who wanted his eyesight, he was the true Messiah, and so he cried, saying, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." The people that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." He offended the crowd, but it did not offend the dignity of the great King who had come to bless His people, and that they which see not, might see. Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto Him, and, when he was come near, he asked him, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" and he said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Well did the Lord know what he wanted, but He loves to hear needy sinners tell out their need to Him, and like an echo the answer came, "Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved thee." As ever He delights to meet the needy and to bless them, opening their eyes to see His glories.

The man with the opened eyes (for immediately his eyes were opened), followed Him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. And so will it be when Israel's eyes are at last opened to behold their King.

Scripture Study: Luke 17:1-19

UK 17{We have seen the grace of God in contrast with the self-righteousness of man, setting aside the law and the Jewish claims to be God's people in the foregoing chapters. We now enter into the manner of service in keeping with such grace.

Verses 1, 2. Then said He unto the disciples, "It is impossible but that offenses will come: hut woe unto him, through, whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

What care we should take not to stumble anyone by our ways. The Lord is careful over His lambs. (Compare Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:4, 15, 16.) And so should we be. Let us therefore see that our own souls are in such a condition that we can show others the right way to keep close to the Shepherd. If we are not careful Satan may use us to stumble some of God's weak ones. We must not excuse ourselves, or say, "They must be very weak to be stumbled by so little." If grace be active in us we will not stumble them.

Verses 3, 4. "Take heed to yourselves": not only not to stumble others, but also not to let anything stumble ourselves. "If a brother trespass against thee, rebuke him." Do not sulk, there is no grace in that. Tell him about it in a loving way. He may repent, then forgive him; but you may say, he has done this so often. Seven times in a day? Well, the Savior says, forgive him, if he repent, seven times in a day. It takes two to make a quarrel. Have grace from the Lord, and then Matt. 18:22 will not be too much for us to carry out.

Verses 5, 6. Then the apostles said, "Increase our faith." Perhaps they felt as we do, the need of judging ourselves in our likes and dislikes, and having the love they saw in their Master flowing in their hearts. And the teaching of the Lord was so different to what they had been accustomed. It is not standing up for our fancied rights, not "an eye for an eye," as the ancients taught, but full heart forgiveness for those who trespassed against us. (Mark 11:25, 26.) And how the Lord's answer should lead us to think. "Faith as a grain of mustard seed." How small it is! Yes, but FAITH, no matter how small, reaches and lays hold of God, the Living One, and His power removes the mountain, or the sycamore tree, and instead of allowing selfishness, practices grace to the failing.

Verses 7-10. And what wonderful grace that makes us workers with Him, Little are we up to it, little in the spirit of it, yet we are workers with him. (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1, 4.) And the sense of this wonderful privilege will not exalt us in our own mind but must needs make us say and feel, at the very best, we are unprofitable servants. We only did what it was our duty to do. Alas! We have oftener to admit that we have not done even what it was our duty to do. What a patient, gracious Master we have, who bears with us in His matchless, long-suffering grace, doing everything to encourage us on.

Verses 11-19. On His way to Jerusalem He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee and as He entered a village there met Him ten lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." Yes, there is mercy in Him for such needy ones, and they show their faith in Him which at once finds its answer in a way that tests its reality, for He said, "Go show yourselves unto the priests." Without faith they might have reasoned, What is the use? We are still lepers, still uncleansed; but they do not reason, they turn to obey Him. And as they went they were cleansed. On the nine go, to do as He said, for He still acknowledged the temple and the priests, and they would be a witness that the Lord had indeed visited His land and was among His people, but alas!

He was the rejected One. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. The nine held in by their Jewish training after the law, go on to show themselves to the priests. God could use this to testify to Israel's sin in rejecting Jehovah as their King. But the Samaritan saw no use for priests or temple, his faith sees in Jesus all that heart can need, and he returns to the fountain head of all power and blessing. His body is cured, his soul is filled with praise, he glorified God, and at the Lord's feet, with face in the dust, he pours out his thanksgiving. The nine may go to the shadows, he has the substance. They have outward ceremonies and institutions, he has a personal Savior, and the person of the Savior before his heart. He needs no priest to tell him he is clean. Jesus has done the work. Jew and Samaritan were alike ruined, defiled lepers, cast out of divine communion. But the gratitude of this Samaritan's heart rose above Jewish distinctions in the sense of divine goodness. It was complete deliverance. And Jesus answering, said (was it not with a tinge of sorrow for the nine?) "Were there not ten cleansed? and where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

(To be continued.)

Scripture Study: John 4

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Verses 1-26 The Lord would not let the jealousy of the Jews hinder Him, nor would He dispute about their questions about purifying, but knowing that He was rejected in Judea, He departed to Galilee, and He must needs go through Samaria. It was considered by the Jews an unclean place. They had set up a worship of their own, independent of the true temple of Jehovah at Jerusalem. The Jews would hurry through it, lest they be defiled, but Jesus must needs go through Samaria, not only because it lay on His road to Galilee, but because He, the Son of God, would meet a wretched outcast woman there, to whom in His love He would bring salvation, and reveal the Father. The disciples were ignorant of His purpose of grace, and He, by His divine overruling, had disposed them to go into the city to buy food, so that He was alone, sitting on Jacob's well at Sychar, as a wearied traveler taking a rest, when this woman arrived with her water pot to draw water. Little did she think of whom she was to meet, and of what blessing He had with which to fill her heart, and drive away her misery, and to deliver her from a life of sin. But here she is, and Jesus, to gain an audience, said unto her, "Give Me to drink." Strange indeed that a Jew should say so, but stranger still would she think it afterward when she found Him out to be the Son of God, the Lord of life and glory.

But she asks the question, "How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria'?" He answers her, "If thou knewest the gift (or the free giving) of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, 'Give Me to drink,' thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water." He did not speak condescendingly, but as a lowly man, willing to drink out of her water-pot, that He might give her a well of living water in herself. Words like these should surely strike her attention; but her poor, sordid mind did not yet rise up from earth, and she questioned how He could do what He said. She replied, "Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence, then, hast Thou that living water? Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”

Jesus answered, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

And we wonder why such plain, blessed words are not listened to even now, and why men and women turn to the broken cisterns and brackish waters of the pleasures of sin, that are only of a moment's duration, and forsake Him who is the Fountain of Living Waters, who gives pleasures forevermore and who still says up to the last moment of this time, "Now is the day of salvation," "Now is the accepted time" (2 Cor. 6:2). "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).

This daughter of Samaria is no exception, and only sees in His words a convenience for this life, and answered as if she did not understand, as surely she did not, yet the words would come back to her. She said unto Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”

Now He becomes deeply personal. He has come in grace, but also in truth, and He is God, and she is a sinner, and she must learn it, so He says, "Go call thy husband, and come hither." She replied, "I have no husband." Jesus said unto her, "Thou hast well said, I have no husband; for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”

But how did He know? Her mind owns that God has something to do with this. And she says, "Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet." He has brought God before her conscience, and perhaps she thinks she might divert Him to the difference of their religion, saying, "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and Ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." But the Lord must treat both as departed from God; the dead formality of the Jews, and the willful independence and uncleanness of the Samaritans, and answers her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Thus He taught her that she must have to do with God, and whether it were Jew or Samaritan, there must be reality of worship, "in spirit," and for this a sinner must be cleansed, a man must be born again, "and in truth." They must know a holy God as the Father.

The poor, wretched woman has come to an end of her self-defense. She can only think of one thing more, and that is the very thing she needed, the long promised Messiah. The One Isa. 9:6, 7, and 53:4-6 spoke of, who was wounded for our transgressions, and who was indeed to be the Son of God, God Himself come down in flesh in grace. She said, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.”

The Lord does not withhold the good news one moment longer, but says, "I that speak unto thee am He." O, what a flood of light and love flows into her soul! The Holy One, God, and yet the Savior of the world, is before her. How she would forever ponder the words He spoke to her, and gradually her blind eyes would see into their depths, depths of love and condescending grace, that could cleanse and forgive all her sins which He knew so well, and make her feel at home in the Father's presence to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Verses 27-30. Upon this came His disciples, and marveled that He talked with the woman: yet no man said, "What seekest Thou?" or, "Why talkest Thou with her?" And the woman took no notice of them. Her mind and heart were full of a new-found joy, of a bliss divine. Her old wretched, sinful life was gone, she knew the Savior, the Man who told her all things that ever she did, and she thus has a new object in life. She is, as it were, a new creature. She left her waterpot. The shame of her past life does not hinder her now, and the satisfaction of her heart must find vent in telling the story to others, and down in the city, among the men of Samaria, she tells it out, "Come see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" Her fervent story takes effect upon them, and out of the city they flock to hear Him for themselves.

Verses 31-38. In the meanwhile His disciples prayed Him, saying, "Master, eat." But He said unto them, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of." They said to one another, "Hath any man brought Him aught to eat?" Jesus answered, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." Blessed Master! ever ready to serve. His weariness finds rest in serving others. His spirit drinks in the joy of meeting the need of others. His food is to do the Father's will, and to finish His work. And His heart goes out to the need of others.

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors." His heart took in the great need, the fields white unto harvest. The sowers and the reapers would rejoice together. Other men labored, and now the apostles were but following up their labors, and each would receive his wages and would gather fruit unto life eternal. Blessed encouragement to speak the Word for Him.

Verses 39, 40. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, "He told me all that ever I did." And they were bold enough, because of His love and grace to them, to beseech Him to tarry with them. But what will the self-righteous Jews say or think? That does not matter to Him. He was there to do the Father's will, and to seek the good of souls. He was not defiled, but brought cleansing to them. And He abode two days with them.

Verses 41, 42. And many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, "Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." Another writes, "Those two days at Sychar were to Him a little of the joy of harvest. They were some of the most refreshing which the wearied Son of God ever tasted in this world of ours. For He found here some of the brightest faith He ever met with; and it was only the faith of sinners that could ever have refreshed Him here. Nothing in man could ever have done this-nothing but that faith which takes man out of himself.

Verses 43, 44. After two days he departed and went into Galilee among His own people, and well knowing, as He said, "That a prophet hath no honor in his own country.”

Verse 45. The Galileeans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

Verses 46-54. Here He is back to where He made the water into wine, filling their joy full in that scene that expressed their full restoration to the Lord. And though rejected in the meantime by His own, in obedience to the Father's will, glorifying Him and to fulfill His purposes, He ministers still among the little remnant who receive and believe on Him, and works the second sign to heal and save the life of that on who was ready to perish. Fie fulfilled the desire of faith, in restoring the nobleman's son, a faith that rested on Him before the eyes could see the blessing that was promised. "Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29. This is the faith of the Jewish remnant, before the Lord appears.

Scripture Study: John 1

How different this Gospel is from the others. Matthew told of the Lord's title as Son of David to the throne of Israel, and as Son of Abraham to all the promises.

Mark brought before us the perfect servant.

Luke kept Him before us as a man, dependent on and obedient to the Father.

In each we see that His Godhead glory is also fully owned, and each owns that all the glories which the others tell of belong to Him. So it is with John, but in entering into this gospel we find, in a special way, infinitude comes before us, and we need with child-like faith to receive what is said, as the only way to enter into what God would communicate.

Verse 1. "In the beginning" takes our minds backward. We think of when the heavens and the earth and all created things began. We can think of who was before all things, and we say, God was. There our finite minds must stop, and there our Gospel begins: before angels, or men, or the heavens, or the highest part of the dust of the earth was called by the Creator's word into being. There we see God, who speaks in Gen. 1:26, "Let us.". And further on we find God,. the Father; the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three persons who have but one mind and object in all they do. In the Word they are declared.

John's object is to bring before us in this book the wonderful person of the "Son of God." "The Word," in whom alone God is fully revealed. Where only the Father can be seen or known (Col. 1:9).

“In the beginning was the Word." These words speak of His eternal existence. He did not begin to be. He was.

“And the Word was with God." This shows distinct personalities.

“And the Word was God," tells emphatically of His absolute deity.

Verse 2. "The same was in the beginning with God." This tells us that the Word was not an emanation as of something that began later.

Verse 3. "All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made." Everything that had a beginning, or being, received being from Him (Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2). The Word is the Creator. Col. 1:15 refers to His coming into this world. He must necessarily be "the firstborn" (the highest part) of all creation. Col. 1:18 and Rev. 3:14 refer to His new place as a man risen from among the dead-the Head of God's new creation, Verses 4, 5. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men; and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." This life that was in Him is not the created life that man has as born into this world. It is that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested here on earth. So it is the light of men. But alas! man was in sin and distance from God-darkness—-so it comprehended Him not. The darkness was not dispelled by His shining. Man's lost estate is here fully declared.

Verses 6-9. God in mercy sent a man, fitted and prepared by Him, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth (or shineth upon) every man that cometh into the world. It is not a testimony to Jews only; it is for every man. Thus He shows that all men are sinners, and that God sends His Word of Grace to all.

Verses 10-13. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." He was a stranger in the world His hands had made. "He came unto His own (kingdom and people, etc.), and His own (people) received Him not." But there was a class that received Him. Who were they to whom He gave a right to be called the children of God? They were those who believed on His name, "who had been born" (again) "not of blood"-as of earthly descent like the Jews -"nor of the will of the flesh"-no religious efforts could accomplish this,-"nor of the will of man," for man's will led him away from God, but did not lead him back. No, these were born "of God." In Chapter 20 we see this place as children conferred upon the disciples; Mary Magdalene carried the message.

Verses 14-16. Jesus' history begins here on earth. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." In a parenthesis the evangelist says "And we beheld His glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a Father," and it was indeed the Son in the Father's bosom who was come into this dark world. Only begotten is His name as the eternal Son with the Father. John bore witness and cried, saying, "This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me." It was God come down in flesh full of grace and truth. In Him was seen all the love of the Father. The Light showed man's distance from God. Truth showed what man was. Grace meets man's need. In the Father's name, His words were spoken and His works were done. "And of His fullness have all we received, and grace upon grace." That is, the favor of God abundantly, divine blessings (the fruit of His love) heaped one upon another upon us.

Verse 17. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The law demands righteousness; truth witnesses that man had none. Grace coming in supplies it.

Verse 18. Now, we have God revealed in the only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father. Up till He came and declared Him, no man ever saw God's full character. God hath in these last days spoken unto us in His Son (Heb. 1:1,2). The only one who could reveal God was Himself, God manifest in flesh; He hath declared Him.

Verses 19-28. John gives account of himself. He is not the Christ; he is not Elias; he is not that prophet of whom Moses told was to come. Who art thou? He said: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord," as said the prophet Esaias (40:3). He is only a voice for them to hear. They ask him, "Why baptizest thou then?" "I baptize with water: but there standeth One among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John was truly a voice that bore testimony that Jesus was Jehovah, as seen in Isa. 40. John was the messenger to prepare the way of the Lord.

Verses 29-34. Now, John gives straight testimony to Him as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. It is not here as Messiah, but as the One to accomplish that great work, by which sin was to be taken away. This is the One he spoke of that was preferred before him, for He was before John. The Lamb of God, provided and sent by God, to meet the need of a lost world, and to glorify God about sin, so that lost men might be restored according to divine righteousness.

“His work shall be the eternal basis of these relations in the new heavens and the new earth, sin being entirely put aside as such. We know this by faith before the public result in the world." (J. N. D.)

The Lamb to be slain was the Lord Himself become a man that He might, die.. John knew Him, and yet came to prepare His ways and now he bears testimony as to how he was to know Him. John bore record, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him, and I knew Him not, but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bore record that this is the Son of God." Here we find a man sealed with the Holy Ghost for the first time, witnessing, that a man without sin was now in this world. A Lamb without blemish and without spot. Every other person sealed by the Holy Ghost witnesses that he is redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Another thing John says about Him prophetically is, "The same is He that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." This was done after Christ had ascended and sent the Holy Ghost down, according to the promise of the Father (Acts 2:33). And John proclaims Him "Son of God.”

Verses 35-37. Again we find John with two of his disciples, looking upon Jesus as He walked, and as he contemplates, his heart overflows with the words, "Behold the Lamb of God!”

It is not His work that is before John here, but Himself, His beauty and excellence are shining into John's soul and, rapt in admiration, he bears his witness. It was not preaching, yet it was ministry of the highest kind. It was worship, and such ministry as won two disciples for the Lord. John's ministry here gathered to Jesus, and it awoke no discord in his soul that they had left him. His meditation on the Lamb of God caused his heart to overflow. What a lesson to us. Occupation with Jesus fits us for both worship and ministry. And these two disciples had their eyes opened. It is not likely that at this time they saw Him as the great sacrifice, the great antitype of all the sacrifices, but they saw the One who was that, though they only knew Him as the Messiah. The voice had introduced them, and they entered a new day. The voice is passed, and they have come to the person of the Son of God. And they followed Jesus.

Verse 38. But will Jesus accept them? Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said unto them, "What seek ye?" They replied, "Teacher, where dwellest Thou?" He said unto them, "Come and see." Yes, He wants them more than they want Him. These represent the godly Jews attaching themselves to Christ as the Messiah.

John does not give us Church truth, but this finely illustrates that gathering also. For, as in Matt. 18:20, Christ is the center, and He is the only attraction. He draws them away out of sight, where they spend the time in His presence. So it is ours now to follow Him within the vail, as well as outside the camp, and there offer up the sacrifices of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name (Heb. 10:19,20;13:13,15). Able to delight in Him, for our sins are gone, no terror now, we are children of God, members of the body of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit-such are all true Christians.

Verses 39-42. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day." O, happy day! a day their souls could never forget, a day spent in Jesus' company! But all was over too soon, for it was only time, yet from the tenth hour. (John seems to follow Roman time.) Now, they go to tell others of Him, and the first they find is Andrew's own brother, Simon. They tell the good news: "We have found the Messiah," which is, being interpreted, "the Christ." And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and called him by a new name, "Cephas" (Margin, or "Peter"), which means "a stone." He is now Simon Peter. The old name reminding him, and us, of what we are in the flesh; and the new of what we are by grace. The Lord calling them thus shows that authority belongs to Him.

Verses 43-46. We have now the Lord's own testimony with His followers. Philip is called, then' Philip found Nathaniel, and told him of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph, the one Moses and the prophets wrote about. But Nathaniel answered, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip does not discuss about it, but says, "Come and see.”

Verses 47-51. Jesus knew all about it, and as He sees Nathaniel coming to Him, He saith of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Nathaniel was surprised and said, "Whence knowest Thou me?" Jesus answered, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." Nathaniel's unbelief is gone; no one but Jehovah could see him and read his heart under the fig tree. And he answered, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel" (Psa. 2). The fig tree, Israel in the flesh, can never bear fruit, though it will bud again, but the remnant under the fig tree, the Lord did and will own.

And the Lord now makes a further revelation to Nathaniel, and this is the glory of the Son of Man, who is not only King of Israel, but Lord of heaven and earth (Psa. 8).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Here the rejected Son of Man is seen in full glory of His Kingdom, the object of heaven's highest ministry-the ministry, of the angels of God, What wondrous glories belong to our Savior God! Well may we sing:

"Fairer than all the earth-born race,

Perfect in comeliness Thou art;

Replenished are Thy lips with grace,

And full of love Thy tender heart.

God, ever blest! we bow the knee,

And own all fullness dwells in Thee.”

Scripture Study: John 3

joh 3

Verses 1-4. "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night"-at an hour when the eyes of the world would not be upon him. He was a religious man, a ruler of the Jews and a teacher of Israel. He had desire in his heart for God. He was not satisfied with religion and its forms, and he saw in Jesus a power beyond man, and owned that Jesus was come from God. His miracles proved it: "No man can do these things that Thou doest, except God be with him.”

He wanted some instruction, but Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." This was teaching away beyond him, and he asks in a surprised manner for an explanation of what was so contrary to nature.

Verses 5-13. Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." This teaching shows the depravity and incorrigible character of the flesh in man. It is utterly unfit for God, it cannot be made better, and unless the Word of God (the water) is applied by the Spirit of God to man, so that by it he is born again, there is nothing in him that can enter into the Kingdom of God. The natural man understands not the things of God, nor can he receive them or know them. (1 Cor. 2:14.)

Then that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and the flesh remains flesh, but this work of the Spirit has begotten a new life in the soul, so that the man that is born of God can enter into and know the things of God by the Spirit's teaching. It was therefore a positive necessity for even the religious man, yea for every man, "Ye must be born again.”

Again the surprised Pharisee exclaims, "How can these things be?" The Lord reminds him that in his own Scriptures it speaks of a change to come to Israel just like this (Ezek. 36:24-27), and that the testimony that He bore was sure, "That we do know," "That we have seen," yet it was not received.

If He told of what concerned the earth and he would not believe, "How shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?" Then this marvelous verse comes in, "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man who is in heaven." Wonderful Son of Man, in heaven, yet here on earth, God manifest in the flesh. How different from all other men! He as a man was "that Holy Thing" born of the virgin. We are the fallen children of Adam. It is said truly of us, "In my flesh dwelleth no good thing," and again, "So then they that are in the flesh can not please God." (Rom. 7:18;8:8.) The believer has a new life, he is born anew. Israel boasted in their parentage, in their flesh (Phil. 3:4,5), but believers are "born of God" (John 1:12,13), "Not of blood," not of some special family or tribe or nation. "Nor of the will of the flesh," not of some religious efforts or works of men. "Nor of the will of man"-man's will led him away from God, but did not lead him back. It is always so. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed," like Israel; "but of incorruptible," so proving its divine origin; "by the Word of God," the divine instrument; "which liveth and abideth forever," its abiding character (1 Peter 1:23). And like the wind, we can see and feel its effects, but cannot explain life, for it comes from God. And faith in God believes what He says and does.

Verses 14, 15. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so MUST the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Sin had reigned unto death with those bitten Israelites (Num. 21), but God had ordered and provided a means of life to those who looked to it. It taught that sin had ruined man, and God, in sovereign mercy, had brought in blessing for whosoever believeth in Him. But how can a just God bless guilty man? In only one way, "the Son of Man must be lifted up." For none but He could bear the judgment of the sinner, and God in righteousness can bless, because the Son of Man has been lifted up as a victim upon the cross to die for sin. In verse 7 the "must" shows the necessity of a work of the Spirit in our souls. The "must" of verse 14 shows that atonement for sin must be accomplished before God in grace and righteousness can forgive and bless whosoever believes on Him. But how did it come about? It was love, it was from God:Verse 16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." How this would strike the heart of a religious Jew. Could God love the world in its guilt, its depravity, and so much as to give His only begotten Son? This looks on to the cross where He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. And though sin has reigned unto death, so now, for all who believe, grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 5:21.)

It came from the heart of God. He did not need to be reconciled to men. Men need to be reconciled to God, and Jesus Christ has died that they might be reconciled, and the message now goes forth, "As though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, Be ye reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5:20.) This is God's message today, proving that His love to man is unabated, and His message is from the same loving heart. O, that our hearts were bathed in that ocean, that we might feel for the unsaved as God feels!

Verse 17. "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Verse 18. Divides between the believer, and those who will not believe.

Verse 19. The light has shone on them, but they hasten out of it because their deeds are evil; they love darkness.

Verse 20. Those who do evil hate the light. for it shows their true character (John 8:9).

Verse 21. He that "doeth truth"-not good works, trying to put away your sins; it is owning up before God and men what a sinner you are by nature and by practice, and from the time you take that place, it will be manifest that your doings are wrought in God. You will judge evil in all your ways. It is then forgiveness is known; that is, when the soul takes its place as "guilty before God," for he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Verses 22-34. John's testimony is seen here contemporaneous with Jesus, but decreasing as the voice or forerunner, and when some come and tell him of the crowds attending the words of Jesus, John answered, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.'" John said he was like a bridegroom's friend, rejoicing in the bridegroom's joy. "This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure." How John exalts his Lord and Master! And he is so willing to pass out of sight, as he was willing at the beginning to go on before as a voice, heard and used, but not to be known any longer. John was of the earth, Jesus was from heaven and above all. Jesus was the Christ. John was glad to be His friend. John owns, "He came from God," and spoke only the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure. He was the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit had taken up His abode in Him as a man. How could His testimony be aught else, but declaring all that God is?

Verses 35, 36. Here our evangelist gives by the Spirit the divine testimony concerning Him: "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son (is not subject to Him) shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Reader, how are you treating Him?

Scripture Study: John 5

Verse 1. There was a feast of the Jews. Strict observance of the ordinances is seen here. But why change its name from a feast of Jehovah? (Lev. 23:4.) Does it not suggest that the Lord had lost His pleasure in it? Because they worshiped Him with their lips, while their hearts were far from Him. (Isa. 1:14; Matt. 15:8.)

Verse 2. Bethesda,-House of Mercy-for it was a mark still of Jehovah's mercy in Israel; yet inadequate to meet the need that was there, but suggesting how Israel had turned from "The Fountain of Living Waters". And even this mercy of occasional relief to one who had strength to use it, did not suggest to them to turn back to Jehovah, the true and great Physician, (Ex. 15:26,) who could heal them all.

Verses 3-4 Bethesda's five porches contain a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, and withered, waiting for the moving of the water. What a weary wait; almost hopeless, yet each hoping he would be cured next. What a picture of wretchedness, while men observed their Sabbath as if all was right with them before God.

Verse 5. A certain man was there which had an infirmity thirty-eight yeas-the same length of time as Israel wandered in the desert. This is the one the Lord selects in whom to display His power, and to witness that Jehovah was now visiting His people, and the only One who could meet their need.

Verses 6-7. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew how long he had been in that case, He saith unto him, "Wilt thou be made whole'?" But the man has no hope outside the pool. How often during these years he had tried, and he had no one to help him to reach the pool first. How little he thought that this was the Great Physician who was now speaking to him, a picture of Israel dwelling upon the ordinances and outward observances of Jehovah's law, and forgetting Jehovah's mercy and power.

Verse 8. Now he is to know this mercy and power which was present in Jesus, the Son of God, come in grace to needy man. Jesus saith unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

Verse 9. What a surprise to the man who was immediately made whole and took up his ed, and walked. And on the same day was the Sabbath.

Verse 10. What an offense to their religion for a man to carry his bed on the Sabbath. Had Israel been right with God such a thing would have been wrong.

Verse 11. But the One that healed was his authority for doing it, and if there is blame, it must rest on Him.

Verses 12-13 The man cannot tell who it was that had healed him, till Jesus afterward came to him in the temple, Verse 14. And said unto him, "Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." It is not faith in Jesus that is seen here in the man, but the exercise of power in government as flowing from Himself, therefore Jesus treats him as still under the discipline of government in Israel. We are not told if, or what, the man learned through his cure.

Verse 15. The man departed, and told the Jews it was Jesus, who had made him whole.

Verse 16. Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and tried to kill Him because He had done these things on the Sabbath day. His action, they felt, was an insult to their national pride. The Sabbath was the seal of the covenant between Jehovah and them, and it was saying the covenant is broken. (Ego. 31:16, 17.)

Verse 17. And Jesus' answer tells it is broken, and that God His Father cannot have a Sabbath while His people are sunk in sin and wretchedness. So He answered them, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." And this is to them a fresh assault on their religion, for now He not only had broken the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. In the other gospels He speaks of the demand of need, the cause for setting the Sabbath aside, as an ox, or an ass, fallen into a pit, or an animal needing water, or the priests in the temple working that day. But here, the reason is the highest, and He is in company with the Father, working in the midst of a fallen creation to deliver man from sin and its penalty and results, to set up a new sinless creation. The Father and the Son, in divine love, could not rest in a scene where everything was ruined by sin, and where man was under the power of Satan. God's Sabbath could only be in love and holiness. Man's sin had broken God's rest, and He must needs begin a new creation united to His own character as light and love. Jehovah had given the Sabbath in Israel as an obligation by the law, a token of the precious truth that His people should enter into the rest of God. They forfeited their claim to it by their disobedience. God will give it to them by grace, but this is still future, (Heb. 4,) and will be through redemption which unfolds God's glory. This is seen in type in Adam and Eve 's coats of skin, clothing the naked sinner with the righteousness of God through the death of Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21.)

Verse 18. The Jews sought the more to kill Him, treating Him as a blasphemer, and if it was not true that He was equal with God, He was a blasphemer, and this should shut the mouths of those who speak of Him as being only a man. To all such God says, "Woe unto them." (Jude 11.)

Verse 19. Had they the heart and mind to understand, His explanations should have satisfied them. He answered them, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." His perfect submission to His Father's will in the place He has taken is seen here. He acts as in dependence on the Father, and shows thus His oneness of mind and purpose in all His actions.

Verse 20. "For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." What love! What intimacy! What confidence is here expressed in His perfect dependence.

Verse 21. As the Father raises the dead and gives life; so the Son gives life to whom He will. He is the life giver.

Verses 22-23. "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. The One slighted, despised and dishonored by men, is the One to be their Judge. Men must give account to Him, that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him. If men refuse His grace, they shall be compelled to bow before Him in judgment. All we can do to honor the Son is also honoring the Father. And a slight put upon the Son is slighting the Father. As believers we have communion now, by the Spirit with the Father and the Son. Unbelievers will have to answer for their sins and unbelief before the Man, Christ Jesus, whom they have rejected. Believers are quickened and saved and love to honor the Lord Jesus.

Verse 24. Full assurance of this is given by His own words, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My words, and believeth Him that sent Me, (believes the Father by hearing the Lord's words,) hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death into life." How simple and full this verse is! His word to the believer is, "Hath everlasting life." It is the present portion of every true believer. The Lord declares it with, "Truly, truly," attached, to give emphasis to this truth, and of such He further declares, they cannot come into judgment. He Himself has borne their judgment. No judgment remains for the believer, and he is passed from death into life. Out of the state of death and judgment, into the state of life eternal, to which nothing but blessing attaches.

Verse 25. "Verily, Verily, I say unto you. The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. The dead here are those who are not born again. They are spiritually dead, though alive on earth, dead in trespasses and sins. The present time is the hour the Lord referred to which was begun when He spoke. and is still going on. All who believe the voice of the Son of God now receive life and are put into the blessings of the 24th verse.

Verses 26-27. "For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son (as in the dependent place) to have life in Himself. And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man." (Acts 17:31.)

Verses 28-29 This is a future hour and a display of the power committed to the Lord to raise the dead out of their graves. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." Here are two resurrections; the resurrection of the just, those who are quickened, do good and are justified by faith; and the resurrection of the unjust, those who have died in their sins. (Acts 24:15.) who will be judged according to their works. (Rev. 20:12, 13.)

Verse 30. All this showed His divine person, yet again He says, "I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." Having taken the subject place, He is perfect in it, and so learns obedience in this, to Him, new way.

Verse 31. And His testimony did not depend on His own words.

Verses 32-35. John bore witness of Him, and they were willing for a season to rejoice in his light, and John bore witness to the truth, and the Lord told them these things that they might be saved.

Verse 36. Then the works the Father gave Him to do, bore witness that the Father had sent Him.

Verses 37-38. And the Father Himself bore witness of Him, but the Father they did not know, and did not receive the message, nor the Messenger that He had sent. Him ye believe not.

Verse 39. Then they searched the Scriptures, for in them they thought they had eternal life, yet they did not see that "They are they which testify of Me," but with all these to witness to Him they did not see because their wills were wrong.

Verse 40. "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.”

Verses 41-44. "1 receive not honor from men, but I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in His own name, Him ye will receive." (This is referring to the false king, the antichrist, yet to come. 1 John 2:18.) Such was the condition of the leaders of the Jews, their hearts were away from God; honor from men they sought and not the honor which cometh from God only.

Verses 45-47. He would not be their accuser, but that very law in which they trusted, even Moses, in whom ye trust," but Moses condemned them. "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?”

How fully such words answer the irreverent and blasphemous criticisms of modern teaching. If Moses' teaching were not true, the Lord Jesus and His teachings are not true, for He declared that Moses' writings were true.

Scripture Study: John 6

Verses 1,6. The multitudes followed Him because they saw His miracles that He wrought on them which were diseased. His divine compassion thinks of their need, and begins an exercise in the disciples' souls of how this need is to be met, while He Himself knew what He would do.

Verses 7-9. Philip says, Two hundred pennyworth of bread would not suffice to give each one a little; and Andrew's supplies are only, "Five barley loves and two small fishes" that a lad has brought with him. "But what are they among so many'?" God made one cake of barley bread upset the host of Israel's enemies before. (Judg. 7:13-14.) And now He can feed the multitude with five. Man's extremity is the time for God's power to be seen. And man's weakness expressed in five loaves and two small fishes, declared the power of God.

Verse 10. But everything must be done in order. They are directed to sit down, and it is in green pastures they sit, very suggestive of the Lord, our Shepherd, feeding His flock.

Verses 9-11. The dear lad gave up his lunch, and had the pleasure of receiving it back from the Savior's hand with a rich blessing upon it; doubtless, feeling happy that his little could feed the many. And he was not any the poorer. The Lord by it had fed five thousand men. And it suggests to us to put ourselves into the Lord's hands, and while our name, like the lad's may not be publicly recorded, we shall see what is much better, our blessed Lord glorified through our giving up of self.

Verses 12-13. They were all filled, and twelve baskets of fragments left that the disciples took up, as the Lord said, "that nothing might be lost.”

Verses 14-15. The effect on those who saw the miracle, made them declare, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (Psa. 68:10, 132:15.) But such scriptures declare Him King as well as Prophet. Why then should they not crown Him at once, and they are about to do it by force. He could not accept the Kingdom under such conditions. Atonement must be made, He must die first (John 12:24.) He therefore departed again into a mountain Himself alone, and that pictures His priesthood when rejected on earth. (Heb. 8:4.) Thus His three offices are here shadowed forth.

Verse 16. The disciples entered the ship, as He had arranged and went on toward Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them, and the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

The lonely and adverse circumstances of the godly remnant during the tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble, when the Lord is absent are here shadowed forth. (Isa. 50:10 Jer. 30:7.)

Verses 19-20. Then they see Him walking on the water, and drawing nigh to the ship, and they are afraid till His voice reaches them, "It is I: be not afraid." Then they willingly received Him into the ship; and immediately they are at the land whither they went. So Israel's godly remnant will be delivered from their sorrows, when the Lord comes with His heavenly company of saints and angels.

Verses 22-27. The following day, other boats and people were seeking Him in the same place, and not finding Him there, they start for Capernaum seeking for Jesus. That sounds like a real work of grace, but Alas! the Lord who knows the heart, tells them their motives were selfish. They want to know how He got there, their inquisitiveness is aroused. Jesus solemnly brings before them eternal things. The food that perishes had been their object. He puts before them the food that endures unto everlasting life, which He, the Son of Man, shall give unto them, for Him hath God the Father sealed.

Verse 28. This arouses them a little, and they ask, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God'?”

Verse 29. Jesus answered, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.”

Verses 30-31 And after all they had heard and seen, they say, "What sign showest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? What (lost Thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

Verses 32-33. Jesus answered, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”

Verses 34-40. Then said they unto Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." It seemed like the woman at Sychar's well, "Give me of this water that I come not hither to draw," and the Lord's reply seems to convey it. He said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The blessing He has brought is eternal and goes beyond resurrection, beyond millennial blessing.

Verses 41-51. But the Jews murmur because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." And their unbelief speaks of Him as the Son of Joseph, just a man like themselves, but they could not do His works. And Jesus answered, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him; and I will raise Him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me. Not that any man hath seen he Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father.

Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Verse 52. What perplexity all this seemed to the Jews. And they strove among themselves, ''llow can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" In their law they were not allowed to eat blood, and now the Lord adds to their perplexity by adding, Verse 53. "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Unless ye shall have eaten the flesh of the Son of Man and drunk His blood, ye have no life in yourselves." (N. T.)

In the light of the gospel we can see that it is feeding spiritually on the death of Christ. It is not the bread and wine of the Lord's supper, which are a remembrance of Him in death, but this is faith in the death of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. If we are taught of God, (Ver. 45) we learn that we are lost vile sinners, and nothing can fit us for God's presence but the blood and death of Christ. And this is applied to us in coming to Him. And so the Lord goes on Verses 54-57. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." It is eternal salvation. It is the one who by faith makes the death of Christ as for himself, that comes into this blessing. And the Lord goes farther, for this life He gives needs to be sustained. His flesh is thus meat indeed, and His blood is drink indeed. And he that feeds thus upon Him, "dwelleth in Me, and I in him." This is daily communion. And it is as He lived on earth, in communion with His Father. "As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father:" (that is, sustained as a dependent Man by the Father's living.) "so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.”

Verse 58. "This is that bread which came down from heaven," (not like the manna of old that perished with the using,) this bread endures to eternal life to all who partake of it.

Verses 59-60. This lesson in the Capernaum synagogue was a hard one. Many of His disciples said, "This in a hard saying; who can hear it?”

Verses 61-63. But there was something harder still. Jesus said to His disciples, "both this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. Was He not the true passover lamb to be fed upon? but they could not take it in. It is really truth for those who have the Holy Spirit given to them. (1 Cor. 2:10, 12.) Such can see in the Lord Jesus the substance of all the shadows, the spirit of all the word.

Verses 64-65. But it divides between those who felt their need of Him, and those who only came because of His miracles. Jesus knew from the beginning the real ones, from the false, and who should betray Him. And He said, "Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given him of My Father.”

Verse 66. "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”

Verse 67. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?”

Verses 68-71. Simon Peter answered Him as spokesman for them, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter had felt his need of Christ, a need none other could satisfy, he could not go away, and he thought so of the rest. But Jesus answered, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" Judas Iscariot is thus pointed out as His betrayer, and yet was in such close company with the Lord. Truly "the flesh profiteth nothing.”

Verse 62. The Son of Man's ascension is alluded to, but not unfolded.

Verse 4. The passover is near. The Lord's death is its fulfillment.

Scripture Study: John 2

The first prophetic day mentioned here was John's testimony (chap. 1:1-36).

The second day is the Lord Jesus gathering the godly remnant of the Jews to Himself.

The third day is when the Lord publicly owns His people Israel.

Verses 1-10. The marriage in Cana of Galilee is a foreshadowing of it. The mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. The Lord honors such an occasion with His presence. It is a happy occasion. We are not told who the marriage parties were. It is intended to picture another time yet to come. But nature's joy does not endure, and when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, "They have no wine." She knew that it had only to be mentioned. But it was not the time to own Israel yet, as figured by the mother. He replied, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." And there were set six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece-evidently empty, or had to be emptied. They were used to hold water to wash things in according to the manner of the Jews-Jewish washings (baptisms, Heb. 6:2). Jesus saith unto them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them to the brim. And He saith unto them, "Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast." And they bear it. It is a mysterious scene; the bridegroom is not seen. Jesus takes the place in the foreground, as the main feature; the Host, and the Bridegroom, providing the joy and gladness for the blessing of all. And so will it be in Israel's nuptial day, when He will say in a fuller way, "Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved." (Song of Sol. 5:1.)

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew): the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”

Little did they know that this marriage scene had been pre-arranged long ago in the purposes of God as a mystic foreshadowing of the blessing of God's earthly people Israel.

At other times men had well drunk to satisfy their desires. But the wine, the joy, that Jesus supplies, does not intoxicate, but delights and strengthens the heart (Psa. 104:15; Prov. 31:6); does not satiate the soul, but satisfies the heart (Song of Sol. 7:9, 10; 1:2).

Verses 11, 12. This beginning of signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him. It showed to them that He was the Messiah. Then He went with His company to Capernaum.

Verses 13-16. Then the passover was at hand. Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and going into the temple He found those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. This might be a business convenience to those coming from foreign countries, but the Lord of the temple is there, and shows His authority. He made a scourge of small cords, and drove them all out of the temple,' and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, "Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise.”

Verse 17. And His disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up." This scene foreshadows the purging of the kingdom in the latter days before the Lord can take possession of and own it..

Verses 18-22. The Jews said unto Him, "What sign showest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things?" Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then said the Jews, "Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?" But He spake of the temple of His body, and of the resurrection from the dead, that declared Him to be the Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4). But it was a sign too late for their unbelief, for they rejected and crucified their Messiah. But His disciples after He was risen from the dead, remembered that He had said this unto them: and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said, and rejoiced in the blessing of a Christ risen and glorified, who could send down the Holy Ghost, that other Comforter, to make good to them all that He had said.

Verses 23-25. With this verse a new section of the Gospel begins. There seemed to be a great work going on at that passover feast in Jerusalem, for "Many believed in His name when they saw the miracles that He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men." He could read their hearts, and what He saw there was just the sincerity at the best of the natural heart. It was their own faith, wrought by seeing, and not souls who had found out their need of a Savior. They had not learned the first lesson.

The first step toward God is not trying to be good, but is owning oneself a lost, ruined, undone sinner, whose only hope is in the mercy of God to pardon his sins. They were not born again. It was not faith that was God-given, such as we see in Eph. 2:8. It was faith like Simon's in Acts 8:13. So they could turn away again when what the Lord said did not suit them (John 6:66).

Scripture Study: Luke 24

Verses 1-8. It was the first day of the week, very early in the morning, when those dear women came to the sepulcher, bringing with them the spices they had prepared for His embalming. What a surprise awaited them-the stone is rolled away, the sepulcher is empty. They found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were much perplexed about it, two men in shining garments stood by them. Being afraid, they bowed themselves down to the earth. The men said, "Why seek ye the living One among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" Then they remembered His words.

What news! A risen, living conqueror over death and the grave. They could not receive it, till it was accomplished before their eyes; yet He had plainly declared it in the hearing of them all.

Verses 9-11. They returned and told these things unto the eleven apostles and to the others with them, but their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they did not believe them.

Verse 12. But Peter arose, and ran into the sepulcher and, stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed wondering at what had happened. And what would be his feelings as he thought of his own behavior?

Verses 13-16. And, behold, two of them went that same day to Emmaus, a village about seven and one-half miles from Jerusalem. They were talking over all that had happened, and were evidently going away disheartened; their hope that Jesus would set up His Kingdom in Israel had died out, and they were sad. How graciously we see the Lord here following them up. While they talked, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him. That also is significant, as we shall see.

Verses 17, 18. He opens the conversation by asking them, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" Cleopas, answering, said unto Him, "Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?”

Verses 19-24. He said unto them, "What things?" They said, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him. But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher; and when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not.”

Verses 25-37. Then He said unto them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. What an instructive discourse that would be on the sufferings and the glories of Christ, the Messiah of Israel. It seemed generally the way for the Jews to expect a glorious Kingdom, but they left out the sufferings. The sufferings of rejection from men, and the sufferings of making atonement before God. Now our attention is directed to them, and how plain these are in such Scriptures as Gen. 22; Ex. 12; Num. 21; Psa. 22 and 69; Isa. 53. The Lord expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. We would like to have heard such an exposition.

How remarkable it is that they did not know Him. And as they drew nigh to the village, He made as if He would have gone further (that was not His resting place), but they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent," and He went in to tarry with them. There is yet another lesson they needed. They sit down to food. He took bread, and blessed-that is, gave thanks-and brake, and gave to them. Then they knew Him. None could give thanks like He could. And He vanished out of their sight. Just when they knew Him, He vanished. How significant! He was there teaching them and leading on their souls. Now they must act on what they knew. And they said one to another, "Did not our hearts burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened unto us the Scriptures?”

They rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together with the others. There they are met with the same story. "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon." That would put Peter all right. Then the two from Emmaus told their story, what He told them by the way, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. Just then Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, "Peace be unto you." But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Verses 38-53. And He said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." He showed them His hands and His feet, and while they believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, "Have ye here any meat?" And He took from them a piece of broiled fish, and of an honey comb, and He ate it before them. He proves to them that He was a real man with flesh and bones. Yes, and He is a real man now on the Father's throne, and forever will be a real man, though Himself the blessed Son of God, God blessed forever.

Then again He opens out the truth of all the Scriptures. It all concerns HIMSELF! What full clear truth is here seen that Scripture is the Word of God. Yes, ALL SCRIPTURE. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

This is not setting up the Kingdom in Israel, nor the gathering of the nations. It is the Gospel that takes in both Jew and Gentile, as repentant, believing sinners, and begins at Jerusalem guilty, deep-dyed Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. (Isa. 1:18.) God's grace can meet them, and the disciples were to be His witnesses, bearing His testimony, strengthened in the Lord, walking up and down in His name. (Zech. 10:12.) The promise of the Father, the enduing with power from on high, was to be given them. Acts 1 tells us He was seen of them forty days, instructing them in the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. We have by the Holy Spirit, and our complete Word of God, all this instruction, and more than they could take in before the Spirit was given. Then He led them out as far as Bethany, that place of sweet refreshing to His spirit, as the outcast at Jerusalem. And He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And as He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven; that was the last they saw of Him -His attitude of blessing-it is what He delights to do. Acts 1:10,11, tells us they will see Him again. We know Him as the blesser, and wait for His coming again.

And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. It is now joy in a risen and glorified Savior whom they serve, and for whom they wait.

Going back to the two on the road to Emmaus, we find an illustration of how the Lord leads on souls in the truth, and gathers them to Christ the Center. (Matt. 18:20.)

These two on the road to Emmaus did not know that Christ was risen. They were disheartened, their hope of seeing the Kingdom set up by the Lord was dead, but Jesus drew near and went with them, drawing out their souls, and opening out to them the truth of the Scriptures concerning Himself. This warms up their hearts, yet they did not know Him. He made as if he would have gone further, but they constrained Him to tarry with them, and this He does, for they are eager learners, and He is there to feed them along. But they do not know His presence, He is still a stranger to them. Now they sit down to food, and He took bread, and blessed or gave thanks. He is at once made known to them. It was not the Lord's supper, but it was the Great Shepherd of the sheep speaking to His Father and that was enough. They know Him now, and He vanished out of their sight. He is risen; they know it now, and back to Jerusalem to their own company they go with the news. When they get there the rest are gathered by the same truth, "The Lord is risen indeed." Jesus comes into their midst, Himself the center of their gathering, and now they are not hearing about Him, they are hearing Him, occupied with Him. He is unfolding the Word to them. On the way to Emmaus, He made their hearts burn within them. It was the light and warmth of the Word ministered to their souls. But at Jerusalem, they had the joy of His presence, as well as the ministry of the Word. How often we see this wonderful way of God leading on souls who are sincerely seeking His way, till they find the heart's satisfaction in His own presence. He is indeed the Good and Great Shepherd who thus delights to feed and care for His sheep.

“He feeds His flock, He calls their names, And gently leads the tender lambs.”

But He wants the joy of having them gathered to His Name, where His presence in the midst can be realized.

Here Luke's first Epistle to Theophilus ends. How it refreshes the heart to go over the narrative and see Jesus in the place that He has won. A glorified Man at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The Holy Spirit has come down to witness to the acceptance of the work of Christ on high. It is the sound of the golden bells that tells us our Great High Priest is there ever living to make intercession for us.

Israel will not know of that acceptance till the Lord comes out as Moses and Aaron, King and Priest, to bless the people. (Lev. 9:23.)

We know it now by the Holy Spirit given to us. (1 Cor. 2:10,12.)

Scripture Study: John 7:1-24

OH 7{The passover feast had its antitype at the cross. (1 Cor. 5.) Pentecost was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended. (Acts 2.) The feast of Tabernacles has yet had no fulfillment, but will have when the harvest and vintage of Israel has come, and Israel can look back and celebrate all the way by which the Lord hath brought them. The eighth day, the great day of the feast, will be when God's rest has come.

It was therefore impossible that the Lord should go up to Jerusalem to keep this feast, and not proclaim Himself the King and Judge, and it was not yet, in the purposes of God, the time for this. He would go up to Jerusalem to teach those who had ears to hear of the Father who had sent Him, and in spite of man's enmity and opposition, show Himself to be the Fountain of living waters to the soul that thirsted for God, and to make such a soul rivers of living waters to others.

Verse 1. He is aware that they want to kill Him.

Verse 2. The feast is called the Jews feast of tabernacles. Jehovah could not delight in it.

(Isa. 1:10-15.)

Verses 3-5. His brethren did not believe on Him, and He cannot explain His actions to them. They could not understand.

Verses 6-9. They were of the world, and could go as they pleased, but He must abide his time to do the Father's will.

Verses 10-13. Afterward He goes up, but it is not to show Himself, but as it were in secret and to teach them.

Verse 14. He is outside of all that was going on at the feast. He, the Son of God was outside as in fellowship with the Father, a heaven-sent Messenger to wait on their need. if the Father was rejected, so was He, but they were of the world.

"O worldly pomp and glory

Your charms are spread in vain;

I've heard a sweeter story,

I've found a truer gain.”

Scripture Study: John 7:25-8:1

Verse 1. He is aware that they want to kill Him.

Verse 2. The feast is called the Jews feast of tabernacles. Jehovah could not delight in it,(Isa. 1:10-15.)

Verses 3-5. His brethren did not believe on Him, and He cannot explain His actions to them. They could not understand.

Verses 6-9. They were of the world, and could go as they pleased, but He must abide His time to do the Father's will.

Verses 10-13. Afterward He goes up, but it is not to show Himself, but as it were in secret and to teach them.

Verse 14. He is outside of all that was going on at the feast. He, the Son of God was outside as in fellowship with the Father, a heaven-sent Messenger to wait on their need. If the Father was rejected, so was He, but they were of the world.

Verses 15-24. They are surprised at His teaching, they do not see beyond the human vessel. "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" They know not that His teaching came with Him from heaven. Like the blind leaders of the blind of the present day, they do not know the Son of God. And the doctrine He teaches is only known to those who desire to do the Father's will. "He that speaketh from Himself seeketh his own glory," but He was seeking the Father's glory, and there was no unrighteousness in Him. They boasted of Moses, but they did not keep his law, and murder was in their hearts. (But this was the Jews of Jerusalem, the people were not all like them. Compare Verses 20, 25, 31, 49. They were angry at Him for healing a man on the Sabbath, yet they would circumcise a man on that day. Mercy to the needy was in the Father's heart, and seen in His ways. Theirs was law keeping. "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

Verses 25-27. He spoke boldly, (fulfilled Psa. 40:9,10.) His teachings and His works witnessed who He was.

Verse 30. Again they sought to take Him, but his hour was not yet come. And many of the people were convinced that He was the Christ.

Verse 32. This only stirred up the Pharisees and Chief Priests to send officers to take Him.

Verses 33, 34. The Lord announces that He was with them only a little while, then He would be gone to Him that sent Him, and they would seek Him, and would not find Him. They would be shut out forever.

Verses 35, 36. Eternal things are beyond them, and their hearts are enmity against God.

O! had they but known, had they but hearkened.. He would have fed them with the finest of the wheat. He would have made them drink of the fountain of living waters. (Jer. 2:12,13. Psa. 81:13-16.)

How could the Lord sanction a feast with such moral darkness filling their soul? They had no title to the rest it spoke of, and were He to act as King, lie must judge their wickedness. What will He do now? Is He not still the Fountain of the water of life? Yes, and He will prove His blessed sufficiency for the thirsty one who will drink.

Verses 37-39. In the last day, that great day of the feast, (the new eighth day, Lev. 23:39, is pictured by it, when blessing to the earth will be full,) Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." This looks on to the time when He is glorified, when each believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit, not till then would the Holy Spirit be given to men.

The thirsty soul is not only satisfied, but is also made a source of blessing to others from the inner man of his soul should flow streams of living water.

Is this not what we Christians should be? Jesus is now glorified. Believers are now sealed. Do streams of living water flow out from us to others? Is the testimony of the glorified One seen in our ways? Is it filling our hearts to overflowing? Israel's rejection of Christ has postponed their blessing. Only postponed, for God's promises cannot pass away unfulfilled. But let us who are Christ's members now think what a portion and privilege we have to be channels of blessing to the world around.

Verses 40-43. Here is another discussion which shows how little the facts of His birth were known. The people are divided over it.

Verse 44. Some would have taken Him, but they are powerless till He allows it. No man laid hands on Him.

Verses 45-49. Then came the officers to the Chief Priests and Pharisees, who had sent them to take Jesus, and they said to them, "Why have ye not brought Him?" They answered, "Never man spake like this Man." Another testimony from His enemies to His superlative worth. The Pharisees answered with bitter enmity, "Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers, or the Pharisees believed on Him? But this people who know not the law are cursed.”

Verses 50-53. Nicodemus, one of themselves, and one of Jesus' secret disciples, saith, "Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" That was enough to mark him out as a sympathizer. They turn on him, "Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." It scattered them for the present. Every man went to his own house.

Chapter 8, Verse 1. Jesus retired to the Mount of Olives, to the place where He so often held communion with His Father.

Scripture Study

Table of Contents

Scripture Study: John 20

Scripture Study: Acts 3

Scripture Study: Acts 4

Scripture Study: Acts 1

Scripture Study: John 21

Scripture Study: Acts 2

Scripture Study: Acts 5

Scripture Study: Ephesians 1:1-11

Scripture Study: Ephesians 1:12-19

Scripture Study: Matthew 5:17-48

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 2

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 3

Scripture Study: Matthew 10

Scripture Study: Matthew 12

Scripture Study: Matthew 8

Scripture Study: Matthew 7

Scripture Study: Matthew 11

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 4

Scripture Study: Matthew 6

Scripture Study: Matthew 9

Scripture Study: Matthew 13, Part 1

Scripture Study: Scripture Study

Scripture Study: Luke 13

Scripture Study: Luke 15

Scripture Study: Luke 16

Scripture Study: Luke 10:1-24

Scripture Study: Mark 16

Scripture Study: Luke 11

Scripture Study: Luke 14

Scripture Study: Luke 10

Scripture Study: Mark 6

Scripture Study: Mark 5:1-23

Scripture Study: Mark 6:30-56

Scripture Study: Mark 4

Scripture Study: Mark 5:24-43

Scripture Study: Romans 5:1-11

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 4

Scripture Study: Romans 3:21-31

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 6

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 3

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 5

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 2

Scripture Study: Romans 5:12-21

Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 7

Scripture Study: Romans 4

Scripture Study: Luke 21

Scripture Study: Luke 23

Scripture Study: Luke 22

Scripture Study: Luke 20

Scripture Study: Matthew 1

Scripture Study: Matthew 4

Scripture Study: Matthew 3

Scripture Study: Matthew 2:1-2

Scripture Study: Matthew 5:1-16

Scripture Study: Why are there Four Gospels?

Scripture Study: Mark 13

Scripture Study: Mark 10:1-31

Scripture Study: Mark 11

Scripture Study: Mark 14

Scripture Study: Mark 10:32-52

Scripture Study: Mark 12

Scripture Study: Mark 15

Scripture Study: Mark 9

Scripture Study: Mark 3

Scripture Study: Matthew 28

Scripture Study: 2 Thessalonians 1

Scripture Study: Acts 16

Scripture Study: Acts 18

Scripture Study: Mark 2:18-28

Scripture Study: 2 Thessalonians 2

Scripture Study: Acts 14

Scripture Study: Mark 1:1-20

Scripture Study: Acts 21

Scripture Study: Mark's Gospel

Scripture Study: Acts 17

Scripture Study: Acts 20

Scripture Study: Mark 2:1-17

Scripture Study: Acts 15