The Osceola Times

Sunday School Lesson
By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D.D., Dean of Day and Evening Schools, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
(©, 1927, Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for January 9
The Standard Of Christian Living
LESSON TEXT--Matt. 5:38-48.
GOLDEN TEXT--Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
PRIMARY TOPIC--How Jesus Wants Us to Live.
JUNIOR TOPIC--Marching Orders for Christians.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC--What Christ Requires of Us.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC--Christ's Life and Example for Us.
The context (v. 26) clearly implies what is elsewhere positively declared (John 15:18-21; Luke 21:17) that the followers of Christ will be hated and opposed. In this lesson Christ sets forth the principles governing the life of his followers.
I. "Love Your Enemies" (v. 27).
Love here is not a natural affection. To love friends is easy, but to love enemies is only possible to those who have been made partakers of the divine nature--been born again.
II. "Do Good to Them Which Hate You" (v. 27).
Love is positive in its nature. The true Christian will not merely refrain from doing injury to one who hates him, but will be concerned with and engaged in doing good to him. True love acts according to its own essential nature.
III. "Bless Them That Curse You" (v. 28).
To bless means to speak well of--to invoke a blessing upon. Injury by words is hard to let go unchallenged. The one who is a child of God and allows the Spirit of his Maker and Redeemer to express itself through him will return blessings for cursings.
IV. "Pray for Them Which Despitefully Use You" (v. 28).
We should pray for those who abuse us. The best commentary on this precept is Christ's own example (Luke 23:34), "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." When Christ was reviled He reviled not again. When He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (I Pet. 2:23).
V. Patiently Endure Wrong and Injury (v. 39).
The Christian is not to bristle in defense of his rights but rather to suffer insult, injury and even loss. This expresses the law which should govern the individual's actions, but should not be pressed so far that evil doers can go unchecked. Rightly constituted government has been ordained of God for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of evildoers (Rom. 13:1-8).
VI. Give to Every One That Asketh of Thee (v. 30).
God is the supreme example. He gives freely and generously but intelligently. This text does not authorize indiscriminate giving. There is a giving which injures the one to whom the gift is made. To give a man money to buy whisky would be wrong.
VII. Do as You Wish to Be Done By (v. 31).
This is called the Golden Rule. It is the sum total of Christian duty as it pertains to human interrelations. Human beings carry with them the consciousness which is the touchstone which teaches them their duty to others. If men were to live up to this rule the problem of capital and labor would be solved and an end would be put to war. International relations would be peaceably adjusted and all profiteering in business would end. Practicing this precept proves that we are children of God. Loving those who love us, doing good to those who do good to us, lending to those who lend to us, is the common practice even among sinners. No new birth, no Holy Spirit needed to live this kind of life.
VIII. Be Merciful (v. 36).
This means to be filled with pity and compassion. To enter into sympathy with every need of others. The supreme example as to this is the Heavenly Father.
IX. Censorious Judgments Condemned (v. 37).
This means that we should not seek out the evil or faults in others for our satisfaction. We should not sit in censorious judgment upon the actions of others. However, it does not prohibit the just estimation of the character of others by their deeds.
X. The Compensations of Right Living (v. 48).
The one who gives freely of money, loves sincerely, makes the Golden Rule the standard of his life, shows mercy and kindness to others, and refrains from impugning the motives of others will be fully rewarded in kind. God will see to it that there be no loss.
Keeping the Mouth Closed
If a man can keep his mouth closed it is a sure sign that he could say something if he opened it.--King's Business.
Fewer Words
The more you say, the less people will remember. The fewer the words the greater the profit.--Fenelon
Keep an Eye on the One
Keep your eye on the One gone up. Echoes.