Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 40

10. Because some thought He had come to destroy the law, what did Christ say?

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pa.s.s, one jot or one t.i.ttle shall in no wise pa.s.s from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt.

5:17-20.

11. What testimony did Nicodemus bear concerning Him?

"Rabbi, _we know that Thou art a teacher come from G.o.d_: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except G.o.d be with him." John 3:2.

12. What did Christ's words at Jacob's well lead the woman of Samaria to ask?

"The woman then left her water-pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: _is not this the Christ?_" John 4:28, 29.

13. How were the two on the way to Emmaus affected by Christ's conversation with them?

"And they said one to another, _Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way_, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?"

Luke 24:32.

14. In His teaching, to what did Christ direct attention?

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." "And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the _law of Moses_, and in the _prophets_, and in the _Psalms_, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand _the Scriptures_." Verses 27, 44, 45.

15. How did He encourage His disciples to look for the fulfilment of prophecy?

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (_whoso readeth, let him understand_:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."

Matt. 24:15, 16.

NOTE.-Christ was a faithful student, a consistent user, and a perfect expounder, of the Scriptures. He met temptation with the Scriptures; He proved His Messiahs.h.i.+p by the Scriptures; He taught from the Scriptures; and He told His disciples to look to the Scriptures as their counselor and guide for the future.

Blest they who seek While in their youth, With spirit meek, The way of truth.

To them the Sacred Scriptures now display Christ as the only true and living way; His precious blood on Calvary was given To make them heirs of bliss in heaven.

And e'en on earth the child of G.o.d can trace The blessings of his Saviour's grace.

For them He bore His Father's frown; For them He wore The th.o.r.n.y crown; Nailed to the cross, Endured its pain, That His life's loss Might be their gain.

Then haste to choose That better part, Nor e'en refuse The Lord thy heart, Lest He declare, "I know you not,"

And deep despair Should be your lot.

Now look to Jesus, who on Calvary died, And trust on Him who there was crucified.

Parables Of Christ

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Lessons From Nature. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow."

Matt. 6:28.

1. What reference is made in the Psalms to Christ's use of parables?

"I will open My mouth _in a parable_: I will utter _dark sayings of old_."

Ps. 78:2.

NOTE.-A parable primarily means a _comparison_ or _similitude_; specifically it is a short story or narrative drawn from life or nature, by means of which some important lesson is taught, or some moral drawn.

2. From what sources did Christ usually draw His parables?

From nature and from every-day experiences.

3. For what are His parables noted?

"Our Saviour's parables are distinguished above all others for clearness, purity, chasteness, intelligibility, importance of instruction, and simplicity. They are taken mostly from the affairs of common life, and are intelligible, therefore, to all men."-_Dr. Albert Barnes, on Matt. 13:3._

4. Following one of His parables, what did Christ say?

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

5. What question did the disciples then ask?

"And the disciples came, and said unto Him, _Why speakest Thou unto them in parables_?" Verse 10.

6. What reply did Christ make?

"He answered and said unto them, _Because it is given unto __ you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven_, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." Verses 11-13.

NOTE.-Christ's object, therefore, in using parables was to teach the mysteries, or truths, of the kingdom of heaven,-truths not necessarily difficult to understand, but which had long been hidden or obscured by sin, apostasy, and tradition,-in such a way that the spiritually minded and those desirous of learning the truth, might understand them, and the worldly-minded and unwilling would not. When asked the meaning of any parable, Christ readily explained it to His disciples. See Luke 8:9-15; Matt. 13:36-43; Mark 4:33,34.

7. After giving instruction by the use of parables, what question did Christ ask His disciples?

"Jesus saith unto them, _Have ye understood all these things?_ They say unto Him, Yea, Lord." Verse 51.

8. How extensively did Christ make use of parables?

"All these things spake Jesus unto the mult.i.tude in parables; and _without a parable spake He not unto them_." Verse 34.

NOTE.-Parables are simply stories. All, young and old, like to hear a story. Story-telling is one of the most successful means of awakening an interest, securing attention, and teaching, ill.u.s.trating, and enforcing important truths. Christ, the greatest of all teachers, recognized this, and therefore made constant use of this method of instruction. See reading on "Preaching the Gospel," page 631.