NOTE.—During the time of the incidents and the giving of instruction contained in to-day’s lesson, Jesus was making His third tour of Galilee. The time is supposed to be the autumn of A.D. 28 and the winter of A.D. 28 and 29. The section includes the whole chapter. Compare with this chapter, Luke 10: 1–20, and note the similarity in the instructions given to the twelve and to the seventy.
2 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon; who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely ye received, freely give. Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; no wallet for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth. And as ye enter into the house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Golden Text: “Freely ye have received, freely give.”Matt. 10: 8.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Name the twelve apostles. Verses 2–4. (2) Who of them were brothers? Same verses. (3) Who were of the same name, and how were they distinguished? Ibid. Note 1. (4) What command did Jesus give them with reference to the Gentiles? Verse 5. (5) What with reference to the Samaritans? Same verse. Note 2. (6) To whom were they to go? Verse 6. (7) As they went what were they to do? Verse 7. (8) What were they to preach? Same verse. (9) What wonderful work was to go hand in hand with this message? Verse 8. (10) What admonition did the Saviour give them in reference to this work? Same verse. Note 3. (11) What was their instruction in regard to money? Verse 9. (12) How did the Saviour instruct them in regard to other provision for their journey? Verse 10. Note 4. (13) What were they to do on entering a city? Verse 11. (14) Having found a respectable family with whom to lodge, what were they then to do? Same verse. Note 5. (15) What was to be their course toward a house which they might approach? Verses 12, 13. Note 6. (16) How were the apostles to conduct themselves toward those who would not receive them? Verse 14. (17) What did the Saviour say of those who thus refused to receive His messengers? Verse 15.
NOTES.
1. The twelve apostles.—One for each tribe of the children of Israel. Of these Simon and Andrew were brothers; also James and John. There was Simon Peter and Simon the Canaanean; James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus. The twelve apostles were all Galileans except Judas Iscariot, who was from Kerioth, a town of Judah. “The Canaanean” does not refer to Simon as a native of Canaan, but as a member of “a party of fanatic nationalists among the Jews, leaders of the national revolt against the foreign yoke.” From what we know of the characters of these men, the Saviour’s selection of the ones who were to accompany each other in going forth to the work was a wise one. “They were sent out two by two, because thus they were complete and well balanced. Each would supplement the work of the other.”—Peloubet.
2. Go not into any way of the Gentiles.—The time had not yet come for the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles, for to give it to the Gentiles at that time would have been to arouse against their work all the prejudice and wrath of the Jews, while no base of operations had been established. As long as the Jews would hear them, their duty lay in preaching to the Jews; then with the force thus accumulated they could successfully carry on their work among the Gentiles. As one has expressed it, “Through the Jews was their shortest and surest cut to reach the Gentiles.” The limitation was not to keep the Gospel from the Gentiles, but to bring it to them in such a way that it would be a success. Then, too, for centuries the Jews had been God’s chosen people, and they were to have the fullest possible opportunity of retaining that position.
3. Freely ye received, freely give.—The work which was to accompany the preaching of the apostles shows the intimate relation between sin and bodily ailments. As they preached the forgiveness of sin, the healing of the soul, they were to free the victims of sin from the ravages which sin had wrought in them. God, in healing them from the results of sin, showed His willingness to forgive the sin and heal the soul as well. The power which they had received to do this work was given them without price. It was not a commodity to be bartered for; it was the power of God; and they must not charge a fee for allowing it to work through them.
4. No wallet.—The wallet, or scrip, was a sort of satchel in which travelers carried their provisions. All the things of which they stood in need they were to receive from those to whom they brought the good news of salvation. As long as “the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof,” the Lord’s laborers will be provided for out of that “fulness” which is His—both temporal and spiritual things.
5. And there abide.—They were to remain at that house until they left that place, or, as is expressed in other scriptures, they were not to go from house to house for lodgings.
6. Let your peace return to you.—If they found that the house was unworthy of their salutation, their words were to be as though they had not been spoken. They were not to reward the unworthy with the blessings of the worthy.
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“The Great Threefold Message” is just out as No. 47 of Apples of Gold Library series. It ought to be read by every Seventh-day Adventist, put in every reading-rack, and in the hands of every person who will read. Sometimes I fear that we are passing by the great foundation-stones of the message in our haste after something new. This tract is presented in such a way that people will read. Let the tract societies send in large orders for this tract and follow other publications that have been put out, with this tract, that you will find second to none. It has three illustrations, and contains sixteen pages. Price, one cent. Thousands of these ought to be used in Iowa before the evenings become short. Send them by letter, and in every way. I think the first general effort for 1898 may well be made with this tract. —Clarence Santee, in Workers’ Bulletin.
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THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a purely missionary enterprise. For this reason it has felt free to ask for contributions from its friends. It pays nothing for contributions, either prose or poetry, unless solicited by the editor, and then the fact is stated when the articles are asked for. This is a plan rarely followed, but sometimes deemed expedient.
Articles Desired.—Those which set forth in the Spirit of Christ the great saving truths of God, short and to the point. It is better to treat one important truth clearly, in a short article, than many points vaguely in a long one. We desire no caustic, critical productions, which might minister to personal pride or pleasure, but can not save souls.
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BIBLE ELECTION.
By M. C. Wilcox
By M. C. Wilcox. A brief presentation of God's plan and purpose concerning man, showing that the doctrine of election, or predestination, according to the Bible, is full of comfort and instruction. It throws new light on old controversies. Bible Students' Library, No. 67; 24 pp.; price 3 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.
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Will It Become the Pope’s?
The sultan of Turkey has decided to give to Emperor William of Germany a plot of ground in the city of Jerusalem, which tradition says was the site of Christ’s last supper. The report states that the emperor will probably transfer the ground to the German Catholic missionaries. Various Christian societies have hitherto tried in vain to secure this memorable site. The object of this gift on the part of Emperor William is obvious; it is to win the support of the Papacy to his various plans. Many of his subjects and soldiers are Catholics. With the pope’s favor he can count on loyal support. Without it, he fears humiliation. Other rulers are in the same critical condition, a state of things which will increase. If Italy remains implacable, would not the pope prefer Jerusalem to Rome? And might not the Turk release the territory to European powers as the price of existence? And might not the powers purchase the favor of the Vatican at the same price? And then will he not “plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in My glorious holy mountain”? and then the cry of the church of which the pope is the head, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow”? and then the cry of universal “peace and safety”? and then the “sudden destruction,” and “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him”? and then the coming of the Just One? And the time is near, and the days shall not be prolonged.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO ME.
By T.
“And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Yes, Christ, the Son of God, “loved me.” He loves me still. He loves me, not in a general way, but He loves the individual me.
How good and full of assurance is the thought that Jesus thinks of me as an individual, that He does not behold me as one among the great throng that crowds the world, but He actually has His mind on even me. He knows my name, and where I live, and His eye follows me all the day long.
And the love He has for me is so genuine and so deep that He “gave Himself for me.” There is something wonderful and very touching in such a love as this. As the Creator of worlds He had infinite resources at His command. Silver and gold He could have supplied in infinite quantities, but this would not do. The only way possible for Him to reach “me” was by giving Himself, and this He heartily and freely did.
And this “love wherewith He hath loved us” is not simply for a fitful or fleeting moment, for He says, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” O, have you learned that He loves you so much? and, furthermore, have you learned to love Him? Such love on His part should draw from us the willing surrender of every power of our being, and once we have sensed His love, and made this surrender, how full of joy is the life devoted to His service!
The Lord saw us in this world, all lost in sin, and our helplessness appealed to His tenderest sympathies. The fact that we were here, where there is nothing but selfishness, where the law of every individual is to coldly fight for self, and seeing how we were being trodden underfoot in the strife, heaven, with all its attractions and glories, could not contain Him. He left it all and came to our rescue. And if we are resting in His love, we will in turn surely have a burden for other souls. Like Him, we will be looking around for those who are being borne down, and in the name of the Master will be extending them the helping hand.
There is that homeless wanderer. He has no one to say the kind word to him, and to cast the bright ray of loving-kindness across his path. Perhaps he may be ragged and dirty, yes, even loathsome in appearance. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Then with this Christlike spirit, let the helping hand be ever extended.
A few days ago a Christian brother found a man in jail. He asked him what he would do when he was out. The prisoner replied, “I don’t know.” It was ascertained that the man had no home or friends. He was about to be turned on the streets again with no place to sleep at night, and not knowing where he would get his next meal. The brother left him his address, and said, “When you are free, come to my house, and I will give you a home till you can find work and get in a position to care for yourself.” This Christian kindness completely overcame the man. Said he, “I can not understand it; I never had a man speak a kind word to me before in all my life.” This person, whom all thought to be a hardened criminal, gave his heart to the Lord, and is now giving promise of making a true and useful man.
What a victory for Christ! And, Christian brother or sister, there are hundreds of just such cases all about you. Open your heart wide, and let the love of God, and the gift of His grace, flow through you to them.
T.
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Jesus Christ died for men, not institutions.
God gave everything to save men, to lift them up to Himself. The Son of God became one with us, that we might become one with Him. Will you co-operate?
God’s Blessed Word
God’s blessed Word is written, dear soul, to you. Its messages of warning, its pure and holy precepts, its precious promises, are all to you as an individual. He never intended that it should be sifted or filtered through council, or creed, or pope, or priest, to you. He wants you to open your own heart and drink it in as does the rose the sunshine, and the lily the dew.
The Solar Eclipse
The Solar Eclipse expeditions to India all report favorable weather and good success. Oaklanders are much interested in the matter, because one of their own townsmen, Charles Burckhalter, of the Chabot Observatory, had charge of an expedition, and used in photographing the eclipse an apparatus by himself invented, in which a revolving diaphragm is arranged to retard exposure in the brighter portions of the corona, and permit a full impression upon the sensitive plate of the camera, of the fainter streamers. Mr. Burckhalter wires, “The results come fully up to my expectations.” The Lick Observatory party, under Professor Campbell, report satisfactory work.
“Helping Hand Mission.”
By Editor
There are not a few helping hand missions all over this world, and many thousand more helping hands stretched out to help the needy; but we are speaking now of the Helping Hand Mission in San Francisco. A picture of the front of the buildings and a few words in reference to it are given on page 7, and a report of the treasurer on page 11. We wish again to appeal to our SIGNS readers for aid, which we must have to do the work to which we believe the Lord has called us.
1. We desire your prayers that God may guide in the fitting up and conduct of the mission, that it may do such a work as will merit His constant blessing. Without His guidance and help we can do nothing.
2. We desire your prayers that the needy may be reached, without regard to race, creed, or color. The mission is to save men and women.
3. We wish your co-operation in this work of mutual sacrifice and blessing. The work is the Lord’s and the reward is sure.
Not Institutions but Men
Not Institutions but Men.—Christ died, not to save human institutions, not to preserve church dogmas, not to uphold tradition, but to save men. We wish our W. C. T. U. sisters could see this in its clear light. If men are saved, there will be no trouble about the preservation of the Lord’s institutions. If men are not saved, the Lord’s institutions can not be preserved by any number of human laws. Just now the W. C. T. U. are pouring into Congress multiform petitions, one of which is “to protect the first day of the week as a day of rest in the same.” The very form of the petition shows the misconception. The first day of the week needs no protection. No day of the week needs protection. If the first day is the Lord’s day, He is amply able to protect it. If it is not the Lord’s day, let it die. That institution which can not live by its own inherent connection with God, will perish sooner or later. “Every plant which My heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” Matt. 15: 13. What is needed—and here only has human law the right of exercise—is that man shall be protected in his right, so far as his fellows are concerned, to observe any day of the week or no day. Let our W. C. T. U. sisters labor for humanity not for institutions, and they will find much more blessing and better results.
“PENSION FRAUDS.”
By Editor
UNDER the above heading on the last page of our first issue of the current volume we published a note with a quotation from the New York Thrice-a-Week World, which on the face of it indicated that something is wrong somewhere in the pension business. Whether the World is right or not in its estimates, is not the point in consideration now. The note was written to show that in the matter of pensions, as in many other things, the spirit of fraud and robbery of the public was in evidence. But since publishing that note we have received several letters from old soldiers condemning us for lack of sympathy, and the World as an enemy. Respecting these charges we wish to say:—
1. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES has never uttered one word against any deserving pensioner. The note criticised expressly said:—
“That those who imperiled their lives to defend and maintain a government in time of strife should be pensioned, we heartily believe. The widows and children of those who were slain should be amply supported [of course according to law]; against all honest pensioning and receivers of pension we would not utter one word. They deserve it and should have it.”
Now what is there wrong with this? Do any “old soldiers” believe differently?
2. We have never read anything contrary to these sentiments in the Thrice-a-Week World. All that that paper asks is that fraudulent pensions be stopped. It may be wrong in its estimate of the extent of the fraud, but is it not right in denouncing the fraud? It would seem to us that every honest old soldier would for the sake of his country and comrades say that every fraud should be exposed. The World asks that the list of pensioners be published.
3. This demand is seconded by many others. At present Hon. Clifton B. Beach, Republican representative from Ohio, has a bill before Congress providing that there shall be published by the Commissioner of Pensions each year, on March 1, a true and accurate statement of each pensioner, his name, place of residence, date of allowance of pension, etc., etc. The Christian Advocate says what it seems to us should commend itself to every honest “old soldier”:—
“There is no doubt that many persons are receiving pensions from the government who are not entitled to them, and the passage of this bill, and the rigid enforcement of penalties that should attend the issue of fraudulent pensions, will undoubtedly do much toward the elimination of many bogus cases. Some days ago the New York Sun published a list of about thirty-six hundred pensioners, giving their residences and amount of their pension, and from many quarters the Sun has received information that certain persons mentioned in that list were dead, or have no legitimate claim on the government. The pension list is a roll of honor, and no pensioner should object to its publication or to the removal therefrom of every case of fraud.”
