LESSON XVIII. Christ's Testimony to John's Ministry. 18. How did John know of Christ's miracle? 19. Whom did he send to Christ? 20. What message did he send? Did not John know Christ? 21. What did Christ do in presence of John's messengers? 22. What answer did he return to John's message? What did he mean John should understand by this answer? What is the peculiarity of the gospel dispensation? 23. What is meant by being "offended in me"? Why are such as are not offended in Christ blessed? 24. Of whom did Christ speak to the people? Why did he wait till John's messengers were gone? What did he ask of the people? 18 And the disciples of John showed him of all these things. 19 ¶ And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits, and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 24 ¶ And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? To whom did he refer in this question? 25. Why did he mention a "reed" and a man in "soft raiment"? 26. Whom does Christ describe John to be? 27. To what prophecy did Christ refer? Where is this prophecy written? 28. What is meant by "the kingdom of God" in this verse? How is he that is "least in the kingdom of God" greater than the greatest of prophets? 29. What was the effect of his words? What is meant by the expression "justified God"? What was John's baptism? 30. What is said of the Pharisees and lawyers? What is meant by this? May we infer any thing from this respecting the importance of baptism? 31, 32. To what did Christ liken the people of his day? To what custom is allusion here made? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment ! Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet! Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 28 For I say unto you, among those that are born of woman there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation and to what are they like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33, 34. With what inconsistency did he charge them? How did the parable of the children in the marketplace apply to the conduct of the Jews towards Christ? 35. What is the meaning of the word “justified” in this connection? Who are the children of wisdom, and how is she justified of them? LESSON XIX. The Penitent Woman. Luke vii. 36-50. 36. WHAT did one of the Pharisees desire of Christ? What was his name? Did Christ comply with his invitation ? 37. Who came thither? What was her character? Are we to infer that she was notoriously wicked and abandoned? Did she know that Christ was there? What did she bring? What was this box and the ointment? 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children. 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38. What did the woman do? What feelings were expressed by these various acts? 39. How did this proceeding affect the Pharisee? What was the Pharisee's mistake? Did he say what he thought? 40. How did Christ know what was passing in his mind? What did he say to Simon? What temper did Simon manifest by his reply? 41, 42. What case did Christ state to Simon? In what respect does this case illustrate our relations to God? 43. What was Simon's reply? Did Christ approve his judgment? 44. What was the first contrast which Christ made between the conduct of the woman and that of Simon? 45. What was the second contrast? 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for ,she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46. What was the third contrast? To what customs of Eastern nations is reference made in these several acts of hospitality? 47. What did he say of the woman? Were her acts of love and gratitude the ground of her pardon or only the evidence of her penitence and faith? 48. What did he say to the woman? 49. What inquiry did this scene excite? Did they express this inquiry in words? 50. To what did Christ ascribe the woman's salvation? Why should she go in peace? From whence does all true peace spring? LESSON XX. The Parable of the Sower. Luke viii. 1-18. 1. WHAT are we told of Christ's occupation? Who were with him? 2. Who else were with him? 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also! 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. CHAP. VIII.-1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, |