Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 221

In heaven there'll be no toil without repay; No building for a brief, ephemeral day; For all the joys that prophets old have told 'Twill take the endless ages to unfold.

In heaven there'll be no weary pilgrim band; No seekers for a better, fairer land; For all who reach that blissful, happy sh.o.r.e, Will never cry nor sigh, nor wish for more.

The Subjects Of The Kingdom

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Final Rewards. "And He shall separate them ... as a shepherd divideth his sheep from his goats." Matt. 25:32.

1. Upon whom was the name Israel first bestowed?

"And he said, Thy name shall be called no more _Jacob_, but _Israel_: for as a prince hast thou power with G.o.d and with men, and hast prevailed."

Gen. 32:28.

NOTE.-Israel means a "prince," or "one who prevails with G.o.d."

2. Afterward who came to be called by this t.i.tle?

"Now these are the names of _the children of Israel_, which came into Egypt; ... Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.... Joseph." Ex. 1:1-5.

NOTE.-In other words, the descendants of Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, were known as the twelve tribes of Israel.

3. What special blessings were conferred on the Israelites?

"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the _adoption_, and the _glory_, and the _covenants_, and the _giving of the law_, and the _service of G.o.d_, and the _promises_; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh _Christ came_, who is over all." Rom. 9:4, 5.

4. Who const.i.tute the true Israel, or seed of Abraham?

"They are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of G.o.d: but _the children of the promise are counted for the seed_." Verses 6-8.

5. What did John the Baptist say to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism?

"And think not to say within yourselves. We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that _G.o.d is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham_." Matt. 3:9.

6. What determines whether one is a child of Abraham?

"Know ye therefore that _they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham_." Gal. 3:7.

NOTE.-Because of unbelief many of the Israelites fell in the wilderness, and were not permitted to enter the promised land.

Num. 14:27-33; Deut. 1:34-36.

7. To whom must one belong in order to be Abraham's seed?

"_And if ye be Christ's_, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Verse 29.

8. In what scripture are Christians recognized as Israel?

"And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon _the Israel of G.o.d_." Gal. 6:16.

9. To whom is the epistle of James addressed?

"James, a servant of G.o.d and of the Lord Jesus Christ _to the twelve tribes_ which are scattered abroad, greeting." James 1:1.

10. To whom is the gospel the power of G.o.d unto salvation?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of G.o.d unto salvation _to every one that believeth_; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rom. 1:16.

11. To whom did Jesus first send the twelve disciples?

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to _the lost sheep of the house of Israel_." Matt. 10:5, 6.

12. When the woman of Canaan came to Christ, beseeching Him to heal her daughter, what did He say?

"But He answered and said, _I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel_." Matt. 15:24.

13. When she persisted in her request, and fell down to worship Him, what did He say?

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Coming In Glory. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

Matt. 5:5.

"But He answered and said, _It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs_." Verse 26.

NOTE.-By her persistent faith, this woman, although a Canaanite, showed that she was really a true child of Abraham.

14. While dining with Zaccheus, what did Christ say?

"This day is salvation come to this house, _forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham_." Luke 19:9.

15. What did He say to the woman of Samaria as to the source of salvation?

"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for _salvation is of the Jews_." John 4:22.