1st Quarter 2014 Lesson 7 Jesus and the Social Outcast

8/13/2019 1st Quarter 2014 Lesson 7 Jesus and the Social Outcast

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Lesson 7 for February 15, 2014


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The bottom-dwellers respond tothe Gospel.

The prostitutes.

The mentally ill.

The immoral:

The Samaritan woman.

The tax collectors and sinners.

This week we are studying how Jesus treated the bottom-dwellers in His time. Well

learn how to treat the bottom-dwellers today.


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Jesus said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlotsenter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way ofrighteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots

believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him(Matthew 21:31-32)

Why did the bottom-dwellers respond to the Gospel call

better than the Scribes and Pharisees did?

The Scribes and Pharisees considered themselves to be worthy

of being sons of God. They didnt feel the need for repentance.

Nevertheless, the

bottom-dwellers

considered

themselves

unworthy. When

they heard the loving

call, they admitted

their sin and

repented.


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God has made every provision, in order

that the lost one may become his child. The

frailest human being may be elevated,ennobled, refined, and sanctified by the

grace of God. This is the reason God values

men; and those who are workers together

with God, who are filled with divinecompassion, will see and estimate men in the

same way that God sees and estimates them.

Whatever may be the nationality or color,

whatever may be the social condition, the

missionary for God will look upon all men as

the purchase of the blood of Christ, and will

understand that there is no caste with God

E.G.W. (The Review and Herald, December 3, 1895)


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Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many,are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whomlittle is forgiven, the same loves little (Luke 7:47)

In Jesus time, a prostitute was a sinner by definition.

When Jesus had to face that and was asked to

pronounce sentence, He did three things (John 8:1-11):

1. He kept silent while He was writing the sins of the

accusers on the ground (DA, pg. 461)2. He encouraged the accusers to search themselves

and then execute the sentence if they were

blameless.

3. Instead of condemning the sinner woman, Jesus

offered her forgiveness.

This was to her the beginning of a new life, a life of purity and peace, devoted to

the service of God. In the uplifting of this fallen soul, Jesus performed a greater

miracle than in healing the most grievous physical disease; He cured the spiritual

malady which is unto death everlasting. This penitent woman became one of His

most steadfast followers. With self-sacrificing love and devotion she repaid His

forgiving mercyE.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 50, pg. 462)


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Mental illness may be caused by

different reasons. For example,

demonic possession, drug abuse,

metabolic disorders

Those people must not be ignored, no

matter the cause of their illness.

Actually, they are the most needed,

since they cannot ask for help bythemselves.

For example, the demon-possessed of

Gadarenes (Mark 5:1-20): when their

lips were opened to entreat His mercy,

the demons spoke through them

(E.G.W., DA, pg. 337)

We are instruments in Gods hands to

help those who cannot help

themselves. We must show themGods love.


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The hatred between Jews and Samaritans prevented the woman from offering a

kindness to Jesus; but the Saviour was seeking to find the key to this heart, and withthe tact born of divine love, He asked, not offered, a favor (E.G.W. DA, cp. 19, pg. 183)

Which social norms did Jesus break? Why?

Before this soul could receive the gift He longed to bestow, she must be

brought to recognize her sin and her Saviour The listener trembled. Amysterious hand was turning the pages of her life history, bringing to view

that which she had hoped to keep forever hidden (Id.pg. 187)

How did Jesus make the woman face her sinful life?

A Jew would not borrow from a Samaritan, nor receive a kindness, noteven a morsel of bread or a cup of water. The disciples, in buying food, were

acting in harmony with the custom of their nation. But beyond this they did

not go. To ask a favor of the Samaritans, or in any way seek to benefit them,

did not enter into the thought of even Christs disciples (Id.pg. 183)

Which were the prejudices Jesus had to fight against?


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Blessed woman of Samaria! She had

felt during the conference as if in thepresence of divinity; now she gladly

acknowledged her Lord

She was eager for instruction,

waiting for the consolation of Israel,and ready to accept the Saviour

when he was revealed. Jesus, who

explained not his character to the

proud and skeptical Pharisees and

rulers, declared himself to this

humble person who was ready to

believe on him

E.G.W. (Pamphlet Redemption: or the Teachings of Christ, the Anointed One, pg. 28-29)


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But go and learn what this means: I desire mercyand not sacrifice. For I did not come to call therighteous, but sinners, to repentance (Matthew 9:13)

The Publicans collected the taxes

Rome imposed to the Jews. They

usually requested higher amounts and

kept the excess for themselves. But

Jesus was kind, courteous and friendlyto them.

Matthew was called while he was

working (Mt. 9:9). He left everything

behind and followed Jesus.

Soon after that, he invited some oldworkmates and shared Jesus with

them.

Jesus calls the sinners, and He also

uses them to reach those who are in

the same place they once were.


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Every soul is the object of the loving interest of

Him who gave His life that He might bring men back to

God. This earnest, persevering interest expressed by our

heavenly Father teaches us that the helpless and outcast

are not to be passed by indifferently. They are the Lords

by creation and by redemption. If we were left to

ourselves to judge, we would regard many who are

degraded as hopeless. But the Lord sees the value of the

silver in them. Though they do not look for help, He

regards them as precious. The one who sees beneath the

surface knows how to deal with human minds.

He knows how to bring men to repentance.He knows that if they see themselves as sinners,

they will repent and be converted to the truth.

This is the work we are to engage in

E.G.W. (Welfare Ministry, cp. 31, pg. 246)

1st Quarter 2014 Lesson 7 Jesus and the Social Outcast

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