Preaching to Samaritans

Acts 8:14-25

GOLDEN TEXT: “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”—John 4:35

THE Golden Text of today’s lesson expresses a truth which, in principle, has ever been true. In a world of sin and darkness there is always abundant opportunity for the servants of God to bear witness to the truth. In this respect the fields are ripe unto the harvest today, providing blessed opportunity for service to all into whose hearts God has caused the Gospel to shine.

However, the Bible uses the term “harvest” in a slightly more restricted sense than merely to denote an opportunity for service. As Jesus used the expression in our Golden Text, it is related to a previous work of seed sowing. In the case of Israel this seed sowing work had progressed throughout the entire period of their national existence—nearly nineteen centuries—and the harvest came with the first advent of Christ at the end of the Jewish age.

The “wheat” that was harvested by Jesus and His disciples at that time consisted of those Israelites who were in the proper heart condition to accept the Messianic Kingdom message and to devote their lives to the cause which was represented in it. While, as our Golden Text indicates, the field was indeed ripe for harvesting, yet it yielded comparatively little mature wheat. There was much chaff, and later, as John the Baptist foretold, this was burned with fire in the great time of trouble which came upon Israel in A.D. 70. This completed the Jewish age harvest. See Matthew 3:12.

The “harvest” at that time was limited to the Jewish nation, hence when Jesus sent His disciples out in the ministry He instructed them to confine their efforts to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” They were not to go to the Gentiles, “nor to any city of the Samaritans.” (Matt. 10:5) This restriction was afterwards lifted, however, and they were instructed to expand their ministry beyond Jerusalem and Judea, first to Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47) It was in keeping with these instructions that Peter and John, hearing of the good work starting in Samaria, went there to give it their apostolic guidance and blessing.

Many have wondered why, even for a short time, Jesus should restrict the ministry to the Jewish nation alone. If all who did not then have an opportunity to hear of Him and believe, were doomed to an eternity of torture, it would indeed seem strange that the Gospel should be held back from reaching as many as possible. In the light of the divine plan, however, it is quite understandable. The work of God in the earth thus far has not been to convert all nations, but merely to select from the nations a few to be associated with the Master in the future work of converting and blessing the world.

This “seed” class of joint-heirs with the Messiah would have all been taken from the natural descendants of Abraham had a sufficient number of them accepted Christ when He came to them. It was only because so few natural Israelites did accept Jesus that the call went forth to other nations. But the purpose of selecting this “little flock” (Luke 12:32) is not that all the others might be damned; but rather, it is a provision through which all nations may later be blessed. The millions who died before Christ came, and the millions who have died since without an adequate opportunity to know and accept Him as their Redeemer, will yet have that opportunity. Thus, no injustice has been done to anyone, Jew or Gentile.

Our lesson indicates that a good work had already been started in Samaria before Peter and John arrived. But the believers had not yet entered fully into their privileges—they had not received the Holy Spirit (mistranslated Holy Ghost). The account says that the apostles laid their hands on the believers and as a result they received the Holy Spirit. The record, of necessity, is greatly abbreviated, and we think it reasonable to suppose that in addition to the mere act of laying on their hands, the apostles imparted further instructions to these believers, probably along the lines of full consecration to God, and what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Accepting these advanced thoughts on the Christian life, and indicating their desire to abide by them, then would follow the outward token of their acceptance into the body of Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

The miraculous “gifts” of the Holy Spirit, quite common in the early church, should be distinguished from the “fruit” of the Spirit. The former was bestowed instantly, and enabled those who received them to do miraculous things, such as speaking with tongues, healing the sick, etc. This was necessary in the early church but not now. The fruit of the Spirit, however, must be developed. It is a growth of grace in the heart and life.—Gal. 5:22-25

Simon’s offer to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit with money and Peter’s rebuke, is worthy of note. Too many have thought that the “gift of God” could be “purchased with money.” And many also have made the mistake of supposing they could sell the grace of God for profit. God’s grace is not for sale, and those who attempt to commercialize it are, by so doing, jeopardizing their own standing before God.

QUESTIONS:

In what sense did the term “harvest” describe the work of Jesus and the disciples among the Jewish people at the first advent?

Why did Jesus first forbid His disciples to go to the Samaritans and afterwards lift the ban?

What is the difference between the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

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