Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-30
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.

Sept, Hus Love 10 NIOu anu NJ all MARX S-4
In the last lesson the Sldducees were
silenced, Christ declaring positively that
they knew neither the scriptures nor the
power of Go1. Before he had put the
Pha rsees to confusion, and sent them
away from all public attempts to entrap
him into secret plottings for his ruin,
Matk,, writes that the Pharsees were
gathered together" Now after each of
these classes, or factions, have been dis
com6ted another party, the Scribes, ap-
proach him. Generally they were asso-
ciated with the Pharisees, but at this time
they came singly, or perhaps, an individual
scribe being present asked the question
here given of his own motion. Matthew
speaks of this man as lawyer, but the
two offices might be easily nnited. The
Scribe, or writer, might easily unite with
that work the other office of expounding
the law. 1t does not appear that this
Scribe had any malicious design in his
approach to the Master. His question may
not have been very pertinent, or in itself
of much particular Importance, but his
manner ofputting the question, as we'll as
the statement that he perceived that in
other things Christ had answered we'll or
wisely, point him out as candid, fair
minded inquirer after truth. His question
has been understood to mean "what part
of the law, ritual or moral, relating to
God or man, is of the greatest import
ance'? Mark, makes him ask what is the
"first" commandment. Matthew says
"great" commandment. The idea is the
same in each. Christ has no rebuke for
such a question. He proceeds to give
answer in the most positive, terse and
satisfactory manner. His answer is from
the book of the law, the scripture vener-
ated in form, at least by every Jew. Tho
passage is from Deut, 6: 4, and the second
commandment, so called, is from Lev.
| 1918. The introduction to the first COM
mandment to notice, Hear, o Israel, the
Lord our God is ono Lord" When we
remember that this commandment was
given when men worshipped a multitude
of Gods We see the Importance of inserting
this declaration. Then, too, as the COM
mandment is one demanding supreme
love, how could it be kept if there were
several Gods. Tne law Of love to God
would TO meaningless if it were allowed
that there was more than one God. The
commandment to give our supreme, all
embracing love to God, Christ declares to
be first and greatest But he adds another,
which he says is like unto it, so near in
Importance that the two must not pc sepa-
rated namely. "Thou shalt love thy neigh
bor as thysclf, The question was only rs
to which is first, but by uniting the two in
his answer Christ forever settled th, mat :
ter; clearly teaching that he who would
love God must love his brother also. and
that it is impossible to love Alright the
Creator unless we love the creature, made
in his image. The Scribe can find no fault
with the answer, he assents to what Christ
has said in the fullest manner, and de.
clares his conviction that to keep these
two commandments is Of vastly greater
Importance than all the observances Of
the ceremonial law.
Jesus approved the position of this
Scribe, saw with pleasure his correct view
of this I'LL important matter, and gave
utterance to very significant expression,
"Thou art not far from the kingdom of
God" How many have come to just the
position this Scribe held and yet forever
remained outside the kingdom The
apprehension of divine truth may be
cloar and comprehensive. the sense of its
importance deep and fixed but until we
yield ourselves to do the things command
ed, we can never enter into the kingdom
of God. Not far from this kingdom may
yet be so far as that we can never know
its joys, or enter into the possession of its
riches. From the 35th verso onward we
have some scraps of longer discourse
which Christ delivered in the temple
Yet we are not to consider these fragments
given US as altogether disconnected or
foreign to the great question which then
pressed upon the minds Of the people
Christ asked the question to draw the
minds of the people more fully to the
real meaning of his mission, and to the
prophetic declarations pointing to himself
as the Messiah of promise. He wished to
bring to their minds the great fact, clearly
foretold, that Christ, though of the lineage
of David, was yet far greater than David,
and worthy to be called his Lord. He
reminds them that David speaking of
Christ called him Lord, and asks how that
could be, if he was his son. Tho most
learned of his hearers had no answer to
his question; hence all are silent; and the
common people, who had no chagrin at
seeing the Scribes and rulors unable TO
answer, heard him gladly. They reioicod
doubtless to find that Christ was fully
equal 10 their leaders in the adroitness and
force of his questions. Next Mark gives
us fragment of the discourse Jesus utter
cd against the pride and ostentation which
prevailed among the Scribes. Matthew
23d shows us that the Pharisees were also
included in the Reproductions here given,
and also that the discourse was much
longer than what Mark gives. The things
charged against these leaders in tho jew
ish church were probably very familiar to
those who listened to Jesus, and the very
fact of their known truthfulness gave
them their keenest edge against the enc
mics Of Christ.