The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-03
y VIC T~YNtSNVVttEI 50*s
EessotI Series ton 1883.
FIRST QUARTER.
STUDIES in THE NEW TESTAMENT.
March IL, 1883.
LESSON X.-CHRIST ENTERING JE-
RUSALEM.
By REV. ROBERT t. POLK.
rMatthaw xxi. 1-16.1
March III, 1883.
By REV. ROBERT T. POLK.
Matthew xxi. 1-16.]
INTRODUCTORY.

THE INTERVENING HISTORY.-On his
way to Jerusalem to attend the Passover,
after the incidents described in the last Les
son, JESUS passed through Jericho, near
where he restored sight to two blind beggars
who sat by the roadside Xxx. 20 34), and
where he abode, probably during the Sab
bath, in the home of Zaccheus, chief tax
collector duke xix. Id. A days journey
would bring him to Jerusalem, or to Betha-
ny, fifteen miles distant, where he appears to
have spent the night preceding the day on
Lesson John xii. i. 12). It was confidently
expected that JESUS would attend the nation
al festival of his countrymen, and the rulers
of the Jews had planned his immediate arrest
when he should appear in the capital city of
their nation John XII $3.50.
THE TIME OF THE EvENT.-John de-
clares that JESUS went to Bethany six days
before the Passover" which. according to
the usual Scriptural method of reckoning
time, would be on Sunday, the Passover oc-
curing on Friday, or Thursday evening
after SUNSET, when Friday began, according
to Jewish usage. By this reckoning the event
of the Lesson occurred on Monday unless
the described entrance of Jerusalem occurred
on the same day of the arrival at Bethany,
the supper in the house of Simon the leper
(xxvi. 6; Mark xiv. 8; John xii. p occurring
later, as some think, according to the appa-
rent chronology of Matthew and Mark.
Some chronologists, reckoning according to
the common modern method, make the ar
rival of JESUS at Bethany, six days before
the Passover" to have occurred on Friday,
and the professional entrance of Jerusalem
on Sunday, having spent the Jewish Sabbath
in Bethany, on the evening of which the sup
per was given. This is the commonly &C.
cepted chronology of the event of the Les
son. The celebration of Palm Sunday is au-
thorizsd by this chrono logy. But scholars
differ, and an accurate chronology of the
events of Passion Week based on a harmony
of the Gospels, is exceedingly difficult, if not
indeed impossible. The following dates of
the cruci6xion are favored by distinguished
scholars: March IS, 20, the date anciently
adopted and favored by Strong and other
modern scholars; April 3, 80, the date COM
monty adopted by modern writer's; April IA,
30, the date in "a Chronology of JESUS"
contained in The Netv Covenant, by DR.. Han
son; April 8, SO, and date even two years
later appear to be favored by DR.. Keim and
others. These dates are all obtained by cal
culations based upon different methods of
harmonizing the Gospels and applying the
natural and historical facts. The first date
is obtained by following strictly the astro-
nomical elements of the problem; the second
and popularity accepted date is apparently
obtained by following the Synoptics without
any reference to the fourth Gospel; the later
dates are obtained by observing less strictly
the Scriptural elements, and relying more
upon the facts of secular history. But the
facts of JESUS life and ministry are more
important than the dates when they trans
pired, and some of these we may certainly
know