The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-31
The Sunday School.
9ressn1 Series tnr 1883.
FIRST QUARTER.
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
april s, 1888.
LESSON Xv.-CHRIST'S LAST WARM
ING.
BY REV. ROBERT t. POLK.
Matthew xiii. 1873.
Tessn,1 Series tnr 1883.
FIRST QUARTER.
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
CONNECTION.
Matthew xiii. 1873. ]

CRAFTINEsS.-The Jewish rulers felt
themselves to have been severely arralgned
by JESUS in the parallels of the Two Sons,
the Wicked Husbandmen, and the Marriage
Feast (See last two Lessons). But they
feared to attempt his arrest on account OF
the manifest popular enthusiasm In his IA
vor. Itswas determined upon consultation
among the Pharisees. the dominant " Ortho-
dox' sect of the Jews, to attack him with
series of questions, concerning which the
masses were interested, so shrewdly put that
his answers might either offend the popular
prejndice,or provoke the Roman authorities,
and at any rate show him to be in no way gu
perior to other rabbis, and 80 " ensnare him
in his TALK xxi. 15). The first question
proposed was concerning the Roman poll
tax, so hateful to the Jews, and from which
the masses of the people expected the Mes
siah to release them: SIS it lawful or not for
us to give tax to Cesar"-the title OF the no
man emperors xxi. 10. The second ques-
ton was concerning the marriage relation
after death, or Gin the resurrection" IN
view of the Hebrew marriage law and GUS
toms: "Whose wife shall she be of the seven"
husbands to whom she had been married in
accordance with the law of Moses xxi. 2S).
The third and last question was concerning
the relative importance of the command
ments: Which is the great commandment
in the law" xxi. 36). JESUS perceiving the
craftiness of his wicked enemies in these
questions, avoided giving direct answer,
but treated the subjects to which they ap-
piled in such lofty and profound way as to
lift them above all petty difficulties of prac-
tical application, astonishing his questloners
and more favorably impressing the multi
tudes who heard, with his wisdom as relig-
ious teacher.
SILENCED.-Having answered all the ques
tions as to command the admiration even of
his enemies, JESUS turned upon them with
questions from their Scriptures which they
had interpreted as applying to the Messiah,
and which involved answers that would IN
mistakably point to himself ss their fulfill
ment, and condemn their opposition to him
xxi. 42-45), Hewas not only the lineal de-
scendent of David, but qualified by the Di-
vine spirit, attested by his wonderful words
and works to prove a greater than David,
and triumphantly rule nobler kingdom, all
of whose enemies would be subdued. Though
he was able to promptly answer all of their
questions, they were unable to answer one of
his concerning the plain meaning of their
best known Messianic Scriptures Psalm OK.
u. As teachers of religion and expounde1s
of the Scriptures they were Inundated be-
fore the people, and completely silenced as
antagonists of the new Rabbi. JESUS tri-
umphed in contest of their own choosing
before the people. From that time the oppo-
sition was silent and treacherous till their
purpose was accomplished. No one of them
could answer his question, and no one dared
to question him any more xxi. 46).
MISUNDERSTANDING silenced his oppo-
nents, JESUS addressed the multitudes who
heard him gladly MARK xii. 81, and :" his
own disciples" concerning the scribes and
Pharisees, who were their authorized relig-
ious teachers. He exhorted them to respect
their Office, which they held as representatives,
of Moses, the great lawgiver and teacher of
their race, but warned them against their
example xxi. 1-3). They do not practice
what they teach az; they are DESTINATIONS
(5-O; the disciples especially must not be
like them; they must be sincere and humble,
following their one Master, and reverencing
their common Father in heaven. These adj
monitions were followed by series of NAL
edictory lamentations, or woes, apparently
addressed to the scribes and Pharisees, from
which our Lesson is selected.