The National tribune., 1894-10-11
INTRODUCTION.

lone reading these notes SnOulu Hf56 chreiuliy
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l y
INTRODUCTION.
We have two themes for study:
a. Christ as Teacher.
b. Christ as Niracle-worker.
/. Expulsion of a demon.
g Cure of fever.
Innocence faces and opposes evil. Purity
wars against uncleanness. Holiness battles
with demonianism. Goodness Is whole
ness. Sin is fever. Christ becomes physi-
clan and heals diseases.
Ii is possible there is some relation be-
tween the preaching and the miracles. The
miracles were of a credential order. Read
John, 3:2; Acts, 30. CT. John, IA: 10, IL.
Often it is easier to speak than to do--to
preach than to snstantiate the preachings
by wonderful works. We may hold that
Christ effected miracles not only from
mercy, but also from wish to verify his
words.
/. CHRIST AS TEACHER.
Data.
st. Matt, 7 :28, 90; st. Mark, :21, % i;
st. Luke, A 81 land taught them on the
Sabbath days., 81.
Caperndum.
Capernaum clay at the nucleus of roads
to Tyre and Sidon, to Damascus, to Sep
phoris (the capital Of Galilee), and to Jeru-
SALEM and was within easy reach of Perea
and Iturea. 1t was, in fact, on the sosy OF
the sea (Is., o.: THE great caravan road
which led to the Mediterranean. 1t was
hence peculiarly fitted to be the center of
far-reachng ministry of which even Gen
tiles would hear"
When the people of Nazareth refused to
hear him, and went so far as to try to kill
him, Christ abandoned that city, and there
after made Capernaum his headquarters.
The Cambridge Bible makes an important
statement, showing Christ may not have been
governed only by his iil-treatment at Naza-
reth in choosing Capernaum, but also by
fitness in things. In religious not less
than secular warfare, much depends on the
possessing OF influential and commanding
centers few acres of Gibraltar are, for
military ends, worth more than all CASTLE.
Possessing Paris the Prussians had in their
grasp all Of France. Christianity established
IN Toxic has in prospect all OF Japan.
Capernaum, though its exact site may be in
some doubt, was certainly the chief Of SIX
cities close by the Sea Of Galilee 1t was
OH the great Damascus highway, and cara
vans between that emporium and the south
and west passed its streets 1t had both
natural and artificial connections with The
coast of the Mediterranean. For mis-
sionary it was the key OF Galiee. Though
Jesus preached much IN a Galilee circuit he
for the time made Capernaum base"
We see the persistency Of Christ. He was
not easily discouraged. Abused at Naza-
reth, away he goes, losing no time, SEEM
ingIy gaining in zeal, to Capernaum. Mt,
4 10 Lu., 4 a: is, 1881.
Syhdgog;
Jameson and Co. say These were houses
of local worship. 1t cannot be proved that
they existed before the Baby Ionish cap
tivIty; but as they began to he erected
sson after, probably the idea was suggested
by the religious inconvenience 10 which the
e4ptiges had been subjected. In our Loid's
time the rule was to have one wherever 10
learned men or protested students Of the law
resided and they extended TO Syria, Asia
Minor, Greece, and most places OF the dis
persion. The larger towns had several, and
III Jerusalem the number appI cached 500"
Read Mt, 4:23; 9:35; Nix, 1:39; Lu.,
d: 1928 Al; John, 1920.
Christ as Teacher.
We notice Jesus as teacher. We find in
ST. Luke, 4 16, that it was his custom 10 go
TO synagog on Sabbaths. So, when at
Capernaum, he went into the synagog. st.
Mark gives the fullest account We find it
was Sabbath day. The pronoun they"
in St. Mark, / 81. seems 10 mean Jesus,
Sts Peter and Andrew, James and John.
The four Disciples probably accompanied
Christ into the synagog. First of ALL Jesus
or some one else probably read the scriptural
lesson for the day, standing. ST. Luke,
4:l6. Christ made his remarks, which
were probably suggested by the lesson of
the day. They were doubtless in the form
OF comments with application. What he
sad was effective, just as his words elected
wonder at Nazareth. At Capernaum hear
ers were astonIshed at his doctrine and at
his impressive, authoritative style of in
structing. They noticed he spoke as though
full Of his subject and conscious Of its truth
and importance. And his application of
truth was not roundabout, but direct, per-
soual, suitable, and therefore powerful.
Time and Place.
The words we study are found in St. Mat
thew's account at the close of the Sermon on
the Mount. St. Mark puts them in the
synagog at Capernaum. ST. Luke's account
puts them after the report of Cbrists escape
from Nazareth into Capernaum. Similar
words were probably many times uttered
after Christ spoke. They indicate the gen
eral impression which Christ's ching
made on hearers. So the words were used
at different times and places. By st. Mat
thew's report they were uttered on Mt.
Beatitudes; by the account of SITS. Mark
and Luke they were spoken in a synagog at
Cxpernaum.
The statement Of the verses is n historical
| report, made, seemingly, by the evangelists
when writing up the history.
Definitions.
l. Astonished. Driven from their Gus
| tomary state OF mind by something new and
strange" Mt, Is: 81; Nix, Ga; II :18;
Lu., 4: SO. The word astonished can be
used of the effect produced through hearing
But amazed" Mark, 1:27; Lu., 4 So,
refers to the feeling one who sees something
wonderful. There is often the idea of adj
| miration in the word amazement.
Did the establishments result from Christ's
manner or matter? Notice the word doc
trine (matter taught Read also V. 81 and
Lu., A: SO. The Revised Version has teach
ing" The word teaching, involves both the
matter taught and the manner. Probably
both astonished the people. 1t seems not
only his doctrine but his authoritative man.
ner w. 22) impressed them.
2. Authority. 1t was self-derived author
| ity. He acted without any external agent.