The National tribune., 1894-10-25
INTRODUCTION,

| study the paragraph from the hoiy scriptures as
| indicated above.l
INTRODUCTION.
We must study this lesson in two para
| graphs: First, ST. Mark, g 1928; secondly
3:1-6. We have really two subjects: First
Jesus in relation to the Day of Rest Jewish
Sabbath, Christian Sunday; secondly, Jesus
| as a performer of miracles.
/. JESUS AND THE LORDS DAY.
Data
st. Matt, 10: Is; st. Mark, 2: 1928; st.
Luke, 6:1-5.
Explanations.
The lesson was spoken by Christ on Satur-
day, April 10, A. d. 81. Tie Passover proper
had taken place on the 18th. David ate the
shew-bread at Mob, near Gibeah of Benjamin,
about II miles from Jerusalem, in the year
1862 b. c., or 1859 years before Christ re-
ierred to it. More force is added to the fact
of David eating the shew-bread because he
did so without doubt on the Sabbath and in
the tabernacle. Hosea lived in Samaria,
and wrote about 700 years B. G. The table
for the shew-bTead was on the north side Of
the Holy Place.
Christ addressed his remarks to the Phari-
sees. They were the ones who criticised his
conduct. 1t was ingenious in Christ to use
such strong illustrations. David was the
pet Of has nation, and anything he did YVES
a laudable precedent. We notice how
familiar Jesus was with The Old Testament.
We call attention to the following:
l. Christ, accompanied by some of his Dis
ciples, went on certain Sabbath through a
field of barley. There were then no fences.
The roads ran through farms Grains grew
on either side, aud were at ones hand as he
passed along 1t is not clear from the ac-
count that Christ was party to either TAX
ing the com or eating il.
=. Christ and his d sciples were not prob
ably travelling. No complaint was made that
they were violating the law by walking too
far on the Sabbath. The Pharisees would
have been sure to denounce bitterly any such
fracture of The law. Probably Jesus and his
companions were going simply to or from a
synagog.
3. Christ argued from Bible illustrations
in defense of his Disciples charged with
breaking the Sabbath by plucking corn
thereon.
a. Christ and his associates were not SET
tiers or residents of that particular region.
They could not as conveniently arrange i'll
advance for provisions as when at home.
Hence, they were III need Of food and with
b. In similar circumstances David and his
company on a Sabbath entered the taber-
nacle and ate the shew-bread, just removed
from the table in the Holy Place. and VIII; Oh
it was allowable for only the priests to eat
1t is evident Jesus approved OF the act of the
High Priest in permitting David TO take the
shew-bread, and Also justified David and
company in eating t. He adduced the case
of David because all the people believed IN
their most famous King. Kimcbi says:
There Is nothing which may hinder taking
care Of life besides idoIatery, adultery, and
murder" Necessity takes precedence of
sanctity, ceremonial propriety, sacredness of
place, time, or persons.
C. The priests worked on the Sabbath,
Staying and Offering sacri fees. That was by
direction and sanction OF God. He who
ordered the Sabbath has authority to deter
mine any exceptions as to what labor may
be performed thereon. The priests did on
the Sabbath what it would have been pro-
fame for others TO do, or what by the theory
of the Pharisees, if carried to its extreme,
would be regarded as profane. Sacrifices
were Ofie:ed in double proportion on Sab
bath. Tie bread must he hot when put
into the tabernacle, and was therefore baked
by the priests on that day. So onerous were
the lab0rs OF the priests and Levites on the
seventh day that there was saying: There
is 10 Sabbath-keeping in the temple" If
the tempe could Tear sEch a desecration,
then surely he who was greater than the
temple was not trespassing.
Il. If priests were privileged class as TO
employment on the Sabbath in manual
way, then surely the Messiah could use his
discretion. Ii God authorized the priests to
IL,
conformity 10 the law of the Sabbath then
Christ could surely give some margin of
liberty to his Disciples in the case Of neces-
sily.
e. The word sacrifice, VI, stands for
religious ordinance. Mercy must never
give place to ritual Verse ! shows the
Disciples were hungry. Verse 3 shows
David was in real need of food God does not
want q law so stringent that any man must
be Inconvenience by it when emergency or
necessity demands an act apparently counter
10 it.
T. Christ as Master can grant any dispen-
sations he pleases as 10 the Sabbath. 1t is
his command that gives sacredness to the
day, and he is authorized to modify it at
his choice The Jews themselves in theory
or profession admitted hat the authority
of the Messiah would be superior TO any
law.
Christs argument is strong. Jesus was
logical. As teacher, he was clear; as a
preacher, bold as a Master of his Disciples,
an able defender
1. Study the Bible and be able to quote
it.
2. Stop fault-fnding. Be tolerant
>. Let preachers he bold in defending the
truth.
a. Be particular about the exact observ-
ance Of the law, but not mere sticklers
5. Maintain the spirit of the law aud not
so much the letter
6. Kindness, generosity, charity, are more
important than ritual.
7. Keep Sunday holy, and be rather
cheerful than sanctimonious.
II. THE CURE OF THE MoTHER-IN-LAw
OF ST. PETER.
l. Data
There are three accounts of this miracle
st. Matt, 8: IA, Is; st. Mark, 90 81 and
St. Luke, 4 80, 80. 1t is Chrst's fifth spe-
ciic miracle.
g Time
The date Of this miracle may be put JAN
nary, 4. ID. 81. 1t was on the same day rs
that on which Jesus expelled the demons
ba nf ~