The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-03-16

ne-aEuins Fasting ..---.............Ns- 49,
A Parable .-....--.....--.......-.... .1-22
Matthew'S Call.-Matthew. or Levi
as he is called. had his home in Caper-
naum. He was a publican or tax col
lcctor. IL is not probable that his con-
version was a sudden one. Ii might
have been, but the fact that both he
and Jesus lived in Capernaum makes it
plausible that they had talked to-
eether before.
Matthew'S Feast.-Not long otter he
became a disciple Matthew gave q
feast. The writer's point out that IL
vas apparently given with the idea OF
giving to the people with whom he
had been associated an opportunity
or meeting Jesus. In this company
were many publicans and sinners. Pub
licans were not popular. As class
they were extortioners who had
bought the privilege OF collecting the
taxes. They turned over the purchase
price of this privilege. and their own
income was fixed only by the amount
they could collect over and above that
required by the Roman government or
the one from whom they had bought
tie privilege. 1t was natural. then.
that the publicans would find their as
sociates among sinners" the word
implying those whom the strict Jews
thought unfit TO associate with. Sin
ners included the outcasts Of society.
Matthew himself was jew. and so
more thoroughly despised by the Jews
as being the instrument of their OPP
pressors.
Eating with Sinners.-The scribes
and pharisees. representing the strict |
Jews, were quick 10 note the visit OF
Jesus 10 the house OF Matthew at the
time he had this party of publicans
and sinners. The idea they had was a
good one. Bad company makes bad
men. and man can usually be known
by the company he keeps. God had
called the lsraeites TO be a peculiar
people. and forbidden them TO inter
marry with idolatrous peoples about
them. But the scribes had not antici-
rated Jesus ready reply 4 physician
TO live up TO his calling must come
INTO contact with the sick that he may
heal disease. The physician OF the soul
must come into contact with sinners
that He may save them.
Regarding Fasting. the re-
igious obscrvances of that day was
hat Of fasting. Jesus and His disciples
lid not fast, and this feast gave
iplendid opportunity for inquiring
lbout it. especially as it is inferred
rom the revised version that this feast
occurred on one of the Jewish fast
lays. IL seems from Matthew's ac-
'ount that il was the disciples of John
Who really propounded the question,
10Th for themselves and the pharisees.
lie pointed out the incongruity Of
asting as mere form. After He was
zone then would they sorrow and fast
\ Parable.-Jesus illustrated His
nsaning by parable. lie said. In ef-
ect. that the imposing on His dis
iples AT this time of the ancient jew
IN custom OF fasting would be like
ewing n piece of new or unshrtin.en
GODS onto an old garment or the put
ing OF new wine into old bottles. OF
curse the fermenting juice would
urst the old skins.
AFTERTHouGHTs
Keeping bad company is as danger
us as contact with infectious disease
Men in sin need the helping hand
nd kindly sympathy of their Chris
an fellows.
DO not attempt to test new doc
ines by old forms.
Religious forms have their place. but
'eir observance is no real test o: char
ter.
Jesus in all His discussions went to
'e very heart Of the matter. III.
'oided disputes, but cnunciatcsl great
inciples.