The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-03-15

as he is called, had his home in Caper-
naum. He was a publican or tax col.
lcctor. 1t is not probable that his con.
version was sudden one. 1t might
have been, but the fact that both he
and Jesus lived in Capernaum makes i,
plausible that they had talked to-
gether before. :.
Matthew's Feast.-Not long after he
became disciple Matthew gave a
feast. The writers point out that it
vas apparently given with the idea OF
giving to the people with whom he
had been associated an opportunity
Of 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
the 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 a jew, and so
more thoroughly despiscd by the Jews
as being the instrument of their OPP
pressors.
Eating with Sinners.-The scribes
and pharisees. representing the strict
Jews, were quick to note the visit of
Jesus to the house of Matthew at the
time he had This party of publicans
and sinners. The idea they had was
good one. Bad company makes bad
men, and man can usually be known
by the company he keeps. God had
called the Israeltes to be a peculiar
people, and forbidden them to inter.
marry with idolatrous peoples about
them. But the scribes had not antici-
pated Jesus ready reply. A 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.-Among the re-
ligious observances of that day was
that of fasting. Jesus and His disciples
did not fast, and this feast gave a.
splendid opportunity for inquiring
about it, especially as it is inferred
from the revised version that this feas.
occurred on one of the Jewish fast
days. 1t seems from Matthew's ac-
count that it was the disciples of John
who really propounded the question.
both for themselves and the pharisees.
He pointed out the incongruity of
fasting as a mere form. After He was
gone then would they sorrow and fast.
A Parable.-Jesus illustrated His
meaning by parable. He said. in eff.
feet. that the imposing on His dis
ciples at this time of the ancient jew
ish custom of fasting would be like
sewing a piece of new or unshrunken
goods onto an old garment or the put
ting of new wine into old bottles. OF
course the fermenting juice would |
burst the old skins.
AFTERTHOUGHTS.
Keeping bad company is as danger
Gus as contact with infectious disease.
Men in sin need the helping hand
and kindly sympathy of their Chris
tian fellows.
Do not attempt to test new doc
trines by old forms.
Religious forms have their place. but
heir observance is no real test of char
acter.
Jesus in all His discussions went to
the very heart of the matter. He
lvoided disputes, but enunciated great