The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-24
THE: SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY Fl.

Subject: Jesus and the Sabbath, Matt.
xiii, 1-13-Goldsn Text, Matt. Kill, 1T
Memory Verses, 6-s-CommentarJ on
the Days Lesson.
7. Piucking corn on The Sabbath (vss;;
I-s.) l. AT that time" 1t may De well
to note that there IL difference Of opinion
here as to time. Some think that Jesus
had attended the feast Of the Passover
just preceding this, but this is called in
question by the best critics. Through the
corn" To an American reader the, word
corn suggests the idea Of Indian corn or
maize. but the word in the text has refer
ence to grain, such as wheat, rye OF bar
ley. Began to pluck They rubbed it
in their hands luke CID to separate the
grain from the chaff. This was allowable
according to the law iDeut. 2&:25). but
the Pharisees object 10 their doing it on
the Sabbath day The plucking and rub
sidered by the Pharisees to be sufficiently
near to reaping and threshing, to constitute
them secondary violations of the fourth
commandment
@ "Pharisees saw it." They were watch
ing for an opportunity to catch Him. Not
lawful" This prohibition is Pharisaie
rule not found in the Mosaic law 1t was
a principle with the Pharisees to extend
the provisions of the law and make minute
regulations over and bsyord what Moses
commanded. in order to avoid the possibil-
lty OF transgression.
3. Have We not read To vindicate
His disciples Christ referred the Pharisees
to similar case recorded in their own
Scriptures and with which they should
have been familiar. AN hungered." Our
Lord here is not arguing for an excuse to
break the law. but for it's true construc-
ton. The mere, formality of a ritual or
strict letter OF a positive precept Is to
Weld to the demands OF the general good.
The necessities of the disciples justified
them in doing on the Sabbath what was
otherwise unlawful.
4. ''Tbe house of God" The tabcrna-
Gle. did eat" Ahimelech, the priest at
Mob, gave David and his companions FIVE
loaves of the shewbread Il Sam q: III.
The law provided that twelve loaves Of
bread should bepu in two piles upon the
table in the sanctuary, to remain a week
and then to be eaten by the priests only.
David, fleeing from Saul. weary and hun
cry, had eaten this bread contrary to the
letter CT the law. "Shew bread" Liter.
ally bread Of setting forth, that is, bread
was also called continual bread as being
set forth perpetually before the Lord,
hence the Hebrew name, bread of the
presence Twelve ]oaves or cakes were
placed in two piles: on the pure table
every Sabbath: On each pile was put
golden cup Of frankincense. See Ez. 25:
80: Lev q: 6S"
s. "Profane the Sabbath Jesus con-
tinued His argument by showing that even
the law under, certain circumstances pro-
vided for the doing Of that which had been
pynrpcol,rs fcrhid6op in ho low On tho
Sabbath days az well as on other days the
priests were engaged in killing, preparing
and burning the sacrifices and in perform
ing the whole temple service. It was one
of the savings of the rabbins that there
was no Sabbath-keeping in the temple.
Thus. if all work on the Sabbath profaned
the Sabbath, as the Pharsees maintained,
the priests were guilty OF continual profa.
nation. "Blameless." Not merely does
the sacred history relnte exceptional in.
stances of necessity. but the law itself or.
Greater than the temple" Inasmuch as
the one who builded the house is greater
than the house. Christ refers here to His
own authority and power. The law-giver
is greater than the law. Christ was great.
er than the temple because, l. The temple
exists but for Him. 2. IT is but place
Of assembly where men may meet with
Him. g. However splendid it is nothing
except He be there. 4. However lowly
the presence Of the great King makes of it
heavenly palace.
7. IF We had known" A knowledge of
the true meaning of Gods word will pre-
vent rash judgment. Jesus here charges
His critics with ignorance of their own
prophets. Mercy and not sacrifice" See
i Sam IL: %; Hosea s: 8. I desire mercy.
I require mercy rather than sacrifice; it is
a protest by the prophet against the un-
loving, insincere Journalist of his day. 8.
atfirms Himself greater than the statute
law of Moses; nay, He is greater than the
Sabbath law established by God at the
creation. Thus does He maintain Himself
to be the incarnate Legislator of the world.
II. Healing a withered hand on the
Sabbath Tvs 9-l3) lC Hand withered.'
A case of paralysis. Such diseases we're
considered incnrable. They asked Him."
Mark and Luke mention some points
omitted by Matthew. Luke says, The
scribcs and Pharisces watched Him wheth-
Him" Might accuse" They did net
doubt that He was abe to wor k miracle;
they expected it, but they intended TO
make out that His miracles were contrary
to the divine lawsand SO immoral. They
would then have some ground for saying
that He worked miracles by a diabo:ical
power. which charge they did soon begin
to make.
II. "He said" Jesus then proceeded to
answer them by drawing an argument from
their own conduct. IF i: fall This was
a self-eviGent proposition. Deeds OF mercy
and humanity did not infringe on the Sab
bath day Pit" Ciste1ns dug in the
ea;.th for the purpose Of water, into which
animals often fell.
-. "A man better than sheep" Christ
always put an enormous value On man. =
man is of infinitely more consequence ard
value than brute. IT they would snow
an act of kindness to q sheep would They
not show mercy to man.? "Thus they
are taken on thcIr own 2roann and con,
futed on their own mayins and conduct.
rhc truth implied in Christ's question IS
pre-eminentiy scriptural and Christian. IL
is not discovery. bu: ! revelation. No
tice Il series OF points lii respect OF W.!!ch
a man is better tran q sheep: l: His nhy,,
sical form and beauty. ,. He IS endowed
with reason. 3. Hc 10 endowed w2th
moral nature. q. His earacity Of progress.
10. knowing Cod. 6. He is possessed Of
immortality. TT is lawfu!"' This was
selves. Is. Stretch forth" 4 remark.
able command. The man might have iea.
soaed tha. his hand was withered and that
he could not obey, bnt being commanded
it was his duty to make the effort; he Gid
so and was healed. Faith GisregaTds ap-
parent impossi5ilities where there is q
command and promise of God. "Restoredi
Whole" 4 little before this Christ had
claimed divine authority; He now proves
th.:%. re possesses it. These two cases de-
ternire what may be done on the Sab
hath. The ore was case OF necessity, thc
other Of mercy.