Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-02-18
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
February Il.
Subject: Jesus and the Sabbath, Matt. XII,
l.I3-Golden Text, Matt. XIII, H.
Memory Verses, 6.8
mentary on the
Days Lesson.

I. Plucking corn on the Sabbath (vs,;
I-s.) /. "At that time" 1t may oe well
to note that there is 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 or bar
le--. Began to pluck" They rubbed it
in their hands Q.il,e 6:O to separate Inc
grain from the chatf. This was allowable
according to the law (Deut. 2%:25), bus
/ the Pharisees object to their doing it on
the Sabbath day. The p'ucliing and rnh'
bng necessary for this purpose were con
sidered by the Pharisees to be sufficiently
near to reaping and threshlng 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 "A Pharisajr
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 beyond what Moses
commanded in order to avoid the po>s bit.
| ity OF transgrcsslou
g. "Have We not read" To vindicate
| His disciples Christ referred The Pharjsecs
! to a similar case recorded in their own
| Scriptures and with which they should
have been familiar. can hungcred." Our
Lord here is not arguing for an excuse to
break the law, but for its 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 COED.
The necessities of the disciples justified
them in doing on the Sabbath what was
otherwise unlawful.
4. The house OF God The taberna-
y. Al,
| Mob. gave David and his companions five
loaves of the shewbread Il Sam. 81; ~.
! The law provided that twelve loavcS of
bread should be put III two piles upon the
table in the sanctuary. TO remain a week
and then to be eaten ny the priests only.
David, fleeing from Saul. weary and hun.
gry, had eaten this bread contrary 10 the
letter of the law "Shewbread.' Litter.
ally, bread of setting forth, that is, bread
that was set forth in the sanctuary. It
was also called continual bread as being
set forth pcrpetualy before the Lord.
hence the Hebrew name, bread OF the
presence Twelve loaves or cakes were
placed in two piles on the pure table
every Sabbath. On each pile was put
golden cup Of frankincense. See ES. %:
30: Lev. "a: 6.S.'
5. "Profane the Sabbath" Jesus con-
, tnued His argument by showing that even
the law under certain circumstances ,rro-
vidcd for the doing of that which had been
expressly forbidden in the law. On III"
Sabbath days as well rs on other days the
priests were engaged in killing. preparing
and burning tie sacrifices and in perform.
ing the whole temple service. IT was ona
of the savings Of the rabbins that there
was no Sabbath hkeeping in the temple;
Thus if all work on the Sabbath protancd
the Sabbath as the PhariSeeS maintained,
the priests were guilty OF continual profa'
nation. "Blameess." Not merely does
the sacred history relate exceptional in
stances OF necessity. but the law itself or
dains labor on the Sabbath as a duty 6.
Greater than the temple lnasmuch as
the one who builded the house is greater
than the house. Christ refers here to His
own authority and power. The aw,giver
is greater than the law. Christ was great
er than the temple because, J. The tempe
exists but for Him. >. 1t Is but place
of assembly where men may meet with
Him. 3. However splendid 1t Is nothing
except He be there. 4. However lowy
the presence ot the great klng makes OF IL
heavenly palace.
:. If ye 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
| Sam. Is; %; Hosea 6: 8. | desire mercy.
require mercy rather than sacrifice. 1t IS
protest by the prophet against the un-
loving, nsncere Journalist OF his day. s.
Lord, even of the Sabbath" Jesus now
affirms 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 he the incarnate Legislator of the world.
l. IT, Healing withered hand on 'he,
Sabbath Tvs 0.l3). 10. Hand withered.'
A case of paralysis. Such diseases we're
considered incurabe. They asked Him
Mark and Luke mention some points
omitted by Matthew. Luke SAYS, The
er He would heal on the Sabbath day, that
they might find an accusation against
Him" might accuse They did not
doubt that He was able to worI. 4 miracle;
they expected it. but they lntended to
make ont that His miracles were CONTRARY
to the divine law and so immoral. lhcy
would then have some ground Tor SAVING
that He worked miracles by diabo'ical
power. which charge they dii soon begin
to make.
II, He SAID" Jesus then proceeded to
answer them by drawing an arGument from
their own conduct IF it, fall. This was
a self-evident proposition Deeds OF mercy
and humanity did not infringe on the Sab
bath day. "Pit' Cistcrns dug IN the
earth for the purpose OF water, into which
animals often fell.
-. A man better than sheep Christ
always put an enormous Vaue ON man. y
man is OF infinitely more consequence and
value than a brute. If they would snow
an act of kindness to Il sheep would they
not show mercy to a man. Thus they
are taken on their own grouno and con.
futcd on their own maNims and conduct
The truth implied in Chrsts question -
prc-eminently scriptual and Christian. II
Is not a discovery. but a revelation. No
tice a series OF points in respect OF winch
q man is better than II sheep: J. HIS ply.
steal form and beauty. ,. He Is endowed
with reason. 3. He is endowed with
moral nature. 4. His capacity OF prostesS.
5. His spiritual nature and his capacity
for knowing God. 6. Hc is possessed of
immortality. at is lawful" This was
universally allowed by the Jews them
selves. l3. Stretch forth" \ remark
able command. The man might have rea-
soned that his hand was withcred and that
he could not obey, but being commanded
it was his duty TO make the effort; lie did
so and was healed. Faith disregards ap.
parent impossibiIities whore there Is y
command and promise of God. Restored
whole" a little before this Christ had
claimed divine authority; lie now proves
that He possesses it. These two cases do
terminc what may be donc on the Sab
bath. The one was case OF necessity, the
other of mercy.
III. Bank rdnt!r2.
"'hn banking 6rm of Stephan, laii"H.