The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-28
DAILY HOME READINGS.


W.-Exod. xiii. 1O-12 S-Iuke vi Ill
S.-Matt. ii. 2S-2S.
Two institutions were created in Paradise before
sin came into the world-the Sabbath and
riage. They rest upon the nature which God gave
to man, and the gifts of his wisdom and goodness,
and are not temporary but permanent and unver-
sal. When the law given Sinai the sum-
mary of Coos Will for the moral well-being and
happiness of mankind the law of the Sabbath
distinctly affirmed abiding before and
truly abiding as all the other commandments, Re
member the Sabbath Day"
1t is an important question with us how did the
Lord Jesus regard the Sabbath Day? Our lesson,
which in substance is found in three gospels Mat
thew, Mark and Luke tells of two occasions when
our Lord was challenged on the observance of the
Sabbath, and reports what he said and did
On one Sabbath day Jesus passed through "the
corn" the cornfelds," not maize but wheat.
His disciples were hungered, and began to pluck
the ears of corn and to eat They were poor
men, living i'm the utmost simplicity. Already
they were learning that the kingdom which Christ
came to establish not outward but inward
mot meat and drink, but righteousness and peace
and joy in the Holy Ghost"
At once the Pharisees We're ready with o COM
plant Behold thy disciples do that which is not
lawful to do upon the Sabbath Day" 1t seene,.
to be violation of the letter of the Fourth Conn
mandment, which forbade work on the Sabbath.
But Jesus told them of the higher and more COM
plete law of the Sabbath, view of the teaching of
the Bible as a whole against view built upon
isolated passages. Have you not read what David
did?' 1t not lawful to eat the temple shew
bread. Yet mercy and necessity were a superior
law. David did right in Gods sight when in
time of extreme need he took the shew-bread to
support the life of himself and those that were
with him. Another example was found in the case
of the work done the Sabbath by the priests in
the temple. The demands of the Temple service
were superior to the general law. Then Lord
affrms that in this place is greater than the
temple" The law of the Sabbath must give way
before the necessities of the service of Christ.
Moreover mercy is more than any ordinance. God
had said, Il will have mercy and not sacrifice"
Hosea vi. g. and Micah vi. 6-S Demands of cere-
mony must give way before the demands of mercy
and compassion The argument of Jesus reaches
a climax. For the Son of man is Lord even of the
Sabbath Day" The Sabbath was made for man
and therefore the Son of man is Lord the Sab
bath He affirms his supreme authority over the
law. He has now abrogated the seventh day Sab
bath "a shadow of good things to come" He has
by His resurrection the first day made that the
Christian Sabbath. Those who are under that
law may keep the seventh day, but those who ac-
knowledge Christ as the Lord under grace and
keep the first day. Rev. i. 10. Acts Xxx T.
The acts of mercy in the synagogue. VS.. 1O-14
There was man which had his hand wthered."
They asked him, rs IT lawful to heal on the Sab
bath day?' Some of the Pharisees sought for a
ground Of accusation. 1t not honest candid
question. but it received honest direct answer
ut is lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day" He
cited he case of sheep fallen into a pit on the
Sabbath. Among the Jews it was no violation to
rescue the sheep. But a man is surely better than
a sheep. Mercy is greater than any law Of cere-
mony. God will have mercy and not sacrifice"
At once our Lord turned to the afflicted man. and
said, stretch forth thine handl" He did not
touch It, He asked the trust and obedience Of
this man, and the man believing him. obeyed Tt
seemed an mpossibnty But he trusted the i'm
of he a.
forth, and 1T was restored whole the other" The
healing was immediate and complete It was the
Lord Of the Sabbath giving for all ages an Illus