The Yale expositor., 1906-04-06

the best manuscripts and late edi-
ors."-Cook. Christ was greater than
the temple because he was the Re-
deemer to whom all the temple rites
pointed, and the God in whose honor
the temple was reared. If the priests
could blamelessly work for the temple
on the Sabbath, much more could his
disciples blamelessly work in his in
terests.
:. If We had known what this mean
eth Ii they had understood not
merely the letter of Scripture but it's
spirit Il VIII have mercy. and not
sacrifice" Quoting Hos. 6: g. the
thought of which is repeated in many
other passages. "Ye would not have
condemned" (the Greek verb signifies
formal and official condemnation the
guiltless, The same word as blame
less ". 81. The disciples were
"doubly guitless: as David was
through imperious hunger as the
priests were when subordinating Sab
bath, to temple, requirements" Elk
positor's Greek Testament.
verse is preceded. in Mark e.: 27), by
the connecting link: The sabbath
was made for man. and not man for
the sabbath" This great saying is the
central principle of Sabbath-observ-
ance. The Sabbath is not made to an
noy mankind, TO confine men, TO i'm
poverish them, but TO enrich and bless
1, &c.. ,.l.f- ~
goes on, the Son of man is Lord even
of the sabbath day" The phrase, the
Son OF man." pictures the divine
Christ as representative man, the per-
feet, ideal man, gathering up in his
being all the possibilities and just
claims Of mankind. Therefore he was
the Lord OF the Sabbath. its owner.
In full sympathy both with God and
man, he could best use the Sabbath,
and show others how to use it.
". Christ Answers the Question
with a Practical Illustration.-Vs 9-14.
Christ's conclusion is that whatever
deed is really helpful TO man is proper
for the Sabbath, and is in perfect har-
mony with Gods design of the day.
He illustrated this truth with a mira
Gle of healing. Seven of Christ's re-
corded miracles were performed on
the Sabbath.
9. HE went into their synagogue"
According to his custom of regular
church-going. CLuke 4: 16) Luke
adds that he went to preach, and that
it was on another Sabbath,-"whether
the Sabbath Immediately following
that on which he walked through the
corn-field is not said, though it is prob
able. Andrews.
10. "And, behold" "A note of ex-
clamation to draw attention to the
fact '-Spurgeon. "A man which had
his hand withered." Luke, the physi-
clan, notes that il was his right hand.
''Withered" in the Greek indicates by
its form that the whitening was not
congenital, but the result of accident
or disease. Vincent. And they
asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal
on the sabbath days." THE Mosaic
law did not forbid works of healing,
but the rabbinical tradition and inter
pretations did. The followers of
Shammai, at that epoch the most pow
erful of the Pharisaic schools, held it
a violation of the law to tend the sick.
or even to console them, on the Sab
bath. Bible. THAT they
might accuse him." Probably before
the judgment the local tribunal
American Commentary.
But he knew their thoughts" says
Luke, and babe the cripple rise in the
midst of the assembly. Then he asked
the fundamental question, rs it law
full on the sabbath to do good, or to do
harm? to save life (as am planning
to do), or to destroy it Gas you, in
your murderous designs against me,
are planning TO do)?" The Pharisees
did permit healing to save life. pro-
vided the endangered person was a
Jew.
IL. They made no reply.-for what
reply could they make? Therefore he
drove the truth home by an illustra.
ton. What man shall there be among
you?" Emphasizing man. who of
you not dead to the feelings of a man?
Humanity was what was lacking in
the Pharisaic character. "-Expositor
Greek Testament. Lift 1t out" In
later times the rabbis permitted the
owner only to throw in food to the
beast, and planks for II to lie on; and
If by means of the planks it climbed
out, it would be all right!
10. How much then is a man bet
ter than Sheep" THAT is the ques-
ton which Christian civilization has
not even yet adequately answered" -
Prof. Bruce.
IS. Then, as they still held their
peace, Jesus swept about him a look
of sorrow and indignation MARK,
and commanded the cripple. Stretch
forth thine hand" "The arm was not
withered" Vincent And he
stretched It forth" "The healing and
the outstretching may be conceived Of
as contemporaneous." - Expositor's
Greek Testament. and 1t was re-
stored whole"
III.