Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-07
for SUNDAY Scboob.
STAR LESSON FOR APRIL 8.
BY Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DE-
Jesus and the sabbath" Matt. xil:1-14
SECRETARY OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RELIGIOUS


INTRODUCTION. All harmonlsts
agree that the events of today's lesson
occurred prior to the delivery of the SER
mon on the mount, which We studied
March e. II and April 1. The record Is
made by two other evangeists mark II %
Is and Luke vi:1-5). with somewhat greater
brevity. but with substantial agreement.
Matthew alone mentions the reference
which Jesus made oversees go to himself
and to the prophets valuable as helping
to sustain the Messlanlc claim, which it
was the chief purpose of the first gospel
to set forth. In studying our lesson we
must remember that Jesus during Hts
earthly ministry. was a reformer lie
FOUND the Jewish nation attached to GUS
TOMS but destitute of vital goodness The
people conformed to legal requirements and
noasted of that conformity. seemingly
thinking that thereby they made themselves
religious Quke xvi:l2), and they even con-
strued the letter OF the law to increase Its
severity. In order to prepare for the sp,r-
itual elevation of the people Jesus was
ooiged to oppose this legal narrowness
and oigotry. Sabbath observance was one
OF the Items requiring instruction
TRANSFORMATIONS and His disciples
were on journey. returning to Capernaum
after successful ministry In the neigh
oorlns villages. They passed through
"iot we hOuto cali q Wneatfei0-
thelr corn was not like our mafse This
Walk was allowable up to the distance or
I,OOo yards-a Sabbath days Journey tActs
,iZl. The disciples became hungry. There
- no evidence that Jesus felt any need
for food. He may have been slInernatu
rally sustained, or he may have suppressed
any discomfort experienced It is certain
ma. ne had power over bodily conditions
SMatt- iV:2). Hence, while he passed on
his way the disciples plucked the rIpened
gram. rubbed 1t In their hands, blew away
the chan and ate tverse y. This was no
srespass, put a liberty allowed to travellers
u.oer che law Deut. xiii :25) A very
wise and gracious provision it was In that
country with It's peculiar modes of travel
aha Its system Of public inns. The dis
nra,,T, Sslash'iy tet that there was i'm
propriety In their conduct-probably they
haa zone the same thing many times
fiI1CISM--Instantly the PharIsees
SatheFed about our Lord. They had fol-
lowed Him wherever he went keening a
constant espionage upon his ections 10
the synagogues. in the feasts. In the cities
at the seashore, and in the fields tbev
watched, reproached, tempted and insulted
Him. On the slightest pretext thev eonebt
TO arrafgn Him at the bar of public oninTon
ana TO destroy his growing influence with
the masses. Now they think thew have
Nshteo upon heinous offense and thew
openly declare that the disciples had 6ona
what was unlawful. Verse ~ Their
charge rested upon the teachings of the
Rapois, who had Interpreted the law of
; Moses ana perverted and destroyed It, say
ing that to pluck corn was reapine and n
ruo IL was thrashing These derivatives
rues, as they Were termed, were held in
ngher esteem than the original word of
human standards for the government of
men ana had condemned the innocent. a
FORM OF criticism not altogether unknown
IN the church of our time
PRECEDENT-The renIv Of Tep,s
was in two parts. He first appealed from
the teachings of the Jewish doctors, on
which the Pharisees relied, to the Scrip
lures lures Have ye not read?" He inquired.
Verse ~. What gentle yet stringing
rebuke! And then he. quotes from the hooi5
what may be considered two precedents. as
warrants for the acts of the Apostles
David under stress Of hunger q Sam
xxi;o), had eaten the shew-bread which
was wholly devoted to the priests. (F,x
xxx :32). And the priests We're authorized
by law to do on the Sabbath (verse 81 what
belongs really to other DAYS. and were
blameless, because they were engaged In
Gods service Numbers xviii % These
two citations from the word of God showed
that the ideas of the Pharisees were false
on the subject OF sanctity Will Won hIanoa
these fishermen disciples for taking a little
food when they are hungry, with such IL
Illustrations of larger liberty practiced by
the great king and by the very ministers of
the Jewish church? This was a difficult
question for the critics to answer
AUTHORITATIVE first reply was
supported by a second, If possible more
torQeful. " erseS 6-S). Jesus was not will
ing; to leave this subject under the Iimita-
tions of the old covenant as He would
have done had he paused with the fifth
verse. He Immediately passed over to the
new covenant and asserts His superiority
and authority. He declared Himself to be
greater than the temple, which the Jews
regarded with peculiar reverence. Matt
xxvii:40). He affirmed that the Pharisees
We're ignorant of the great principles of
mercy, which he came TO publish, and
which were of infinitely greater moment
than any sacrifice or ordinance implying
that, If necessary, the old customs might
yield to give place to the larger and better
aspects of spirituality, containing also a
reproof for the Journalism and legalism of
that day which had obscured and dwarfed
its pety. (Hosea vi6). These statements
prepared for a reference to Himself. AS
Lord of the Sabbath He had come to intro
duce it's true observance, to correct the
false notions and restore to II its rightful
place His authority over the day was
complete. He would guard 1t and regulate
It's observance, and no one need offer any
suggestions in its behalf If he were
pleased so TO do He might set aside the
seventh day and appoint another.
ENMITY.-The Pharisees were 81
fenced because there was nothing further
for them to say, but their opposition was
increased They saw plainly that the Mas
ter was superior to them-they hated Him
for that reason. and determined to find some
mode of accusing Him to the authorities
The occasion was soon presented. The
whole company moved on, entered Caper-