The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CONF
AEENTs FOR SEPTEMBER Id.
Subject; Jesus Silences the Pharisees
and eadducees, Mark xiii, 1927
Golden Text, Mark XIII, IT,
AEar,,nv.v Wowan s1r

Memory Verse; "a.
i. a deputation comes to Christ
". 13). 49, They. The Phari-
sees as a whole appointed certain
ones to visit Jesus for the purpose of
Inducing Him to say something that
would refute His claims as the Mes
siah or that would give ground for
an accusation against Him before the
government. 'Certain-Ph arisees
Matthew says their disciples Prob
ssHerodians. The Herodians were a
political party rather than a relig-
aous sect. ITO catch Him. Mat
thew says entangie Him A meta
phor drawn from catching wild birds.
1t was their purpose to ensnare Him
in His talk so they could expose His
ignorance OF the Jewish law or relig-
ion, or find grounds for legal pro-
ceedings against Him
II. A question concerning our
duty as citizens Tvs. 14-17l. IA,
Master, we know. etc. This was a
hypocritical compliment They hope
by their treacherous fattery to in
dace Him to commit Himself to some
rebelIious sentiment. Is 1t LAWFUL
etc Caesar was a name common to
all the emporors, derived originally
from Julius Caesar, the proper foun-
der OF Roman imperialism in the
place of the old republic The pres
emit emperor was Tiberius The trib-
ute was poll tax, or levy OF a dena-
RUS upon every person. imposed by
the Roman Government ever since
Judea had become province. The
Jews detested this tax. but its legal
ity was supported by the Herodians
Their question was so framed that
it seemed impossible for Him to es-
cape. IS. Knowing their hypoc-
risy. Jesus, who knows the hearts
of all men, saw that they were mere
fiattering spies, and their question
only a crafty device of hypocrites
Why ternpt? why do you seek to
ensnare Me by question that is
asked, not for Information, but Is
get Me into trouble? Bring Me a
penny" Literally denarius.
16. 4They brought it, BY re-
qniring them To bring Him the coin
He compels them to answer, tacitly,
their own question; for the Jewish
rabbits taught that, wheresoever the
money of any king is current. there
the inhabitants acknowledge that
king for their lord .Whose-im-
age. The image was probably the
likeness of the Roman emperor, I'll
berius Caesar. "Superscription. !"
The name and motto on the coin.
eThey said - Caesar S. Thus ac-
knowledging that they were submit-
ting to Caesars authority.
IT. Render The word render
implies the notion of moral duty to-
ward Caesar quite as much as to-
ward God. "To Caesar Rather,
here, give back to Caesar They ask.
Is it lawful to give? TIe replies, give
back. Since they accepted in the
coinage of Caesar the benefits of his
government, they were bound to give
back recompense in tribute. So
long as the citizen accepts the benefit
of a government, he owes it alleg-
lance and obedience.
III. A question concerning our
relations in the future state (vs 49,
27). 18. "Sadducees. They were
the materialists of their time. No
resurrection They also denied the
immortality OF the soul and the ex-
istence OF angels see Acts 23s8).
They asked Him Their question
was full Of scorn and ridicule They
Intended to show from Moses teach
ing that the doctrine OF the resurrec-
ton was absurd 10. Moses
wrote In Deut. 25:5, 8. Should
take his wife,, etc. The children
were to be reckoned with In the gem
ealogy of the deceased brother.
90. Seven brethren. This was
no doubt an imaginary case. The
Sadducees assume that the resurrec-
ton includes the revival of the rela-
tbOns now existing. 23 I'm the res
direction Which of the seven hus-
bands should have the risen wife
"a. do we not---err." To err
means to wander They do not mere
ly make a mistake, but they wander
in ignorance of the Scriptures. Ye
know not" You err because you do
not know az the Scriptures, which
affirm this doctrine; nor ca the
power of God which is able to effect
the resurrection. and after the resur-
rection to create new ordaf of
God The Bible rests the doctrine
Vi JMG IccuIE6CllOu .Oi1 .ltl6 CA6A ttbc VA
divine power (Acts 26;s Rom. IA;
i Cor. 6:14). 25. When they
shall rise. That is, after they have
risen from the dead-in the future
state. Nor are given Z This has
reference to the Jewish custom by
which the female members OF the
family were given IN marriage by the
father Are as angels, This an
swer strikes at another error Of the
Sadducees-a denial of the existence
of angels.
rs. Book of Moses. The Sadu-
Gees had appealed to Moses as au-
thority and now Jesus turns to the
same source to prove His point In
the bush. (" See Exod 3.5. Is, II
am, etc. Notice that the present
tense is used. He cannot be the God
Of non-entities, inconsistencies If
He is their God they are His people,
and, OF course, must be in existence,
and not out of existence So the
whole Sadducean doctrine broke
down. 81. mot the God Of the
dead Our Lord here uses the word
dead in the sense OF these Saddu-
Gees. with whom He is conyersings to
signify extinct