Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28

INTRODUCTORY act of our
Lord in accepting an invitation to Sab
bath dinner at the home of an influential
Pharisee has been considered by some as
opposed to the strict observance of the day.
But 1t should be remembered that He was
travelling, that He needed refreshment. that
He did not go on purely social grounds.
that He used the occasion to do good
Jesus entered Into the life of His time all
ways for one purpose-He sought to show
what was wrong. to instruct In the way OF
righteousness. The narrative of His deeds
presents Christianity in the concrete, which
Is the most impressive and instructive
form, vastly better than any abstract rea-
soning upon general principles. Our pas
sage is In two parts. In the first vessel l-o3
He encounters the spirit OF legalism which
stood In the way of His purpose to help the
unfortunate. In the second part oversees
IT'D He beholds an unseemly display of
pride which prevented the host from max
ing proper recognition of worth, and this
sHe rebukes and then offers wholesome ad
vice.
WATCHED oversees 1-2)-As Jesus en-
tered the house He saw a man afflicted
with dropsy 1t has been thought that this
man was located In a conspicuous place by
friends who knew the Masters love and
power, displayed on so many similar occsi-
slons The very sight of physical suffer
ing always moved Him to compassion
tMatthtsw. xx:34). and He was therefore
constantly sought by the AFFLICTED. 1t has
been thought also that certain enemies of
Jesus had effected this arrangement as a
snare. They had seen Him perform sew
eral acts which were contrary to the law
as they interpreted It. and were anxious to
arrest and arraign Him on that account be-
fore the proper tribunal when suitable OPP
portunity was presented. But whether they
set up the case with malicious purpose or
seized this as an oppertune moment. they
stood near watching for the outcome. VIII
he heal and so break the Sabbath and
trample the law of Moses under foot? CEx-
odus, xxi, 1O). Or will He go contrary to
the custom of His ministry and pass by
the unfortunate? So they queried.
HEALED oversees 3-4).-Jesus was not
intimidated by the searching, scowling
gaze fastened upon Him. He was able to
read the thoughts of His enemies as ex-
pressed IN their faces or unexpressed in
their wicked hearts. and He let them know
that He was aware of their attitude to-
ward Him by asking them the question
which probably more than any other dis
tinguished Him from them: rs 1t lawful to
heal on the Sabbath day?,4 That question
had been raised before (Matthew, xii:1W
IL sounded the depths of human thinking
IN interpretations of the moral law
(Matthew, xfi:12) and made mans welfare
more important than mere conformity TO
the letter OF command. 1t is significant
that they did not answer-they dared
HSltHeT OF Qeny. w nile they stood
In silence Jesus took the unfortunate man
probably by the hand and wrought the
cure and sent him away. The mode of the
miracle, whether by word or touch, is not
mentioned and we need not speculate. as it
Is a matter of no concern.
DEFENDED oversees 5-6).-Tbere were
several ways by which Jesus might have
defended His act in healing on the Sab
bath. He might have shown that because
of His nature dignity and Office as di-
vine being, the Savior of men, He had un-
doubted authority 30 do according to His
within fact, that His will was the law of
the new dispensation, doctrine which
would come out later on Or He might
have interpreted the law of Moses showing
that it was no hard and fast regulation
and that was probably His intention when
he asked the question prior to the miracle
He resorted to an entirely different meth
cd, appealing to another statute EXODUS
xxiii5), in the light of which the Sabbath
law must be understood. deuteronomy
xxif:D. He had previously used the same
quotation with good effect. The special
point in the reference was that it related
to practice then common. Every man
would help his beast out of pit. How
much more proper was 1t to deliver man
from disease? Every critic was silent and
Jesus had gained another victory for the
cause of truth.
EXALTED fverse 7).-Ths episode
ended, the guests were seated at the table
An opportunity was then presented for
Jesus to take the place of critic and intro
duce another and more important topic
He observed that those present sought the
places mot the rooms, as stated in the
text that We're considered most honorable
the seats nearest the host. None of them
waited to learn the purpose of the host;
none inquired whether in his estimation
some of the invited persons were to be par
ticularly recognized. II Is possible that
Jesus was the one of special distinction
and that Tire feast was largely prepared on
His account. But He stood aside and saw
the men with much disrespect crowd by
Him and seek their positions, while He
was allowed to find the most obscure spot.
1t time of pride, self-seeking and I'M
seemly striving for short-lived honor,
sadly out OF harmony with the proprieties
of the occasion, a great breach of good
manners. somewhat similar scene was
witnessed at the last supper duke. xxi pa,
the disciples being the actors.
REBUKED oversees S-9).-It was not
to be expected that 1.-The meek and lowly''
Jesus (Matthew xi:2S) would allow such
circumstance to pass without comment.
He needed to say nothing because of any
personal slight sustained, for He sought no
honor from men John, y:4I. But He
could not permit such action and DISPOSE
ton in His presence without expressing