Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-09-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 16.
Subject: Jesus Silences the Pharisees
and Sadducees, Mark xiii, 1927
Golden Text, Mark xiii, IL.

onu S0OUuCeeS, NlaFk Ai'' Ac.~s
Golden Text, Mark xiii, IT..
Memory Verse, 20.
I. A deputation comes to Christ
". 49,. 10. They" The Phari-
sees as a whole appointed certain
; ones to visit Jesus for the purpose or
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-PhariSees
Matthew says "their disciples. Prob
ably young and Jealous scholars.
"Herodians" The Herodians were
political party rather than a relEg-
ious sect. ITO catch Him." Mat
thew says "entangle Him." A meta
phor drawn from catching wild birds
1t was their purpose to ensnare Elm
in His talk so they could expose atis
ignorance of the Jewish law or rel1g-
ion, or find grounds for legal pro-
ceedings against Him.
II. A question concerning our
duty as citizens Tvs. laid. IA.
Master, we know" etc. This was
hypocritical compliment. They hope
by their treacherous flattery to in
duce Him to commit Himself to some
rebelliOus sentiment. us 1t lawful2'
etc. Caesar was 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
ent emperor was Tiberus. 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 Ierodians.
Their question was so framed that
1t 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
fattering spies, and their question:
only a crafty device of hypocrites"
why Tempt" Why do you seek to
ensnare Me by question that is
get Me into trouble? Bring Me a.
penny" Literally, denarius.
16. "They brought it," BY re-
curing them to bring Him the coin
He compels them to answer, tacitly-
their own question:; for the jewish
rabbis 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. Ii
berius Caesar. ''Superscription,
| The name and motto on the coin
| They said - Caesars" Thus ac-
| knowledging that they were submit
| ting TO Caesars authority.
-. Render" The word render
implies the notion OF moral duty to-
ward Caesar quite as much as to-
ward God ITO Caesar" Rather,
| here. give back to Caesar. They ask,
| Is it lawful to give? He 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. IS
2O. IS. "Sadducees. They were
the materialists Of their time. mo
immortality of the soul and the eX-
istence of angels tsee Acts 23:So.
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, &. SHOULD
take his wife" etc. The children
were to be reckoned with in the gen.
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-
lions 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 mistake, but they wander
in ignorance of the Scriptures. We
know not" You err because YOU do
not know ca the Scriptures, which
affirm this doctrine; nor (2) the
power of God, which is able TO effect
the resurrection, and after the resur-
rection TO create a new order or
things in the new world. Power of
God" The Bible rests the doctrine
of the resurrection on the exercise Of
divine power (Acts 26:S; Rom. IA;
| Cor. 6:14. %. when they
shall rise" That is, after they have
risen from the dead-in the future
state. Nor are given" 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.
26. Book of'Moses. The Sndu-
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, 10. 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. Not the God OF the
dead" Our Lord here uses the word
dead in the sense of these Saddu-
Gees with whom He is conversing, to
signify extinct.