The Yale expositor., 1912-05-16


1885,
IL there Ia any one thing We IN
Americans delight IN, 1t is In enacting
laws. We seem to have an insane
can be cured by legislation. There
seems to be a correspondingly great
er carelessness In the matter OF law
enforcement. Jesus did not found his
kingdom upon a multiplied number of
Thou shalt not's," of merely negative
enactments. He took the old Divine
law and fulfilled" 4. e., filled 1t full
with life. He put purpose, life and vi
tally into that law. He transformed
1t from an outward formal observance
to an inward heart motive. At the
outset of this lesson Jesus not only
says that he will obey the law Of
Moses and the admonitions OF the
prophets, but that those same princi-
pies shall apply in the hearts OF the
citizens OF his new kingdom. That
moral order which is in accordance
with the Divine standard Ia still to be
observed. Christianity gives no H.
cense to it's followers. The righteous
ness which is Of Christ does not les
sen our moral obligations. Jesus says
that not the least lot or title" the
smallest part OF Hebrew letter, the
"dotting Of an l or the crossing of a
II" shall be set aside. They must all
be realized In the lives Of his follow
ers.
Responsible fer Teachings.
In order to emphasize this still fur
Their, he tells those whom he calls and
appoinS to his service that they shall
be held responsible for what they
teach, as well as what they practice,
with regards these commands. To
teach men to break one OF the very
least is to become least in his new
kingdom. To obey and to teach 9TH
ers to obey is to become great in this
new kingdom. Such is the Importance
he places upon the Old Testament
teachings and his statement as to its
authors. Let us beware reading into
his words any meaning that shall set
aside this portion Of Holy Writ, or
that shall suggest any question as to
their accepted authorship or author
ity. But Jesus was also aware OF the
danger of outward obedience or mere
perfunctory fulfilment of that law to-
gether with the myriads OF traditions
that had grown UP with 1t. Hence 1t
is that he so specifically warns his
followers that their righteousness, I.
e., right relations, must exceed that
of the Pharisees whose loyalty to the
law and to tradition is so famous. His
followers must keep not only the form
but the spirit also. and SO he goes on
TO illustrate. Beginning with an old
commandment, Thou shalt not kill,
he shows us that the outward final
act OF murder is but an outgrowth OF
the spirit Of mans heart, hence he
who hates his brother man Is In dan
those forces that In their elimination
will bring him before the tribunal.
I'm danger of hell" Jesus clearly
indicates in all OF his teaching fu-
ture state of punishment rs well as
one of bliss, and granting that these
words are only symbolical, Of which
we are not convinced. we must pray
to be delivered from the reality. These
words are of the merest nonsense If
they be not true, and certainly We
cannot accuse Jesus OF testing nor
suggest him to be a fool 0acking in
knowledge) as he speaks upon SO seri-
GUS a subject
Jesus Philosophy Simple.
Remembered thy brother hath
aught against thee" The philosophy
of Jesus is perfectly simple. II an
ger is criminal then he who Is guilty
must of necessity become reconciled
to that one whom he has offended.
Not merely that we are to forgive
those who have wronged us, for that
is not such hard matter. But we
must get right with our brother who
has aught against us before our gifts
will be acceptable unto God. Some
one has said, 1T is far easier to give
up q coin than to give up quarrel.
1t Is easier to lay down a generous
offering than to lay down a grudge."
This requires haste, We must agree
with our adversary quickly or else he |
will turn upon us and presenting his
righteous cause before the tribunal
bring upon us judgment for our an
ger, our consciousness, or our con-
Once thus brought before |
the Judge, be it an earthly tribunal. |
public opinion, or loving God. our |
is past and we shall be |
obliged to pay to the uttermost, even
so small q part as farthing-about |
two-ffths of a cent.
True reformation is not wholly de-
structive. So our Lord began his new |
kingdom by grating It as It were
upon the strong root of the past law
which was good, but this new applica-
ion bore vastly different fruit than I
my thus far grown. Both had their
root in the love of God for fallen hui
and the finest flower of both
Is to be the application OF the law of
owe as shown In mans relation to
man.
Such, then, Is Jesus attitude to-
wards the Old Testament law and his
application Of that law.