Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-05-11


ferent meaning
from our general usage. IL applied TO
those religious teachers of the Jews
who made special professions of sane
tity OF heart and earnest desire TO
know Gods will. rs expressed In the
Mosaic Law. and TO teach the same TO
the people The corresponding class
Of today are designated Doctors of
Divinity. Our text. therefore. with
this correction reads. Woe unto you,
Doctors of Divinity, for We have taken
away the Key Of knowledge; you en-
tered not In yourselves. and them that
were entering We hindercd."
"The Common People Heard Jesus
Gladly"
II was the custom amongst the Jews
that lessons from the Law and the
Prophets should he read every day In
their synagogues. The people were
thus familiar with the letter of the
Divine Law and promises. The ma
jority OF them. of course, were Hitter
ate, for educational facilities We're not
what they are now. rs a result only
few claimed 10 have an understand
ing OF the spiritual part of the Law
and the Prophets. These We're chiefly
OF the literary and wealthy classes.
To these the common people looked
for guidance respecting the Divine
will and plan.
As an illustration. When the com
s.t..t ss.1 sltslf ftna
were unwilling to trust their own judg
ments. but inquired. Have any of the
Scribcs and Pharisecs believed on
Him." Have the Doctors of the Law.
the Doctors Of Divinity. endorsed Him:
They have made a study of these
things and we would rely more upon
their Judgment than upon our own.
But none Of the Scribes aud pharisees
endorsed Him. and hence comparative
~ few of the people believed Him and
became His disciples.
The common people were hungry fol
the Message which Jesus brought. Il
is recorded that they said of Jesus
teachings. Never man spake like this
Man" The nation would have gone
over promptly To Jesus had the Scribes
and Pharisces. the Doctors Of the Law.
set the example aud given the word
Moreover. the teachings of Jesus har
monized the message Of the Law and
the Prophets over which the Scribes
and the PharisccS and the Saddncecs
had long wranglel and disputed Had
the Doctors of the Law been MS hun
cry for the Truth rs were the people,
undoubtedly all of their differences OF
Interpretation of the old Testament
Scriptures would have speedily been
solved In the light Of the then present
Truth aud knowledge of God. which
was shining upon the Eible through
the Holy Spirit. Jesus ana the Apostles
being .Toloval's mOuihpicces.
The Key Of knowledge Buried.
In our text Jesus charged the Jewish
Doctors of Divinity with the RESPONSE.
bility of having taken away the Key Of
knowledge. refusing TO use Il them
selves To enter into the great apprecia
ton of the blessings then due. ami hid
ing il from the common people who
trusted them So implicitly. We charge
that the same thing l. true today. MOI
only We're the Jewish people igpieal OF
spiritual Israel. and their Age typical
Of this Age. and their Harvest typical
OF the Harvest or closing time Of this
Age. but additionally. now rs then.
Gods people perish for lack Of knowl
edge" uioSca IL. o. Now. rs then, the
Doctors of Divinity will not use the
Key Of Knowledge themselves. to en-
ter heartily into the wonderful priv
leges and blessings now due. and add
tionally they have buried the Key Of
knowledge hiding II from the people
under Il mass Of forms and ceremonies
But Is knowledge Necessary?
In our Lords day the Jewish Doctors
Of Divinity. or Rabbits. contented them
selves with telling the people what
they should do and what they should
not do. but they did not teach the PEG.
ple-they did not help them to any m.
Outstanding OF the deep meaning OF the
Law and the Prophets. In our text
Jesus said TO the ID D.'s." You bind
heavy burdens on the people. erievous
TO be borne" but you do not attempt TO
carry those burdens yourselves,
II Is so 10 this day with the Jewish
Rabbits. MS we'll rs with other Minis
tiers: for instance. minister stands rs
a representative and mouthpiece Of the
church creed. witch M roundabout
terms declares thai whoever does nui
live II sanity ~. will suffer an etcr