The Yale expositor., 1912-03-21


the circle of the scribes and the phari-
sees. Be that as it may, We know
they murmured greatly that this rabbi
should consort with publicans and
with sinners.
Came to Call Sinners.
Jesus hears of their complaint and
his reply is a fine bit of irony and
sarcasm. They that are whole have
no need Of a physician but they that
are sick. You self righteous Phari-
sees, why do you complain if you are
all right and these be all wrong, why
then not let me minister to those that
need me?" At the same time Jesus
utters one Of his greatest and most
comforting sayings. Il came not to call
the righteous but sinners"
Jesus chooses one of their own So
cial outcasts to write the only dis
tinctly Hebrew account of his life; one
who had been faithful as a business
man to be a leader and historian;
one willing to renounce all, say fare
we'll to ambition and follow him.
Following this, the disciples of John
the Baptist and of the Pharisees are
fasting and they observe that the dis
ciples of Jesus are not so engaged.
They came to Jesus with the question
and his reply is a perfectly logical
one, why should they fast, am l not
with them?" do you fast at your
weddings while the bridegroom is pres
ent?" The day is to come, however,
when he is to be taken away, then
there shall be times for fasting.
Jesus has Toasted with many pub
licanslicans;" when the bridegroom
returns he will sit down with many
publcans and sinners in glory whom
he has associated with in order that
he might save them. Are We follow
ing his example? II so, let us be sure
we do II from the same motive. The
disciples Of John did the right thing
to bring their perplexities to Jesus.
He answers their question as we have
seen and We are now in the day he
mentions when there is q place for
fasting. Jesus teaches US in his ref
erence TO the wine bottles 0eather
sacks which could bear but one
stretching process due to fermenta-
ton of the wine), that We are to be
new creatures in him and must leave
the old life and habits. We are not
to make patchwork of this new Cos
pei and the old law.
His Work That of Physician.
There are two difficulties thus pre-
scented in this lesson; first, that Je-
sus should hold fellowship with those
properly not of his circle or social
standing for he was rabbi or teach
er, and, secondly, that he did not nor
did his disciples observe fasting. Je-
sus admits the character Of the COM
pany he kept, but his reply was, Il
came for this purpose to call not the
righteous but the unrighteous." Els
work was to be that of Physician.
He assumes that his authority Is not
of man but of God, and that this min
istry is to bring joy. Jesus had emp
tied himself that he might come and
when he was to leave there it would
be time enough for his disciples to
fast. Jesus was not merely one who
came to teach a system Of ethics a
little higher than the prophets. Je-
sus is more than good man or even
holy man. he is the Great Physician,
able to heal both body and soul, a
Saviour
Before these lost ones can be saved,
however. they must realize they are
lost, for we cannot save those who
will not acknowledge themselves as
being lost. When we acknowledge we
are sinners he will save us (I Tim.
1:15). Turn a deaf ear TO his call
and there is no more hope Ouke
1879.
II has been suggested that the par
able of the prodigal son and the elder
brother was uttered at this feast In
Lewis house; probably not, we do not
know, but how truly II applies. The
prodigal representing those lost pub