Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-05-11

(GASI0R RUSSELD larover has a very
- different meaning
from our general usage. 1t applied to
those religious teachers of the Jews who
made special professions of sanctity of
heart and earnest desire to know Gods
will, as expressed in the Mosaic Law,
and to teach the same to the people. The
corresponding class of today are desig-
mated 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; We entered not in your
selves. and them that were entering We
hindered." When the common people
heard Jesus gladly they inquired,
Have any of the Scribes and Phari-
sees believed on Him? Have the Doc
tors of the Law endorsed HimY'
The Key of knowledge Buried.
In our text Jesus charged the Jew
ish Doctors of Divinity with the re-
sponsibility of having taken away the
Key of Knowledge. refusing to use it
themselves to enter into the great ap-
probation of the blessings then due.
and hiding it from the common people.
who trusted them so implicitly. We
day. Not only were the Jewish people
typical of spiritual Israel. and their
Age typical of this Age. and their Har-
vest typical of the Harvest or closing
time of this Age. but additionally, now
as then, Gods people perish for lack
of knowledge. Hosea ", 6.
1t is this matter of misleading the
people. deceiving them. that constitut-
"a ha af
the Doctors of Divinity of old. and we
believe that His judgment is very sim
liar today respecting the Doctors of
Divinity of Christendom-"Ye have
taken away I'VE have hidden) the Key
of Knowledge; We have not entered in
yourselves, and them that were enter
ing We hindered-'
Necessity For knowledge.
Knowledge of God. the Bible de-
| clares, is indispensable for the attain
ment of the great prize of the High
Calling Thus Jesus said, This is life
eternal, that they may know Thee, the
only True God, and Jesus Christ.
whom Thou hast sent" John xvii. 81
| We are not to understand this to sig
Nifty that anyone who has merely been
made acquainted with the fact that
there is one Creator. and that Jesus is
His Son, is on account of this knowl-
edge to be granted everlasting life.
Our Lords words do not refer to a
knowledge about God. but to knowl-
edge or personal acquaintance toith
God and His Son And such an init
mate acquaintance is not obtained
merely by an introduction, but by com
partnership: it signifies an intimacy
of acquaintanceship. familiarity.
Thus Jesus prayed for US. His FOL
lowers. "Sanctify them through Thy
Truth, Thy Word is Truth" Any who
neglect the Divine Word will fail o.
the sanctifying power and thus fail o.
the acquaintanceship with God which
alone guarantees everlasting life
To those who have come under the
sanctifying influence of His Word ou
Lord says today. as He said to Hi
Jewish followers eighteen centuries
ago. ITO you it is given to know tn
Mystery of the Kingdom of God. blu
to all outside these things are Spoken
in parallels and dark sayings. tina
: hearing they might not understand. ant
seeing they might not perceive" Tn
outsiders-the Doctors of Divinity-ar
not permitted the Key of knowledge
Even so, Father, for so it seemet
good in Thy sight-"-Matthew XII, Is. II
What Constitutes the key?
The Key of Knowledge consists O
the faithful study of Gods Word. wit
an honest purpose TO know the thing
that are freely given unto us of Goo
This implies a conservation of hear
for none others would really desir
: that they might do the Divine viii
: And this implies also a faith in on
], Lords promise that "he that doeth til
will of My Father shall know of til
: doctrine. John vii. I'D 1t is tn
consecrated. conscientious Bible stud
:, that is lacking today-that is bein
l. discourag ed today by the great teacl
s ers and Doctors Of Divinity.
Everything calculated to help Bib
= study, to get rid of the darkness OF I'll
n creeds and superstitions of the past,
V opposed-but not openly. But, oh, VIII.
e weeping OF disappointment. and VIII,
s. a chagrin and gnashing of teeth wi
come shortly to the false shepherds
to the Key-hiding Doctors Of Divinh
when they end that with all their e
deavors to bolster up shams and supe
d stitions in which they themselves I