Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-10-11
LESSON FOR OCTOBER I:
CLEAN AND UNcLEAN.

LESSON TEXT-Mark 7:1-2s.
GOLDEN .TEXT-"For the Kingdom of
| God is not eating and drinking, but right
eousness and peace and Joy in the Holy
Ghost."-Rom. 14:17 r. v.
This lesson deals with the last of
these four events that marked the
crisis in the life Of Jesus at Caperna-
um. 1t occurred just before the third
period of his Galilean ministry and his
final departure for Jerusalem.
Lessons II. and VII. of the second
quarter of this year showed us Jesus
attitude towards the law. Here we
see his attitude towards rabbinical ira
dition. Cd They are the traditions Of
men, and not the law of God. (2) They
were made a pretext whereby men
evaded the commands Of the law.
We see before us three general divi-
sions, 1.-The accusation, v. 1-5; H.
The answer, v. 6-13, and IlI-The ap-
plication. v. 1923.
Ceremonial Neglected.
The growing hatred Of the Phari-
sees led them to make the long jour-
ney from Jerusalem that they might
observe him and find wherein to ac-
cuse him. While they were studying
him they at the same time revealed
their ideal of the kingdom of God.
They took special notice that the dis
ciples of Jesus ate without the careful
observance of the ceremonial cleans
| ing of their hands. We must not un-
derstand this to mean so much the
removal of actual uncleanness, but
rather that the disciples had neglect
ed the ceremonial oservance of the
washing of hands of which the Phari-
sees were so punctilious. Mark ".
and ~ adds illumination by calling
eseecial attention to these traditions
to which the Jews adhered so tena-
ciously. Thus we can see that their
ideal of mans relation to God was
largely a matter of external ceremony.
Purity to them was an outward mat
ter, something largely governed by the
traditions of men and which they had
received to hold" v. S. The answer
of Jesus reveals very opposite ideal.
He begins by calling the Pharisees
hypocrites. A hypocrite is play
actor, one who hides behind mask.
Then applying the prophecy of Isaiah.
Jesus tells the Pharisees that they
are hiding their true character behind
the mask Of ceremonial cleansing.
Such play acting is but poor imi-
tation of the real heart condition de-
manded by God Cps. 51:1O. Their
hearts were far from God even though
with their lips they professed to
serve him, land many like things
ye do" The service which is pleas
ing to God Is the doing Of his will. 1t
consists not in the fulfilling of rit-
ual, but in the fulfillment of life, e. g.,
| a growing character
Disciples PerpIexed.
Jesus takes advantage Of this dis
cussion and turning to the multitude
upon whom the Pharisees would bind
such a grievous burden of cermonial-
| ism and falsehood Matt. 23:4) warns
them that it is not so much that which
enters into man that deties him, but
rather that which proceeds out of
man, v. Is. 1t seems quite natural that
the disciples should be perplexed and
should ask Jesus what was meant by
such statement. Jesus answer, v.
1928, shows us very clearly that
these things coming forth. reveal the
corruption within. Read Matthew
1894, 35, Gen. 6:5 and James 3:10-12.
Real purity Is purity of heart, If the
heart be not cleansed, what will it
avail if we wash the hands? What.
then, is the application for this pres
ent day? Clearly we are taught the
danger of lip service without a change
of heart. The danger Of substituting
the good for the best. Forms and
ceremonies are good and have their
place. They are significant. They
/ are important teaching factors, but
they must not be substituted for q
pure heart. We must beware lest we
hide behind such a mask.
There is here also the plain teach
Ing as to Jesus estimate of the PEN
tateuch and inferentially of the proph-
ecy of Isaiah. He specifically calls it
the Word of God" Surely we can
accept his estimate as contrasted
with the traditions Of the elders or
the Consensus Of modern thought"
There is here also great opportu-
nifty to emphasize filial duty. This
Is day and time that needs empha-
sis upon the fifth commandment. Con-
sideration of parents sacrifice. coop
Grafton with them in the bearing of
burdens, comfort for them in sorrow
and adversely. and cheer for them as
they journey down life's pathway. Fill
ial disrespect and an iconoclastic ir-
reverence Of things holy are two
things that are cursing the rising gen.
Grafton.
And lastly. there Is here lesson
to emphasize as to what constitutes
real cleansing. The believer is