The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-05-31

lnem VAIN tnOS0 OF men Lnat are always
the introduction to some derogatory re.
mark. In something resembling this
the words OF Jesus, Take heed" are
tremendous with import.
Doing was the greatest thing In the
Jewish religion that Jesus came to set
aside when he established his new
kingdom. 1t is easy for a man to try
to do for himself in order to merit
Gods favor, 1t Is hard to let God do
for US and We to accept his finished
work
In this lesson there Is one inclu.
sive word and three Illustrations. This
word is the word righteousness" sub
stituted In the Revised Version for
the word "alms" in verse one. The
three lines Of application or illustra-
tons used are. first, that, we shall
make our righteousness secure by so
doing our aims as not to be seen Of
men; second, that in the saying of
our prayers We shall not, like the
hyprocrites, desire to be seen OF men,
and third, that in the keeping Of our
fasts and our Vigils we do them, not,
as do hyprocrites, that the multitudes
may observe and comment thereon.
In another lesson upon this mani
festo Of Jesus we studied the subject
OF the law and In 1.-THE summarized It
all by telling US that except our righte.
BUSINESS shall exceed the Righteousness
OF these Scribes and Pharisees, whom
John the Baptist designated as gen.
GRAFTON of vipers-hypocrites, we shall
In no wise enter into this new kingdom
which Jesus came to establish.
righteousness no Demands.
In the lesson Jesus shows us the
difference between their righteous
ness and the righteousness which he
is demanding of the subject OF his
kingdom. He demands that our rlghte.
BUSINESS shall seek It's approval not
from nor among men but of God. The
motive which must govern Is the
glory, not of man but Of God, not
mans approval but the approval Of
God. In verse two the word "alms''
is retained and hence the first illus.
tration has to do with our doing Of
aims" |. e., our relations to men about
ms, our right-ness. The doing of aims
has no fundamental connection with
any question Of honesty between man
and man. The doing of aims accord
ing to the strict Interpretation Of civil
law is no part of duty. There is no
reason why the business man should
give away his earnings provided he Is
Just in his dealings and does not de-
fraud in his transactions. Yet we do
see men making great gifts and bene-
factions to the cause of philanthropy
Why? Jesus lays bare the secret
when he says, that they may have
the glory of men,"
Next Jesus takes up the subject of
prayer. Again our attention Is drawn
to the fact that the exercise Of prayer
has but little to do with our relations
to men. True 1t Is these relations
must be right before we can come to
God acceptably but prayer is to be di.
rected to God and not to man. Apart
from our belief In God, why should we
pray? Commercial or other lnter-rela-
tionships do not require prayer, why
then pray? The keen blade of Jesus
logic again reveals the lnnermost Sc
cret, that they may be seen Of men,"
and such an idea of righteousness is
repugnant in the kingdom of Jesus.
We now come to the third illustra-
ton, the keeping of fasts Fasting
does not and never has appealed to
the natural man. Naturally 1t Is re
pugnant and distasteful and yet we
see men making a show Of fasting and
imposing a like burden upon others,
why? THAT they may be seen of
men" Is there, then, no place for,
nor ministry In fasting? Certainly
there is. True fasting, however, con.
sists in foregoing and sustaining for
the glory of God"
God the Final Judge.
1t is sad fact that much of our len.
ten fasting and of our abstemiousness
upon Fridays Is that 1t shall be seen
Of men and not because OF any real ap-
probation of the underlying need or
sense of the principles OF fasting.
This lesson is great warning that If
We condition our Righteousness upon
the approval of man 1t will have no re-
ward whatever Of God. The ostenta-
tious or unctlous display Of phil
anthropy will receive its reward from
men and weighs naught.
Followed through this lesson applies
to all the walks Of life. For illustra-
ton, to adulterate food for gain and
yet appear active In church for the
upbuilding Of reputation. This false
ness is the sin that lies back OF graft
and corruption and that allows Amer.
lea to have the worst governed cities
In the world"
1t Is quite noticeable that there Is
not single personal pronoun In this
model prayer. 1t begins with God,