The Chanute times., 1912-05-24

In this lesson Jesus makes a still
further application, or rather gives us
another illustration of the righteous
ness of his new kingdom, which must
be greater than that taught by the
Pharisees. We have studied the sa
cred relations of the righteous life
now we are to consider the matter OF
truth. We have first paragraph from
Jesus, then an ethical teaching and ap.
plication from the writings of James
the apostle.
Under the old law men swore by
heaven which is Gods throne, by the
earth which is his footstool, by Jeru-
salem which was his peculiar chosen
city. They swore by the head and
yet they could not change one hair
white or black. Jesus contrasts all
OF this with his new kingdom in
which absolute simple veracity in our
speech is all that is to be required.
This makes all oaths profane. When
men live in these new relations, with
this new consciousness of God they
will speak the truth naturally and Of
necessity. To such there will be no
need for any form of speech or oath,
for the simplest, plainest speech will
be the only necessary and the alto
gether satisfactory medium of giving
and of creating assurance. How about
oaths In court2 Jesus is speaking to
the members of his new kingdom. Be-
tween them yea and nay is sufficient,
but as between them and others we
must adjust ourselves and therefore
we do not read into this any admoni-
uon not to take an oath in court.
Should Be Swift to Hear.
BE not many teachers" We now
turn to paragraph from the Epistle
of James which has it's peculiar value
and interest as showing the difficulty
of mastering the tongue. In the
church Of Christ there must OF neces-
sity be a great many more disciples
(learners) than teachers. Every man
should be swift to hear, but the posi-
tion of teacher carries with 1t such
burden of responsibility that no one
should audaciously assume it, see
Eph. All, etc. With this responsible
ity is also correspondingly heavier
judgment if We stumble. He that
stumbles not in teaching, in the use
of his tongue, is indeed perfect man
and one that is able to bride the
whole body; to guide the ship OF life,
of state, and of the church, amidst
the fiercest storms.
"The tongue is a fire." 1t is in
deed for 1t infames with anger the
whole body, the family, society and
the nation. History is ablaze with the !
co7f1agrations that are consequence |
OF untimely words and OF unbridled |
tongues, Prov. 1871, etc. The tongue
giving utterance to the thoughts of the
heart (for out of the abundance of the
heart 1t speaks), will infiame lust,
wither purity and consume strength.
1t fires jealousy and burns the sweet
bonds of friendship. 1t will sever the
ties of home, burn away the founda-
tions of character, Of commercial in.
tegrity. social purity and destroy the
bonds of civic righteousness. 1t is
indeed "a world of iniquity among our
Let us quote from DIR. X.
A. Torrey: The fires of hell are
kindled by idle words that set men
wrong about God and sin and
Christ and the Bible. Men usually
Careful in handling fire are careless
about the tongue. Whence come the
words that inflame the Imagination
and the passions? Whence come the
words that undermine faith and the ;
of the Bible? II any man ,
question James words that the tongue
ian no man tame he has evidently 6
never tried 1t himself" This does not I
mean, however, that the tongue can 9
Tot be tanned, for what is impossible
With man is possible with God. James /
lraws a frightful picture of the un- "
amed tongue and of its evil conse- d
uences.
Profane Men Classified. il
These things ought not to be-" n
70 more can fountain yield fresh (,
nd salt water at one and the same
Ime, or a fig tree yield olives, than
Or a Christian to bless God and with Z
he same tongue curse his fellow men. II