The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-31
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 3.
The SIGN AND The LeAvEN.


LESSON TEXT-Mark S:11-26.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Jesus spake unto
them. saying, l am the Light of the
world: He that followeth Me shall not
walk in the darkness but shall have the
light of e."-John S:12 r, v.
In order properly to understand this
lesson we ought to study carefully
the parallel passage in Matthew 1888
to 1912, also to read carefully John
SIP to 32. The persistent Pharisees
were ever upon his track seeking to
find wherein TO accuse him. Claim
ing to come from and to represent the
Father, they ask Jesus to show them
a sign from heaven. Turning upon
them, he says, You observe the con-
dition of the sky and foretell what
weather to expect the coming day
and yet you cannot discern the sign
of the times" AS though to say, Il
have come and performed those things
that have been prophesied of me as
the Messiah and yet you cannot read
in my life the fulfillment of these
signs of my Office" In Luke IL:
54-56 Jesus makes a similar state
ment: when ye see cloud in the
west, straightway ye say, there COM
eth shower; and so it cometh to
pass; Ye hypocrites, ye know
how to interpret the face of the earth
and the heaven; but how is it that
ye know not how to interpret this
timer"
His Ideal.
Their question involved a sugges-
tion that his works might be account
ed for in many ways other than the
rightful Interpretation John 10:37
38), but their demand was for some
particular demonstration. They were
not looking for spiritual manifesto
tion and so far at their request he
sighed, because they did not conform
to his ideal; he rebuked them by tell
ing them that their wickedness should
have one sign that would be an eter-
nal seal upon his deity.
Reaching the other side of the lake,
the disciples realize their hunger and
discover that they have but one LOAF
of bread among them. Jesus seizes
the occasion to warn them of the evil
which he had combated with the Phar
isees whom they had just left.
If anyone has any question as to
the scriptural teaching upon the sub
ject of heaven, this passage ought tC
answer their query. Mark tells us
that Jesus warns them against the
leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod
while Matthew records the leaven Of
the Pharisees and of the Sadducees
There is no difference in the two, fol
Herod belonged to the Sadducees
There was, however, quite differ
ence between these two parties. The
teaching of the Pharisees laix great
emphasis upon the ceremonial observ
ance of the law and the traditions o
the elders, The Sadducees laid great
emphasis upon the denial of the su
pernatural, they did not believe IL
the resurrection from the dead There
was this in common, however, thai
tns. both substituted the false fol
the true.
Answer to the Question.
The misunderstanding of this warn
ing upon the part of the disciples
was a common occurrence and con
tinued until after Pentecost. In this
case, however, Jesus tells them plain
ly why they did not understand "
17). Jesus knew and could read theil
hearts (Heb. 4:13). How like the
disciples of old are we today
The disciples had been with Jesus
Oh ,ir,h -
acts, yet they confused the materia
with the spiritual. 1t was agains
this sort of leaven he warned them
rather than some kind of bread.
We now turn to the third section o
our lesson, the healing of the blinC
man Wv. 1926 There. are four case!
of restored eyesight mentioned in thu
and one came alone. In this cast
others bring the man and interced'
for him ". 22). Last week we OBJ
served case of a. progressive cur'
and here we have another. Jesus LEI
the man by the hand outside the vii
lage and making clay with spittl'
opened his eyes, Again we woult
fClhPhuoi1C IhCi ioSt lhat lhCy w
served him, that they might accuse
him." and hence every act on eacl
separate occasion had a significanc,
and suggestiyeness for that partic
ular occasion, meaning entirely ir
relevant at any other time. Why thii
man did not see at first we are no
told, but surely twas through no faul
on the part of Jesus. Nor was 1t th'
mere use of the spittle that effected
the cure. but rather a demonstration
of the fact that Jesus can heal will
or without means.
The Golden Text seems to be a
variance with the facts revealed IL
this lesson and yet when We turr
from examining the disciples with
their lack of perception and from the
Pharisees whose hard hearts demand
ed sign and gaze upon Jesus as he
deals with these two classes and with