The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-06-06

Word, and not hearers only. deluding
your own seives"-James In
Last week we had from the lips of
Jesus three Illustrations OF that false
Righteousness which he will not coun-
tenance in his new kingdom. Today's
lesson is the last Of the present series
which has TO do with the fundamental
teachings expressed by Jesus in his
manifesto and II Is emphasized by the
Golden Text taken from James epis-
tie.
Jesus begins with n short parable
which, though not recorded by Mat
thew as being used in this same con-
nection Is here used TO introduce and
10 explain what was said about the
mote and the beam. Parenthetically
Jesus informs US that we are not
above our Master. I'VE must teach
principally in the same manner he
taught. @. g., by our lives He has
been setting forth the manner OF life
10 be followed by his disciples. He
Is the incarnate truth, and In that
fact lay his power and success as
teacher, so as we incarnate his life
live his life before the world. we shall
most successfully teach. His sight
was unlmpaired. hence his ability and
power. Jesus. however. guards
against any self.assumed righteous
ness upon the part OF his followers by
telling us that everyone" that is
every disciple. "when he Is perfected
shall be as his master" ". 40) No
leader or teacher has ever made any
great and lasting contribution or I'm
preston upon history except as he
has in a measure emulated the life OF
Jesus or followed the principles he
taught the world.
Beam and Mote.
II Is as we are being perfected. fol-
low on after perfectness in Christ
Jesus. that we are effectually able to
see for ourselves and 10 lead others.
Jesus by means OF this teaching about
the beam and the mote shows us how
impossible II Is for a man who is him
self disobedient 10 the truth TO be
able to do anything that will help
others who are in a Ike state OF dis
Il is not only impossible but actually
a sin for one who has a beam, a
Splinter" in his eye 10 attempt to re-
move the mote-a light speck Of dust
from the eye OF another The sin
OF attempting 10 teach that which We
ourselves do not obey Is greater than
the sin OF him who Is not obedlent but
60
and called forth the emphatic thou
hypocrite" OF Jesus. How many
fathers desire their sons 10 walk in
the path OF truth and yet they make
no effort to remove the beam from
their own eyes-hypocrites-is II 10
be wondered at that they both fall
into the ditch?
Jesus emphasizes all OF this by use
OF the figure OF fruitbearing. The
preposterousness OF our looking for
figs upon thorn bushes, OF to look for
grapes upon a bramble bush is pat.
ent to all We know that corruption Is
not 30 much q matter OF infection as
II has 10 do with inward purity. II
the tree OF life Is pure II will yield
perfect fruit, for life always repro
duces its own type. in the same man.
ner the influence a man exerts Is the
influence OF what he is in his own
life.
In verse 40 Jesus adds further
light upon this matter OF hypocrisy.
He has already told us we are TO build
upon his words, which were the truth
Now he shows us that 10 call him
Lord, Lord" with lips only. and not
because OF a heart conviction, even
though II be known and heard OF all
men. will not avail. This sort OF cry
ing aloud shall be tested by him who /,
knows the thoughts and the intents
Of the heart and II. too. shall receive
the Just reward OF all hypocrisy. To-
cry Lord, Lord to Judge others by |
different standards from those by |
which we Judge ourselves, Is but an /
other evidence OF the sin OF selfish .
ness.
Obedience the Only Proof
II we will real Paul's epic upon ,
love q. Cor. 49, daily II will clarity .
our vision and correct the motive OF |
our lives so that its fruit will be ac-
ceptable TO God. Obedience Is the .
only one and only acceptable proof .
that we are friends OF Jesus John .
1910. To further add light and .
Significance to this whole matter
Jesus tells us OF the two kinds OF
foundations upon which men build.
That upon the solid rock may be Sc
verely tried, as shall all the works OF
mans hands, but being rightly found
ed tho storm breaks and not the
house
Is your house founded upon the liv-
ing word or upon the speculatlons of
science2 Face this question We must.
Lesson outline:
l. False and True Teachers. v
39-45.
1. Danger. v. 80, 40.
2. Like teacher, like pupil, v, IL,