The Red Cloud chief., 1912-10-10

cousncss and peace and Joy In tho Holy
Ghost."-Isom. l%:l7 r. v.
This lesson deals with the last of
those four events that marked the
crisis In the life Of Jesus at Caperna.
um. II occurred Just before the third
period Of his Galilean ministry and his
hnal departure for Jerusalem.
Lessons II. and VII. OF the second
quarter of this year showed us Jesus
attitude towards the law. Here wa
see his attitude towards rabbinical tra-
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 llI.-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 40.
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 80 much the
removal Of actual uncleanncss. but
ed the ceremonial oservance Of the
washing Of hands of which the Phari.
sees we're SO punctilious. Mark ". 8
and ~ adds illumination by calling
especial attention to these traditions
to which the Jews adhered 10 tena-
ciously. Thus we can see that their
Ideal OF mans relation to God was
largely matter of external ceremony.
Purity to them was an outward mat.
ter, something largely governed by the
traditions of men and which they had
Of Jesus reveals very opposite ideal.
lie begins by calling the Pharisees
hypocrites. A hypocrite 10 q play
actor. one who hides behind Q mask.
Then applying the prophecy Of Isaiah.
Jesus tells the Pharisees that they
nre hiding their true character behind
the mask Of ceremonial cleansing.
Such play acting 10 but Q poor imi.
otion Of the real heart condition do.
manded by God (Ps. 6l:10). 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 10 pleas.
ing to God Is the doing of his will. N
consists not in the fulfilling Of Q rit.
ual. but in the fulnllment Of life. Q. &,
growing character.
DIseIpiss Psrplsxsd.
Jesus takes advantage Of this dis
cussion and turning to the multitude
upon whom the Pharisees would bind
Ism and falsehood (Matt. 23:4) warns
them that It 10 not 20 much that which
enters into man that defiles him. but
rather that which proceeds out OF Q
man. v. Is. 1t seems quite natural that
the disciples should be perplexed and
should ask Jesus what was meant By
such Q statement. Jesus answer. '.
1923. shows ~ very clearly that
these things coming forth, reveal the
corruption within. Read Matthew
1884, IS. Gen. 6:6 and James 3:1011.
Real purity II purity of heart. II the
heart be not cleansed. what will it
avail II we wash the hands? What
then. 10 the application for this pres
ent dayf Clearly We are taught the
danger Of lip service without 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 .
pure heart. We must beware lest We
hide behind such Q mask.
There 10 here also the plain teach
Ing % to Jesus estimate Of the Pen,
tateuch and infercntially of the proph,
coy OF Isaiah. He specifically calls Il
the "Word Of God" Surely we can
accept his estimate 40 contrasted
with the traditions of the elders or
the Consensus Of modern thought"
There II here also great opportu.
nifty to emphasize hlial duty. This
10 . day and Cine that needs empha-
sis upon the nth commandment. COn.
alteration OF parents sacrifice. COOP.
Grafton with them In the bearing OF
burdens, comfort for them In sorrow
and adversely. and cheer for them -
they journey down LIES pathway. I'll.
lal disrespect and an iconoclastis II.
reverence Of things holy are two
things that are cursing the rising gen.
Grafton.
And lastly. there u here . lesson
10 emphasize - 70 what constitutes
real cleansing. The believer 10
cleanssd "oncs for all" Heb. l0.l.12.
but needs frequent daily confession
that he may abide IN unbroken fet
lowship. The blood OF Christ not
only cleansss from the guilt but the
settlement slso.-Nph. 6:2s-27 and L
John Sc.
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