Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-12
Religious Liberty Proclaimed.

We have seen in our study Christ's
fundamental principles of Interpretation
in His application of Isaiah's prophecy.
He held, as Edersheim puts it. THAT the
law was not a system of externalism in
which the outward things affected the
inner man. 1t was moral and addressed
itself to man as a moral being, to his
heart and conscience
1t was this principle which Christ
shared with the heroes of faith whose
lives had been moved in former days by
the spirit of God. 1t was a radical truth.
1t freed men from the bondage of the
whole ritual of ceremonial cleanness and
uncleanneSS. Jesus with the same cour-
age that He preached the message on
the power of the eternal or bread of
life that was like pouring cold water
upon the enthusiastic congregation. sum-
moned the multitude, whom the Pharisees
despised, to hear His message that de-
clared the principles of religious liberty
for the people whose spiritual lives were
being strangled under the pharisaic re-
hg1ouS regulations. rules and ritual.
In a sententious statement that took
up the question of defilement, that was
the subject of the controversy. that had
brought up the broader one OF human
tradition and divine authority, Jesus,
with almost word, broke the shackies
that had bound men in the bondage of the
ritualistic regulations of ceremonialism
and gave men religious freedom.
The contrast that He made was. as the
lesson states. between physical food that
goes into a man and the moral action
which proceeds from him. This was an
attack upon the citadel Of the Pharisees'
faith. that exalted the formal ritualstic
observance. while they neglected the
spiritual life. The source of life Jesus
sought to make pure so that the outcome
of life would be perfectly acceptable to
God.
The claim that the supreme interests Of
life are not the outward and material.
but inward and spiritual, was a revolu-
tionary theological teaching. 1t aroused
the Pharisees. who realized it was a
challenge of their position, practice and
precepts. 1t was not easy for the apostles
to take in the significance OF the Masters
understand Him, Christ showed them,
according to Matthew, that He had pre-
cipitated the rupture between the Phari-
sees and Himself because, as His parable
taught, the traditional ordinances not
having divine authority must be abol-
iShed.
The attack on the Pharsees was be-
cause their principle destroyed the au-
distinction between the Law OF God and
the tradition OF men They were not to
be feared, because they were blind leaders
leading the blind, which would bring de-
structfon.
Jesus in response to Peters question
appealed to the common sense of the
apostles. using their moral perceptions
as standard against the traditions of
men. He taught that the evil men do
comes out of their life. s.It is what
comes out from a man." He added. that
denies him, for 1t is from within. out of
the heart OF men, that there comes evil
thoughts. unchartty, theft, murder,
greed, wickedness deceit lewd-
ness. envy. SANDER, haughdness, folly; all
these wicked things come from within.
and do defle a man."
Jesus did not oppose observances which
aided In concentrating religious events
or promoted helpful habits. His hostility
was against rules Of procedure that gave
no place for the development of spiritual
life He established ceremonies and OBJ
demanded by His teaching that every
should be the outward and WIS.,
lble sign OF inward and spiritual grace"
The evangeltsts statement that He
made all meats clean showed that He
the sweeping contentious state
ment OF Christ that declared for religious
liberty against a system that destroyed
religious life. Paul puts distinction that
Jesus made In the golden text. For the
Kingdom OF God Is not eating and drink
ne, but Righteousness and peace and 10Y
n the Holy Ghost" Jesus Is against all
Jules. regulations or requirements which
are Of no value. He established a. re-
igion OF repentance. regeneration and
the issues OF which are
pardon for the past sin. present peace
With God and gadness which the pres
snce of the Holy Spirit brings to our
ife. equipping US with internal 1exer to
,e utilized ia spiritual service al kpgoms
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