The Brinkley argus., 1912-11-01


 he parallel passage in Matthew l5:59 16:12, also to read carefully John 3:12 to 32. The persistent Pharisees were ever upon his track seeking to e.,;d wherein to accuse him. Claim ing to come from and to represent the -sther, they ask Jesus to show them , sign from heaven Turning upon hem. he says, You observe the con- lition of the sky and foretell what weather to expect the coming day md yet you cannot discern the sign If the times." As though to say. T nave 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 theee signs of my oflce." In Luke IF: 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 1t that ye know not how to interpret this time?"
 Hlls Ideal.
 Their question involved sugges- ton that his. works might be account cd for in many ways other than the rightful interpretation (John 10:37, sS), but their demand was for some particular demonstration. They were not looking for a 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 to 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, for Herod belonged to the Sadducees. There was, however, quite differ. ence between these two parties. The teaching of the Pharisees laid great emphasis upon the ceremonial observ. ance of the law and the traditions of the elders. The Sadducees laid great emphasis upon the denial of the su- pernatural, they did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. There was this in common, however, that they both substituted the false for 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 (v. ID. Jesus knew and could read their hearts (Heb. 4:13). How like the disciples of old are we today.
 The disciples had been with Jesus long time and observed his mighty acts. yet they confused the material with the spiritual. It was against this sort of leaven he warned them, rather than some kind of bread.
 We now turn to the third section of our lesson, the healing of the blind man w. 22.26. There are four cases of restored eyesight mentioned in the gospels, three of whom Are brought, and one came alone. In this case others bring the man and intercede for him (v. 22). Last week we ob- served case of progressive. cure and here We have another. Jesus led the man by the hand outside the vii lage and making clay with spittle opened his eyes. Again we would emphasize the fact that "they ob- eerved him. that they might accuse l.im," and hence every act on each fc". arate occasion had significance cad sugg cstiveness for that rartic, r'ar occesi ion. meaning entirely ir- relevant at any other time. Why tlds n,cn did not zee at first We are not told, but surely twas through no fault on the part of Jesus. Nor was it the mere use of the spittle that effected the cure, but rather demonstration of the fact that Jesus can heal with rr without means.
 The Golden Text seems to be at vsriance with the facts revealed in this lesson and. yet when we turn from examining the disciples witis their lack ot perception and from the Phsrisees whose hard hearts demand- ed a sign and gaze upon Jesus as he deals with these two classes and with the blind man we see the truth in the text He is the Light and by his patient dealing. by his rebuke. by his instruction, he led them to the light that they might have true understanding of life.
 AS we. too. follow him we must