The Brinkley argus., 1914-02-13

LESSON TEXT-Luke 11:n-A
 GOLDEN TExT-"Be not deceived; 0od ls not mocked."-0al s:7.
 This is . strange breakfast episode (to "dine" means literally, to break fast). Jesus accepted three such invitations from the Pharisees and was accused of being glutton and . wine bibber, M&tt. 11-19; Luke 7:SS. | 39. A. In this instance we are told plainly (v. 64) why he had been asked to this feast. At . later time. c. z. during the Passion week. Jesus deliv. cred a special discourse against the Pharisees (Matt. 23) in which he re- peated many of the things we study today.
 Must Be Clean.
 I. False vs. True cleansing (vv. S5. Al. The orthodox Jew is very punc- tiliOus to avoid ceremonial uncleanlir ness. In Christ's time this ceremoni. alism was at its highest development To be defiled was far worse than to be morally unclean. This Pharisee mar yelled" that Jesus was not likewise concerned with his outward acts (v. 3s, se ,also Matt. 23:25, 26). To have . clean cup and platter was more im- portant than to have a clean heart In. fragment of Gospel found at Oxyrhyncus, Jesus is reputed to have said to a Pharisee: Thou hast washed in waters wherein dogs and swine have been cast. and wiped the outside skin which also harlots anoint and beautify. but within they are full of scorpions and all wicked ness. But I have been dipped in tho waters of eternal life which como from the throne of God" Pious plat ters, presented in pride, must be inr wardly purified.
 Jesus pronounces three woes. griefs that like an avenging nemesis hang over men of such character. CD A woe" against those who make g show of tithiEg the common garden mint and herbs and at the same time avoid the weightier matters of just re- lations to their fellow men and love to God (v. 42). We are not to neg lect our churchly duties at all. but these cannot be substituted for righteousness (see Mlcha 6:8). (2) A ''woe" against those who love the places of pre-eminence (v. 43. of. Matt 23:6, D. This spirit has not departed from the church after lapse of cen turies. It Is unchristian. unchristlike. The great one must be the servant of all (Matt. 23:11. 20:2S. John 13:14. IS. Phil. 2:bs). (3) (v. 43). The third woe" Is directed against hypocrisy. To touch a grave was to become un- clean, and hence they were white. washed to give men warning. Many Christians are without beautiful to b. hold, yet within full of dead mems bones and all manner of uncleanliness.
 The Three Woes.
 II. Real vs. Sham Lives (vv. 46- 54). The lawyers were the theologiana, the expounders of the Mosaic law. Ev- idently the words of Jesus produced great conviction. The word "reproachr est" (v. 45) means ito entreat spite. fully" and the probabilities are that he spoke to Jesus as If to rebuke him. Jesus 1t once pronounces three woes upon him and his class. CD A woe" because they laid burdens upon others which they themselves would not even touch with one of their fingers (Matt. 23:D. That is. they added to the law minute and troublesome detailas which they declared to be more i'm portant than the law itself (1) (v. 47) A "woe" is pronounced upon them for honoring the dead prophets and at the same time rejecting and prosecuting those that were living. To honor dead teachers. to praise tho prophets of the past. those whom we cannot endure while living. is form of hypocrisy which costs but little. It implies that had they lived in the days of their fathers their conduct would have been indifferent. yet they are with the living prophets. following the ez- ample of their fathers. God foresaw this (v. 49) and the faithful minister of his word must expect like treat ment (Mk. 10:29, 30). (3) (v. l2) The third woe" was pronounced against these religious teachers because. pos sessing the key to knowledge, they neither entered themselves nor would they allow others to enter; ''ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer 70 them that are entering in to enter"
 (Matt. 23:13. Am. Rv.). These law. yers. theologians. were professedly h. terprcters of the law. that law which was the foundation and bulwark of the Jewish nation. In fact, however. they had so obscured and explained" that law as to leave men in darkness. Supposed to lead men into truth, they were shutting them out of the truth. What a terrible indictment of many of this present age.
 We quote from the letter of | Wis consin business man: The average man is interested in the teachings of the Bible. If the Bible cannot stand upon It's own feet. 1t is foolish to bol- ster it up by any personal ideas We
 make too many apologies for Scrip. lures and do not stand squarely by
 what 1t teaches" Not few who oc- cupy the position of teachers obscure
 the truth of God and they shut men
 out of real knowledge of him. Jesus thus replies to both Pharisees and the lawyer, that character Is not gar ment to wear, but 1t is the inward fur. pishing of the heart