The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-09-01
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER
THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS.

This lesson considers a third Ques-
ton asked Of our Lord; two others
in this connection we studied last
week. 1t was not SO much ques-
ton of placing one commandment in
competition with another, but rather
which commandment most clearly
epltomizes or reveals the final prin-
clple in law. 1t was the business of
this scribe to know the law and to
interpret the commandments. Jesus
In his reply quotes from Deut 5:4,
and from Lev. 1918, which are both
IN sense an exposition Of the Deca-
logue.
Love the Basis.
!. The answer of Jesus, w. 1884.
Inc scribe's question seemed to be
quite specific and so the Lord strikes
at once at the heart and by his quota
ton reveals to us the fact that the
principle which is the inspiration of
the law is that Of love. In passing
we have here another illustration OF
the masters ready use and knowledge
OF the Scripture. Jesus makes a
four-fold summary. Man must love
God with (a) the heart, e. g., in sim
certify and uprightness; (b) with the
soul, with the warmth Of the emo
lions, and the feelings; (c) with all
thy mind" the intellect, not as a blind
devotee; 3D. with strength, viz,
with intensity of service, with energy.
ITO love God with all the heart and
soul and mind and strength Is to have
supreme desire for and delight in
Gods glory. making everything else
second to that" This statement Is
but half, for the complement of our
love Of God is to love man. Man
created In Gods image was so loved"
by God that he gave his son John
$3.50; man can do not less and must
express that love in service to others.
10 fail in the first Is to break the
greatest Of the commandments and
therefore to be guilty Of all, Rom.
1928. Notice the order is not man
then God, but God first First in bust
ness, in social life, In pleasure, in
everything, and not to do SO is sin.
The similarity Of these two is in that
the same principle Of love governs in
both cases. From I John 4:20, 81, it
would seem that the second is really
involved in the first II we love God
whom we have not seen we must love
men whom we have soon and who are
made in the image and likeness of
God. This scribe readily saw that
spiritual worship is the very essence
OF the answer of Christ. This is also
the teaching of the Old Testament,
see 1 Samuel 1922. Church going,
psalm singing, saying prayers, or even
reading the Bible are not substitute
for love, either to God or man. We
are justified In Gods sight by our
faith but in the sight Of man by our
works. Many who profess to be
Christians do not seem to manifest as
clear moral and spiritual discern
nent as this scribe for they place
greater emphasis upon doing rather
han being, upon works rather than
Upon service. Worship and service
must go hand In hand AS this scribe
recognized this truth he confessed his
recognition with candor and earnest
less.
Human and Deity.
ii. The question of Jesus, w. 35-
y. Our Lords question in return
vas a Messianic one and he grounds
lis argument on the 10th Psalm, a
dessianic one. Jesus Is inferior to
David as his son according to the |
lesh but superior to him as lord of
he kingdom of which David himself |
8 a subject and not the sovereign.
,hrist is both human and deity; his
ingdom is spiritual and earthly SOW
reigns are honored If they are his
objects.
III. The teaching Of Jesus, Wv. 49,
o. The word doctrine" in verse SO
3 translated teaching" In the re-
ision. These words of warning are
ull Of solemn significance. The
cribes, and they have their imitators
oday, sought the places of prefer
1ent, the seats Of honor In the syna-
ogue and the chief places at the
casts. The motive that governed
hem was a selfish one. They de-
cured widows houses, and sought to
sty by long prayers and pretense
Z piety. This brought upon them the
greater condemnation" Matt 24:51.
aw and love is here again in con-
asst Law must become life
". The view of Jesus, w. 4f-44.
esus had one look of love and COM
ASSIGN for his friends and the needy
I'D another that was exceedingly ter
BILE for his enemies. Thus it was as
master teacher that he saw right
hand an illustration for his les
N, an application of the truth in the
lse of the widow who gave out of her
snury and because OF her love for
ID, supporting these carping, selfish
ribes. She had two mites (about
urth-dfths of cent? and might have
Ithheld one except that the rabbis
rbade the offering of single one.
er love, however, went beyond the
enth" and she gave 'all," therefore
proportion to their means she "cast
ore than they all" see II Cor. 8:12.
ferings are needed still for the
,rd's work. Jesus is "over against
9 treasure" and "sees" who it is
at casts In" how much they cast
d the motive behind the gift. The
aster's standard of a commendable