The Brinkley argus., 1914-09-04
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 6
THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS.

LESSON TExT-Mark 12:zB-M
 | GOLDEN TUxT-''Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. and with an thy soul, and with all thy strength. and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 1o:N.
 This lesson considers . third ques- ton asked of. our Lord; two others in this connection we seudied last week. It was not 90 much Ques- ton of placing one commandment in competition with another, but rather which commandment most clearly epitomises or reveals the final prin- ciple in law. It was the business of this scribe to know the law and to interpret the commandments. Jesus in his reply quotes from Deut. 6:4, and from Lev. 1918, which are both in sense an exposition of the Deca- l0gue.
 Love tho easis.
 |. The ansWer of Jesus, w. 26-34. The 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. 6, in sin cerity and uprightness; (b) with the soul. with the warmth of the emo tions, and the feelings; Co with all thy mind" the intellect, not as Q blind devotee; (d) 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 3:16); man can do not less and must express that love in service to others. To fail in the first is to break the greatest of the commandments and therefore to be guilty of all, Rom. 3:23.
 Human and Deity.
 II. Tho question of Jesus, w. 35- 37. Our Lords question in return was a Messianic zone and he grounds his argument on the 10th Psalm, g Messianic one. Jesus is inferior to David as his son according to the flesh but superior to him as- lord of the Kingdom of which David himself is a subject and not the sovereign. Christ Is both human and deity; his kingdom is spiritual and earthly soy ereigns are honored If they are his subjects.
 IIl. Tho teaching of Jesus, w. 3s- 70. The word doctrine" in verse 3S lis translated teaching" in the re- vision. These words of warning are full of solemn significance. The scribes, and they have their imitatora today, sought the places of prefer ment, the seats of honor in the syna- Rogue and the chief places at the feasts. The motive that governed them was a selfish one. They de voured widows houses. and sought to cover their covetousness and dishon' esty by long prayers and a pretense of piety. This brought upon them the ''greater condemnation" Matt. 24:bl Flaw and love is here again in con trast. Law must become life. w. Tho view Of Jesus, w. 41-s4 Jesus had one look of love and com passion for his friends and the needy and anotheri that was exceedingly ter lrible for his enemies. Thus 1t was aa a master teacher that he saw rign' at hand an illustration for his les son, an application of the truth In the case oftthe widow who gave out of hel ipenury and because of her love fol God, supporting these carping. seInsl lscribes. She had two mites (abou' |IfourthrSfths ofYa cent) and might havs withheld ono except that the rabbi |Iforbade the offering of single one | Her love, however. went beyond ths ~stenth" and she gave "all." therefor' llin proportion to their means she "cas lmore than they all" see II Cor. s:!S EOnerings are needed still for tn' lILord's work. Jesus is lover agains the treasure"s and ''sees" who It ' l that "casts in'' how much they cas lIand the motive behind the gift. Tn Ismasters standard of commendabi' offering Is not according to our super l 1luity, but our denciency. not wna will be missed but what of sacr1nc'