Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-09-04

all my soul, ana with all tiny strength,
and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor
as thyself." Luke 1927.
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 a ques-
ton of placing one commandment In
competition with another, but rather
which commandment most clearly
epitomizes or reveals the final prfn-
ciple 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 a n an exposition Of the Deca-
logue.
Love the Basis.
!. The answer Of Jesus, w. 1884.
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. Mar must love
God with (a) the heart, Q. g., in sim
cerity 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 bin
devotee; I'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 a 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 lis to break the
greatest Of the commandments and
therefore to be guilty Of all Rom.
1923. Notice the Aorder is not man
hen 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 / John 4:20, II. 1t
would seem that the second is really
Involved in the first. If 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 a substitute
for love, either to God or man, We
are justified in Gods sight by our
faith but in the sight of man by u
works. Many who profess to be
Christians do not seem to manifest as
clear a moral and spiritual discern
ment as this scribe for they place a
greater emphasis upon doing rather
than 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
ness.
Human and Deity.
u. The question Of Jesus, w. 35-
81. Our Lords question in return
was a M~essianic n and he grounds
his argument on the 10th Psalm. a
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 SOW
ereigns are honored If they are his
subjects.
III. The teaching of Jesus, w. 49,
40. The word doctrine" in verse SO
is translated teaching" in the re-
vision. These words of warning are
full of solemn significance. The
scribes, and they have their imitators
today. sought the places Of prefer
ment, the seat of honor in the syna'
gogue and the chief places at the
TCASlS. lu6 ulOIlfC SAdt 6ONO1AON
them was a selfish one. They de
voured widows houses, and sought to
cover their c-ovetousness and dishon'
esty by long prayers and a pretense
of piety. This brought upon them the
greater condemnation" Matt. 24:5l
Law and love is here again in CON
trast. Law must become life.
- 49,. - la,te IN AHA
Jesus had one look of love and com
passion for his friends and the needy
and another that was exceedingly ter
rible for his enemies. Thus 1t was az
a master teacher that he saw righi
at hand an illustration for his les
son, an application of the truth In thu
case of the widow who gave out Of hel
nenury and because of her love fol
God, supporting these carping, selhsf
scribes. She had. W mites (abou
f%ourth-flfths of a cent? and might hav'
withheld one except that the rabbii
forbade the offering of a single one
Her love, however, went beyond tn
.tenth" and she gave ALL" therefor
In proportion to their mean she "cas
more than they all" see II Cor. S:12
Offerings are needed still for tn
Lords work. Jesus is over agains
the treasure and "sees" who it
that" casts in" how much they cas-
and the motive behind the gift. TIL
masters standard of a c~ommendabl
offering is not according to u supel
fluffy, but u deficiency, not wha
Will be missed but what of sacrifc
and in proportion thereto. Not 7
please man. but God. Read II Co
S:1-S. Our Lords valuation Of gift
cast into the treasury remains for a
time the true standard of measur'
ment.
The love of God unifies a nan W
love because he first loved US, an
r in proportion as we truly apprehen
his love, all that we have Of hear
s life, strength and mind. yea. OF
b whole nature will unite in love. 1t