Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-02-13
LESSON For FEBRUARY l5-
cHRIsTs HATRED OF sHAMs-


invitations from the Pharisees aud
was accused of being glutton and
wine bibber, Matt. 11-19; Luke 7:S6.
SO, A. In this instance we are told
plainly (v 54) why he had been asked
to this feast At a later time, e. g.
during the Passion week, Jesus dellv-
cred a special discourse against the
Pharisees Matt. 23) in which he re-
peated many of the things we study
today.
Must Be Clean.
l. False VS.. True cleansing fvv. 81
44). The orthodox Jew is very pune
tilious to avoid ceremonial uncleanii-
ness. In Christ's time this ceremonf-
alism was at its highest development
To be defled was far worse than to be-
morally unclean. This Pharisee mar
veled" that Jesus was Eot likewise
concerned with his outward acts w.
80, Sc also Matt 1925. 26) To have
q clean cup and platter was more ir1s-
portant than to have 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 l have been dipped in the
waters of eternal life which come
from the throne of God" Pious plat
ters, presented ih pride, must be in
wardly purified. 1 He who thus neg
lects the inside is fool (v. 40), for
God created the inside as well as the
outside Their hearts we're filed with
"extortion and wickedness." As a
substitute these false teachers laid
great stress upon aims. In tho
Arabic "alms" is closely related to t1s
word which means ito cleanse
Hence verse Al may read CLEANSE
what is within, and surely all is clean
to you" 1t is not so much aims that
people long for as fair, honest treat
ment and accompanying the service,
loving heart John 1880.
Jesus pronounces three woes"
griefs that like an sing nemesis
hang over men of such character.
~ A "woeY against those who make
show of tithing 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 ". 42). We are not to neg
lect our churchiy duties at all, but
these cannot be substituted for
righteousness (see Micha 65S). t2J
A "woe'' against those who love the
places of pre-eminence ". 43. CT. Matt
1876, y. This spirit has not departed
from the church after a lapse Of CEN
turies. 1t is unchristian. unchristlfke-
4 The great one must be the servant OF
all (Matt. 23:11, 20: %, John 1914. Is,
Phil. 2.5-s). l3) ". 43), The third
"woe" lis directed against hypocrisy
To touch a grave was to become un-
clean, and hence they were white
washed to give men wa. aing. Many
Christians are without beautiful to be
hold, yet within full Of dead mems
bones and all manner of uncleanliness.
The Three Wees.
II. Real VS.. Sham Lives (vv. 4S-
54). The lawyers were the theologiansr
the expounders of the Mosaic law. Ev-
identity the words of Jesus produced
great conviction. The word ''reproach-
est" w. 45) means ito entreat spite
fully" and the probabilities are that
he spoke to Jesus as if to rebuke HIM
Jesus at once pronounces three woes
upon him and his class. ID A woe
because they laid burdens upon others
which they themselves would not even
touch with one of their fingers Matt
23:4). That is. they added to the law
minute and troublesome details.
which they declared to be more inn
portant than the law itself. t2l
(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 the
prophets of the past, those whom we
cannot endure while living. is form
of hypocrisy which costs but little. II
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 ex=
ample of their fathers. God foresaw
this ". 49) and the faithful minister
of his word must expect like treat
ment (Mk. 1929, 30). (3) ". 12) 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: we enter
not in yourselves, neither suffer ye
them that are entering in to enter"
Matt. 23:13, Am. Rv) These law.
yers, theologians. were professedly in
terpreters of the law, that law which
was the foundation and bulwark Of the
Jewish nation. In fact, however, they
had SO obscured and explain I'd" thai
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 who profess to
teach the Word.
; We quote from the letter OF Wis
consfn business man: THE average
man is interested in the teachings OF
the Bible. If the Bible cannot stand
upon it's own feet it is foolish to boF
ster it up by any personal ideas. We
. make too many apologies for Scrip
. lures and do not stand squarely by
what it teaches" Not few who oc-
cupy the position of teachers obscure
the truth of God and they shut men
out of a real knowledge of him. Jesus
thus replies to both Pharisees and the
. lawyer, that Character is not a gar
ment to wear. but it is the inward fur
nishing of the heart.
Jesus hated all hypocrisy. ell shan
and more important still, he sived
what he taught, thereby difereAtiat
: ing himself especially from the teach
ers of his day. There is not singls
command which he did not embody
in his daily life, nor precept which
cannot find it's illustration from thc'