Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-02-19

The first verse OF this lesson lnd1-
Gates the character Of this period In
the life of our Lord which we are now
studying. 1t was a time of thrilling
interest and of intense excitement. A
time when the crowds were SO great
that they 'trode one upon another"
This may have resulted from the
preaching of the seventy; but We Of
today can see what Jesus then saw,
that this interest was only superficial
and transitory. So it was that the
Master turned first Of all" to his dis
ciples lest they be deceived by this
seeming popularity.
Hiding the Truth.
1. The fear of losing a reputation,
W.. 2, 8. The Pharisees made great,
pompous claims at their being re-
ligious. A ~hypocrite is n who hides
behind a mask, n who is a play
actor. 1t Is pr%etence instead Of reali-
ty. Therefore, il one is not real his
fear of losing his reputation is increas-
ed in direct ratio to the extent Of his
deceit. The principal error of these
Pharisees vas that they hid the truth
and at the same. time refused to be
ruled by 1t themselves. Jesus de-
mands a new publicity ". p of serv-
ice and in the presence Of this vast
crowd denounces this hypocrisy as be-
ing sin. He also says plainly that what
they had been saying in darkness will
be proclaimed from the housetops.
Our Lord compares hypocrisy with
leaven in that 1t Is the product of cor
ruption, it works secretly, 1t infects
the whole mass. $50 hypocrisy will
effect our whole life and conduct)
This leaven is a sour spreading cor.
ruption that changes the whole charac-
ter of a man. 1t cannot be hid. No
amount of care can effectually cover
our deceit. We may, for a time, hide
our sin from men, but God knows and
in due time will publish it abroad ".
81; I. Tim. SPA. Not alone our acts,
but our secret thoughts also. This
is comforting and condemning as
well. The word Of counsel to the seek
err Of life eternal will have its re-
ward. To the saint Of God this
thought brings no condemnation, L.
John 4: IS.
Warned by. Jesus. d
u. The fear of death, w. 4, 7. Such
publicity will and always has led to
persecution, and SO Jesus calls his
disciples to courage, charging them
that they fear not those who have
power over the body. but rather to
fear him whose power is over the
soul. Notice the manner OF address,
my friends. fear not" Intimacy and
courage are suggested. Look up the
many times the Scriptures admonish
us not to fear, l. John AIS. Satan and
man ". 81 have power over the body,
but they cannot touch the soul. The
Christian, however, needs not to fear
man or Satan, lisa. 51:12, Rom. S:31,
for the angel of Jehovah (the Lord
Jesus) encamps about them that fear
Jehovah Ups. 34:O. Paul tells US that
to depart from this life is again, Phil.
1:2l; II. Cor. SIS. We have, therefore,
no cause to fear the death Of the body.
One only, God, has the power after
death. to cast the soul into hell ". 81.
He it is who gives us a suggestion OF
awful consciousness of the soul, and OF
the body as well, when they are in
hell, Matt. 1929. Jesus has warned
US and we are to warn others that they
avoid that which was prepared, not for
man, but Off the devil and his angels.
Matt. 25:41. Is there a hell? Yes!
Else Jesus was deceived or has de
liberately deceived US. Thank God
however, that as a man Is or more
value than a sparrow, so God has pre-
pared better things for those who
place their faith in his son, ". 81. he
also looks after the most minute details
OF u lives, beyond what we can do
down to the counting Of the hairs Of
our head ". y. Contrast Fear him,
V. s., and Fear not" v. Z. The fear Of
God produces that obedience and fes
lowship whereby all other fear is ban
ished. All fear being banished we be
, come conscious Of his love and we arr
inspired to persistent service.
III. The fear Of making an open con
f~ession, w. s-12. With such a tender
r beautiful assurance Of Gods care owe
US 1t would unnecessary 10
Jesus to admonish his followers abou
confessing him before the world. Ye
, such is the persistent hardness an
the natural timidity Of the humal
, heart that the Master, in inercy. warm
! his followers, Rom. 1919, 10. Gu
Lord looks beyond his disciples to tn
I dispensation Of the Spirit and dc
clared that men, speaking against hin
, would be forgiven. but that those VIII
Islander, detract and heap vituperatiol
upon the Spirit would commit a sin,
, blasphemy. which could not be fol
given. Moreover, in that dispense
!, ton Of the Spirit, no matter how niue
= men might suffer. or be in danger
, they would be taught by that Spiri
what they ought to say, Wv. IL, IL.
, The one who commits this sin, d.
Hberately attributes to the Devil wha
he knows to be the work of the Spiri
Matt. 12:22.32. It Is a deliberat
choice Of darkness and the heart is 9
hardened as to preclude repentance
, There is no desire for repentance
Those whom Jesus calls to proclail
the truth concerning the Kingdom I
, God may depend upon a cooperate
:. OF the Holy Spirit which will mai
: them fearless Of all opposition. III
:" death Of the body is but an inciden
As we receive the Comforter ar
come to know the God of all comic
we begin to sense u value to him
y carrying out his enterprises and Il
II mystery of his condescending grac