Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-02-12

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FAST. Jesus accepted three such
invitations from the Pharisees and
was accused of being glutton and a
wine bibber, Matt. lib; Luke 1885.
4 80, A. In this instance we are told
plainly ~. 54) why he had been asked
| to this least. At later time, Q. &.
during the Passion week. Jesus deiiv-
Pharisees Matt 23) in which he re-
peated many of the things we study
| today
Must Be Clean.
| l. False VS.. True cleansing (vv 81
Az. The orthodox Jew is very punc-
tilious to avoid ceremonial uncleanli-
ness. In Christ's time this ceremoni-
alism was at its highest development.
To be defiled was far worse than to be
morally unclean. This Pharisee mar
veled" that Jesus was not likewise
concerned with his outward acts ".
49, Sc also Matt. 1926. 26). To have
a clean cup and platter was more inn
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 | have been dipped in the
waters of eternal life which come
from the throne Of God" Pious plat
tiers, presented in pride, must be in
wardly purified.
Jesus pronounces three woes"
griefs that like an avenging nemesis
hang over men of such a character.
Cd A woe" 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 churchly duties at all but
these cannot be substituted for
Righteousness (see Micha 6:S). (2)
A woe" against those who love the
places of pre-eminence (v. 43, CT. Matt.
1876, ~ This spirit has not departed
from the church after lapse Of cen.
turtles 1t is unchristian, unchristlike.
The great one must be the servant of
all Matt. 1911, 20:28, John 1874, Is,
Phil. 2:5-S). (3) W 43), The third
woe" is directed against hypocrisy
To touch a grave was to become I'M
clean, and hence they were white
washed to give men warning. Many
Christians are without beautiful to be-
hold, yet within full of dead mems
bones and all manner Of uncleanliness.
The Three Woes.
II. Real vs.. Sham Lives (vv 45-
54). The lawyers were the theologians,
the expounders Of the Mosaic law Ev-
identity the words of Jesus produced
great conviction. The word 'reprc ach-
est ". 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. "a 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 i'm
portant than the law itself. (2)
". 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. 1t
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, S0). (3) (v 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; I'VE enter
not in yourselves, neither suffer ye
them that are entering in to enter"
Matt. 1918, Am. Rv.). These law
yers, theologiaus, 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 explained" that
law as to leave men in darkness.
Supposed to lead men into truth. they
were shutting them out of the truth.
What terrible indictment of many
of this present age.
We quote from the letter OF Wis
consin business man: THE average
man is interested in the teachings OF
the Bible. If the Bible cannot stand
upon its own feet, it is foolish to boil
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 e few who oc-
cupy the position OF teachers obscure
the truth of God and they shut men