The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-29
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNYSQIOOL
LESSON
(By r. o. SELLERS, Director OF Evening
Department, The Moody Bible Institute,
Chfrapol
LESSON FOR AUGUST 80
A DAY OF QUESTIONS.

VI
GOLDEN TEXT-"They say unto Him,
= Caesars. Then said He unto them, rem
der therefore unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars; and unto God the things
that are Gods" Matt. 1921 r. ".
The title Of this lesson suggests
more than the portion of Scripture Sc.
lccted seems to warrant. We have
seen in previous lessons how the Mas
ter condemned and denounced the
rulers by his teaching in parallels.
This led the Pharisees to take coun-
sci how they might ensnare him ".
15). Three questions we're asked, n
political, one doctrinal and one ethi-
cal. Our next lesson deals with the
third question.
Secret Methods.
/. The First Question, w. 1922.
This parable of the wicked husband
mans (ch. 21) seems to have been
clearly understood by the Pharisees
". 45). While it stung 1t did not
bring them to repentance. The hard
ening effect of unaccepted truth is one
of it's most terrible results upon the
human heart. The record tells us
plainly (ch. 21:46) why these Phari-
sees we're withheld from at once put
ting Jesus out of the way. They
therefore resorted' to secret methods
and ~endeavored to bring hin into con-
flict with the Roman government. The
Pharisees entered into this plot to en-
tangle Jesus with their most deter
mined enemies, the Herodian party
MARK 1919. 1t was a good scheme
from their viewpoint to get Jesus to
utter something reasonable and then
to turn him over to Herod, who was
q puppet Of Rome. These Pharisees
scorned to pay taxes to this same gov
eminent with which they are now con-
niving. They began with words of
smooth fattery ". 16). The devil is
never so subtitle, so dangerous nor so
malicious as when he f1atters. Apart
from Jesus each party would have,
given quite a different reply to this
question. In fancy we can see them
as they must have gloatingly ex-
claimed, Now we will see hin en-
trapped" If Jesus declared 1t illegal
to pay tribute to Caesar they could at
once formulate a charge of sedition
against him. On the other hand, for
him to declare it proper thus to pay
tribute to a foreign government would
seem to them for him to deny his mes
sianic claim, according to their under
standing Of the messianic program.
Calling for a Roman denarius, a
legal taxpaying coin worth about II
cents, he asked, Whose is this image
and supe~rscription? Caesars" they
reply, and by those words they have
caught themselves and not Jesus. His
reply was, in effect, Very well. you
accept the money of Rome. you must
by that act accept the responsibility
which accompanies It." Jesus first of
all denounces their hypocrisy and then
exposes the folly of their question.
His Teaching Is Plain.
II. The Second Question, v. 1888.
The railroads.&c. Sadducees, who did
not believe in the resurrection at all,
now try to entrap Jesus by question
ing him along the line of their particu'
lar doctrine. The teaching of Jesus
is plain and unequivocal as to the res
direction of the body and the immor.
tally Of the soul Jesus seems in this
reply rather to ignore the first and
to strike at the second, which is more
fundamental. Their plan of attach
was very scholarly and philosophical
and was designed to show the absurd
ity Of his teaching and thus by ridi
Guile discredit his standing. 1t Is al
ways a favorite way for those VIII
bubble to imagine a suppositious cas-
and then to put a subtitle question. Il
this case our Lord, by n sentenc'
demolished their well-planned attack
"Ye do err, not knowing the ScriI
lures, nor the power Of God"
Tho Teaching. Jesus here shows u
the true relation of himself and of hi
people to political questions. He rec
ognizes the authority of human goN
eminent and it is his will that his TO
lowers shall enjoy the liberties @
privileges which that government ha
10 offer; at the same time they are t
submit themselves to its requirement
under one clearly stated condition
viz, Gods supreme will. In so far
the laws Of the state are just an
true and in harmony with the aw
God it is the duty Of Christian Peep
TO support anu 10 Opey lhem' SSSt
would ally himself with neither part
thereby avoiding completely with an
measure of evil. We may likewii
maintain a similar relationship wit
God and speak with authority In Il
correction Of abuses, and in the dire
ton Of civic and national life.
We nave ~purposely included the Sc
ond question inasmuch as the next lie
son concerns the third of this grou
which ought to be studied as a Who'll
Jesus was ever ready to meet al
question. He never equivocated, b
lifts his answer out Of the realm
the controversial into that Of abidil
principles. Jesus denounced the b
pocrisy OF his assailants, condemn
their ignorance Of the law they
loudly protested to obey and p
claimed at the same time the hmm
tality Of the soul and he resurrecti
of the body. He emphasizes ma
responsibility to his government.
Bacon-I see eggs can be boil
steamed and poached at the same I'll
with a new cooking utensil on
.AoAn~ .s.oh nrdaw