The Red Cloud chief., 1918-01-31
IMPROVED UNIFoRM INTERNATIONAL
NNDNSQlOOL
LESSON
(By u. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course of tho Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago.)
tCopyrisnt. 1917. Western Newspaper Union,
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 3
JESUS LORD OF THE SABBATH

TEACHERS-Ex. 3:S-11; lisa. bS:13. II;
Neh. 13:l5-22: Matt. 12:i-s: Luke 4:i6; Acts
2o:7; I Cor. 1871. g: Col. 2:16. II.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus and the Sab
bath day.
MEMORY vERsE-Remembcr the Sab.
bath day. to keep II holy.-Ex. 2o:s.
JUNIOR TOP1C-Jesus and the Sabbath
MEMORY vERsE-Ex. 2o:s-11.
INTERMEDIATES. SENIOR AND
ADULT ToPIc-our day OF rest and wor.
ship.
4. The Sabbath a Boon, Not q Burden
wv. 23-2S). It has been suggested
that this passage, particularly verse %
indicates something of the poverty ant
simplicity Of the lives of the disciples
that they lived not only q day Mt n time
but literally from hand to mouth
America Is the most prodlgal nation on
the globe. but It Is today facing the ne
cessity of conservation and retrcnch'
ment, not because II Is desired but OF
necessity In winning this great world
wal struggle. Perhaps this will prove
to be a boon growing out of the dark.
ness of the days through which we are
passing.
Notice that the dlscipllnes were not
particularly criticized because they
plucked md appropriated the grain
that belonged to another even though
1t was for their bodily needs, but be-
cause they did 1t on the Sabbath day.
The Jewish law permitted them to
take that which did not belong to them
because of their necessity, but would
not permit them to do 1t on the first
day of the week. The criticism Of the
Pharisees. based upon Deut. 5:14; FIX.
81 :15, though apparently scrlptural,
was, however, based upon an incom.
plete knowledge and application Of
those scriptures. Jesus shows them
first that ceremonial prescriptions and
laws must give way before the needs
Of man and he cites the case Of David
as an illustration. Again he shows
them that the demands of the temple
service were superior to the prescrip-
tons of the common law (See Matt.
II Is, o., that he, himself, Is greater
than the temple for he Is the a In
whom God tabernacled (John Liza II.
". Margin). The Sabbath law there
fore must give way before the neces-
sity Of Christian service. Again he
shows that mercy Is more than sacri-
fee, and 80 ceremonial demands must
give way before the needs of mercy
and compassion. He also shows them
that the Sabbath was made for man
wv. "a, 2S) rather than man for the
Sabbath. He, the "Son Of Man." Is the
consummation and head Of the race.
Lord even Of the Sabbath. and as Lord
Of the Sabbath he has set aside the
seventh day Sabbath, which was the
shadow of things to come (Col. 2:17)
and belongs to the old order and dis
pensation. 1t is true that we have no
right to judge any man regarding the
Sabbath (Col. 2:16, 10, but as Chris
tians who are 'risen with Christ" (Col.
8:1) we are to keep the Lords Day.
Grew. 1:10), the first day Of the week,
(Acts 20:7) the resurrection day,
and are under no law whatever to keep
the seventh day.
II. A Proper Use Of the Lords Day
(Ch. 8:1-5). It Is somewhat unfortu-
nate, u divisions Of the Scripture In
to chapters and verses. This next
passage is really a practical applica-
ton and illustration Of the principle
with which Jesus has Just been deal.
ing. 1t was the custom Of Jesus to
frequent the synagogue on the Sab
bath Day duke 4:16), the day upon
which the Jews still gathered In large
numbers. We need to note ". y that
the question which was asked Of him
was not a fair question. not so much
honest seeking for information, but
rather they watched him" for they
wanted to find something with which
to trap him. Jesus taught that IL ID
lawful to do good OF the Sabbath Day,
that It is lawful to heal on the Sab
bath Day (Matt. II :10) that 1t Is law.
full to restore a lost ass or OK ON the
Sabbath Day (Luke IA %; Matt. II :11)
that a man Is of value than q
sheep (Matt. II :13), and that the new
methods and new times demanded new
applications mark 2:21, 22). In these
teachings Jesus does not necessarily
abolish or abrogate the ancient fourth
commandment, but rather the misin'
depreciation, misuse and misapplica'
ton Of the Sabbath law. For a cor
rect Interpretation Of the Old Tesla
ment Sabbath see lisa. 50 :13, IA. The
difference between the Jewish Sabbath
and Christian Lords Day Is a matter
Of counting; we begin to count at the
point Of the resurrection Of Jesus. The
Sabbath Day is a means to an end
It Is not the end itself.
Americas Great Heritage.
The man was really and Organi'
cally sick; he had a withered hand
which all could see--no 'moral error
about 1t at all, and he was really heal
ed. The Lords Day is Americas great
heritage. Are we going to throw II
away2 1t is Of economic value as well
as a spiritual heritage. The 0bserv
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