Middletown transcript., 1918-02-02

i
ford eyen Of Ina sabbath.-Mark 2:&
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
rEACHERs-Ex. so:s-n: lisa. 6s:1s u:
| Neh- 1s:16-22: Matt. 1918: Luke AIS; ACTS
b:7: I Cor. 1911, 2; Col 2:1e. II.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus and tho SAD
me MEMORY Remember the Sab
bath day, to keep 1t holy.-Ex. U:s.
IT1NTOR TOPIC-Jesus and the Sabbath.
MEMORY vERSE-Ex. 20:S-n: .1
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AMI
ADULT TOPIC-Our day Of rest and w"s-
hip.
eThe Sabbath a Boon, Not Burden
wv. 23-2s). It has been suggested
nat this passage, particularly verse Is.
indicates something Of the poverty ana
implicity of the lives Of the disciples
hat they lived not only day at time
but literally from hand to mouth
! America is the most prodigal nation on
he globe, but it is today facing the ne
cessity of conservation and retrench-
ment, not because it is desired but OF
necessity in winning this great world
war 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 disciplincs were not
particularly criticized because they
plucked and appropriated the grain
that belonged to another even though
| It was for their bodily needs, but be-
cause they did it 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 it on the first
day of the week. The criticism of the
Pharisees, based upon Deut. 5:14; Elk.
81 rs, though apparently scriptural.
was, however, based upon an 1ncom-
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-
tions of the common law (See Matt.
1926, g., that he, himself, is greater
than the temple for he is the one in
whom God tabernacled John liza r.
v. 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 so ceremonial demands must
give way before the needs Of mercy
and compassion. He also shows them
that the Sabbath was made for man
wv. n, 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. It is true that we have no
right to Judge any man regarding the
Sabbath (Col. 2:16, ~, but as Chris
tians who are risen with Christ" (C0l.'
8:D we are to keep the Lords Day,
(Rev. 10y, the first day Of the week,
(Acts 20:7 the resurrection day.
and are under no law whatever to keep
the seventh day. Let those who are
under grace keep the first day (Gal.
9:1O) not as a day Of bondage but as
one of Christian liberty and privilege,
not, however, seeking their own COM
fort, refreshment and pleasure, but in
all things the pleasure and glory Of
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
(Rom. 2:3, 4: Rev. 1:1O), and If we
must minister let it be in the ministry
Of compassion in his name.
u. A Proper Use Of the Lords Day
(Ch. 3:1-5). 1t is somewhat unfortu-
nate, our 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. It 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 q 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 It is
lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day,
that it is lawful to heal on the Sab
bath Day (Matt. II 10Y that it is law
full to restore lost ass or OK on the
Sabbath Day (Luke As; Matt. 12:11)
that man Is of more value than a
sheep Matt. IL :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 misin4
terpretation, misuse and misapplica-
ton Of the Sabbath law. For a cor
rect Interpretation of the Old Testa-
ment Sabbath see lisa. So :13, a. The
difference between the Jewish Sabbath
and Christian Lords Day is a natter
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 it at all, and he was really heal
ed. The Lords Day Is Americas great
heritage. Are we going to throw it
away7 1t is Of economic value as well
as spiritual heritage. The observ-