The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-02-02
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
NNDMSNOOL
LESSON
(By d. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago.)
Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 8
JESUS LORD OF THE SABBATH
LESSON TExT-Mark 2:1s-s;s.

ITO Bull VI AlAuN ID
Lord even of the sabbath.-Mark 2:2S.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Ex. a:s-11; Isa. 5s:13, IA;
Neh. 13:15-22; Matt. 12:1-S; Luke l:16; Acts
2O:7; 1 Cor. 1871, 2; Col. 2:16, II.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus and the Sab
bath day.
MEMORY vERSE-Remember the Sab
bath day, to keep it holy.-Ex. POS.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Jesus and the Sabbath.
MEMORY VERsE-Ex. 2O:S-11.
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPTC-Our day OF rest and wor-
ship.
I. The Sabbath a Boon, Not a Burden
wv. 1929. 1t has been suggested
that this passage, particularly verse %,
indicates something of the poverty and
simplicity of the lives of the disciples,
that they lived not only a day at a time
but literally from hand to mouth.
America is the most prodigal nation on
the globe, but 1t is today facing the ne
cessity Of conservation and retrench-
ment, not because 1t 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 disclplines were not
particularly criticized because they
plucked and appropriated the grain
that belonged to another even though
1t 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 1t on the first
day of the week. The criticism of the
Pharisees, based upon Deut. 5 IA; Elk.
81 rs, though apparently scriptural,
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, 81, that he, himself, is greater
than the temple for he is the n in
whom God t~abernacled (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. 81, 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
p%ensation. 1t is true that we have no
right to judge any man regarding the
Sabbath (Col. PIG, 10, but as Chris
tIans who are risen with Christ" (CoL
3:1) 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
Och. 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. 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 ". p that
the question which vas 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 it is
lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day,
that 1t is lawful to heal on the Sab
bath Day (Matt. IL :10) that it is law
full to restore a lost ass or OK on the
Sabbath Day duke IA IS; Matt. II I'D
that a man is of more value than a
sheep (Matt. II :13), and that the new
methods and new times demanded new
applications MARK :21, 22). In these
teachings Jesus does not necessarily
abolish or ~abrogate the ancient fourth
commandment, but rather the misin'
depreciation, misuse and misappllca.
ton of the Sabbath law. For a cor
rect Interpretation of the Old Testa-
ment Sabbath see lisa. 5S :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.
caily sick; he had a withered hand
which all could see-no moral error"
about 1t at all. and he was really heal