Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-04-05
LESSON FOR APRIL 7.
JESUS SETS MEN FREE.

AAAAooOIN "a t.l-Ot.
GOLDEN TEXT-If the son therefore
shall make you free, We shall be free in
deed.-John 1886.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psa. Till.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Matt. 15:1-31; II Cor. 3:17, 10;
Gal. SLIPS.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR ToPIC-Js-
sus and the deaf man.
MEMORY VERSE-He hath done all
things well, he maketh even the deaf to
hear and the dumb to speak.-Mark 7:37.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Chris-
tan liberty.
This lesson deals with the last OF
those four events which mark the
crisis in the life of our Lord at Caper-
naum. 1t occurred just before the third
period of his Galielean ministry and
the time of his final departure for Jeru-
salem. We have seen what h atti-
tude of Jesus was toward the law OF
his nation. In this lesson we see his
attitude toward the -rabbinical tradi-
tons of the people which were the
opinions of men and not the law OF
God. Just so many today look upon
l1lG 1OIluS anu (clSllOulCo VI liz
church as being verify the law of God.
Moreover, these traditions were made
a pretext whereby men evaded the
law. So today we find men very relig-
ious and punctilious in their churchly
duties, who fail miserably in their ap-
plication of the moral code to conduct.
The analysis falls into four general
divisions: One, the accusation, wv.
1-5. two, the answer, wv. 6-13) +; three,
the application, wv. 1929, and four,
the Illustration, wv. 24-37).
1. The Accusation. wv. 1-5). The
growing hatred of the Pharisees, led
them to make long journeys from Jeru-
salem that they might spy on Jesus
and find a pretext for accusation.
While they were studying him, they re-
vealed their ideas of the kingdom of
God. They took special notice that
the disciples Of Jesus ate without
washing their hands. We must not IN
derstand this to mean so much the re-
moval of deflement, as the neglect of
a ceremonial observance owe which
the Pharisees were punctilious, wv. 3,
~. Verses three and four illuminate
certain traditions to which the Jews
adhered tenaciously. Thus exempli
fed we a see that their ideas OF
mans relation to God were largely a
matter of external ceremony. Purity
to them was an outward matter largely
governed by the traditions of men, "
~.
IL. The Answer ". 6-13). The an
swer of Jesus reveals the very oppo
site ideal. He begins by calling the
Pharisees hypocrites. A hypocrite is
play actor-one, who hides behind {
mask. Applying the prophecy o.
Isaiah, Jesus plainly tells the Pharisee
that they are hiding their true charac
ter behind the mask of ceremonial
cleansing. Such play acting is but
poor imitation of the real heart con
dftion demanded of God, (Psa. 81 10Y
Their hearts were far from God. evel
though with their lips they professet
to serve him. The love we express t
God consists not in ritualistic worship
but in doing his will from the heart.
Ill. The Application, ". 1929
Jesus takes advantage of this discus
sion, and, turning to the multitude, uT
on whom the Pharisees would bind
grievous burden of ceremonialism an
falsehood (Matt. % AZ, warns theI
that it is not so much that which er
tiers into a man that defles him, a
that which issues from him ". 15).
seems quite natural that in their pei
plexity the disciples should ask Jesu
what be meant by that. In his repl
wv. 1929, Jesus shows very clearl
that 'the issues of life" prov. 4:23.
reveal the corruption which is within
(See Matt. II "a, So; Gen. 6:5; Jane
3:1O-12). If the heart be not cleanset
what will it. avail if we wash tn
hands? What then is the applicatio
for this present day? Clearly we al
taught the danger of lip service witt
out a change of heart. Substitutin
good for the best is sin. Forms al
ceremonies are good and have the
place; they are significant for they al
important teaching factors; but the
must not be substituted for a pul
heart. We must beware lest we bic
behind such a mask.
, There is here also plain teaching {
: to Jesus estimate of the PentateuC
and inferentially of the prophecy
Isaiah. He specifically calls it 'tf
Word of God" Surely we can accel
, his estimate as contrasted with Il
tradition of the elders or the eco
! sensus of modern thought"
: Less talk and more walk,
: Less wishing and more doing,
Less preaching and more practicing,
Less organization and more of the Spir
Finally, we have two illustration
] as to how Jesus sets men free. &
Jesus silence appears to deepen fair
in the pleading Syrophenician woms
". 24-30).
Z (b) We have the cure of the de
l and the dumb man, wv. 31-3O ; /
Simultaneous healing, showing divil
= power.
Jesus was setting his people fr
from their bodily infirmities and
I, the same time delivering them fro
! their sins and imperfections and brin
> ing them into his spiritual Kingdol
l This he is still doing.