McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-02-01
IMPROVED UNIPoRN INTERNATIONAL
SUNlMSQn00L
LESSON
(By z. 0. 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.
EssoN TExT-Mark 2:1s-s:e.


ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERs-Ex. 2O:S-11; lisa. 5S:13 IA;
Neh 13:15-22; Matt. 12:1-8; Luke 4:16; Acts
BOT; Cor. 1871, Q: Col. 2:16 II.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus and the Sab.
bath day.
MEMORY vERsE-Remember the Sab
bath day, to keep 1t holy.-Ex. 20:S.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus and the Sabbath.
MEMORY VERSE-Ex. 20:S-l1.
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT TOPIC-Our day Of rest and wor-
ship.
I. The Sabbath q Boon, Not Burden
wv. 23-2S). It 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 day at a time
but literally from hand to mouth.
America Is the most prodigal nation on
the globe, but It IL 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
mesa Of the days through which we are
passing.
Notice that the disciplines 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 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; Elk.
81 10, 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.
1915, 81, that he, himself, Is greater
than the temple for he is the one in
whom God tabernacled (John ! IA 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. II, 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. ~, but as Chris
tians who are ''risen with Christ" (CoL
8:1) we are to keep the Lords Day,
(Rev. 1:1O). the first day Of the week.
(Acts 2O:7) the resurrection day.
and are under no law whatever to keep
the seventh day.
u. A Proper Uss Of the Lord's Day
(Ch. 8:1-5). 1t is somewhat unfortu-
nate, our divisions Of the Scripture In
to chapters and verses. This next
passage Is really q practical applica-
ton and illustration Of the principle
with which Jesus has just been deal
ing. II was the custom Of Jesus to
frequent the synagogue on the Sab
bath Day (Luke 4:l8), 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 fair question, not 30 much
honest seeking for information. but
rather they watched him" for they
wanted to find something with which
to trap him. Jesus taught that 1t IL
lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day.
that It Is lawful to heal on the Sab
bath Day Matt. 12:10) that 1t is law
full to restore lost ass or OK on the
Sabbath Day (Luke 14:5; Matt. 12:11)
that a man is Of more value than q
sheep (Matt. 2:13), and that the new
methods and new times demanded new
applications mark 2 81, 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 q cor.
rect Interpretation Of the Old Testa-
ment Sabbath see Ism. SO rs, IA. The
difference between the Jewish Sabbath
and Christian Lords Dey is a matter
Of counting; we begin to count at the
point Of the resurrection Of Jesus The
Sabbath Day II q means to an end;
It 10 not the end itself.
Amsriea's Great Heritage.
The man was really and, organi-
cally sick; he had q withered hand
which all could see--no moral error"
sSoc. !: at all, and he was really heal.
ed. The Lords Day is Americas great
heritage. Are we going to throw 1t
awayf 1t is Of economic value as well
as a spiritual heritage. The observ-
ance Of day of rest has actually in
creased the amount Of output in the
munition factories of England. In this
land Of hustle and hustle the brain
needs the rest the soul the feeding,
and the body the relaxation which Sun.
day observance alone can furnish