Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-13
Golden Text: sEThou shalt love thy
neighbor as myself" Matt. 1919.

TOku6A &9ASs A4ASA S~@oA" SSvS way
neighbor as myself" Matt. 1919.
The Galilean ministry was ended.
Jesus had not been accepted as the
king. He turns now to Perea, the
region east of the Jordan, and there
labored for about six months Mat
thew gives a very brief statement
of this Perean ministry, Mark and
Luke giving us more details of 1t,
for Matthew's purpose was to treat
of the King, and he was hurrying on
to the end when the King was nailed
to the cross.
The Pharisees and rulers had
grown so bitter in their hatred of
Him who claimed to be the King
that they were ever on the alert to
find some way to catch Him. There
versy between the school of Himmel
and the school of Shammai on the
question of divorce (the world today
must belong to that schooD and the
other that there was no cause suff1-
cient to justify it. They tried to In
volve Him in the controversy. His
answer was wonderfully skillful. He
went back to the garden of Eden and
showed that in Gods thought not
only was divorce out Of the question.
but also polygamy. "They two shall
be one flesh"
He had thus made possible and
sure the foundation Of the home and
given to woman place no other
teacher had ever accorded her, and
Matthew significantly adds that at
that time heathenS brought to Him
children in arms that He might put
His hands on them and pray. His
disciples resented this, for they had
not yet grasped the Importance of
childhood. SO He rebuked them and
said: Suffer little children to come
unto me and forbid them not, for of
A rare combination of sternness and
gentleness was Jesus. No one could
be more indignant. no one as tender.
At that time they came running
to Him a rich young ruler and
kneeled at His feet, saying: GOOD
Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal l1fe?" Jesus answer
When the Philippian jailer asked
Paul similar question afterWard,
Paul's answer was so different: BE
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and
thou shalt be saved and thy house.
said Paul. But Jesus answered, ap-
parently rather bluntly, why call
est thou me good? There is no one
into life, keep the commandments "
Jesus could see deeply, and He knew
what this young mans real need
was, so He spoke accordingly. The
jailer was repentant and at his wit
end; the young man was self-rlgh-
teous and superficial. Jesus question
was to arouse his conscience. He had
a very superficial idea of goodness.
Jesus wanted to provoke thought and
to make him see that the goodness
he thought He had was as nothing
when compared to God. The young
rulers next question showed his
self-righteousness, and his false IDEA
of goodness: (which command
ments?" asked he.
Note the order in which Jesus
named them: The 9Th. 7th, 8th, 9Th
not in it's negative, as found in the
decalogue, but in it's positive truth
To love ones neighbor as ones self
precludes the possibility of covet1ng
that which is our neighbours. I think
Jesus gave them in this order, reach
ing a climax with the young ruler
He mentioned those first which he
closing with those which he had not
kept, but did not realize it.
The young mans elf-sufficiency
would have been fascinating if 1t had
not been so tragic. "All these have
kept from my youth" He had nc
sense of sin at all. What lack
YETI" Did he really feel the need OF
the question in that way to extract
from Jesus a compliment? Was his
attitude this?-Look at me; I have
done all the law tells me to do; Is
there anything else You can tell me
that 1 haven't done? Name it and
will do it. Or was he really feeling
the need of something that would
~; Iaa In N chi
of all he had done, and wondered
what would bring it?
Well, Mark tells US that Jesus, be-
holding him, loved him. There was
that in him, whether his piety or his
superlative need in spite Of all he
had done, that drew out the very
heart of the Christ to him. I think
the thing that Jesus said to him
was one of the hardest things to do
it was severe in it's demands-we
must not forget the tone of Jesus
voice when He said it in tone that
was vibrated with His intensest love
eff thou wouldst be perfect, go, sell
give; come. follow" It was test
that was severe, but it was neces,
sary. This young man had called
Him good. Jesus had said, That i'm
plies that am God. The young man
had just the getting of eternal life
on a contract basis. What Jesus
had done to make it possible for Him
to give eternal life was to give uE
everything He had. The young mar
claimed to be as good as He was, by
having kept the law perfectly all
his life. Then, said Jesus-and there
was no other course open to Him
do what 1 have done, give up every
thing for others, and come along
with Me. Jesus question to him was
thought provoking, to show him his
superficial idea Of goodness. His
demand upon him now is to reveal
to him how deceived he was as to
his goodness. He really had not kepd
the law as he thought he had.
All! It touched him on a tender
spot. He went away sad and indig-
nant, for he was very wealthy. He
had come expecting some common
dation for his piety, or some simple
thing to do. Instead. he had been
shown that he lacked the one thing
essential to entering the kingdom
childlike dependence, trust, docility
and obedience.
The heart of Christ was saddened.
"How hardly shall they that have
riches enter into the Kingdom. of
Heaven. It is easier for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needle