Evening star., 1928-01-21

! | vi |
Our Lords increasing popularity
served to deyelop greater desire on the
part of the Pharisecs to check His rising
power. He had defeated them In every
public attempt to enSnarc Him. so that
they turned their attention 20 Johns
disciples who were rapidly uniting vu,h
the followers of Jesus since Hcrod had
imprisoned John the Baptist Although
the law of Moses called for the observ-
ance of only one fast day year--the
Day of Atonement-~the strict Pharispes
tasted on the Monday and Thursday of
every week. II the banquet that Levi
gave in honor OF Jesus TO those VINO
were publicanS and sinners tthat We
considered last week.. was given ION a
Sunday or Wednesday evening i; wou.n
break into one of their faS;s." II was
evidently held at an hour when the
disciples OF John we're fasting
The plot OF the Phar!secs and scribcs
| 10 stir up the followers OF the EaD!'ss
| succeeded, for they came TO the Master
with a question that was n criticism Of
Jesus for His apparent neglect OF their
fast day. Our Lord knew that thcv
were sincere and had been melted by
the Fharisees and ScribeS TO raise the
( dutHLihIt, ~ n LIlptn CnIFt teNfiS-
! ~ and diplomatically bv citing the
j testimony OF John. given nj an tour
when the same antagonistic forces
were seeking 10 arouse n spirit Of
/ Jealousy IN the heart Of tha Bnpsi5t.
/ who declared that Jesus was the bride
. groom end he was only friend of the
bridegroom
/ Religious Fasting.
! Fasting has prominent place in all
religions OF the Near East. wnere
Christianity was founded BY abstain
ing from food they draw near 10 God
The Mosiems fast throughout the
month OF Ramadan as sincerely and
faithfully as many Christians observe
Lent. Much of the value OF fasting
/ depends upon the motive which prompts
] one 10 obStain from the use Of food
There are hours. according 10 the Mae
ter. when We would not feel like eating
especially in periods Of great sorrow ami
humiliation. Fasting has both
physiological and psychological value
When observed from the right motives
| II has been means of spiritual devel-
! opment jesus defended His practice
! OF enjoying social fellowship OF eating
| with publ.cans and sinners. not on tie
! ground that 1t gave Him an opportunity
! 10 win them for HIS kingdom. bu; by
His question Can the sons OF the
+ bedchamber fast. while the bridegroom
( Is with them" II was time of fcas,-
ing and rejoicing, for according tn the
/ Talmud members Of bridal party were
absolved AZ such time from PRAYER
and Worship When He departed for
/ II" knew that His death vas rapidly
! approaching then sorrow and fasting
| would be natural for His followers,
! raIil6 url,n
! with Him. In other words, Jesus in
| sisted that religious fasting should not
be mere form. but should express
/ genuine spiritual worship Religious
| lie must be real, Principles not rules.
/ must govern Our feaSting and fasting
jesus revealed the difference between
/ the traditional teachings OF the phar-
/ tseeS and His message by His ilils,ra~
! ton OF the wine skins. He knew that
the Judaism. which they taught. could
+ not stand the strain OF Hts teachings
| Although He came not To destroy the
law or the prophets" the separation Of
/ the Pharisces was antagonistic to the
! mission OF Christ. who came not 10
! call the righteous. but sinners to re-
| p"ntancf." In His efforts 10 win sim
ners, the Master was doing what the
/ prophets and the law had foretold He
could not unite their outworn customs
and dead rituals with His gospel any
| more than one could patch ''old clothes
F.! With unshrunk goods or put unfcrmen'-
ed wine into old wine skins" HIS
gospel OF love life and liberty could
not be adjusted 10 their hardfasi
! system that had no place for the de-
velopment Of the spiritual life of
saved soul
Lord Of the Sabbath.
The two other paragraphs Of the les /
son deal with the proper Observance ot /
the Sabbath The shameful neglect q! /
the sacred day of rest Was,the germ OF |
the Jewish captivity. Their experience |
In Babylon caused the Jews upon their /
return To concentrate their attention |
upon the observance OF the Sabbath |
The small nucleus Of legal requirements |
grew into bnrdensome and oppressive |
system, because the rabbits had forced |
! Interpretations OF the commandment |
that was contrary Ia the purpose plan |
ard principles ~ the Sabbath The !
ceremonial observation 0s the day be- |
came IN lime substitute for spiritual |
worship, marked by rest reflection and
reverence, So that Jesus rsbuked them /
| by saying, "fe have made the COM |
mandmcnt ot God Of none effect by |
your tradition" The question concern |
4 ing The proper observance Of the Sab |
bath occupied large place Ia the con- |
trovrfales between Christ aud the |
pharisees. who. pretending 10 he zeal !
ous for tod ami His law. sought Ia |
crafty their personal spite against |
Jesus by using the traditional Inter ,
ptetationh of the law against the
Master
The phhrihees observed The hungry |
disciples, Who began to make their |
way pluekng" aud eating the grain.
II may have been wheat ar barley, for
corn In an old English expression fol
nnv cereal They took advantage nl
their action and twisted The same into
reaping and thtashing both of which
would have heen violation ~ the !
Sabbath Law. They made II IA hahis
III complaint that charged the MaAler
win heing tacitly guilty ot being ii lhV-
breaker by permitting His disciples Ia
commit such iiagfant impiety In Ills
defense III the disciples. who had a right |
to take the food by law. Jesus cited the
Scripture, that contained an example /
III similar breach of ceremonial law,
and unfolded the principle Of the law
that governed and justified His dlsci-
pies III Ills question, "iiaye ye moi
teanf" There is not only irony bu,
All Implied sllggastian that they could
moi pt0dnee any Scripture tor their
position Edetsheim states that "1eWv