Evening star., 1928-04-21

home. From the time He left Nazareth
to identify Himself with the movement
started by the Baptist up to the hour
of His crucifixion our Lord was deprievd
of the joys of the home, He was rapidly
facing the end of His career in the flesh
when He surprised His enemies by in
sisting upon the Sanctity of the home.
The Pharisees sought to entangle
Him in the vexed problem Of divorce,
which had divided the students Of
Hillel and Shammai into two bitter an
tagonistic schools. Shammai, who had
been a student of the distinguished and
learned Rabbi Hillel, differed from his
master, who held that the husband had
the right to divorce his wife when he
wished. separated from Hillel and took
the position that divorce should be per-
mitted only upon the grounds of moral
defilement The lax and liberal position
of Hillel made his view to be the most
popular and influential.
Jewish ideals of home. as a divine in-
stitution. prevented them indulging III
the exercise of divorce to the extent
that 1t has come into practice IN our
times, until some students OF social life
fear that the home. which is the back
bone of civilization. is III danger OF dis
integration Unless the ideals OF Jesus
in reference to the Sanctity OF the nome
and the bleSsedneSS of children become
the dominant convictions OF our modern
thinking upon these vital subjects, there
can be no question but that the founda-
tions of our country. civilization ana
Christianity will be imperiled.
The Divorce Question.
The Baptist had perished because OF
his courageous condemnation of Herod'
marriage to his niece Herodias, the wife
of his half-brother. This had neceSSi-
tated his securing a divorce from ms
wife, who was the daughter of Aretas
King of Arabia, and involved him III
war with that monarch, IN which ne
was defeated" Perea, where the events
of this weeks lesson took place, was
under his control, When the PhariseeS
approached the Master with the divorce
question they recognized that IT was 0
dangerous one If it had not been one
of that character they would not have
used II in their efforts to catch Him.
They had weighed His reference to the
subject in His sermon on the mount and
carefully considered the liberal views he
had expressed in reference to Sabbath
observance. fasting and ceremonial
purity" They believed that no matter
how He answered their question He
would estrange a number of His follow
ers. They knew that Herod looked with
suspicion upon Jesus and that He faced
imminent danger from that ruler by any
answer that would stir up HerodlaS
They asked the Master deliberately, with
the view of leading Him into trap, the
question, rs it lawful for a man to put
away his wife for every cause?"
Christ'S counter question compelled
the Pharisees to fall back upon the Law
of God Their reply that Moses in the
law had permitted divorce was accepted
By the Lord. but He spoke clearly His
own Judgment In a courageous manner
showing them that He was not afraid
Of discussing the difficult and danger
Gus subject. Jesus made a distinction
between a command of Gods law and
the permission given by Moses because
of the perversity OF mems hearts. He
did not deny the authority of Moses
when He assumed the right to promul-
gate the laws regulating the home as
the Supreme Lawgiver.
The Marriage Vows.
Jesus called the Jews of His day, who
prided themselves upon the facility witt
which they could dissolve the marriage
VOWS, to consider the historical founda'
ton of the home. In the beginning tht
Master insisted that the divine plan anc
will did not provide for divorce. He
taught that the ideal marriage vows
we're indissoluble. II was TO be a liie
bond of such a vital nature that tht
two separate and distinct personalities
were merged into a union that made
each a part of the other. Our Lore
urged that What God hath joined to-
gether, let no man put asunder." which
principle, If practiced by men today
would promote the welfare of all whe
assumed the marriage VOW and the So
cial life of men.
Broadus has suggested that the per.
mission of securing divorces was giver
by Moses for the Israelites. when they
had Just escaped from Egypt. A nixct
company accompanied them and tns
tribes had been corrupted during thei'
soiourn In Egypt with some ifnmora
ideals We must never forget that lov'
is the tie that binds mems hearts
souls and lives together in the bonds ol
matrimony. Although Jesus took thi'
stand for the sanctity of the marriage
vow, according 10 Matthew xix.9, va
/ have an addition To the statement O
| this lesson that would show that HI
| permitted divorce, but did not com
! nland IT, In case of the violation OF tn
seventh commandment. Paul informs
| us that Jesus favored legal separation
| In / Corinthians WHO'LL. In many In
stances innocent people have suffered
grievously and bitterly through mar
| riages not made In accordance with TN
| will OF God Few marriages contractet
| By believers, who have sought at al
| times 10 glorify the Lord Jesus by ly
| ing in accordance with Christs vii
/ have ended in divorce proceedings Z
| prominent minister asked the writei
/ the other day 10 mention a case @
| divorce being obtained where boti
| parties were regular attendants ans
| workers In the same church. Looking
| back upon a ministry of over 80 years
/ the writer could not mention one. Thi
! suggests that although He may hav'
! forbid divorces, the religion OF Jesus
| when lived up 10 by His followers. II
| every way, removes by its spirit OF low
| the desire or need OF the divorce.
Blessing Little Children.
The transition from the discussion
concerning the marriage VOW 10 that O
little children is suggestive He passes
naturally from marriage to the fruits o
marriage. Jesus was not the only lib
orator of women by Hts application o
the single standard to both sexes bu
He welcomed their bringing their littl'
ones 10 Him TO be blessed. His apostles
objected and sought 10 hinder TIN
mothers In their efforts to bring thei
children 10 Him. Only two or thret
times In the Gospel records are We tolt