Evening star., 1928-03-17
JESUS TEACHES SINCERITY.
Mark, vii.l.33.
Golden Text: Keep thy heart
with all diligence; for out Of 1t
are the issues OF life.-Proverbs,
iv.23.
BY REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.

Religious liberty was one of the gifts
made by the Lord Jesus, the. enanci-
pator OF men, to the world. The germs
OF spiritual freedom that had dominated
many q heroic soul during the exile
and under Ezra we're antagonistic to
the popular and materialistic spirit that
caused the people to desire to make
Jesus king by force. Immediately after
He had demonstrated His power TO pro-
vide bread for the multitude. They
we're revived by the Master in His con-
troversy with the PhsriSees and the
deputation sent from Jerusalem. Ste
plien pointed out In his sermon that
the reason that the people, who appre-
ciated the social service ministry or
Jesus. failed to understand the Christ
was due to the fact that they had lost
the power Of appreciating spiritual VAL
ues. They graSped the external demon
stration, but failed to recognize the In
ner or spiritual life.
Jesus chose not to BE- made king. He
would not accept 1t II drafted. This
He made clear In His sermon the day
following His feeding the 5000. In
that epoch-making sermon, delivered in
the synagogue Of Capernum on the
Sabbath following the miracle OF feed
ing the multitude. the Master turned
the multitude against Him. John has
preserved for us the discourse that de-
fined the radical difference between
the Kingdom OF God and the political
power that they sought to inaugurate
by making Him king. He rebuked them
for seeking 10 make Him king because
OF His power to supply them with
bread. He urged them 70 accept Him
as the living bread from Heaven. He
wished them 10 permit Him TO do for
their souls what bread could do for
their bodies. He summoned them to
work for the supreme interest. seeking
first their spiritual welfare. When the
multitude recognized that the liberty
Jesus planned 10 obtain for them was
spiritual and not political, many OF
His disciples left Him.
When the large number deserted Him
because they were disappointed that He
did not propose to overcome the inpe.
rial power OF Rome. that had crushed
Judah. Jesus tested the fidelity OF His
apostolic band. Peters answer proved
that Christ had not failed. II He had
succeeded in winning only Peter, His
work would not have been In vain: bat
the IL were true 10 the Master. This
encouraged Him To make the final
break with the PilariSees IN today's les
son. Jesus could have secured the
hearty cooperation Of this powerful,
patriotic and devoted party. had He
been willing 10 submit to their selfish
plans. Every priest. preacher and pas
tor. following the example Of their Lord,
will oppose modern niatertalism, that
seeks to commercialize Christianity. by
their refusing TO lower his spiritual
standards or stultify his conservation
as a minister Of the gospel. Jesus stood
for spiritual supremacy in the cere-
monial cleansing controversy. teaching
that formal religion vas inSincere.
Formal Reiigien Insinesre.
For many weeks there had been an
increasing conflict between the Master
and His enemies. Reports Of His feed
ing the 5000 and the popular move
nient TO make Him king had evidently
reached Jerusalem. for In the deputatton
that had Travelled 90 miles 10 observe
His ministry we're representatives OF
both HeYodians and Pharisees. The fact
that they had come from Jerusalem
gave them prestige. position and positive
power With the people. They repre-
sented the vested interests. who saw
In the radical teachings Of Jesus prin-
cipies that aere .antagonistic 10 their
influence. material and political power
Both parties detected On enemy in
Christ. the Pharisees more than the He
sodians
The ahtagonism between Jesus and
the religious leaders broke out In the
failure OF the apostles 10 wash their
hands according 70 the religious tradi-
tons Of the nation. They had been
seeking o subject that would give them
the basis Of opposition 70 the Lord.
They saw In the apostles neglect of the
ceremonial custom q chance 10 hit
blow at the Master. 20 they protested
against His apparent indifference TO
their ceremonial practices. IL Was not
subject of sanitation. but OF substi~
turtna traditional rites, rules and reRu-
lations that had been passed down from
generation 10 generation for righteous
Eess, regeneration and religion.
Jesus answeFed their criticism with
keen irony. He unveiled their hypoc-
rlsy. applying the uncomplimentaTy
words Of Isaiah 10 them and charging
that they had set aside the word Of
God. He accused them Of substituting
for the spiritual religion Of Jehovah d
punctii!ous Observance Of nan-nade
forms. which made their profession in
sincere and their religion vain, He
cited, as sn evidence of their ap0stacy
fran God and His word. their practice
~ making petty and technical excuses
a lustiftstion for eyading the plain re-
oulrements of the iag. thus making re-
iigior business requiring experts,
Jesus illustrated His charge by citing
he practice, which the phafisees had
approved OF nen esSding their duty
~ their parents bv 6esisfing that their
rogasssiOns we're held AZ Gift of Ghd
n they sslG thst IL was COrben they sh-
solved tosmselyss from & privilege thai
eyeEy child sh0ijId render by their lnv.
jpg csrs ~ their parents. lie insisted
t0st allowing this practice they n'lli1rd
IN" IL ~ GOD by substituting for the
sms The traditions OF ipen.
Religions Liberty PT0cisimcd.
Ia making HIS reply W the JeruSh
lem critics. Jesus made d decisive break
with Jewish traditions and proclaimed
the principles of religious Ibsrty thai
have becofals q part of our national Con.
stitutiGn. IN a sententious statement
| that LcOk UD the question of defiisment
which Was the subject of contTovofss
| hnd had brought up the broader one o!
I human tradition and divine authority
| J@aus with ward bT0ks ths shachIs;
Lhat had bound men IN the bondage ~
bitusitstic regulations III csTsm9nialiaIr
sDh save men religious freedom
| Our ilord stawd With 81 The bsToe
| ~ he fsBh. whose lives hsd beer
| nl6os1 nv fine spiTt ~ rsod That tn
ls91 esF nGi speisnI ~ sMernallsm II
which ths outward things sHseLsd th'