The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-05-20
Sunday. May 2l. 1888.
MarL- .2S-l0


Mark l2:2S-40.
Golden Text-Never man spake
like this man. John TAG.
In his conflict with the eccleS-
iastics in the temple on Tuesday
of crucifixion week Jesus most
effectively answered the three
captious questions designed to en-
trap him and discredit his teach
ing: The political question of the
Pharisees and Herodians about
paying tribute to Rome; the theO-
logical question of the SadduceeS
about ties in the future life; the
legal question of the scribes
about grading the divine COM
mands. Upon his silenced ques-
TONERS then he turned with the
unanswered question as to hlS
MessiahshiD and closed his public
career with the great philippe
against hypocrisy.
A SATISFYING ANSWER
The Supremacy Of Love Is
taught in the discussion Of the
great commandment in the law
Of Moses.
First, The inquirer was we'll
versed in both civil and theOlogl-
cal law. He seems personally to
have been sincere, for he Obserr-
ed that Jesus had answered form
er questions wisely and was COM
mended bv Jesus in this CONVERSE
ton. But his question was cal
culated to arouse antagonism
against Jesus, particularly if he
should set aside the oral law and
thus invite rupture with the mass
es, or if ne should magnify GER
tain favorite commands and omit
equally as important. Instead Of
splitting ethical hairs and differ
entiating divine commands Jesus
based every duty upon love.
Second, The first great ccm-
mandment requires supreme love
to God. 1t is a love from the
whole heart, gathering into one
all the strands of affection. 1t
is a love dominating the entire
soul as the seat Of the will. 1t
is a love absorbing the whole
mind, bringing the rays Of intel
ligence TO a focus in burning
love. And it is love twining
together every strand OF our
strength for the expression Of
that love in every way poshible.
Th.rd, The second great COM
mandment is built on the same
basis. The love which reaches
upward to God is sure to reach
outward to man. And rs love TO
God summarizes the first table of
the law -four commandments, so
love to man summarizes the sec
Ond table OF the law (SlX COM
mandmentS). Is there any other
commandment greater than these?
Jesus says there is not. And our
own hearts tell us that he is
hight. Indeed, his inquirer that
day commended his answer de-
claring that love is above whole
burnt offerings and sacrifices. So
discreet a comment met instant
approval from Jesus who averred
that the scribe was not far from
the Kingdom of God.
A SPIRITUAL QUESTION
The Surety of Faith is emphaS-
lied in the spiritual question con-
corning the Messiah. What pic
ture of him had the scribes in
mind after their study of proph-
ecy? All agreed that he must be
a descenant of David. So far they
had read accurately but they had
confined their observation to the
human side alone. Hence they eX-
pected the Messiah to succeed his
royal ancestor in yet more
glorious temporal kingdom. In
correcting their view Jesus quotes
David when under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit rs calling the
Messiah, Lord. asserting at once
his deity and his sovereignty.
(Note reference here to the
Triune God-the Lord Jehovah,
the Lord Messiah and God the
Holy Spirit How could he whom |
David called Lord be his son?
There can be but one answer.
Only the Goldman combining in
himself both deity and humanity
could possibly be David'S son and
David's Lord. How glad the COM
mon people were to hear this
doctrine.
A SOLEMN WARNING
The Sincerity of Service is mag
nified in the solemn warning
against phariSaic hypocrisy. Let
the scribes be heard with respect
so long as they eXpound and APP
ply the law of Moses. "But do
not we after their works: for
they say and do not They like
10 wear the long robes that show
cOnspicuously the blue fringe dis
them Numbers IS:
38). When they go to the mar
ketplace they are disappointed if