The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-05-21
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Serving Thru Christian Citizenship
Rv HIGHT c. MOORE

Sunday School Lesson for May
%. ~ go. s.,o,, 30
9 Scripture: Mark l2; 1877 20
Golden Text: Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. MARX
1891. n,
In the conflict between Chrlst
and the ecclesiastics in the )! en-,
pie on Tuesday Of crucliixloh
week, he answered three captious
questions designed, to entrap nun
and discount his teaching: Two
of them we study today: the po-
litical question Of paying TRIBUTE
to Rome; and the theologleal
question Of differentiating divine
commands.
THE PAYMENT OF TRIBUTE
TO CAESAR MARK l2:l3-lD
) THE GOOD CITIZEN emefges
from the discussion OF the poll
tax due. to Caesar, the Roman
ruler of the Hebrew world. q
The auestioners were two con-
flietine parties: The Pharisees
who chafed under the Roman
woke. and the Herodians who
were trucnlent partisans OF Rome
bad citizens, all OF them. Ihey
united against Jesus. Their evi-
dent purpose was to entangle MN
so as to get charge sufficient
to place him in the hands OF the
Roman authorities. (2) The ques-
ton breathed a wrong civic spirit.
II opened with words designed MS
the baldest Of flattery, rang with
q condescending tone, and sought
to place Jesus IN
political dilemma. He saw and
scored their hypocrisy. But ne did
more. (3) The answer was two
edged sword, one edge cleaving
in twain the net that was spread,
and the other cleaving open a
knotty public problem. First, ne
made his inquisitors- bring a Ro-
man coin. and confess that, their
currency bore the stamp of Gaze
sar. Having, thus barred the :Evul-
point. he thrust in the
blade of truth, Pharisees and He
rodians alike wincing: under it.
Render to Caesar what belongs to
him. Render to God what belongs
to him. That is, be a good citizen
of your government and be a
good citizen of the kingdom OF
heaven. We ought to be loyal to
both the commonwealth and the
Kingdom. No bad citizen is good
Christian and no good Christian
is a bad citizen. 90 The victory
Of Jesus was complete. His amaz,
ed adversaries skunk away. And
no wonder!r :. g.
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
IN THE LAW: I'M : l2:28-34) |
THE GOOD c H R / S T ! A N
energies from the discussion of |
the great commandment in the |
Law of Moses. CD The inquirer
was well versed in both civil and !
law. He seems person
ally to have been sincere, for he |
observed that Jesus had answer.
ed former questions wisely and
was commended by Jesus in this
But his question was
calculated to arouse antagonism
against Jesus, particularly If ne
,hould set aside the oral law and
bus invite rupture with the mass
IS, or if he should magnify GER
ain favorite commands and omit
,thers equally as important. In
,tead of splittin" ethical hairs
md differentiating divine COM
nands Jesus based every dutv
mon love. (2) The first great
requires supreme
owe to God. 1t is love from the
Whole heart. gathering into one
II the strands of affection. 1t
5 love dominating the entire
oul as the seat of the will. It.
; a love absorbing the whole
mind, BRINGING the rays of intel
ipence to a focus in burning love.
md it is love twining together
very strand of our. strength for
he expression of that love in ev-
nv way possible. 80 The second
.reat commandment is built on
he same basis. The love which
caches upward to God is sure to
each outward to man. And as
I'VE to God summarizes the First
able of the Law flour command
,ents) so love to man summar-
,es the Second Table of the Law
six commandments). Is there
nv other commandment greater
han these? Jesus says there is
ot. And our own hearts tell us
hat he is right. Indeed, his in.
uirer that day commended his
nswer declaring that love is
bove whole burnt offerings and
acrifices. So discreet a Comment
net instant approval from Jesus
Tho averred that the Scribe wasl
ot far from the kingdom of Cod
SERVE GOD AND COUNTRY
"a The Teacher Of Civic Scr.
ice. Chou art true" Jesus was
he best citizen earth ever had
e was true. He was dependable
here vas not one atom of fals;tv
bout him. q 1850
~ The Truth for Civic set
ice. "Teachest the way of Cod -
ignorance in any form is harmfn,
o the BODY polite. Ignorance Of
he way OF God is disastrous, for
means want of character as well
5 want of intelligence.
90 The Taught in Civic Ser.
ice. Thou regardest not the nor
on OF men" A government of
aVolit ~. means q government al
Q 81 slaves. All ought to have
guar opportunities. The govern.