The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-05-14

GOLDEN 1EAI-1ne STONE NillN4i ~
builders rejected is become the head OF the
corner.-Mark 1910.
"By what authority doest thou
these things? and who gave thee this
authority" Such was the challenge
Christ faced when He came into the
temple on the last day that He was
to be able to teach there. The chief
priests and elders (Matt. 21:23)
asked it because they knew that
they had received their authority
with their offices, whether appoint
i've or hereditary.
Jesus held no such position, yet
He had just driven the money chang
ers out of what He called my
house" - the temple. They chal-
lenged Him, and through the long
day He answered and also asked
them questions. Here we find rich
store of parallels, Illustrations, I'M
answerable arguments, as He met
the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodlans
all His enemies who, though they
hated each other, made common
cause against Jesus. The discus
sion concludes with His facing Of
the Pharisees with
1. The Ultimate QuestiOn-"What
Think Ye of the Christi" (22:4l-46).
The crux of the entire matter was
right there for them, as it is for US,
though in a somewhat different
sense. They we're looking for the
Messiah-the Christ; but their idea
of Him was that He would come as
their royal leader, to break the yoke
of Roman bondage and set them
free. They knew He was to be the
son of David, but they did not see
in their own Scriptures that this
one was to be David's greater son
(Matt. 12:42); that in the line of
David was to come the one whom
David sin the spirit called Lord"
Cps. HOLD. They knew about Christ,
but they did not know Him, and thus
they were like many today. They
have heard of Him; they may even
admire His character and His teach
ings, but they do not know Him.
What think you, reader, of Christ?
Christ then states
II. The Final Test-Doing, Not
Just Saying (23:1-G.
Having finally closed their mouths
(22:46) Jesus proceeded to a solemn
indictment of the scribes and Phari-
sees. First Of all He declared that
they failed in the final test of life,
which is not words but actions.
Notice that He recognized their
authority and their teaching, but in
severe condemnation pointed out
that they did not live what they pro-
fessed. That is the criterion by
which we shall all be judged. Those
who think that because they belong
to some church, or subscribe to a
creed, or speak a smooth word of
testimony they may then live as
they please, will find themselves
standing with the scribes and Phari-
sees on the judgment day, Why
keep that kind of company?
Such men are capable of
III. The Great HypOcrisy-Pride
Posing AS Piety (23:5-9).
They we're, oh, so religious! In
terpreting literally and mechanical
ly Gods command that they keep
His law always near them in action
(hand) and in thought (mind) (see
Deut. 6:8; 11;18), they made snowy
leather cases and wore them on
wrist and forehead as containers of
the written Word. They loved the
chief seats and the titles of distinc-
ton. And all this was done in the
name of religion. What hypocrisy!
But wait are we any better?
What about the preacher who is not
happy unless he is invited into the
pulpit? What about those who take
or accept the titles which our Lord
expressly forbids? What about those
in the pew, as much as in the pulpit
(and perhaps more), who want to
be recognized as ''the masters" of
the church? To be sure, they do not
always wish it TO be SO crudely put
as that, but they do expect to be
recognized as such cor else" This
too, under the name of Christianity
There indeed is the great hypocrisy!
We are thankful that our lesson
does not close here. Our Lord next
revealed
w. The Right Attitude-Service
Not Recognition (23:l0, lD.
He that is mastered of Christ is
ready to be the servant of all. To
exalt Him is to at once do away
with self-praise and self-glory Pride
in position, and the desire to be
praised and recognized by men, in
evitably lead a man into a pitfall
in which he is humbled On the
other hand the one who in humility
serves the Lord will, to his own
surprise, find that God has exalted
him. The way up is down.
''Torrey," said well known
preacher with whom DR.. Torrey was
associated in great conference,
''you and l are the most important
men in Christian work in this coun-
try" Not long afterward God set
that man aside. Quite different was
the spirit of D. l.. Moody, who at
the height of his ministry for God
would say, There are better men
here behind me on the platform to
speak when I am through" and he
really believed it!