Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-04-16

GOLDEN TEXT-He that is not with
me is against me; and he that gathereth
not with me scattereth.-Luke 1928.
Opposition to Christ and to Chris
tian teaching has come down
through the centuries practically I'M
changed. Hence, we find in Christ's
dealings with the enemies of His
day helpful indication of what may
be done in our time. -
1t is sad to note that the chief
opposition came from those who
protested to be religious leaders. It
is expected that the world, the flesh.
and the devil should fight Gods
truth, but one might expect better
of those who profess His name. The
difficulty is that there is only pro-
fession, with no real life.
l. Hypocrisy Unmasked (vv. 81
44).
The Pharisees protested great in
terest in the observance of religious
laws, but their concern was for the
outward appearance, while God
judges the heart. First we note
false profession of cleanliness.
Christ came to the Pharisees' table
with clean hands. but He had not
observed all their ceremonial wash
ings. When rebuked He struck home
with terrific force at the heart d
the yJho1a ,,,of4or IN oON. nanoo1x
that inward filthiness of heart whic
often makes folk meticulous about
outward cleansing. This leads to a
substitution of technical observance
of the letter of the law that ignores
love and judgment ". 42). which
are so precious to God. There can
be dead, dry, and technical ortho-
doxy which entirely misses the
point.
But worst of all is the covering
up Of spiritual death ". 44). Some
times we speak Of those who are
dead and don't know it" and that
may actually be true spiritually (
There may be death within and ye<
a brave and sometimes self-delud
ing outward show of life.
II. Theological Deafness Con
demned wv. 45-52).
The lawyers of that day wer|
those learned in the Mosaic law.
hence were really the teachers Of
theology and ethics. They came i'm
der the rebuke of Christ as He pro-
nounced three woes upon them.
First. they were guilty OF heap
ing upon others burdensome require
ments which they did not them
selves keep, and which they did
not help the people to keep. There
are such teachers. today whcrset UP
standards they do not themselves
observe, sort Of signpost pointing
the right way. while they are not
themselves going that way. Then
there are those who present high
ethical standards without the spir-
itual dynamic needed to live up to
them. To tell a man to be good
without telling him Of the Saviour
who can make him good is mockery.
Then. those of Christs day were
condemned for hating Gods wit
nesses. They were willing to build
sepulchers for the dead prophets
Qilled by their fathers. but wer
not willing to hear the living propE
cts. How true to life that is! tn
very ones who hate and hinder thos
who are preaching Gods Word
speak and sing smoothly Of the fait
of our fathers, and claim as thei
own the Witnesses of a past day
Christ also pointed out that Will
protesting to interpret the law the
obscured its meaning. They threw
away the key to knowledge so that
neither they nor their people could
learn-and yet they continued To
teach. Have not the false teachers
of our day done likewise? They deny
the integrity and authority Of the
only infallible Word-the Bible; they
reject the deity Of our Saviour.
Christ, and yet they talk about be-
ing Christians and preachers Of the
truth. Woe be unto them in the day
of Gods judgment and wrath
What happens when such men are
condemned or unmasked7 We find
III. Enmity Intensified CIV. So, sd. +
The scribes and Pharisees had two
approaches: they sought yehemently
to provoke Him to overspeak, and
they crafty laid in wait for Him.
The writer Of these notes has seen
both methods at work in our day.
Liberals, or modernists as they a
called, profess for the most part
suave courtesy which makes tho
speak smoothly and gently about
conservative and orthodox belle
or teacher; but if one only has
to see, there is often the strong
cruel hand Of iron hidden unde
velvet glove.
Whatever may be the apprd
be assured of this-every effor
reveal false teaching in It's tri
light, or to deal with hypocrisy