The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-07-05


thew 5:17-1g; Mark 1O:17-22
MEMORY SELECTIoN-Think not that
am come to destroy the law. or the
prophets: I come not to destroy, but to
fulfill Matthew SIT.
Jesus Christ is the believers final
authority. He is both our Saviour
and our Lord. He is our teacher,
our guide, our pattern in all things.
1t is therefore of the highest inn
portance that we know his attitude
toward the Old Testament laws,
and that is just what we are to
consider in the lessons of the next
three months under the general
title, Jesus Interprets Old Testa-
ment Laws"
Our Introductory lesson tells us
of the origin, Interpretation and APP
plication Of the law, then we 60 in
later lessons to consider the Ten
Commandments in the light of the
teachings of Jesus.
1t is appropriate to point out that,
far from being outmoded, the Ten
Commandments are really the
basis of all moral law. They need
a diligent restudy and re-emphasis
in our day of disregard of moral
standards.
I. The Law-Given by God (Deut.
6:4-9).
Our God is the one true God who
is to have the complete and con-
slant devotion of all. The fact that
so many men have ignored him ex-
plains the awful depth to which the
world has fallen.
This one and only true God has
given through his servant, Moses,
the fundamental moral law for the
government of man, and he is to
give diligent attention to it at all
times. ..--.. =
Religion in the household ". y
should include the teaching of the
Word, and the easy natural discus
sion of spiritual things in all the
varying circumstances of home life.
Blessed are the parents who make
it easy for children to talk about
the things of God as naturally and
unaffectedly as they discuss the 9TH
er phases of life which interest
them.
The lazy of God should 60 with
his people into their daily occupa-
tons ". 81, not in any formal or
stilted way but as the normal ex-
preston of their love for him. 1t
should be evident to all who enter
the home that the Lord is loved and
honored ". 81.
III. The Law Fulfilled by Jesus
(Matt. 5:17-19).
The law of God is eternal, never
to be abrogated, never set aside.
Christ himself, although we might
properly say that he was in reality
the lawgiver and thus had power
and authority over the law, indicat-
ed his purpose in coming to be that
of giving the law it's full meaning,
not of destroying it.
One could wish that those who
profess to be his servants might
have the same measure of regard
for Gods law. If they did, they
obviously would not be so ready to
ignore it, so quick to change it or
ready to accept with their Master
every "jot and title; that is, even
the minutest detail of his Word.
It is a mark of greatness "to do
and teach" the law of God ". 1917,
and of pathetic smallness to break
his. commandments and to teach
others to disobey God. Some of the
supposed great men of this world
are mighty small when they are
measured by Gods yardstick.
The one who recognizes Christ as
the fulfillment of the law will 60 on
in consistent living. In his strength
and by his grace we are to obey
every moral precept.
III. The Law-Applied to Man
mark 10:17-22).
The moral lazy, which is Gods
law, is good and in its keeping man
finds guidance for his life. Apart
IL Jill SL1 AoIS uOWCVC4, liC lAlOo AA11A-
self unable to keep the law.
The gospel of the grace of God
in Christ Jesus takes us step be-
yond the law, and it is great step
for here we meet and follow the
one who is greater than the law,
the giver of eternal life.
Obedience to the commandments
brings a man up to the very en-
trance upon that life, but to enter
in he must have more than the
"things" of the law; he must have
the person who is ''the door" to
eternal life.
The young man who came to
Christ was rich. His mind was OBJ
sessed with things. He had made
it his business to observe the law,
and had done well ". 20), but his
soul was not satisfied. He thought
one more ching that he could do
would accomplish his purpose.
The general attitude of the man
was commendable. He sensed his
lack of the vital something which
mould rayooLa HE life He oay,oa IN