The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1960-05-07

the wisdom as we'll as the love
OF Jesus in dealing with hui
mainly, and the Jews should
have followed his instructions.
And if any man will sue
thee at the law, and take away
thy coat, let him have they
cloke also" This is Jesus
method of dealing with those
who exact from their debtors
the utmost, for he saw in this
spirit of flexibility a power
that is greater than the rigid
austerity that demands even a
mans shirt. This kind of
spirit is calculated to back
down the exacting spirit which
demands everything it can
legally claim.
And whosoever shall COM
pei thee to go a mile, 60 with
him twain" In any case,
Jesus says that it is best when
caught in such a situation to
comply accommodatingly and
to be liberal about it. It is a
! matter of virtue to do twice as
much as has been demanded.
This is what is known as the
law of the second mile, and
is illustrative of the true Chris
tan spirit of love and liberal
ity. Give to him that asketh
thee, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou
away In view of the
many needy people in this
world and especially in ancient
times, to say, Give to him
that asketh of thee" is requir-
ing unlimited liberality and
benevolence. And that is the
way Jesus viewed the true
Christian spirit, the kind of
spirit that is always willing to
help and to share inGiscrimi-
nately.
CHRISTIAN LOVE EN-.
JOINED:
"Ye have heard that it hath
it hath been said, Thou shalt
love thy neighbor and hate
thine enemy" !. This saying
from those of old time does
not reflect the spirit of Moses
but of Jewish religious leaders
of a later period, for Moses
did not advocate the hating of
ones enemies. But / say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despite
fully use you, and prosecute
you
The Christians character is
supposed to be a contrast to
that of others who deal malici-
ously; he renders good for evil
and love for hatred. "That we
may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven: for
he maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just ard on
the unjust" God is mer-
clful and loving, and kind to
good people and the bad peo-
pie alike, and he who would
be a child of God will have
to have the same spirit in him. |
For if We love them which
love you, what reward have We?
do not even the publicans the
same" To be q Christian
means to be different in spirit |
ual outlook from others. "And
1t We salute your brethren on
ly, what do We more than 9TH
ers? do not even the publicans /
so" - The publicans were re-
garded as being unprincipled, |
yet there were those who did |
no better than they. Being a
Christian requires doing and |
being above the average and |
the commonplace.
BE We therefore perfect, |
even as your Father which ia |
In heaven is perfect
The standard of perfection is |
the Christians goal of achieve |
mer1t, yet there are some who |
call themselves Christians who |
will bitterly contend that per-
lection for men is impossible. |
But Jesus demand that Chris |
tians be perfect even as God |
the Father is perfect.
PRACTICAL POINTS ON |
THE LESSON:
Christ Is the great Peace-mak-
er, the Prince Of Peace, the |
One who made peace between
God and men, the Giver of |
peace of heart and the One
who will bring peace to this
troubled wnr-lA iu dsxc f;,~4o