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th e cold-blooded, calculating, religious Jews and the despised publicans and sinners. The publican really combined two -ffites In one,— those of a tax-gatherer and a customs official— tak ing tith es on everything produced from field and tree, and collecting a tax o j imports and exports. They were really extor tionists,— the am ount and character of th e tax collected depending on th e char acter of the men themselves. Inven tive men would devise ways of collect ing taxes on th e most unlikely objects, such as the wheels of a vehicle, even the axles, on pack animals, roads, ad mission to m arket, on bridges, ships, etc. No wonder th e men who th u s op pressed th e people were despised. Even in th is day many men do not ta k e any especial delight in paying th e ir taxes. Matthew had invited many of his old associates, and many sinners, to the feast. Matthew is anxious for th eir souls. The best evidence of th e new b irth is th e desire for th e conversion of others. (John 1:41, 42, 45) “ H e f ir s t f in d e th h is o w n b r o t h e r S im o n , a n d s a i t h n n to h im . W e h a v e f o u n d th e M e s s ia h , w h ic h is , b e in g in t e r p r e te d , th e C h r is t. A n d h e b r o u g h t h im t o J e s u s .* * * P h ilip f in d e th N a th a n a e l a n d s a i t h u n to h im , W e h a v e f o u n d h im o f W h om M o se s i n th e la w a n d th e p r o p h e ts , d id w r ite , J e s u s o f N a z a r e th , t h e s o n o f J o s e p h .’9 The Pharisees and th e Scribes ques tion th e propriety of Jesu s’ eating w ith these sinners, and th is affords the Lord an opportunity to bring out an import a n t tru th . The distinction between the teaching of Christ and all other sys tems of religion has to do w ith sin and sinners. All o ther systems require th e sinner to be a penitent first, and then seek for forgiveness. Christ says “Come” first and penitence will fol low. He came to call the sinners to Himself. (Rom. 5:8) “ B u t G o d c o m m e n d e th h is lo v e to w a r d u s , in t h a t , w h ile w e w e r e y e t s in n e r s , C h r is t d ie d f o r u s ,” (1 Tim. 1:15 )
“T h is is a f a i t h f u l s a y in g , a n d w o r th y o f a l l a c c e p ta tio n , t h a t C h r is t J e s u s c a m e in t o th e w o r ld to s a v e s in n e r s , o f w h o m I a m c h ie f .” (3) FASTING THROUGH FEAR and FEASTING THROUGH FAVOR. “Why do * * * th y disciples fast n o t?” John th e Baptist was in prison and his disciples were fasting. They cannot understand why Jesus— a friend of John— and the disciples of Jesus, should not also be fasting. How could He feast when His friend was in dis tress? The Jews, according to th e law of Moses, had one fast day— th e Day of Atonement, bu t they observed two fast days in each week—Thursday and Mon day, commemorating Moses’ ascent into the mountain and his, retu rn , the trad i tion being he went up into th e moun tain on Thursday and retu rn ed on Mon day. F asting has its righ tfu l place. Moses fasted; E lijah fasted; our Lord fasted. Jesus H imself prescribes how to fast (Matt. 6:16-18) “ m o r e o v e r , w h e n y e f a s t , b e n o t, a s th e h y p o c r ite s , o f a s a d c o u n te n a n c e ; f o r th e y d is f ig u r e t h e i r f a c e s , t h a t th e y m a y a p p e a r u n to m e n t o f a s t . V e r ily I s a y u n to y o u y h a v e t h e i r r e w a r d . B u t th o u , w h e n th o u f a s t e s t , a n o in t th in e h e a d , a n d w a s h t h y f a c e ; T h a t t h o u a p p e a r n o t u n to m e n t o f a s t , b u t u n to th y F a t h e r w h ic h is in s e c r e t ; a n d t h y F a t h e r , w h ic h s e e t h in s e c r e t, s h a l l r e w a r d th e e o p e n ly .” F asting is a splendid exercise for both soul and body. All of th e saints who have been used of God have prac tised it. Jesus answers th e ir question. John th e B aptist had, himself, referred to Jesus as th e bridegroom (John 3 :29) “ H e t h a t h a t h t h e b r id e is th e b r id e g r o o m ; b u t t h e f r ie n d o f th e b r id e g ro o m , w h ic h s t a n d e t h a n d h e a r e t h h im , r e j o ic e t h g r e a t l y b e c a u s e o f t h e b r id e g ro o m ’s v o ic e ; th i s m y jo y th e r e f o r e , i s fu lfille d .” Jesu s’ presence w ith His disciples was sufficient cause for rejoicing. He was th e Bridegroom. His disciples were "th e children of the bridecham- b er”— a- term which included th e in vited guests to a wedding.
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