THE K I NG ' S BUS I NES S
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The question of the lawyer, who was no doubt a doctor of civil and ecclesias tical law, was designed to entrap Him. The Jews had 365 p r o h i b i t i v e laws, and 248 precepts— 613 in all. Some of these were of greater import ance than others. The least one was with reference to the robbing of a bird’s nest. The answer of our Lord was “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” In Mark and Luke it reads, “With all thy strength,” but Matthew gives here the order of Deu teronomy 6:5 which Jesus is quoting: “With all thy soul—with all thy might!” Think for a moment of the difficulty of deciding at once concern ing the 613 rules or laws, and the shrewdness of the question! If the answer is “yes” it will antag onize the multitudes; if “no” then it would oppose the Roman government. Which is the greatest of the stars in the heavens? Which is the most beau tiful of all God’s laws? (Psa. 147:4.) . “He telleth the number of the stars; he call- eth them all by their names." (Numbers 23:10.) “Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel?" The first great obligation of every man, and especially of every believer, is to love God. The supreme definition of God is “God is love.” The obligation, then, is simple and practical, and that question is fully an swered in God’s Word, an answer writ ten by God’s own fingers on tables of stone (Ex. 20:1-18). In dealing with men, our Lord al ways adjusted His message to the char acter and need, and He faces this hypo critical Pharisee with the commandment so well known to him as the funda mental command. Obedience to God must spring from love and this love must be born ap^
law-abiding citizens. Resistance of civil authority is rebellion against God. Of course, if the State makes or en forces immoral laws, or approves of per secution, or even fails to enforce its own laws, the citizens would be jus tified in rising up against the State. Paul appealed for justice to Caesar (Acts 25:10,11). “Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judg m ent seat, where 1 ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if 1 be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, 1 refuse not to die; but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them . 1 appeal unto Caesar." Our Lord recognized the law of Rome, and paid His taxes (Matt. 1-7:24-27). Paul charged Titus to be subject to the-rule of power (Titus 3:1), “P u t them in mind to be suhject to prin cipalities and powers, to obey m agistrates, to be ready to every good work.” The New Testament is very clear in its teaching concerning citizenship. Al though at this time Rome was the ruler, yet Paul could say (Rom. .13:1): “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.” And follows, in verses 2 to 7 with definite instructions along this line well worth observing. Peter gives simitar instructions (1 Pet, 2:13-15). It is well to note that civil authority and rule are ordained of God. Absence of rule or authority would mean anarchy. The reply of the Saviour brought con sternation and defeat to His enemies. Luke says they held their peace. (Luke 20:26.) There is no reply, and never can be, to this simple, plain and practical state ment concerning our relation and duty as citizens. We are obligated to do all within our power to see that laws conforming to God’s great law of equity and justice are enacted and enforced for, from the human standpoint, we are dependent .upon these laws for our pro tection, both of life and of property. (2) MAN’S RELATION TO GOD.
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