THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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W e are warned against false guidance (15-20). There are those who would make the way easy and the entrance wide—lib erals, we call them; narrow, they call us. A man can afford to be narrow where Jesus was narrow and broad where Jesus was broad. The tests o f a true prophet are found in 1 John 4:1-6. Our lesson says we may know them. The Sermon on the Mount closes with the declaration o f the fact that it is our - attitude towards Christ and His teachings that determines our future destiny (vv. 21- 29). Here is a warning against a nominal Christianity which consists in calling Christ pretty and orthodox names but does not yield a heart obedience to Him. (C ) SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM. 8-9:53. Jesus’ ministry was twofold, teaching and healing (4:23). The Sermon on the Mount (5-7) is the teaching. The division we are now considering—the Signs o f the King dom, containing a group o f miracles, is the healing work. Thè world needs the heal ing touch as well as the teaching word. Jesus comes down frdm the mount into the valley, from the pulpit to the people.; Jesus own teaching as to | the value o f the miracles (works) He wrought. Here are but a few references; there are others: Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:24-26; 13:32; John 5:20, 36; 9:2, 3; 10:32-38; 11:4; 15:24. Sometimes the words o-f Jesus produce faith equally with His works (John 2:23; 3:2; 10:38; 15:24) : Whereas at times His works failed in this respect (John 6:66; 12:37). The sigps of the kingdom, as set forth in this section, touch three spheres : heaven— the power to forgive sins ; earth—the heal ing o f disease; hell—the casting out o f demons and victory over death. There are ten signs: Healing o f the leper, the centurion’s servant, and the fever patient ; the supernatural reading o f the human heart—the impulsive scribe and the hesitating disciple; the stilling o f the storm; the demons cast out; the palsied
rebuked. This principle is applied to the religious duties or righteousnesses o f the Pharisees: to almsgiving (1-4), to prayer (5-15) l to fasting (16-18). The relation o f the members to the king dom is then set forth with regard to; the material things o f the world (6:19-7:12). So far we have had the righteousness^ o f the kingdom dealt with from the stand point o f morality—righteousness between man and man (5:17-48), and religion righteousness before God alone (6 :1 -8 ); now it will be looked at from the view point o f spirituality—righteousness as between the children o f the kingdom and the world in which it is set up (6:19- 7:12). Our relation to the good things o f the -w o rld (6:19-33). Two dangers are to be guarded against. 'We must not seek them too earnestly (19-24), nor allow them to cause anxiety (25-34). The, evil things o f the world are then dealt with (7:1-6). Again we are warned against a twofold attitude: making too much o f them (1-5) and making too little o f them (6 ). Next in order comes an encouragement to prayer ( 6 : 7 - 12 ). Prayer is here--set forth as the principle that will keep 'the heart right with God _(7-11) and with man (12). In c. 6 prayer was a part of righteousness and a religious duty; it is here set forth as a power, a means o f obtaining power for righteous ness, for avoiding evil things and for obtaining good things. To pray right with God the heart must be. kept right towards man (v. 12). The Invitation to Enter the Kingdom, 17 : 13 - 29 . Having set before us the nature, privi leges and obligations o f the kingdom, an opportunity is now given to enter. Mis apprehensions concerning the kingdom are all cleared away. The first thing we note is that we are called upon to make a choice that costs rather than pays (13, 14). Here is an appeal to both' fear and hope.
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