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THE KING ' S BUSINESS SUGGESTIVE COMMENT By Arne> C. Gabelein, D. D., Editor of Our Hope, New York, N. ¥. We notice first the scrupulous con– science the J ews manifested when they dragged the Lord Jesus Christ to the en– trance of the judgment hall in the palace of the Roman governor, Pilate. Pilate was In their eyes an unclean Gentile and entering his palace, according to their ceremonial law, meant a serious defile– ment, which would unfit them to eat the Passover. But they were ready to swear falsely, to accuse their own Mes– siah and have Him condemned by the Roman law as a criminal. With all their religiousness they were ready to commit murder. What a vicious thing a dead formalism and lifeless re– ligiousness is! It is still so. Critics, infidels, reformers and the like will hold ui: their hands in horror aLout insignifi– cant things, while on the other hand And Pilate was a clever politician and man-pleaser, a good illustration of the men-pleasers and politicians of today, including those in pulpits and in ecclesi– asticism. "The fear of man bringeth a snare." He knew the Lord Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him, but he was a contemptible, selfish coward. He did not call his soul his own, though he was governor of a prov– ince. He knew he was doing wrong, yet he was afraid to do right. How many such there are in the world today! Such characters show that they are destitute of salvation and life. Yet Pilate had to utter a testimony for the accused Son of God before the assembled Jewish mob-"! find no fault In Him!" V. 32 has puzzled some, but the Lord bad reference to His own repeated pre– dictions that the Jews would deliver Him into the hands of the Gentiles. But the greatest in this scene Is our
his sense of justice demanded. Bad as was Pilate, he stands In happy contrast to the Jews who forced him to the wrong which he did. It was a custom, ot unknown origin, for the governor at the feast time to release to the people a prisoner. Pilate sought to avail him– self of thie custom to save Jesus, but the people cried out for Barabbas, a prison– er held tor sedition and murder, who was that day to pay the penalty for his crime by cruciflxion. Thus they set their seal to the malignity of their hate against Christ. Topics f<>r Study (1) Is there such a thing as being "very religious" and yet having no real faith? (2) What Is It that defiles a man– that which Is from without, or that from within the heart? (3) What did Jesus mean by saying, "My kingdom Is not of this world"?
( 4) What does Jesus mean when He they betray the Lord Jesus worse than says, "Every one that Is of the Judas ever did, deny His Deity and cru- truth heareth my voice"? city Him afresh. ( 5) How can we ever bear witness to the truth? ( 6) What should our attitude be in
these days concerning the attacks which are being made upon the Bible? ( 7) Why did the leaders prefer Ba– rabbas to Jesus?
THE PRESIDENT AND PRAYER "I believe In prayer," said President Harding recently. "I believe In one's closet, for there one faces God alone. Many times the spoken prayer Is only tor people's ears. I can understand how those of old, In their anxieties, problems, perturbations and perplexi– ties, found courage and strength when they gave their hearts to the omnipo– tent God of Prayer."
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