International Sunday School Lessons Brief Thoughts for Busy Teachers By J. H. S.
form. There are millions like them. (2) To Moses' simple and symbolic puri- fications the "elders" added intricate, impracticable, and absurd ceremonies. Separatists and professional men though they were, the rabbis themselves could not observe them perfectly. The com- mon people had neither time nor oppor- tunity to learn or to practice them, and were regarded by the Pharisees and their own consciences as perennially de- filed, and abhored of God. (3) Accord- ing to one ritual, there were 26 rules for handwashing in the morning alone. This was not for cleanliness or decency but as having religious value. Indeed the hands were first washed, and then " t he tips of the fingers were joined and lifted up so that the water ran down to the elbows ("the wrists," Edersheim), then turned down that it might run off to the ground. Fresh water was poured on them as they were lifted up, and twice again as t£ey hung down. The washing itself was to be done by rubbing the fist of one hand into the hollow of the other. When the hands were washed, before eating they must be held upwards; when after it, down- wards, but so that the water should not run beyond the knuckles. The ves- sel must be first held in the right, then in the left hand; the water was to be poured first on the right, then on the left hand, and at every third time the words repeated, 'Blessed art Thou who hast given us the command to wash the h a n d s . '" (4) These trivial and empty rites, the breach of any rule of wljich made the whole void, were thus blas- phemously ascribed to Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel. It involved (a) a caricature of God; (b) the reduction of revealed religion to a level with heathen superstitions; (c) the substitution of formal trivialities for spiritual realities; and (d) made the damnation or salva- tion of Souls, made in the image of God, to depend, and that before "the Judge of all the earth," on a silly ceremony. For (5) it was taught that "He who neglects hand washing deserves to be punished here and hereafter." "He who does not wash his hands after eat- ing is as bad as a murderer"; "is guilty of death," etc. (6) Now we see why (a) Jesus came to "declare the Fa t h e r" (Jno. 1 : 1 8 ); (b) to teach that He must
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN, OR HAND VERSUS HEART HOLINESS Lesson II. Mark 7:1-23. October 13 I. HISTORICAL CONNECTION. 1. Jesus' popularity was at its height in Galilee. 2. Pilgrims to the Passover brought to Jerusalem reports of His works of might and mercy, e. g., (1) feeding the thousands; (2) walking the sea; (3) healing the. multitudes. 3. The rulers were filled with alarm a nd envy. 4. A deputation of Scribes and'Phari- sees went into Galilee to oppose Him. II. THE PHARISEES FIND FAULT WITH JESUS. 1. "They found fault." (1) This was their errand into Galilee. (2) This is t he business of a good many people. 2. Their blunted sensibilities. (1) Neither the might nor the mercy of the Lord aroused (a) their reverence, or
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