T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S ignore him. Jesus goes nowhere unbid den. “ If any man open the door I will come into him and sup with him.” He will not force the door. He may not even continue knocking indefinitely. He will enter only upon invitation. Hav ing entered, every consideration of hos pitality requires that He be welcomed and made comfortable. How can He be at ease if there are things about Him that are displeasing? The duty of mak ing the indwelling Christ comfortable should challenge the attention of every believer. A thoughtful host arranges the menu to suit the taste and appe tite of his invited guest. Careless in difference is as bad as studied insult. The Oriental footbath and anointing were ordinary and trivial courtesies. Their omission was unpardonable. The penitent sinner stands out in welcome relief against the patronizing Pharisee. There may be many teachers in the world but there is only one Saviour. The Pharisees accused the Saviour of seeking the company of sinners for His own enjoyment. They misconceived the purpose of His mission. They could not understand how repellant to Him was every form of sin. Their standard only recognized the grosser forms of sin. They could not understand that the elder brother, of Luke 15:28, was a greater sinner than the younger, in v. 13. It is doubtless true that sins of the spirit are more heinous in the sight of God than sins of the flesh. The lat ter of course are the more apparent and disgusting but publicans and prostitutes were more salvable than proud and self- righteous Pharisees. The capacity for spiritual power and blessing is measured rather by the degree of penitence than by the degree of sin. The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none. A sense of sin is the first step to salvation. One must see his sins before he sees his Saviour. This is why it is sometimes well to preach the law before we preach the Gospel. The law awakens the con-
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giveness to the woman? Her penitence? Her sacrifice? Her love? No. Not one or all of these things could, bring forgiveness. It was her faith. It is faith that God demands— faith in Jesus Christ as His gift to sinners; faith in His atoning blood, which alone can cleanse from sin, which alone can jus tify, which alone can meet the require ments of a righteous God. “ Go in peace!” See her radiant face and buoyant spirit— the one-time sin ner, now a saint, with-all of the privi leges of the saints of God put to her credit. “ Go in peace!” That peace whose length and breadth and height and depth are immeasurable. And what of Simon? The curtain is drawn. He missed the opportunity of honoring the Son of God— the Saviour of the world. QUESTIONS. (1) What was the motive which moved ; Simon to invite Jesus to the house? (2 Sam. 15(:5, 6 .) (2) Does Jesus seek the patronage of men? (Psa. 50:9-12.) (3) Did Simon’s wrong reasoning deserve a rebuke? (Prov. 23:6, 7.) (4 ) -' What is the greatest of all sins? (John 3:36.) (5) What sacrifices are most pleas ing to God? (Psa. 51:17.) ( 6 ) Is there more than one way to be saved? (John 14:6.) (7) Is there any peace for men out side of Jesus Christ? (Isa. 48:22.) ( 8 ) To whom does He give peace? (John 14:27; 1^:33.) M Jesus regarded a social engagement as an opportunity for service. The Pharisee at whose house he dined was a most discourteous host and the Mas ter must have been DEVOTIONAL/ embarrassed by his in- COMMENT civility. It is better F. W. Farr not to invite a guest than to slight him and
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