February 1928
111
T h e . K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
“In vain do they Worship,me,” said the Master, “ teaching for doctrines the com mandments o f men” (v. 7). These com- plainers had specified an instance in which tradition had been violated by His disci ples. He turns the tables and shows them how they were continually nullifying “ the commandment o f God” (vs. 8-9). “Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death” (v. 1 0 ). The law made the obligation of child to parent imperative. What did these Phari sees and Scribes do? They, took a tra ditional interpretation which gave a wilful child a way of escape, and under a re ligious garb. “ Ye say, I f a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift [I have devoted all my property to God],, by whatsoever thou, mightest be profited by me [whatever it is which you would receive from me] ; he shall be free” (v._ 11). In other words, to evade the obligation o f caring for aged parents, it was only necessary to say: “I have con secrated all my possessions td' the temple.” It was possible thus to dedicate one’s property, _retaining tlie|use o f it during life. This was a fair sample of their methods o f interpretation. “ You make the word o f God o f none effect through your traditions,” said Jesus (v. 13). There are those claiming to be expounders today, who manage to get around the teachings o f Christ' and the apostles, in much the same way. Hearken unto me, every one o f you !" Imagine the jolt that such words would give to these stiff religionists. W e are reminded o f the words that came from the open heavens when Jesus was upon the Transfiguration Mount: “Hear ye Him.” No matter how noted a man you’ve been listening to, you need to hearken unto Him. Submit many popular inter pretations to a careful, personal test of the words pf Christ and they’ll melt into noth ing. Have a care about taking all your Bible knowledge in capsule form, pre pared by some “great man.” Now comes a heart-searching lesson, not only for Scribes and Pharisees, but for every one who makes a profession of acceptance o f the Scriptures. “ There is nothing from without a man, that'rfinter- ■ing intp him [his body] can defile him” (v. IS). That which goes into the mouth is not what defiles in God’s sight. It is that which is made a part o f char acter, and comes out o f him. The inter nal translates itself into the external. Not only is corruption of heart made worse by passing into action— for the senses of shame and fear are weakened and the will confirmed in evil—but others also are defiled. , “I f m y man have ears to hear, let him hear it” (v. 16); A great many, like the Pharisees, prefer the external in religion. Why? Because it has to do with the senses and one may fool his own heart with it. Others see his show o f religion, and he gets glory to himself with it. It’s easier than walking with God. The flesh is ever seeking something easy on self. It’s the devil’s lullaby, sending hundreds religiously to perdition. Jesus proceeded to give a detailed ex planation o f his assertion. He shows that the thought-life is the real fountain o f - pollution, and out o f it proceeds the whole, list o f evil actions— “ adultery, fornication, murder, thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lasciviousness, evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (vs. 2 1 - 2 2 ). What do ¿eremonies amount to in the sight of God, when thoughts so rotten that one would not dare mention them to his nearest friend, fill the mind? Does God take no notice of such a condition ?;1 I f He judges us by what we would do if we could, by what we wish for, think about, delight in —then some people are not so religious, after all. We think we are safe. We intend to keep this evil con fined to the thought life. Before we know it, a sudden impulse takes us. The thing is enacted. The world stands by and says — “Hypocrite!” Examine the evil things in this list. What an abyss o f defilement! Yet many who are counted religious have it with in them. What can be done with such a heart? It is not in a man’s own power to change it. It is a superhuman work. “ The blood o f Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth from all Sin.” Look to Calvary and you’ll see the curse o f sin taken away. Yield to the Holy Spirit who stands ready to bring your thoughts into captivity to Christ. Let your mind be stored with His Holy Word, your heart filled with spirit ual songs, your life busied with definite Service for Him. Nothing else works. -—o— P ith and P oint . It is no use putting fine paint on rotten posts.;;.: The formalist is like a looking-glass that represents a face that is not in it. None are such- critics of small faults as those who are guilty of grave ones (v. 2). God cares more for' a blood-washed heart than for water-washed hands (v. 5 ). There’s many a religious ostrich— . swallows anything that’s tossed to him by some self-styled expounder (v. 14). The real source o f spiritual pollution is the spirit o f a man when not controlled by the Holy Spirit (v. 15). Evil thought is the beginning and source o f all iniquities^—the dress rehearsal for the show that is almost certain to follow (v. 2 1 ). —o— . A S uggestive Q uestions . What three expressions did Jesus use to show their disregard for the Scriptures ? (Vs, 8 , 9, 13.) What does God see in our lives before He sees our form o f worship? (Psa. 139: 1-4.). Is it possible for God to accept a man’s worship when his heart is wrong? (Jas. 3:10-12; Mt. 12:34.) What happens to the natural man when he leaves God out of his knowledge? (Rom. 1 :28.) What is the first great secret of having a polluted heart purified? (Phil. 2:5.) How may we make the mind of the Master, the master o f bur minds? (Col. 3:16.) Do we have any religious leaders today who stand in the shoes o f the Pharisees ? (V. 13. Cf. Jer. 8:8-9.) What should be our attitude toward them? (Isa. 8:20.) —o— G olden T ext I llustration . Keep thy heart with all diligence; fo r out o f.it are the issues o f life (Prov. 4 :
YOU’LL WANT IT The New Booklet “ Jewels,” Scriptural gems that delight the soul o f a believer. See A d v .— front o f this issue.
M a r c h 18, 1928 Jesus Teaches Sincerity T ex t: Mark 7:1 -23 J^O N E are so despicable in the eyes of God as those who ,paint piety on the outside when there’s nothing real inside. Over against the Pharisaic traditions re
quiring strict obedi ence in the matter of outward ceremonies, our Lord put the need of inward pur ity. Ceremonies are val uable when they are the fruit of a conse
crated heart. But no perfection of ex terior service can make up for the want o f the life o f God, in the soul. Jesus had no use for ceremonial observances that were not the result o f inward love. Certain Pharisees and scribes " came doivn from Jerusalem” to look over the new religious sect. Seeing some o f Jesus’ disciples eat bread with "defiled hands, they found fault” (v. 2). Usually those who are so clever in picking faults in others,, have plenty o f their own that it would not require a magnifying glass to discover. These Pharisees, we are told, were sticklers for "the tradition o f the elders” and would never eat without repeatedly washing their hands (v. 3). The Jews had built up many traditions around the Mosaic law. These were simply commen taries by some o f their elders, and were looked upon as inspired interpretations. Jesus denounced their so-called inspired commentaries and doubtless would take the same course with many books today whose authors claim that their teachings are essential to the understanding o f the Scriptures. The Rabbis had added to the simple dis- •tinctions o f the law, between clean and unclean foods, endless rites (v. 4 ). “ Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition o f the elders,” they asked Jesus, “for they eat bread with unwashen hands” It was not that they were strong on hy-' giene; it was violation o f outward cere mony that aroused their ,ire. Our Lord answered them with a quo tation from their own Scriptures. "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." These words, declared Jesus, Isaiah wrote of YOU— “you hypocrites”, (v. 6 ) . ' A clever London painter once exhibited a piece representing a worshiper. Viewed at a distance, he seemed to be in a pray ing attitude. Hands were clasped, eyes uplifted, a book was before him. But at close range the book turned out to be a bowl, and between his upturned hands was a lemon from which he was squeezing the juice. What a representation o f a hypo crite !
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online