to Gehenna is to the Valley of Hin- nom, where human sacrifices were offer- ed—where the refuse of the city was burned—where the smoke was continu- ally rising—where the worm never dies —the fire never quenched (Matt. 10: 28, 18:9; Jas. 3:6). A life for a life is God's law. He is not instructing mag- istrates. He never took upon Himself the authority of a civil ruler. The sin of anger does not fall under the cogni- zance of human law and so must be punished in another world. All difficulties and differences should be settled immediately. Once in the presence of the Judge he must settle the ease—how significant when applied to the sinner. Morality must precede worship; mercy before sacrifice. " I will wash my hands in innocency" (Psa. 26:6). "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord. He that hath clean hands" 1 Psa. 24:3-4). (3) PURITY OF LIFE. "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out." The law of chastity as interpreted by the Lord Jesus has a spiritual force not given it by the followers of Moses. The eye is the window of the soul and fol- lows the heart. To look is to lust, and to lust is to violate the commandment. The first step to unfaithfulness and loss of chastity is taken through the eye. The prescription lies in what is termed the heroic treatment. Better sacrifice your eye than your life; your hand than heaven. "Mo r t i fy therefore your mem- b e r s" (Col. 3:5).' The law of marriage as here given condemns a multitude of men and women in our own country. The penalty of this broken law, al- though sanctified by the State, must re- sult in a horrible harvest. (4) PROFANITY. '' Swear not at all.'' The .Tews refrained from taking the name of the Lord in vain, but swore by the Temple, the altar, the sacrifices. No man's word was worth aught unless backed by an oath. Jesus cut at the very heart of the practice. The pro- hibition does not refer to legal oaths before magistrates, but to the use in ordinary conversation. Swear not, neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath (.Tas. 5:12). Tf James had lived in our day he would have added "Neither by George, neither by Jiminy." Simplicity and directness is commend-
of an exponent of the Law of God. i His radieal teaching was calculated to "inspire fear in the minds of scribe and Pharisee that he had some revolution- ary tendencies. The Jews expected the Messiah to establish a kingdom, dig- nify the law and verify the prophets, but they had their own conception of how it was to be done. He vindicates Himself against the charges and an- nounces Himself as the fulfillment of the Law and then proceeds to' strip from the teaching of the rabbis the traditions which had made the Law of no effect. The new teacher had not come to lower the standard of the Law, but to lift it to a higher level. The righteousness of the Scribes and Phari- sees was a self-righteousness, main- tained by an outward observance and obedience of the Law, but in spirit they were rebels against God. They had also made the traditions of the elders of equal authority with the Law of God. The rule of life with the Scribes and Pharisees was self love. Christ intro- duces the law of unselfish love. The Law of God is an organic body. Like the human body, if you take from it any part you mar the whole. The Bible is one—the Law and Gospel are not opposing forces. The moral law is as eternal as the natural law. The ¡Tews nullified it by keeping the letter without the spirit, and Jesus fulfilled it by obeying the spirit and keeping the letter. He also unfolded the spiri- tual meaning of the Law and gave it a holier significance than it had had be- fore. Christ's relation to the Law is briefly summarized in the "Scofield Bible." ( l j He was made under the Law (Ga. 4:4). Lived in obedience to Law (.Tno. 8-46; 1 Pet. 2:21-23). A minister of Law to Jews (Luke 10:25-37). Fulfilled tytoes of Law (Heb. 9:11-20). Bore the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13-14). Brought from under the curse those who believe (Gal. 4:1-7). (2) PERSONAL ANGER. "Whosoever is angry with his brother." " Ye l?ave heard from your teachers, t I say unto you" —here speaks the vine Lord. Who but very God could sume to take Birch a position? He, e author of the Law, became now the terpreter. Life is sacred. Anger leads murder. " S in lies in the intent hijre than in the'action." The pen- alty of murder is death. The allusion bn Dj as tn ini td m
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs