按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
606
confusion of faith and darkness of mind。 They were seeking to bring the mysteries of God within the compass of their finite reasoning。 Christ called upon them to open their minds to those sacred truths that would broaden and strengthen the understanding。 Thousands become infidels because their finite minds cannot comprehend the mysteries of God。 They cannot explain the wonderful exhibition of divine power in His providences； therefore they reject the evidences of such power； attributing them to natural agencies which they can comprehend still less。 The only key to the mysteries that surround us is to acknowledge in them all the presence and power of God。 Men need to recognize God as the Creator of the universe； One who commands and executes all things。 They need a broader view of His character； and of the mystery of His agencies。
Christ declared to His hearers that if there were no resurrection of the dead； the Scriptures which they professed to believe would be of no avail。 He said； 〃But as touching the resurrection of the dead； have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God； saying； I am the God of Abraham； and the God of Isaac； and the God of Jacob？ God is not the God of the dead； but of the living。〃 God counts the things that are not as though they were。 He sees the end from the beginning； and beholds the result of His work as though it were now accomplished。 The precious dead； from Adam down to the last saint who dies； will hear the voice of the Son of God； and will come forth from the grave to immortal life。 God will be their God； and they shall be His people。 There will be a close and tender relationship between God and the risen saints。 This condition； which is anticipated in His purpose； He beholds as if it were already existing。 The dead live unto Him。
By the words of Christ the Sadducees were put to silence。 They could not answer Him。 Not a word had been spoken of which the least advantage could be taken for His condemnation。 His adversaries had gained nothing but the contempt of the people。
The Pharisees； however； did not yet despair of driving Him to speak that which they could use against Him。 They prevailed upon a certain learned scribe to question Jesus as to which of the ten precepts of the law was of the greatest importance。
The Pharisees had exalted the first four commandments； which point out the duty of man to his Maker； as of far greater consequence than the other six； which define man's duty to his fellow man。 As the result；
607
they greatly failed of practical godliness。 Jesus had shown the people their great deficiency； and had taught the necessity of good works； declaring that the tree is known by its fruits。 For this reason He had been charged with exalting the last six commandments above the first four。
The lawyer approached Jesus with a direct question； 〃Which is the first commandment of all？〃 The answer of Christ is direct and forcible： 〃The first of all the commandments is； Hear； O Israel； The Lord our God is one Lord： and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart； and with all thy soul； and with all thy mind； and with all thy strength： this is the first commandment。〃 The second is like the first； said Christ； for it flows out of it； 〃Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself。 There is none other commandment greater than these。〃 〃On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets。〃
The first four of the Ten Commandments are summed up in the one great precept； 〃Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart。〃 The last six are included in the other； 〃Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself。〃 Both these commandments are an expression of the principle of love。 The first cannot be kept and the second broken； nor can the second be kept while the first is broken。 When God has His rightful place on the throne of the heart； the right place will be given to our neighbor。 We shall love him as ourselves。 And only as we love God supremely is it possible to love our neighbor impartially。
And since all the commandments are summed up in love to God and man； it follows that not one precept can be broken without violating this principle。 Thus Christ taught His hearers that the law of God is not so many separate precepts； some of which are of great importance； while others are of small importance and may with impunity be ignored。 Our Lord presents the first four and the last six commandments as a divine whole； and teaches that love to God will be shown by obedience to all His commandments。
The scribe who had questioned Jesus was well read in the law； and he was astonished at His words。 He did not expect Him to manifest so deep and thorough a knowledge of the Scriptures。 He had gained a broader view of the principles underlying the sacred precepts。 Before the assembled priests and rulers he honestly acknowledged that Christ had given the right interpretation to the law； saying：
〃Well； Master； Thou hast said the truth： for there is one God； and there is none other but He： and to love Him with all the heart； and
608
with all the understanding； and with all the soul； and with all the strength； and to love his neighbor as himself； is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices。〃
The wisdom of Christ's answer had convicted the scribe。 He knew that the Jewish religion consisted in outward ceremonies rather than inward piety。 He had some sense of the worthlessness of mere ceremonial offerings； and the faithless shedding of blood for expiation of sin。 Love and obedience to God； and unselfish regard for man； appeared to him of more value than all these rites。 The readiness of this man to acknowledge the correctness of Christ's reasoning； and his decided and prompt response before the people； manifested a spirit entirely different from that of the priests and rulers。 The heart of Jesus went out in pity to the honest scribe who had dared to face the frowns of the priests and the threats of the rulers to speak the convictions of his heart。 〃And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly； He said unto him； Thou art not far from the kingdom of God。〃
The scribe was near to the kingdom of God； in that he recognized deeds of righteousness as more acceptable to God than burnt offerings and sacrifices。 But he needed to recognize the divine character of Christ； and through faith in Him receive power to do the works of righteousness。 The ritual service was of no value； unless connected with Christ by living faith。 Even the moral law fails of its purpose； unless it is understood in its relation to the Saviour。 Christ had repeatedly shown that His Father's law contained something deeper than mere authoritative commands。 In the law is embodied the same principle that is revealed in the gospel。 The law points out man's duty and shows him his guilt。 To Christ he must look for pardon and for power to do what the law enjoins。
The Pharisees had gathered close about Jesus as He answered the question of the scribe。 Now turning He put a question to them： 〃What think ye of Christ？ whose son is He？〃 This question was designed to test their belief concerning the Messiah；to show whether they regarded Him simply as a man or as the Son of God。 A chorus of voices answered； 〃The Son of David。〃 This was the title which prophecy had given to the Messiah。 When Jesus revealed His divinity by His mighty miracles； when He healed the sick and raised the dead； the people had inquired among themselves； 〃Is not this the Son of David？〃 The Syrophoenician woman； blind Bartimaeus； and many others had cried to Him for help； 〃Have mercy on me； O Lord； Thou Son of David。〃 Matt。 15：22。 While riding into Jerusalem He had been hailed with the
609
joyful shout； 〃Hosanna to the Son of David： Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord。〃 Matt。 21：9。 And the little children in the temple had that day echoed the glad ascription。 But many who called Jesus the Son of David did not recognize His divinity。 They did not understand that the Son of David was also the Son of God。
In reply to the statement that Christ was the Son of David； Jesus said； 〃How then doth David in Spirit ＇the Spirit of Inspiration from God＇ call Him Lord； saying； The Lord said unto my Lord； Sit Thou on My right hand； till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool？ If David then call Him Lord； how is He his son？ And no man was able to answer Him a word； neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions。〃
（610）
Chapter 67
Woes on the Pharisees
It was the last day of Christ's teaching in the temple。 Of the vast throngs that were gathered at Jerusalem； the attention of all had been attracted to Him； the people had crowded the temple courts； watching the contest that had been in progress； and they eagerly caught every word that fell from His lips。 Never before had such a scene been witnessed。 There stood the young Galilean； bearing no earthly honor or royal badge。 Surrounding Him were priests in their rich apparel； rulers with robes and badges significant of their exalted station； and scribes