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parents； and that； however great the necessity； it was sacrilege to impart to father or mother any part of what had been thus consecrated。 An undutiful child had only to pronounce the word 〃Corban〃 over his property； thus devoting it to God； and he could retain it for his own use during his lifetime； and after his death it was to be appropriated to the temple service。 Thus he was at liberty； both in life and in death； to dishonor and defraud his parents； under cover of a pretended devotion to God。
Never； by word or deed； did Jesus lessen man's obligation to present gifts and offerings to God。 It was Christ who gave all the directions of the law in regard to tithes and offerings。 When on earth He commended the poor woman who gave her all to the temple treasury。 But the apparent zeal for God on the part of the priests and rabbis was a pretense to cover their desire for self…aggrandizement。 The people were deceived by them。 They were bearing heavy burdens which God had not imposed。 Even the disciples of Christ were not wholly free from the yoke that had been bound upon them by inherited prejudice and rabbinical authority。 Now； by revealing the true spirit of the rabbis； Jesus sought to free from the bondage of tradition all who were really desirous of serving God。
〃Ye hypocrites；〃 He said； addressing the wily spies； 〃well did Esaias prophesy of you； saying； This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth； and honoreth Me with their lips； but their heart is far from Me。 But in vain they do worship Me； teaching for doctrines the commandments of men。〃 The words of Christ were an arraignment of the whole system of Pharisaism。 He declared that by placing their requirements above the divine precepts the rabbis were setting themselves above God。
The deputies from Jerusalem were filled with rage。 They could not accuse Christ as a violator of the law given from Sinai； for He spoke as its defender against their traditions。 The great precepts of the law； which He had presented； appeared in striking contrast to the petty rules that men had devised。
To the multitude； and afterward more fully to His disciples； Jesus explained that defilement comes not from without； but from within。 Purity and impurity pertain to the soul。 It is the evil deed； the evil word； the evil thought； the transgression of the law of God； not the neglect of external； man…made ceremonies； that defiles a man。
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The disciples noted the rage of the spies as their false teaching was exposed。 They saw the angry looks； and heard the half…muttered words of dissatisfaction and revenge。 Forgetting how often Christ had given evidence that He read the heart as an open book； they told Him of the effect of His words。 Hoping that He might conciliate the enraged officials； they said to Jesus； 〃Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended； after they heard this saying？〃
He answered； 〃Every plant； which My heavenly Father hath not planted； shall be rooted up。〃 The customs and traditions so highly valued by the rabbis were of this world； not from heaven。 However great their authority with the people； they could not endure the testing of God。 Every human invention that has been substituted for the commandments of God will be found worthless in that day when 〃God shall bring every work into judgment； with every secret thing； whether it be good； or whether it be evil。〃 Eccl。 12：14。
The substitution of the precepts of men for the commandments of God has not ceased。 Even among Christians are found institutions and usages that have no better foundation than the traditions of the fathers。 Such institutions； resting upon mere human authority； have supplanted those of divine appointment。 Men cling to their traditions； and revere their customs； and cherish hatred against those who seek to show them their error。 In this day； when we are bidden to call attention to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus； we see the same enmity as was manifested in the days of Christ。 Of the remnant people of God it is written； 〃The dragon was wroth with the woman； and went to make war with the remnant of her seed； which keep the commandments of God； and have the testimony of Jesus Christ。〃 Rev。 12：17。
But 〃every plant； which My heavenly Father hath not planted； shall be rooted up。〃 In place of the authority of the so…called fathers of the church； God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father； the Lord of heaven and earth。 Here alone is truth unmixed with error。 David said； 〃I have more understanding than all my teachers： for Thy testimonies are my meditation。 I understand more than the ancients； because I keep Thy precepts。〃 Ps。 119：99； 100。 Let all who accept human authority； the customs of the church； or the traditions of the fathers； take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ； 〃In vain they do worship Me； teaching for doctrines the commandments of men。〃
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Chapter 43
Barriers Broken Down
After the encounter with the Pharisees； Jesus withdrew from Capernaum； and crossing Galilee； repaired to the hill country on the borders of Phoenicia。 Looking westward； He could see； spread out upon the plain below； the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon； with their heathen temples； their magnificent palaces and marts of trade； and the harbors filled with shipping。 Beyond was the blue expanse of the Mediterranean； over which the messengers of the gospel were to bear its glad tidings to the centers of the world's great empire。 But the time was not yet。 The work before Him now was to prepare His disciples for their mission。 In coming to this region He hoped to find the retirement He had failed to secure at Bethsaida。 Yet this was not His only purpose in taking this journey。
〃Behold； a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders； and cried； saying； Have mercy on me； O Lord； Thou Son of David； my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil。〃 Matt。 15：22； R。 V。 The people of this district were of the old Canaanite race。 They were idolaters； and were despised and hated by the Jews。 To this class belonged the woman who now came to Jesus。 She was a heathen； and was therefore excluded from the advantages which the Jews daily enjoyed。 There
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were many Jews living among the Phoenicians； and the tidings of Christ's work had penetrated to this region。 Some of the people had listened to His words and had witnessed His wonderful works。 This woman had heard of the prophet； who； it was reported； healed all manner of diseases。 As she heard of His power； hope sprang up in her heart。 Inspired by a mother's love； she determined to present her daughter's case to Him。 It was her resolute purpose to bring her affliction to Jesus。 He must heal her child。 She had sought help from the heathen gods； but had obtained no relief。 And at times she was tempted to think； What can this Jewish teacher do for me？ But the word had come； He heals all manner of diseases； whether those who come to Him for help are rich or poor。 She determined not to lose her only hope。
Christ knew this woman's situation。 He knew that she was longing to see Him； and He placed Himself in her path。 By ministering to her sorrow； He could give a living representation of the lesson He designed to teach。 For this He had brought His disciples into this region。 He desired them to see the ignorance existing in cities and villages close to the land of Israel。 The people who had been given every opportunity to understand the truth were without a knowledge of the needs of those around them。 No effort was made to help souls in darkness。 The partition wall which Jewish pride had erected； shut even the disciples from sympathy with the heathen world。 But these barriers were to be broken down。
Christ did not immediately reply to the woman's request。 He received this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done。 In this He designed that His disciples should be impressed with the cold and heartless manner in which the Jews would treat such a case； as evinced by His reception of the woman； and the compassionate manner in which He would have them deal with such distress； as manifested by His subsequent granting of her petition。
But although Jesus did not reply； the woman did not lose faith。 As He passed on； as if not hearing her； she followed Him； continuing her supplications。 Annoyed by her importunities； the disciples asked Jesus to send her away。 They saw that their Master treated her with indifference； and they therefore supposed that the prejudice of the Jews against the Canaanites was pleasing to Him。 But it was a pitying Saviour to whom the woman made her plea； and in answer to the request of the disciples； Jesus said； 〃I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house
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of Israel。〃 Although this answer appeared to be in accordance with the prejudice of the Jews； it was an implied rebuke to the disciples； which they afterward understood as reminding them of what He had often told them；that He came to the world to save all who would accept Him。
The woman urged her case with increased earnest