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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1928-05-17, Page 2Thursday, May Z7tb, THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SON • LESSON VIII VIM' 20, 4f 'esus Teaching itt the Temple" Golden Text, --He taught them as one loving authority,- 'Matt. 7: 2e. THE LESSON I,N ITS SETTING. Time, --Tuesday, April 4, A.D. 30, the week before Christ's crtici- xio n. Plage,--The temple at Jerusalem, A QUESTION .OF TRIBUTE. "And they send unto Him certain of the Pharisees end of the Herodans," "They" were the Jewish authorities ataleaders, all combined against Jesus though +visually the various groups here mentioned were at swords' points, The Pharisees -We have often seen mentioned; they were the strict theologians and the ardent Patriots, the popular party. The Iierodians were merit a the court, partisans of the royal familyi! Y of Herod, ruling elsewhere) in Pales- tine and very powerful in Jerusalem also, though at the time a Roman governor was in authority there, Cheating the Junk Man rriFIAT'S our business. Yes,, sir! keep- -1- ing worn tires away from the scrap - heap is where we shine. Some folks figure that whena tire "blows" it's "through," done, down-and-out and ready for the junk -man. Sometimes they're right -but not often. Usually a repair -made by a good repairman -will build that tire up and put it back on the car as fresh as a daisy and ready • and able to give the rest of its mileage. That's the kind of repairs_ we make. How about letting us save for you? WINGHAM TIRE & VULCANIZING DEPOT Phone 298. "That they Haight catch Hint in talk, They had access to the wisest teacher of the wprld's history, and their only desire was to trip trim up in His statements, to catch Him asieela and entrap Him, So is it with°many still who read. Christian books and hear Christian sermons,.. net to learn the truth, but if possible to discover err- ors, "And when they were conte, they say unto Him, Teacher, we knowthat thou art true." They sought to put Christ of his guard by means of flattery. "You are a teller; of• the truth " they said in effect; "there „ fore you will not hesitate to give your honest opinion, no matter whom it may offend." "1 am the Truth," Christ once said, and in addressing Hint thus the, Pharisees and Herod- ians spoke the truth, though with a false motive. "And carest not for anyone." It was true that Christ was absolutely independent of human judgement, for He Himself was the Judge over all.; but it was not at all true that he cared not for anyone. "For thou regardest not the person of nen." This also was true of Christ in a sense;' He did, not concern Him- self with differences in rank or fam- ily or wealth or influence; He praised the poor widow for her two mites, He ate with publicans and sinners, He called Herod "that fox." "But -of a -truth teachest the way of God." Theywere ready to admit that Jesus taught the right way, but they were not ready to admit His declara- tion that He was the Way, and that no one could come to the Father ex- cept by Him. "Is it lawful to give tribute uato Caesar, or not?" "Caesar" was the title of the Roman Emperor, "Kaiser" and "Czar'' being modern forms of the word. Aug- ustus Caesar, the first Roman Em- peror, ruled, at the thine of Christ's birth; the Caesar at, this time was Tiberius, the second Emperor, the stepson, son-in-law, and adopted son of Augustus. "Shall we give, or shall we not give?" The repeated question indicates their eagerness, and perhaps also that the query was put forward sep- arately by the. Pharisees and the Her- odians, the former, as the popular party, being opposed to the payment, and the latter, as the court party, favoring it. It would be impossible. to devise a question morecrafty,. more likely to bring Jesus into diff- iculties`no matter how it was answ- ered, "But He, knowing their hypo-. easy.' :Their hypocrisy lay in their pretending one thing, namely, a de- sire for the true course, while really intending 'a quite different thing, naively, to involve Him in some trouble by His answer. As it was, they twisted his answer, in giving testimony at His trial, into exactly the . opposite of what it was (Luke 23;2). 7,vlattliew (22;X8) says that Je- sus perceived, their "wickedness"; 'i.es c Luke (20;20 calls it titer, " rafte t s both are correct, "Said unto them, Why make ye trial of me?" He saw at once that they were not coining to Him as learners to a. teacher, but as inquisitor's to one ' whom they would entrap. "Bring me a denarius, that T may see it," The denarius was a Roman silver coin, •and the taxes were in' terms of it and paid with it. It was the day's wages of a common laborer, , and so had a purchasing. . power about equal to two 'dollars with us: "And they brought it." Other local money, not bearing the Emperor's image, was in common use, but the denarius had to be fetched. "And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription " The obverse of the denarius bore the head of the Emperor Tiberius, surrounded by the inscription, in abbreviated, Latin words: Tiberius Caesar, Divi Augusti filius Augustus, Inperator, "Tiberius Caesar, the august son of the divine Augustus, Emperor." The Roman coin stood for the Roman govern- ment. In using the Roman coin, once accepted all that it signified of . niat- erial advantage. 'And Jesus saidunto them, Render unto Caesar the things that • are Caesar's, and unto God, the things that are God's." Christ meant that, in return .for the worldly blessings conferred by Rome, it. was right to make payment in the form of taxes, and that such a payment did not con- flict with complete allegiance to God in return for the heavenly blessings which God conferred. The enemies of Jesus suggested a conflict of duties; He showed that there was perfect harmony. "And they marvelled great- ly at Him." Our Lord had indeed made a wonderfully sagacious reply. He had not only extracated Himself from what seemedan impossible dil- emma, answering His opponents and putting them, to rout, but He had laid down a. wiseand fundamental prin- ciple for the church of all ages. A QUESTION OF THE NEXT LIFE. , Our Lord gave two answers. In the first place, He said, they were not to limit the power of the Creator by imagining only the state of being found on earth, for in the next life there is no marrying, but men are in the same condition as the blessed angels in heaven. Thtts Christ hit at two of the infidelities of the Sad- ducees, and implied a. knowledge of thefuture world which no mere man could possibly possess. It is not a world of the senses but of the spirit. It is a world of love, but .not of car- nal love, Friendships, -we may be sure, are deeper there ` than on the earth, but they are freed fromall earthly limitations. This is oneof the very few glimpses of our heaven- ly state granted us by Jesus, but it is a very wonderful 'glimpse, pictur- ing an exalted life for which we shall do well to make prepatration while on this earth. F there ,is anything more outstanding than the value offered by the,"Bigger gand Better Chevrolet, it is the extraordinary value of the Used Cars which Cbev- :rolet buyers have traded in. .Your dollars never went so far before, as they will now go in the purchase of a really fine Used Car. Never before were Used Cars such undeniably good value. Here are a few samples from pur stock of cu.saas SEVERAL GOOD USED MODELS FOR SALE CHEAP A. M. CRAWFORD, Wirighani. A QUESTION OF COMMAND- - MENTS. "And one of the scribes came, and. heard them questioning together.' He was a rPharisee,,as we learn from Matthew, and was learned in the law (Matt. 22;34, 35). "And knowing that He had answered theist well." Being a Pharisee, he was pleased td wit- ness the discomfiture of the oppos- ing sects. "Asked Him, What comm- andment is first of all?" This was a test question, as Matt, 22:35 tells tts. He tlid not inean the first comm anment in the order of the Decalogue, for any child could have told that,, but what commandment is first in impor Lance, in spiritual value? Jewish schol-- ars often debated this question. "Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord out God, the Lord is one." It is a very weighty saying. First, it asserts that Jehovah, the Covenant God of Israel, is Diety absolute. Secondly, it asserts that this infinite Jehovah is absolutely one, be- ing Himself an infinite unity, all His infinite perfections being in infinite equilibrium, Thirdly, it asserts that there is only one true God -namely, Jehovah, Covenant God of Israel, This. sublime annunciation marks a colos- sal onward stride in the history of re- ligion; for tn.onotheisna, or the doc- trine that there is but one God, is the basal stone of Christian worship. The singleness and unity of God; is still the corner -stone of theology. "Attd thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy raid, and with all thy mind, and with ,Fall thy strength." "Heart" signifies the emotions and, affeet its, "soul" the will and the Personality, "mind" is the inteileot., and "streegtlt" First Come alt ats ... At Roy Bargain Prices �S 1 Oval Mat, rg. 3.95 2.95 1 Wool Mat rg. 4.29.3.59 2 Velvet Mats, 1.25. ,98c 2 Rag Mats rg. 89c; .69c 2 Chenile Mats 3.95..2.95 1 Chenile Mat 5.50. .4.09 1 Wool Mat rg,12.50 7.95 2 Wilton Mats 4.25.3.39 2 Wilton Mats 6.25.4.95 1 Tapestry Mat 2.65 1.49 '3 Wilton Mats 8.50.6.95 3 Wilton Mats 6.95.5.95` 1 Wilton Mat 5.50,'.4,95 4 Axm. Mats rg 3.95 2.95 3 Axm. Mats rg 4.95 3.95 CONGOLEUM RUGS PRICED RIGHT 18 x• 36 '.09c 36 x 36 .1.00 6'x9' .6.50 x 9' 8 50 9'x9' 950 9'' x 10%' . ..11.5 9'x12' ... .12.50 9' x 13/' .13.50 9' x 15' . ...15.50 Gold Seal Qa'ulity ONIMMIONOSSMagiOsatatirMai First - Bargains IN NEEDED House Furnishings THESE GO ON SALE 9 A. M. Thursday, MayP 17th 3 Pieces Linoleum & Congoleuin to clear sq. yd. 63c 10 Pieces Oilcloth 1 yd., 2 yd., 2/ yd., sq. yd... 43c Remnants of Heavy Linoleum, sq, yd, ... 73c 60 only Stair. Pads to clear, each , 5c 3 only 472x472 Oilcloth Mats, reg: $1.95 . $119 24x48-4 4 only Grass Mats, reg. 49c ..... .39c 27x54-2 only Grass .Mats, reg. 59c 49c 36x72-2 only Grass Mats, reg. $1.00 ...... 79c 4%x7-4 only Grass Mats, Oval or Oblong .. $1.59 6x9-6 only Grass Mats, Oval or Oblong $2.39 6x101/2-1 only Grass Mat, reg. $3.50 $2.79 4 Piece MOP SETS Each 98c 2 Mops, 1 Can Oil, 1 Handle 9X9-1. only Brussels Rug, reg. 29.50 $26.95 9x9-3 only Wilton Rugs, reg; 52.50..... , ..44.95 9x10 f -1 only Brussels Rug, reg. 35.50 ...:.31.95 9x1'0% 1 only Wilton Rug, reg. 47.50 41.95 9x.10/-2 only Wilton Rugs, reg. 61.50 52.95,. 9x12-lonly Wilton Rug, reg. 69.50 . , 59.95 4/x7/2-2 only Axle. Rugs, reg, 14.50 11.95 4%x7/-1 only Wilton Rug, reg. 23.50 27 In.x10 a ft. -1 only Runner, reg. 17.50 12.95 36x63-1 only Wilton Rug, reg. 12.50. .9.95 12.95 sae TRY sToREmeo Congoieum Inlaid Linoleum THE wALKERFop Wilton, Axminster, Brussels, Grass or Rag. Rugs Linoleum Oilcloth - Feltol WIHAM Blinds, Curt. Rods, Faor Wax CURTAIN GOODS -- PANELS - SILK DRAPERY - CHINTZ the bodily powers. In short, man's whole being is to be employed in lov- ing service of his heavenly Father, No corner of his nature is to be re- served for any other use. "The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Our "neigh- bor," as Christ made clear in His parable of the good.Santaritan, is not merely the person living near us, but includes anyone, near or far, who May need its. "There is none other coantn- andntent greater than these." God is love, and as love animates more and more like God, and more and more pleasing in His sight. "And the scribe said unto Him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that He is one; and there is none other but He." The Greek is stronger and more enthusiastic: "Well said, Teacher! Truly • hast thou said," etc. The scribe, himself a master of the law; could appreciate Christ's masterly analysis and condensation of it all. t "And to love Hiin with all the heart, and with all the understandings, and with all the strength." The scribe. omits "with all the soul," since the heart, understanding and strength may be regarded as making up the entire' being, the soul. "And to love his neighbor as himself." Here is. where Christ's opponents would have found it hardest to follow Christ in their lives, but this scribe was of a brotherly nature. "Is much more than all whole burnteofferings and sacriiicies." Burnt -offerings and other l sacrificies, with the many regulations for each, formed a very large Part o1 the life of the strict Jew, but this scribe' had read deeply enotugh, itt the Book, to realize that the great .pro- phot in whose presetlee he stood was viii harmony with, all the other Jewish prophets in tis emphasis on practi- cal love as supretiie over merely for- mat' religion. "And when Jesus saw that he ans- wered discreetly, He said unto him, Thou art not far from. the Kingdom of God." One who isnot far from the kingd,oni of God niay in the end be as far from it as the most terrible sinner. Some imagine themselves to be really Christians, being misled by the fact that 'they are almost per- seeded to be such. "And no mart after that durst ask Him ani question." But Christ Himself became the quest- ioner' (verse 35). He issued a warn- ing against the misleading views of the scribes who had been examining Him in hostile fashion, This refut- ation Christ followed with a warning against the character- of the scribes',' their pride, and vainglory, their hy- pocritical long prayers, their cruel oppression of the poor:' Theirs was only an empty form of religion, and' Jesus condemned it absolutely. Current Accounts Customers carrying' ,business accounts are given every as sistance and attention at this Bank. See the Manager at any Branch. POi1kON itltablishecl 1871 A. M. IA/SHOP Manager Wingfiatri ltranch 1�s