the desire of ages-第129节

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heir　exalted　station；　and　scribes　with　scrolls　in　their　hands；　to　which　they　made　frequent　reference。　Jesus　stood　calmly　before　them；　with　the　dignity　of　a　king。　As　one　invested　with　the　authority　of　heaven；　He　looked　unflinchingly　upon　His　adversaries；　who　had　rejected　and　despised　His　teachings；　and　who　thirsted　for　His　life。　They　had　assailed　Him　in　great　numbers；　but　their　schemes　to　ensnare　and　condemn　Him　had　been　in　vain。　Challenge　after　challenge　He　had　met；　presenting　the　pure；　bright　truth　in　contrast　to　the　darkness　and　errors　of　the　priests　and　Pharisees。　He　had　set　before　these　leaders　their　real　condition；　and　the　retribution　sure　to　follow　persistence　in　their　evil　deeds。　The　warning　had　been　faithfully　given。　Yet　another

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work　remained　for　Christ　to　do。　Another　purpose　was　still　to　be　accomplished。

The　interest　of　the　people　in　Christ　and　His　work　had　steadily　increased。　They　were　charmed　with　His　teaching；　but　they　were　also　greatly　perplexed。　They　had　respected　the　priests　and　rabbis　for　their　intelligence　and　apparent　piety。　In　all　religious　matters　they　had　ever　yielded　implicit　obedience　to　their　authority。　Yet　they　now　saw　these　men　trying　to　cast　discredit　upon　Jesus；　a　teacher　whose　virtue　and　knowledge　shone　forth　the　brighter　from　every　assault。　They　looked　upon　the　lowering　countenances　of　the　priests　and　elders；　and　there　saw　discomfiture　and　confusion。　They　marveled　that　the　rulers　would　not　believe　on　Jesus；　when　His　teachings　were　so　plain　and　simple。　They　themselves　knew　not　what　course　to　take。　With　eager　anxiety　they　watched　the　movements　of　those　whose　counsel　they　had　always　followed。

In　the　parables　which　Christ　had　spoken；　it　was　His　purpose　both　to　warn　the　rulers　and　to　instruct　the　people　who　were　willing　to　be　taught。　But　there　was　need　to　speak　yet　more　plainly。　Through　their　reverence　for　tradition　and　their　blind　faith　in　a　corrupt　priesthood；　the　people　were

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enslaved。　These　chains　Christ　must　break。　The　character　of　the　priests；　rulers；　and　Pharisees　must　be　more　fully　exposed。

〃The　scribes　and　the　Pharisees；〃　He　said；　〃sit　in　Moses'　seat：　all　therefore　whatsoever　they　bid　you　observe；　that　observe　and　do；　but　do　not　ye　after　their　works：　for　they　say；　and　do　not。〃　The　scribes　and　Pharisees　claimed　to　be　invested　with　divine　authority　similar　to　that　of　Moses。　They　assumed　to　take　his　place　as　expounders　of　the　law　and　judges　of　the　people。　As　such　they　claimed　from　the　people　the　utmost　deference　and　obedience。　Jesus　bade　His　hearers　do　that　which　the　rabbis　taught　according　to　the　law；　but　not　to　follow　their　example。　They　themselves　did　not　practice　their　own　teaching。

And　they　taught　much　that　was　contrary　to　the　Scriptures。　Jesus　said；　〃They　bind　heavy　burdens　and　grievous　to　be　borne；　and　lay　them　on　men's　shoulders；　but　they　themselves　will　not　move　them　with　one　of　their　fingers。〃　The　Pharisees　enjoined　a　multitude　of　regulations；　having　their　foundation　in　tradition；　and　unreasonably　restricting　personal　liberty。　And　certain　portions　of　the　law　they　so　explained　as　to　impose　upon　the　people　observances　which　they　themselves　secretly　ignored；　and　from　which；　when　it　served　their　purpose；　they　actually　claimed　exemption。

To　make　a　show　of　their　piety　was　their　constant　aim。　Nothing　was　held　too　sacred　to　serve　this　end。　To　Moses　God　had　said　concerning　His　commandments；　〃Thou　shalt　bind　them　for　a　sign　upon　thine　hand；　and　they　shall　be　as　frontlets　between　thine　eyes。〃　Deut。　6：8。　These　words　have　a　deep　meaning。　As　the　word　of　God　is　meditated　upon　and　practiced；　the　whole　man　will　be　ennobled。　In　righteous　and　merciful　dealing；　the　hands　will　reveal；　as　a　signet；　the　principles　of　God's　law。　They　will　be　kept　clean　from　bribes；　and　from　all　that　is　corrupt　and　deceptive。　They　will　be　active　in　works　of　love　and　compassion。　The　eyes；　directed　toward　a　noble　purpose；　will　be　clear　and　true。　The　expressive　countenance；　the　speaking　eye；　will　testify　to　the　blameless　character　of　him　who　loves　and　honors　the　word　of　God。　But　by　the　Jews　of　Christ's　day　all　this　was　undiscerned。　The　command　given　to　Moses　was　construed　into　a　direction　that　the　precepts　of　Scripture　should　be　worn　upon　the　person。　They　were　accordingly　written　upon　strips　of　parchment；　and　bound　in　a　conspicuous　manner　about　the　head　and　wrists。　But　this　did　not　cause　the　law　of　God　to　take　a　firmer　hold　of　the　mind　and　heart。　These　parchments　were　worn　merely　as　badges；

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to　attract　attention。　They　were　thought　to　give　the　wearers　an　air　of　devotion　which　would　command　the　reverence　of　the　people。　Jesus　struck　a　blow　at　this　vain　pretense：

〃But　all　their　works　they　do　for　to　be　seen　of　men：　they　make　broad　their　phylacteries；　and　enlarge　the　borders　of　their　garments；　and　love　the　uppermost　rooms　at　feasts；　and　the　chief　seats　in　the　synagogues；　and　greetings　in　the　markets；　and　to　be　called　of　men；　Rabbi；　Rabbi。　But　be　not　ye　called　Rabbi：　for　one　is　your　Master；　even　Christ；　and　all　ye　are　brethren。　And　call　no　man　your　father　upon　the　earth：　for　One　is　your　Father；　which　is　in　heaven。　Neither　be　ye　called　master：　for　One　is　your　Master；　even　Christ。〃　In　such　plain　words　the　Saviour　revealed　the　selfish　ambition　that　was　ever　reaching　for　place　and　power；　displaying　a　mock　humility；　while　the　heart　was　filled　with　avarice　and　envy。　When　persons　were　invited　to　a　feast；　the　guests　were　seated　according　to　their　rank；　and　those　who　were　given　the　most　honorable　place　received　the　first　attention　and　special　favors。　The　Pharisees　were　ever　scheming　to　secure　these　honors。　This　practice　Jesus　rebuked。

He　also　reproved　the　vanity　shown　in　coveting　the　title　of　rabbi；　or　master。　Such　a　title；　He　declared；　belonged　not　to　men；　but　to　Christ。　Priests；　scribes；　and　rulers；　expounders　and　administrators　of　the　law；　were　all　brethren；　children　of　one　Father。　Jesus　impressed　upon　the　people　that　they　were　to　give　no　man　a　title　of　honor　indicating　his　control　of　their　conscience　or　their　faith。

If　Christ　were　on　earth　today；　surrounded　by　those　who　bear　the　title　of　〃Reverend〃　or　〃Right　Reverend；〃　would　He　not　repeat　His　saying；　〃Neither　be　ye　called　masters：　for　One　is　your　Master；　even　Christ〃？　The　Scripture　declares　of　God；　〃Holy　and　reverend　is　His　name。〃　Ps。　111：9。　To　what　human　being　is　such　a　title　befitting？　How　little　does　man　reveal　of　the　wisdom　and　righteousness　it　indicates！　How　many　of　those　who　assume　this　title　are　misrepresenting　the　name　and　character　of　God！　Alas；　how　often　have　worldly　ambition；　despotism；　and　the　basest　sins　been　hidden　under　the　broidered　garments　of　a　high　and　holy　office！　The　Saviour　continued：

〃But　he　that　is　greatest　among　you　shall　be　your　servant。　And　whosoever　shall　exalt　himself　shall　be　abased；　and　he　that　shall　humble　himself　shall　be　exalted。〃　Again　and　again　Christ　had　taught　that　true　greatness　is　measured　by　moral　worth。　In　the　estimation　of　heaven；　greatness　of　character　consists　in　living　for　the　welfare　of　our　fellow　men；　in

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doing　works　of　love　and　mercy。　Christ　the　King　of　glory　was　a　servant　to　fallen　man。

〃Woe　unto　you；　scribes　and　Pharisees；　hypocrites；〃　said　Jesus；　〃for　ye　shut　up　the　kingdom　of　heaven　against　men：　for　ye　neither　go　in　yourselves；　neither　suffer　ye　them　that　are　entering　to　go　in。〃　By　perverting　the　Scriptures；　the　priests　and　lawyers　blinded　the　minds　of　those　who　would　otherwise　have　received　a　knowledge　of　Christ's　kingdom；　and　that　inward；　divine　life　which　is　essential　to　true　holiness。

〃Woe　unto　you；　scribes　and　Pharisees；　hypocrites！　for　ye　devour　widows'　houses；　and　for　a　pretense　make　long　prayer：　therefore　ye　shall　receive　the　greater　damnation。〃　The　Pharisees　had　great　influence　with　the　people；　and　of　this　they　took　advantage　to　serve　their　own　interests。　They　gained　the　confidence　of　pious　widows；　and　then　represented　it　as　a　duty　for　them　to　devote　their　property　to　religious　purposes。　Having　secured　control　of　their　money；　the　wily　schemers　used　it　for　their　own　benefit。　To　cover　their　dishonesty；　they　offered　long　prayers　in　public；　and　made　a　great　show　of　piety。　This　hypocrisy　Christ　declared　would　bring　them　the　greater　damnation。　The　same　rebuke　falls　upon　many　in　our　day　who　make　a　high　profession　of　piety。　Their　lives　are　stained　by　selfishness　and　avarice；　yet　they　throw　over　it　all　a　garment　of　seeming　purity；　and　thus　for　a　time　deceive　their　fellow　men。　But　they　cannot　deceive　God。　He　reads　every　purpose　of　the　heart；　and　will　judge　every　man　according　to　his　deeds。

Christ　unsparingly　condemned　abuses；　but　He　was　careful　not　to　lessen　obligation。　He　rebuked　the　selfishness　that　extorted　and　misapplied　the　widow's　gifts。　At　the　same　time　He　commended　the　widow　who　brought　her　offering　for　God's　treasury。　Man's　abuse　of　the　gift　could　not　turn　God's　blessing　from　the　giver。

Jesus　was　in　the　court　where　were　the　treasure　chests；　and　He　watched　those　who　came　to　deposit　their　gifts。　Many　of　the　rich　brought　large　sums；　which　they　presented　with　great　ostentation。　Jesus　looked　upon　them　sadly；　but　made　no　comment　on　their