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theirs。　Wherever　He　leads　the　way；　they　will　rejoice　to　follow。

The　calling　of　Matthew　to　be　one　of　Christ's　disciples　excited　great　indignation。　For　a　religious　teacher　to　choose　a　publican　as　one　of　his　immediate　attendants　was　an　offense　against　the　religious；　social；　and　national　customs。　By　appealing　to　the　prejudices　of　the　people　the　Pharisees　hoped　to　turn　the　current　of　popular　feeling　against　Jesus。

Among　the　publicans　a　widespread　interest　was　created。　Their　hearts　were　drawn　toward　the　divine　Teacher。　In　the　joy　of　his　new　discipleship；　Matthew　longed　to　bring　his　former　associates　to　Jesus。　Accordingly

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he　made　a　feast　at　his　own　house；　and　called　together　his　relatives　and　friends。　Not　only　were　publicans　included；　but　many　others　who　were　of　doubtful　reputation；　and　were　proscribed　by　their　more　scrupulous　neighbors。

The　entertainment　was　given　in　honor　of　Jesus；　and　He　did　not　hesitate　to　accept　the　courtesy。　He　well　knew　that　this　would　give　offense　to　the　Pharisaic　party；　and　would　also　compromise　Him　in　the　eyes　of　the　people。　But　no　question　of　policy　could　influence　His　movements。　With　Him　external　distinctions　weighed　nothing。　That　which　appealed　to　His　heart　was　a　soul　thirsting　for　the　water　of　life。

Jesus　sat　as　an　honored　guest　at　the　table　of　the　publicans；　by　His　sympathy　and　social　kindliness　showing　that　He　recognized　the　dignity　of　humanity；　and　men　longed　to　become　worthy　of　His　confidence。　Upon　their　thirsty　hearts　His　words　fell　with　blessed；　life…giving　power。　New　impulses　were　awakened；　and　the　possibility　of　a　new　life　opened　to　these　outcasts　of　society。

At　such　gatherings　as　this；　not　a　few　were　impressed　by　the　Saviour's　teaching　who　did　not　acknowledge　Him　until　after　His　ascension。　When

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the　Holy　Spirit　was　poured　out；　and　three　thousand　were　converted　in　a　day；　there　were　among　them　many　who　first　heard　the　truth　at　the　table　of　the　publicans；　and　some　of　these　became　messengers　of　the　gospel。　To　Matthew　himself　the　example　of　Jesus　at　the　feast　was　a　constant　lesson。　The　despised　publican　became　one　of　the　most　devoted　evangelists；　in　his　own　ministry　following　closely　in　his　Master's　steps。

When　the　rabbis　learned　of　the　presence　of　Jesus　at　Matthew's　feast；　they　seized　the　opportunity　of　accusing　Him。　But　they　chose　to　work　through　the　disciples。　By　arousing　their　prejudices　they　hoped　to　alienate　them　from　their　Master。　It　was　their　policy　to　accuse　Christ　to　the　disciples；　and　the　disciples　to　Christ；　aiming　their　arrows　where　they　would　be　most　likely　to　wound。　This　is　the　way　in　which　Satan　has　worked　ever　since　the　disaffection　in　heaven；　and　all　who　try　to　cause　discord　and　alienation　are　actuated　by　his　spirit。

〃Why　eateth　your　Master　with　publicans　and　sinners？〃　questioned　the　envious　rabbis。

Jesus　did　not　wait　for　His　disciples　to　answer　the　charge；　but　Himself　replied：　〃They　that　be　whole　need　not　a　physician；　but　they　that　are　sick。　But　go　ye　and　learn　what　that　meaneth；　I　will　have　mercy；　and　not　sacrifice：　for　I　am　not　come　to　call　the　righteous；　but　sinners　to　repentance。〃　The　Pharisees　claimed　to　be　spiritually　whole；　and　therefore　in　no　need　of　a　physician；　while　they　regarded　the　publicans　and　Gentiles　as　perishing　from　diseases　of　the　soul。　Then　was　it　not　His　work；　as　a　physician；　to　go　to　the　very　class　that　needed　His　help？

But　although　the　Pharisees　thought　so　highly　of　themselves；　they　were　really　in　a　worse　condition　than　the　ones　they　despised。　The　publicans　were　less　bigoted　and　self…sufficient；　and　thus　were　more　open　to　the　influence　of　truth。　Jesus　said　to　the　rabbis；　〃Go　ye　and　learn　what　that　meaneth；　I　will　have　mercy；　and　not　sacrifice。〃　Thus　He　showed　that　while　they　claimed　to　expound　the　word　of　God；　they　were　wholly　ignorant　of　its　spirit。

The　Pharisees　were　silenced　for　the　time；　but　only　became　more　determined　in　their　enmity。　They　next　sought　out　the　disciples　of　John　the　Baptist；　and　tried　to　set　them　against　the　Saviour。　These　Pharisees　had　not　accepted　the　mission　of　the　Baptist。　They　had　pointed　in　scorn　to　his　abstemious　life；　his　simple　habits；　his　coarse　garments；　and　had　declared　him　a　fanatic。　Because　he　denounced　their　hypocrisy；　they　had　resisted　his　words；　and　had　tried　to　stir　up　the　people　against　him。　The

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Spirit　of　God　had　moved　upon　the　hearts　of　these　scorners；　convicting　them　of　sin；　but　they　had　rejected　the　counsel　of　God；　and　had　declared　that　John　was　possessed　of　a　devil。

Now　when　Jesus　came　mingling　with　the　people；　eating　and　drinking　at　their　tables；　they　accused　Him　of　being　a　glutton　and　a　winebibber。　The　very　ones　who　made　this　charge　were　themselves　guilty。　As　God　is　misrepresented；　and　clothed　by　Satan　with　his　own　attributes；　so　the　Lord's　messengers　were　falsified　by　these　wicked　men。

The　Pharisees　would　not　consider　that　Jesus　was　eating　with　publicans　and　sinners　in　order　to　bring　the　light　of　heaven　to　those　who　sat　in　darkness。　They　would　not　see　that　every　word　dropped　by　the　divine　Teacher　was　a　living　seed　that　would　germinate　and　bear　fruit　to　the　glory　of　God。　They　had　determined　not　to　accept　the　light；　and　although　they　had　opposed　the　mission　of　the　Baptist；　they　were　now　ready　to　court　the　friendship　of　his　disciples；　hoping　to　secure　their　co…operation　against　Jesus。　They　represented　that　Jesus　was　setting　at　nought　the　ancient　traditions；　and　they　contrasted　the　austere　piety　of　the　Baptist　with　the　course　of　Jesus　in　feasting　with　publicans　and　sinners。

The　disciples　of　John　were　at　this　time　in　great　sorrow。　It　was　before　their　visit　to　Jesus　with　John's　message。　Their　beloved　teacher　was　in　prison；　and　they　passed　their　days　in　mourning。　And　Jesus　was　making　no　effort　to　release　John；　and　even　appeared　to　cast　discredit　on　his　teaching。　If　John　had　been　sent　by　God；　why　did　Jesus　and　His　disciples　pursue　a　course　so　widely　different？

The　disciples　of　John　had　not　a　clear　understanding　of　Christ's　work；　they　thought　there　might　be　some　foundation　for　the　charges　of　the　Pharisees。　They　observed　many　of　the　rules　prescribed　by　the　rabbis；　and　even　hoped　to　be　justified　by　the　works　of　the　law。　Fasting　was　practiced　by　the　Jews　as　an　act　of　merit；　and　the　most　rigid　among　them　fasted　two　days　in　every　week。　The　Pharisees　and　John's　disciples　were　fasting　when　the　latter　came　to　Jesus　with　the　inquiry；　〃Why　do　we　and　the　Pharisees　fast　oft；　but　Thy　disciples　fast　not？〃

Very　tenderly　Jesus　answered　them。　He　did　not　try　to　correct　their　erroneous　conception　of　fasting；　but　only　to　set　them　right　in　regard　to　His　own　mission。　And　He　did　this　by　employing　the　same　figure　that　the　Baptist　himself　had　used　in　his　testimony　to　Jesus。　John　had　said；　〃He　that　hath　the　bride　is　the　bridegroom：　but　the　friend　of　the　bridegroom；　which　standeth　and　heareth　him；　rejoiceth　greatly　because　of

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the　bridegroom's　voice：　this　my　joy　therefore　is　fulfilled。〃　John　3：29。　The　disciples　of　John　could　not　fail　to　recall　these　words　of　their　teacher；　as；　taking　up　the　illustration；　Jesus　said；　〃Can　ye　make　the　children　of　the　bridechamber　fast；　while　the　bridegroom　is　with　them？〃

The　Prince　of　heaven　was　among　His　people。　The　greatest　gift　of　God　had　been　given　to　the　world。　Joy　to　the　poor；　for　Christ　had　come　to　make　them　heirs　of　His　kingdom。　Joy　to　the　rich；　for　He　would　teach　them　how　to　secure　eternal　riches。　Joy　to　the　ignorant；　He　would　make　them　wise　unto　salvation。　Joy　to　the　learned；　He　would　open　to　them　deeper　mysteries　than　they　had　ever　fathomed；　truths　that　had　been　hidden　from　the　foundation　of　the　world　would　be　opened　to　men　by　the　Saviour's　mission。

John　the　Baptist　had　rejoiced　to　behold　the　Saviour。　What　occasion　for　rejoicing　had　the　disciples　who　were　privileged　to　walk　and　talk　with　the　Majesty　of　heaven！　This　was　not　a　time　for　them　to　mourn　and　fast。　They　must　open　their　hearts　to　receive　the　light　of　His　glory；　that　they　might　shed　light　upon　those　who　sat　in　darkness　and　in　the　shadow　of　death。

It　was　a　bright　picture　which　the　words　of　Christ　had　called　up；　but　across　it　lay　a　heavy　shadow；　which　His　eye　alone　discerned。　〃The　days　will　come；〃　He　said；　〃when　the　bridegroom　shall　be　taken　away　from　them；　and　then　shall　they　fast　in　those　days。〃　When　they　should　see　their　Lord　betrayed　and　crucified；　the　disciples　would　mourn　and　fast。　In　His　last　words　to　them　in　the　upper　chamber；　He　said；　〃A　little　while；　and　ye　shall　not　see　Me：　and　again；　a　little　while；　and　ye　shall　see　Me。　Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　That　ye　shall　weep　and　lament；　but　the　world　shall　rejoice：　and　ye　shall　be　sorrowful；　but　your　sorrow　shall　be　turned　into　joy。〃　John　16：19；　20。

When　He　should　come　forth　from　the　tomb；　their　sorrow　would　be　turned　to　joy。　After　His　ascension　He　was　to　be　absent　in　person；　but　through　the　Comforter　He　would　still　be　with　them；　and　they　were　not　to　spend　their　time　in　mourning。　This　was　what　Satan　wanted。　He　desired　them　to　give　the　world　the　impression　that　they　had　been　deceived　and　disappointed；　but　by　faith　they　were　to　look　to　the　sanctuary　above；　where　Jesus　was　mini