the desire of ages-第115部分

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he　influence　of　the　Holy　Spirit　upon　human　action；　they　lacked　His　power　in　their　lives。　Like　the　rest　of　the　Jews；　they　boasted　much　of　their　birthright　as　children　of　Abraham；　and　of　their　strict　adherence　to　the　requirements　of　the　law；　but　of　the　true　spirit　of　the　law　and　the　faith　and　benevolence　of　Abraham；　they　were　destitute。　Their　natural　sympathies　were　brought　within　a　narrow　compass。　They　believed　it　possible　for　all　men　to　secure

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the　comforts　and　blessings　of　life；　and　their　hearts　were　not　touched　by　the　wants　and　sufferings　of　others。　They　lived　for　themselves。

By　His　words　and　His　works；　Christ　testified　to　a　divine　power　that　produces　supernatural　results；　to　a　future　life　beyond　the　present；　to　God　as　a　Father　of　the　children　of　men；　ever　watchful　of　their　true　interests。　He　revealed　the　working　of　divine　power　in　benevolence　and　compassion　that　rebuked　the　selfish　exclusiveness　of　the　Sadducees。　He　taught　that　both　for　man's　temporal　and　for　his　eternal　good；　God　moves　upon　the　heart　by　the　Holy　Spirit。　He　showed　the　error　of　trusting　to　human　power　for　that　transformation　of　character　which　can　be　wrought　only　by　the　Spirit　of　God。

This　teaching　the　Sadducees　were　determined　to　discredit。　In　seeking　a　controversy　with　Jesus；　they　felt　confident　of　bringing　Him　into　disrepute；　even　if　they　could　not　secure　His　condemnation。　The　resurrection　was　the　subject　on　which　they　chose　to　question　Him。　Should　He　agree　with　them；　He　would　give　still　further　offense　to　the　Pharisees。　Should　He　differ　with　them；　they　designed　to　hold　His　teaching　up　to　ridicule。

The　Sadducees　reasoned　that　if　the　body　is　to　be　composed　of　the　same　particles　of　matter　in　its　immortal　as　in　its　mortal　state；　then　when　raised　from　the　dead　it　must　have　flesh　and　blood；　and　must　resume　in　the　eternal　world　the　life　interrupted　on　earth。　In　that　case　they　concluded　that　earthly　relationships　would　be　resumed；　husband　and　wife　would　be　reunited；　marriages　consummated；　and　all　things　go　on　the　same　as　before　death；　the　frailties　and　passions　of　this　life　being　perpetuated　in　the　life　beyond。

In　answer　to　their　questions；　Jesus　lifted　the　veil　from　the　future　life。　〃In　the　resurrection；〃　He　said；　〃they　neither　marry；　nor　are　given　in　marriage；　but　are　as　the　angels　of　God　in　heaven。〃　He　showed　that　the　Sadducees　were　wrong　in　their　belief。　Their　premises　were　false。　〃Ye　do　err；〃　He　added；　〃not　knowing　the　Scriptures；　nor　the　power　of　God。〃　He　did　not　charge　them；　as　He　had　charged　the　Pharisees；　with　hypocrisy；　but　with　error　of　belief。

The　Sadducees　had　flattered　themselves　that　they　of　all　men　adhered　most　strictly　to　the　Scriptures。　But　Jesus　showed　that　they　had　not　known　their　true　meaning。　That　knowledge　must　be　brought　home　to　the　heart　by　the　enlightenment　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　Their　ignorance　of　the　Scriptures　and　the　power　of　God　He　declared　to　be　the　cause　of　their

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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；

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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

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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