the desire of ages-第75部分
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etty 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 earnestness； bowing at Christ's feet； and crying； 〃Lord； help me。〃 Jesus； still apparently rejecting her entreaties； according to the unfeeling prejudice of the Jews； answered； 〃It is not meet to take the children's bread； and to cast it to dogs。〃 This was virtually asserting that it was not just to lavish the blessings brought to the favored people of God upon strangers and aliens from Israel。 This answer would have utterly discouraged a less earnest seeker。 But the woman saw that her opportunity had come。 Beneath the apparent refusal of Jesus； she saw a compassion that He could not hide。 〃Truth； Lord；〃 she answered； 〃yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table。〃 While the children of the household eat at the father's table； even the dogs are not left unfed。 They have a right to the crumbs that fall from the table abundantly supplied。 So while there were many blessings given to Israel； was there not also a blessing for her？ She was looked upon as a dog； and had she not then a dog's claim to a crumb from His bounty？
Jesus had just departed from His field of labor because the scribes and Pharisees were seeking to take His life。 They murmured and complained。 They manifested unbelief and bitterness； and refused the salvation so freely offered them。 Here Christ meets one of an unfortunate and despised race； that has not been favored with the light of God's word； yet she yields at once to the divine influence of Christ； and has implicit faith in His ability to grant the favor she asks。 She begs for the crumbs that fall from the Master's table。 If she may have the privilege of a dog； she is willing to be regarded as a dog。 She has no national or religious prejudice or pride to influence her course； and she immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Redeemer； and as being able to do all that she asks of Him。
The Saviour is satisfied。 He has tested her faith in Him。 By His dealings with her； He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien； but a child in God's household。 As a child it is her privilege to share in the Father's gifts。 Christ now grants her request； and finishes the lesson to the disciples。 Turning to her with a look of pity and love； He says； 〃O woman； great is thy faith：
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be it unto thee even as thou wilt。〃 From that hour her daughter became whole。 The demon troubled her no more。 The woman departed； acknowledging her Saviour； and happy in the granting of her prayer。
This was the only miracle that Jesus wrought while on this journey。 It was for the performance of this act that He went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon。 He wished to relieve the afflicted woman； and at the same time to leave an example in His work of mercy toward one of a despised people for the benefit of His disciples when He should no longer be with them。 He wished to lead them from their Jewish exclusiveness to be interested in working for others besides their own people。
Jesus longed to unfold the deep mysteries of the truth which had been hid for ages； that the Gen
