IV. THE scaALEs oF DIVINE AND OF HUMAN ESTIMATION OFTEN DIFFER. A lesson often suggested by Christ. ‘Men are not what they seem.” In science, in literature, in politics, the greatest men often rise up, untrained in the schools, to confute the von- ventional judgment of the time about education. So in religion. It is difficult to realize that the Saviour was once scoffed at as a rustic, illiterate teacher from Nazareth. Yet so it was. There is a profound wonder in the turns of human life; and so long as
we have eyes for the hand and working of God, miracles in the truest sense will never cease.— J,
Vers. 13—17.— The dialectic of Jesus. 1. DisHoNEST SUBTLETY MATCHED BY OLEAR- SIGHTED WispoM. We must be, if possible, ‘wise as serpents,” but, above all, honest a perpuee. It is the false tongue that stammers, and the fox-like cunning that entraps tself.
Il, VERBAL TRUTH MAY CONCEAL HEART FALSEHOOD. ‘They spoke most truly to Jesus about himself, and yet most untruly. So of all words designed to flatter and deceive. There may be a divorce between the tongue and the heart.
Il]. ConDENSED ARGUMENT. In the use he made of the coin, Jesus suggested a whole train of argument. The coin with its image was a symbol of earthly rule. The kingdom of Jesus is ideal, and independent of the forms of this world (John xviii. 36), The loyalty of the Christian to the kingdom which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, teaches him how to act in relation to worldly governments. But Christianity is not to be confounded with politics, “ No earthly governments can prevent the spiritual service of God. That should not be rendered to them which ig due to God only ” (Godwin).—J.
Vers. 18—27.—Sadducean error, I, DIFFICULTIES OF BELIEF ARE OFTEN IDLE SUXURIES OF THE MIND. One cannot suppose that these men were really troubled by such a question as they raised. It was sheer idleness, bred of useless school lifo, And sc with many theoretical questions pretended to be of serious importance: pressing into what is inaccessible and kept in reserve by God. They are “solved by
walking.” Aci—act rightly here and now, and the question will solve itself, or cease to interest.
ou, xu. 1—44.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 183 a ee ee
IL. DisinGENUOUS REASONING FALLS INTO STUPIDITY. What else but childish is this confusion of earthly relations with the spiritual kingdom? Marriage, birth, and death are time-changes; belong to the idea of earth and time, not to eternity. And the least instructed mind feels that this is 80. There are enough mysteries in the present life to engage our attention without prying into those beyond.
TIL. Tue gay or TRuTH. The one great historic Word, the basis of the national consciousness, sheds its sufficient light upon the question. God does not claim dead objects for his own. Souls that he calls his, “do of his own dear life partake,” and “never will he them forsake.” It was a mystical interpretation of the ancient Word ; and often there are times when we may take refuge in the mystical interpretation, and rel ore it is the deepest and the best. ‘Those who are now dead to men still live ip
Vers, 28—34.— The essence of religion. I. THE LEADING IDEA FOR THE INTELLIGENOV The unity of God, his personality, his supreme lovableness. ‘‘ All love is lost sar upon God alone,”
Il. THz LEADING MAXIM FOR THE wiLL. To love one’s neighbour as one’s seli Kant said, trying to translate the gospel into his own dialect, “ Act so that the maxim of thy will may be the principle of an universal legislation.”
I. THE MORAL SURPASSES THE RITUAL IN RELIGION. Surpasses it by including it with itself. Nothing can be offered to God dearer than a just and a loving life. Love, in fact, is the measure of life’s worth. And he who believes and acts upon these principles is recognized by Christ as being a Christian.—J.
Vers. 35—37.—David’s Son, I. Davin’s PROPHETIO sPrRit. “ He was moved by the spirit of truth when he foretold that his son would rule over all, and when he owned him as Lord.” The psalm had originally another bearing. But as all true poesy “ smacks of something greater than it seems,” and has deeper meanings than meet tha eye, so did the words of the psalmist reach forth into remoter times and higher relations.
TI. Carist’s IDENTIFICATION. “ He declared that he was the Son of David, and that his priesthood and kingdom were universal and everlasting.” —J.
Vers. 383—40.—Traits of the scribe, I. THE SEEMING GOOD OFTEN THRIVE AND ARE HONOURED. Insight into character is rare; men are judged by the outside, and are taken largely at their own valuation.
IJ. PrerEnsioN EVER HIDES EMPTINESS, AND OFTEN GUILT. Fixed for ever for our repugnance, hatred, and contempt is the character of the religious pretender in the Gospel. Men need to be warned that there is more danger to the soul in pretending to 8 piety we have not got, than in merely having none at all—J.
Vers. 41—44.— The gift of poverty. I. THE MOTIVE MAKES THE ACTION SPIRITUAL. It is mechanical, conventional, without relation to the spiritual sphere, otherwise.
Tl. Lovz MAGNIFIES THE VALUE OF THE SMALLEST Girt. ‘The flower to the sick
rson, the penny in the plate, may be worth much. The condition of the world would Ee intolerable without the multitude of such little deeds.
Ul. THe TRUE STANDARD OF WORTH IN LIFE SHOULD BE OLEARLY KEPT IN MIND. We confuse mere giving and doing with that which springs from love too much. Let us not despise little things: seeds of love which become great in their result of
blessing. —J.
Vers. 1—12. Parallel passages: Matt. xxi. 383—46; Luke xx. 9—19.—Parable of the vineyard. I, Tae Lorp’s vineyarD. A vineyard is often used in Scripture as an object of comparison. The heart is probably represented under this pleasing and beautiful image in the Song of Solomon, where it is written, “ My mother’s children were aLgry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vine- yard have I not kept.” God’s ancient people are set forth under the same figure in the eighticth psalm, to denote his care for and kindness to them: “Thou hast brought a yine out of Egypt: thou hast cast cut the heathen, and planted it.” And a few verses
184 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [eu. xu. 1—44,
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