the desire of ages-第106章

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on；　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　liberal　offerings。　Presently　His　countenance　lighted　as　He　saw　a　poor　widow　approach　hesitatingly；　as　though　fearful　of　being　observed。　As　the　rich　and　haughty　swept　by；　to　deposit　their　offerings；　she　shrank　back　as　if　hardly　daring　to　venture　farther。　And　yet　she　longed　to　do　something；　little　though　it　might　be；　for　the　cause　she　loved。　She　looked　at　the　gift　in　her　hand。　It　was　very　small　in　comparison　with　the　gifts　of　those　around　her；　yet　it　was　her　all。

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Watching　her　opportunity；　she　hurriedly　threw　in　her　two　mites；　and　turned　to　hasten　away。　But　in　doing　this　she　caught　the　eye　of　Jesus；　which　was　fastened　earnestly　upon　her。

The　Saviour　called　His　disciples　to　Him；　and　bade　them　mark　the　widow's　poverty。　Then　His　words　of　commendation　fell　upon　her　ear：　〃Of　a　truth　I　say　unto　you；　that　this　poor　widow　hath　cast　in　more　than　they　all。〃　Tears　of　joy　filled　her　eyes　as　she　felt　that　her　act　was　understood　and　appreciated。　Many　would　have　advised　her　to　keep　her　pittance　for　her　own　use；　given　into　the　hands　of　the　well…fed　priests；　it　would　be　lost　sight　of　among　the　many　costly　gifts　brought　to　the　treasury。　But　Jesus　understood　her　motive。　She　believed　the　service　of　the　temple　to　be　of　God's　appointment；　and　she　was　anxious　to　do　her　utmost　to　sustain　it。　She　did　what　she　could；　and　her　act　was　to　be　a　monument　to　her　memory　through　all　time；　and　her　joy　in　eternity。　Her　heart　went　with　her　gift；　its　value　was　estimated；　not　by　the　worth　of　the　coin；　but　by　the　love　to　God　and　the　interest　in　His　work　that　had　prompted　the　deed。

Jesus　said　of　the　poor　widow；　She　〃hath　cast　in　more　than　they　all。〃　The　rich　had　bestowed　from　their　abundance；　many　of　them　to　be　seen　and　honored　by　men。　Their　large　donations　had　deprived　them　of　no　comfort；　or　even　luxury；　they　had　required　no　sacrifice；　and　could　not　be　compared　in　value　with　the　widow's　mite。

It　is　the　motive　that　gives　character　to　our　acts；　stamping　them　with　ignominy　or　with　high　moral　worth。　Not　the　great　things　which　every　eye　sees　and　every　tongue　praises　does　God　account　most　precious。　The　little　duties　cheerfully　done；　the　little　gifts　which　make　no　show；　and　which　to　human　eyes　may　appear　worthless；　often　stand　highest　in　His　sight。　A　heart　of　faith　and　love　is　dearer　to　God　than　the　most　costly　gift。　The　poor　widow　gave　her　living　to　do　the　little　that　she　did。　She　deprived　herself　of　food　in　order　to　give　those　two　mites　to　the　cause　she　loved。　And　she　did　it　in　faith；　believing　that　her　heavenly　Father　would　not　overlook　her　great　need。　It　was　this　unselfish　spirit　and　childlike　faith　that　won　the　Saviour's　commendation。

Among　the　poor　there　are　many　who　long　to　show　their　gratitude　to　God　for　His　grace　and　truth。　They　greatly　desire　to　share　with　their　more　prosperous　brethren　in　sustaining　His　service。　These　souls　should　not　be　repulsed。　Let　them　lay　up　their　mites　in　the　bank　of　heaven。　If　given　from　a　heart　filled　with　love　for　God；　these　seeming　trifles　become　consecrated　gifts；　priceless　offerings；　which　God　smiles　upon　and　blesses。

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When　Jesus　said　of　the　widow；　She　〃hath　cast　in　more　than　they　all；〃　His　words　were　true；　not　only　of　the　motive；　but　of　the　results　of　her　gift。　The　〃two　mites　which　make　a　farthing〃　have　brought　to　God's　treasury　an　amount　of　money　far　greater　than　the　contributions　of　those　rich　Jews。　The　influence　of　that　little　gift　has　been　like　a　stream；　small　in　its　beginning；　but　widening　and　deepening　as　it　flowed　down　through　the　ages。　In　a　thousand　ways　it　has　contributed　to　the　relief　of　the　poor　and　the　spread　of　the　gospel。　Her　example　of　self…sacrifice　has　acted　and　reacted　upon　thousands　of　hearts　in　every　land　and　in　every　age。　It　has　appealed　to　both　the　rich　and　the　poor；　and　their　offerings　have　swelled　the　value　of　her　gift。　God's　blessing　upon　the　widow's　mite　has　made　it　the　source　of　great　results。　So　with　every　gift　bestowed　and　every　act　performed　with　a　sincere　desire　for　God's　glory。　It　is　linked　with　the　purposes　of　Omnipotence。　Its　results　for　good　no　man　can　measure。

The　Saviour　continued　His　denunciations　of　the　scribes　and　Pharisees：　〃Woe　unto　you；　ye　blind　guides；　which　say；　Whosoever　shall　swear　by　the　temple；　it　is　nothing；　but　whosoever　shall　swear　by　the　gold　of　the　temple；　he　is　a　debtor！　Ye　fools　and　blind：　for　whether　is　greater；　the　gold；　or　the　temple　that　sanctifieth　the　gold？　and；　Whosoever　shall　swear　by　the　altar；　it　is　nothing；　but　whosoever　sweareth　by　the　gift　that　is　upon　it；　he　is　guilty。　Ye　fools　and　blind：　for　whether　is　greater；　the　gift；　or　the　altar　that　sanctifieth　the　gift？〃　The　priests　interpreted　God's　requirements　according　to　their　own　false　and　narrow　standard。　They　presumed　to　make　nice　distinctions　as　to　the　comparative　guilt　of　various　sins；　passing　over　some　lightly；　and　treating　others　of　perhaps　less　consequence　as　unpardonable。　For　a　money　consideration　they　excused　persons　from　their　vows。　And　for　large　sums　of　money　they　sometimes　passed　over　aggravated　crimes