按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
arther side； Jesus said； 〃Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
408
Sadducees。〃 The Jews had been accustomed since the days of Moses to put away leaven from their houses at the Passover season； and they had thus been taught to regard it as a type of sin。 Yet the disciples failed to understand Jesus。 In their sudden departure from Magdala they had forgotten to take bread； and they had with them only one loaf。 To this circumstance they understood Christ to refer； warning them not to buy bread of a Pharisee or a Sadducee。 Their lack of faith and spiritual insight had often led them to similar misconception of His words。 Now Jesus reproved them for thinking that He who had fed thousands with a few fishes and barley loaves could in that solemn warning have referred merely to temporal food。 There was danger that the crafty reasoning of the Pharisees and the Sadducees would leaven His disciples with unbelief； causing them to think lightly of the works of Christ。
The disciples were inclined to think that their Master should have granted the demand for a sign in the heavens。 They believed that He was fully able to do this； and that such a sign would put His enemies to silence。 They did not discern the hypocrisy of these cavilers。
Months afterward； 〃when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people； insomuch that they trode one upon another；〃 Jesus repeated the same teaching。 〃He began to say unto His disciples first of all； Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees； which is hypocrisy。〃 Luke 12：1。
The leaven placed in the meal works imperceptibly； changing the whole mass to its own nature。 So if hypocrisy is allowed to exist in the heart； it permeates the character and the life。 A striking example of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees； Christ had already rebuked in denouncing the practice of 〃Corban；〃 by which a neglect of filial duty was concealed under a pretense of liberality to the temple。 The scribes and Pharisees were insinuating deceptive principles。 They concealed the real tendency of their doctrines； and improved every occasion to instill them artfully into the minds of their hearers。 These false principles； when once accepted； worked like leaven in the meal； permeating and transforming the character。 It was this deceptive teaching that made it so hard for the people to receive the words of Christ。
The same influences are working today through those who try to explain the law of God in such a way as to make it conform to their practices。 This class do not attack the law openly； but put forward
409
speculative theories that undermine its principles。 They explain it so as to destroy its force。
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was the product of self…seeking。 The glorification of themselves was the object of their lives。 It was this that led them to pervert and misapply the Scriptures； and blinded them to the purpose of Christ's mission。 This subtle evil even the disciples of Christ were in danger of cherishing。 Those who classed themselves with the followers of Jesus； but who had not left all in order to become His disciples； were influenced in a great degree by the reasoning of the Pharisees。 They were often vacillating between faith and unbelief； and they did not discern the treasures of wisdom hidden in Christ。 Even the disciples； though outwardly they had left all for Jesus' sake； had not in heart ceased to seek great things for themselves。 It was this spirit that prompted the strife as to who should be greatest。 It was this that came between them and Christ； making them so little in sympathy with His mission of self…sacrifice； so slow to comprehend the mystery of redemption。 As leaven； if left to complete its work； will cause corruption and decay； so does the self…seeking spirit； cherished； work the defilement and ruin of the soul。
Among the followers of our Lord today； as of old； how widespread is this subtle； deceptive sin！ How often our service to Christ； our communion with one another； is marred by the secret desire to exalt self！ How ready the thought of self…gratulation； and the longing for human approval！ It is the love of self； the desire for an easier way than God has appointed that leads to the substitution of human theories and traditions for the divine precepts。 To His own disciples the warning words of Christ are spoken； 〃Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees。〃
The religion of Christ is sincerity itself。 Zeal for God's glory is the motive implanted by the Holy Spirit； and only the effectual working of the Spirit can implant this motive。 Only the power of God can banish self…seeking and hypocrisy。 This change is the sign of His working。 When the faith we accept destroys selfishness and pretense； when it leads us to seek God's glory and not our own； we may know that it is of the right order。 〃Father； glorify Thy name〃 （John 12：28）； was the keynote of Christ's life； and if we follow Him； this will be the keynote of our life。 He commands us to 〃walk； even as He walked；〃 and 〃hereby we do know that we know Him； if we keep His commandments。〃1 John 2：6； 3。
（410）
Chapter 45
The Foreshadowing of the Cross
The work of Christ on earth was hastening to a close。 Before Him； in vivid outline； lay the scenes whither His feet were tending。 Even before He took humanity upon Him； He saw the whole length of the path He must travel in order to save that which was lost。 Every pang that rent His heart； every insult that was heaped upon His head； every privation that He was called to endure； was open to His view before He laid aside His crown and royal robe； and stepped down from the throne； to clothe His divinity with humanity。 The path from the manger to Calvary was all before His eyes。 He knew the anguish that would come upon Him。 He knew it all； and yet He said； 〃Lo； I come： in the volume of the Book it is written of Me； I delight to do Thy will； O My God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Ps。 40：7； 8。
Ever before Him He saw the result of His mission。 His earthly life； so full of toil and self…sacrifice； was cheered by the prospect that He would not have all this travail for nought。 By giving His life for the life of men； He would win back the world to its loyalty to God。 Although the baptism of blood must first be received； although the sins of the world were to weigh upon His innocent soul； although the shadow of an unspeakable woe was upon Him； yet for the joy that was set before Him； He chose to endure the cross； and despised the shame。
From the chosen companions of His ministry the scenes that lay before Him were as yet hidden； but the time was near when they must
411
behold His agony。 They must see Him whom they had loved and trusted； delivered into the hands of His enemies； and hung upon the cross of Calvary。 Soon He must leave them to face the world without the comfort of His visible presence。 He knew how bitter hate and unbelief would persecute them； and He desired to prepare them for their trials。
Jesus and His