The Sabbath Hour

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1940, Page 8

The Sabbath Hour

“A Timely Warning"

Herman delivered in the Church of Christ, Maunu Road, by A. W. Bell. Text.—Matt. 16 : 6. Mark 8 : 15: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees and of the leaven of Herod.” One of the most expressive pictures cf work of the Propnets of Israel is that given by Ezekiel when he likened it to the work of the watchman. The Prophet, as the spiritual watchman of ms people, situated on a vantage point where he can see the approach of aanger, is in duty bound to raise his voice in warning when evil threatened the spiritual life of his people. . In this Christ was a true prophet. Frequently we hear on His lips the word of warning, “Beware!” "Be on guard!” In many respects the days in which we live are akin to the days of His flesh, Christ was speaking to us as well as to His Disciples. His message is for our times. He is our contemporary. When we hear the warning, we must take notice; yes, and more, we must prepare our de’fence .against the oncoming danger. Christ says, “Beware of leaven.” Some people think that whenever leaven is spoken of it refers to evil. In this passage it is not so—as in most others. Matt. 16: 12 makes clear that leaven represented the way in which certain doctrines worked in the minds of the people. Beginning unobtrusively, it woi'ks insidiously, silently, slowly but surely in the mind until finally its influence is felt by every particle. Christ’s gospel works like that. But in this passage it was of other influences which He spoke. Because these doctrines are still widespread today, His warning is a very timely one. We must be constantly on guard because of the threat that these attitudes to life constitute to our spiritual lives if unchecked. I.—The Leaven of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a religious sect of the Jews, which arose during the second century B.C. The name means “separated,” signifying the contrast between their life and that of the Gentiles or even of the common people around them. They might be called the Orthodox Jews of their day. Moreover, they were patriots who longed for the advent of the Messiah who would overthrow the yoke of Rome. In the ideal, their way of life had much to commend itself. But as Jesus saw it, it was ,a threat to the spiritual life. Its emphasis was upon the external only, upon the letter to the exclusion of the spirit. This brought from the Master his strongest indictment. He warned His disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” The word “hypocrisy” is derived from the Greek where it conveys the sense of “play-acting.”

The Pharisees were acting at being righteous, only they were doing it in real life. It led people to take it for the real thing when it was mainly show and sham. And there are many Pharisees about today, who are just ,as selfrighteous. There are people who think they live good enough lives that they can do witnout Christ. What is wrong witli their outlook? Just this —they confuse goodness with righteousness. Goodness has mainly to do with out relation to our fellow men. Righteousness has to do with our relation to God. We derive our righteousness, not for ourselves or our good deeds, but from God, through accepting Christ as our Saviour. We have no right to claim righteousness cn account of living a good life. Such a claim reveals the person to be avoiding spiritual issues, being unprepared to admit his need of Christ. Christ's warning is for all such —don’t playact. Be yourself, be sincere, be real. Begin at the beginning. Get right at the heart first. Get right with God. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Don’t be a hypocrite. Be on guard—be a follower of Christ. 2. —The Leaven of the Sadducees. The Sadducees were a rival sect of the Pharisees. They claimed to be the "righteous ones.” They were mainly priests in high positions. "The Chief Priests” in the New Testament refers to them. They accepted only the Mosaic Law and emphasised the moral rather than the ceremonial aspect. Their beliefs are generally listed as what they did not believe in —angel and spirits, the resurrection and the after-life. For them this life was everything,/and they sought to make the most of it. The Sadducees’ way of life was materialistic, and, as such, was a danger to the spiritual life. Materialism is an eminant danger to Christians today. Most people attach a good deal of importance to material things today, and the tendency is to make these all important. In such an atmosphere spiritual things Recede in importance in our minds. Christ warns us—“beware.” There is danger lest merely material considerations squeeze the life of God within us out of existence. 3. —The Leaven cf Herod. The Herodians, many of whom were Sadducees, were mainly a political party who adopted Herod’s methods. They favoured the rule of Rome and the introduction of Greek culture even at the sacrifice of great religious principles. We find these people always in situations of compromise. Against this the voice of Jesus was constantly raised in warning. Situations arise almost daily in which we are tempted to compromise. It may be in business or else at sport or in social life that we feel the power of the suggestion to lower our ideals. We want to be “a good sport” but when it means the surrendering of principles l we have learned to value, we must be on guard lest in being a “good sport” we sell our soul. Let us heed the \varning of Christ, against compromise. There is only one sure defence against these dangers. Christ faced them himself and gained the victory. We share in His victory when we place our lives unreservedly under His leadership and control.