Christian Classics
‹ The People's New Testament
Contents
PrefaceOur Lord's ParablesOur Lord's Discourses and ConversationsA Table of MeasuresA Table of WeightsMeasures of LiquidsMeasures of Dry ThingsIntroduction to MatthewThe Genealogy and Birth of ChristThe Wise Men and the Flight into EgyptJohn the Baptist and the Baptism of ChristThe Temptation, and Christ's Ministry in GalileeThe Sermon on the MountThe Sermon on the Mount:—Continued.The Sermon on the Mount:—Concluded.Miracles at Capernaum and on the SeaThe Ministry at CapernaumThe Call and Charge to the ApostlesThe Message from John the BaptistThe Pharisees Take Counsel Against and Seek to Destroy JesusSeven Parables of the KingdomThe Miracles Beyond and Upon the Sea of GalileeChrist and the Pharisees: The Woman of CanaanThe Foundation of the ChurchThe TransfigurationThe Greatest in the KingdomMarriage and Divorce; The Rich RulerThe Laborers in the Vineyard; The Ambitious MotherChrist Entering JerusalemThe Marriage of the King's Son; Attempts to Entrap the SaviorThe Last Appeal to IsraelThe Judgments on the Jewish NationThe End of the WorldThe Preparation for the Lord's DeathJesus CrucifiedThe ResurrectionIntroduction to MarkThe Beginning of the Ministry of ChristThe First Conflict with the Scribes and PhariseesBlasphemy Against the Holy SpiritTeaching in ParablesHealing the AfflictedThe First CommissionMaking Void the Law of GodIn the Coasts of Cæsarea PhilippiThe TransfigurationChrist's Law of DivorceThe Royal Entrance into JerusalemA Day of ControversyChrist's Discourse on the Last DaysThe Seizure, Trial, and Condemnation of ChristThe CrucifixionThe ResurrectionIntroduction to LukeThe Birth of JohnThe Birth of JesusJesus Anointed by the Holy SpiritThe Beginning of Christ's MinistryChrist Teaching and HealingThe Twelve Apostles ChosenThe Widow's Son Raised from the DeadSpeaking in ParablesThe TransfigurationThe Seventy Disciples Sent ForthRebuking the PhariseesVarious WarningsChrist Still TeachingTeaching in ParablesJoy of Repenting SinnersThe Rich Man and LazarusVarious Sayings of ChristParables Concerning PrayerThe Entrance into JerusalemA Day of ConflictDiscourse on the Last DaysThe Last SupperThe CrucifixionThe Risen LordIntroduction to the Gospel of JohnThe Beginning of Christ's MinistryThe First MiracleChrist and NicodemusJesus at SycharJesus in JerusalemChrist, the Bread of LifeJesus at the Feast of TabernaclesChrist Teaching in JerusalemThe Man Born BlindThe Good ShepherdLazarus Raised from the DeadThe Royal Entrance into JerusalemThe Lord Washes the Disciples' FeetJesus Comforts His DisciplesThe True VineThe Work of the Holy SpiritThe Lord's Prayer for His DisciplesJesus Betrayed and CondemnedThe CrucifixionThe ResurrectionThe Risen Lord at the Sea of GalileeIntroduction to the Acts of the ApostlesThe Acts of the Apostles · Chapter IThe Day of PentecostThe First PersecutionPeter and John Before the SanhedrimThe Sin and Punishment of Ananias and SapphiraStephen Seized and Called Before the SanhedrimThe Martyrdom of StephenThe Missionary Labors of PhilipThe Conversion of Saul of TarsusThe Doors of the Kingdom Opened to the GentilesPeter's Defence Before the Church at JerusalemPersecutions in JudeaThe Era of Gentile MissionsMissionary Labors in the Cities of Asia MinorThe Question of CircumcisionThe Gospel Carried into EuropePaul at AthensPaul at CorinthPaul at EphesusThe Second Visit to Europe and ReturnPaul Seized in the TemplePaul's Address to the Jews in the TemplePaul's Defence Before the SanhedrimPaul's Defence Before FelixThe Appeal to CæsarPaul's Address Before King AgrippaThe Sea Voyage to RomePaul at RomeIntroduction to the Epistle to the RomansIntroduction: The Morals of PaganismThe Sinfulness of the Jews; Their Need of the GospelThe Condemnation of IsraelAbraham Justified While Still a GentileReconciliation Through ChristDying and Living with ChristDeliverance from BondageThe Privileges of the Children of GodThe Rejection of the JewsThe Jews Excluded from UnbeliefThe Two Olive TreesChristian LifeThe Christians and CIVIL GovernmentDifferences of OpinionMutual Love and Forbearance EnjoinedPersonal SalutationsIntroduction to First CorinthiansThe Divisions in the Church Brought to LightChrist CrucifiedCarnal DivisionsThe Apostles and the ChurchImpurity in the ChurchLitigation Among BrethrenMarriageThe Duty of the Strong Toward Weaker BrethrenThe Apostleship of PaulWarnings Against IdolatryDress and Conduct in the ChurchSpiritual GiftsThe Greatest of All ThingsOrder in Public WorshipThe Resurrection from the DeadConcluding WordsIntroduction to Second CorinthiansPaul's Anxiety Over the Corinthian ChurchThe Repentance of the CorinthiansThe Two Covenants ComparedGlory Through SufferingThe House Not Made with HandsThe Apostolic MinistryThe Effect of Paul's First Letter at CorinthThe Grace of GivingLiberal and Cheerful GivingJudaizing False Teachers RebukedPaul and His AntagonistsPaul's Revelations and Thorn in the FleshConcluding WordsIntroduction to the Epistle to the GalatiansPaul's Apostleship of God, Not of MenThe Gospel Not Bondage to the LawJustification Belongeth to Abraham's Children by FaithThe Two CovenantsThe Fruits of the Flesh and of the SpiritConcluding AdmonitionsIntroduction to the Epistle to the EphesiansThe Foreordination of the ChurchThe Church Redeemed in ChristPaul's Office as Apostle to the GentilesThe Unity of the ChurchDuties Which Become the Children of GodThe Christian WarfareIntroduction to the Epistle to the PhilippiansGreetings from a Roman PrisonExhortation to a Holy LifeAttaining to the Power of the ResurrectionPrecepts for Christian LifeIntroduction to the Epistle to the ColossiansThe Epistle of Paul to the Colossians · Chapter IWarnings Against False TheoriesThe New Life in ChristFinal ExhortationIntroduction to the First Epistle to the ThessaloniansIntroductory GreetingsPaul's Ministry at ThessalonicaPaul's Feelings Toward the ThessaloniansExhortation to a Godly LifeClosing AdmonitionsIntroduction to the Second Epistle to the ThessaloniansGreetingsThe Man of SinClosing AdmonitionsIntroduction to the First Epistle to TimothyThe Work Assigned to TimothyDirections Concerning Public WorshipBishops and DeaconsA Falling Away PredictedThe Widows of the ChurchVarious Duties EnjoinedIntroduction to the Second Epistle to TimothyTimothy's Preparation for His WorkTo Be a Workman Approved of GodA Defection from the Truth ForetoldThe Last Solemn ChargeIntroduction to the Epistle to TitusDirections to TitusPractical Duties Versus Unsound DoctrineVarious Duties of Social LifeIntroduction to the Epistle to PhilemonThe Appeal of OnesimusIntroduction to the Epistle to the HebrewsChrist Greater Than Angels and ProphetsThe Superiority of the New DispensationChrist Superior to MosesThe Rest that Remaineth for the SaintsThe Superiority of Christ's PriesthoodGoing on Toward PerfectionChrist's Priesthood After the Order of MelchizedecThe Two TestamentsThe Old and New TestamentChrist's Sacrifice Offered Once for AllLiving by FaithPerseverance and the Christian RaceClosing AdmonitionsIntroduction to the General Epistle of JamesOn TemptationsFaith and WorksThe Control of the TongueControl of the PassionsWarnings to the RichIntroduction to the First Epistle General of PeterThe Gospel the Foreordained Purpose of GodThe Temple of Living StonesVarious Practical DutiesCounsels to Suffering SaintsConclusionIntroduction to the Second Epistle of PeterMaking the Calling and Election SureWarnings Against False TeachersThe End of All ThingsIntroduction to the First Epistle of JohnFellowship with GodThe New LifeChildren Born of GodTrying the SpiritsConclusionIntroduction to the Second Epistle of JohnThe EpistleIntroduction to the Third Epistle of JohnThe EpistleIntroduction to the Epistle of JudeThe Epistle (Jude 1:1) (Jude 1:2)Introduction to RevelationThe AuthorThe DateThe Real DateInternal TestimonyThe PlaceSystems of InterpretationTable of SymbolsThe Scope of RevelationDivisionsThe Vision of the Son of ManLetters to the Churches:The Epistles to the Seven Churches ContinuedThe Open Door in HeavenThe Book with Seven SealsThe Opening of the SealsThe Sealing of the Servants of GodThe Seventh Seal OpenedThe Woe TrumpetsThe Open BookThe Two WitnessesThe Vision of the ChurchThe Seven-Headed BeastThe Triumph of ChristAnother Great and Marvellous Sign in HeavenThe Seven Last PlaguesThe Judgment and the Great HarlotThe Doomed CityThe Marriage Supper of the LambThe MillenniumThe New JerusalemThe New Jerusalem (Continued): EpilogueKey Thoughts of the New Testament BooksQuotations from the Old Testament in the New TestamentI. In JudæaII. In SamariaIII. In GalileeIV. In PeræaV. DecapolisVI. In PhoeniciaVII. In SyriaVIII. In Asia MinorIX. In MacedoniaX. GreeceXI. In the Isles of the SeaXII. Italy

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The First Conflict with the Scribes and Pharisees

Chapter II

Summary —The Palsied Man Healed. The Charge of Blasphemy. The Calling of Matthew. The Feast at the House of Matthew. Not the Whole, but the Sick Need a Physician. Fasting. New Wine in Old Bottles. Plucking Corn on the Day. The Son of Man Lord of the .

1. Again he entered Capernaum. After his first missionary circuit of Galilee.

2–12. Many were gathered together. For notes on the healing of this paralytic see Matt. 9:2–8. Compare Luke 5:17–26. As we learn from Luke, among those gathered were and scribes from Judea, Jerusalem, and Galilee, evidently by a preconcerted arrangement. The whole incident illustrates: (1) The Divine power of Christ. He could assert that he forgave sins without blasphemy. (2) The difference between Christ and his apostles, none of whom claimed to forgive sins (see Acts 8:22–24). (3) It affords a test for all priests who claim to forgive sin. If they possessed power to forgive sins they would have power also to relieve the body of the physical consequences of sin.

14. He saw Levi the son of Alphæus. Matthew Levi; the apostle after this, but now a . On the call of Matthew and Matthew's feast see notes on Matt. 9:9–17, and compare also Luke 5:27–39.

15. Sat at meat. At a meal. In his house. Matthew's. Many . Gatherers of the Roman tax. Sinners. Persons excommunicated from the synagogue.

18. Why do the disciples of John … fast? See notes on Matt. 9:14, 15.

21. No man also seweth, etc. On this figure and that of old and new bottles see notes on Matt. 9:16, 17.

23. He went through the corn fields on the . See notes on Matt. 12:1–8. Compare Luke 6:1–11.

26. In the days of Abiathar, the high priest. In 1 Sam. 21:1–9, Ahimelech is represented as the high priest. Abiathar was his son and successor. The Revised Version gives the text of the best MSS. by omitting “the high priest.”

27. The was made for man. The rest; that is, a rest of one day in seven was made for man, not for Jews only. This implies that it is to be a universal institution; that the good of man requires it, and that it is not an arbitrary enactment, but a wise and benevolent provision for the welfare of the race. Experience shows that men are happiest, most moral, most prosperous and healthiest where it is devoutly observed.

28. The Son of man is Lord also of the . This affirms the Divine nature of Jesus. None but the Divine is Lord of a divine institution. Since Christ is Lord of the day, he has the right to modify it, to adapt it to the new dispensation, and to change the time of its observance from the last day of the week to the first, so as to make it the memorial of the beginning of the New Creation, instead of commemorating the rest from the first creation.