CHRIST MAGNIFIED THE LAW
By H. W. Reed
Christ’s relation to the law of God is told by the prophet Isaiah, in these words: “The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Christ was to magnify the law of God, not to minify it. These words are too emphatic to admit of the idea that Christ, in the least degree, changed the law. He put a magnifying glass over it: not that more could thus be seen than was there, but that more of what was there could be seen. This law He magnified during His entire life: not that He might destroy it at His death, but that it might ever live to condemn sinners, and hold them guilty of death who do not accept Christ. His life is our example. He kept the law, and Christians should keep it. In living our example, He kept the seventh-day Sabbath; and in following His example, we must do as He did. In respect to this thought, a quotation or two from Peloubet’s “Select Notes on the International Lessons,” 1882, will be in place: “We follow Christ when we imitate His example, obey His words, walk in His footsteps toward heaven and God.”—Page 26. On page 27 we find the following words: “Jesus was accustomed to spend the Sabbath religiously.”—Whedon. This note follows the words, “Sabbath day, our Saturday, their Sabbath,” showing that the seventh day is meant. Now as “Jesus was accustomed to spend the Sabbath religiously,” that was His example in this matter. Then as “we follow Christ when we imitate His example,” we shall keep the Sabbath religiously. If we do not do as He did, we are not following His example, and, therefore, are not His followers. Then let us follow His example, and thus be His followers. As He magnified the law, by precept and living example, let all who pretend to be His followers do the same thing in the same way. And as Christ made the law honorable, so should those who profess to be Christians—Christlike—make the law honorable.