Answers to Questions

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 20, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 33.

Answers to Questions

“Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently.”

[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries as may be sent us. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. Let the questions be short and pointed, and such as may be answered in limited space. The questions will be numbered continuously.]

No. 401. Christ’s Words to His Mother.

PLEASE explain John 2:4, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.”

S. M. H.

It was a common form of speech, expressive of the thought that “this is not a matter between thee and me,” this is not for us to decide. Young translates, “What to thee and to me, woman?” The mother of Jesus evidently thought it to be a good time to show himself to be the Messiah; and Jesus by his question showed her that that was not a matter for her or him to decide; his manifestation as the Messiah rested with God. Jesus was but doing the will of his Father. His words to his mother were also a respectful reminder that her son was no longer under her control.

No. 402. No Man Hath Ascended Up to Heaven.

PLEASE explain John 3:13, which says, “No man hath ascended up to heaven.” We read of some being translated.

J. L.

It means that no one save Jesus Christ revealed the truth that saves. No man had gone from earth up to heaven to learn these things that he might tell them to the world. Man of himself could only tell of the earth; and no man had ever ascended to heaven to know truth for the benefit of his fellow-men. Christ came from above, from his own home, to reveal the truth to the world. Enoch and Elijah ascended to heaven; but not for the purpose for which Christ came. Christ brought heaven down to men; the very atmosphere of heaven was about him.

No. 403. Calling the Disciples.

MATTHEW and Mark and Luke tell us that Peter and Andrew were fishing when Jesus called them, but John says that Andrew was with John, and he afterward told Peter about the Christ. See Matt. 4:18; Mark 1:16; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:40, 41.

J. E. G.

The event recorded in John seems to have been prior to that recorded in the synoptic Gospels. The disciples went back to their fishing; after this Jesus went to their own section, and definitely called them, and “they forsook all and followed him.” Luke 5:11.

No. 404. What Is Usury?

WHAT is usury? Nowadays I understand that it is unlawful interest, but does not the Bible teach us in Ex. 22:25; Ps. 15:5; Eze. 18:8, and parallel passages, that it is increase?

J. E. G.

The word itself means compensation for use. When God gave his people the land of Canaan, all had sufficient. They were dependent for their existence upon the land, not upon money loaning. They were therefore forbidden to loan money to their poor brethren and charge for the use of it. But when one is wholly dependent upon his money for his living, and has but a limited amount of it, it seems to us perfectly proper that those who borrow his money in order to get increase should pay the owner of the money a reasonable interest. Conditions now are vastly different than they were in Palestine under the Lord’s rule, and yet, according to God’s word, a well-to-do or rich man should never charge a poor and worthy brother interest, nor should he charge any one exorbitant interest. The same principle of just and generous dealings exists now as then.