Which? by W. M. Healey

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 14, 1878

Which?

By W. M. Healey

The following question is often asked us, If the Sabbath is of as much importance as you think, why did not Christ tell the young man to keep it when he asked him what good thing he should do to have "eternal life"? Matt. 19:16; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:18.

We reply Christ did tell him to keep it. Notice his answer. Mark and Luke record a part of it as follows: "Thou knowest the commandments." Matthew gives the remainder, "If ye will enter into life keep the commandments." The young man asks, "Which?" It is not which commandment (singular) but which commandments (plural) thus showing that he knew that there were two sets, or classes of commandments. He undoubtedly knew of the moral code of ten commandments, spoken by the Lord on Sinai, and there written on tables of stone, now recorded Ex. 20.

He also knew that there was another code of laws, regulating the offering of sacrifice, and all the work of the priesthood, and that the priests and elders held to certain doctrines and traditions, which conflicted with the moral code. Hear Christ upon that: "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do."

"And he said unto them full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and whoso curseth father and mother let him die the death; but ye say, if a man shall say to his father or mother, it is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother; making the word of God of none effect through your traditions, which ye have delivered; and many such like things ye do." Mark 7:7-13.

Knowing the law, that had been written on the tables of stone, and these traditions which the priests held to, and said must be kept, the question as to which of these codes Christ meant, would naturally come next to the young ruler's mind. But says one, "He ought to have known which to keep and not for a moment supposed that keeping the commandments of men with certain ceremonial acts would give him life." So it would seem; but reader, in thus deciding are you not condemning many in our own time? Let us see what authority has the world for observing the first day of the week, as the Sabbath, the answer is easy: The custom of the country, and the commandments of men, for the Bible says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:10.

But I hear them say: "Oh yes; the Bible does say the seventh day is the Sabbath and never said the first day was a Sabbath, but then the first day has been observed for a long time and many great and good men kept it, and my father and mother kept it and they were good Christians." But wait, that is no new style of argument, but just the same as the Jews advanced in Christ's time. They held to commandments of men; yes, and they had become traditions, that is, had been held to a long time. And they were from the elders. Matt. 15:2. Just the ones that ought to know; precisely the same argument that is now used for Sunday keeping.

But Jesus does not leave the questioner in darkness, he soon tells him which set of commandments to keep, by quoting four out of the six that were written on the second table of stone, and taught duty of man to his fellow man. It will be noticed that he does not quote these in the order in which they were written; but skips around and finally sums them up in the second great commandment "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Verse 19: See Matt. 22:39.

Thus far no allusion is made to the commandments on the first table, showing our duty toward God, and comprising the first great commandment as given. Matt. 22:37-38. No one would for a moment suppose that the young man was under no obligation to love God, or that he could worship idols or take the name of God in vain and yet the commandments forbidding these sins are no more mentioned here than the one against Sabbath breaking.

But why did not Christ quote from the first table? We reply there was no occasion for it as the man turned away, was not willing to keep the commandments already given pointing out his duty to his fellow man, in this he had been fully tested and found wanting. If he was not willing to obey these requirements he could not have eternal life. We find the Scripture test of character often begins with our duty toward each other. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath seen?" 1 John 4:20. "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even till now." 1 John 2:9. See also 1 John 4:21. John 13:35. Luke 16:11.

Christ knew the disposition of this young ruler, that his heart was set on his worldly possessions; he loved his wealth above everything else. Jesus could, if he had chosen to do so, have alluded to his covetousness at the very commencement of the conversation. Evidently our Lord had no desire to offend him and see him turn away, but notwithstanding this the truth must not be withheld.

Does not this contain an example that all those who are trying to lead others, and show them what to do to gain life, ought to follow? They should not be too forward, and ready to disagree with, and point out the sins of others, but agree with them as far as possible, and in the spirit of kindness show them what they yet lack. Notice the question: "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" He could not expect to do any good thing directly to God; he could not feed and clothe the great Creator. But he could do all this for the poor and needy servant of God, and thus do it toward God.

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

"Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:31-40.

This was the way the young man could do good things toward God, and in so doing, be laying up treasures in heaven. Thus Christ gives the most direct answer to the question, What good thing shall I do? Keep the commandments. Which commandments? Those of God, or those of the priests? Those of God. They tell you how to do good things.

But after Christ has quoted from five of the commandments on the second table, and alluded to the sixth, and then summed them all up in the second great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, that was all that was required to gain life? No; after he had done this, it was necessary he should do yet more. Says Christ: "Come and follow me." Verse 21.

Could he be a follower of Christ and worship other gods? or profane his holy name? Certainly not. And yet Jesus has not quoted to him either of the commandments forbidding these sins. All this is comprehended in this, "Come and follow me." Could he follow Christ and refuse to acknowledge God as his Creator? Certainly not. And the Sabbath was the very means by which God designed his people to show that they worshiped the God that created the heavens and the earth with all that is therein.

Reader, would you have eternal life? Keep the commandments. Need you ask which?

W. M. Healey.