Hear Ye Him by D. M. Canright

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Woodland, Cal. · Oct 22, 1874

Hear Ye Him.

By D. M. Canright

And now to show, beyond a possibility of a mistake that the instruction of Christ in this sermon applies this side of the cross, in the gospel dispensation, notice what he says of the law of Moses, that is, the ceremonial law. After having finished his instruction concerning the moral law, teaching its perpetuity in the strongest terms, he now takes up the law of Moses, and sets it all aside and directs his apostles to teach others not to regard it. Thus he says, "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement." Verse 31. This language may be found in Deut. 24: 1, in the ceremonial law of Moses. It allowed a man to divorce his wife for a very slight cause. Now what does the Master say? "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." Verse 32.

Thus he sets this law right aside. "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths." Verse 33. Here is another quotation from that law which may be found in Numbers 30: 2. What does he say about this? "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by Heaven; for it is God's throne." Verse 34. Thus he mows this right down. Again, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Verse 38. This is found, not in the ten commandments, but in Exodus 21: 24. Now hear how the Lord abolishes this. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Verse 39. This is just opposite of what Moses said.

Take another illustration, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy." Verse 43. This may be found, not in the decalogue, but in Deut. 23: 6. Now listen to Christ, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Verse 44.

Thus he takes up the law of Moses; and in the most summary manner sets it all aside. This clearly shows that Christ recognized the difference between the moral law and ceremonial law in the old dispensation. But even the ceremonial law was obligatory until the cross. Christ himself carefully observed all its requirements, and taught others to do so until it expired upon the cross. Hence, what he here briefly taught his disciples, did not apply till after the cross. Hence when he says of the moral law, "Whosoever therefore, shall break one of these least commandments," &c., he means whosoever in the gospel dispensation shall do it.

Now to prove that our position is correct, and that we have correctly interpreted the instruction of Christ to his apostles, let us follow them as they go out in after years to preach the gospel, and see how they understood his teachings concerning the decalogue.

James was one of the apostles who sat at Jesus' feet and listened to this sermon. Thirty years afterwards he writes his general epistle to the brethren scattered abroad. In chapter 2: 8-12, he says, "If ye fulfill the royal law," &c. Thus he introduces the subject of the law in almost the very words that Christ did, who said, I am come to fulfill the law. So James says, "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Verses 8, 9, 10. How exactly James repeats the lesson of his Master. Christ said, Whosoever therefore should break one of the least commandments, should be the least in the kingdom of heaven. James says, "Whosoever shall offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Then Jesus illustrates what he meant by quoting the sixth and seventh commandments. Now notice, how carefully James uses the same illustration. "For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." Verse 11. Thus we see that this apostle, away down in the gospel dispensation thirty years, repeats and enforces the very lesson that his Master had taught him concerning the decalogue. Then he adds, "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." Verse 12.

By this very law, then, Christians are to be judged. Can there be any question what law this is? Certainly not. It is the law that says, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, &c. It was the law that was written in the old scriptures, for James says, they are to fulfill it, according to the Scriptures. Such a law we do find in Exodus 20. This is the one, and the only one, in all the Bible that contains this language. Of it the apostle says, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all." Thus he teaches in the clearest possible language, that every one of the ten commandments are still binding and must be obeyed by Christians. Not one of them to be left out.

Reader, we appeal to you, Is not the Sabbath a part of this law? One of these commandments? You know that it is. Does not this language require us to keep that commandment as well as the rest? If you keep the other nine and violate the fourth, are you not doing just what James says will make you a transgressor? Decide this as you will wish you had in the judgment; for we are to be judged by that law. John was another apostle, who sat at Jesus feet. Listen to him. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." 1 John 3: 15. This is almost the exact language of Jesus who said, "Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause," violates the sixth commandment. Again, John says: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5: 2, 3. And even in stronger language he says, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2: 3, 4. Thus we might continue to quote the same doctrine all through the New Testament.

Take a few examples in conclusion. Does Paul teach children obedience to parents? he goes right back to the ten commandments for his authority. "Children obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Eph. 6: 1-3. To the Romans he says, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3: 31. "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good." "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin." "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man." Rom. 7: 12, 14, 22. Finally, Jesus in his last revelation to John on the isle of Patmos, A. D. 96, referring to his Father's commandments says, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22: 14.

D. M. CANRIGHT.