With Our Inquirers by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 28, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 13.

With Our Inquirers

By Editor

"If ye will inquire, inquire ye."

[All questions to this department will be answered which to the editors will seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. The same question can not be answered repeatedly in the same volume. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. It is well always to enclose a stamp for reply.]

2636.— Why Had They Met Together?

One claims that the disciples were met in the upper chamber upon the first day of the week for worship, and it was their mode of worship which caused them to bar the doors for fear of the Jews. Please explain the text.

C. E. S.

The question is a very simple one if we will read the scriptural accounts in Mark 16:14; Luke 24:33-43; John 20:19, 20; Acts 1:13. Mark tells us that Jesus upbraided them for their unbelief. Surely they could not have met there to worship Him if they did not believe He was risen. Luke tells us that they were frightened when they saw Jesus, and He had to put forth evidence that they could grasp and see to convince them that He was raised from the dead. Therefore they did not meet to worship Him. John tells us that when they went home they shut the doors for fear of the Jews. A mode of worship implies custom, principle. Surely the disciples had not even begun any mode of worship. Luke tells us in Acts that they met where they lived; they simply went home, most of them discouraged, fearful, doubting, disbelieving, in no mood to worship, when Jesus met with them. There is not a scintilla of evidence to indicate that they were met for worship; and when Jesus met with them, the day had passed, and the second day had begun.

2637.— Cities of Israel. Matt. 10: 23.

What are the cities of Israel? If Christ is talking to His disciples of to-day, then verse 23 of Matthew 10 must apply to the disciples of to-day also.

C. K.

The cities of Israel are the cities which were in the land of Palestine when Jesus lived there, and when He talked with His disciples. It was the twelve He sent out, and they were to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He sent them before Him, and He himself followed them. His instruction has been left on record for all time, and when the children of God come to that condition of heart and mind that they will count salvation from sin more than all else in the world, God will add unto them other blessings. Every principle in the teaching of our Lord, worked out in His own day, is binding now, but just the very circumstances and the particular commands which were given them may have application only to that time. Many of these important truths which our Saviour spoke, apply at all times, in all lands, under all circumstances.

2638.— Taking Off Hats.

Should not women and girls as well as men and boys take off their hats before entering the church?

Our querist may find help, perhaps, in the study of 1 Cor. 11:3-16. The whole matter of head-covering is largely a matter of custom. The Jews (men) keep their hats on during their services in the synagogue. Everywhere it is customary for women to wear their hats in services of all kinds. It might be more reverent to remove them. Oftentimes it would be more pleasant to sit behind women if their hats were removed. But what would some of the sisters do with some of the wonderful inventions of the milliner's art, surmounting an equally ingenious and complicated fashion in the hair-dressing line? And then where would they put these marvelous creations? It might be better, sister, to remove them; and we venture to suggest it, but we can not enforce it. Better kindly to agitate and educate and leave the question, as God leaves it, with each individual soul.

2639.— Throughout Their Generations. Ex. 31:16, 17.

Why do your people keep the Sabbath, when it is only to be throughout generations? A generation means a race, kind, breed, people of one period or age.

M. A. M.

We have condensed the above question to save space, but we have given the core of principles involved. Generations means more than generation. The covenant blessings to Israel were under the word, "commanded for a thousand generations," outspanning this world's brief testing of sin,—an expression denoting eternity. God chose Israel for all eternity. It is to Israel that all the promises are made. Rom. 9:4. A Gentile if saved at all must be saved as Israel. Eph. 2:11-22. There is no promise to him outside. It will be a city, the gates of which are named after the twelve tribes of Israel, into which the redeemed will enter. Why not join them and be among those who "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus"? Rev. 14:12.