154
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
as sinners above all others, are astonished to hear Jesus assert that those
who cherish lascivious thoughts are as guilty at heart as the shameless
violators of the seventh commandment. Jesus condemned the custom
then existing of a man ting away his wife for trivial offenses. This
practice led to great wretchedness and crime. Jesus strikes at the
primary cause of the laxness with which the marriage relation was
held, when he condemns the unholy passions which find the marriage
institution a barrier to the gratification of their lust. Christ would have
the marriage relation hedged about with judicial restrictions, so that
[222]
there could be no legal separation between husband and wife, save for
the cause of adultery.
Many who had regarded the commandments as prohibiting actual
crime but reaching no farther, now perceive that the law of God should
be obeyed in spirit as well as in letter. In this manner Jesus takes up the
commandments separately and explains the depth and breadth of their
requirements, exposing the fatal mistake of the Jews in their merely
outward obedience. Jesus gives a lesson upon oath-taking, saying,
“Let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is
more than these cometh of evil.” The third commandment condemns
the profane swearer, but the spirit of the precept reaches farther still,
and forbids that the name of God be introduced into the conversation in
a careless or irreverent manner. Many, even of the professed followers
of Christ, are in the habit of using lightly the name of God, and, even
in their prayers and exhortations, do not use the Supreme name with a
proper solemnity.
A detachment of the Roman troops was encamped near by, on
the sea-shore, and Jesus is now interrupted by the loud blast of the
trumpet which is the signal for the soldiers to assemble on the plain
below. They form in the regular order, bowing in homage to the Roman
standard which is uplifted before them. With bitterness the Jews look
upon this scene which reminds them of their own degradation as a
nation. Presently messengers are dispatched from the army, with
orders to various distant posts. As they toil up the abrupt bank that
borders the shore, they are brought near to the listening crowd that
surrounds Jesus, and they force some of the Jewish peasants to carry
[223]
their burdens for them up the steep ascent. The peasants resist this
act of oppression, and address their persecutors with violent language;
but they are finally compelled to obey the soldiers, and perform the