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Christ would have removed, that the influence of his mission might be
felt upon all classes.
Those who think to preserve their religion by hiding it within stone
walls to escape the contamination of the world, lose golden opportu-
nities to enlighten and benefit humanity. The Saviour sought men in
the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue,
by the shores of lakes, and at the marriage feasts. He spent much time
[108]
in the mountains, engaged in earnest prayer, in order to come forth
braced for the conflict, strengthened for his active toil among men in
real life, enlightening and relieving the poor, the sick, the ignorant,
and those bound by the chains of Satan, as well as teaching the rich
and honorable.
The ministry of Christ was in marked contrast with that of the
Jewish elders. They held themselves aloof from sympathy with men;
considering that they were the favored ones of God, they assumed an
undue appearance of righteousness and dignity. The Jews had so far
fallen from the ancient teachings of Jehovah that they held that they
would be righteous in the sight of God, and receive the fulfillment of
his promises, if they strictly kept the letter of the law given them by
Moses.
The zeal with which they followed the teachings of the elders
gave them an air of great piety. Not content with performing those
services which God had specified to them through Moses, they were
continually reaching for more rigid and difficult duties. They measured
their holiness by the multitude of their ceremonies, while their hearts
were filled with hypocrisy, pride, and avarice. The curse of God was
upon them for their iniquities, while they professed to be the only
righteous nation upon earth.
They had received unsanctified and confused interpretations of the
law, they had added tradition to tradition, they had restricted freedom
of thought and action, till the commandments, ordinances, and service
of God, were lost in a ceaseless round of meaningless rites and cere-
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monies. Their religion was a yoke of bondage. They had become so
fettered that it was impossible for them to attend to the essential duties
of life, without employing the Gentiles to do many necessary things
which were forbidden the Jews to do for fear of contamination. They
were in continual dread that they should become defiled. Dwelling