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S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
superiority, which has always resulted in the injury of the men who
have been trusted, and addressed as “Father.” It confuses the sense
of the sacredness of the prerogatives of God (
Manuscript 71, 1897
).
12
. See
EGW comment on Genesis 39:20
.
13-33 (
Luke 11:42-44
). Legal Religion an Abomination
—
The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who
have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can
never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion.
When fastings and prayers are practiced in a self-justifying spirit,
they are abominable to God. The solemn assembly for worship, the
round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the imposed
sacrifice, all proclaim to the world the testimony that the doer of
these things considers himself as righteous. These things call atten-
tion to the observer of rigorous duties, saying, This man is entitled
to heaven. But it is all a deception. Works will not buy for us an
entrance into heaven. The one great offering that has been made is
ample for all who will believe (
Manuscript 154, 1897
).
37-39 (
Luke 13:34, 35
;
19:42
). Loading the Clouds of
Vengeance
—Christ’s heart had said “How can I give thee up?” He
had dealt with Israel as a loving, forgiving father would deal with
an ungrateful, wayward child. With the eye of Omniscience He saw
that the city of Jerusalem had decided her own destiny. For centuries
there had been a turning away from God. Grace had been resisted,
privileges abused, opportunities slighted. The people themselves
had been loading the cloud of vengeance which unmingled with
mercy was about to burst upon them. With choked, half-broken
utterance, Christ exclaimed, “O that thou hadst known, even thou
in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace; but now they
are hid from thine eyes.” The irrevocable sentence was pronounced
(
Manuscript 30, 1890
).