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362
From Heaven With Love
The scribe who had questioned Jesus was astonished. Before the
assembled priests and rulers he honestly acknowledged that Christ
had given the right interpretation to the law.
The scribe had some sense of the worthlessness of mere ceremo-
nial offerings and the faithless shedding of blood for expiation of sin.
Love and obedience to God, and unselfish regard for man, appeared
to him of more value than all these rites. His decided and prompt
response before the people manifested a spirit entirely different from
that of the priests and rulers. The heart of Jesus went out in pity
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to the honest scribe who had dared to speak the convictions of his
heart. “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said
unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”
The Pharisees had gathered close about Jesus as He answered the
scribe. Now He put a question to them: “What think ye of Christ?
whose son is He?” This question was designed to show whether
they regarded Him simply as a man or as the Son of God. A chorus
of voices answered, “The Son of David.” When Jesus revealed His
divinity by His mighty miracles, when He healed the sick and raised
the dead, the people had inquired among themselves, “Is not this the
Son of David?” But many who called Jesus the Son of David did not
recognize His divinity. The Son of David was also the Son of God.
In reply, Jesus said, “How then doth David in spirit [the Spirit
of Inspiration from God] call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto
my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy
footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He his son? And no
man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from
that day forth ask Him any more questions.”
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