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Chapter 67—Jesus’ Last Visit to the Temple
This chapter is based on
Matthew 23
;
Mark 12:41-44
;
Luke
20:45-47
;
21:1-4
.
It was the last day of Christ’s teaching in the temple. There
stood the young Galilean, bearing no earthly honor or royal badge.
Surrounding Him were priests in rich apparel, rulers with robes and
badges, and scribes with scrolls in their hands, to which they made
frequent reference. Jesus stood calmly, as one invested with the
authority of heaven. He looked unflinchingly upon His adversaries
who thirsted for His life. Their schemes to ensnare Him had been
in vain. Challenge after challenge He had met, presenting pure,
bright truth in contrast to the darkness and errors of the priests and
Pharisees. The warning had been faithfully given. Yet another work
remained for Christ to do.
The people were charmed with His teaching, but they were
greatly perplexed. They had respected the priests and rabbis, yet they
now saw these men trying to cast discredit on Jesus, whose virtue
and knowledge shone brighter from every assault. They marveled
that the rulers would not believe on Jesus, when His teachings were
so plain and simple. They themselves knew not what course to take.
In the parables it was Christ’s purpose to warn the rulers and
instruct the people. But there was need to speak yet more plainly.
Through their blind faith in a corrupt priesthood, the people were
enslaved. These chains Christ must break. “The scribes and the
Pharisees,” He said, “sit in Moses’ seat: all therefore whatsoever
they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their
works: for they say, and do not.”
[409]
The scribes and Pharisees assumed to take Moses’ place as
expounders of the law, but they did not practice their own teaching.
And they taught much that was contrary to the Scriptures: “They
bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their
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