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opportunity to present the truth that is to save men and women from
eternal death.—
Manuscript 27, 1906
.
Christ Reached the People at Their Dinners and Feasts—
Christ is our Master. By definite instructions He prepared His fol-
lowers for their work before leaving them. As soon as He could talk,
Christ used the talent of speech, in the family circle and among friends
and acquaintances, in a way that was without fault. Not one impure
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word escaped His lips. Never did He do a wrong action, for He was
the Son of God. Although He possessed a human form, yet He was
without a taint of sin.
When invited, as His work commenced, to a dinner or feast by
Pharisee or publican He accepted the invitation. He was accused
by the religious leaders of eating with publicans, and they cast the
imputation upon Him that He was like them. But on such occasions
Christ controlled the table talk, and gave many precious lessons. Those
present listened to Him; for had He not healed their sick, comforted
their sorrowing, taken their children in His arms and blessed them?
Publicans and sinners were drawn to Him, and when He opened His
lips to speak, their attention was riveted on Him.
Christ taught His disciples how to conduct themselves when in
the company of those who were not religious and those who were.
He taught them by example that when attending any public gathering,
they need not want for something to say. But His conversation differed
most decidedly from that which had been listened to at feasts in the
past. Every word He uttered was a savor of life unto life to His hearers,
and they listened with subdued attention, as though desirous of hearing
to a purpose.
The respect shown to Christ at the feasts He attended was in marked
contrast to the manner in which the scribes and Pharisees were treated,
and this made them anxious. Christ gave lessons adapted to the needs
of His hearers. It was when He was at a feast that He gave the parable
of the great supper, and showed the way in which the invitation of the
king was treated....
The great teacher spoke as one having authority. He instructed
His disciples in regard to the duties and regulations of true social
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life, which are the same as the laws of the kingdom of God. Christ
spoke His words with great clearness and simplicity, and with no