18.   And John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
      19   And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
      20   But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.
      21   No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.
      22   And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.

      Mark 3:1   And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
      2   And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
      3   And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth.
      4   And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
      5   And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.
      6   And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verse 18. What difference was seen between the Pharisees and the disciples of John on the one hand, and the disciples of Jesus on the other?

Verses 19, 20. How did the Lord explain this lack of fasting? Would it always be that way? (Here is Christ's first intimation of His death).

Verses 21, 22. Did the Lord Jesus propose to put His new doctrine into the old forms and ceremonials of the Law? Was it His intention to patch up the worn-out garment of the old order with patches of new teaching? What would have been the result if He had done that? [29]

Mark 3, vs. 1, 2. Where did He go? On what day? With what mean purpose did they watch Him?

Verses 3, 4. What question did Jesus put to them? What was the proper answer? (Matt. 12:11, 12). Did they answer Him so?

Verse 5. Was this righteous anger? What other feeling went with it? Why was He grieved? How did He heal the man? When Jesus commanded, did that enable the cripple to stretch forth his withered hand? What happened when he did so?

Verse 6. Is this the first time His enemies consult to kill Him? (Yes. Comp. Matt. 12:14). With whom did the Pharisees combine? The Herodians were the court-party, compromising and worldly; the Pharisees were the strictest sect of the Jewish religion. Hate makes strange bed-follows. Consider Ps. 2:2; Prov. 21:30.

NOTES AND TEACHING POINTS.

      The Lesson includes all of Mark 2:18 to 3:6.

JESUS AND THE LAW.

      What was Jesus' relationship to the Law? He was born (and lived) under the Law that He might redeem them that are under the Law. (Gal. 4:4). Although He came to bring us a better thing (John 1:17) and began to teach the new truth, He did not permit the relaxing of any of the requirements. See Golden Text, and all of Matt. 5:17-19. He inculcated the Law to the end of His earthly ministry. Notice especially Matt. 23:2, 3, "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat"--that is, they teach Moses' teaching--"whatsoever therefore they bid you, that do and observe." But after the Cross and the Resurrection the Lord Jesus gave new orders: "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you." (Matt. 28:18-20). The distinctive teaching of the Lord Jesus and the teaching of the Spirit since the day of Pentecost, is the Christian's rule of life. They are not under the Law. (Rom. 6:14). They are dead to the law. (Rom. 7:4).

ABOUT FASTING.

      Not even Moses had enjoined fasting. "The essence of scriptural 'fasting' lies in self-humiliation and penitence . . . the precise mode of subduing the flesh to the spirit, and of expressing sorrow for sin is left to the conscientious discretion of each person." It was perfectly proper to fast on proper occasion. There are many approved instances of individuals' (or of a number of people, or even all) fasting in time of distress or in special self-humilations before God; but God never made a set rule or ordinance to that effect. Neither did He want anyone to think that outward fasting was something in itself meritorious before God. If, in reality, they turned from their sins in their fasts He would accept it. (Isa. 58:4-7).

      It is still so in the New Testament. Fasting may be a natural and fitting expression of grief and penitence, or of great earnestness in prayer; and when that is the case it is well. But in itself it has no value (Col. 2:23) and if done for appearances it is abomination. (Matt. 6:16-18). For fasting in N. T. church see Acts 13:2, 3. But the Revised Version omits both [30] Matt. 17:21 and the word "fasting" in Mark 9:29, and the reference to fasting in 1 Cor. 7:5, because there is no valid manuscript-authority for them.

JESUS AND THE SABBATH.

      The objection of the Jews to Jesus' healing on the Sabbath had no foundation in Scripture. Such works of mercy were peculiarly fitting on the Sabbath day, and even the Law made provision for them, even if they were done to relieve the wants or sufferings of animals--let alone men. (Matt. 12:9-12; Luke 13:15, 16). But the Lord Jesus also claimed to have rights over the Sabbath, to cancel or alter its demands as He saw best, for He was "Lover even of the Sabbath." Just as the Temple exempted its men (for the priests in the Temple-service "profane the sabbath," yet are guiltless) so His presence justified certain acts on the Sabbath, for "one greater than the temple is here." (Matt. 12:6).

      The Sabbath commandment therefore, was not a moral commandment; for a moral commandment could not be set aside for sake of circumstances, not even by God Himself.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CLASS.

1. For what was Jesus called to task?
2. Did His disciples fast?
3. Why did they not fast?
4. What is fasting an expression of?
5. When would Jesus' disciples have occasion to fast?
6. Why would no man sew a new patch on an old garment?
7. Did Jesus come to patch up the old order of things?
8. Did He come to destroy the Law or to fulfil it?
9. Did He fulfil it?
10. What would happen if a new wine were put into old wineskins?
11. Could the forms and ordinances of the Law contain the new doctrine of the Gospel? (Mark 3:1).
12. Why did they watch Jesus?
13. Did they think it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath day?
14. What did Jesus ask them?
15. Did they answer?
16. Why was the Lord angry?
17. Did He go on and heal the man just the same?
18. What did they then lay plans to do?
19. What is taught about fasting? (See Notes).
20. Are Christians under the Law? (See Notes).
21. Which day of the week was the Sabbath?
22. Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? (See Notes).

Source: Fourth Lord's Day Lesson of January. Lesson 4. January 22, 1928. Jesus and the Law (Mark 2:18-22;