____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ June 1, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Did Jesus Violate the Sabbath? (Irvin Himmel) 2) The Mark of Cain (Kent E. Heaton, Sr.) 3) They Must See the Need (Bill Hall) 4) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Did Jesus Violate the Sabbath? by Irvin Himmel One Sabbath when Jesus and his disciples were walking through fields of grain, the disciples were hungry and began plucking ears of corn to eat. The Pharisees, eager to find fault with Jesus, made the charge that the disciples were breaking the law. On another occasion, Jesus healed a man at the pool of Bethesda, telling him to take up his bed and walk. Because it was the Sabbath, the Jews accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath by healing on that day, and they charged the healed man with violating the Sabbath by carrying his bed on that day (John 5). Leroy Garrett, writing in his Restoration Review, Dec., 1971, and defending situation ethics, says, "Legally speaking, Jesus violated Sabbath laws, but it was always for persons that he did so." From this premise he reasons to the conclusion that in certain situations we may "bypass a biblical principle" in order to honor "the law of love." Were Jesus and his disciples guilty of violating God's law pertaining to the Sabbath, even technically speaking? If so, Jesus was a transgressor, legally speaking, therefore technically a sinner! John says that "sin is the transgression of the law" (John 3:4), but Peter reminds us that Jesus "did no sin" (1 Pet. 2:22); hence, Jesus was not a transgressor, legally or otherwise! Jesus replied to the Pharisees who accused his disciples of breaking the law by plucking grain and rubbing it in their hands on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1,2; Lk. 6:1,2), by calling attention to the case of David. When David was being pursued by Saul, he went to the house of God and ate the sacred showbread. The law forbade any but priests to eat this bread (Lev. 24:9). David clearly violated divine law. Jesus said David ate that "which was not lawful for him to eat" (Matt. 12:4). But the disciples had not violated divine law. Jesus said they were "guiltless." The Pharisees condoned David's action although it was "not lawful," yet they "condemned the guiltless" by falsely accusing the disciples. Jesus exposed their inconsistency and hypocrisy. Also, Jesus called attention to the priests who, by the very nature of their duties, worked on the Sabbath day. According to the Jewish interpretations of the Sabbath law, the priests profaned the day, yet even the Pharisees counted them blameless. This case further illustrated their inconsistencies in accusing Christ's disciples falsely. What God's law pertaining to the Sabbath actually said was one thing; what Jewish tradition said was another. Jesus did not admit that either he or his disciples had violated the divine law of the Sabbath in any sense -- legally, technically, or otherwise. The only violation was of man-made interpretations of the Sabbath law. Jesus laid bare the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and freed his disciples from false methods of observing the Sabbath. He differentiated between true obligations and endless burdensome rules that were of human origin that had perverted the Sabbath law. Our Lord taught nothing that would authorize us to "bypass a biblical principle" in any situation. True divine principles do not have to be bypassed to honor love, mercy, and the authority of Christ. Jesus broke with the traditions of the elders, but he did not violate God's law, even technically. -- Via Truth Magazine XVII: 7, p. 12, December 14, 1972 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Mark of Cain by Kent E. Heaton, Sr. The Bible is filled with many curious things that man has puzzled over for centuries. Many ideas have arisen to answer intriguing stories and some have been told for so long they are accepted as fact. One such story abounds with speculation and supposition of its true meaning: the mark of Cain. The first two children named in Scripture are Cain and Abel. What a wonder it must have been for Adam and Eve to see life brought into the world and the beauty of creation. The little boys grew and in the process of time were grown enough to offer sacrifices to the Lord. As man left the garden and began to multiply, laws of worship were also established. Cain and Abel were fulfilling the law given to them from God to offer sacrifices. We find from the text that "Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell" (Genesis 4:3-5). Cain was very angry because God did not regard his sacrifice as worthy. Hebrews 11:4 explains, "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts." Cain burned with hot anger and God warned him to be careful of his anger but to no avail. "Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him" (Genesis 4:8). The first recorded death is by the hand of a murderer. God's punishment is sure and swift as he curses Cain and makes him to be a fugitive and wanderer in the earth. Cain is overwhelmed by his punishment and the mercy of God intercedes. Cain believes that someone will kill him for what he has done and God assures him that anyone who does, "vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold" (4:15). And then to guarantee his safety, "And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him" (4:15). Cain went out and the only record of his existence is six generations. No doubt there were many more descendants than listed but only Enoch, Irad, Mehujael, Methushael, Lamech and his four children Jubal, Jabal, Tubalcain and Naamah are shown. A third son is shown in record of Adam and Eve as Seth is born. In Genesis 5, the book of the generations of Adam is listed and eight generations bring us to Noah. Genesis 6-9 describes the flood that destroyed every living creature, both man, and cattle, and creeping things and birds of the heavens; and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. The total remaining population of the earth was eight people. It is important to note that the whole generation of Cain was destroyed in the flood. Some have supposed the mark of Cain still exists today on various people. This is based upon a lack of understanding of scripture. The lineage of Seth was the only people saved and only eight at that. The world came from Adam the first time and then came from Noah the second time. Noah was not in the lineage of Cain. Whatever the mark of Cain was, it perished (at the latest) during the flood. It is also important to recognize the mark of Cain was only given to Cain as a protective measure against anyone killing him. No place in record suggests this mark became a hereditary mark passed down from generation to generation. If the mark of Cain did not cease to exist at the death of Cain it ceased to exist at the flood. ____________________________________________________ -3- They Must See the Need by Bill Hall An acquaintance of mine, hearing recently of a family that had suffered considerable misfortune, went to the home to investigate. He found a father suffering from multiple sclerosis. The mother had just been involved in a serious automobile accident. A son, injured in the accident, was in the hospital. Moved by the misfortunes of the good family, he wrote out a small check, and gave it to the mother. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thanked him and expressed how kind everyone had been. She was so grateful. The same man went that week to see a young couple who were not Christians. He offered to study the scriptures with them, specifically suggesting the book of Acts. He was trying to give this couple something far greater than a small check. He wanted to bring them to the salvation of their souls, to an eternal home in heaven, to an escape from the fires of hell. The young couple thanked him, but said they were not interested at this time. Before we criticize the young couple, we need to analyze why the difference; viz., the first family recognized their need for what was being offered, while the second didn't. That young couple probably never realized what they were in reality refusing. If they ever awaken to their need, they will accept the gospel with joy and excitement that will even surpass that of the first family mentioned. We approach different types of people in our work for the Lord. Some know they are lost and are seeking help. Others do not know they are lost, but are interested in the Bible, and will agree to study their lost condition through study. But still others are unconcerned, have no interest in Bible study, and really don't want to be bothered. These require a completely different kind of approach, a great deal of patience, and much prayer. We must not give up on these. In time many can be brought to see their lost condition and repent. The 3,000 who were baptized on Pentecost had no concern for learning about Jesus when the day began. The same could be said of the jailer of Philippi. Saul's only interest as he started out for Damascus was to imprison and persecute Christians. He would have hardly agreed to a study at that time. The woman of Samaria had little concern for her soul as she went to Jacob's well for water, but oh! the skill with which the Master Teacher brought her to see her sinful condition! Each of these demonstrated a complete change in attitude as soon as he saw his lost condition. This complete change in attitude on the part of so many unconcerned, even belligerent, ones of the first century gives us hope for the unconcerned of our age. In fact, maybe some day, with the Lord's help, we can report the obedience of the young couple mentioned above. ____________________________________________________ -4- News & Notes There will be a Gospel Meeting at the Southside church of Christ in Gonzales, Louisiana, this Friday through Sunday (June 6-8), with David Arnold (from Murfreesboro, Tennessee) as the guest speaker. The Friday and Saturday services will begin at 7:30 PM. David was the first preacher for this congregation and was present for its first service in October 1958. The church meets at 405 W. Orice Roth Road. There will also be a special speaker, Taylor Ladd, at the Northshore church of Christ in Mandeville, Louisiana, for this coming Saturday at 7 PM and for the three regular services on Sunday (June 7,8). The church meets at 67288 Armel Road. Directions can be found at www.northshorechurchofchrist.com or call 985-871-0099. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________