hin reach of the
poor in spirit, the mourners, the merciful, the forgiving, and the
persecuted. But the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, when they
heard all these things, scoffed at Him.

_Conflict in their diverse notions of royalty._--The Jews looked for a
Messiah who should revive the glories of the days of David and Solomon,
driving the Gentiles from the land, and receiving the homage of the
surrounding nations, whilst every son of Abraham enjoyed opulence and
ease. Referring to this expectation, the Master said, "My kingdom is
not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My
servants fight." His conception of royalty was founded on service,
which would wash the disciples' feet; on humility, which meekly bore
the heavy yoke, on patience, which would not quench the smoking flax,
on suffering, which flinched not from the cross; on the nobility and
dignity of the inner life, which shone through the most humble
circumstances, as the transfiguration glory through His robes. For
this He died. The chief priests and scribes hunted Him to death,
because He persisted in asserting that He was the true King of men.
"And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the Cross, _Jesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews_."

_There was conflict in regard to religion._--The people of Christ's day
were very religious. The world likes a flavor of religion. It makes a
good background and screen, it serves to hide much that is unbecoming
and questionable; it is respectable, and satisfies an instinctive
longing of the soul. But the world manages its religion in such a way
as not to interfere with its self-aggrandizement; but, in fact, to
promote it. Christ, on the other hand, taught that religion was for
the Father in secret; and consisted, not in the rigorous observance of
outward rite, but in pity, mercy, forgiveness, solitary prayer, and
purity of heart.

Thus the Lord's life was the reversal of everything that the world
prized. Wherever He touched it there was conflict and collision,
strong antagonism was evoked, and profound irritation on the part of
the poor hollow appearance-loving world. So it must be with His
followers. "These pilgrims must needs go through the fair. Well, so
they did; but behold, even as they entered into the fair, all the
people in the fair were moved, and the town itself, as it were, in a
hubbub about them. They were clothed with such kind of raiment as was
diverse from the r