an impertinence and an
insult; it reflected discredit upon the divine character of the miracles
which Jesus had already wrought. It failed to recognize the nature of his
teachings, which surpassed the wisdom of Solomon and the startling message
of Jonah. The eagerness of the heathen queen to hear, the willingness of
the Ninevites to repent, rebuked the stubborn unbelief of the Jews who
refused to accept "a greater than Solomon," "a greater than Jonah." Vs.
29-32.

Finally Jesus showed that their guilty unbelief was not due to lack of
evidence or to the need of a new "sign," but to their indifference and
their impenitence. As a lamp is designed to light a house, and as the eye
is intended to illumine the body, so the soul which is right with God
possesses the faculty of spiritual sight. This sight is dimmed and
destroyed by sin. The inability of the Jews to believe was not due to lack
of "signs" and proofs, but to lack of sight. No amount of light will help
a blind man. Those who turn to Christ in repentance and faith and love
will find him to be the Light of the world, and their whole souls will
become radiant with divine splendor. Vs. 33-36.

8. Pharisaism Exposed and Denounced. Ch. 11:37-54

37 Now as he spake, a Pharisee asketh him to dine with him: and he
went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he
marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner. 39
And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the
outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is
full of extortion and wickedness. 40 Ye foolish ones, did not he
that made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give for alms
those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean
unto you.

42 But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every
herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43 Woe unto
you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and
the salutations in the marketplaces. 44 Woe unto you! for ye are
as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over _them_
know it not.

45 And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in
saying this thou reproachest us also. 46 And he said, Woe unto you
lawyers also! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne,
and ye yourselves touch