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It will be seen that these sabbath would necessarily be additional to the ordinary
weekly sabbath, even though one or even two should occasionally coincide. If, for
example, the ordinary weekly sabbath came on the second of the month, that would mean
that there would be two sabbaths to observe in one week, as the first would be a special
sabbath connected with the feast. This fact provides a solution of the difficulty that arises
in the record of the Passover Week at the time of the Lord's death, and must not be
omitted from the calculation when endeavoring to analyze the record of that momentous
week. Heb. 4: 3-9 links the 7th day rest with its future realization, "There remaineth
therefore a rest (sabbatismos) to the people of God."
No. 13.--J.W.N., LIVERPOOL.
"Will you give us a little instruction re the use of the prayer given by our
Lord to His disciples in Matt. 6: 9, also Luke 11: 2 . . . . . It seems to me
unsuitable for Christians in this dispensation."
This question may be answered broadly or particularly. By examining the wider
subject of the dispensational place of the prayer, or by examining the narrower subject of
the details of the prayer itself. Those who use this prayer as if intended for themselves
forget or are in ignorance concerning a vital fact, namely, that the dispensation under
which we now live, service and worship are entirely different from that which obtained
while our Lord was in the flesh and limited to Israel. He Himself at the close of His
earthly ministry told His disciples that He had many things to tell them that they could
not then bear. Among the new things they learnt was their attitude toward the Lord
Himself in prayer. "Hitherto," He said, "Ye have asked nothing in My Name. Ask . . ."
The prayer of Matt. 6: is not in the Lord's Name. It knows nothing of His mediation, it
knows nothing of His sacrifice, the disciples who used the prayer did not know till much
later the fundamental fact of redemption (see Matt. 16: 21, 22). Eph. 18-23; 3: 14-21;
Phil. 1: 9-11; and Col. 1: 9-13 are inspired prayers to teach us how to pray if we are
members of the One Body.
* * * * * * *
We have several other questions awaiting answers with which we hope to deal shortly.
We cannot be unimpressed by the fact that many are enquiring for greater light on the
question of our hope. Interested readers will be glad to know that a series entitled
The Hope and the Prize will appear (D.5:) as soon as opportunity can be found.