Chapter VIII 



CHRIST AND THE PHARISEES: 

 A Conflict of Ideals 



Scholars often tell us that it is impossible to understand 

 Old Testament history, without knowing something 

 of the geographical position of Palestine ♦ But not only 

 did the geographical position of Palestine in large measure 

 determine the history of the Old Testament; it also had 

 considerable bearing upon the history of the New* 

 Palestine was the Belgium of the Old World* We often 

 hear Belgium spoken of as '' the cockpit of Europe/' 

 and this unenviable position held by Belgium amongst 

 the Empires of the New World, was held by Palestine 

 amongst the Empires of the Old* 



It was situated on the great trade route, and military 

 road, connecting two enormous and powerful empires. 

 They were not always the same two empires, but which- 

 ever they happened to be, they were jealous rivals one 

 of the other* When not actually at war, they were at 

 bitter enmity ; so it is not difficult to understand that this 

 little buffer state had not an easy nor a happy time of 

 it* Whenever there was trouble in the ancient world, 

 Palestine was certain to be involved* Now, as you can 

 imagine would be the case, this geographical position 

 did a great deal to develop a very high ideal of heroic 

 patriotism, which, in any case, would have been 

 striking ; but, wedded as it was to a high spiritual ideal, 

 was magnificent* 



Indeed Old Testament History consists very largely 

 of a series of wonderful deliverances wrought by great 

 religious heroes, and it is this that makes it so fascinating. 



Z3Z 



