The Watchtower, August 1, 1953
Download: PDF — The Watchtower, August 1, 1953
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
AUGUST 1, 1953
Semimonthly
GATHERING MEN OF ALL
NATIONS INTO ONE FLOCK
STUDY TO BE FRUITFUL
STUDYING "THE WATCHTOWER"
THE SADDUCEES OF JESUS' DAY
THE BIBLE AND MEDICAL SCIENCE
©WTB&TS
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORE, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
The Bible and Medical Science
Study to Be Fruitful
Studying The Watchtower
The Greater Happiness of Giving
The Sadducees of Jesus' Day
Gathering Men of All Nations into One Flock
Too Many "Witnesses"
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
<tr><th>Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version
LXX - The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation
Mo - James Moffatt's version
Da - J. N. Darby's version
NW - New World Trans. (2nd Ed.)
Dy - Catholic Douay version
Ro - J. B. Rotherham's version
ED - The Emphatic Diaglott
RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version
Yg - Robert Young's version
<tr><th colspan="2">Semimonthly
Monthly
Afrikaans
Indonesian
Arabic
Polish
Cebu-Visayan
Italian
Cibemba
Portuguese
Danish
Japanese
Cinyanja
Russian
English
Norwegian
Cishona
Slamese
Finnish
Pangasinan
Greek
Silozi
French
Slovenian
Ibo
Slovak
German
Spanish
Kanarese
Twi
Hiligaynon-Visayan
Swedish
Korean
Ukrainian
Hollandish
Tagalog
Malayalam
Yoruba
Ilocano
Zulu
Act of March 3,1879. Printed in U.S.A.
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
Vol. LXXIV August 1, 1953 Number 15
THE BIBLE AND MEDICAL SCIENCE
MANY professed Christians feel called upon to apologize for what they term the Bible's unscientific features. But far from the Bible's being unscientific, the fact is that the more scientific science becomes, the more it harmonizes with the Bible.
For example, the Mosaic Law declared that only animals that both part the hoof and chew the cud should be eaten, and regulations covered birds and fishes also. Recent studies have shown that the pig is
ma, saving lives where blood proved ineffective. Also, every person's blood is different, just as much so as are fingerprints. So exact typing of blood is impossible. Big differences kill, and what aftereffects are caused by the smaller differences no one can authoritatively say.
In this connection note the following report appearing in the Providence Sunday Journal, May 17, 1953: "The Army will henceforth use dextran, a substance made from sugar, instead of blood plasma. for
subject to trichinosis; the rabbit to tularemia; certain fish to tape worms. Eating of blood was forbidden for spiritual reasons, but even from a health standpoint its avoidance was good because of such dangers as septicemia and parasites.-Gen. 9:4; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10, 11, 14; 19:26; Acts 15:19, 20, 28, 29; 21:25.
Today Jehovah's witnesses believe this prohibition would include blood transfusion. Science is learning more and more of the dangers to health through blood transfusions. Transfused blood has spread such
all requirements at home and overseas, it was learned last night. An authoritative Army medical source, who asked not to be quoted by name, said 'a complete switchover' to the plasma substitute has been put into effect, after 'utterly convincing' tests of dextran in continental and combat area hospitals during the last few months. This official said a major factor in the switchover to dextran was that use of plasma entails a 'high risk' of causing a disease known as serum hepatitis-a jaundice-like ailment. Not all plasma carries this hazard,
diseases as syphilis, malaria and especially serum hepatitis. One report claims 25 per cent of the seriously wounded in Korea were infected with serum hepatitis from transfusions. Science now is finding effective blood substitutes that spread no disease and violate no law of God. Moreover, in many cases they have been found more effective than either whole blood or plashe emphasized, but he added that dextran is entirely free of the hazard. 'We have begun to fill all orders from domestic and overseas theaters with dextran instead of plasma.' "
Certainly Jehovah God knew what he was doing when he forbade the use of blood, and increasing knowledge is bound to vindicate him more and more.
Study to Be Fruitful
IT IS easy for us to drink water, because it runs down. It is hard for a tree to drink water, because it runs uphill. The hill is steep, straight up,
sometimes more than four hundred feet in the air. The water must travel fast, sometimes as much as one hundred and fifty feet an hour.
It must go up in large volumes, some thirsty trees using one hundred gallons a day. How can they drink it up, and so much, and so fast?
Science is not sure, but evidence points to two forces. One is root pressure. The root system fingers out through the ground, absorbs moisture from the soil and when saturated it exerts some pressure to start the water upward. However, this root pressure alone is not sufficient, and science assigns the main role to what it calls shoot tension, which is an upward pull exerted upon the columns of water in the tree trunk, which pull comes from high up in the tree itself. In the leaf water is lost through perspiration and used in making food and producing fruit. As water is used in the upper regions of the tree and more is needed a drawing force lifts the water columns. So while the roots supply some push, it is primarily the urgent need for water in the treetop that pulls it up from the roots, draws it uphill, fast, and in quantity. And all this just to be fruitful.
Christians must be fruitful also. Just as the root must penetrate through the moist soil to pick up water, so the mind of the Christian must penetrate through the hundreds of pages of the Bible, which is the
great reservoir of the waters of truth. The mind must by careful study reach into every book, every chapter, every verse, to draw out the truth waters, to fill both mind and
heart with them, until such waters within the Christian become as a deep well for others to draw from. Some
food faddists say, You are what you eat. But the Bible says, You are what you think. Proverbs 23:7 states: "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Eventually the true heart condition manifests itself by both word and deed. (Matt. 12:34; 15:19) Hence the necessity of filling the heart with Bible truth, like a deep well full of pure water.
This very fullness of mind and heart with truth that comes by study of God's Word builds up a pressure within us that tends to make us speak up, just as saturated roots develop some pressure to start water upward. Yet just as root pressure alone is not sufficient to push the water into the treetops to there produce fruit, so study and knowledge alone are not enough to propel the Christian into preaching activity and the bringing forth of Kingdom fruit. Some study much and gain knowledge, yet stay home and preach not. Just as in plants the more important force is shoot tension that comes from the urgent need of water in the treetops, so in Christians it is the surroundings and environment that urgently need truth that powerfully draws it from Jehovah's servants. Surrounding us are millions who need the waters of truth desperately. Many are not aware of their need, but others are. "Happy are those who are conscious of their spiritual need."
(Matt. 5:3, NW) When they meet Jehovah's witnesses they by inquiry and discussion draw out from these vessels of God the waters of truth. It is the presence of such needy, thirsty ones in the territories that draws Jehovah's servants into the preaching work. Love moves God's witnesses to make themselves available to the thirsty ones, to be at their disposal so that they can draw out the waters of truth and quench their spiritual thirst.
KEEPING THE WATER DEEP
This drawing power is shown at Proverbs 20:5, AS: "Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out." Many times you will find that a man who has studied much and meditated in God's law day and night is inclined to be preoccupied with his own thoughts. He may not speak much, may not volunteer unsolicited information. He does not make a display of his wisdom, but if you talk to him, question him, draw him out, you may learn much, things you never realized he knew. Often the ones who talk the most know the least. They spend so much time talking they have little left for learning. When you talk you teach, but when you listen you learn. There is a time for both, and neither should be neglected. It is necessary to study and store up truth in mind and heart like deep water; it is also necessary to prevent its becoming stagnant by making it available for others
to draw upon. Once acquired, it must be made available to others.
Many in the territories for witnessing will not choose to draw out the spiritual truth waters, but there are others who are men of understanding,men who understand their spiritual need and crave understanding of Jehovah's purposes. They will question the informed minister of Jehovah and thus draw out information previously stored in his mind and heart. The real sheep of Jehovah perform this mental labor with the zeal of a man dropping a bucket into a well and then pulling it up hand over hand to bring water to the surface for use. And this benefits the giver of the water of truth. When water is withdrawn from a well, fresh water seeps in to replace it. This keeps the water in the well from getting stale and stagnant, keeps it pure and fresh. So it is with us in the preaching work. To have our supply of truth waters tapped by men of good will and understanding, to have them draw out from our minds and hearts the truths that are there refreshes our own minds on these points that might otherwise become a little stale in our memories.
As we witness to others and more and more questions confront us, we must continually go to the Bible and draw from it to keep the water in our wells fresh and deep. If we do not, if we become shallow, if the waters of truth stored within us become low, an inquirer may drop the bucket of inquiry in and come up with it only half full, or a fourth full, and not have his thirst satisfied. His questions will not be fully answered. Instead of drawing out water of truth from us he may draw only a torrent of dry words. He cannot get water from a dry well. But there is no excuse for our wells to go dry. The Bible is an inexhaustible storehouse of water of truth. If we are men of understanding we will regularly resort to this Book of divine counsel that is like deep water, and from it we will draw plenty to keep ourselves filled to overflowing, so that when others draw on us they will not come up with only an empty
bucket.
Study!—2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:12.
The question is, How much do we want to serve God? How much do we want to speak for him, to be equipped to speak for him, to be able to defend and give reasons for the new-world hope within us, to give answers seasoned with salt that will be tasty to the listener and that will work toward his preservation? (Col. 4:6;1 Pet. 3:15,NW) The only way we can show that we want to do this very much is to study very much, to learn the answers God in his Word gives to these questions. It does not take long to get some truth water in our system, but it will be shallow at first. Just as water may seep slowly into a well, so it takes time to get the waters of truth in our minds. To get the first shallow waters to deepen, to understand the deeper truths of God's Word, to digest the strong meat of it, requires much private study and also reviewing and meeting attendance.
Proverbs 18:4 (AT) states: "The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook." Running water is fresh water, and deep wisdom should bubble forth for the refreshment of many. Our words should be deep waters, not shallow waters; they should come out as a bubbling brook, not a babbling brook. We should not be and will not be shallow babblers if we are truly interested in the deep waters of God's Word. The things that interest us are the things that we remember. Some are interested more in gossip and idle rumors, which are to them dainty morsels, and these follies quickly penetrate their minds and lodge there, and are remembered and drawn forth on many occasions thereafter, to the hurt of both speaker and listener. It is as Proverbs 18:8 (AT) declares: "The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels; they penetrate into the innermost being." Because gossipers are consumed with interest in such whisperings, they remember and cherish them and by means of them bring forth ungodly fruit. Jehovah's witnesses, on the other hand, should not be interested in hearing or remembering or repeating such follies, but should be deeply interested in the truth waters of Jehovah's Word, and when they study it and hear it it should penetrate to their innermost heart and fill them like a deep well, and they should thereafter delight to draw it forth at every opportunity and offer it to others.
"The weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things. For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God." (2 Cor. 10:4, 5, NW) You would not go out to level a fortress with a bean blower, would you? It would take more than a bean propelled by hot air to crash through a stronghold. A catapult hurling huge stones would be necessary. "Hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." (Isa. 28:17) Shallow waters would hardly make an overflowing, but deep waters would be needed to flood out the lies and liars. Similarly, it requires heavy, weighty truths unerringly hurled to topple the false religious reasonings raised up against the knowledge of God, and a flood rather than a trickle of Bible proof to overflow the refuge of doctrinal lies behind which Christendom's religious organizations hide. Also, our fight is against the "wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places", the leader of which, "the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone." Would you try to ward off the attack of a lion with a pin when a sword was available? So why be shallow in knowledge and try to work with only a few scriptures that would be only a pinprick to Satan and his system, when by study we can have for use a complete "sword of the spirit, that is, God's word"?—Eph. 6:12, 17; 1 Pet. 5:8, NW.
From all the foregoing, then, we can see the importance of study to get the waters of truth from the Bible into ourselves and then out to others, that Kingdom fruit may be produced abundantly. When we have the truth within us, and see all the blasphemies against Jehovah round about us, and the need of other sheep that thirst for the truth they could draw from us, we cannot in good conscience sit idly by, but feel pushed by our knowledge and drawn by the territory's needs. As we preach and truth is drawn from us and the demand grows and the fruitage increases, we keep pace with the needs by studying more and more to get more and more truth, to keep it fresh and plentiful to answer all the questions.
JESUS' ILLUSTRATIONS
Just as Christ Jesus talked to many to find the few, so we must approach hundreds to find one who is really interested. Jesus' words were so framed as to test the hearers, to determine whether they were worthy of more complete knowledge or not, whether they were men who understood their spiritual need or not. He would use parables or illustrations. Many were intrigued by them, but after their utterance passed on. Why? Because they thought that was all they were, just little stories? No. For centuries that people had specialized in illustrations, they were used to them, their Scriptures were full of them, and Psalm 78:2 even foretold that their Messiah would open his mouth to them in parables and so teach them. So they knew that there was significant meaning behind the illustrations that Jesus spoke, but they were unwilling to draw out from him the hidden meaning and thus drink deeply of the waters of truth. They were not interested enough. They feared the meaning might be hard on them, expose them, bring no gain to them, mean a change for them in their selfish ways of living. They were not anxious for truth and preferred to remain blissfully ignorant, unresponsible, and so they walked off.—Matt. 13:1-15, 34, 35, NW.
But not all listeners walked out on him. Honest-hearted ones tarried. They understood their spiritual need, and inquired of Jesus the hidden meaning, and thus drew out from him more complete knowledge. To those who had a desire for knowledge more was given, but those who had no desire lost even what little knowledge they had. By illustrations Jesus eliminated the ones not interested, and then concentrated on the men of understanding who tarried to draw out the full meaning. (Matt. 13:16-18, 36, NW) Today Jehovah's witnesses must go from door to door and make an introductory witness. The majority are not interested, but a few are attracted to the message, listen, and ask questions to draw out more information. On such interested ones the witnesses then concentrate by calling back and conducting studies.
But Christendom generally is as fruitless as was the Jewish nation at the time Jesus was on earth. That nation was pictured by a fig tree that bore no fruit, because that nation did not accept the Messiah and produce fruits of praise to God. In one illustration Jesus spoke of a fig tree that had gone fruitless for three years, and it was to be given one more year of special care to see whether it would produce fruit during this added season of opportunity. (Luke 13:6-9) Jesus gave this illustration in the fall of 32, after three years of preaching as Messiah. For those three years he had concentrated on the Jewish nation, but as a national organization it produced no acceptable fruit. A fourth season of special care and attention was to be allowed this tree.
Then in the fourth year of his Messianic ministry, just three days before he was put to death by the Jewish nation, Jesus figures in another incident with a fig tree. Coming from Bethany toward Jerusalem he saw a leafy fig tree, but when he inspected it in search of fruit he found none, and the tree was cursed and it withered and died. (Mark 11:12-14,20) So even with an added year of special care the Jewish nation as such bore no fruit, though it put up an appearance of godliness, just as the fig tree's leafy display would lead one to expect fruit.
The Jewish nation withered and died so far as being a people for Jehovah's name, but a remnant did not. They heard Jesus' illustrations, liked them, drew out their hidden meanings by questioning, and followed Jesus in the preaching work. Their zeal eventually bore so much fruit that opposers screamed they were turning the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) Christians today must be just as zealous in their fruitfulness. They will be accused of turning this old world upside down because of teaching opposite to it; actually they point the way to a new world that will be rightside up and will so remain forever. To point the way effectively, we must study and be filled with the truths concerning that new world.
But our food is not just to take in knowledge by study. We must give it out by preaching in accord with Jehovah's will. As Jesus said: "My food is for me to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34, NW) If we study the truth but never give it out it will become stagnant and we shall become introverts. Yet if we give it out but do not replenish it by more study we shall run dry of new material and get into a rut and fruitless routine. We must both study and preach. Get it in, then give it out. Keep the stream of truth flowing from the Bible to us and from us to others. If the column of sap in
a plant is broken it ceases to flow. If the flow of truth from the Bible through us to others breaks, we wither and die spiritually, producing no fruit to God's glory. And if we produce no good fruit Jehovah will not recognize us as his servants and we suffer destruction.-Matt. 7:16-20, NW.
If we produce good fruit we are good trees; if bad fruit, we are bad trees; if no fruit, we are lazy, useless trees fit only to be cast aside. (Jude 12; Rev. 3:15, 16) We should be good trees producing the fruits of life from God's Word. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that is wise winneth souls." (Prov. 11:30, AS) So in this work of life and death we must equip ourselves and use time wisely.
CONSERVING STRENGTH FOR FRUIT BEARING
If one only studied and quoted scriptures and displayed his knowledge and put on the appearance of being Christian but bore no fruits in Kingdom service, he would be like the fig tree whose only crop was showy leaves. That tree was full of sap, but the sap was used to no good purpose. The sap was used only to make a showy leafy appearance. We do not want to be as fruitless trees filled only with sap. The excess leaves and twigs we want to prune out so that the strength once used for them can be better used in fruit bearing. An orchard man prunes out unproductive branches so that the strength they used can be diverted to making fruit. By this pruning process the tree produces more fruit. Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. Every branch in me not bearing fruit he takes away, and every one bearing fruit he cleans, that it may bear more fruit."—John 15:1-3, NW.
Roots can send up only so much sap. If it all goes into twigs and leaves there will be no fruit. So we must prune out the unfruitful branches so that the sap can work at making fruit. We have only so much time and energy.
If we use it on non-essentials there is no time left for Kingdom fruitfulness. If we branch off into excessive viewing of television or movies or too many week-end jaunts or other pleasure pursuits that rob us of our time and energy, these branches that bear no fruit should be pruned off, cut out of our lives, so that in this time of opportunity we will not waste time in unfruitfulness. (Eph. 5:16, NW) This will make us more mature. And just as a tree produces more fruit as it reaches maturity, so also will it be with us.
As far as the preaching work is concerned, now is the time of summer, now is the time of harvest, now is the time for fruitfulness unto salvation. (Jer. 8:20) In winter the sap does not flow and fruit does not form. Trees that have produced no fruit by the time of Armageddon will be withered by fiery judgments. There will be no added season given for opportunity
of belated fruit bearing. So now is the time to study and work and prepare for surviving Armageddon's storm.
The root system of some big trees spreads over three acres and reaches far underground to get food and water. Not only does this root system feed the tree, but it also anchors it against uprooting by gales. Just so we must sink our minds deep into God's Word, not only for spiritual food and drink but also to anchor us against windy worldly wisdom and stormy persecutions. Thus we can bear Kingdom fruit both "in favorable season, in troublesome season". (2 Tim. 4:2, NW) Then when Armageddon comes and those who have sown the wind reap the whirlwind and are uprooted from the land of the living, we with our roots deep in God's Word shall be able to stand upright in his sight and bear fruit to his praise forever in the new world. Hos. 8:7; Heb. 13:15.
STUDYING
SOME will dismiss the Watchtower magazine with the words, I have the Bible and that is all I need. Yet they attend church and listen to sermons. Why bother? Why do they not stay at home and read their Bible, if that is all they need?
Because few understand what they read in the Bible. They seek clarification by going to hear sermons. But is not a printed sermon as good as an oral one? Better, in fact, since they can refer to it frequently for careful study? The articles in The Watchtower may be viewed as printed sermons, and they merit careful and frequent study.
Taken alone The Watchtower would be of little value. Taken along with the Bible it is invaluable. It is a timesaver. The Bible, for example, has texts on a certain subject scattered here and there throughout its hundreds of pages. We do not have time to read the Bible through from cover to cover to learn what it says on this one subject. Surely
every time a new subject arises we cannot read the entire Bible to take into our view all the texts relating to that topic. However, within the few pages of a Watchtower article many texts on certain subjects are brought together. Truly it is a timesaver.
Not only does this method save time, but it makes for systematic teaching, for rapid learning.
Basic truths are called to notice, and upon these additional truths are built up to complete the picture. Then events and conditions in the world today are placed alongside Bible prophecies and it becomes clear that the former are fulfillments of the latter. This lets us know where we are in the stream of time, that we live in the last days, that soon Armageddon will sweep aside this old world of wickedness to make way for God's new world of righteousness. The divine requirements for preservation through this battle of God Almighty are given, and thus The Watchtower shows the Bible to be the one practical guide for modern times. It is allimportant to study the Bible, and since The Watchtower assists in understanding the Bible, its study is also essential.
CONGREGATIONAL STUDY OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Private study of the magazine is essential. We should set aside sufficient time to digest its contents. Just as we take time to eat temporal food and allow it to digest properly, so we should set aside sufficient time to not only read but also reflect upon the Watchtower's contents. Food bolted down on the run does us little good, and the same applies to spiritual food. We must allow time for our minds to dwell upon it and assimilate it completely. That applies to the magazine's entire contents, not just the leading study articles. We eat from all the dishes of a temporal meal in order to get variety and a balanced diet. We should also read and digest all the articles in The Watchtower. This will equip us more completely for speaking to others the truths it contains. Just because time does not permit a congregational study of all the articles in the magazine does not mean they are unimportant. They should be studied as diligently as the leading articles provided for congregational study. But our present
purpose is consideration of the group study of the articles provided for that purpose. How should such a study be conducted for the greatest benefit to all?
The conductor should make brief preliminary remarks highlighting the main points that will be developed during the study. He may do this by raising three or four questions that the study will answer, questions that capture the theme of the assignment for study. If the study is a continuation of an article started the week previous, he might very briefly restate the high points established in that previous study and connect it up with what is to be next considered. His opening comments should not be lengthy; no more than two or three minutes.
Starting the study itself, he will propound the printed question found at the bottom of the page provided for the first paragraph of the assigned study. Those in the audience may volunteer by raising their hands, and answering when called upon by the conductor. However, the conductor may call upon someone in the congregation without that one's volunteering.
It is assumed that all have studied the lesson in advance and know the answers as contained in the paragraphs. There are many who hesitate to volunteer a comment, but who will speak when called upon. This method may also cause some who have become negligent in advance study of the lesson to recover from the bad habit they have drifted into. It may act as a spur to move all of us to a more thorough advance preparation for the congregational study. If so, it will make the meeting more profitable for everyone there. Hence starting with the congregational study of this issue of the magazine, the conductor may call on persons whether they volunteer or not.
However, the conductor should use good judgment in doing so. He should seek to avoid embarrassing anyone.
He should not call on newcomers not in the truth. If a publisher is new and still immature and has never volunteered to comment, it would be well not to call on that one. Even if one has volunteered and commented but is rather new, the conductor should not call on him to answer the more difficult questions. For the newer ones or those backward about speaking, select the easier questions, the ones with simple and short answers. Call upon the mature witnesses for answering the more involved questions. And remember the volunteer method is still a part of the procedure. The conductor may call on only those who volunteer by raising their hands, or he may call on some who do not raise their hands, or he may call on one who has not volunteered and then on one or two who have, all on the same paragraph. So on some paragraphs maybe only volunteers will speak, on others only those called on without volunteering will speak, and on still other paragraphs perhaps both volunteers and nonvolunteers will answer. But the conductor must at all times use good judgment and avoid embarrassing those in attendance.
After the question or questions on the paragraph are answered by the congregation, then the paragraph under consideration will be read by a competent reader. The conductor of the study will then ask the question on the next paragraph, and so on for the hour's study. When necessary, the conductor of the study may make a comment himself or enlarge on an expression made, to clarify the subject matter; but this would be necessary maybe only once or twice in the hour.
The conductor should also conclude the study within the allotted time of one hour, and lengthy announcements should be avoided. An hour for the actual study, plus no more than ten minutes for the opening
and closing prayers, songs and announcements, should be sufficient. If the conductor will regulate the study, marking off the amount that should be covered by the fifteen-minute mark, the thirty-minute mark and the forty-five-minute mark, and holding to that schedule, he should have no difficulty in concluding on time. He will not lag during the first part of the study and have to speed through the latter part, but can keep a good steady pace throughout. And those who comment can help by speaking briefly and to the point.
This brings up the matter of commenting. It is a privilege. It should be viewed as such. It should also be viewed as a duty to be performed for the welfare of the meeting. If the attendance is large, perhaps no one person need comment more than once. Even if the group is small and several comments are needed from each one, if the commenting is generally distributed one or a few will not be doing all the commenting. As many as possible should participate. Some never comment because they do not study enough to be sure of themselves. Some are nervous. All speakers feel initial nervousness, but it passes when we get to speaking. That is why the second comment you make in a meeting is easier than the first one. Whatever the problem, overcome it and make yourself give at least one answer. You will have contributed to the meeting, and will feel better for it. You will get more out of the study. And when you comment, speak loud enough for all in the hall to hear.
If all study diligently in advance, they will be full of the answers, so that when the conductor draws upon them during the study they will be prepared to contribute to the meeting. (Prov. 20:5) They will be able to share one with another the good things during this period of oral teaching. (Gal. 6:6, NW) Each one will sharpen the others by this discussion, and all will benefit.
As Proverbs 27:17 (AT) states: "As iron sharpens iron, a man sharpens the face of his friend." So let each one do his part at the congregational study of The Watch-
tower, edifying one another and whetting one another so that all will be that much sharper for preaching when we go from door to door.
The Greater Happiness of Giving
HERE is happiness in receiving gifts.
Paul also set us a good example. He free-
Especially the gifts of God's Son and of his Word, the Bible, have brought us much happiness. And when Jehovah pours out his spirit upon his servants at local, national and international assemblies, they are made still happier.-Mal. 3:10; Matt. 5:45; Jas. 1:17.
There is a happiness, however, that is far greater than that which could possibly come from receiving such gifts, and that is the happiness that comes from giving to others.* Were that not so, then we, who receive God's gifts, would be happier than
ly gave of the good news of Christ's ransom sacrifice and the hope of the heavenly kingdom, publicly and from house to house. And so unselfishly was he concerned for his brothers' welfare that he admonished "each one with tears". Rather than be a burden to others, he worked with his hands to provide the things needed by himself and those with him.—Acts 20:20-35, NW.
Jehovah God, his Son Christ Jesus and his apostles have set the pattern for us in this matter of giving. Let us take in the knowledge of God's Word to the point of
God who bestows them upon us, and that is unthinkable. (1 Tim. 1:11, NW) In his unselfish giving he has set the perfect pattern, and by imitating him we also shall know the greater happiness that comes from giving.
Christ Jesus followed his Father's perfect example. Both by word and by actions he demonstrated and counseled that "there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving". (Matt. 20:28; Luke 14:12-15; Acts 20:35, NW) Unselfishly he gave to men who had nothing they could give in return He taught his apostles to do the same
overflowing and then give it out. Be like the bubbling spring that overflows, not like the sponge that has to be squeezed. And let us give generously, cheerfully, not begrudgingly, or we shall miss out on much happiness, because only to the extent that we give bountifully shall we reap bountiful happiness.2 Cor. 9:6, 7, NW.
If our happiness is not overflowing, if we fail to have interesting experiences, then we should ask ourselves, How much preaching are we actually doing? Or is it that we need help to improve our minis-
He gave them the truth and miraculous powers and then sent them forth to preach and to heal the sick, to cast out demons and to raise the dead. In carrying out those instructions they received much happiness They were to use none of these benefits for themselves. They had received free, they were to give free.—Matt. 10:1-15.
try? Others will be happy to help us if we will but be conscious of our spiritual need and ask and accept help.—Matt. 5:3, NW.
There is no pleasure in living without happiness. God's Word gives us the secret of happiness so that we can have it day in and day out throughout the years. That secret is, Give to others of what we have received.
The Sadducees of Jesus' Day
AT THE time Christ Jesus was upon the earth there were three main Jewish sects, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. In the Christian Greek Scriptures, or "New Testament", the Pharisees are referred to by name some one hundred times; the Sadducees are mentioned as such only fourteen times, whereas the Essenes do not appear at all. Having previously considered the Pharisees, * let us now note what the Bible and other historical works have to say about the Sadducees.
The Sadducees were the sacerdotal or priestly aristocrats. Thus we read at Acts 5:17 (NW): "But the high priest and all those with him, the then existing sect of the Sadducees." The chief priests Annas and Caiaphas were Sadducees. (Luke 3:2) It was therefore the Sadducean chief priests that, together with the Pharisees, dispatched officers to arrest Christ Jesus. John 7:32; 11:47, 57; 18:3.
This is further borne out when we consider the origin of their name. The term "Sadducean" is the Greek translation of "Zadokite". Since the name "Zadok" has the meaning of morally clean or righteous, some have held that the Sadducees took this name because of their self-righteousness and strict adherence to the law of Moses. However, the weight of evidence links their name to the Levite Zadok, who was high priest in the time of David and Solomon. (1 Ki. 1:32-45; 2:35; 2 Chron. 31:10) This priestly class continued to bear the name Sadducee or Sadducean, even though the high priest line was transferred to another house, the Hasmonean, in the days of the Maccabees.
Among the Sadducees were a group known as the Boethusians, referred to in
the Scriptures as the "party followers of Herod" or "Herodians". (Mark 3:6, NW) We find these linked with the Pharisees in their efforts to discredit Christ, as recorded at Mark 3:6 where we read that "the Pharisees went out and immediately began holding council with the party followers of Herod" to destroy Jesus. (NW)
Christ Jesus warned against the Sadducees' teaching even as he did against the teaching of the Pharisees: "Keep your eyes open, look out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod." (Mark 8:15, NW) In view of the similarity of these two texts in Mark to Matthew 16:1,6, it is quite likely that Matthew simply referred to these as Sadducees, whereas Mark further distinguished or identified them as the "party followers of Herod". It seems therefore that among the Sadducees were to be found both the chief priests and the "party followers of Herod".
SADDUCEES VERSUS PHARISEES
Being of a political frame of mind, the Sadducees believed in using statecraft in dealing with other nations. They would work out the salvation of the Jewish nation, not waiting for the Messiah to deliver them; outstanding example of this being the sons of Mattathias known as the Maccabees, 166-63 B.C. The Sadducees were wealthy and favored the rich class. Both because of their favored position and because of their teachings they had little influence with the people. In striking contrast with these stood their rivals, the Pharisees, who looked for the coming of the Messiah to rid them of their national ills and who were popular among the common people although they themselves looked down upon them.—John 7:49, NW.
The Scriptures enlighten us on some of the chief differences between the teachings of the Sadducees and those of the Pharisees: "Sadducees say there is neither
novations. Actually they were as bad as the Pharisees when it came to 'straining out the gnat and gulping down the camel'. —Matt. 23:24, NW.
According to the Sadducees, the law of levirate marriage applied only to betrothed virgins, whereas the Pharisees held it to be applicable to widows. Understanding this distinction adds meaning to the ques-
resurrection nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees publicly declare them all." (Acts 23:8, NW) Their disbelief in the resurrection is familiar to all by reason of their trying to stump Jesus in the matter of the woman who had seven husbands.—Matt. 22:23-32.
A third major difference between the two was, according to the Jewish historian Josephus, that the Sadducees held that man was a completely free moral agent and that his prosperity depended entirely upon himself; whereas the Pharisees inclined toward a fatalism and held to a form
tion the Sadducees raised as to which of the seven husbands would have the woman in the resurrection; for according to them the woman could have actually become the wife of only the seventh. By raising this question the Sadducees were attacking both the teaching of the resurrection and that of the levirate marriage as taught by the Pharisees. The Sadducees required that the spurned woman spit in the face of the reluctant brother-in-law, whereas the Pharisees required only that she spit before his face.—Deut. 25:5-9.
cined toward a fatalism and held to a form of predestinarianism. The Pharisees held that man has an immortal soul (again, according to Josephus; other writers holding that only some of the Pharisees believed this) and that there were rewards of bliss for well-doing and punishment in Ha'des for evil-doing after death. The Sadducees denied all this.
As regards the Scriptures, the Sadducees accepted only the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, and rejected not only the inspiration of the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures but also the oral tradition that
that a man who had given false testimony against his neighbor be punished with the same penalty he sought to bring upon another, the Sadducees required a literal carrying out of the 'eye for eye, hand for hand' law, but the Pharisees allowed money payments to be substituted for the actual requirements. On the other hand, the Sadducees only required payment of the literal penalty if the false testimony actually resulted in injury, whereas the Pharisees held that the intent to harm was in itself sufficient to require punishment. God's
the Pharisees claimed had been brought down from Moses' day. Because of their rejection of the oral law or tradition they were termed by some as "Scripturalists" and "Bible followers".
While claiming to reject the oral tradition, it seems, if the accounts of discussions recorded in the Pharisees' Mishnah accurately present their views, that the Sadducees objected chiefly to the later in-
Word on the subject reads: "Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to do unto his brother."—Deut. 19:16-21, AS.
In general it might be said that the Sadducees interpreted the law conservatively and applied its penalties with rigor, while the Pharisees endeavored to please the people by mitigating its penalties wherever possible to do so by some specious reasoning. The Sadducees interpreted the law so literally that they forbade the rendering of conjugal dues for forty days after the birth of a male and for eighty days after the birth of a female infant, on the basis that the law spoke of a woman as being unclean for such periods of time.
They even went so far as to forbid the rendering of such dues on the sabbath because of the exertion involved.—Lev. 12:2-8.
RESPONSIBILITY
The Sadducees shared with the Pharisees the guilt of putting Jesus to death. They were extremely self-righteous and Christ warned his followers against their teaching even as he warned them against the teaching, "yeast," of the Pharisees. (Matt. 16:6,11,12,NW) And while his scathing denunciation recorded at Matthew, chapter 23, was directed against the scribes and Pharisees, we are not to think that the Sadducees were less reprehensible. Rather, it seems that because of their keeping aloof from the people they came less frequently in contact with Jesus.
It was the most politically minded wing of the Sadducees, the Boethusians or party followers of Herod, that endeavored to trap Jesus on the question of the tribute money. Their feigned sincerity and their flattery of Christ did not cause him to walk into their trap. He pulled off their mask with the question, "Why do you put me to the test?" and avoided their trap by having them produce a coin with Caesar's image upon it and then answering them, "Pay back Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God."-Mark 12:13-17, NW.
It seems that right after Pentecost it was the Sadducees who figured chiefly in the persecution of the apostles, "being annoyed because they were teaching the people and were plainly declaring the resurrection from the dead in the case of Jesus" as well as because with their preaching the apostles seemed 'determined to bring the blood of Jesus upon their heads'. (Acts 4:1,2,19; 5:17,28,29,NW) With the destruction of Jerusalem A.D. 70, the Sadducees quickly disappeared from the Jewish scene.
Forty years prior thereto, John the Baptist had warned them, as well as the Pharisees, of that impending destruction. "When he caught sight of many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the baptism he said to them: 'You offspring of vipers, who has shown you how to flee from the coming wrath? So then produce fruit that befits repentance; and do not presume to say to yourselves, "As a father we have Abraham." For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree, then, that does not produce fine fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire.'"—Matt. 3:7-10, NW.
The Sadducees, in many respects, find their counterpart in the modernist clergy of Christendom who manifest very little faith in God's Word, show a self-righteous spirit, look to worldly governments rather than to God's King and his kingdom and oppose the servants of Jehovah who bring this hope to the people. And with Armageddon they will pass from the world scene even as did the Sadducees with the destruction of Jerusalem.
"As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." Ezek. 34:12, AS.
This speech was delivered by the president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society at the graduation of the 21st class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, Sunday afternoon, July 19, 1953, before the New World Society Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yankee Stadium, New York. N.Y., U.S.A.
New York, N. Y., U. S. A.
IT IS heart-cheering to think that men of all the many different nations will be gathered into one flock. All men are of one flesh, all are one human race, the welfare of one means the welfare of all; and, oh, how the sincere heart yearns for the time when all who live on earth will be united as one family, with justice and equality enjoyed by all and with love binding the members indivisibly one to another! That heart yearning of those who are sickened at the sight of mankind selfishly and violently divided against itself will be satisfied, and that right soon. No one desires a united human family more than does man's Creator himself, and this he has purposed to bring into existence. In writing over his own name he has told us so, and he will never let his written Word become a mere scrap of paper, unfulfilled. His own name is at stake; the lasting good of men of all nations is at stake. These things are of high concern to the self-respecting Creator, for which reason he will gather all men of good will into the one peaceful fold. We are living at the chosen time for him to do
it, and it is a wonderful time in which to be living and witness his doing it.
2 All men are like sheep, from many standpoints. The way men perish without an understanding of their Creator and in such vast numbers, as victims of murderous slaughter, as victims of death in general, they could be sheep. The inspired psalmist correctly described their case, saying: "Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol [the region of the dead]; death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home." (Ps. 49:14, RS) Like sheep they have been prone to follow a leader en masse, but to their sorrow and destruction they have followed and entrusted themselves to wrong leaders. Ambitious men have assumed to be shepherds of humanity, just to take advantage of them and serve themselves, and then abandon them in danger and feed them to the slaughter. Mankind have gone astray and been subjected to all kinds of hardships without any comforter. They have been in need of a right shepherd, a genuine one with tender feeling for the sheep, one to whom they could be loyal and submissive with perfect safety to themselves.
Who could be expected to care for these poor human sheep more than does the Creator himself? It would be a poor kind of creator that would not take an interest in his creations, especially creatures with feelings and dependent upon his guidance and provision and needing his protection from enemies. The true and living God is not a heartless, self-centered creator, with less pity and consideration than what a human shepherd has for his sheep. The very quality of tenderness and fondness that a lowly shepherd feels for such trusting, obedient, harmless creatures was implanted in the human heart from the time the Creator made the perfect man and commanded him to have dominion over all the lower animal creation. (Gen. 1:26-28) It is in mankind's favor that God the Creator likens men to sheep, for that discloses the tender feeling that he has for his human creatures. If they are like sheep to him, then it must be that he views himself as their Shepherd. He also appreciates the responsibility that becomes his as their Shepherd when they are in perilous conditions. If they have strayed and lost their way and become the prey of vicious men or wild beast, then it becomes his part to go out, make a search and try to recover the poor sheep at any cost. Although it called for great condescension on his part, the loving Creator, faithful to his creatures, has not
held back from doing this in discharge of his responsibility as mankind's Shepherd. Promising to take this action at the time of our direst need, Jehovah God
the Creator caused his prophet to declare this:
4 "For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture; and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold; and on fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord Jehovah. I will seek that
which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice."—Ezek. 34:11-16, AS.
5 It must be a serious situation indeed when the Lord Jehovah himself has to perform the part of a shepherd and go in search and recovery of his sheep.
With humanity in such a terrible plight as they are today, this appears to be the time of all times when the Lord Jehovah would feel compelled to fulfill his own prophecy and go to the rescue. And it is! And the activities of the divine Shepherd can clearly be seen in fulfillment of the prophecy. The sad predicament of the sheep bespeaks terrible neglect and foul action on the part of someone. Certainly it has been neglect and foul action, not on the part of the Lord Jehovah, but on the part of men who undertook to play the shepherd of God's sheep for selfish reasons, telling Jehovah God to keep his hands off.
It is not hard to identify these harmful shepherds. Everyone knows whom the people of Christendom have willingly followed or been obliged to follow as their leaders. The religious clergy are well known for claiming their congregations as their flocks, over which they are pastors. But in the Holy Scriptures the political princes are also spoken of as shepherds, the governmental guides and caretakers of the people. So the political rulers of the nations that claim to be Christian are also to be classed as shepherds. With such political shepherds the religious shepherds have co-operated. They have followed and supported the secular shepherds in their political schemes, even when these went to the extent of seizing dictatorial or totalitarian power; and they have blessed their armies of aggression, leading to the slaughter of millions of the sheep of their flocks. They have led their flocks into becoming with them an active part of this corrupt world. For the sake of the financial and other support of the political shepherds they have been willing to let their religious flocks lie in a backward state mentally and economically.
Especially have they withheld from their flocks the spiritual food of God's written Word, thus leaving them in a deplorable state of Bible illiterateness. All this has left their flocks exposed to the menace of a new would-be political shepherd, the ungodly communism that menaces Christendom itself. Showing up this result of the course of such religious shepherds is the statement made by the New York Times of May 21, 1953, under the editorial heading "Fascism versus Democracy", that, despite the billions of dollars of American support poured into that once-Fascist land, "Italy has the largest Communist party in the world outside the Soviet bloc" and "would now have a Communist regime but for our help".
These religious and political shepherds have sheared and fleeced their own claimed flocks and fattened themselves at their expense and driven them in ways ending in death and destruction. Not only that, but they have been guilty of invading the true flock of the Lord Jehovah and scattering sheep of his. This occurred especially during what Jehovah calls the "cloudy and dark day", the period of World War I, when the witnesses of Jehovah were swept by a wave of persecution throughout the world at the instigation of the religious shepherds of Christendom. With clear foresight Jehovah God prophetically said to the shepherds of Christendom: "With force and with rigor have ye ruled over them. And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and there was none that did search or seek after them." (Ezek. 34:4-6, AS) To this day since that first world war Christendom has failed to produce a shepherd or an organization of shepherds able to gather men of all nations into one harmonious flock within one secure fold.
The civilization that she brags of is threatened with extinction.
MANKIND'S ONE SHEPHERD-RULER RAISED UP
There is no mistaking it. It has been left absolutely to the Creator, Jehovah God, to rescue the sheeplike ones of mankind. To him all the lost, strayed, sick, diseased, broken sheep who hunger and thirst after righteousness must look. If they do so, taking him at his word, they will not look in vain. "I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep," he has declared. He has acted as he has declared. How? By raising up one competent, proved shepherd to seek after all his sheep and gather them together in the unity of the family of God. This is the very thing he promised, saying: "Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I, Jehovah, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them; I, Jehovah, have spoken it."—Ezek. 34:22-24, AS.
Who is the Shepherd-Prince whom Jehovah has now set up over his sheep to save them and feed them? It is the great Son of David, Jesus Christ. He is the Heir of the Kingdom covenant that Jehovah made with King David. This covenant guaranteed that he would raise up to King David a seed or descendant who would sit upon the throne forever and whose kingdom would have no end. (2 Sam. 7:12-17; Ps. 89:34-37; Luke 1:31-33; 22:28-30) Nineteen centuries ago when he rode in
royal style into the city of Jerusalem, the multitude in his procession kept crying out: "Hosanna to the son of David." That is to say, "Save, we pray, the Son of David!" (Matt. 21:15, NW) For thousands of years King David has been dead, but we do not need to wait for his resurrection from the dead for Jehovah to fulfill his promise. The name "David" means "Beloved", and applies to Jehovah's Messiah, his Christ or Anointed One. Jesus Christ is the one of whom Jehovah God said from heaven: "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved." He is therefore the Greater David, or Beloved One. Even King David of old spoke of him as his Lord or Superior, saying: "Jehovah said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.''" (Matt. 22:43, 44, NW; Ps. 110:1, AS) After preaching to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Jesus died faithful to God without forfeiting his heirship to the covenant for the Kingdom. So God raised him from the dead and received him up into heaven and seated him at his own right hand in the throne of Jehovah, far above the one-time earthly throne of his forefather King David.
10 As a lad his forefather David was a shepherd, unafraid to face a lion and a bear for the deliverance of his father's sheep, or even to engage a giant in combat for the deliverance of Jehovah's human sheep, the nation of Israel. In turn, David looked upon himself as a sheep of his God. He composed the twenty-third psalm, which opens with the words: "Jehovah is my shepherd." Likewise with Jesus Christ. He confessed Jehovah as his great Shepherd and himself as Jehovah's sheep; and the Scriptures speak of Jesus as the "Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world". (John 1:29,36,NW; Rev.5:6,12) Jesus acknowledged himself as being the one whom Jehovah God appointed to take care of his earthly sheep, even to laying down his life for them.
In a beautiful illustration he said: "I am the right shepherd; the right shepherd surrenders his soul in behalf of the sheep." And that he followed the occupation of his heavenly Father as a shepherd, Jesus further said: "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. . . . and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father. I and the Father are one."—John 10:11, 27-30, NW.
…