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 hearts by  an  act  of  genuine  kindness,  and  wishing, likewise, to  relieve  a  suffering  brother,  our  loving Saviour cured  the  withered  hand  in  the  sight  of  them all. Then were  they  filled  with  madness  and clamored for  His  life,  and  they  would  certainly  have taken it  had  He  not  escaped  in  the  confusion  and fled into  a  lonely  mountain  of  Galilee. Thither His disciples followed  Him,  and  there  we  find  Him  to-day, teaching them  the  true  spirit  of  the  fifth  commandment, and  warning  them  that  unless  they  keep  it better  than  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  they  shall never enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.

And what  then  is  the  fifth  commandment? And how did  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  keep  it? And how should we  keep  it? And what  are  the  remedies  for our sins  against  it? These, my  brethren,  are  the questions Our  Lord  answers  in  to-day's  Gospel.

Fifth, "  Thou  shalt  not  kill  "  are  words  familiar  to you  all. They do  not  forbid  the  soldier  to  slay  his enemy in  a  just  war,  nor  the  citizen  to  kill  his  assailant in  self-defence,  nor  the  State  to  inflict  capital  punishment; but  they  do  forbid  suicide  and  wilful  and unjust murder. But is  that  all  they  forbid? Ask the Scribes and  Pharisees,  ancient  or  modern,  and  they will tell  you,  "  Yes,  that  is  all." But no,  there  must be something  more,  for  Our  Lord  tells  us  that  unless we keep  it  better  than  they  we  shall  never  enter  into the kingdom  of  heaven.

How then  did  they  keep  it? The Scribes,  as  you know, were  the  doctors  of  the  law — in  great  repute among the  Jews  for  learning  and  sanctity. They