Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-06-06
TEACHING HOW TO PRAY.
LESSON X, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, JUNE 8.


Commentary by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission of He s. Hoffman, publisher Philadel-
pha.
All that is recorded between the last lesson
and this one is the most interesting and in
structive incident of Jesus in the house Of
Martha CHAP. K, 3S42). l have no doubt
but that both women were true disciples of
Jesus (see John xi, 5, 27 and that Mary was
as willing to do homework as Martha; but
the attitude of soul which Jesus commends in
Mary, and which was lacking in Martha, was
the greater interest in the things unseen than
in the things of this life. Mary was increas-
ing in riches which she would never lose;
while Martha, though just as safe as Mary,
was more careful about the many things of
this life which sooner or later must all be left
behind.
l. And it came to pass, that as He was
praying in a certain place" Luke records
more instances of the Saviour's praying than
either of the Others In Luke alone do we
find that He prayed at His baptism, at His
TRANSPORTATION, after He cleansed the leper,
and before He chose the twelve Gii, 81; tx, 80;
v, 10; vi. r. 49,. The incident of our lesson
also is found only in Luke. If we We're more
intimate with our Father in Heaven, we
would more often be found in communion
with Him; the earth would be more lonely
place to us, and we would have more heart
ing for Christ himself.
Lord, teach us to pray, as John also
taught his disciples" In the sermon on the
mount Jesus had already taught how to pray
Matt vi, 9-l3), but as it was after that the
twelve were chosen, it is probable that the
disciple who asked this question was not pres
ent at that time.
g. "And He said unto them, When ye pray,
say, Our Father which art in Heaven" In
His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Your
Father which is in Heaven" or ''your Heav-
emily Father" eight times, Thy or your
Father sever times, MY Father which is in
Heaven" once, and "Our Father which art in
Heaven" once
"Hallowed be Thy Name" In His last
prayer with His disciples Jesus said to His
Father, II have manifested Thy Name;"
81 have declared unto them Thy Name" At
another time he prayed, Father, glorify
Thy Name John xvii, 8, 26 xii, 2s.
Thy kingdom come" The God of Heaven
shall set up kingdom which shall break in
pieces and consume all the kingdoms of this
world and it shall stand forever.
"Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so in
EARTH When this petition shall have been
manifestly answered, thetr the kingdom shall
have come. But until Gods will is done on
earth as it is in Heaven bet no one say that
the kingdom has come. In proportion as we
now delight to do His will we shall indvidu-
ally have foretaste of the kingdom in our
hearts and lives.
9. "Give us day by day our daily bread"
Sustenance for body and soul as each day
shall require; but one day at a time. "A daily
rate for every day all the days of his life"
was what certain king gave to one who was
his captive III HI. XIV, 30).
4. And forgive us our sins; for we also
forgive every one that is indebted to u.s. "
When He taught them this prayer in the SER
mon on the mount, He added: IF we forgive
not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses"
"And lead us not into temptation, but de-
liver us from evil" God did tempt, or try,
or prove Abraham and James says, Blessed
is the man that endureth temptations" but he
also adds, God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth He any man" Gen xxi,
l; Jas. /, 12-l5). Temptations in the sense
of trials, are our greatest blessings JAS. j. g;
| Pet iv, H. 49, and God is faithful who will
not suffer us to be tempted above that we
ore able Il Cor X, 49,. Perhaps the best ex-
PLANTATION of this petition will be found in the
light of Matt iv, l, Then was Jesus led up
of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be
tempted of the DEVIL" and in the fact that
He, knowing what it means, would as far as
possible spare us.
81 Friend, lend me three loaves for a
friend of mine in his journey is come to me,
and have nothing to set before him." Jesus
now uses the illustration of friend coming
to a friend, on behalf of another friend, and
at a very unreasonable hour, but with a very
urgent request; and the request is denied,
for the man of whom the request is made
thinks more of the comfort of his children,
who are in bed with him, than of the need.
s. Because of his importantly he will rise
and give him as many as he needeth." The
word for Importantly is used only this once
in the Bible, and signifies literally shame
lessness' or ''impudence" or trough earnest
ness" Here is an earnestness, not very SEEM
ly, but which accomplishes its end, even at
the expense of the childrens comfort He
seems to teach us that there is a taking hold
of God in prayer as Jacob did when in his
helplessness he chung to the angel, saying, II
will not let thee go, except thou bless me-"
o. And l say unto you, Ask and it shall
be given you" "All things whatsoever ye
shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall re-
ceive." Whatsoever we shall ask in my
name, tnat VIII 90, tnaI the rather may he
glorifed in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in
my name, | will do it," "If We abide in me,
and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what
We will, and it shall be done unto you Matt.
xxi, %; John xiv, 10, IA; XIV, y. These are
a few of the many plain emphatic words Of
our Lord upon asking and receiving but who
believes theml Who thus asks and recevesi
"Seek and We shall find" ''Ye shall seek
me and find me when ye shall search for me
with all your heart" "Those that seek me
diligently shall find me" Jer. xxx, 10; Prov.
viii, II, r. W When we seek according &c
the mind of God and with the whole heart
when we seek spiritual good as men seek sill
yer or hidden treasures pr. ii, A., then we
may expect to find
, KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you
SIN Christ is redemption" in all its fullness
and sin Him are hid all the treasures Of Wis
dom and knowledge" No one knocking al
His door can knock in vain, for his own
promise is, Him that cometh to me will in
J no wise cast out" Eph. i, Z; Col. ii, 3; John
vi 80. How sad the contrast in Rev. iii, 20
where Jesus is seen standing at the door OF