The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-16

by REV. JAMES Il. GlLBERT, ID. L.,
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.
(Students of these lessons are requested
to send to DR.. Gilbert, Washington, ID. c.,
their names, denomination and postofffce
address for enrolment in the office of the
society, mentioning this paper, that docu-
nents on Bible study may be mailed to
thenl.)
CONTEXT.-When Jesus had the inter-
view with the rich young ruler Mark X,
17-2O, He was moving southwark toward
Jerusalem to attend the Passover, then
near at hand. In the way He instructed
the disciples by the parable of the laborers
in the vineyard Matt. Xxx, Ito. and for the
third time foretold His death and resur-
rection, which, as usual, they failed TO
understand. duke xviii, 31-34.) Shortly
after James and John with their mother
presented to Him their ambitious request
to be placed one ON the right hand and
the other on the left in His kingdom (ATark
x, 35-i5), showing that they still had false
views of Messiahs mission. Approaching
Jericho a great multitude following, he
was greeted by two blind men Matt. XXX,
$3.50, who. sitting by the wayside, cried
to Him for mercy and for sight. Granting
their request He moved on into the city.
and the lesson of the day continues the
narrative.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was q IdmOuS GU
town, fifteen miles northeast of Jerusalem
At the time of the conquest, b. G. 1451, 1t
was utterly destroyed by Joshua's army.
(Josh vi, 20) In the days of Ahab, B. c. 929
it was rebuilt by Hiel the Bethelite. Ct
Kings xvi, 3iD Elisha established there a
school of the prophets and wrought a
miracle to sweeten the waters QI Kings
ii, 49, It's inhabitants are mentioned in
the return from Babylon ezra ii, 80, show
ing that it had been an important city
Plundered and destroyed by a slave of
Herod it was rebuilt by Archelaus, who
planted palm trees and otherwise beautified
it. In the time of Christ it favorite
resort for the priests when released from
the service of the temple, fact which be-
came a prominent feature in the story of
the Good Samaritan. duke Y, $3.50 Its
commercial Importance made it the head
quarters of the tax gatherers, the public
ans.
Observation-Disclosures, being wealthy
chief publican, must have been one of the
prominent and influential men of Jericho.
AS an officer of the Roman government,
dealing constantly in secularities, he had
little or nothing in common with the
ecclesiatics, while his position separated
him from the mercurial rabble. As the
noisy crowd made known the approach of
Jesus, Zaccheus desired to see Him. He
was probably prompted by curiosity as
Terod was previously Guke tx, 81, and the
Greeks were afterward. Gohn xii, 21) Be-
ing small in stature duke xii, 25), he was
unable to see over the heads of the peo-
pie who had crowded into the street and
filled every available place. And so, rum
ming on before along the way, he climbed
into sycamore tree, then very common
tree in Palestine. Il Kings x, q; lisa. tx, 100
There he waited for the appearance of the
famous visitor. In his eagerness he had
laid aside his dignity luke v, 19), if he
had any, and took his place among the COM
mon people, doing what school boy might
do in democratic America.
FOUND.-Drawing near, Jesus looked up.
and saw Zaccheus. He seemed to be ever in
followed the search of His eyes. QEzek.
xvi, g. Out of all the thousands who that
day gathered about, the man in the tree
top became the object of chief attention.
What was more surprising, Jesus spoke to
him old acquaintance. "Zaccheus,
make haste, / must abide at thy house."
In this country such salutation would be
regarded as an act of great rudeness. Not
SO among Orientalists. They held hospital
ity an exalted privilege and virtue.
Gen. xviii, 3-5.) 1t was even enjoined upon
Christians. (Heb. xiii, % Zaccheus doubt
less felt himself honored by the proposal.
The required haste was that which every
true host exhibited (Gen. xviii, g., a proof
of the cordality with which guest was
received. The approach of Jesus on this oc-
casion has been taken by some to illus
trate His approach to the sinner (Rev. ILL.,
2O), and the response enjoined upon Fac
cheuS like that glad obedience which every
soul ought to render. psalm cxix, 6W: Gal
1, 16.)
RECEIVING.-Zacc lost no time in
descending from his conspicuous position
duke H. I6), proving that he not desti-
tute of those elements demanded in a true
host Jesus had rightly judged the man.
Joyfully he received MS distinguished visitor
and conducted Him to his home. With like
entertained Christ luke v. 29), and in after
years the jailor had welcomed Paul and
Silas; 1Acts XVI. "a But the door. Of
hypocritical Pharisees in the streets began
to murmur, saving that Jesus had gone to
old kissing that had followed the Master
during. His entire career. Matt V, 30)
They belonged to that self-righteous class
| qsa ky. s.. who supposed that they might
be contaminated by contact. and they had
imposed upon themselves the most exacting
licans with deep-seated aversion. because
they represented Rome. They did not ap-
Jesus was essential to dIs mission verse
1W, and they were placing themselves below
these thsy de,pised wni Matt xxi 3D.
I
continued on the outside. with ominous
shaking of the head, an interesting specta-
Gle might have beeen witnessed within
Zaccheus stood up an attitude of respect
full dignity (Acts y, 26I and said: Lord
the half of my goods / give to the poor
That little was splendid beginning indi-
eating the exalted opinion of the person
addressed. The promise was extremely
generous, not precisely what Jesus had re-
quired of the young ruler Mark Y, 21), but
sufficient to meet the general sentiment of
the time and spirit of the gospel duke Ill
/; John iii, 10 He proceeded pledging
to restore fourfold whatever he had taken
wrongfully. In this he covered the law of
restitution q.ev. vi, 1-6). an essential part
of all true repentance. No man can obtain
pardon and peace while he holds what he
| has fraudulently taken from antheor IT
| Cor. vi, 10; James ", Id Many pluto
| crat moving in respectable society, is sink
ing down to hell under the weight of ill
| gotten gain. What called forth these words
from Zaccheuse He. may have been i'm
! pressed by the manner and spirit of his
! guest perhaps condemned in His presence.
| OR he may have responded to some teach
| ings of Jesus, delivered in his house but
| unrecorded by the evangelistS. Whatever
the cause the publican, supposed to be a
| hard-hearted extortioner, displayed three
| admirable qualities-reverence for Jesus
| love for the poor, justice toward the in
| jured.
! TESTIMONIALS summing up of the
| case now follows in three sentences spoken
x1,;x.