Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-05-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,.
international Lesson for May 10. 1906
Lessons on Pr~yer-Luke Is: 9-t7.


GOLDEN TEXT.-The publican stand
Ing afar OF. would not lift up so much as
his eyes unto Heaven. but smote upon his
breast. saying. God be merciful to me a
sinner.-Luke Is: IL.
THE SECTION includes the whole cha nter
In Its relations TO prayer: Cd Prayer must
be perseV ering. vs.. is: 90 self-righteous
prayer is vain. VS.. 1912; C0 prayer. humble.
repentant. confessing. forsaking sin. Is
heard. VS.. -. Il: (D prayer for children We
Is. 16: 90 child-Iike. trusting PRAYER. v II.
90 prayer for life and light. VS. 1880. 1874:
W an example OF prayer and It's answer
vs.. 25-43.
LIGHT PROM OTHER ScRiPTUREs-Parall-
s s biessinS the children Tvs. l5-I7). Matt.
ID lS-l0 Mark 10: 1916. Rich young ruler
Tvs $500. Matt. 10: 1890: Mark 10: l7-3l
toretelling His crucifixion Tvs $3.50 Matt
" I'-ls; Mark 10: 1924. Prayer: Matt 6:
>: Dan 9:l9-25; Heb. l0:22: 2 Chron. 7:I4:
Matt. 10: s; lisa. IS: 7-9; Prov. /: IS. -: Isa
80: l, z
TIME.-March. A d. 30. two or three
weeks before the crucinxion.
PLAcE.-Perea, beyond Jordon.
LESSON NOTES.
L. PEGsES ERING PRAYER. - VS.. Is.
God is not compared to the unjust
judge, but contrasted with him. II
a hard-hcarted, wicked Judge. who
cared for neither God nor man, but
only for himself and his own interests,
would yet grant Justice on account
of the perseverance of the widow. how
much more, how infinitely more read
lily VIII the good God. our Father i'm
Heaven, who loves to give far more
than we are willing TO receive, give us
the help we need against our adver-
saries. And if the unjust Judge does
this for poor widow, in whom he has
no interest, how much more will our
Father grant the prayers of His own
children, eEcnHis select ones, whom He
has chosen. Prayer must be inn
Fortunate, not because God is unwilling
to bcstow good things, or must be over
persuaded, for He is more ready to
give than we are 10 ask. Prayer that
is not persevering indicates lack of
faith, and obedience, and fitness to re-
ceive
HTHE KIND OF PRAYER THAT Is FALSE
AND UNANswERED.-Vs. 9-l2. Having
illustrated TO His disciples one cause of
the failure OF some prayers to receive an
answer, Jesus points out another dan
ger. There is a generation that are
pure in their own eyes, and yet is not
washed from their filthiuess" prov. 30:
l2) (which say: Stand by thyself, come
not near 10 me; for | am holier than
thou. These are n smoke in my nose -
lisa. 6:5. Self-righteousness is Il right.
eousness of outward acts and forms,
not of true and loving spirit. 1t is in
teresting in this connection to note the
position the Pharisee took. That he
stood" is not of consequence, for it was
the ordinary attitude of prayer, but
the word employed here differs from
that used to designate the publican's
standing and gives n very different
Impression. II means stationed him
self" struck an attitude" ostenta-
tiously.
Now as to the prayer. 1t is well to
be thankful, but his thanksgiving was
pride and Roasting, in the name of graf
itude, that he was not as other men.
the rest of mankind. And then his
eye, alighting on the publican, he
drags him into his prayer. making him
to supply the dark background on
which the bright colors Of his own vir-
tues shall more gloriously appear. He
tasted twice in the week. The law only
required one fast-day in the year. Sule-
~ he did more than his duty And
he gave tithes Ga tenth) of all he DOS
seSsed. The fact that he does not saw
a word about his sins shows how low.
ms standard. One might do all that
the Pharisee claimed for himself, vet
be most hardened sinner.
III. The PRAYER THAT Is HEARD
AND ANswERED.-Ns. 10, Il. The
publican had no doubt committed
the sins of his class. who were often
chosen from the drcgs of the people.
and were notorious for their cxtor-
tions. He would not lift up so much
as his eyes unto Heaven" so deeply did
ne feel his guilt, but srhote upon his
breast. saying: God be merciful to
me sinner" Literally Ito me the sin
ner." as if, like Paul, he felt himself to
be the chief of sinners" This man
was justified rather than the other.
/ because the Pharisee. though as grca =
n sinner as the publican, was still
| proud, unloying and unrepenting.
| Every one that cxalteth himself shall
| he abased' by his own vanity which
| blinds those whom il infects. and
draws them into many pernicious
errors and indiscretions: land he that
! humbleth himself shall lie exalted
! out of his SORROWS and tears into peace
/ with God. out of his sins into holiness,
out of his outcast position and charac-
ter into Heaven.
~. PRAYER FOR CHLDREN.-Vs. Is
| II. How fortunate il was that this
| solemn and important discourse to old
CT people Matt. 19:3-12) was inter
ruptcd at just this point by the coming
of small children whose parents were
anxious that the blessing Of Jesus
should rest upon their young lives; for
/ IL furnished just the needed principle
For Of such is the kingdom Of Cod. ."
| They are humble. tcuchabic. obcdirnt.
have a perfect trust and possess q
wealth Of warm and expressive aiTcc.
tiou. The disciples thought that
Jesus ought not to stop His important
teachings merely to bless few chill.
drcn. Surely it was remarkable that
these mcE who had been with Him
through three years Of His work and
/ teachings should so little understand