The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-05-07
THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MAY 10.

This IL called a lesson on prayer. but 1t
might be better called a lesson on how TO
enter the kingdom OF God The kingdom
is mentioned at least seven or eight times in
this chapter and the last part Of the preced-
Ing one. The Pharisees we're told that II was
among them or in their midst, not within
them (chapter xviii, 81. margin or Il. W.
for Il could not in any sense be in such
Christ haters rs they were. but II was In
their very midst, in the person OF the King
whom they were watching their opportunity
to Kill. Chapter xviii. in which our lesson
Is. tells us who can aud who cannot enter
this kingdom, which Is yet to be set up on
this earth. Self righteous Pharisees and
rich idolaters, however moral, and all who
love this present world cannot enter this
kingdom, but helpless blind beggars and
such ne have the spirit OF little child, they
can enter. The condition of things on earth
will become more and more like the days Of
Noah and OF Lot till the Son Of Man shall
come.
Q. "And He spakc this parable unto cer-
tain which trusted in themselves that they
were righteous aud despised others" The
previous part of the chapter speaks OF the
coming OF the Son Of Man rs u time when
God shap avenge His own elect that H.,
His elect Israel. for His elect church does
not cry for vengeance, but the redemption
OF Israel Is always associated with vengc-
huNt upon futtlltN il~N. NNNlN., y. ANNN.s
4; xiii, ~. In verse 3 He asks IL there
shall be any faith on earth or the faith when
this time comes. The church having been
taken to meet her Lord before He comes to
avenge His elect Israel. It will be u dark
time. There will be many trusting In their
own righteousness. but there will also bc an
afflicted and poor PEOPLE who will trust In
the Lord (Zcph. ill.,. l2).
10. Two men went up into the temple TO
pray. the ono Il Phariscc and the other u
publican" The PhHrisces trusted in their
own righteousness. Ii is written Of them In
Rom x, 3. that being ignorant ~ Gods
righteousness. aud going about to establish
their own righteousness they did not submit
themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Our Lord said to them that they would SEQ
Abraham, Isaac and jacob, all the prophets
and many from the north. south, cast and
west In the kingdom OF God. but they them.
selves thrust out luke xiii. 2S 2g). He
also said that unless one hHi more right.
eousness than that oi the scribes and Phuri.
sees II would be- impossible TO enter the king
dom (Math. v. 20).
IL, IL. This Is the'rccorl II the phariser's
so called prayer, ~ given by Him who reads
our hearts. whose eyes are ~ u flame Of fire.
There Is not one petition IN II. He did not
ask God for n simple thing. but lust told God
what good follow he was ia his own cst-
nation and how thankful he was for II. lie
mentioned four things that he dia not do
and two things that he did. There were
thus just six things IN his little talk with God
about himself, and six Is the number Of man.
as G66 Is the number of the beast, the man
who will be satan incarnate. There was no
humility, no sense ~ sin, no knowledge of
God nor of himself, vet he thought that he
prayed, and no doubt went away feeling we'll
pleased with himself lie l. u picture of
multitudes OF religious people .o-lay who
attend church regularly. but ara no moro
saved than he was. In their own estimation
they nrc not sinners, never were. They were
born children Of God 10y natural birth, or it
not then they think II was all made sure 10y
infant baptism, and now they can tell you of
what they are glad they are not. AMI OF some
good things which they do, aud vainly
think that all is well. They are followers ot
Cain, who despised Gods way and loved his
own.
13. "God be- mercfu to me sinner"
This Is the substance OF the prayer Of the
poor despised publican who would not lit
up so much as his eyes to heaven, tut smote
=" ,rul- 90 ,.-'te breast. as he stond alnr
OIL and uttered these words from his heart.
He had no righteousness, and he knew It,.
but he had plenty OF sin. ana he knew thar
too. He needed mercy, aud he asked for 1t,
and he pleaded nothing but his sin and
Gods redemption. His prayer might be rem
dercd, "GOd be- propitiOu~ to me. or "bc
reconciled to me because OF atoncment.' He.
like righteous Abel, acknowledge h 5 sin
aIi looked TO u sacrifice.
H. IL tell YOU this man went down to his
house justified" The man who wanted
nothing and asked Tor nothing received
nothing and went back 10 his house u poor,
self righteous. lost soul. but the penit"nt
publican who confessed his sin AMI asked
for mercy received mercy aud was instantly
justified from all things from which he could
not be- justified 10y the law, for by the deeds
nf thn lnW tIH Justified But The
righteousness of God. even Christ Himself
and all His merits, Is freely given To every
penitrnt sinner who comes to Him (Acts
xiii. 80, 80; Rom. ill.,, "a y, 4, II Cor.
", ~.
Is. "And ttey brought unto Him also in.
funis that He wouli touch them, but when
the disciples saw 1t they rchu6ci them.
The disciples did not know Him even though
they dwclt with Him. EyrnJam"s ana John
had 20 br reproyed more than once, and IN"
night before lie was crucill"i He had to say
TO another, "Have been 50 long time with
you. and yet hast thou not known Me,
Philip All OF them seemed 20 ccnsur"
Mary's apparent waste OF precious ointment,
but Jesus rebukei them and commented
her. We need fear no ones censurc IL only
we have His approval. Therefore let ~
covet that above all things.
lG. But Jesus called them unto Him and
said, Suffer little children TO come unto Ne
hnd forbid them not, for OF 81 III Is the king
dom OF God 1t Is not their innocence He
refers to. for all are born in sin, hut they are
helpers. dependent. empty self unconscious.
confding clinginG. They are not wise and
prudent. like the Pharisees, but they are
utterly helpless, like the publicans, and tnd
leper. and the blind men. lhr heirs OF thu
kingdom are such as these. Their need Il
their strongest plea, aud thu great heart OF
compassion opens to them. See some ol the
precious words 10 all who. 10y faith In Christ
Jesus, have become Cots true lit e chill.
dreu. in such passages as john H., II, -.
H. "Nerily ] say unto you, WnnsDrNel
shall not receive The king tom Of God as n
little child shall IN 40 wise enter therein. -
Unquestioning confidence IN the word that
is spoien and complete emptiness aud ncec