The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL LESSON, MAY 10.
Lesson ON Rishteousness, as Set Forth
I'm Luke xviii. 3-17-The Cry for
Mercy Is Always Answered.
BY Rev. JAMES f. GILBERT.
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligiouS Education.


lgious Education.
INTRODUCTION.-As a preparation fol
our present study IL will be sufficient TO fol-
low the narrative of Luke from last lessor
Chap. xvii: 5-19) to the present, although
as some claim, events given by other evan
gelists may have interviewed. After the cure
of the lepers the Pharisees gathered about
Jesus to question Him concerning the king.
dom of God Having answered them He
turned to speak TO the disciples on the same
subject. In that address He not only gave
certain characteristics of the new dispensa-
ton, but He endeavored to awaken then
sense OF responsibility and prepare them fol-
duty. He appears to have reflected upon the
trials which would come upon the apostles
after His departure. and. as an antidote to
encouragement, He recommended prayer
He assured them that prayer would be ans
wered. He gave the parable of the
unjust judge (Chap. xvii: 1-9, which has
many points in common with the parable of
the friend at midnight Chap. xxi: 5-0. This
done. He added partly question and partly
soliloquy, when the Son Of man cometh
will He find faith on the earth? He was ap-
parently oppressed by the unbehef manifest
on every side. the chief obstacle to His work.
(Matt. xiii: 5S)
TOPIC.-For the lesson of the day the in
ternational committee has given the theme.
Lessons About Prayer" But Jesus is not
here intending 10 instruct any one on that
subject. The passage is divided into two
great parts. The first part, Verses TO II,
institutes contrast between Pharisee and
declared in Verse g. for the purpose of COM
ment.ng upon those who are self-rghteous.
H.1ke x; ~ The second part of the lesson,
prayer, does not deal primarily with that
subject. 1t gives account OF little chill
dren, who were brought to Jesus, refused by
His disciples, but welcomed and commended
by Him, as patterns of those who are wor-
thy to enter the kingdom of heaven. Hence,
the most appropriate topic for our lesson Is,
Teaching on righteousness" or which two
views are given: First. the righteousness OF
the publican as against that or the Pharisee,
and second, the righteousness of little
child, and those who chidlike. This
subject is a good continuation of the seven
teenth chapter. That treated the kingdom.
this the people who enter the kingdom.
the first partbf our lesson. The Pharisees
were the most numerous and respectable OF
the three religious sects into which the Jews
were divided. (Acs XVI, 3D. In doctrine they
held what has been the dominant faith OF
Gods people for thousands Of yearS-the
unity and supremacy of God; the sinfullness
and the future life; rewards for the right
eous and punishment for the wicked after
death. They were exact in their observance
of the old ritual, seeking to secure perfect
which they deemed themselves the special
guardians. (Acts vi, LII The pub.icans were
tax-gatherers, for many reasons odious to
the Jews. They represented and supported
the Roman government. Some OF them were
Of Hebrew origin, some were gentiles. and
some were Of mixed blood. They bought
their Office paying stipulated sum and col
lectng from the people enough TO reinl-
burse themselves and TO compensate for
their service. AS result many people Were
robbed and made poor through the extor-
tons of the publicans, who, in many cases,
grew immensely rich. luke XIX, 81 1t Is
not surprising that the populaee should es-
TEEN the Pharisee above the publican.
PRAYERS.-But Jesus proposed 10 open
the hearts of two men, one of each class.
of or Pray as go E the
prayed with himself; he did not offer any
petition to God, but he congratulated himself
aloud SO that others mgn5 near. ena All;
like other men, that he was free from GER
tain evil practices which he enumerated,
and contrasted himself with the publican,
for whom his words were evidently intended.
He then boosted of his good qualities as
shown in his fasting and tithing. The whole
effort was. egotistical, the personal pronoun
occurring in it five times, kind OF preach
ment or proclamation intended to set forth
himself as a model and rebuke 10 others.
Oh Cor. ~. 81 Then came the pub'll iS q;
meditation, perhaps prompted by what ne
heard. He stood afar off with downcast,
penftent eyes, shifting upon mas breast. he De
accuser save his own conscience. lie made
no attempt at concealment prov. xviii lS),
or apology, or comparison. he seemed not
to regard others, Whatever might De their
moral condition. 1t was enough 10 him that
mis- own heart and life were bad. WITH
deepest humiliation he offered one brief, petit r
ton God be merciful to MEGA sinner. n !
JUSTIFIED.-NextJ Jesus pronounced Judf,T
ment upon the two mem He takes tneir
words TO be the honest expression OF their
thoughts and dispositions, and therefore the
measures of their characters. duke vi, 45)
1t often occurs that professed Christians do
little more in public prayer than expose
themselves. Jesus declared that the publican
went down to his house justified, rather than
the Pharisee. He did not mean that one was
all he ought TO be or that the other was des-
titute OF all virtue. 1t is good thing to abb
stain from wicked conduct and 10 conform
to the ordinances Of religion, but to these
commendable qualities the Pharisee added
censoriousness. q Tim. iii 81 The conduct
of the publican, his falsenood and dlshon-
ssty, were reprehensible CHab. 1, 49,, but 1t
was supplemented by repentance, and that
made him more acceptable to God than was
the Pharisee. All men are sinners. Roin. ILL
23) If some sinners take on some amlapie
traits and appear to men more Iav " aor
getful of their deplorable condition, they
boast of these externals, they render them
selves thereby more obnoxious. II other SIN
law regret their inner state they have taken
the first step toward righteousness. (hom.
Wit 23-24) He who humbles himself because
of his sin is better than he Who exalts MINI
self because of morality.
INFANTS-The second part OF ou- lesson
treats the same subject of Righteousness in
an interesting incident, which is recorded
by all the synoptics with slight variations.
Cfatt XIX 1915; Mark x. 1850 Infants.
very little children, were brought 10 Jesus
that He might lay His hands on them
and pray. This was doubtless done by
the mothers, for no other persons would
have charge of the little ones, and the
fathers would not have sufficient sentiment
TO prompt them to such a course. The act
was beautiful and commendable. 1t showed
that Jesus had conducted himself in a man.
ner to inspire confidence in the women of
His time luke vii, 80. a proof Of the gem
tleness and simplicity of the Lord on pubic
occa sions warranting the approach and In
timacy of all. Only good man can win the
heart of a mother and her child. The cir
cumstance also indicates the popular esti-
mate of prayer and the benefit supposed to
be derived from IL by those Of tender years.
1t must have been common in those days TO
seek the blessing of eminent teachers upon
little children. The practice was quite gen.
eral in this country In former years, but is
CALLED.-In our time every Christian
would rejoice to see child brought to Je-
sus But the apostles. not then sufficiently
instructed, reproved the act What motives
influenced them? Did they think the chill
dren were unworthy? Did they judge the
manner of the mothers to be too free? Did
they think that the Master had other and
more important matters requiring His at
tention, or did they deem the place i'm
,f~ ,foxr b1,y