The National tribune., 1896-04-30

words that now touch men favorably would
have had similar effect on Christs audiences.
Comparisons, however, aud specially between
parties who greatly, bitterly at variance,
are hardly wise in him who would win souls.
9. The Pharisees were the purists scparatists,
perfcctonsts of the Jewish Church.
3 The Pubicaus were The tax-Gatherers APP
pointed by the Roman authorities to collect
moneys to be paid over TO said heather govern
ment Some were Jews-some Gentiles.
Explanations Of Words and Phrases.
/. In themselves We In their own good
! ness or righteousness. Eze., 80 -,
3 Trusted. Y. 0. Trusted for forgiveness
of sin, acceptance by God to eternal life. for
merit in Gods sight-trusted for all these in
their confidence in Gods good opinion Of their
! exact formality.
B. Dcspised. v.9 Counted for nothing.
d. Prayed. V. H. Brngged, boosted. Read
| in verse 10; one (Pliariseel went up to brag;
the other tPubican) to pray.
| s. Stood " II. No other attitude tposture)
was Enthusiastically allowable among the Jews.
| st. Mark, IL %. Stood. in V. IL, means in
original, took his stand stationed himself.
Standing, in " -. has n different meaning.
The Pharisees po3ition WIS n studied one Ia
sort of posiDg). seemingly calculated for lengthy
! occupancy. That OF tho Publican seems more
extcmporized, not so bidding for attention and
prominence.
| Missile in prayer. Some denominations pray
in that attitude as a general practice. knecl-
ing is thought by many as moro revercnt.
! The ChristiGn at Work was sked as to the cof-
rect posture Tor prayer, and replied y" The
only posture is be avoided is i'm posture. Let
the heart bc in the service rs we'll as the lips
and Il prayer on the back or the head, or the
feet, or the side is all the same"
g. With himself. V. II. Notice views.
a. Connect with tby) himself" with
stood stood by himself The very word,
Pharsee, means separated Hebrew parrG,rstl.
SO the Syriac, Weistein. Whedon Thy prefer
ence), DR.. james Strong in Harmony.
To stand hv himself, apart from Others. was
Pharisee-likc. Isa., 90: ).
b. Connect with himself" with prayed
Probably his lips moved but he did not speak
| aloud. Bloomfield thinks that il with (hy)
himself" were intended TO he connected with
stood we would have had kdth instead of
pros he-a,aton
The following take this second view Bloom
field, Behgel. Barnes (by preference). Bulk
ley and Dr. Maltby render, al mental prayer"
Wetsten has "secum tacitus," silent with
himself.
c. BeDgel gives the expression slightly
d fferent turn" with himself" as dependent
OH self. This agrees with trusted in self"
| V. 9. a. His prayer reached further than
self. God did not heed it. b. His prayer APP
piled to scIf-was not interccssory-was sell
fish.
7. Extortioners V. IL. An extortioner
trrpor) is one who Injuries by foTcc-a robher.
An OPrressor OF the needy may be so styled-one
who takes advantage of the poor-a usurer.
Publicans had the reputation of being often
cxtortionate. This accounts for what Zaccheus
said 1873. Compare 3:12, Is.
Tho word cxtortion from and
| forfHeo, to wrest from. 1t relates to any
illegal manner of wringing anything from any
body; as, @. O.. by physical force, threatening,
violence. confinement (duress).
9. Unjust. v II. Not guilty Of fraud-not
dishonest through pretensc of being just
unfair.
0. Give tithes. V. r. Give tenths. He
gave one-tenth OF each income he received
Nh. 1921; Lev. 27 30; Neh., 10: 81
1o:4i; Heb, 7:5. &, 0. These verses show
that law and custom demanded of all to give
onc-tcnth income TO religious purposes.
The Pharisees were very particular, paying
tthes on the least production; as. e. g., spear
mint, anise (dill), cummin. st. Mt, 90: %.
Rue and all kinds of herbs. ST. Lu., IL AZ
10. Not up = eyes. Viz. The Greeks
and Romans in praying. used to lift up their
hands and raise their eyes. The Rabbis taught
the opposite of such attitudes; that when pray.
ing the dcvotee should cast his eyes dowr and
raise only his heart to God. Why did the Pub
lican not raise his cyes7 From low opinion of
SELF shame account of his sins. Err, o 6;
Ps.. 40: 70; Jer., 3 25 Dan. O: s.
We infer from the account that the Pharisee
threw back his head, extended his hands, raised
his eyes-was pompous.
IL. Smote breast " l3 Sin produces in
man, whose conscience is aroused, a pain. Early
philosophers located conscience in the breast
1t is natural all over the world thus to smite
ones self III conscious guilt. lt is q kind OF
attempt ut self punishmeut. The practice is
sometimes carried into the confessional the
4,
ment of confession of guilt. % :4S
II. Be merciful. V. Ii. Be propitious-iet
reconciliation take place between thee and ME
by reason of my sacrifice. Probably he bad
offered sacrifice (the Greek implies this)
pointing ultimately to the atonement to be
effected by Christ. Thus the Publican looked
for help outside Of himself. There was de-
penaence on his own righteousness. Justifca-
ton with God is secured only by the shedding
of blood, or by faith in said doctrine. Hence
the Publican departed from the Temple just-
fed. v
ID. Justified. V. a. Accepted. approved,
regarded rs just. After justified" add By God.
The act of Justification is Divine act. The
Publican was justified by God; the Pharisee,
by his own self consciousness. 10: 90 IS: 10.
ii. For every one 3 exalted. VIA. A
common saying, proverb, among the Jews. st.
Mt. % ~; St. Luke. Ia IL.
The principle is this: ExatatiOn is Divine
quired prerequisite, for God 10 elevate n per-
son, is human meekness, humility. IL we at
tend to humility. God will look to our exata-
ton. Humility is about as much as a mortal
can master.
Conclusion.
The great object of the parable is to teach
humility. Away with hypocrisy. Avoid in
vidious comparisons. Cor, l3 90; l Cor. IL
%. Selfcomplacency is offensive. Do not be
extortionate. Pay your fair share toward rei-
gions concerns. Do not Try TO be over-mnch
righteous so to speak, too good. Fast. but,
doing so. do not make the act an exercise in
ostentation. Be just. Maintain fidelity to the
seventh commandment. John Wesley expresses
the general idea of the parable in lines add
dressed TO our Savior:
Just and holy is thy name;
AIN NIL unrghtenusuess;
False. aud full of sin am;
Thou nrt full Of truth aud grace.
Hoods Sarsapa' lila possesses peculiar building
a., l.. ,I.I.xx