Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-07
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson fo- May 10. 1890
Lessons on PrAyer-Luke Is: 9-IT.


IArranged from Pelou5et's Notesl
GOLDEN TExr--The publican stand
ing afar of. would not lift up much as
his eyes unto Heaven. but srnote upon his
breast, saying, God be merciful TO ne a
Sinner.-Luke Is. Is.
THE SECTION includes the whole chapter
In its relations to prayer: Cd Prayer must
be perSevering, VS.. Is: CO self-riShteous
prayer is vain. VS.. 1919; 60 prayer, humble.
repentant. confessing. forsakinS sin, IS
heard. vs. Is. II: 90 prayer for children. vs.
ID, To- 90 child-lfke. trusting prayer, V II:
20 prayer for life and light. VS.. 1880, S1-S4:
% an example OF prayer and its answer,
VS.. s5-42
light FROM OTHER ScRIPTUREs-Paran-
els: Blessing the children Tvs, IBID. Matt.
-: 1915: Mark 10: 1S-16 Rich young ruler
Tvs. 1890. Matt ls: 1880: Mark 10: 17-sr.
Foretelling His crucifixion Tvs, $3.50. Matt.
20: 1918; Mark 10: 1884. Prayer: Matt c:
S; Dan. 9:ls-ss: Heb. 1922: Chron 7:14:
Matt. Is: s: lisa. IS: 10; Prov. 1: IS -; Issl
So: !. 3
TIME--March. A. D. So two OF three
weeks before the crucifixion.
PLAcE.-Perea. beyond Jordon-
LESSON NOTES.
!. PERsESERING PRAYER. vs. Is.
God is not compared to the unjust
judge, but contrasted with him. IF
= hard-hearted. wicked judge, who
cared for neither God nor man, but
only for himself and his own interests,
of the perseverance of the widow, how
much more, how infinitely more read
lily VIII the good God, our Father in
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
Enfh0r hn Of
children, even His select ones, whom He
has chosen. Prayer must be i'm
Fortunate, not because God is unwilling
to bestow good things, or must be over
persuaded, for He is more ready to
give than we are to ask. Prayer that
is not persevering indicates q lack of
faith, and obedience, and fitness to re-
ceive
II. THE KIND OFPRAYER THAT FALSE
AND UNANswERED.-Vs. 9-12. Having
illustrated to His disciples one cause of
the failure of some prayers to receive an
answer, Jesus points out another dam
ger. There is a generation that are
pure in their own eyes, and yet is not
washed from their f1lthiness" prov. so:
12) (which say: Stand by myself, come
not near to me; for I am holier than
Isa. 6:5. Self-righteousness is right
eousness of outward acts and forms,
not of n 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 1T was
the ordinary attitude of prayer, but
the word employed here differs from
that used TO designate the publican's
standing" and gives a very different
impression. 1t means stationed him
SELF" struck an attitude" ostenta-
tiously.
Now as to the prayer. It is well to
be thankful, but his thanksgiving was
pride and Boosting, 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 viz
tues shall more gloriously appear. He
TASTED twice in the week. The law only
required one fast-tlay in the year. Sure
ly he did more than his duty. And
he gave tithes Ca tenth) of all he pos
sessed. The fact that he does not say
a word about his sins shows how low
his standard. One might do all that
the Pharisee claimed for himself, yet
be most hardened sinner
IL. THE PRAYER THAT Is HEARD
AND ANswERED.-Vs- ID, IA. The
publican had no doubt committed
the sins of his class, who were often
chosen from the dregs Of the people,
and were notorious for their extor-
tions. He would not lift up so much
as his eyes unto Heaven" 50 deeply did
he feel his guilt, but smote upon his
breast, saying: God be merciful to
me q 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 great
q sinner as the publican, was still
proud. unloving and unrePenting.
every one that exalteth himself shall
be abased" by his own vanity which
blinds those whom it infects, and
draws them into many pernicious
errors and indiscre4ioDs; land he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted
out of his sorroyys and tears into peace
with God, out of his sins into holiness,
out Of his outcast position and charac-
ter into Heaven.