The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-20
Sunday School
Lesson
for
October 21.
heL0St ccpandLOSt Coin
Luke XIV, lilo.

lNTRODUCTION.-Thc ministry of Jesus was
unlike that of any other teacher Of His time
lie spoke with authority (Matt. vii: 2O), uttcring
truths not previously known or old truths in new
setting. His courses of action were peculiar,
not governed by the rules OF propriety laid down
in the schools and rigidly observed by all who
would gain favor with the religious rulers As
a result lie was never understood. Men scruti-
nzed his conduct and yet marveled at His teach
ing. condcmnng His irregularities but confessng
His wisdom. lie was particularly offensive to
the Pharisees, who considered themselves the
special guardians of the law and customs as in
terpreted by tradition. They were never able
to discover the excellence and the power from
which all His activities proceeded Indeed, they
hated and prosecuted Him as an intruder and in.
novator who might disturb the existing order
and injure their prospects Of popular service All
this appears in our lesson with striking force,
MS Jesus defends himself against criticism and
explain His conduct.
OCCASION Verscs l and 2).--It was at the
close OF series of parallels, recorded in the last
chapter, illustrative Of the kingdom OF heaven.
that there gathered about Jesus a large com.
pany OF publicans and sinners. persons then held
In poor repute. The publcans were tax gath.
erers, despised because they represented the
Roman power. They were the collectors OF rev.
enue by which the government was supported, SO
that their office and vocation were constant re.
hiinders OF the subsection OF Israel The publ.
cans were hated also because of their rudeness,
their fraud and their expressions The sinners
were the vile dregs OF society, whose presence
was supposed to be dangerous like some conta.
gious disease. That these persons were attract.
cd to Christ was proof Of His power. Some.
thing in His preaching may have aroused their
conseiences (Aiark xii: 37)y excited their curl.
osity or awakened their hope. But when Jesus
suffered them to approach and even encouraged
them as part Of His audience. the Pharisees and
Scribes were surprised. To them it seemed i'm
possible that anyone could walk pure and un.
spotted amid the pollutions OF the world, and
they cried out against the act.
might have been passed by with indifference.
Jesus was under no obligation to explain, but
the occasion was favorable for wholesome teach
ing. He did not attempt any learned disserta.
tion. That would have been improbable. But
he presented two parallels, each containing a
truth OF immense value, long overlooked by the
learned. The first was the lost sheep. man
had flock Of hundred, one OF which had
wandered into the wilderness This statement
was enough to awaken interest in the heart Of
an orientalist, whose life made him see the
danger OF the wanderer. The audience therefore
expected the picture drawn by Jesus Of the man
who left the ninety and nine and went forth
seeking the lost. 1t was most happy reference
to very common occurrence among shepherds,
one that touched the ordinary sympathy. An
appeal was thereby made to all present which
none could resist, and the great teacher might
proceed assured that all would follow the tl,r-
ther development Of his thought. although no
one may have guessed his ultimate purpose.