Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21
for SUNDAY Scboole.
STAR LESSON FOR JULY a..
SECRETARY OF AMERICAN EDUCATION
JESUS TEACHING HOW TO PRAY" Luke ri :l-is.
BY Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DID,,

CONTENTIOUS last lesson close ieav-
ing Jesus in Judea. After answering the
lawyer duke x:2o-s7), He proceeded on
His journey and came into the village Of
Bethany. There He accepted the hospitality
of Mary and Martha. both of whom showed
their appreciation of thsir distinguished
visitor. the former by sitting at His feet to
learn, the latter by m1nistering to His COM
fort. duke x:3S-42). That home was de-
stdned to become the resting place and asy-
lum In after months, even to the end OF
His earthly ministry mark xi:1D. Leav-
ing Bethany Jesus went forth with His
disciples into retirement. The place and
events of that seclusion are wholly I'M
known. Probably He continued the instruc-
ton which had been interrupted by the
lawyer, seeking to bring the whole company
into fullest sympathy with each other and
with Himself Sweet holy converse 1t was,
too intimate and delicate to find record on
the pages of those sketches that have been
preserved for the disciples OF the after CEN
turtles.
OCCASION-Our present lesson per-
tains to the close of that private interview.
Jesus had been engaged In prayer, perhaps
with the disciples, perhaps by Himself
With Him az with us there are times or
desired communion with others at the
throne of mercy, and there are other times
WDen one ought TO De alone WITH lfOQ (Mdtl,
vi6). Some one urged Jesus on this occas-
ion to teach the disciples to pray. His ex-
ample and spirit had awakened their de-
sire AMI made them conscious of their lg-
norance and weakness. 1t was pleaded that
John the Baptist had done the same with
his disciples-an interesting fact in the min
istry of that eminent preacher. Chrlsts
prayer meeting was probably more blessed
than Johns and they desired to know the
secret. Jesus granted the request. showing
that, while any petition offered in sincerity
must be acceptable, a mark OF pfety (Acts
kid, yet one needs instruction In order to
render this service in its best manner. Min
listers ought now to observe this fact and do
likewise.
ANALYSIS-The response of Jesus to
the request of the disciples may be divided
into two parts. He first gives a model OF
prayer Oversees 2-D, substantially the same
as that found in the ordination sermon
Matt. vi:9-13). except that the concluding
doxology is omitted That model will be
treated here under two heads. the petitions
for the divine honor and glory. and those
for the benefit of the petitioner. the latter
being purely human. After the form OF
prayer Jesus offers encouragement to pray
Oversees 5-13) under three heads-friendship,
promise and sonship. He evidently felt
that His disciples would need encourage
ment more than a model for He occupied
more time and space with the one than with
the other It has always been so. Men are
more in danger of ceasing to pray alto
Language. But here Jesus corrects the meth
cd of prayer and gives assurance Of its
value, making each topic more forceful by
the truth contained In the other, and so
exceeding the request of the disciple.
DIVINE-In, the form Jesus begins
with three petitions pertaining primarily to
God, but involving also the welfare of men
reverence for His name. the coming Of
His kingdom, the doing of His will. These
were all prominent Old Testament themes.
Qev., x:3.) Indeed, the decalogue only for
mulated and enjoined eek, Xx:3-1D that
for which the Christian is instructed to
pray, showing that the essentials of right
eousness are of universal obligation. Matt.
v:1S) These petitions are set in new light
by two important considerations. They are
to be offered in a flial spirit. God being re-
garded as Father. While giimpses of such
relation were obtained in the former time
lisa, lxiv:S), 1t was reserved for Jesus to
usher men into 1t. and cause them to act
according to 1t. Matt y4S) The PRAYER
was also TO be offered with thoughts of an
other world. In which God Is perfectly hon
ored and obeyed (verse .. the grand OBJ
ject being to set up heavenly kingdom In
place of the sin and suffering that now
abound fRev.. xxi:--4.}
PERSONAL-After this higher view
and desire for Gods glory and mans good,
the petitioner may descend to himself To be
sure, the individual Is Included In the to-
tal and, in reality, there is no need of
anything beyond. 1t would be quite enough
to cry, Our Father, thy will be done" And
yet Jesus encouraged prayer for self. the
reason for which appears in its form. There
Is first a single request temperatures
not riches, not honors; but daily bread
really the portion which father sees a
child needs each day e Thess., iii;12) The
evident intention Is to curb the earthly de-
sires (Heb.. xii:5) and to cultivate humility
and trust. Matt, vi:34.) We are not to in
fer that man must have nothing more than
bread, no surplus for the future. prov,
VIC Wealth is a gift OF God to be used
for His glory. After seeking food man
should turn to his spiritual interests. He
can do little on an empty stomach. He must
plead for forgiveness based on his patience
toward his fellow Matt. vi:14-15) and
after pardon for past offenses he must seek
protection against future temptations We
are sinners in world of sin, seeking a new
world without sin; but needing help until
that is gained.
RlENDSHIP.-Having completed the
model, Jesus next gave the ground for hope
that prayer will be effectuaI His first ar
gument was drawn from the relations OF
friendship. Suppose a man who has an I'M