The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1906-09-22

ton of the, principles of His kingdom.
desson -
As was His custom, Jesus used cur
rent event for purpose of illustration.
Rulers Of Palestine weer often sum-
| moned to Rome to make an accounting.
| Such an instance had Just occurred. Je-
| sus lfkens the accounting to God to II.
1 1t is not the last Judgment thit is here
| referred to. The preliminary account
| Ing reveals insolvency, and is the oc-
casion Of Divine forgiveness. Applica-
ton is made to mans forgiveness of
his fellows. Forgiven sinner showing
unforgiving spirit is paradoxical. Ues-
son I'D
| The parable of the Good Samaritan is
the pearl of the parallels. with the
freedom OF Oriental audiences one IN
jects a question. II proves to be only
| dialectic gauntlet. Jesus with con-
| summate skill. takes the MAJ on his
own ground. and has him answer his
| own question. The attempt to refine
| upon the term neighbor is the impe-
/, date cause OF the parable. The term
is not defined, but the subpectic state
which makes n man neighbor to every
one is superbly illustrated, and the
terse application, do thou likewiser'
Is made. Gesson lilly
The request which the disciples made
| for form OF prayer was natural. They
had observed Jesus in prayer. and John
| the Baptist had set the precedent of
teaching his followers a formula. 1t
| remains for the universal Teacher to
give the universal form. The first part
relates to the Father. His name king
dom, will. The second relates to man
--bread, forgiveness, deliverance. From
the form Jesus proceeds to the spirit of
prayer, which He illustrates by par
able, the force of which is It's marked
contrasts. CLesson IV.)
Sociability was a marked trait of Je-
sus. Asceticism finds no support in
Him whatever. In this instance He is
guest of a Pharisee who covets His
table talk. A sufferer lies in the YES
Thule. Jesus does not avoid him. He
does not merely toss a small coin to
him. He determines to heal. but FORE
stalls criticism by asking, rs It lawful
to cure on the Sabbath?" He answers
His question by curing. Later He has
a word for guests and another for
hosts (Lesson w
The strength of Jesus parable Of the
great supper is its improbability. The
preposterious inadequacy of the excuses
shown at a glance the disinclination to
accept the invitation. 1t is a deliber-
the insult. The Master dwells upon
the practical rather than the specula-
tive phase--namely. upon the personal
attitude Of the individual toward the
Messianic kin gdom rather than the ac-
cidents OF that kingdom. (Lesson Wy
The parable Of the Two Sons Is the
pearl of parallels" Its primary OBJ
ject was to Justify Jesus attitude to-
words publicans and sinners by pictur-
ing them as subjects Of Divine compass
sion. The secondary obpect Is to pict-
ure sin as a revolt against beneficent
Father. The incidental lessons are:
The freedom of the will: folly OF sin.
its unsatisfying nature, and desperate
consequences; the nature of evangeli-
cal penitence. as Disseminated for le-
gal penitence; the process and course
Of recovery; the Divine compassion.
GIesson viz
The parable of the Pharisee and publ
can is one OF the most pictorial of all.
Two sorts of worshippers are made to
fairly live before the reader. The one
Is false and fruitless; the other true
and successful The one houRhtiyv
denies all gross sins and afflrms all
active pieties. The other is penitent.
makes no comparisons. attempts no pal
liation. The Pharisee's exit Is not so
much as noted. while the publican goes
out iustifed--his miserere transported
to a halleluiah. (Lesson WHY
The incident of the rich Young
Ruler" is the record of a subtle inter-
view, the meaning of which has univer-
fly betrays a disquiet spirit. in that he
approaches Jesus at all. Jesus meets
him on his own ground and uses his
own methods. Relative goodness Is
made to face absolute goodness. The
legalist Is hidden to do and live Obe-
dience Is averred. but the weak spot is
touched In the crucial command, sell
and give" Self Is revealed Lord
ship of mammon recognized; but tho
subjects falls in the final test Uesson
X)
Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusa-
lem was no mere incident. 1t was an
event Of large degree. 1t was not ac4
cidental. but designed. 1t was con-
sistent with Jesus plan to present Him
self to the nation for acceptance or re-
lection. 1t presents points OF contrast
to other "triumphs" 1t was character
lied by meekness a lowly equipage.
absence OF captives and spoils. 1t was
accorded by the common people. not bv
Church or State. Yet 1t was the most
significant triumph OF all history. No
similar spectacle was ever fraught with
such influence upon the destiny of the
human race. Gesson XII
Jesus mortal agony was greater than
any physical pains He ever suffered
The cause of It was the contradiction
of sinners against Himself, their o.
fort to entangle Him in His words
their refuSeL TO accept HIM or his mes
sage Jesus was crucifed again and
again before ever He came to His cross
In this instance the effort IS to elicit
from Him a categorical statement
which can be used against Him in His
tritl, then impending Jesus answer
is a miracle of genius, flash of inspir-
alton. He escaped the snare. He al
lied Himself with no faction. He car
ried the question over into an entirely
new realm, wher there are no disjoint-
ed commands or sacramento offices
but where there is a Life which gives
continuity. vigor. progress to the whole.
with one splendid flash, Jesus discloses
the fundamental element in religion
Absent. 1t makes the Christian a hea-
then; present, 1t makes the heather a
Christian. This disputatious coteris
fades Jesus is speaking to the univer-
sal human heart. The man of today,
even though technically rated an unbe-
Never. recognizes the Divineness of the
message. and receiving it, begins the
life OF love toward God and his fell
lows. And that is religion. Nesson
XII.