Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-21

INTRODUCTION.-The events Of to-
days lesson are recorded only In the third
gospel. The silence OF Matthew. Mark and
John renders It difficult to fix the chronol-
ogyi although most harmonists think the
time was in the summer OF A. d. rs, about
eighteen months after the baptism Of Jesus.
All are agreed that the scene was in Ca
pernaum. where. since His expulsion from
Nazareth, Jesus had made His home, and
where on several occasions He had mani
tested His glory. We must approach the
passage as having reference to the Gall
leean ministry, as casting further light on
that interesting period when our Lord was
winning applause. Distant from Jerusa-
lem. beyond the reach OF the hierarchy.
He sought to impress Himself upon the
simple people of the north. He was prob
ably midway between the Feast OF the
Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. one
In the spring and one in the autumn.
HOSPITALITY (verse Se)-Every stu
dent OF the New Testament knows that the
relation between Jesus and the Pharisees
was never cordial. They subjected Him
to frequent criticism, and sought to bring
HIM into public contempt MAT. x:34),
while He exposed their hypocrisy duke
xvi:15) and condemned their practices
(Matt. xvf:6). This antagonism was at
times bitter. The llfeIess Journalism and
the traditional bigotry of the PirarIsees
were the chief obstacles to the pure relig-
Ion proclaimed by Jesus. It is interesting
however, to note that certain prominent
persons of this sect assumed an attitude
OF interest and even of friendly inquiry.
persuaded that Christ was rare and wor-
thy person. Nicodemus was one of this
class John iii:D, and our lesson furnishes
another, whose name is not given. This
case Is the more notable because Il in
wolves an act of hospitality which in that
day was the highest mark of respect
AMOUNTING - oversees S7-3s)-While
the company was at the table the social
converse was interrupted by an episode
which obscured the hospitality and gave
opportunity for the expression of far-reach-
ing truths. A woman who had been a
sinner, exercising the liberty allowed by
the habits of oriental countries, quietly en-
tered the room and stood near the reclining
form OF Jesus. Tears of penitence flowed
down her cheeks and fell upon His feet,
which she wiped with her hair. In deepest
affection she kissed His feet, and then an
nointed them with ointment from an ala
baster box which she had brought for the
purpose. similar act was performed
afterWard by another woman in the house
of Simon the leper Matt, xxvi:7), COM
mended by Jesus at the time as memorial
of his burial. Mark xiv;S) The repeti-
ton is an indication that the deed was
somewhat in harmony with the customs
then In vogue by which men were honored
QUESTIONING-(verse 39)-There is
no evidence that the Pharisee disapproved
OIL what lau DeeD done he manifested
jealousy. He did not indicate that such
conduct was exceptional, improper or
rude On the contrary. an expression of
regard to a guest. the host ought ordinarily
to have been pleased. But on this occasion
there was a single ground for objection
the character of the woman. The liberty
taken was altogether too great. The Phar-
isee said nothing. He maintained respect
full silence, but he queried to himself
Jesus was by reputation a prophet, and on
that account He had been invited. AS such
He must have known who this woman
was and what had been her past life. How,
then, did He allow her familiarity? The
question turned itself about in his mind In
many ways but no adequate reply could
be found. The alternative pointed to
suit which could not be allowed.
PARABLE-(verses 40-43)-The unut-
tered thoughts of His host were discerned
by Jesus. who determined not only to re-
move the doubts, but to furnish needed IN
struction. He began by courteously seeking
permission to introduce a new subject,
which the Pbarisee promptly granted. Then
He put forth parable, mode of teaching
frequently and prof1tably employed, one
particularly adapted to the minds of men
untrained in scientific or logical processes.
The parable Is known as the Two Debt
ors." One of them owed 500 pence, the other
90 pence, and both of them, unable TO pay.
were freely forgiven by their creditor. These
details remind one of the other parable
uttered by Jesus, the "Unmerciful Servant
Matt. xviii:24, in which the amount of the
Cancelled debt is different. But the design
in this case is wholly unlike that in the
other. Having completed His brief recital,
esus asked His host which of the two
debtors will love his benefactor most The
Importance of that question lay in the
fact II secured an expression of opinion
from Pharisee.
CONTRAST-(verses 44-48)-The pur-
pose for which the parable was spoken i'm
mediately appeared. The two debtors were
made to represent the Pharsee and the
woman; she the greater and he the lesser
transgressor but both sinners against God.
In CHASING them together Jesus rested upon
the universally of sin as affecting the ma
ture of every human being (Rom. iii:23l
through descent from Adam (Gen. iii:6).
This reference was greatly humiliating 10