The Tupelo journal., 1906-08-17
H JUDGE, THE
PHARISEE AND
H PUBLICAN
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. ~. ise
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

VERSES, l3-l4.
GOLDEN TExT.-"God be merciful 10
me a sinner."-Luke 1913.
TIME.-March, A. d. 30. Some Weehs
after last lesson. Jesus had been calieu
to Bethany to restore Lazarus 10 lie, an.
had returned to Perea where ne renpa'neu
some time longer completing mis- mihis''
there. o
PLAcE.-somewhere in Perea, beyond
Jordan.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCEs.-Prayer
and its nswer Teachings. enron
TIA: Pisa. S7:4; 1873. 49,; lisa. 55:e; So'z4,
Matt. 1914: 1919, 20; Mark 11:24; Jonh
1923; Jas. 1857; Az, 8; ! John 5:l4' 10 I.eS.
5:s; 8:3, 4. Examples. David (Psa. 81 etc.1'
Solomon e Chron. 6:12-42); Daniel lDan.
6:10): Hezekiah lisa. 3S:1-22); Chrlsts TWO
prayers Matt. 6:9-13; John I'D; etc. Earn
estness and importantly in prayer. ieacm-
ings. Pisa. Ss1: Matt. 7:7-Il; Rom. Lz:lL'
Phil. 4:6; Col. Az: / Thes. 5:17; / Tim. go.
PARALLELS. Luke 1853; 1S:1-14. Examples.
Abraham Gen. 1s:23-s0; Jacob Gen. 22:24-
ao5; Moses Deut. s:25j; Gideon tJndg-
$50; Hannah 4 Sam, 1:1Q; panlei ,Dan.
14:3O); Syrophenician woman Matt. lo:2s-
25): the blind men Matt. 2O:Sp; the early
church for Peter (Acts YIELD rra m
(Rom. 1:9; / Cor. 1878, 8; Col. 1:s; z I'm.
1:3, etc.): etc.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. /. He unto Them" Jesus to
his twelve apostles and other dis
ciples. There were very likely other
listeners. "A parable" Being a par
able, the story is designed to illus
trate the truth at one point only. 10
this end" For this purpose. This par
able and the following are the only
ones which have, as Matthew Henry
says, the key hanging at the door"
The evangelist explains just what they
were calculated to teach.
v. 2. "A judge" Feared not God,
neither regarded nan He had no
high motive to govern his life, but
was uprighteous in personal character,
and untrue to the duties of his Of
fee.
V. 3. "A widow" 1t is understood
that she was poor, unable to bribe the
Judge, utterly destitute of power to
appeal to any motive that could have
force with the wicked man
v. 4. Would not for a while" He
was utterly Indifferent of whatever OPP
preston was being inflicted upon her.
Possibly he was a friend of her en-
envy, or had been bribed by him.
V. 5. Because this widow troubleth
me-" The one person in all the uni
verse that he cared for was himself,
and because his personal ease was dis
turbed, he decided to act. Il will
avenge her" Wilt make her enemy
cease tormenting her. Lest . she
weary me (wear me OUT" The orig
inal of the verb Is peculiar. 1t means
literally to strike under the eye. In
l Cor. 1927 it is translated buffet. 1t
is scarcely supposable that the judge
fanciei the widow would get some n
to do him bodily injury, but he used
the strong word to express his great
annoyance. Her continued coming"
Here is the point of the parable.
V. 6. And the Lord said" Jesus
thus applies the parable to the truth
he would teach.
V. 2. shall not God" If an unprin-
cipled man will thus yield to the i'm
portunity of one in whom ne has no
interest, will not God, who is right
eous and just and kind and loving, an
swer persistent prayer?
v. s. "Avenge them speedily" Per-
haps not soon, but suddenly. That is
the way God has always worked. Elec-
tricity is long gathering in the clouds,
but its coming is a flash of light
ming"
v. g. Certain" Possibly some
among his own disciples had the self
righteous spirit.
V. IL. "Pharisee stood" He posed
himself in a conspicuous attitude, feel
ing he had the right to face God, and
wishing to be seen of men Matt. $50.
Il am not as other men," God had
given him better advantages and
wider opportunities than had been
granted to many; he should have
prayed for grace to use these in the
best possible way.
v. IL. Il fast twice a week." Only
one fast day in the year was required
by law. (Lev. 6:29-34). To this some
of the Pharisees had added private
fasts, on Monday and Thursday of each
week.
V. Is. "Afar or" At a distance
from other worshipers who pressed as
near as possible to the holy place.
NOdid " l. W aAN0 SafS
THE Jews generally looked up while
praying, and stood with arms out
spread and their palms turned upward,
as though to receive the gifts of
Heaven" "Smote upon his breast"
This was one mode prevalent among
orientals for expressing great grief:
The original indicates that he did this
repeatedly.
v. IA. Justified" Forgiven, re-
ceived into the family of God, and
treated as a just person. Rather than
the other" Though the publican had
been perhaps the greater sinner, yet,
confessing and ~forsaking his sin, he
saved; while the Pharisee held
to his sins, covered them with the
robe Of self-righteousness. offered no
prayer for forgiveness, hence his pre-
tended worship had no real value.
'Humbleth exalted" He who
feels his own insufficiency is in such
an attitude that God can lift him to
nobler living.
Practical Points.
v. /. Though not always in the act
of prayer, we may continually be in
the spirit of prayer.-1 Thes. SIT.
v. 3. If we have the spirit OF Christ
we will quickly respond to the cries of
those who are destitute or oppressed
Jas. 1927.
v. Z. II we would have God vindi-
cate Us, we must o take the matter