The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 10.
Subject: The Judge, the Pharisee and
the Publican, Luke xviii, 1.14-
Golden Text, Luke xviii, 13-

Topic:. Effective Prayer.
I. The judge and the widow Tvs.
1-S). 1. "Spake parable" In re-
sponse to question of the Pharisees
as to when the kingdom Of God
should come. Jesus gave them warn
ings and instruction as to the coming,
and especially as to the need of being
always prepared (17:20-37), and
naturally turns to the subject of
prayer as a means of preparation.
Men ought" 1t is their duty" to
do this. Always to pray" The habit
of prayer in private, in the family and
in public should be cultivated. mot
to faint" Not to grow weary and
discouraged because of the delay of
the answer. Why must prayer be i'm
Fortunate? /. Not because of Gods
unwillingness to answer. 2. To cher
ish and cultivate our faith. 8. To in
tensify our desire to receive. Prayer
that is not persevering indicates a
lack of faith.
2. "A judge" According to Deut.
1918, Israel must have in all the
gates of the city judges, who we're un-
der obligation to administer justice,
| without respect of persons. See EXod.
| 1863; Lev. 1911 Feared not God
man" He was unprincipled and
cared for no one but himself 8. "A
widow" A widow, without influence
and unable to bribe, had little to hope
from a wicked judge. "Avenge."
The original means Ito vindicate
ones right" The rights of this
widow were interfered with and she
was asking the judge for protection.
The widow is often taken as repre-
| sentation Of the church after Christ's
| death.
4, 5. For a while" These verses
show the abandoned character of the
Judge referred to. 6. "The Lord"
That is, Jesus. z. Shall not God"
We are not to suppose that the char
acter of God is at all represented by
This Judge. The great truth which
our Saviour designed to teach is that
men ought always to pray, and not
TO faint" The application of the
parable may be made by contrast.
/. God is not compared to the unjust
Judge, but contrasted with him. If
hard-hearted, wicked Judge, who
cared for neither God nor man, but
only for himself and his own inter-
ssts, would yet grant justice on ac-
| count of the perseverance OF the
widow, how infinitely more readily
will God give us the help we need. z.
And if the unjust judge does this for
| poor widow, in whom he has no In
| .erest, how much more will our
Father grant the prayers of His own
children. 9. And If the unjust judge
| will do it for the sake of deliVerance
| from some vexation in common life,
| now much more will God save HIS
shildren from their adversaries.
8. Speedily Suddenly, unex-
pectedly. "Son Of man cometh."
| Whedon thinks this entire parable
cas reference to the second coming
of Christ. He says: The church is a
widow in Christ's absence; she has
IN oppressive adversary, being the
persecuting world, or the devil.
Faith" This word is sometimes
laken to denote the whole OF true re-
tigion.
II. The Pharisee's prayer Tvs. y.
l2). 9. Trusted in themselves.
Jesus now proceeds to show another
reason why many prayers are not an
| Ewered. The Pharisees did not trust
10 God. or the Messiah for righteous
ness. but in their own works. They
yainly supposed they had themselves
complied with the demands or the
law OF God. "Despised others" Dis
iained, treated them with contempt.
10 Two men" Both Jews. Two
extreme cases are here chosen-a
rigid, exclusive, self-satisfed member
of the religious society of Israel; and
O. lavish officer Of the hated Roman
government.
were accustomed to pray standing.
The Pharisee went to the temple TO
pray, because it was a public place.
and therefore he would nave many
ewes on him. II thank Thee: HIS
nrayer is a thanking, his thanking IS
a boasting, not Of God but alone OF
himself. At first he boldly contrasts
himself with all men considering him
self better than they. "Extortlon-
ers," Selfish, greedy men who take
away the goods of others by force ana
vioIence. Unjust" Those who are
unfair and dishonest in their deal
ings, l2. Il fast" etc. The law re-
nuired hut one fast day in the year.
the day of Atonement (Lev 1920.
"Tithes." A tenth. "Of all that pos
sess". Rather Of all that / require:
See Revised Version. He was cloenea
with phylacteries and frlnges, hos
with humility. He felt no neeo VI
confessing sins. 90
14l. 13. publican" One employed
MS collector of the Roman revenue.
# was the basest of all livelihoods:
He felt that he was sinner, ana
shame and sorrow caused him 10
look down. 1t was usually the Gus
tom to pray with uplifted hands, and
with look turned toward heaven -
rim. 2:S: Psa. 1881, %. ."SEote-
breast" A token OF anguish and
se1f-reproach. 1 am sinner and can
not be saved but in Thy way.
14 Justified" His sins were
h1otted out, and he was accepted.
"That exalteth himself" Boasts of
his own goodness. "Abased." Shall
be brought to shame. That num-
bleth hlmSel1. by CoulesslAS His 50"
and unworthiness, and pleading FOR
mercy from God. Exalted" Lifted
I'D from the depths of sin, and made
an heir of God From sorrow he ls
admitted into the realm of praise.
Fire Casts Seven Lives.
Mrs. Sarah Gobba and her six
tn death