Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-08-17
THE JUDGE, THE
PHARISEE AND
THE PUBLICAN
Sunday School LessOni Or Aug. 10. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Luke 1S:1-14. Memoir,
verses, 1914.
GOLDEN TEXT-"God be merciful t
me a sinner. Luke 1913.
TIME.-March, A. D.. 30. Some week
AFTER last lesson. Jesus had been callet
to Bethany to restore Lazarus to life, am
had returned to Perea where he RENAME
there.
PLAcE.-somewhere in Perea, beyon,
SCRIPTURE REFERENcEs.-Praye
ana It's answer: Teachings. 2 Chron
Matt SSH: isis, %; N Marx iIS' 11 Ie9 g gohl
1923; Jas. 1:5-7; 4:2, 8; / John 5:14, Is; Rev
9:s' S:S, a. Examples. David Psa. 81, etc.)
solomon q .Chron. 6:12-4g; Daniel Dan
I'D; Hezekiah lisa. ~ss:1-22l; Christ's tw,
prayers Matt. 6:9-13; John ID; etc. Earn
esIness and opportunity in prayer. Teach
iings Psa, ssh; Matt. 7:7-i1; Rom. 12:12
Parables. Luke 11:5-S; 1S:1-14. Examples
ABRAHAM Gen. 1S:2S-32l; Jacob Gen. 1924
sc25 Moses Dleut 9;25l; Gideon CJudg
y;So2O; Nehemiah (Neh. 1:6); Peter (Matt
$780, Syrophenician woman Matt. 1923
S53s the Rlind men Matt. 20:Sp; the early
cnurch Tor Peter (Acts 12:5-12); Pau
{t5oIn; ~; Cor. 1913, 8; Col. 1:9; 2 Tim
Comment and Suggestive Thought
v. L. He . unto them" Jesus tc
his twelve apostles and other dis
ciples. There were very likely other
listeners. "A parable" Being a par
able, the story is designed 70 illus
trate the truth at one point only. no
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 man." He had no
high motive to govern his life, but
was uprighteous in personal character,
and untrue to the duties of his Of
flee.
V. 3. "A widow" 1t is understood
that she was poor, unable to bride 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 op-
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
mo-" The IN 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 QUIT" 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
fancie1 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. z shall not God" If an unprin-
cipled man will thus yield to the inn
portun!ty of one in whom he has no
interest, will 20 God, who is right
eous II just and kind and loving, an
swer persistent prayer?
V. s. "Avenge them speedily" Per-
haps not soon, but suddenly. That is
Tx WCN 0OQ Ido dlWdJo WOlhC0. NANS-
tricity is long gathering in the clouds,
but its coming is a flash of hight
ming"
V. 8 Certain Possibly some
among his own disciples had the self
righteous spirit.
V. II. "Pharisee stood He posed
himself in a conspicuous attitude, feel
inc he had the right to face God, and
wishing to be seen Of men Matt. 6:5).
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. II fast twice a week." Only
one fast day in the year was required
by law. (Lev. 16:29-34). To this some
Of the Pharisees had added private
fasts, on Monday and Thursday of each
week. @tfaA \
v. Is. "Afar off" At a distance
from other worshipers who pressed as
near as possible to the holy place
Would not lift up unto Heaven
THE Jews generally looked up while
praying, and stood with arms out
spread n their palms turned upward
as though to receive the gifts o.
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, anC
treated as a just person. Rather thar
the other" Though the publican hat
been perhaps the greater sinner, yet
confessing and forsaking- his sin, HI
was saved; while the Pharisee hell
to his sins, covered them with thu
robe of self-righteousnessy offered M
prayer for forgiveness, hence his pre-
tended worship had no real value
"Humbleth . exalted" He wh'
feels his own insufficiency, is in sucl
an attitude that God can lift him t
nobler living.