The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-06-11


The first section of our lesson Is the
beginning Of new paragraph (see
r. w. and contains one of the Mas
ter's best-known parallels. Immedi-
ately preceding this is the parable Of
the unjust judge and the importunate
widow We are plainly told ". 81
why the Master spake this parable.
1t is easy to say that those who trust
ed in their own righteousness and "set
all others at naught" (R. W were the
Pharisees, but such is not the case;
and this parable is a warning to US,
lest we also trust our own righteous
ness lisa. 64:6). Using this particu-
lar class as a background, Jesus
paints, in words of simple grandeur,
a picture quite familiar throughout the
ages. In it he reveals the falseness of
human standards and declares the
judgment. of heaven. The contrast Is
vivid Let us look at (1) the Phari-
see. The illuminating phrase is in the
words "he prayed with himself"
". ~. Ostentatiously the Pharisees
separated themselves from their fell
low men and this separation seems to
have extended even into his prayer
life, and he is withdrawn from God
also. This is an appalling picture
of the man who trusts only himself.
Examine his prayer and we see the
supposed prayer is really a paean Of
self-exaltation.
Humility of Heart.
(2) The Publican regarded himself
as "the sinner" ". 13 R. v. marg).
He knew he was a great, an irrelig-
ious offender against law and grace.
He had sacrificed everything to ac-
quire money He comes with no out
ward show except an abundant evil
dence of the shame and humility of
his heart. He also was excluded from
men but not from God. Burdened
with the sense of his sin, he casts him
self upon the mercy of God. He is
absolutely devoid of any trust in him
self, any contempt for others, and
makes a straight earnest, passionate
abandonment of himself and his need
to God. He goes away justified
Judged right. Why? Because he
had taken the right place, sinners
place before God, and found pardon
II. The Second Section Is a story
and deals with an individual case, Fac
cheus, who was a chief Publican
Jesus sought him (see Golden Text
whereas Zaccheus was animated by
curiosity, and the writer informs us
he was small of stature, hence the
necessity of climbing the sycamore
tree. He went up the tree because
of curiosity, he came down because
of conviction. He wanted to see this
man in the center of the crowd and
was amazed to hear Jesus call him by
name.
Must Yield Wealth.
zaccheus was rich, dishonest, dissat
isfied, but desperately in earnest, ant
a man of prompt decision. The esti
nation of his fellow-citizens is indi
Gated by v. Z. Notwithstanding all o.
this Zaccheus was not so welded tc
his money as to let it keep him out
of the kingdom. In chapter Is We
read of the rich man who lacked one
because he would not yield his wealth
(see also 1926, 2T. What took place
within the house of Zaccheus we are
not told, but for the Master to enter
was looked upon either as amazing
ignorance of Zaccheus' character Of
else extreme carelessness concerning
the maintenance of his own character
In
the multitude, hence he leaves them t
their amazement. While this is true
yet we can surmise something of tina
interview by the result ". 81 for FAC
cheus seems to have made a public
avowal of his ethical and mora
change of heart. Note the steps
1) He sought to see Jesus" Johr
3:14, 10; lisa. 45:22. (2) He was yer!
much in earnest, climbed a sycamore
tree" Luke 1924. (3) He made NJ
delay, make haste" Isa- $3.50. Th'
result was that of great blessing Il
the people and Joy in the heart o
Zaccheus. (4) He was obedient, Joy
ously and promptly. The genuinenesi
of his transformation was evidenced
by the way 1t affected his pocketbook
He made abundant restitution ant
gave bountifully to the poor. Thu
love OF God shed abroad in the hear
of a miserly, selfish man or churcl
will promote honesty both to God ant
man.
From the combined parable ant
story we can read the lesson that Je
sus is the friend of sinners and no
of sin.
Thus the friend of sinners seeks ant
saves men. He sees the acts and tn,
attitude of men and is ready to justif!
those whose attitude is that of humil
ity and supplication. He seeks mel
even as he sought zaccheus, and al
he saves he produces in them thos'
fruits of righteousness which are tn,
evidence and demonstration OF thei
salvation. The scribes and the Phari
sees saw Jesus eating with the publ