Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-06-11


The first section OF our lesson 10 the
beginning Of a new paragraph tsee
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 thoce who trust
eG in their own righteousness and "set
all others at naught" Or. W. we're the
Pharisees, but such is not the case;
and this parable Is warning to us,
lest we also trust our own righteous
ness Qsa. 64:6). Using this particu-
lar class as q background. Jesus
paints. In words of simple grandeur,
u 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"
". ID. Ostentatiously the Pharisees
separated themselves from their fell
Row men and this separation seems to
have extended evsh 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 and he is withdrawn from God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 . paean OF
self-exaltation.
Humility Of Heart.
l2) The Publican regarded himself
a, the sinner" ". 13 r. v. marE).
Ee knew he was q great. an irrelig-
iCus offender against law and, grace.
He had sacrificed everything TO ac-
quire money. He comes with no. out
ward show except an abundant Q l.
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 Isl
psolutely devoid of any trust In him
self. any contempt for others, and
makes n straight. earnest, passionate
abandonment of himself and his need
ID God. He goes away justified"
Judged right. Why? Because he
Lad taken the right place. q sinners
rlace before God, and found pardon.
tuG SCSOuo SSSG0u bIOIy
aId deals with an individual case. Zac-
cheus, who was q 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
s.ecessity OF climbing the sycamore
tree. He went up the tree because
"a curiosity. he came down because
~ conviction. lie wanted to see this
Iaan in the center OF the crowd and
as amazed to hear Jesus call him by
Eame.
Must Yield Wealth.
Zaccheus was rich, dishonest. dissat-
i3ied. but desperately in earnest. and
u man OF prompt decision. The esti-
,1ation of his fellow-citizens is indi-
,ated by v. 2. Notwithstanding all OF
this Zaccheus was not SO welded to
lbs money as to let 1t keep him out
''s the kingdom. In chapter IS we
cad OF the rich man who lacked one
thing" He was lost-'went away
because he would not yield his wealth
tsee also 1926. 30. What took place
''ithin the house of Zaccheus we are
rot told. but for the Master to enter
%as looked upon either as amazing
ignorance OF Zaccheus' character or
else extreme carelessness concerning
The maintenance of his own character.
.esus was dealing with one man, not
The multitude. hence he leaves them to
their amazement. While this is true,
yet we can surmise something OF that
interview by the result ". 81 for Zac-
cheus seems to have made = public
t.vowal OF his ethical and moral
,hange OF heart. Note the steps :;
~ He sought to see Jesus" john
S:1i. Is; lisa. 1922. (2) He was very
much in earnest, climbed a sycamore|
tree." Luke 1924. (3) He made nd
delay. make haste" lisa. 55:6. The
result was that OF great blessing toI
the people and Joy in the heart of
Iaccheus. "a He was obedient, joy1
3usiy and promptly. The genuineness >
i.of his transformation WAS evidenced
by the way 1t affected his pOcketboo
lie made abundant restitution and
gave bountifully to the poor. The
love Of God shed abroad In the heart
of miserly. selfish man or church
will promote honesty both to God and
man.
From the combined parable and
story we can read the lesson that Je.
sus IL the friend OF sinners and not
Of sin.
Thus the friend OF sinners seeks end
saves men. He sees the acts and the
attitude OF men and is ready to justify
those whose attitude is that of humil-
fty and supplication. He seeks men
even as he sought Zaccheus. and rs
he saves he produces in them those
fruits Of righteousness which are the
evidence and demonstration OF their
salvation. The scribes and the Phari.
sees saw Jesus eating with the publi.