The Elbert County tribune., 1914-01-30


The only record we have OF this par
able is in this gospel. This portion of
Scripture is usually thought of as be-
ing great teaching on prayer. 1t is
that, and It Is more than that. It is
great illustration of the sound princi.
pies of pedagogy employed by that
wonderful Bible teacher. our Lord and
Savior
l. Teaching by example ". u. There
was that in the prayer life of Jesus
that was different than that of the for
malistic religionists of his day. some
thing that inspired the request, Lord
teach us to pray" His prayer life was
different. 1t was effectual. Notice, in
passing. the respect of the disciples
when he had ceased" If there is one
lesson the oncoming generation needs
to learn 1t is that of reverence. His
prayers were too sacred to permit OF
any intrusion. His praying also awoke
in their memory the prayer life OF
John the Baptiser. There is deep psy.
chology here. Observation, memory,
perception. concept, all in their logical
order.
Most Wonderful Prayer.
II. Teaching by formula (vv. 2-4). The
human mind is weak and needs that
assistance which is to be found in 8
clear statement of truth. Not always
can we have the benefit of strong
personality. Hence Jesus gives US
formula, or prayer, often called the
Lords Prayer" but more correctly
termed 'the disciples prayer" This
is in some respects the worlds most
wonderful prayer. certainly the most
familiar. Lacking in personal pro
nouns, 1t begins with that matchless
conception of God. "our Father" it de
scends step by step from a considera
ton of his hallowed name, his king
dom, and his will (Luke 22:42) IL
heaven and upon earth, down to the
question of our need of daily food II
then sweeps backward through the re
lations of mankind to each other, tc
temptation. to the power of sin. back
Matt. 6:13) to God once more, back
to the Alpha and Omega. In it is in
vocation, supplication and alteration
1t sweeps the whole gamut of mans
need, physical, mental and spiritual. II
begins in heaven. it encircles the
earth, 1t rebounds to those realms OF
glory from which the Son came, and to
which he returned. A study of the
prayers of the saints. living and dead
ought to be more emphasized. This
kingdom here mentioned is yet to be
fully established. A kingdom de
mands king (Rev. 22:20); its begin.
ming, though, is in the hearts of men;
1t implies entire submission to Gods
will (Luke 22:42); it delights in doing
that will John 6:3S, Eph. 6:6); it de
mands an entire sanctiflcation of our
lives, and a desire that his will shall
rule in the earth q Thess., 4:S). The
fifth petition is not the prayer of the
unsaved sinner (John 9:31. Fellow
ship with God depends upon our will
ingness to forgive others Matt. 6:14
15; Mark 11:25); but that is not the
ground of Gods forgiveness (Eph. 1T;
4:32). God does not tempt men (Jas
1:13); he does permit temptation to
assail US, such as modern economic
conditions mark 1:12, 13), but God
meyer allows us to be tempted above
what we can bear Il Cor. 10:13) Vol.
umes have been written about this
prayer and yet its fulness has not even
been suggested. The teacher who
really prays cannot be failure, for he
has the power of God behind his labor.
He must, however. not limit himself to
his prayer only (Phil. 4:6; Jas. 5:13,
14). The Christians prayer must be
In the name of Christ, which is not
named here, for he was not yet cruci-
fed.
The Holy Spirit.
III. Teaching by parable (vv. 6-10) "A
parable Is an earthly story with
heavenly meaning" Only the teacher
who can translate truth into terms OF
1T is like" has really begun to teach.
Let us beware, however. Of wrong
comparison and of to vivid details.
This is not picture of God, only by
way of contrast is he suggested. There
are three friends here: "a The needy
one In his journey; (2) the needy one
who was host. and (3) the needy one
who was selfish ne.ghbor. The pau
perism of the second was inexcusable
(Phil. 4:19); the wandering of the
first at night time cannot go unchal
lenged Matt. 28:20) AS for the
third, 1t was most unreasonable hour
and his friends insistence was unrea-
sonable, yet. his insistence emphasized
the urgency of the request and the con-
fidence of a friend.
w. Teaching by contrast wv. 11-13).
Pedagogically considered this is the
application. Notice 1t is introduced by
the word for" and the summary is the
sum and substance of all good. the
Holy Spirit. Jesus contrasts bread.
that which preserves life, with stone.
which Is dead and lifeless He con-