The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-06-10
LESSON FOR JUNE Ia
THE FRIEND OF SINNERS.

LtSSUN run JUNE 1T
g. THE FRIEND OF SINNERS.
LESSON TEXT-Luke 1854; 1s:1-10.
GOLDEN TEXT came not to call
the righteous but Sinners" Mark 2:N.
The first section of our lesson Is the
beginning of a 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 ". -
why the Master spake this parable.
It 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 Elsa. 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 a. the Pharl.
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life, and he is withdrawn from God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 e the
supposed prayer is really a paean OF
self-exaltation. 1t Is true he begins
by ascribing 1t to the Deity, but he
ascribes no praise to God. no thank
fulness for blessings received; indeed,
be ignores God throughout after the
Introduction. On the other hand, his
only recognition of other men Isl that
Of contempt for them. He Is con-
cerned altogether with his own ex-
cellencies and with the d~elinquencies
of others. 81 am not as the rest Of
men" ". II R. W. He extols proper
virtues Of morality, Righteousness, or
thodoxy and generosity. but went
away unsaved.
Humility Of Heart.
(2) The Publican regarded himself
as "the sinner" ". IL R. v. marg.),
He knew he was 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, a sinners
place before God, and found pardon.
No one who-claims a place before God
because he is a righteous man will
be justified in his sight. The true
way to God is the one Of the Publican,
not that Of the Pharisee.
u. 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 and with the authority Of a
king commands his friendship and
hospitality.
Must Yield Wealth.
Zaccheus was rich, dishonest, dissat.
isfed, but desperately in earnest, and
a mai of prompt decision. The esti.
nation Of his fellow-citizens is indi.
Gated by v. 7. Notwithstanding all of
this Zaccheus was not so welded to
his money as to let it keep him out
of the kingdom. In chapter Is we
read Of the rich man who lacked one
thing" He was lost-"went away
because he would not yield his wealth
(see also 1926, 27). 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.
Jesus was dealing with one man, not
the multitude, hence he leaves them to
their amazement. While this Is true,
vet we can surmise something of that
interview by the result ". 81 for Fac"
cheus seems to have made a public
avowal Of his ethical and moral
change of heart. Note the steps:
a) He sought to see Jesus" John
3:14, is; lisa. 45:22. (2) He was very
much in earnest, climbed a sycamore
tree" Luke 1924. 90 He made no
delay, make haste" 1sa- 55:6. The