God, I thank You that I am not like other men … or even as this tax collector. Luke 18:11. (Read Luke 18:9-14.)

Both these men are represented as resorting to the same place for prayer. Both came to meet with God. But what a contrast there was between them! One was full of self-praise. He looked it, he walked it, he prayed it; the other realized fully his own nothingness. The Pharisee was looked upon as righteous before God, and thus he was in his own estimation. The publican, in his humility, looked upon himself as having no claim to the mercy or approval of God….

The publican would not so much as lift his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The Searcher of hearts looked down upon both men, and He discerned the value of each prayer. He looks not on the outward appearance; He judges not as humans judge. He does not value us according to our rank, talent, education, or position…. He saw that the Pharisee was full of self-importance and self-righteousness, and the record was made against his name, “Weighed in the balances, and found wanting.” …

The Majesty of heaven humbled Himself from the highest authority, from the position of one equal with God, to the lowest place, that of a servant…. His trade was that of a carpenter, and He labored with His hands to do His part in sustaining the family…. His humility did not consist in a low estimate of His own character and qualifications, but in humbling Himself to fallen humanity, in order to raise them with Him to a higher life….

That person is nearest God, and is the most honored of Him, who has the least self-importance and self-righteousness, the least trust and confidence in self, who waits on God in humble, trusting faith….

Pride and self-importance, when compared with humility and lowliness, are indeed weakness. It was our Savior’s gentleness, His plain, unassuming manners, that made Him a conqueror of hearts….

God looks down from heaven with pleasure on the trusting, believing ones who have a full sense of their dependence on Him. To such He delights to give when they ask Him. “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”—Signs of the Times, October 21, 1897.

From From the Heart

Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. Luke 18:4, 5. (Read Luke 18:1-8.)

In this parable Christ draws a sharp contrast between the unjust judge and God. The judge, though fearing neither God nor man, listened to the widow because of her constant petitions. Although his heart remained like ice, yet the widow’s persistence resulted in her success. He avenged her, though he felt no pity or compassion for her, though her misery was nothing to him. “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”

The judge yielded to the widow’s request merely because of selfishness, that he might be relieved of her persistence. How different is God’s attitude in regard to prayer! Our heavenly Father may not seem to respond immediately to the prayers and appeals of His people, but He never turns from them indifferently. In this parable and the parable of the man rising at midnight to supply his friend’s necessity, that the friend might minister to a needy, wayfaring man, we are taught that God hears our prayers. Too often we think that our petitions are unheard, and we cherish unbelief, distrusting God when we should claim the promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” …

What is prayer—merely the presentation of our soul hunger? No; the presentation of our perplexities and necessities, and of our need of God’s help against our adversary the devil…. Prayer is to be offered for the preservation of life, for the preservation of every power and faculty, that we may render the highest service to our Maker….

The just Judge repulses no one who comes to Him in contrition. He has more pleasure in His church, struggling with temptation here below, than in the imposing host of angels that surround His throne. Not one sincere prayer is lost. Amid the anthems of the celestial choir, God hears the cries of the weakest human being. You who feel most unworthy, commit your case to Him, for His ears are open to your cry. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”—Signs of the Times, September 15, 1898.

From From the Heart

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. Luke 10:34.

In this parable Jesus presented a stranger, a neighbor, a brother in suffering, wounded and dying…. But though priests and scribes had read the law, they had not brought it into their practical life….

In speaking of the manner in which the priest and the Levite treated the wounded man, the lawyer had heard nothing out of harmony with his own ideas, nothing contrary to the forms and ceremonies that he had been taught were all the law required. But Jesus presented another scene: “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” …

After Christ had shown up the cruelty and selfishness manifested by the representatives of the nation, he brought forward the Samaritan, who was despised, hated, and cursed by the Jews, and set him before them as one who possessed attributes of character far superior to those possessed by those who claimed exalted righteousness….

Everyone who claims to be a child of God should note every detail of this lesson…. The Samaritan realized that there was before him a human being in need and suffering, and as soon as he sees him, he has compassion upon him….

The Samaritan followed the impulse of a kind and loving heart. Christ so presented the scene that the most severe rebuke was placed upon the unfeeling actions of priest and Levite. But this lesson is not only for them, but for Christians of this day, and is a solemn warning to us that for humanity’s sake we may not fail to show mercy and pity to those who suffer….

In the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus presented His own love and character. The life of Christ was filled with works of love toward the lost and erring. In the man bruised and wounded and stripped of his possessions, the sinner is represented. The human family, the lost race, is pictured in the sufferer, left naked, bleeding, and destitute. Jesus takes His own robe of righteousness to cover the soul, and whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.—Signs of the Times, July 23, 1894.

From From the Heart

A certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25. (Read Luke 10:30-37.)

With breathless attention the large congregation awaited Jesus’ answer…. But Christ, the true searcher of hearts, understood the intents and purposes of His enemies. He turned the matter over to the lawyer who had asked the question, saying, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” … And the lawyer said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” …

The lawyer had asked a plain, decided question, and the answer is equally plain and decided…. In answering the question, “What is written in the law?” the lawyer passed over all the mass of ceremonial and ritualistic ordinances as of no value, and presented only the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets, and Jesus commended his wisdom, and said, “This do, and thou shalt live.” …

To answer the question, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus presented the parable of the good Samaritan. He knew that the Jews included only those of their own nation under the title of neighbors, and looked upon the Gentiles with contempt, calling them dogs, uncircumcised, unclean, and polluted. But above all others they despised the Samaritans…. Yet Jesus said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.” …

As the sufferer lies thus, a priest passes by, but merely glances at the wounded man; and, as he does not wish to be put to the trouble and expense of helping him, he passes by on the other side. Then a Levite passes. Curious to know what has happened, he stops and looks at the sufferer; but he has no feeling of compassion to prompt him to help the dying man. He does not like the work, and, as he thinks it is no concern of his, he too passes by. Both these men were in sacred office, and claimed to know and to expound the Scriptures. They had been trained in the school of national bigotry, and had become selfish, narrow, and exclusive, and they felt no sympathy for anyone unless that person was of the Jews. They look upon the wounded man, but cannot tell whether he is of their nation or not. He might be of the Samaritans—and they turn away.—Signs of the Times, July 16, 1894.

From From the Heart

But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. Luke 15:28.

Mark the points in the parable. The elder brother coming from the field, hearing the sound of rejoicing, inquires what it all means, and is told of the return of his brother, and how the fatted calf has been killed to provide for the feast. Then is revealed in the elder brother selfishness, pride, envy, and malignity. He feels that favor to the prodigal is an insult to himself, and the father remonstrates with him, but he will not look upon the matter in the right light, nor will he unite with the father in rejoicing that the lost is found. He gives the father to understand that, had he been in the father’s place, he would not have received the son back, and forgets that the poor prodigal is his own brother. He speaks with disrespect to his father, charging him with injustice to himself while he shows favor to one who has wasted his living. He speaks of the prodigal to his father as “this thy son.” Yet notwithstanding all this unfilial conduct, his expressions of contempt and arrogance, the father deals patiently and tenderly with him….

Did the elder son finally come to see his unworthiness of so kind and considerate a father? Did he come to see that, though his brother had done wickedly, he was his brother still, that their relationship had not altered? And did he repent of his jealousy, and ask his father’s forgiveness for so misrepresenting him to his face?

How true a representation was the action of this elder son of unrepenting and unbelieving Israel, who refused to acknowledge that the publicans and sinners were their brethren, who should be forgiven and should be sought for, labored for, and not left to perish, but led to have everlasting life! How beautiful is this parable as it illustrates the welcome that every repentant soul will receive from the heavenly Father! With what joy will the heavenly intelligences rejoice to see souls returning to their Father’s house! The sinners will meet with no reproach, no taunt, no reminder of their unworthiness. All that is required is penitence. The psalmist says, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”—Signs of the Times, January 29, 1894.

From From the Heart