"Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Fortunately, then, God the Father is ready, nay, eager, to forgive the sins of the wrongdoer who repents. Likewise, He is ready, eager, to answer the prayer that is spoken in sincere humility. But there is no justification for him who thinks he has no need {81} of repentance, or who self-righteously exalts himself above his fellowmen. Said Jesus to our own great Prophet, "I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven." THE REFERENCES Luke 15:11 ff. Doc. and Cov. 1:31. Luke 18:9-14. THE QUESTIONS 1. Retell the story of the Forgiving Father. 2. Justify Dickens's statement that this is the most touching passage in literature. 3. What was Jesus's purpose in telling the story? 4. What views did the Jews generally hold concerning sinners? 5. What did Jesus say about the self-righteous? 6. What lesson do you get from the prayer of the publican? 7. What is God's attitude toward sin? {82} PICTURE: THE CONSOLING CHRIST, Plockhorst {83} XI. SINCERITY IN WORSHIP [Sidenote: Finding and losing one's life.] One day Jesus called to Him the twelve disciples whom He had chosen to be His special witnesses and instructed them in the business of their mission. Amongst other things, Jesus said to them, "He that findeth his life, shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it." Perhaps you may be surprised to know that this little saying has caused many people to wonder. Or, perhaps, you may wonder yourself what Jesus meant. Why should a man who has found his life lose it? Indeed, how can a man both find and lose his life at the same time? And how can a man who has lost his life find it? What does it mean to lose one's life, and to find one's life? Undoubtedly, the answer to these questions must be of great importance to men.