The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-04-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Practical Duties Taught By Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
April 20. st. Matt, p 1880.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures rs
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.
This parable is given by only st. Matthew.
There is a parable, known as the parable of
the ten pounds, in the Gospel according to st.
Luke, %: Ii-27) so similar in many respects
that some commentators believe the two prac-
tcally the same. We shall assume IN our notes
that the two are different.
/. Time and Place.
This parable was probably uttered on Wed
nesday, March is. A. ID. %, two days before the
cruCifxion of Christ. We find also that it was
spoken most likely at about D O'Clock in the
afternoon. Christ and his Apostles probably
remained in Jerusalem until after the Offering
at the Temple of the evening sacrifice, which
took place at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
2 Speaker and Hearers
Christ is the author of the parable. He was
in the habit of teaching in this illustrative
way. The iigurative style of address attracts
attention, interests old and young, and makes
clear truths which, uttered badly, would not
be so readily comprehcuded, As a teacher he,
after the Eastern manner sat. lSt Matt, 81:
8 Compare 5:I.) The hearers were the II
Disciples. (St. Matt, 24:I-4.) SIS. Peter,
James John and Andrew are named in the ac-
count as given by st. Mark. (13:3.) Like
Suunay-school class before their teacher the
Disciples clustered about Christ. The word
disciple means learner, and the Twelve We're
simply pupils. They went to school to Christ.
Their attitude was standing. Having listened
TO their Teacher for two or three years, they
were becoming quite yersed in religious knowl-
edge.
3. The Occasion.
All travellers in Palestine speak of the grand
view of Jerusalem one can get from the Mount
Of Olives. Christ and the Twelve had left the
city and were ascending the hill. Looking
back, their eyes caught the grandeur Of the
scene. 1t was between afternoon and evening.
| The sun was goag down, casting bright rays
over the more elevated points Of the city and
lighting up the walls and turrets Of the temple.
1t was so grand a sight that the Disciples called
| Christ's attention to it. He was probably quite
lin thought about the sad scenes so near at hand
which were TO accompany his crucifyion. The
spectacle set Christ to thinking of Jerusalem,
its fate, and the terrible destiny of the Jews.
1 The parable which we study is a part OF his
answer.
! 4. TIE Subject Of he Parable and rs Bearing
The parable OF the good and the evil servant
! (24: 45 5lj shows the bearing Of the Judg-
ment Day on the rulers or officers Of the
! Church. The parable of the 10 virgins l25: L
/ - points to the Judgment Day as it relates to
/ the Church in a collective sense. The parable
! of the 10 talents relates to the final Judgment
of the individuals Of the Church. The inter
val till the Judgment Day must be no idle time.
! Each follower of Christ must he all astiT in the
| interests of the Kingdom. Each must do his
| part according to his abilities and cirCum-
| stances Each must exercise his respective
! talents, whatever their number or kind. After
/ long time" ". 49, hints at a quite lengthy
1 interval, which must be devoted to Christian
work.
s. The TdleRts
Five, two and one talents were distributed
| among the servants or followers Of Christ. The
| value of talent may be put at 81 ,730 Five
would be $500, two $3.50. They consisted
in fact, of certain goods. 1t often happened
| that a gentleman going of for quite long
I time and TO a great distance, would assign to
| his trusted employees certain pecuniary or busi-
! ness interests. The commentator bloomfield
| remarks: Masters (JeWish) sometimes las is
| still the case in the East and in Russia} CON-
mitted to their slaves some capital, to be en-
ployed in traffic; for the improvement of which
| they were TO be accountable to them" In q
religious sense we understand by goods OF
/ talents the mental and spiritual gifts with
! which we are endowed, the temporal adYan.
tages we possess. These are very diverse in
| number and quantity. Each is accountable fol
Hopkins, of Auburn Theological Seminary, in
memorial address on DR.. P. II. Fowler, o
Utica, n. Y, said:
9 He had talent for pety as men have a talen
for drawing or music; a religions bias. such al
women have, upon which divine grace more easily
built up a character interpenelTated with the love
OF God: receptiveness Of spiritual influence
Even poverty may be a valuable gift, as /
implied in the following:
My child, what talent have g0H to i'm
proven"
My poverty, sir," was the reply.
Such was the question and answer between
clergyman and child. God gives 5" TO every
man his work" iSt. Mark 13: 34l One has
talent for song, another for teaching, anothe
for making money, another for organization
Men Of five talents are quite rare, but they bea
great responsibility. The masses are peOpl
Of two talents. Some are quite limited in Cul
ture, Influence, possessions or possibilities
Such have one talent each God will be fair
J IN judging men, every peculiar circumstance
: every palliating fact every disadvantage, ever!
lack Of power viii receive consideration. Jus
so every special gift, advantage, favorable Cir
cumstance, will add TO q mans responsibility.
Notice too that some persons have very in
/ furious talents which should be repressed.
Also remember persons may imagine the.
have certain talents and be very anxious to US
4. them. Then il becomes the teacher, parent o
) Church to Tepres5 them.
l 6. SerUdHts c0ntTaSted
The one with five talents aud the other wit
two put their money into trade or at interes
(usury), and doubled their original sum.
, Their master was pleased, and rewarde
them. The man who received one talent hi
it and fell to abusing his master on his return
, charging him with being hard man" REAP
! ing where he had not soWn. This was pro
verbal expression, indicating a skinfint.
1t is virtual charge of stealing. To take tb
product of grain which one did not SOW is
crime We have men who if they have no
q five talents will do nothing. II they cannot d
! great things. they refuse to act at all. Til
two talent man must not envy the man wit
r five, nor hold in contempt the poor fellow wit
= only ono talent. The fve-talent mau mus
look out aud not get brain-heavy and toppl
into insignifcance The temptation of the one
talent man is to depreciate the value of hi
special gift. He says: I am of no use. I d
not count" Shine, brother, even though yO
: do not blaze and crackle. 1t is dangerous {
. have but a single talent. Christ was desirou
. the Church shOnld know he values a single Ia
ent. and is willing to double it. Then the ma
, viii have two, and can soon secure two more.
z. Reporter.