The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-21
Eessn,1 Series for 1883.
SECOND QUARTER.
Matthew XIV. 1870. ]
THE PARABLE,

Talents is found only in Matthews Gospel,
though a similar one is recorded by Luke
xix. 11-27), as having been spoken at Jerl-
cho few days earlier. The parable of the
Pounds was related to illustrate the fact that
the kingdom of COP would not Immediately
appear as the disciples expected. The para
BILE of The Talents illustrates the same fact
in the experience and history of the Messiah
and his kingdom. JESUS had declared that
he should be put to death, but that he would
afterward come to establish his kingdom in
a manner which he described (xxiv. 30, 81.
His glorious coming and the power of his
kingdom would be manifested to that gener-
alton, but not Immediately. Many Biblical
scholars think that the two records are but
different reports of the same parable, and
that Matthew, according to his apparent top
ical method of arrangement, has recorded
the parallels of JESUS illustrating the time
and manner of his predicted coming, in his
report of the discourse upon that subject on
the Mount of Olives, after the manner in
which he may have constructed the 80 called
Sermon on the Mount (see Study, August IA,
1887. The literary connection of the para
BILE in the discourse is close and logical. The
parable of the Talents follows logically that
of the Virgins: "Watch, therefore, for ye
know not the day nor the hour. For as
man going abroad"-observe the italicised
words in our versions,-which is described in
the parable, 80 shall be the coming OF the
Son of man, who by beingput to death will
90 away, leaving his cause in the care of his
disciples, and will come again in the mani
festglory of his kingdom, and reward the
fidelity of his faithful subjects. In the par
able of the Virgins the disciples are repre-
sented as waiting Tor the coming OF their
Master; in that of the Talents as working for
him during his absence.
ENTRUSTED TALENTs.-The man of our
Lords parable entrusted to his slaves lser-
wants the management of his business while
he was travelling abroad, giving to each of
them sum of money proportionate to his
estimated ability and capacity for business,
to employ in business transactions during
his absence. To one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one. The talent
was the largest denomination of weight and
of money, which was weighed when used in
large amounts. According to the margin of
the Revision xviii. 24) talent was worth
about twelve hundred dollars. Anciently
slaves were often men of high character and
large capability, to whom were given re-
sponsible trusts by their masters, as wit
messed in the case of Joseph EXODUS xxxiv.
ff). During the existence of slavery in our
own country, trusty slaves were sometimes
appointed to manage their masters business,
or to do business on their own account, rem
dering share of their profits to the master.
The disciples of JESUS, who are called his
servants, were left to maintain his cause in
the world when he went away, having been
put to death by the malignant opposition of
the Jews. The labor to which he called them
to advance the truth he taught them and illus
trate in their lives his life of faith and self
denial were the talents he entrusted to their
keeping and employment, and for which he
held them to a strict accountability. 10
Christians are given large measure of their
Lords riches, the heavenly treasures of the
heart and mind, the truths and virtues and
graces of the Gospel of the kingdom, to en-
ploy in the activities and improvements of
their own lives, and to promote his heavenly
kingdom of truth and righteousness in the
world and among men. These spiritual gifts
are represented by the talents in the parable,
for the use of which every one is called to
account by the Master. By the employment
of these gifts given to each according to the
measure of capability, is Christianity to be
promoted to triumphant and universal do
minion in the world. ALI have not the same
gifts, nor the same measure of talent or OPP
portunity. He who assembled on high and
gave gifts unto men, gave some to be apostles;
and some prophets; and some evangelists;
and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians iv.
SID. To one is given an endowment of wis
dom, to another of knowledge, to another
faith, to another the power lgiftl of healing,
to another the working of powers, to another
prophecy, to another spiritual discernment,
to another different languages, and to an
other the Interpretation of languages Il Cor
nthians xii. 8-10). All these are to be pro-
fitably employed in perfecting the Christian
character and in bringing mankind to the
faith and hope and righteousness of the Cos
pei. From the use of the talent in this para
BILE, the word has come to have a wider
meaning in our common language. We
speak of the talents of men, when we mean
not their money. but their faculties, their
attainments, and their capabilities. ALI these
are properly the gifts of GoD for the use of
which every one is called to give an account
of himself in the administration of the Di-
vine government, the kingdom of GoD pro-
claimed by JESUS CHRIST. Every man has
natural endowment, sacred trust and
mission to fulfill in this world. Philip
Schaf, d. d.
FAITHFUL SERVANTs.-Two of the SER
wants described in the parable are represent
ed as employing their talents Immediately in
profitable business, and as having doubled
their respective capitals. These faithful
servants may represent those disciples of JE-
sUs who, after his Ascension, were diligent in
their apostleship, and whose abundant mis-
sionary and pastoral labors we're crowned
with success in extending knowledge of the
Gospel and multiplying greatly the number
of the disciples, and increasing the new CON-
munity comprising the kingdom of GoD; and
whose faith and courage and zeal increased
with their increasing labors, prominent
among whom were Peter and John, and
afterward Paul, who, though last, was first
and greatest of all in the extent and infiu-
ence Of his apostolic labors. All Christians
who are diligentin the requirement of Chris
tiau knowledge and experience, and the Gull
tivation of the Christian graces, and who