The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-04-13
WE ARE TO WATCH,
LESSON III, SECOND QUARTER, IN.
TERNATloNAL SERIES, APRIL is.

LESSON III, SECOND QUARTER, IN.
TERNATloNAL SERIES, APRIL IS.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. xiv, 42-6l.
Golden Text, Mark Kill, a7-AIemorize
Verses AZ, as, 44-Comment by Rev. II.
8. Hoffman. M
from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission Of
H. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia, publisher.]
Notes.-v. Watch, because Of the un.
expectedness and suddenness Of His coming.
V. 43. House broken, dug through, for houses
in the east were built Of sunburned clay, which
was often dug through. v. A. Ready, not
only watchfulness, but prepared for His com.
ing. V. 45. Faithful ard wise, watching and
ready. V. 46. Blessed, used by Christ, al.
ways denotes something exceptional and
rare. V. AZ. A great reward for rare man.
v. 4s. Evil, because unfaithful-unfaith.
fulness springs from unbelief ". 49.
Unbelief leads to cruelty, rioting and
wickedness. V. 81. Asunder, cut off from
and gnashtng Of teeth, excluded forever from
lost eternally, 'gnashing his testhn as he re-
members the folly of his course; his eternity
is made up of regrets and self censure. This
the fire that is never quenched.
Jesus had left the temple nsver 70 return
to it again. He had predicted its destruc-
ton In company with his disciples, he
journeys toward Bethany. On the way over
the hill he tells them many things about the
destruction Of Jerusalem, the end Of the age
and Of his coming again. The Greek word
for watch is closely allied with the word
wake. The master enjoins not curious
looking for his coming, but vigilance and
diligence that overlooks no duty and INDUCES
in no incidence.
We, too, must watch against temptations,
evil influences, unfaithfulness and all the
wiles of the devil.
We must watch for his coming with hope
and joy. And hasten it by Watching for the
signs of his spiritual presence, and for open.
ings and opportunities to serve him The
obscprity and uncertainty a. to the time of
his coming Is the reason why ws should
watch. The event itself is as certain as
death, but the time of tho event is most un-
certain. The destruction Of Jerusalem was
type Of Christ's second coming, which viii
take place in due time.
V. 4s. Tho duty Of watchfulnes is Illus
trated by one watching against robbers.
Not knowing whom they may come, the pru-
dent householder must keep constant watch
Otherwise there Is no safety. II he knew the
day and hour when the burglar would come,
constant watchfulneS would not be a necas.
sity. z..., 49, tG
V. A. Included in this state of watchful-
ness is the idea of preparation. Only those
not ready find his coming uncomfortable.
Not only must we profess but our lives must
be in accordance with our profession. Readi-
ness to meet Christ, at moments warning
or without any warning at al, Is the duty Of
every Christian.
+ v. 4547. Here the duty Of watchfulness
Is illustrated BY faithful servant or
steward. Faithfulness and ability made this
servant ruler over others, position he did
not abuse, for be wisely dispensed food tc
those under him. The ministers Of Christ
owe their odace purely to the fact that they
give the bread Of life to souls, and they are
honorsd for the works sake.
Note the reward which Christ gives. II /,
both outward and inward Larger rulership,
wider spheres, creator opportunities are
given, together with greater capacity and
richer experieuca
V. 4a As true watching is connected with
faith, 50 not watching is connected with un-
belief. The wicked servant says or thinks
"in his heart" what he is afraid or ashamed
to speak openly. Tho worst skepticism is that
which turks In the heart Unbelief Is the
primal cause Of all evil thinking and acting.
V. 40. Unbelief leads the evil servant not
only TO neglect the household in not giving
nourishment to its inmates. but to maltreat-
ing his fellow servants who were faithful to
their absent Lord. They were abused BE-
cause they were faithful. f5''5
One Gin leads to another, and tho lesser TO
the greater. Next he resorts to worldliness
and immortality. Tyranny over others
usually goes hand In hand with laxity toward
ourselves and ends in self indulgence.
v. so. Christ still "lord" Of the sinful
servant at last comes Thoughts that he
would not come, did not avail to hinder his
coming. The unsxpectednes of his coming
Is again made prominent
V. 81. The loving and tender Saviour here
uses words suggestive of the most terrible
punishment Of the wicked "Shall be cut
asunder, means that the body shall be cut
into two parts ss by saw or orther instrl-
ment Of torture. Christ used the strongest
words in vogue when speaking Of the punish
ment of the wicked. He drew his metaphors
from the most terrible modes Of punishment.
AAS "AShoA oS4 civ 40 uypOSIlUo' DGE0lG3o
he under the guise Of fidelity expected at last
to present himself to his lord. and because
under the semblance Of official zeal he tor
mented his fellow servants. His place was
appointed with .hypocritas," Luke has it
with unbelievers," for unbelief Is at the
bottom Of all hypocrisy. He must go with
hypocrites because he is one Each person
at last must 60 to his own place Of rewards
and to his own company.
Tho last clause Of the verso denotes the BIT
terest agony Of the mind aud soul "Weep-
ing" because Of opportunities forever lost;
"gnashing of teeth" because he remembers
the folly Of his course. Eternity is spent in
unavailing regrets and in the sullen rage Of
sef-condemnation.
Specimen Washington Tramps.
1t is quite astonishing the number Of well
meaning people who como up to Washington
in search of pension. They seem TO think
that all they have to do is to make personal
application at the bureau and the money win
hnh Al ~. A. sVI--