Connecticut western news., 1890-07-09
PARABLE OF HESUPPER
LESSON II, THIRD QUARTER, INTER- NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 13.

LESSON II, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
 NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 13.
 Text of the Lesson. Luke xiv. 16-24. Commit Verses, 2a-24-Colden Text, Luke xiv, 15-Commentary by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
 Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per mission of Fl. s. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel phia.l
 In our last lesson we saw the religious lead ers of the people contending with Him be- cause He healed woman on the Sab- bath day; but He put them to shame and caused his followers to rejoice. So shall it be again when those who cast out others for his sake say, Let the Lord be gloriied; but He shall appear to the joy of his people and bis enemies shall be ashamed Qsa Xvi, 3. He then repeated the parables of the mus tard seed and the leaven, both of which had . fulhllment in Israel at that time, and are having a fulfllpert in the church today. He added a prophecy concerning the coming desolatfon of Jerusalem because of her rejeo- ton of Him, indicating its continuance until He should come again After this we find Him in the house of Pharisee on the Sab bath day, where He had evidently been in vited to dine. He here heals man who had the dropsy, and speaks a parable to the in- vited guests to teach them humility, after which He tells his host that if, when he makes a feast, be would invite those who were unable to return the compliment, he would have 8 recompense at the resurrection o9 the just; and this leads one of the guests to give utterance to the first words of our lesson. 1k "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in : tho kingdom of God" According to the -Arst part of this verse, that which caused the guest to utter these words was the Saviour's remark concerning the resurrection of the just
 16 "Then said He unto him, Acertain man mode great supper, and bade many" This parable Is somewhat similar to that in Matt xdf, but that was spoken during Passion week in Jerusalem, and this while on His way to Jerusalem luke xiii, 22; xviii, SD. In both he covers Israels rejection, and the present dispensation of gathering out the church, reaching. forward to the marriage of the Lamb at the time of the resurrection of the jdst and of the restoration of the King dom to Israel
 IT, Come; for all things are now ready" This was the message which the servants were to carry John the Baptist, and the twelve wore some of the servants as they went forth, nayhg: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven h at hand" The salvation of Jehovah, whether 1t be the Kingdom offered to Israel, CT tho higher position offered to the church, . prepared salvation even as Simeon said: ssrhy salvation which Thou hast prepared" Qnks l. 30, SD; and it Is all, from first to last, sumnned up in Jesus Christ.
 16 "And they all with one consent began to make excuse" Nothing to do but to take t; simply to accept the invitation and be there; yet they prefer not to. How anxious many are to get an invitation to anything greAt h this world, and how disappointed if tft out Here is the God of Heaven inviting feely to the riches of His grace and glory, and 1t Is not considered worth accepting. His feast is despised, His invitation spurned. "I have bought piece of ground, and must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused" His little piece of ground for which he has paid a few shekels Is of more importance than that which has cost SO much. 10. 'sI have bought five yoke of oxen, and go to prove them: pray thee have me excused" Lands must be seen to, and oxen must be proved, but the great feast provided by infinite love may go begging. It Is nothing to them. The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof: the cattle on thousand hills are His Ps. xiv, l.; l, 1O; yet there are fools (and plenty of them today) who prefer a little which they can purchase to the great riches which the Lord of,an offers so freely to 'whosoever will.n Any one of these ten oxen was a rebuke to their owner, for it is written ssThe OK knoweth its owner, : but my people do not know" Qsa- i, 3. Was 1t not rather late to prove oxen after buying theml %. Fl have married wife, and there fore cannot come" This is no better than the others, yet the refusal is even more de- Hy d. I l not include his wife, he might have had some excuse; but Gods invitations include all who are willing; and while the others might have to leave their lands and oxen, he could bring bis wife with him.
 H. "So that servant came, and showed his lord these things" A servant has only to dsliver his masters message, and take the answer back, if there is any; he has no power to excuse people. Our responsibility ceases when we have lovingly and faithfully given the invitation, proclaimed the glad tidings Then 1t becomes us, like the disciples, to tel Jesus all we have done and taught tMark vi 30, leaving results with Him. His command to Ezekiel was, Speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether they vii forbear" Ezek. ii, D.
 "Go out quickly into the streets and lane. q the city, and bring in hither the poor
  bind" These have no earthly possessions ol pleasures to entangle them; they will be nor hkely to accept the invitation It was jus these four classes which Jesus advised th PhArisee, in whose house He was, to invite t. his feast in order that he might be recon psnsed at the resurrection-of the just.
 22 "And the servant said, Lord, it is don as Thou hast commanded, and yet there room" The servant has only to obey, lov ingly to deliver his message, and report fo further orders. It is not said whether an. among these classes excused themselves O not but it is said 'sYet there is room.n Wha abundant provisionl What riches of Hi grace! What plenteous redemptionl
 8 "And the lord said unto the servant Go out into the highways and hedges. Aaain it is "Gor' Tho word for the out "Him that cometh unto Me will in no wis cast out. "Come unto Me all ye that labo and are heavy laden" "Come now and le us reason together, saith the Lord. Thoug e mow, though they be red like crimso they shall be as wool"
 'Compel them to come in, that my hous may be hled" We are not simply to invi, ooune. Our indifference to the salvation ( others Is strange sight. We believe that N are Joint heirs with Christ to an inheritant which Is incorruptible and everlasting, an that all who are not in Christ are on the wa to everlasting punishment; yet we ca meet them, do business with them, ha1 faQoyship with them, and never eve invit& them to share our inheritance, muc les compel them to come to the feast. " would do well to ponder these words: !" thou dost not speak to warn the wicked fro bis way, that wicked man shall die in his il iquity, but his blood will require at thin handh Ezek. xxxin, 3. It is true that " of ourselves, are powerlsss to either CO vince or compel; but He who says "Goln sa. also .sI.o, 1 ain with you" Q1att. xviii, 2O
 A "For I say unto you, That none of tho men which we're bidden shall taste of n supper" Refusing to accept His gracious vffetion they doom themselves to hear u fearful words Depart from me ye CUTS into everlasting fire, prepared for the de1