The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL LESSON, APRIL II.
The Importance of Watchfulness as
Taught by the Master and Told in
Matthew xiv, Verses 42-51.

BY REV. JAMES E. GILBERT. D. D..
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.
CThese lessons constitute the Sunday
school extension department of the above
named society. All who study them are
requested to send their names, postoftice
address and denomination, mentioning
this paper, to the author at Washington,
d. c., for enrollment)
INTRODUCTION-Ou lesson for April
left Jesus in Bethany, where He sought
repose after His triumphal entry. On Mon
day He again visited Jerusalem, cursing
the barren fig tree in the way, receiving
the hosannas of the children, and cleans
ing the temple. On Tuesday, while in the
temple the scribes questioned His author
ity duke Xxx, 1-S), and He replied by de-
livering three parables-The Two Sons,
The Wicked Husbandsman, and the Mar
rage of the Kings Son. He then pro-
ceeded to answer questions concerning trib-
ute to Caesar, the resurrection, and the
great commandment, questioning the
Pharisees in turn concerning Christ as
the son of David. Then, turning to the
people, He warned them against the scribes
and Pharisees and pronounced woes against
them. Matt. xiii, 1872 Sitting near the
treasury He commended the widows gift.
Certain Greeks, introduced by the apostles,
had an interview with Him. Rejecting
upon the unbelief of the Jews He uttered
sad soliloquy. At the close of this busy
day He left the temple never to return to
it, and predicted its destruction. Mark
xiii, !, % That prediction was the occa-
sion of an extended discourse to the dis
ciples, of which our lesson is part, de-
livered later in the evening on the Mount
of Olives.
Expositors differ concerning the scope of
the Savior's thought in that discourse.
Some contend that He had in mind a far
distant event, one that has not yet tran
spired, when He would come again in
person (Acts l. I'D. to judge the race of men
QRev. Xxx, 49, and to close up the his
tory of this globe as the theater of mans
probation e Pet. iii, ID This they infer
from the question of the apostles (Matt.
xiv, -, who desired to know about three
matters, one of them ''the end of the
world 1t is more probable that Jesus
referred in this chapter to series of
events then near at hand, what was be-
gun at Pentecost and completed when Jeru-
salem was destroyed by the Romans I'M
der Titus in the year 70 A. d. That was
certainly the intent of His first remark.
Verse % The apostles doubtless alluded
to three nearly contemporaneous circum-
stances, meaning by the end of the world
the close of the age or dispensation. Sew
eral considerations support this view.
Jesus was speaking of something that con-
cerned those who heard Him. He warned
them against deception (verse a. ordered
them to watch (verse 42), directed them
to regard the time (verse 20). and the
mode (verse 49,, of seeking safety, and
declaring that the events belonged to that
generation. Verse 34) Such words would
have no meaning if they referred to after
centuries. The other doctrines must be
supported by other Scripture. Qsa. H. 6;
Heb. i, II; Rev. xxi, ~
The foregoing prepares us to state the
purpose of Jesus in uttering the verses as
signed for lesson. AS the Jewish
church and state were soon to be over
thrown; as this was undetermined in the
divine councils, predicted by the prophets
dan. tx, 27; Matt. xiv, 15, and now pub
licly announced Verse p; as Jesus was now
about to remove His bodily presence and
shortly come again in greater glory Matt.
xiv, 800; as His coming and the destruction
of the Jewish polity would terminate the
age and usher in new dispensation; and as
the apostles had been set apart to be the
ministers and represents yves of Jesus, to
lay the foundations of the new era, there
word covered all the duties of a servant
namely, careful attention 60 all the inter-
ests and wishes of his ma ster. Mark xiii,
49, This faithfulness as servants (Rom. l.
y Jesus en1oined upon the apostles in our
lessons, lessons IN IN tour ways; First, they were ig-
the change; second, ineg. should be melted
by the example of worldly servants oversees
4S and Az when trusted; third, their faith
fulness verses 45 to 40 would be rewarded;
fourth their unfaithfulness would be Sc
vfEsy psrsess srI f,w to not sl What hour
your Lord doth come I" Verse 42) Jesus
had previously said verse s6) that the day
to the Son. but known to the Father only.
This indicates profound secret. 1t is not
s svfp 5h mat men were or that
should be uniformed; but that this matter
SHOULD be kept from Jesus during His hui
initiation, locked up in the chambers Of the
Infinite Mind, is cause for reverent wonder.
Oeut. xxx, 29) 1t was something which
the apostles might not inquire into (Acts
i, D. which was a perpetual mystery In the
church. CT Thes. v, ID But why is this
reason for. faithfulness? 1t invests every
and earnest concern. There can be no lack
Of vigilance, no careless performance no
ways in their places, always dilgent, al
ways faithful. They must not be time
servers, anxious to be found true at the
end, for they do not know when the end
Will come, but, dismissing all reference to
that, they must be and do with absolute
and unwavering loyalty to their Lord.
To enforce this thought Jesus reminds
the apostles of faithful service in secular
affairs. Verse 49, Suppose one has been
placed in care of a house, suppose he knows
precisely when a thief will come, them as
a good, true man, he will awake, and he
will not suffer the house to be broken up.
That is style of faithfulness. Had the
disciples learned what they desired they
might have acted accordingly. But Jesus
desired them to rise to higher place. His
coming would be in many respects like the
approach of thief (Rev. Iii. 81, but they
would not know the time They must there
a n
in secular life, not watchful for a specific
event occurring at a definite time, but for
any event, or circumstance, or need, occur
ring at any time. Or, to state it differently, If
worldly servants are true to a human mas
ter when all is known, how much more
ought the apostle to be true to a divine
master when all is unknown. Qlzek iii, II }
Stand at your post, we men of God peering
into the darkness, ever ready Q Thes v. g..
to do for God what no man will do under
purely earthly motives.
Jesus knew man. and He knew that such
unquestioned and complete surrender could
not be expected without some inducelnent.
These men had proved that they expected
reward Matt. xix, %, and He himself
had not been Indifferent to the outcome of
His life-work H1eb. xii, % And SO He
proceeds to set before them the blessed con-
sequences of their fidelity. using an Oriental
figure for the purpose. He likens them to
stewards who in the East are intrusted
with all things. furnishing food for the
household In the same relation the apostles