The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-11
PARABLEOF THESUPPER
THE INTERNATIONAL. SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON FOR TO-MOHROW.
The Excuses for Not Attending the supper
Applied to the Flimsy Reasons Of
To-Day for Irreligious Customs.

April l2.-Parable OF the Great Supper.
Luke xiv, 1874.
Jesus was dining with a Pharisee.
There were few occasions which did not
afford the great teacher a text Tor
sermon, and the present moment was
improved by some solemn refec-
tons upon the foolish pride exhibited
by guests at feasts and upon the motive
which should prompt the host IN giving
his dinner. In the course OF the con-
versaton. some one moved apparently
by desire TO make a pious remark, eN-
claimed solemuly: Blessed Is he that
shall eat bread In the kingdom OF GodW
Alas! thought Jesus, and these very men
who talk piously of the kingdom, ali
the while taking for granted that they VIII
be the favorite guests, are even now
turning their backs upon the servant
who has come TO invite them to the
feast. And he gave them a parable 10
point out the awful mistake they were
making.
"A certain man made a great supper,
and babe many" To an Oriental. ac-
customed 10 regard hospitality as one of
the greatest facts Of life, this sentence
suggests great honors and supreme hap
piness. To reclne at the table Of n
great man was a privilege that made
life worth living: 10 eat bread with God
himself made death worth dying. The
highest honor therefore according 90 the
parable, that mortal can have offered
him is an invitation TO the Great supper
by which is meant the sum total OF the
good things God has prepared tor those
who love him. both in this life and I'm the
life to come. Who thinks II an honor
10, inv to arfe gf III n
side Of the Church are grateful of the
honor that has been bestowed upon u.s.
This man not only sent out invitations
20 his guests. but when the time ar
rived he sent his servant 10 let them
know that the feast was ready This
was an additional honor maniiestng as
it did the hosts interest I'm his guests,
and his concern lest any of them should
fail 10 come. So God has not only sent
US an Invitation In his Word, but he ~
continually sending us his servants TO
notify US that the supper is waiting.
And they all. with one consent began
TO beg OFF. Apparently, these men had
accepted the invitation, but when the
time came they did not want 10 20.
Just as men today mentally agree 10
the invitation TO the gospel feast, but
when a servant comes TO say that all
not ready, and ask TO be excused.
The answers which these men gave
were excuses, not reasons. There Is
vast difference between an excuse and
reason; any excuse will do. but a reason
must be reasonable. one man said that
be had bought a piece OF ground and
must needs 20 and see 10 its cultivation.
Such an excuse would be an insult here
I'm America, where hospitality IS but a
minor virtue 20 an Oriental, II was
equivalent 10 an announcement That hos
Titles would Immediately commence. The
man who made the excuse we'll knew the
consequences OF such trifling. But abb
surd as IL was, it was quite as reasonable
as the excuses men make to-day Il cam
not think of religion now l mast walt
until my property is in better shape.
Not now: walt until l am worth nun
dred thousand, and l have time TO give
10 such matters" mo use talking 20 me
about a consecrated life now; my money
IS tied up in a business that Is none OF
the best. and / can't get It out without
sacrifice
Another said: Il have bought five yoke
of oxen, and | go TO prove them" lie
might as we'll have torn up the invitation
and spit in the servants face. And yet
that Is tho way many protesting Chris
tian's trine with Gods invitation to-day.
Ho invites MS 10 sup with him; 10 comeans
sit at his table on terms Of Intimacy with
him, and talk with him as a man talks
with his friend, face to face. And we
excuse ourselves on the ground that busl-
ness cares give ms no time Tor praying
and reading the Bible and meditation ana
all that. We accept an invitation 20
dine with a friend; We dare not refuse.
time or 10 time. and yet We refuse Gods
invitation 10 come IN and sup with him
on the ground that we have bought nvo
yoke Of oxen with the money he has
enabled us TO make and We must 50 TO /
prove them.
The third man rot only declined 10
come, but declined ln an Insulting man
ner. He did not even ask 10 De excused:
II have married a wife, and therefore. 1
cannot come" This mans newly-ac-
CURED pearl had mode him so selfish that
the idea Of denying himself her company
FOR a few hours was preposterous. And !
SO there are men to-day who think II
that they should be eX- !
pected 10 lead consecrated lives in View I
Of their domestic hindrances.
MY wife .s fond OF society, and II Is I
useless for me to try 10 be anything |
but a nominal Christian 1.-THE way |
our domestic affairs are arranged makes I
{ absolutely impossible for US % have 7