The Progress., 1896-05-09

IS located In Jericho, really belongs to the
Perean ministry, and is its fitting close.
Compare this parable with the parable Of
the talents Matt. XIV spoken the following
Tuesday In the temple, taking up another
aspect of the faithful use Of what God has
entrusted to US, and with a somewhat dlf-
terent object 1t will be we'll to keep both
in view all the time in order to note the
differences and the simIlarities, and by both
means to enforce the truths that are taught.
Taken together they represent the sum OF
human accountability" and they preserve us
from any false applications.
Jericho was so situated on the great road
which led from the countries east OF the Jor-
dan to Judea and Egypt that It must' have
been one Of the principal custom houses on
the route. "Zaccheus was probably at tho
head of this office"
Tme-The last Of March. A. y. 80, Prob
ably just after tho healing Of Bartimeus. Just
O week before tho crucifxI0n.
Place-A street in Jericho and the house Of
Zaccheus.
The full text Of tOday's lesson is as follows:
II. And as they heard these things, he
added and spake a parable, because he was
nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought
| that the kingdom of GOD should Immediately
! appear. 'a.ss'e!
IL. He said. therefore, A certain nObleman
! went into a far country to receive for himself
! a kingdom, and to return.
10. And he called his ten servants. and d.
| livered them ten pounds, and said unto them,
! Occupy till come.
i. But his citizens hated him. and sent a
message after him, saying, We Will not have
| this man TO reign over us.
! -. And it came to pass, that when he was
returned, having received the kingdom, then
he commanded these servants to be called
unto him, to whom he had given the money.
that he might know how much ever man
had gained by trading.
f6. Then came the first. saying Lord. thy
pound hath gained ten pounds.
II. And he said unto him, Well thou good
servant; because thou hast been faithful in a
very little. have thou authority over ten
cities.
Il. And the second came saying. Lord, thy
pound hath gained five pounds
-. And he said likewise to him. BE thou
also over five cities.
90 And another came. saying, Lord. behold.
here Is thy pound which have kept laid up
in a napkin:
p. For feared thee because thou art an
austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst
not down, and reapest that thou dldst not
sow.
a. And he said unto him. Out OF thine
own mouth Will Judge thee thou wicked
servant. Thou knewest that I was an austert
man, taking up that laid not down. anC
reaping that did not SOW:
%. Wherefore then gavest not thou my
money into the bank. that at my coming
might have required mine own with usury'
"a. And he said unto them that stood by
Take from him the pound and give 1t to hin
that hath ten pounds.
%. land they said unto him. Lord. he hath
ten pounds)
o. For say unto YOU, That unto every one
which hath shall be given; and from him thai
4 hath not even that he hath shall be taker
away from him.
a. But those mine enemies, which woult
I not that should reign over them bring hith
3 er, and slay them before me.
e, Some explanations are as follows:
II. LAS they heard these things which
Jesus had been saying In the house OF FAC
e cheus, where he was a guest. He had beef
saving that the Son Of man came to seel
and to save the lost. But his method OF doln
it was 80 contrary to their expectations tina
= they needed further Instructions. lie
spake a parable because he was nigh t
] JeTuSulclu. ID W 10 ILLUS. JCiu WV
) the capital where they expected their Mes
: siah to appear. and where HIS reign woul
begin and center. In Darid's city and OIL
David's throne. "And because they though
that the kingdom OF God should immedatel
appear" Jesus had repeatedly OF late give
= the IMPRESSION that the kingdom was com
, Ing.
u q. "For feared thee" lest I could no
e satisfy thee and thy claims. and might los
: what thou ddst entrust to me. and the
, how could look in thy face' because tho
art an austere man" severe In modes OF jude
It Ing or acting. The sense IS obvious:
j. knew thou vast one whom it was impossible
). to serve satisfactorily, one whom nothin
- would please" Thus do men secretly thin
8 OF God as hard master. and virtually thro
o on him the blame Of their fruttlessness.-J
=, F. and B. Thou takest up" etc. You e'
, pected me to do the work. while you had q
q the gains.
;. %. "Out OF thine own mouth will jude
:, thee" Your own statements condemn vol
- Thou knewest" ETC.. ITO be read Inter
!, negatively. "-Vlncent. Even II It were tru
:. this unfair description OF me- For that
was false was shown by his great reward
to the other servants.
a. "Wherafore then" You had an cas-
course before you. You had no right to pr
vent my money from making It's natural gain
, Usury hero means simple interest for tf
use Of the money.
"a. Take from him the pound. He ha
ls proved himself wholly unworthy Of doing bus
+ ness with the money intrusted to him. IT
punishment was like his sin. The sin
omission led 20 the emitting from his lie
y the good things his Lord had bestowed upc
d him, and the many more he would have ilk'
~ to bestow.
Il &c: Unto every one which hath He on
W has true possession OF thing who uses !
J., powers and forces. He does not real
. ''have" anything which he does not make
steppins-stone to something better. Eve
al that he hath" IN the lower sense. what '"
L. entrusted to him. The opportunities pa
,, away. the abilities diminish, the powers wan
W So It will be in the spiritual world.
Ia o. But those mine enemies" who not on
ID neglected duty. but refused 10 be subject
his sway. SHAY them before me- me
was fulflment Of this at the destruce',
of Jerusalem. 10 years later. when not Chrl
nS tian persisted.
d STATISTICS OF THE RACE.