Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for aIay IL, 1896
Parable OF the Pounds-Luke 10: 1877.

International Lesson for May IL. 1896
Parable of the Pounds-Luke 10: 1877.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes-l
GOLDEN Textile that is faithful in that
which is least is faithful also in much; and
he that is unjust in the least is unjust also
in much.-Luke 10: 10.
THE SECTION includes only 70: i-sS, be-
cause this is all the record we have of the
brief time between the giving sight to Bar
timeus he entered Jericho. and the ar
rival at Bethany. where our next lesson
begins.
TIME.-The last OF March. a D. 50. Prob
ably just after the healing of Barttmeus-
Just week before the crucihxion-
PLAcE-A street of Jericho and the house
OF Zaceheus.
LESSON NOTES.
Jesus was now in Jericho, passing
through the city, never to return thigh
er again. Zaccheus Immediately planned
to see Jesus. ZaccheuS was rich man.
He had gained considerable portion
of his riches by extortion and fraud.
He could not enter Gods kingdom and
retain this mammon OF unrighteOuS-
ness. He promptly and completely dis
carded his old life, and made not only
the required restitution, but more.
and slew his love of money by giving
half of his property to the poor. This
day salvation came to his house. He
trusted in Jesus and became His fol-
lower. ''For," said Jesus, 1.-The Son OF
Man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost" 'As they heard these
things" which Jesus had been saying
in the house of Zaccheus, where He was
guest, He added and spaks par
able"
Jesus had repeatedly of late given the
impression that the kingdom was COM
ing, and that His going to Jerusalem
had something to do with it. (See
Luke 17:20, so; 1920, so; Matt 19:2S.)
And they thought that all their dreams
about the kingdom were to be visibly
realized Immediately and in their way
IL fact, the great events necessary to
its coming-the crucifiXion and resur-
rectiOn-were soon to take place; and
the rays of its dawn were to shine in
the Pentecostal gift of the Holy Spirit,
but the disciples would not recognize
these things, nor would the kingdom
appear to them; and its complete COM
ing was yet far away; nor would it
ever come in the way they expected it.
This parable was to put them on their
guard against disappointment; to teach
them their true way of waiting, in
faithful, patient service, for the COM
ing of the kingdom; and that at some
time it would certainly come.
The following is about as fair an in
depreciation of the preamble our
space will allow:
The man of noble birth represents
Christ Himself, of royal blood and Di-
vine descent. He was the realization of
the highest ideal of nobility, noble in
character, in power. in deeds, in ability.
The far country represents Heaten,
and the state of glory with His Father,
where Jesus went after His death and
resurrection to remain unseen till the
time of His appearing shall come.
The kingdom He was to receive is
the Messianic kingdom OF God. holding
it benign sway over all the earth.
The servants were Gods profeSsed
peop1e-the nation to whom such
great interests had been committed.
The pounds must denote something
which is the same to all, so that no one
at the first can have more than another,
and yet this sometimes is of such a sort
that it can be very differently en-
ployed or increased by each one, not so
much according to his ability as ac-
cording to his faithfulness or industry.
Such are the words of God, the means
of grace, the redemption in Jesus, the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit,
opportunities to be faithful and true,
faith, hope, love, and all the fruits OF
the Spirit.
The citizens represent all men over
whom He is the rightful King. and who
live within the limits of His kingdom.
He was going to the far country OF
Heaven for the purpose of obtaining
this kingdom. But they rejected Him.
''He came unto His own, and His own
received him not" Especially did the
Jews distinctly say: I'VE will not have
this man reign over u.s.
Christ is coming again 10 receive His
kingdom and to judge the world Matt.
%: 31-46). But not only then, bat often
times there comes q day of judgment to
nations and to individuals. The de-
struction OF Jerusalem was one of those
times; so are Providential crises, the
hour of revelation of crime long contin-
ued in secret, and the hour of death.
Every one has to give strictaccount
OF ali that God has Entrusted to him.
At the close of this parable Jesus
makes a statement of the principles:
Unto everyone which hath shall be
given; and from him that hath not,
even that he hath shall be taken AWAY