Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-05-12

FL
son today. although It.
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. xxv) 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 diff,
ferent object. 1t will be well 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 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 the
head of this Office
Time-The last of March. A. D. 30. Prob,
ably just after the healing of Bartmeus. Just
a week before the cruciixion.
Place-A street in Jericho and the house Of
Zaccheus.
The full text of today's lesson is as follows:
H. And as they heard these things he
added and spake parable, because he was
nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought
appear. AS,Ah;
II. He said, therefore A certain nobleman
went into far country to receive for himself
kingdom, and to return.
IL. And he called his ten servants and de-
hvered them ten pounds, and said unto them,
Occupy till come.
IA. But his citizens hated him. and sent q
message after him, saying, We will not have
this man to reign over us.
10. And IL 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.
16 Then came the first, saying Lord thy
pound hath gained ten pounds.
H. And he said unto him. Well thou good
servant: because thou hast been faithful in
very little, have thou authority over ten
cities.
Is And the second came, saying. Lord, thy
pound hath gained FIVE pounds.
10. And he said likewise to him, Be thou
also over five cities
20. And another came, saying, Lord. behold,
here is thy pound. which | have kept laid up.
IN napkin:
q. For feared thee, because thou art an
austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst
not down, and reapest that thou didst not
sow. ~x-.... --.-sxs-.. -.--~x$
p. And he said unto MIN, Out of thine
own mouth will judge thee, thou wicked
servant. Thou knewest that was an austere
man, taking UP that / laid not down, and
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 usur1
"a. And he said unto them that stood w..
Take from him the pound, and give it to him
that hath ten pounds.
25. land they said unto him. Lord. he hath
ten pounds)
&c. For say unto you. That unto every one
which hath shall be given; and from him that
hot Dnf ,hnk h. hAtt. Ix.n - k,t-1
away from him.
q. But those mine enemies, which would
not that should reign over them bring hith-
or, and Stay them before me.
Some explanations are as follows:
II. las they heard these things" which
Jesus had been saying in the house of Fac
cheus, where he was guest. He had been
saying that the Son of man came to seek.
and to save the lost. But his method of doing
IL was so contrary TO their expectations that
they needed further instructions. HE .,
spake parable. because ne was nigh to
Jerusalem" 16 to IS miles. Jerusalem was
the capital where they expected their Mes
siah TO appear. and where his reign would
begin and center. in David's city and on
Dayids throne. And because they thought.
that the kingdom Of God should Immediately
appear" Jesus had repeatedly of late given.
the impression that the kingdom COM
ing.
Il.
satisfy thee and thy claims, and might lose
what thou didst entrust to me. and then
how could look IN thy face? Because thou
art an austere man" severe in modes Of judg
ing OF acting. The sense is obvious: 81
knew thou vast one whom it was impossible
to serve satisfactorily. one whom nothing
would please" Thus do men secretly think
of God hard master. and virtually throw
on him the blame of their fruitlessness.-J.,
F. and B. ''Thou takest up" etc. You ex-
pected me to do the work while you had all
the gains.
%. "Out of thine own mouth will Judge
thee" Your own statements condemn you.
Thou knewest," -. ITO be read inter-
negatively. Vincent. Even IL il we're true.
this unfair description OF me. For that it
was false was shown by his great rewards
to the other servants.
%. Wherefore them" You had an easy
course before you You had no right to pre-
vent my money from making its natural gains.
Usury here means simple interest for the
use of the money.
"a. "Take from him the pound" He had
proved himself wholly unworthy of doing BUSH
ness with the money intrusted to him. His
punishment like his sin. The sin OF
omission led to the emitting from his life OF
the good things his Lord had bestowed upon
him. and the many more he would have liked
to bestow.
26. Unto every one which hath" He only
has true possession OF thing who uses It's
powers and forces. He does not really
have anything which he does not make
stepping stone to something better. Even
that he hath" In the lower sense, what was
entrusted to him. The opportunities pass
away the abilities diminish the powers wane.
So 1t will be In the spiritual world
q. but those mine enemies" who not only
neglected duty. but refused to be subject to
his sway. ''Say them before me-" There
was fulhlment Of this at the destruction
Of Jerusalem. 40 years later when not Chris
tia