Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for April II. 1900
Parable OF the Great supper - Luke
/


l4:15-a4.
arranged from Peloubet's Notes1
COLLEEN TEx7.-Come. for all things are
now ready.-Luke I4:l7
The SEcTroS.-Read Luke 14i-35 The
Incidents recorded In the chapter may be
used To- illustrate the lesson text as fol-
lows: v. ls receives light from two other
references to feasts. ID the advice given
In vs.. 7-1i. and CD the persons invited IN
vs. lz-li; the excuses. vs.. 1870. are vain.
while the real reasons are found In the
cross. vs.. 1913: the new invitation VS.
G-25. Is illustrated by the invitation in
VS. l2-li: the exclusion, v. a. is illustrated
by the comparison to bad salt in vs. "a. 35
Read. also. the similar parable in Matt
221-I.
TIME.-Probably in December. A. d. 2,
or January. y. ID. 30.
PLACE.-In a pharisee's house in Perea
on the way to Jerusalem by the fords of
the Jordan near Jericho.
LESSON NOTES.
THE GOSPEL FEAsr.-vs. Is. TO-
Jesus was present as 4 guest at a sup
per, or evening dinner, in a pharisee's
house. And when one of those who sat
~ the supper heard of the blessing
Christ had just said belonged TO the
ones who invited the poor and neg
lected to their feasts land moved by
the delightful feast Mt which they were,
suggesting the nobler feast), said to
Jesus: blessed is he that shall eat
bread in the kingdom of God" Per-
haps he felt assured that himself and
the other Jews were sure of that bless
ing. Then Jesus spoke the parable of
the lesson to show this jew that while
his thought was right, yet that he and
the others were unconsciously refusing
to join in that feast. So He represents
God the Father, who prepares every
good for His children and invites them
to come and partake of His blessings,
rs man who made great supper.
1.-THE INvITATIoN.-Vs. 16, IA
preliminary invitation went out in or
der that the persons invited might have
time to arrange their affairs so as to
leave the time of the feast open, and to
make all necessary preparations. Then
they could have no reasonable excuse
for not going to the feast. The pri-
mary application was TO the Jews who
were learned in the Scriptures. It in
cluded all Gentiles who had been
willing to learn from this special
nation whom God had been train
ing as the means of redeeming the
world. In our day the guests represent
those who have had special advantages
in Christian training, or who know of
the blessings.
In the east it is still customary, not
only to- give an invitation some time
beforehand, but to send announce
ments at the proper time TO inform the
invited guests that all things are ready.
For each of us all things are ready: the
atonement made, the mansion pre-
pared, the Father willing to receive,
the angels waiting to welcome, the
doors open, the Holy Spirit present,
duties awaiting. The servant" repre-
sents not only Christ, but also the
whole order or class of Gods messen-
gers.
IlI.-THE INVITATION Rejected
VS.. 1920. When the invitation had come
they had accepted it, but now the
servant was come they all began to
make excuse" The Greek word is the
exact equivalent of our ito beg Off
They gave no real reasons, but rem
uered the most plausible excuses they
could find. The first excuse was on
account of property. The man who
gave it lived, as do all in that country,
IN village. He had bought a farm and
must needs go and see it," not look it
over, but see to its cultivation. The
second excuse was that OF business.
his man had bought five yoke of oxen
and he wanted to prove them. His
oxen could have waited, but he made
his plans so as to have an excuse. The
third excuse was that of domestic
duties and cnjoyments. lie had mar
ricd wife" He could not take his
'ridc 10 feast of men, nor did he wish
10 leave her at home. But he knew all
this beforehand, and could easily have
arranged to be present, had he so de-
sired. Note that all were hindered Ivy
;he wrong use of right things. There
was no real incompatibility between
the true enjoyment of farm, merchan-
disc or wife, and accepting the invita-
ton; nor is there any between Disciple
ship and the fullest use and trucst en-
joymcnt of earthly good.
IV.-THE WIDER INvITATIoN.-V. 21-24.
When it was made known to the master
that none of those who had been in
Nted would come he command his
servant to go out into the streets and
lanes of the city, and bring in the poor,
ana the manned, and the halt, and the
blind In the east, rich in beggar.
oPulent in misery, without poorhouses,
or hospitals, or other organized means
OF caring for and lessening misery. and
with laws and social organism multi
plying it. such a throng as is here de-
scriDed may be often seen in the CITY
streets or squares. But still there was
room. No one will ever be shut out of
the Kingdom of God for want of room.
Ihe highways and hedges were without
the city walls and refer TO the Gentiles.
TIE compelling force was argument.
persuasion, love, entreaty. They were
10 overcome the reluctance which these
poor creatures would feel at so Irnex-
Fected an invitation to the feast of n
great lord. 1t was too good 10 be true.
The final teaching. is that the masters
house will be filled. Heaven will not
stand empty because some NAV refuse
To enter None" of those who refused
the invitation shall taste OF my sun.
per"
THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND.