The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-23
THE sUNDAY-sCHOoL LESSON


The parable of tbs king taking account of his
servants was transcript from current history.
All the rulers of Palestine were the servants Of
the emperor. They were likely to be summoned
any instant and made to give account OF their
gubernatorial deeds and revenues. From such
plane Jesus lifts the thought of His disciples to
the plane where God is king 1t peases Him to
bring His creatures into an accounting with him
self. 1t is evidently not last Judgment that is
pictured, for the unnerciful servant is set loose
and given another .est. In this parable Jesus
portrays a species OF preliminary trial which re-
veals the soul to itself. The effect Of this ante
judgment is to reveal to the sinner his insolvency
He is ten thousand talents in debt. These figures
simply illustrate the immensely of liability
to Gods account We cannot pay mite out of
a talent. In view OF his invincible bankruptcy,
there is nothing for the sinner to do but to sue for
mercy. One Of the most consolatory strokes in the
parable is this: 1.-THE Lord was moved with COM
passion, and forgave him the debt"
This parable is an expansion. in a popular and
attractive form, of the truth stated concretey in
answer to Peters question: Lord, how oft shall
my brother sin against me and forgive him: till
seven timesT' The remainder of the parable
shows the incongruousness Of the forgiven sinner
showing an unforgiving spirit toward his fellow.
By the very incredibiity of the supposed case
Jesus shows that the Inforgivng spirit is incom-
patible with dscipleslip. The servant who had
been forgiven debt CT 600 finds a fellow
servant who owes him SIS. He does not follow the
example of his king. On the contrary. he seizes
his debtor and demands the last farthing. On
hearing Of this deed the king Is wroth and cancels
his forgiveness.
This is Jesus answer to Peters question, 'How
oft shall forgiven Peter had made an advance
upon the Telmud and rabbis They fought the
duty of forgiveness to the third offense but after
that allowed anger, resentment and revenge. Peter
proposes "t to forgive seven tines. viii not the
sacred number suffice? But Jesus laconic and
is practically without ceashg. A definite number
is put for indefinite one. In this multiplication
tca as gays ThoW away w the rnutication table
when you come to the matter of forgiveness
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
How often? Question arose from sense of super
Astounding divine grace portrayed in previous dis
course.-Bengel.
Till seven times Peter thought he had meas
ured out very large chanty-Inore than twice
that prescribed by the schools.-Lightfoot.
Seventy times seven: That Is, as, often there
is occasion.-WesIey. A forgiveness that will not
weary.-Bengel
Not record kept for years until 400 times are
numbered but let there be numbering at all.
-Stier Charity is a boundless and eternal debt.
-Quesnel. Nothing is difficult than for
gIveness, for man is naturally vindictive-C1arke.
Take account of his servants: Not the final reck-
Ten thousand talents: He would have made
that ten twenty, for the secure sinner goes on
Pay thee all: Man can pay God nothing
Whedon.
salvation to lost world-Clarke.
Forgave him: The severity of God. having
brought the sinner to of his sin, reappears
for it had been only love in dsguise) as grace
again.-Trench.
faIlo
God has shown His free grace to you, oppor
tunity to choose between the same mode of act
ing toward others and the opposite will afford
itself to you.-Bengel.
Took him by the throat; The climax Of de-
pravity; to be beggar with God and a tyrant
to our Observation-Disclosures.
Till he should pay: Fifteen millions with moth
ing; that is for recommendation
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
A commercial crisis personal bereavement or
revival of religion may be Gods means of bring
ing us to account in advance of a last Judgment
1t may be His way Of breaking up the careless
security in which rest.
The great uncertainty of Bible weights and
measures is illustrated. On the basis Of the
Hebrew talent Clarke estimates the amount as
970,0O0,0 900 sterling, than the revenue OF the
British empire in his day. On the basis of the
Attic talent others figure it low as So 000 OOO
The matter is curious rather than important,
however. vast sum is all that is intended to
be indicated.
In view of his debt, its incredible magnitude,
and the sinners invincible bankruptcy, there is
nothing left for him but to sue for mercy The
preciousness of the parable is that it teaches one
cannot appeal in vain.
We are inclined to deprecate this nulcting OF
the once forgiven servant with his whole original
debt. Trench asks do sins once forgiven re-
turn the sinner through his after offenses %
He answers his own question well when he saws
THE difficulty arises from cur viewing the for
giving of sins in too formal a way
OlShausen says finally: This ma rable exnlains
the ground which member Of Gods kinpdon
must ever stand ready to grant forgiveness
self could he have obtained entrance to that
kingdom" ~ 'A4@@