The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-08-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the International Series
TOR August IL, 10OO-The
FOrgiving Spirit.
Prepared by II. c. Lenington.1
THE LESSON TEXT.

against Hle, anu loTSNe Hlih uii seven
times?
90. Jesus said unto him. I say not unto
thee, Until seven times: but. Until seven
ty times seven.
%. Therefore is the kingdom Of Heav-
en- likened unto "A certain king, which
would take account of his servants.
"a. And when he had begun to reckon.
one was brought unto him, which owed
him ten thousand talents.
%. But forasmuch as he had not to pay,
his lord commanded him to be sold. and
his wife. and children, and all that he
had, and payment to be made.
26. The servant therefore fell down,
and worshpped him, saying, Lord. have
patience with me, and l will pay thee all.
q. Then the lord OF that servant was
moved with compassion, and loosed him,
and forgave him the debt
2S But the same servant went out.
and found one of his fellow servants,
which owed him an hundred pence; and
he laid hands on him, and took him by
the throat, saying, Pay me that thou
owest.
- And his fellow servant fell down
at his feet, and besought him, saying
Have patience with me, and l will pay
thee all.
30. And he would not but went and
cast him into prison, till he should pay
the debt
81. So when his fellow servants saw
what was done. they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all
that was done.
90. Then his lord, after that he had
called him, said unto him. o thou wicked
servant. | forgavc thee all that debt, be-
cause thou dcsiredst me:
2g Shpullgt thou also have hI0
compassion on thy fellow servant, even
as ] had pity on thee?
a. And his lord was wroth. and deliv-
cred him to the tormentors, till he should
pay all that was due unto him.
3a So likewise shall My Heavenly Fa-
thsv do also unto you, If ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother
their trcspasses.
GOLDEN TEXT.-ForEivc US our
debts, ns we forgive our dcbtOrs.-
Matt. G;I2.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The lesson may well include not only
the lesson text, but also the verses pre-
cedins. beginning with the 18th. These
few verses indicate Il common sense
way of making up differences between
two people who have had perhaps o
| misunderstanding, perhaps more
serious cause of trouble, an actual
grievance. 1t may seem strange at
first thought that Jesus addresses his
advice to the one sinned against rather
than against the sinner: "lf thy
brother sin against thee. go show him
his fault between thee and him alone
This axes into consideration the oft-at-
tested fact that the one committing thH
blunder or sin is The one who feels him.
self the most aggrieved. Go to him
alone. That will show your readiness to
come to any terms that may be honor.
able. But if he persists then take one or
two more witnesses. Often for their
sakes he will make peace. One other
remedy awaits you il this fails, the
court Of the church. He may dislike
publicity, or he may have respect fol
an impartial tribunal. The last re-
sort gone, do not revile him, treat him
as respectful stranger, as the jew
treated the gentiles or Roman tax col
lectors. Then comes that familiar
text: For when two or three are gath
cred together in My name, there am j
in the midst OF them" We may not,
here that these are disconnected en-
hortations, and the for" of the verse Is
better given in the revised version as
again | say unto you, that IL two OF
you" etc. Secret prayer is one Of the
means of grace insisted upon, but for
occasions that affect not only the in
dividual heart there is strength in
union.
How Often to Forgive.-Jesus hat.
changed the subject, but His first
words fingered in the mind Of Peter.
How often should he forgive II one
persisted in a wrong course against
him. The old law suggested seven
times. Jesus said that was not enough.
Seventy times seven might do, for one
could hardly count that number of Of
fenses against even the worst enemy.
1t was symbolical expression for
never-ending forgiveness. AS Schaff
says. love is not to be limited by the
multiplication table.
ne hlnS anu tne DeDtor.-Jesus en-
forces this truth by parable. The
kingdom of Heaven in which Jesus
numbered His disciples was like an
earthly king who had servant who
owed him 10000 talents, a large sum.
The servant couldn't pay. The king
was about to enforce payment by sell
ing the mans property and even his
person and wife and children to bring
in the sum owed. But the servant
sought the kings compassion and was
forgiven his debt and given a new
start. What did this servant do? He
had been forgiven much, but his cov-
etous heart could not find forgiveness
or compassion for those who owed him
very small sums. God is like that. He
has forgiven His children much, but
unmindful of His great bounty they
have gone on unforgiving and unspar-
ing of their fellows.
Then follows the deserved retribution.
Because the servant who had been for
given much would not forgive his less
er debtors, therefore he was delivered
to his tormentors until he should pay.
He had been forOiyen his dehf hut