The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-09
Sunday School
Lesson
for
February 10.

METEOROLOGICAL stated last week the
twenty.ffth chapter OF Matthew is divisiblc into
three great parts all designed 10 illustrate some
aspect 81 the kingdom OF heaven, or the dis
peisation ushered in by Jesus. The first part
already studied presented the sut'tance OF r..
!gion itself, an interior principle lllcnel 10
oil, feeble in some and strong in others The
third part oversees 3iI6), which will not be in
our course Ut all, sets forth the practical test
o, religion, as that which prompts one to serve
lila fellow mcE. which service Is IeckOHed in
the Indignant as rendered to Christ. The second
part, lying bctwcea the essence and the ttst
Of religion, shows what effect il ought to have
upon its rossesor, as developing force. Taken
In their order the three passages exhibit the
value of religion, ns preparing ono for the con-
munion with Christ, as u power iUr self unfold.
ing and progress, as leading to do good unto
mcn 1ho three parts all refer ia the judgment
because every man ID measured in the light and
by the standard of his own character
DISTRIBUTION (veises Is and IS. Our para
hle opens with the scene oi a man ~ wealth
who Is about to take journey to distant
place, and who calls his servants together before
his dcpartrre and commits his property and in
terests In their keeping. lie does not hestow
goods upon them al solutcly ~ that they become
thereby the real posscSsors, but he makes them
The distribution is made according to his plea.
urc, as he had right to make it, but also
according 10 the ability OF the persons, he
saw II. Tho ratio Of award was five, two and
one, each receiving something. By this Jesus
intended to teach that God has bestowed upon
men various abilities, as they WIRE able To re.
ceivc them, some more and some less In SO do.
ing De exercised his prerosatyc and no one
may question the wisdom oi his act. But
what was thus awarded was not made - pr.
sonal possession. All men hold what they have
as trusts. They are stewards OF God q Peter
ir; 100. This is true In spiritual as well a.
material nattcis. Al, We have belongs to God
DISPOSITION (verses 70, II. ls,-rhe srr
wants in the parable evidently remembered III.
source Of that which they had rceivea. No
cnc assumed ownership They sil alike with
coMmcndablc wisdom acknowledged their Office
as stewards, and apparently they wrrc Impressed
BY the obligation thus laid on them, But they
acted differently, The one Who had received
most. and the man In the second grade invested
In legitimate business and doubled the capital
placed in his hands. But the man oi one talent
feeling not less than the others the responsible!
ity incurred, buried hs lords money "a the
earth, seeking for II place o: SIieiy. All
this 6nds parallel among member OF the
church in our timc. The nlan of splendid ahil.
ity and the man OF average native talent ad.
vance In all the exceleDcos OF character: while
those who deem themselves little, feel that they
can accomplish nothing. and 50 they hide them.
selves away in great obscurlty, and years pass
In which they make no progress e Peter III Isl
APPROVAL Verses 10, 20, ~, %. 93--Time
passed on during which the servants sctcd ac.