The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-02-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY lc.

| mentary on the Days Lesson.
IA. "For it is as when man" (R. w..
Christ represents Himself as man gong
into another country, or heaven. 'Calied
his own servants" The outward frame
T work of the parable lies in the Eastern
way of dealing with property in the ao'
sence of the owner; the more primltiVe
way being for the absentee to make his
slaves his agents. "His goods. They
were to till his land and sell the produce,
and use the money which ne lett them as
capital in trading. The. goods" are the
Lords; all we have belongs to God. Christ
entrusts to Christians the treasures OF Ills
spiritual life.
l5 Give talents" A talent OF silver
was about thousand dollars. The serv'
ants represent all OF Coos people, ana 70
no one does he give less than one talent.
The talents represent spiritual gifts-time,
money and ability to work for Christ on on
any line, "His several ability" Gods
graces and temporal mercies are suited to
the mower which a man has of improving
them. To give eminent gifts to persons IN,
capable of using them would be to lead
them into snare.
l6. -"Went and traded" We now see
the use that the servants made OF tnelr
masters goods. Two out of the. three I'M
proved upon the trust committed to them.
They were % dilgent, (2), faithful, ~
thew went speedily, (4) they persevered in
the work, (5) they succeeded. Those who
do Their best for God succeed. "Othe:
five" He who receives much from God
must make an improvement upon the
whole, while of the one who receives little
but little is required. ,,
l8. "Digged in the EARTH This IS the
peculiar temptation of the man who has
little ability, and he sullenly retires from
service in which he cannot shine and play
a conspicuous part, but, although .God
may have given to some but small capa.
bilities, yet the talent that is given should
not be buried. Hid his lords money"
He did not embezzle or squander it, but ne
hid it. Whatever abilities men possess are
not their own; they are but stewards and
must give an account. How. sad to Dury
ones talenti
ls. "After long tlme." Time enough
was given for improvement. "Cometh."
Christ is certain to come. The time may
seem long, but let US not be deeeived-He
is coming again. "Reckoneth." 1t will be
~ personal, (9) exact, (s) impartial. See
2 Cor. 5: 10.
20. Brought other five talents" l.
? The good servant was ready. 2. There
was nothing hid; he rendered full ac
count. 8. He came joyfully. 4. Quickly
S. Without fear; there was no confusion
Thou deliveredst unto me-" Recognizing
that all he had belonged to his master
| II have gained" He had put forth an ef
fort. Those people who fold their arms
| and talk about trusting God will find
sooner or later, that God does not help the
idler.
81. "Well DONE" The master gives his
full and hearty approval. How much more
solid and lasting is the praise of God
than the praise of men. Thou good
Pure and upright within. 1t is possible tc
| be good" even in this sinful world
Faithful" 1t will be worth all the toll
and. effort of lifetime of service to hear
such words from our Lord. Cover few
things" At best we can do but little fol
the Lord here: A few things are givee,r
us, all of which we should use to Gods
glory. II will set thee over many things"
| (R. W. The faithful one is made ruler
over a larger sphere. We constantly see
this illustrated in this life. There lie
scarcely any limit to the increase which
faithfulness will add to the spiritual gifts
| bestowed in common upon all Christians.
"a. 81 know thee" No person really
knows Christ who thinks Him hard mas.
ter. can hard man." This servant enter.
tains hard thoughts of his lord He thinks
his demands are severe and that he is diff.
cult to please. The servant, conscious of
his own wrong, comes filed with excuses,
and undertakes to lay the blame of his
own actions back on his master. Thus do
men think of God as hard master, and
try to throw on Him the blame of their
own wrongdoing. Gathering where thou
didst not scatter" (R. W. This was not
a true charge, for each one received much
more than he had gained; God always lib
orally rewards all who serve Him.
25. II was afraid" All sinners are
afraid. Our first parents were afraid
servant to hide the talent his lord had en-.
trusted to him, and now that he comes
emptyhanded he has double reason to fear.
''Thou hast thine own" (R. W. He seems
to boast of his honesty and uprightness.
26. wicked and slothful" His master
was not to be trifed with. The servant
had been, l. Idle and improbable. 2.
| Ungrateful. 8. The little work he had
done, in digging to hide the money, was
strength worse than wasted l. He had
entertained hard thoughts and said false
things about his master. "Thou knewest."
| Out of thine own mouth shalt thou be
judged.
o. Thou ougntest." The fact that he
knew what his master required was rea.
son why he should have used the talent.
God appeals to us as reasonable" beings,
and tells us what we fought" to do. "E.x.
changers" Bankers" (R. w. Liter.
ally, ITO those who stand at tables" be.
cause the bankers had tables before them.
with interest" (R. W. His master had
a right to expect reasonable profit from
the labors of his servant.
%. THE talent from him" The un-
faithful servant is not only reproached by
his master, but he is actually punished.
He loses what he had failed to use. "Gi:e
it unto him" Here is another reward of
faithfplness. The faithful one does the
work left 'undone by the unfaithful serv.
ant, and receives the reward for doing it.
20. "Shall be given The one who
really has powers and abilities, and makes
good use of them, to him shall be given
greater possessions. "The careful use of
any faculty increases its power The only
way to enlarge our sphere is to fill to
overfiowing the sphere we are in The
horizon widens as we climb" "Shall be
taken away" From him that hath not.
even that which he seemeth to have Luke
8: 49, shall be taken away.
so. "unproftable." He was wicked
and lost all, and was cast into outer dark.
ness, merely because he was improbable
and idle and buried his talent. Outer
darkness" Those who fail to obey Christ
will be cast from His presence The pun
ishment of the wicked will be terrible and
eternal
Revolutionary Papers Found.
An interesting discovery has been made
by the executors of an estate in Wood.