The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-04-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 8:


Verses. 1886 - Commentary ON the
Days Lesson.
I. The duty of watchfulness Tvs. 3J40).
s.. "Girded about" "This is an allusion
to the long robes Of the East, which those
who wear must bind up, before they en-
had. just admonished them against undue
anxiety about temporal affairs Tvs. 22-32),
and now He gives an admonition to watch
fulness. Be active, dilgent, determined,
ready; let all hindrances be taken out OF
the way. Lights burning" The Master
was likely to return at any hour of the
night, and in order to be ready to receive
Him their lights must be burning. 36.
From the wedding, The Jewish we'd
dings were conducted with great pomp.
The ceremony was usually performed in the
night. The festivities lasted from three to
seven days. THAT when He cometh." As
these servants waited, with girded loins
and burning lights, already to meet their
master and%run at his bidding as soon as
he approached. so we are to wait for the
coming of our Master. Wait (D with ca
ger longing, HSo and (2) with Joyous you e1Rec. pee
M tatI0H aiu. May open imnsdiaseE ned i.v Fen FEN
have @ 'san Something hing tO to do frstEwl have to
get ready. They will need time to collect
81. BLESSED" Those who are ready are
blessed ami are highly honored by their
Master. "When He cometh." Christ will
return to all from the heavenly wedding
at the end of the world. when He has tax
en- to Himself His bride, the church; to
each individual He comes when He stands
suddenly before a man at the hour OF
death. "Shall find watching" We are
to watch against temptations from within
and without "Gird himself; serve them"
"Whatever we do for God He will do in
return for us. 1t is unusual for masters
to wait upon their servants, but Jesus
Christ was among His disciples as one that
served See John l3: 4, S. This also sig
nifes the joy with which they shall be re.
ceived into the other world by the Lord
ySu sn wAO ss has o5 gene Se before to er
will honor them John IL: 26). 38. "The
second or third watch" The Jews had
adopted the Roman custom of dividing
the night into four watches. The first
watch was from to 9, the second from
9 to II, the third from IL to 8. the fourth
from to 6.
SO. "Had known what hour" The house
holders ignorance of the time when the
thief would come is the reason why he
does not watch. He cannot always keep
awake, 80 he has to 60 to sleep and ID
for wakefulness, because we can keep spir-
itually awake all through life. The house
holder watches to prevent, but we to share
in that for which the watch is kept.
''Would have watched" "In the East the
State Furnishes, but leaves the prevention
and detection of theft and robbery to the
individual interested. Hence the watch
man ia necessary and important every
where" 30. "Be ye therefore ready" Al
:, L. ha fslo
awares. .Watchfulness insure readiness;
marks the way to sin and despair. A
scriptural preparation includes repentance
and conversion. "Cometh; when ye think
not" See Thess S: 2; Pet. 8: 10. We
should resist the temptation to spiritual
drowsiness. Nothing is much worse than
a sleepy religion (Rev. 8: l6). |
II, The faithful servant regarded rev (ys.
4l-44). Al. "Peter said" "This apostle
was the one who afterward most needed
bad a manner forgot it. Those who stand
in most danger are often slowest to profit
by words of warning" "Unto us, or even
to ALL" Is meant for us as thine apostles,
or for all men? I
42. Faithful and wise steward" The
steward was a middle person between the
master and slave, and had the care of the
whole household. 1t was post OF con-
fidence in:which faithfulness was required.
As the steward to the rest of the servants,
80 should the apostles stand with refer
ence to other believers. Faithful comes
before wise because the true wisdom Of the
heart comes from faithfulness. "Shall
make ruler" That one would be ruler who
had previously proven himself faithful and
wise, who attended to his duties during
his masters absence with the same fidelity
that he did when he was present. TO
give; meat" As Gods stewards we should
be ready to give out to others what he,
places at our disposal. ::~
43. Blessed" He is blessed in his
deed; he rejoices because he is found in
the faithful performance OF his duties by,
his lord, and h, he j is blessed @ With q 2 high &
see here what Christ means by watchins;j
F'not gazing up into the heavens for signs,
but the faithful performance OF duty. "A.
cover ALL" so each saint owns all of
Gods possessions, even now Il Cor. 8: q,
22). "The reward is both outward and in-
ward; more glories and blessing and joys.
and larger capacities for usefulness and
enjoyment" TO him that hath shall be
given.
454s 5 IRe 4s PFsshseh in his isf heart f. instead
Of being faithful; the servant begins to
plan wickedness and to actually enter into
sin, different portion" will be appoint
ed him upon his Lords return. "Delayeth
His coming" The fact that Christ's COM
inc is delayed causes the love of many to
wax cold q Pet. 8: 8, ~. "To eat and
drink" Self-indulgence is very common
sin. 'To be drunken" This was not only,
a common and terribly destructive sin in
Christ's time, but it is the same to-day:
46. "When he looiseth not" The Lord
will come suddenly and call every one to
an account. "In sunder." THIS was
most terrible method of executing Grim.
inals, atciently. "With the unbelevers.
Read Rev. 81 8. This verse shows the
awful doom of the ungodly. The worst
forms of punishment are used to show the
punishment that will come to the unrc-
pentant sinner.
II. (which knew" Either actually,
from received information, or, virtually,
because the revelation was within reach
God will hold US accountable not only for
what we know, but for what we might
have known by putting forth proper eff
fort "Be beaten" This is reference to
the Jewish custom of beating guilty par
ties. MANY stripes" Shall be severely
and Justly punished Those who have
many privileges, who are often warned,
who have clear gospel light, and yet do
not repent. shall be far more severely
punished than others. Exceptional guilt
and punishment Luke 10: l3: James q;
II; 9 Pet. 9: 2l). 48. 'That knew not
That knew not fully, for there IS no such
thing as absolute moral ignorance (Rom.
|: 20; 2: IA. Isl. The reference here Is to
those who had comparatively little knoWi'