Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

Jesus nothing OF It's outward feature was
more remarkable chan tina sudden transi-
tions He passed frequently, indeed con-
stantly, from one place 10 another, from
one theme to another. He had no abiding
city, neither did He have any one nne OF
thought upon which He discoursed An He
moved about among men He allowed them
to thrust In upon Him without notice any
question or remark at their pleasure, and
He replied always with directness and sim
plicity. and He was never surprised. never
unable to give answer or to AFFORD instruc-
tion. This occasional and incidental meth
Cd was the severest possible test OF His
ability. No mere man could endure i and
come forth without mistake. Most men
premeditate and arrange their thoughts,
and In our times the most gifted ministers
and lecturers reduce everything they say to
writing. unwilling to trust themselves to
the hour OF their service. Our lesson to-
day contains passage that belongs to the
spontaneous discourse Of Jeses, and re-
veals His skill.
OCCAsIoN-while sitting at meat in
the house OF a Pharisee on the Sabbath
day tCh., xiv:D, Jesus was speaking on
the subject of humility oversees 7-14), men,
tioning two instances, somewhat related, a
wedding and feast. in which that excel
prov, xv:83). One of those sitting at the
table at the time thrust in a remark quite
foreign to the subject In hand. We have
no means of knowing the name or motive
of this person and the more one studies
His words the greater will the surprise be
at the act. It has been suggested that he
was called out by something omitted from
the narrative. Others think he was O.
secret enemy, desiring to entangle Jesus
and prepare for the charge of treason, on
which He was subsequently, arraigned
duke, xxiii:2). Some support Of this last
thought Is found in the fact that there
were present Verse u those who were
watching Him with an evil eye. It is more
probable that the man was a friend. that
he believed what he said. He may have
reached the conclusion by series of re-
Elections, partly upon what had just been
spoken, partly upon former utterances OF
Jesus (Matt., viii:1D, for the addresses
were SO wonderful causing frequent and
wide repetition. A sudden outburst break
ing In upon the Masters teaching, must
have awakened surprise
BLESSEDNESS-A great truth was
uttered by this unknown person, when he
said. Blessed is he that shall eat bread In
the kingdom of God" The angel declared
substantially the same to John in the Island
Of Patmos (Rev xix:9). The modern church
has taken up the expression, giving 1t
large place in literature. By 1t believers
now understand that communion which
they enjoy one with another q John i:13),
the eating of bread being symbol of fell
lowship, and the kingdom of God repre-
senting the spiritual household, all of which
was included in the celebration of the
Lords supper In the apostolic church Il
Cor. x:16). But 1t is not probable that the
speaker on this occasion had any such
lofty ideas. He could not have obtained
them from the word of Jesus, who had not
yet delivered the parable of the kings son
or the speech concerning the thrones luke
xii 300, in which such thoughts were In
volved. Even the apostles held sordid
views of the kingdom. as temporal affair,
in which they sought preferment duke
xxti:24, and were therefore incapable OF
comprehending the higher spiritual enjoy
ments. 1t Is safe to assume that the man
was thinking how fortunate one would be
In the kingdom of Christ If the principle Of
Christ were applied to feasts.
SUPPER-With a master stroke Jesus
turned the mans remarks to a good ao-
ness Of guests of His kingdom. which
course might have awakened some ones
cupidity. Jesus did not seek to win men
by promise of gain. But, what was vastly
men are to accept the benefits of the king
dom. For this purpose He introduced the
parable Of the great supper. BY that IL
lustration He effected union between the
mans thought and His own prior thought,
the act of an adroit teacher. The supper,
as described by Jesus, had two features de-
signed to set 1t forth as an important event
In the mind of an oriental. There were
siderable time in advance. The numbers
indicated the wealth of the host, and the
time allowed for preparation indicated that
the guests were to be OF high order This
supper represents the plenteous provision
made for the souls of men in the redeinp-
ton of Christ. The early invitation de-
notes the promises and prophecies lisa.
lv:D made all through the old dispensa-
tion, by which the people were expected to
make ready, and renewed the calls OF John
the Baptist and by the early evangelists
mark 1928.
EXCUSESThe parable represents
that the persons invited to this supper pre-
scented no plea at first. leaving the impress
sion that they intended to accept. During
the days follot.ing, while the provision was
being made by the host, no one declined.
At last. when all was ready. the house In
order and the feast prepared, the servant
went forth saying, Come" It was then
with one consent, as If there had been
a mutual understanding to offer intended
insult, that all began to make excuses. To
make matters still worse they presented no
apology for delay, or any adequate ground
for their present desire to avoid the feast.
One declared that he must go and see a
piece Of ground which he had recently pur-
chased. and another pleaded that he must
prove yoke of oxen. Both matters might
have been delayed without loss. A third
urged that having married he must remain
at home. foolish pretense. This element
of the parable is intended to show how
lightly men esteem the things of religion,
how easily they. thrust aside the most I'M
portant spiritual concerns for the most
trivial temporalities The carnal mind Is
at enmity with God (Rom. ytfi:D. Pride
and self-suficiency are incompatible with
the humiliation and faith of the Gospel. In
ordinate attachment to the objects of this
world blinds the eye to the giories OF the
next world.
GUESTSThe parable represents that
the master of the feast was greatly offended
because of the contemptuous conduct of
those whom he had invited. Most of them
were neighbors, some of them were friends.
all of them belonging to his rank and sta