The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-10-19
THE PARABLE OF
THE TALENTS
Sunday School Lesson Tor Oct. 81, 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

| PLACE.-On the slopes of Mount Olfvet
| overlooking Jerusalem
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. IA. Note that the revisers omit
| the words "the kingdom of heaven
| 1t is important that we be ready ani
| watchful, for Christ's coming will be
| like the return of this man of affairs
who. before he set out upon his jour
ney to ''far country" thus arranged
for the conduct of his business during
| his absence. Called his own serv
| ants" His slaves.
v. Is. Five talents" The talent
was a weight, not coin. The talent
of gold has been estimated as worth
| $4,000; and If the talent be Of sill
yer, it may consist of either light
shekelS or heavy shekels. In the for
mer case it's value would be about
$1,000; in the latter case, $4,000. "Ac
cording to his several ability" God
has given to each just what we have
capacity to use to best advantage.
V. 16. "Straightway." (See Rev
Ver.) The promptness and energy OF
the man who received five talents con
tributed largely to his success in
doubling his capital. Traded with
the same" Literally worked with
them-that is, he used them in bust
ness. We trade with our talents when
we do the best we can in every direc.
ton.
V. II. The man of two talents we
may take as the average man, prob
ably ourselves.
V. IS. "He that had received one
When we recollect that one talent
represented either $1,000 or $4,000,
we see that it was something not to
be despised. But this man, instead
of being thankful that he was not
burdened with more than he could
take care of, had not energy enough
to do anything with his own talent. Hid
his lords money" When secure banks
were almost unknown, this was often
done.
V. 10. after long time" Here
is an intimation that Jesus return
might be long delayed. Here is as
surance that each is to have abun-
dant opportunity to do the work
Jesus has given him to do. "Reck-
oned with them" In a certain sense
each day is day of reckoning. But
beyond this, Scripture seems to teach
day of public reckoning when all
will see that God has dealt wisely, low
ingly, justly, with each.
V. 20. HE go. five talents" This
one represents person who has been
richly endowed with intellectual and
spiritual graces.
V. 21 Good and faithful" He is
good because he put his whole heart
into his work; he is faithful because
he wrought with loving confidence in
his master. 1t is not success, but
goodness and faithfulness, that Jesus
commends Ruler over many things"
The first reward of faithfulness is an
enlarged sphere of usefulness and
responsibility Enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord" An oriental mas
ter. on his return, often spreads a
great banquet to his faithful serv-
ants. The faithful Christian enters
into the joy of Christ Jesus
VS.. %, %. We must note that
the man who faithfully used two tai
ents is just as highly commended and
receives the same reward as the first
man.
V. "a. Game and said" This man
began at once to make excuses, and
thereby really accused himself. Lord
E. hard man." Hard thoughts of
his master had much to do with this
mans sloth. In the spiritual world
it is not knowing God that leads to
many of our mistakes and sins.
v. rs. Il was afraid" He means
to say that he was afraid to make any
venture with his talent. lest he lose
ALL We should not hesitate to do
what we can through fear of max
ing mistakes. Thou hast that is
thine" He fancied that he was hon
est. yet yet was most outrageously dis
honest.
V. 26. wicked and slothful." There
are sins of omission as we'll as of
commission. To neglect to do the
good we might do is crime no less
than doing positive evil. Thou know
est" Perhaps this ought to be read.
"Knowest thou!"
V. 81 "Exchangers" Bankers or
money lenders, who would have re-
ceived the money on deposit and paid
interest on it.
VS.. %, 20. Take the talent from
him." The parable represents this
as the masters command, but it pic
lures only the inevitable result of dis.
use.
V. 80. "Unprofitable servant He
has brought no profit to his raster
nor to himself; he has wasted and lost
his capacity for blessedness, has fit
ted himself for the "outer darkness"
apart from God and from the joys
of the faithful. Weeping and gnash-
ing of teeth"
Practical Points.
V. IA. God has not only creators.
but lovers, claim upon us and our
service.-2 Cor. 5: IA, IL.
V. IA. The work of distributing
Gods highest blessings among man
kind has been entrusted to his loving
human thildren.-2 Cor. 5: 10.
v. Is. Great advantages bring great
responsibilities IL: 49,.
v. II. By diligence we continually
increase our ability.-Prov. 1914.
v. ID. Hard thoughts of the master