The Tupelo journal., 1906-08-10
the
Two Sons
Sunday School Lesson Tor Aul. II. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEAT.-Luke lo:ll-5z. ndem-
ory verses. II, is.
and / will return unto you. saith the
Lord."-Mal. 3:7.
TIME.-January. A. d. 80, probably not
long after last lesson. :,
PLACE.-Somewhere in Perea, beyond
Jordan.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. Gods
expressed desire for the salyatiom OF SIN
5:29: 1929: Neh. 9:17, 2S-3ls Job 33:29, 30;
Pisa. sl:1s; 1888, 5, lob; 1904, z, s; ass:
Lam ss s:as, S 70; Hosea lose 4 lis: SIS s: Ills; Mis..
Glib; tbs, 10. Matt. 5:45; 11:2S-30; 23:37-39;
Luke I;17; 1912; John s:16; Rom S:S;7Eph-
Comment and Suggestive Thought
v. II. He" Jesus. "A certain man
had. two sons" The father here rep
resents God. All men are his chill
dren.
v. II. 1.-The portion Of goods that
falle.h to me-" This, according to law,
would be one-third Of the fathers es-
tate. (
v. ii. Gathered all together" He ex-
changed all his property for jewels or
money, which could be easily carried.
Not many days after took a
Journey" TO some city-Corinth, AL
exandria or Rome. WASTED riot
GUS living" Spent all he had in seek
ing pleasure. The very abundance OF
| Gods gifts leads many to forget the
| Giver and wander of to t h far
country of forgetfulness of Cod"
v. IA. Spent ALL" This did not take
long. "A mighty famine" A season
when crops failed and great scarcity
of food ensued. Began to be in want"
He now wanted for friends. as well as
for food and shelter.
v. Is. Joined himself to a citizen"
He hired himself out to one of the in
habitants of that "far country"
v. l6. mo man gave unto him." No
one gave him proper food, hence he
craved even the pods which the swine
ate.
v. II. Game to himself" He had
not hitherto been true to himself. Sin
is madness. The sinner is much like
an insane man.
v. Is. Il will arise and 60" Go is
the important word. And the youth
added to his words, in thought at least,
to-day" Too many resolve to amend,
and do right, tomorrow. Father, ]
have sinned." This young man was
right IN resolving to confess his sin,
rather than tell of his misery. Against
Heaven" Against the God of Heaven
| Sin Injuries ourselves and others, but
it is most bitterly to be regretted be-
cause i. is directed against God, against
boundless love.
v. 20. Game to his father" Came
toward his father. Was a great way
off," He apparently halted when he
came In sight of home, as If he had
not courage to proceed. His father
saw him" The father had been anx-
iously looking for his sons return, and
spied him while he was still at a great
distance. Though the wanderer from
God ices not know 1t, it is the Fathers
love which reaches out to him and
draws him to take the first step toward
return.
v. 81. "The son said," etc. He made
his confession. We see that the IA
Tiers loving welcome gave his heart
courage to say anew: Father" (See
Gal. 4:6, ~
V. %. "The best robe" A rich gar
ment kept in eastern households fol
honored guests. "A ring" This should
be worn only by a freeman. Shoes
These distinguished him from serv-
ants, who wore nc shoes.
+ W OS saTha fottoI nolfD Opo liant
in the stall to be used OF some joy
Gus occasion. "To be merry" See "
rs. On the sinners conversion there
is Joy in the Fathers heart, JOY
throughout Heaven and among the
earthly children of God, and joy in the
heart of the returned prodigal.
v. "a. WAS dead" Scripture reit-
crates the fact that one who is in sin
is dead. Lost -. found" Another
figure expressive of the sinners state
v. 25. 'In the field" Attending to
his duties as overseer of the place,
This elder son of the parable repre-
sents the Pharisees of Jesus day and
all formal r%eligionists of our day, both
in the GOODNESS of his heart and his
%selfsnness of temper.
v. 26, -27. Called one of the serv-
ants" A loving, trustful son would
have fastened in to join in the festiv-
tiles, feeling sure that whatever was
going on under the fathers eye was
right.
v. %. HE was angry" Not a pass
ing passion, but deep-seated wrath
filed his heart.
VS.. 20, 80. do l serve thee" His
very words indicated that he had
wrought with the spirit of a slave.
not a son. Never gavest me a kid
with my friends" 1t is by no
means probable he had ever wanted
to give a social feast. He "a not
the kind of man to have friends, or
care for social pleasures.
v. 81. Son." A more tender word
in the original; it might be rendered
my dear SON." "All F.. . Is thine" II
would have been unseemly for me to
make you a feast when all the prop
erty IS your own, for you to do with
as you please.
Practical Points.
v. IL. We have been endowed with
privileges and possibilities belonging
to God himself.-Gen. 1927.
v. IL. Not all his gifts can compen-
safe to a soul for the loss of God him
self.-Luke 1915.
v. Is. Self-will leads men far from
God.-Eph. 2:12.
v. Is. Who dallies with sin soon