Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 8.

XVIII, Il 'oo-tOIuon 1exts mhV' VIZ, 80
-Memory Verses. FL. 2s-Topic: For
giving One MISUNDERSTANDING.
I. Christs teaching concerning for
giveness Tvs. 81, 22) 81. "Came Peter
Peter always made himself very prom
inent. His question was suggested by
Christ's words concerning Offenses
against others Matt. 1876, y. How
oft" Peter perceives that a law OF
tenderer dealing is to prevail in the
church than exists in the synagogue.
"And I forgive" He knew 1t was his
duty to forgive, but the question was
how often. "Till seven times Peter
uses the term seven in strictly literal
sense The teaching Of the rabbis was
never to forgive more than three times.
%. until seventy times seyen.' 1t
is doubtful whether the original means
four hundred and ninety or seventy
seven (seventy times seven, or seven
ty times and seven," as In margin OF
Revised Version). But in either case 1t
is symbolical expression for never
ending forgiveness.
II. Our duty illustrated and enforced
Tvs. 1920. %. "Kingdom of Heaven
ikened." The teachings Of Christ with
respect to forgiveness are fully Illus
trated in the parable which follows. 1t
shows, /. The character of mans rela-
ton to God. 2. The real meaning on
mans part of a distinct refusal to for
give. king" The king represents
God. "Would make reckoning" X.
V. The picture is drawn from an ORR
entail court. The fundamental moral
principle In Gods kingdom Is right
cousncss. The great King of Heaven
and earth WILL one day, reckon with all
of His subjects. Servants" Those to
whom God has committed great trusts
and opportunities.
"a. Ten thousand talents" An
enormous sum. The amount cannot be
reckoned definitely. 1t has been esti-
mated all the way from nine to twenty
millions of dollars. %. Had not to
pay" Our debt to God is so great that
we are utterly incapable Of making
Him any satisfaction whatever. Com
manded him to be sold" An alluslon
to the Law of Moses. See Exod. 22:3:
Lev. $3.50 Al; 2 Kings Al. Creditors
had power to sell insolvent debtors in
several countries Of Europe, as well as
in Asia, in ancient times. We thus see
by this parable what our sins deserve.
Captives to sins are captives to wrath.
"And payment to be made The
amount obtained would be wholly in
adequate to cancel the debt, but as
large payment was to be made as
possible.
2G "Will pay thee ALL" The debt is
admitted and he comes pleading for
mercy. The means which sinner
should use to be saved are. 1. Deep
humiliation of heart. 2. Fervent
prayer. 3. Confidence in the mercy OF
God. a. A firm purpose to devote his
soul and body to his Maker.
81. "Forgave him the debt" We
are debts of our heavenly King. But,
if we cast ourselves at His feet He is
ready in infinite compassion not only
| to release us from punishment, but to
| forgive us the debt.
III. The doom of tine unforgiving Tvs.
| $3.50. 90. An hundred pence"
| About fifteen or sixteen dollars. About
! one milllonth part of the debt this TN
! merciful servant had owed the king.
Took him by the throat Thus mani.
Testing most unkind and base DISPOSE
ton. The sin Is greatly aggravated
when we consider his own debt, and
! the mercy shown him. What are my
brothers sins against me compared to
my numberless sins against God. PAY
me that thou owest" He was un.
willing even to forgive him u single
dollar He must pay in full and pay at
once. We must be very careful and
not show this same disposition in our
treatment of others. 90. Fell down
at his feet" His fellow-servant hum.
bled himself and plead for mercy as he
himself had done just before this.
30 And he would not" Such a
man; so harsh and hard against those
who are in every way his equals. lg'
norance of his own condition makes
him unforgiving and cruel TO others
| 81. Were very sorry" An act of this
, kind is 50 dishonorable to all true
| Christians. and to the spirit of the Cos
pel that through the concern they felt
for the prosperity of the cause OF
Christ they are obliged to speak
against it. 81 Thou wicked servant
Unmercifulness is great wickedness.
To the unmerciful, God will have no
mercy; this is an eternal purpose of the
Lord which can never be changed
Jesus said "If We forgive not men their
| ITpSDuSSpS, leltutl VIII Souh UNIV
forgive your trespasses" Matt. 6:15),
33. Even as had pity on thee"
The servant Is here shown the obliga'
ton he Is under to his fellow servant,
because of the mercy that had been
shown him. 1t is justly expected that
those who have received mercy shall
show mercy.
"a. Delivered him to the torment
crs." The person who does not have
forgiving spirit will be tormented,
both in this world and In the world to
come. A guilty conscience. the fear OF
the Judgment day and the fires Of Gods
wrath (Rev. 2O:15) will, in turn, act
as tormenters. "All that was due"
And inasmuch as the amount was so
great that he could never pay 1t. he
must have been delivered over to the
! tormenters forever. The wicked will be
banshed eternally from the presence
of God.
81. 80 likewise" This verse is an
application of the whole parable. The
parable Is not intended to teach us that
God reyerses His pardons to any; but
that He denies them to those who are
not worthy of them. Those who have
not forgiven others their trespasses
! have never yet truly repented, and
that which Is spoken Of as having been
taken away is only what they seemed
b 11ko S.12