Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-19
THE OF
THE TALENTS
Sunday School Lesson TOT Oct. 81, 1906
Specially Prepared for'This Paper.
Specially Prepared for'This Paper.

shall abound with blessir tgs ."--Proy. 2S:20.
n 5~ME-Iuesday aftern DON. April 4, A.
d. ~ Immediately folio wing last lesson.
PLACE.-On the slopes of Mount Olivet,
overlooking Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. IA. Note that the revisers omit
the words "the kingd oIn of heaven
1t is important that We be ready and
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 a "far country" thus arranged
for the conduct of his business during
his absence. Called. his own serv-
ants" His slaves.
V. is. Five talen ts." The talent
was a weight, not a coin. The talent
of gold has been esti mated as worth
$4,000; and, if the talent be of sill
yer, it may consist of either light
shekels or heavy sheliels. In the for
mer case it's value would be about
$1,000: in the latter ca se, $4,000. "Ac-
cording to his several ability" God
has given to each JUS; what we have
capacity to S to bes advantage.
V. 16. "Straightway." (See Rev.
Ver.) The promptnessi 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 81, 900 or 81, 1000,
we see that it vas something not to
be despised. But this man, instead
Of being thankful that he was not
burdened with more than he could
take are of, had not energy enough
to do anything with,his owntalent. Hid
his lords money" When secure banks
were almost unknown. this was often
done.
v. 10. after a long time Here
is an intimation that Jesus return
might be long delayed. Here Is as
surance hat each is to have abun-
liant opportunity to do the work
Jesus has given him to do. "Reck-
oned with them" In a certain sense
each day is a day of reckoning. But
beyond this, Sculpture seems to teach
a day of public reckoning when all
will see that GodtlEas dealt wisely, low
ingly, justly, withxeach.
V. 20. HE . five talents" This
one. represents a person who has been
richly endowed with intellectual and
spiritual graces.
V. 81. Good andl faithful" He is
good because he put his whole heart
into his work; he lis faithful because
he wrought with loving confidence in
his master. 1t is not success, but
goodness and f~aithfhlness, 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 and
thereby really accused himself. Lord
~ IL - ITA-I
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. 25. 81 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 well as of
commission. To neglect to do the
good we might do is a 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. "U%nprofitable servant" He
has brought no profit to his master
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 he lows
of the faithful. Weeping and gnash.
ing Of teeth"
Practical Points.
V. IA. God has not only a creators
but a lovers, claim upon us and our