The Chanute times., 1906-10-19
THE PARABLE OF
THE TALENTS
Sunday School Lesson for 0et.3l. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


shall abound with blessings. PROV. 2S:20
TIME-Tuesday afternoon. April 4. A
d. 30. Imme ediately Following last lesson
PI.ACE-On the slopes Of Mount olivet
overlooking Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Y. "a. Note that the revisePs omi,
the words tho kingdom Of heaven
II is important that we be ready and
watchful, for Christ's coming will be
like tho 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 talents" The talent
was a weight. not coin. The talent
of gold has been estimated as worth
$4,000; and, II the talent be Of sill
yer, it may consist Of either light
shekels or heavy shekels. In the for
mer case its value would be about
$1,000: In the latter case, $1,000. "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 hdsi'
ness. We trade with our talents when
we do the best we can in every diree'
ton.
v. II. The man of two talents we
may take as the average man, prob.
ably ourselves.
v. IS. HE that had received ono. ="
When we recollect that one talent
represented either $1,000 or $4,000,
we see that 1t was something not 70
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!
dsnt 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
a day of public reckoning when all
will see that God has dealt wisely. low
ingly, justly, with each.
v. 20. He five talents" This
one represents a 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. It 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
10y of thy Lord" An oriental mas
ter, on his return. often spreads o
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. "Came and said" This man
began at once to make excuses, and
thereby really accused himself. Lord
hard man." Hard thoughts OF
his master had much to do with this
mans sloth. In the spiritual world
1t is not knowing God that leads to
many of our mistakes and sins.
v. Is. II was afraid" He means
to say that he was afraid 10 make any
venture with his talent. lest he lose
all. We should not hesitate TO dc
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 wen as oi
commission. To neglect to do the
goodywe might do Is crime NO less
than doing positive evil Thou know
est" Perhaps this ought to be read
"Knowest thou?"
v, 27. "Exchangers." Bankers o.
money lenders. who would have re
ceived the money on deposit and pait
interest on It.
VS.. Is. 20. Take the talent from
him" The. parable represents thii
as the masters command. but IL pic
lures only the inevitable result Of dis
use.
v. 80. "Unprofitable servant" HI
has brought no profit to his maste
nor to himself; he has wasted and los
his capacity for blessedness, has III
ted himself for the outer darkness
apart from God and from the joy
of the faithful. Weeping and gnash
ing Of teeth
Practical Polnts-
v. Il. God has not only Q creators
but a lovers, claim upon rs and on