Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-10-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Il.|Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 9, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson. Matt. XIV, 1890
Memory Verse. 29-Golden Text,
Matt. XIV, 2t-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

This lesson. like the last one. Is
found only i'm Matthew. but Il little
earlier in these last days of His earth
ly ministry. about the time that He
brought salvation To the house OK
Zaccheus, He spake a parable because
He was nigh to Jerusalem and be-
cause they thought that the kingdom
of God should Immediately appear
luke xix. III. These two parallels
cover the same period of time and
teach virtually the same truths; they
cover the time of the nobleman's abb
sence In a far country TO receive for
himself n kingdom and to return. and
during his absence the servants are
expected to make diligent use OF the |
pounds or talents with which they |
have been intrusted that they may /
give account Of their stewardship at /
his return. occupy till come" is the /
word to every servant duke xix, IA. /
As both John and Jesus and the .
twelve and the serenity had all preach (.
ed that the kingdom was mt hand they
were all expecting il. not understand /
Ing that. Messiah being rejected by the
nation and the rulers having deter
wait till His return and the age OF
1.-The mystery of the kingdom" run its
course These parallels tell of service
in this present age and bring before
us another phase OF the readiness to
meet Him at His coming. The re-
demption clothing. His righteousness.
makes us fit and ready to meet Him
ut any time Col. /, 12-14l. but we are
redeemed in order to serve Him. and
for this service there will be rewards.
and il is His desire that we should re-
ceive a full reward and not be asham-
ed before Him at His coming Oil John
viii; John H. IS; Rev. XXX 12).
In the one parable each servant re-
ceives pound; in the other each re-
ceives talents according to his ability.
Every believer without exception re-
ceives the Holy Spirit in some measure,
but the special gifts of the Spirit are
given to every one severally as He will
q Cor. xii, All. 49,. This passage helps
in some measure to understand both the
pounds and the talents. There is some
thing for every believer to do and bear,
| and It has long been comfort to me
to know that everything has been APP
pointed for each individual before
hand Gph ii. 1Ol. and we have only to
walk with Him in that which He ap-
points for us. l am also comforted by
remembering that He expects no serv-
ice for which He has not given the
ability q Pet iv, 10. III. Ii is the
greatest folly to consider others and
the service they are rendering and aim
to do as they are doing. for the Lord
appoints Ito every man his work"
Mark xiii. 34). And every one Of us
shall give account of himself to Cod
Rom. xiv, 12l. We are here as dis
witnesses to manifest His life, to show
forth His praises. to prove ourselves
faithful stewards Of His manifold
grace, to serve the living and true
God (Acts /, s; II Cor. iv, 10. and oul
position in His kingdom will depend up
on our faithfulness here.
In the parable of the pounds the serv
ants testified Lord thy pound hatl
gained ten pounds" or Lord, thy
pound hath gained five pounds" an(
! the reward for their faithfulnesS, no
success. was authority over ten cite
or five cities. conveying ut least a sug
gestion of our reigning with Him owe
the earth (Rev. V, 10. In the parabl
of the talents, the servants say, -
have gained five talents more" or As
have gained two other talents" It
each Of these the COMMUNICATION wa
Just the same, for each had bee
equally faithful according to the abb
ity given them. "Well done. good an
faithful servant; thou hast been faitl
full over few things; will make the
ruler over many things. Enter tho
into the JOY OF thy Lord" oversees .
23. Note again that it is faithfulnes
not success, that is commended. Cor
pare xiv, 45. There IS here also Il
thought Of ruling. but what the jC
Of the Lord can mean who can tel
We cannot even imagine much abo
either. 1t will all be far beyond OF
utmost thought. 1t will be lis excee
Jug abundantly above all we can n!
or think. Listen to His prayt
Father. | will that they also who
= Thou hast given Me be with Me whe
- am, that they may behold My gle
which Thou hast given me" (John Ky
"a. And not only behold but sha
His glory, for He said (verse 22), 1T
glory which Thou gavest Me | ha
given them that they may I've one ev
as we are one"
Note that ii was the pound Il
. gained the pounds. while the oil
said II have gained other talent
Both are correct. for while we We
IT Is God working in us. We have b'