Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-30
SCHOOL LESSON
For October 2. Matt, 25:1-13
Golden Text-"Be We therefore ready aSo for the Son
of Man comeh at an hour when we think not" Luke 1910
By DR.. Marion McH. Hull

companied by signs and wonders. The
efforts made would be so strong that
they would deceive the very elect If
possible. His coming, for that is what
they had asked Him about, was to be as
glorious as lightning shining from one emf
of the heavens 20 the other, as unexpect-
ed as a thief In the night, as visible as
any object could Be. since they should
see the Son Of Man coming in the clouds
with power and great glory, and t'N,
time was so unknown that neither the
angels in heaven nor the Son Himself
knew 1t, but only the Father. They had
asked when He would come; He replied,
cannot tell you that, but only that you
be ready. since it might be when you
least expect it,
He illustrated what He meant by
readiness by relating some parallels, one
of which is taken from the marriage
customs of the Orient. A bridegroom
leaves his house accompanied by friends
and marches through the streets to the
home of the bride. At night torches are
carried by all the attendants to light up
the way. They do nothing in a hurry
In the east. and sometimes for many
reasons the procession would be long,
and the parties at the brides house
would have long to wait. As the bride
groom neared the house, some one would
call out, Behold, the bridegroom! Come
out to meet him." and the brides at
tendants would go out with lighted torch
es to escort the bridegroom and his
party into the brides home. The door
would be shut after the last one was
I'm, and the ceremony proceed. After
the ceremony the procession would then
march to the groom's house and the
feast be served.
Jesus took one thing In this we'll
known custom to illustrate His point
the long period of waiting until the
bridegroom should come, and the pre-
paredness of the attendants to meet him
when the announcement was suddenly
made. 1t is important to recognize this
for great deal has been read into and
out OF the parallels which had no place
IN the mind OF Christ, we believe con-
sidering all the circumstances. We must
not lay too much emphasis on the drap-
cry OF the parallels, even though II is
necessary as a background for the truth
intended to be taught. For instance, we
get into hopeless tangles IL we try to
make significant the number ten, and
Ave wise and Ave foolish. II we en-
phasized that II could .nean nothing else
than that half-exactly half-would be
ready and exactly half shut out 1 see
no warrant anywhere in the Bible for
SUN ACdNAAiSs DO Win the TACT InaI
they were all virgins; some would have
US believe that this means they weSe
exactly alike as far as their profession
Of faith went. The argument as to
their number would refute this also. Nor
can We put too much significance in the
oil as the symbol of the Holy Spirit in
their lives. There are insuperable diff
culties here-you can't buy the Holy
Spirit. although Simon Magus thought
he could; He is the gracious gift of
God to be received by every repentent
and believing soul.
BE READY WHEN JESUS CONES.
We have no such difficulties IL we
confne ourselves to the point Jesus was
Illustrating when He gave the parable
Think again over it. He is answering
question as to when He shall come;
He has told them certain signs to keep
them expectant and to encourage them
during the delay; He has told them the
time is unknown; He has warned them
that they must be ready-that is their
chief concern in this matter. He has