The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VII.-Third Quarter, For
AUG. Ia, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text of the Lesson, Matt. Xxx, lie.
Memory Verses, 6, 7-GoIden Text,
Matt. XIX, 3o--comnentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
This parable of the laborers Is
found only in Matthew and has its
own special significance, as we may
Judge from its being found only here
and from its context. May the Lord
the Spirit open our eyes to see and
our hearts to receive His message for
us. The last verse of chapter xix, with
the last verse of this lesson (16), can
not but suggest vital connection be-
ween the two. 1t is a record of serv-
ice and reward, but there can be no
service until there is salvation, for
they that are in the flesh cannot please
God, and those who are unsaved are
said to be in the flesh and not in the
Spirit Rom. viii, 7-9). Israel could not
serve the Lord till they were redeemed
from Egypt; therefore the Lords mes
sage to Pharaoh was, LET my son go,
that he may serve me- (Ex. Nv, %, 23).
There is no use talking of doing until
we have been born from above and
have thus become children Of God and
heirs of the kingdom, but then we are
expected to be laborers, and who can
estimate the honor of being "laborers
with God?" Il Cor. iii, 81
&c TITS. tho viz =
is His. He redeems us freely by His
grace, calls us to labor with Him, ap-
points our service, gives the strength
and wisdom for it, works all our works
In us and then rewards us abundant
ly for allowing Him to use us. What
marvellous grace from beginning to
end! Truly He is the God of all grace,
His grace is exceeding abundant, and
He is able to make all grace abound
toward us, that we always, having all
suficiency in all things, may abound
to every good work Il Pet. V, 10; Tim
!, IA; II Cor. tx, 81. In lisa. v, Z, we
read that the vineyard of the Lord
Of hosts is the house of Israel and the
men Of Judah His pleasant plant, and
He asks, What could have been done
more to my vineyard that l have not
done in it, wherefore brought 1t forth
wild grapes2 This parable has doubt
less primary reference to Israel, but
there is a message for all believers.
The field is the world. Are we labor
ers In it, or are we idlers all the day
In the market place or elsewhere? Do
we try to excuse ourselves with the
words, mo man hath hired meT' Let
us recall that elsewhere 1t is written,
"He gave authority to His servants
and to every man his work" Mark xiii,
84), and again that HE called His
ten servants and delivered them ten
pounds and said unto them, Occupy
till come" duke xix, 49,. 1t can
not be that there are any for whom
He has no work, but we must remem-
Der that He giveth to every one sew
orally as he will Il Cor. xii, III, not
as we will. We are not quite right
with Him until we have learned to
look into His face and say, ''For any
manner of service wholly at Thy COM
mandment." "Thy servants are ready
to do whatsoever my Lord the King
shall appoint" Il Chron. xviii. 81; ii
Sam. XIV, 15).
1t may be to continue in hard place
with an unreasonable person like
Hagar. 1t may be to serve twenty
years with some unjust Laban as ia
cob did. 1t may be to open wells like
Isaac and let the ,Philistines have
them. 1t may be to suffer long and
unjustly as Joseph did. 1t may be to
feed the flock of Jethro forty years
while all the time you can't shake or
the feeling that you are called to be
great deliverer If you are ever
called to be leader you will certain
~ have a visit from the Great Cap
tain that you may submit yourself
wholly and absolutely to Him as
Joshua did. 1t may be eighteen years
more at Nazareth in the most ordinary
routine Of a most ordinary life. Can
you say Whatsoever? and wherever
He may place you will you let your
notices be Unto the Lord" Before
the Lord" Do not bargain with Him
for your penny and labor simply to
get it, like so many employees who
take little or no interest in their work
or their employers interests, but care
only for the wages which they think
they earn. Let the love of Christ con-
strain, the zeal of the Lord consume
you. Never mind the other servants
and their toll or their reward, but with
absolute confidence in Him and devo-
ton to Him let 1t be seen that the ioy
Of the Lord is your strength. We are
called ultimately to His kingdom and
glory, but we are called now to fell
lowship with Him in service and suf-
J fering.
In the regeneration of the last les
son, when the twelve apostles occupy
their twelve thrones, the church shall
be found with Him In His throne.
The word regeneration is found only
in Matt. xix, %, in reference to the
new earth and in Tit iii, 8, in refer
ence to the new birth, teaching us that
| there must be new birth in order to
enjoy the new earth. AS to rewards
for service, our Lord taught in last
l lncsnVp that oil o..