Newark post., 1910-10-05
Sunday School Lesson
By K. S. Holmes

Golden Text:-"His lord said unto
him, Well done, good and faithful ser
want; thou hast been faithful over
few things, will make thee ruler over
MANY things; enter thou into the JOY OF
thy lord Matt IS: 81.
The discourse OF Jesus concerning
the Second Coming, and the b'sis
OF membership in the Kingdom OF
Heaven, is continued in this lesson. In
the preceding lesson he said clearly
enough, lack OF preparation and I'M
readiness will bar against entrance.
There is no admission to those whom
the bridegroom does not know. In
this lesson he illustrates another prin-
ciple Lack of fidelity to trust in the
earthly life will likewise forfeit right
to place among the saved.
The parable of the Talents everyone
knows. To study it verse by verse
seems almost unnecessary The neople
concerned in it were the own SER
wants of the man who went on the
Journey into the far country. In the
preceding parable the virgins were in
vted guests of the bridegroom. In
both parallels the persons concerned
had definite relation to the Master of
the Kingdom.
VS.. "a, therefore, marks respon-
sibility laid OH servants by one who
had right to lay it. Acceptance of
the goods committed these servants
to the best interests of their absent
lord.
VS.. IS. This shows the method OF
the distribution Apparently no ser
h,r fhra
sorts of them. The basis of distribu
parable. but three servants and eight
talents, and he knew just how to di-
vide. One received five talents, or
parts of the responsibility; one, two
parts; and the last. one. These divi-
sions may be regarded as indicating the
characteristic ability OF men. There
are some who are very well endowed.
They re conspicuously able. There
are others who are moderately gifted,
not half as able as the first class, and
there are still others who are OF small
ability, of very small ability.
Vss. 1917. Lett to do as they would,
two Of the servants did what they were
expected to do, what probably they
had learned from their master, as they
had served, They traded with the tai
ents Each began business on his
own account. They had an opportun-
ity such as never before had beer
theirs. Keen, alert, open-eved, they
worked i'll legitimate ways with theil
masters interest. Each OF them was
supremely successful Each doubled
the money he had received. Probably
also, each paid for his own living oul
Of his profits That he had righ
to do. Each did his best. That is al
any master could reasonably ask.
VS.. IS. The third man acted in di
rect contrast to Is fellows. He mad
no effort at all to use his privileges
He had SO entrusted, and then. hav
ing accepted the trust, betrayed il
He digged in the earth, not with
purpose by that to increase the on
talent, but only to make hole il
which to hide it, That is what he did
He had no right to act thus. His lort
could have hid the money himself ha
that been his purpose. To neglect op
portunity is to betray trust.
vs.. 1923 These picture the judg
ment. The lord returned after lon
time" OF course there was reckon
ing The best man came tirst-that /:
best in point OF ability He was reall
no better than the second. No ma
can do any better than his best, an
that was what each OF the first calle
to account told his story: told it wit
evident pride Each had the evidenc
in hand, that he was tellin~ the trutl
Behold" he said. II have gained
The money was IN his hand to show.
How did the lord trust these mer
In exactly similar WAYS. The answe
was wonderful. Fidelity over littl
has brought to thee larger opportunit,
The Joy OF thy lord is thine. Nc doul
the ADLER man had larger rule give
him when he entered into the joy
the lord, but the two-talent man sure
received rule over as many things
his ability could meet. Fidelity had i
complete reward
Vss. 2I-27. Now comes the pitli
story The one-talent man enters. n
first remark is an asnerslOn OF h
lords character II knew you. 4c
are hard and grasping and unfair.
could not trust you--l was AFRAID.
| had traded and lost all, where won
| have been7 | hid your money.
kept it safely Here it is. Take it
The lord was angry, and he Shove
he could be hard. Il did not ask yt
to make any money. ] trusted you
use my money. Had YOU used it al
lost it, | would not have blame
YOU. | knew you had not much alb
ity. If you could have honestly sal
4 did nv best, that is all would ha'
asked. But no! You did nothin
You did not even put it at interest,"
Those were ominous words.
the lord had not done.
vs.. as Take awav his talent. 1i
it to him who hath ten.
So far in the parable. Jesus had ke
closely to the man and his servant
Now in his large conception OF Il
conditions which govern service
rendered by mar TO God, he drops t
parable for moment. The senten
on the worthless fellow is left II
spoken, and he puts in comment tn
is full of interest.