The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-07-24
INTERNATIONAL
NMMSQ1OQ
LESSON
By 3, Q. SELLERS, Director a. F,..
Department. The Moody Bible l@sstisS,!
LESSON FOR July 26
THE PouhDs AND THE TALENT.

THE PouNoa AND THE TALENT
LESSON TExT-Inke s:1i-27, q. ~
GOLDEN TExT-.well done rood
Faithful servant; thou hast been faitssss
over . Few things, ! will set thee M
many things: enter into the Joy Of II,
lord" Matt E:21 r. v. ~
We are told plainly why Jesus spol.
the first parable ". III. We must q
ware Of confusing these two parablsa
though they are one In their assent.l
teachings.
The parable Of the pounds was N
tered before the. triumphal entry 4
Jesus into Jerusalem while that d
the talents was spoken subsequentlr.
This association does not mean Ian.
ttty for each has a separate lesson
Both have to do with an absent lord
whose return was imminent. The
Jews looked for 4 temporal visible
Kingdom and many were a~ssociatinr
the earthly life OF our Lord with I'LL
expected manifestation. Hence Till
parable as recorded by Luke.
Issue 10 Fidelity.
!. Occupy TIL | Come" w. INA
Both Of these parallels have to do viii
the return OF an absent lord who Win
then establish his kingdom. In view
OF this return and contamination, Iii
servants are to give their undivided
attention to their immediate responsi
bilities. They are to trade, to do bust
ness with that that has been Ii.
trusted to them. They are to actively
discharge their duty. Ere the visible
kingdom is established, Jesus told
these Jews, there must be a period d
preparation. Jesus, himself, is TIC
"nobleman" whose ascension into
heaven where he Is to receive a king.
dom fulfls the departure into q fr
country" He will return to set up
that kingdom, Acts 1:9-11, with I'LL
authority" Matt. 2S:18 R. ", Eph. 4;
/ Pet. 1922. He may return 1T
any time. In neither parable is there
full description of the kingdom as II
Is to be established, for both have 70
do with the servants. The Issue d
that of fidelity In each case.
The citizens" ". ~ include hs
proper subjects the Jews, John Ill;
Acts 4:27-28, and In this connection
we recall their cry, Away with him
cruelty" Luke 1913; John 1915. These
citizens" also include all of his pro
followers but not necessarily
regenerated men, Matt. 1928. The
king gives to each servant (v. 1874
pound (about $4,000. His deposit ID
equal In each case. In the parable Of
he talents there is a difference In the
amounts bestowed. This last eInpha
sizes the fact that each Is to be held
according to the measure
If his own personal ability. Puttinf
.hese two together we see that all The
servants Of the king are responsible
or the one pound which Is a symbol
II the common fact OF the kingdom
AT the same time the servant
s also responsible for that common
,ower according to the measure u
which it is entrusted to him. In which
10 is able to deal with 1t. The small
mount of one pound indicates our y
possibility for the smallest gifh.
Parable Of Pounds.
II. "When He Was Returned w
$50. The parable Of the pounds wa
to those who thought he mus
t once establish he kingdom Of God,
hat Of the talents was given IN ar
to the disciples inquiry az g
'hen certain things which he had fofe
old would take place. Upon his y
urn all these servants will be sum
noned before him, Matt. 25:1S, Ron
4:10-12, II Cor. $40. AS Jesus stoca
here, he, likewise Of that as o. eu
Their ages, saw ahead Of him Jer1
alem with its scourging, sufering 4
nd death. He also saw beyond tnR
Is resurrection and departure TO y 1
q kingdom ". 12), q perioa
therefore, in this world during whlca
Is servants shall be responsible ~
be care Of his interests, a time duf
lg which they shall occupy, do buis
ess with what he has entrusted the
{ the kingdom authority and poWet'
II Of this will eliminate In his y
Urn when he will deal with those
HON this responsibility has pe1
iven, and then establish finally y
ingdom. In the parable Jesus deais
18th each servant separately, and en
hastzes tho fact or stewardship. Ips
ound belonged to the king. For ~
Iithfulness the first servant receivea
II, (a) the kings commendatiA
nd ID authority over ten cite
alter, ". ~ he also received anotna
,und. The second did not give QuAas
, good . report, and his rewa's
cked the appreciation Of the ~.
lough he ID placed over 1--WE cities
is reward vas In proportion 70 y
The third report was bad, i
sals neglect. laxiness, and q w.
inception regarding the king.
'ught to excuse his Sloth by bian'ils
The excuses OF the sim.
ways condemn himself. not God. ~
lgment the sinners guilt.
servant lost what be w..
use. II We Will not use we o.
Doubtless this servant CONSIDER
mself unfortunate. though he
dyed "out Of his own mouth"
'rtins again to those citizens ~
a = q ~ " OK I4aHa = AUn.E -. a A--AW 49, 2M