The Washington herald., 1914-07-25

another country, called his own servants,
and delivered unto them his goods.
Q5) And unto one he gave nye talents,
to another two. to another one; to each
according to his several ability; and he
went on his journey.
QeD straightway he that received the
five talents went and traded with them.
and made other five talents.
QD In like manner ne also that re-
ceived the two gained other two.
t1O But he that received the one went
away and digged in the earth, and hid
his lords money.
QsD Now after long time the lord OF
these servants cometh. and maketh q
reckoning with them.
(1O And he that received the five tai
ents came and brought other five talents.
saying. Lord. thou deliveredst unto me
i've talents; 10, have gained other i've
talents.
C2D His lord said unto him. Well done,
good and faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over q few things. viii set thee
over many things; enteS thou into the Joy
C2O And he also that received the two
talents came and said. Lord. thou delIv-
eredst unto me two talents; 10. I have
gained other two talents.
CD His lord said unto him, Well done,
good and faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things. I viii set thee
over many things; enter thou into the Joy
Of thy lord.
CD And he also that had received the
one talent came and said, Lord. knew
thee that thou art hard man. reaping
where thou didst not SOW, and gathering
where thou didst not scatter.
(29 And I was afraid. and went away
and hid thy talent in the earth; 10, thou
hast thine own.
(26) But his lord answered and said
unto him, Thou wicked and slothful ser
want. thou knewest that reap where I
sowed not, and gather where did not
scatter.
C2O Thou oughtest therefore to have
put my money to the bankers. and at my
coming should have received back mine
own with interest
(20 Take ye away therefore the talent
from him. and give 1t unto him that hath
the ten talents.
.(2O For unto every one that hath shall
be given. and he shall have-abundance:
but from him that hath not, even that
which he hath shall be taken away.
(3o) And cast ye out the Improbable
servant into the outer darkness; there
shall be the weeping and gnashing Of
teeth.
The Narrative.
In our lesson for today two parallels
are brought together. The first, that OF
the pounds, was uttered before the tri-
umphal entry; the second. that Of the tai
ents, subsequently to that entry. II viii
be observed therefore that here the sec
ond is taken a little out of its true order
The reason for bringing them together In
this way evidently is that they. are in
many respects similar. We must. how
cal, and that they respectively teach diff
ferent things. Let US. however, look at
them first in their similarity.
The parable OF the pounds had to do
with the responsibility OF the servants of
the king for the interests OF his kingdom
during his absence. The parable Of the
talents was concerned with exactly the
same subject. In each case two matters
Of supreme Importance. in order to the
fulhlment of this responsibility, are en-
phasized. The first is that of the ex-
pectation OF the return of the absent
lord. and the establishment of his king
dom coincident Herewith. The second
matter IL that in view Of this return and
his servants are to give
their undivided attention to their imme-
diate responsibility. They are to occupy.
to trade, to be actively engaged In the
discharge of their duties. In neith' par
able is there any full description Of the
as II will be established. seeing
that they both have to do with the SER
wants Of the king. The issues. then, in
each case are the same. In the parable
Of the pounds we have the account Of the
fidelity Of the servants who gained ten
and five respectively, and that Of the in
fidelity of the one who hid his lords
pound. In the parable of the talents we
have the account Of the fidelity Of the
servants who gained five and two, and
the infidelity OF the on who hid his lord s
talent.
The disparity between the parallels Is
to be found In the different phases Of the
one fact Of responsibility with which they
deal
The main emphasis Of the parable of
the pounds Is upon the responsibility of
servants for the enterprises of the king
IN themselves. Here he gives the same
10 each one. a pound. The deposit COM
nitted to them was equal. In the parable
of the talents, on the other hand. we have |
another element brought out that OF dif- |
ference In amount. To one was given |
Ave. to another was given two. to a third |
0ne only was given. This Is not a ON
.radiction. 1t brings out another aspect |
of responsibility, and that Is that those |
who are called into this service Of stew
lrdship, are held responsible for the in |
.erests Of the king according to the |
of their own personal ability. !
That is most clearly stated. Unto one !
he gave five talents, to another two, to |
mother one: to each according to his |
'everal ability" Putting the two togeth- |
r, then, We learn that all the servants
II the king are held responsible for the |
me pound which is the symbol Of the
'ommon fact OF kingdom power. Accord
ng TO the parable of the talents on the
'ther hand, we are responsible for that
common power in the measure in which
We ourselves are able to deal with It,
This disparity is manifest moreover
When We come to the rewards. In the
'ounds the deposits were equal, while the
ewards were different. In the talents
he deposits were different while the re-
Yards were the same. Those who by dill
gence in the use Of kingdom power pro-
luce the largest kingdom results. will en-
er into the largest kingdom authority.
Those who use the ability they have to
he full. will receive from the lips of the
1ord equal commendation, even though
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