The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-21


GOLDEN TExT-'.Wen done. good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
over few things, l will set thee over
many things; enter into the joy OF thy
lord" Matt. 25:21 R. "
We are told plainly why Jesus spoke
the first parable Nv. ID. We must be-
ware of confusing these two parallels
though they are one in their essential
teachings.
The parable of the pounds was ut
tered before the triumphal entry of
Jesus into Jerusalem while that OF
the talents was spoken subsequently.
This association does not mean iden-
tity. for each has a separate lesson.
Both have to do with an absent lord
whose return was imminent. The
Jews looked for a temporal visible
Kingdom and many were associating
the earthly life of our Lord with that
expected manifestation. Hence this
parable as recorded by Luke.
Issue Is Fidelity.
I. "occupy Till Come" w. 1f-14.
Both of these parallels have to do with
the return of an absent lord who will
then establish his kingdom. In view
of this return and contamination, his
servants are to give their undivided
attention to their immediate RESPONSE
bilities. They are to trade, to do bust
ness with that that has been in
trusted to them They are to actively
discharge their duty. Ere the visible
kingdom is established, Jesus told
these Jews, there must be period OF
preparation. Jesus, himself, is the
"nobleman" whose ascension into
heaven where he is TO receive a king
dom fulfils the departure into far
country" He will return to set up
that kingdom, Acts 1911, with "all
authority" Matt 2S:1S R. ", Eph. 1:
1923; 1 Pei. 1922. He may return at
any time In neither parable is there
a full description of the kingdom as 1t
is to be established, for both have to
do with the servants. The issue is
that of fidelity in each case.
The citizens ". 14) include his
proper subjects the Jews, John Ill;
Acts 4:27-28, and in this connection
we recall their cry, Away with him,
cruelty" Luke 1888; John 1918. These
citizens" also include all Of his pro-
fessed followers but not necessarily
regenerated men, Matt. 7:22-33. The
king gives to each servant ". 49, a
pound (about $4,000. His deposit is
equal in each case. In the parable OF
the talents there is difference in the
amounts bestowed. This last empha-
sizes the fact that each is to be held
responsible according to the measure
of his own personal ability. Putting
these two together we see that all the
servants of the king are responsible
for the one pound which is symbol
of the common fact of the kingdom
power. At the same time the servant
| is also responsible for that common
| power according to the measure in
which it is entrusted to him, in which
he is able to deal with it. The small
amount of one pound indicates our re-
| sponsibility for the smallest gifts,
Parable Of Pounds.
|
! 1880. The parable of the pounds was
spoken to those who thought he must
/ at once establish he kingdom Of God
| That of the talents was given in an,
swer to the disciples inquiry as to
when certain things which he had fore
told would take place. Upon his re
turn all these servants will be sum
moned before him, Matt. 25:1S, Rom
! 14:10-12, II Cor $40. AS jesus stood
there, he, likewise of that as of al
other ages, saw ahead Of him Jeru
salem with its scourging, suffering
and death. He also saw beyond tha
his resurrection and departure to re
ceive a kingdom ". 12), a periot
therefore in this world during which
his servants shall be responsible fol
the care of his interests, time dur
ing which they shall occupy, do bust
ness with what he has entrusted then
of the kingdom authority and power
All of this will eliminate in his re
turn when he will deal with those t.
whom this responsibility has beel
given, and then establish finally hi
kingdom. In the parable Jesus deal
with each servant separately, and EN-
phasizes the fact of stewardship. Tn
i pound belonged to the king. For hi
faithfulness the first servant received
v. II, (a) the kings commentator
and (b) authority over ten cities
Later, ". 24) he also received anothe
4 pound. The second did not give quit
SO good a report, and his rewar'
lacked the appreciation of the king
| though he is placed over five cities.
His reward was in proportion to hi
faithfulness.
The third report was bad. 1t re
: Veals neglect, laziness, and wron
conception regarding the king. H
sought to excuse his sloth by blamin
| another. The excuses of the slime
{ always condemn himself, not God, an
augment the sinners guilt. Th
wicked servant" lost what he woul
J not use. If we will not use we mus
lose. Doubtless this servant considere
himself unfortunate, though he wa
, judged tout Of his own mouth" Re
: verting again to those citizens VIII
hated him and would not have tn
king to reign over them" Jesu
closes his parable ". 80.