The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-07-03

just MATT OstJ
This is another lesson connected
with our Lords Perean ministry.
]. The Calls to Service, w. II.
To get correct setting we must re-
turn to Peters question, 1917, which
in turn grew out of our Lords deal
ings with the rich young ruler (see
lesson Of June 21st, and which called
from Jesus the exclamation, 1T is
hard for a rich man to enter the king
dom of heaven" 1929. At this the
disciples were exceedingly surprised
and exclaimed, who then can be
saved?" ". 25). Jesus replied, with
God all things are possible" There
upon Peter said, 10, we have left
all and followed thee; what then shall
we have?" The young man refused
to leave his all and follow, whereas
the disciples had and Peter seems to
desire to know what advantage had
accrued to them, what reward they
we're to have.
Jesus Answers Peter.
Jesus closed his answer to Peter by
saying, Many that are first shall be
last; and the last shall be first" w..
30) and illustrates his reply by the
parable which is our lesson. Many
who do not stipulate reward shall
be first, while many who work and
work long, but work only for a re-
ward, will be last. Preceding this
Jesus definitely told Peter that the
twelve should be associated with him
Judging the twelve tribes of Israel
and that all who had left all to fol.
low him should receive an hundred
fold and would inherit eternal life
(see chapter 1928, 29), that is, they
would gain what the young ruler
sought by doing what he failed to do.
Historically this is illustrated by the
Jew and Gentle, Matt. Sill, 49, Luke
13:28-30; Rom. 930-S3.
Parable of the Kingdom.
Jesus says this is parable Of the
kingdom, hence the householder repre-
sents God (cf. 1927; 21:33, 43); the
vineyard is the kingdom. see lisa. az;
Matt. 21:33. The king is seeking
iaborers to labor in his vineyard. HIS
began in the early morning ". -
and with those whom he employed he
made definite agreement. The
penny had value of about seventeen
cents and represents an average days
wage at that time. No one works for
God without fair wage, Eph. 6:S;
Heb. 6:10. Notice, before they were
set to their task God called them
The call was to service, Mark 1:17
He goes out again at the third and
the sixth and the ninth hour, finds
other laborers, making no definite
agreement with them but sends them
into his vineyard to work. He led
them into the work and they trusted
him for wages. At the eleventh hour
he found idlers and asked them the
reason ". g.. they replied that no
one had employed them and them toe
he sends into the vineyard without any
bargain as to wages. None except
those at the third hour had any in
timation as to their wage and they
were TO receive whatsoever is right
Those called at the first may put In
longer hours but produce a poorer
quality of service than others called
at later time. The character Of the
service is of greater value than the
amount rendered and the higher the
service the greater the proportionate
reward. We get in this life about
what we work for.
H. The Reward Of Service, w. 8-16
At the end of the day the Lords
steward rewards each man, beginning
with the last and ending with the
first ". 81. The first one is paid &C
cording to the strict letter Of the
agreement, and the last is likewise
paid in strict justice but in most
liberal manner. He, too. was worthy
for he worked throughout all the
time that was for him available.
Giving an equal reward to all was a
test of the character OF those men
who entered the vineyard in the early
morning. The Lords answer wv.
1870 is a four-fold one % Il did
thee no wrong" the contract had been
lived up to to the very letter. (2)
1T is my will to give, even as unto
thee;" the Lord has a right to be
generous If he so desires. (3) 1T is
lawful for me to do what will with
mine own" God has right to exer.
else such a prerogative and man has
no right to complain, Rom. 9:15-2l.
az rs thine eye evil because l am
good?" The ground of this complaint
was that of envy.
lII-The Teaching. We must be
ware of trying to make this parable
teach more than is written. To right
fully understand our Lords dealings
with those who serve him we must
consider others of his parallels. This
one has two chief lessons; first, that
priority of time or even length OF
service is not the all-essential requi
site; and second, that our fidelity to
and use of our opportunity is the
chief desideratum Along with this
there are OF course other lessons. In
answer to Peters question our Lord
ahnwed him and his feIIow d;Icinlat