The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-04-03

This lesson 10 connected directly
with that Of two weeks ago. the
events occurring in the house Of the
chief Pharisee." 1871.
!. An Memorable Promotion, w. ~.
Tho spirit Of humility hero empha.
sized by Jesus 10 not that Of com.
mendins the man who piously. osten.
tatiousiy, takes the low seat. and then
is angry II he IL not promoted: the
man who says mo" and is angry II he
10 taken at his word. These words
are not only TO be applied literally but
have a wide scope and embrace all
the followers OF Christ IN every walk
OF life. The sincere evidence Of this
spirit 10 proof OF the nearness Of the
disciple to the life OF his Lord: see
Phil. 2:3, 6. Z and Matt 1874. Men
scramble for position and power to
DO obtained at the hands OF other
men. Jesus, the keen observer. saw
men striving In this house. and criti'
cizes such conduct. Lest haply."
twice repeated. gives us the clew 10
this section. Guests are not TO seek
the higher seats. lest haply" more
worthy ones should appear who ought
TO occupy them.
Real Hospitality.
n. A HOLY Reeompense, w. 1914.
The man who makes q feast invites
those who can return his favor or else
thereby pays his obligations TO 20.
ciety. Not no tho members OF the
kingdom Matt. 6:i.6. 1919. Re.
compense" Is here the key. Those
who are needy cannot make any ma.
terial recompense and the ono who
gives the feast does not need any
other recompense than that Of the
gratitude OF those served and the ap.
provai. well DONE" from the king.
This docs not forbid the Interchange
OF hospitality and courtesies but does
warn W lest In our elaborate feasts
We overlook the poor. but worthy
ones. In the kingdom. hospitality con-
sists OF = desire to give rather than
70 get
~. A heavenly Invitation. w. Is.
2<.-One OF tho guests seems TO have
been impressed with the words Of
Jesus and exclaimed. blessed 10 he
that shall eat bread In tho kingdom Of
God" lie seemed to realize that the
conduct Jesus was speaking OF was
to be found only there. In answer our
Lord gave us this parable Of the great
supper In which he describes an At.
mosphere like that created by his host
and tho guests there present. ny this
parable he replies TO this man. con.
trasting tho admixing OF an ideal and
being willing to be governed by that
ideal. (a) Those who refused. This
was q great supper" q time Of great
Joy and many were invited. see Gal
"a. Q; Matt 3:2: Mark l:it. 10. All
men had to do was TO come" lisa.
55:l: Matt. li:2s: John 1887: Rev.
22;i7, There were three who made
excuses. yet all three refused the In.
vitation. The FIRST ". 49, was the
man whose property stood In his way
III Tim. t;i0: I Tim. G:9). The sec.
ond allowed q dumb OK. that might
have received attention later. to take
precedence over the glad feast. DO.
nestle demands and goddess home ties
are used frequently by the evil one TO
keep men out OF the kingdom. Tho
third excuse ". 20) was still less Jus.
tifable. for this man should have
brought his wife with him. It was her
place as much ~ his to accept the
Invitation. However. TO spurn Gods
invitation does not mean that there
shall DO any lack Of guests. see John.
l:ii and Matt. 2i;3i. (2) Those who
accepted this Invitation wv. 2i.2p.
Thus 10 be spurned made the master
Of the house angry" ". 2D.
Gods Method.
This Is Gods method OF flling
empty churches. II we wear out con-
secrated shoe-leather during the week
men will not forget US on the Sab
bath. and guests will always be found
for Gods table. "Compulsion' ". 23)
indicates intense. earnest effort In
bringing men to Christ III Cor, $50;
Col. LES; II Tim. 4:2). Men should
be reluctant only through q sense OF
their unworthiness. which ia In reality
their greatest possible fitness.
Here again the question OF host ana
guest Is thrust upon US. In society
we ask our friends and rich neighbors,
lest haply they bid US In turn. or re.
pay by making some other recon-
pense. Our hospitality 10 q quid pro
quo business. Thus there 10 set be-
fore US the blindness Of human hearts
In the excuses they make In answer
to Gods invitation.
In the matter OF entering the king
dom Of God II IL the man who humbles
himself that IL exalted within. Men
must stoop TO reach the heights. we
undergo In order to overcome. In the
matter Of our behavior. guests must
humble themselves to the needs Of the
lowest. II they are to be exalted to
the highest In life. Our greatest duty
10 to that call which comes from the
highest authority. What Q wonderful
l napahlA thla L. ~tvau a. aaawap IN I