The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-09-08
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSOlDOL.
LESSON
tBy e. Q. SELLERS, Director of Evening
Department, The Moody Bible Institute
Chicago)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 13
THE TEN VIRGINS.

LESSON TEXT-Matt 25:1-13
GOLDEN TEXT-"Watch therefore for
We know neither the day nor the hour.
when the Son OF Man cometh." Matt
2513
parable is IAN earthly story with
heavenly meaning" An analogy Is
likeness" This story is a parable
IL Is to illustrate the vigilant, expect
ant attitude of faith. Heb. 6:28; lie
I'm. AS. Leaving the temple. Jesus
drew the disciples attention to it's
buildings and predicted it's destruc-
ton. Proceeding to the Mount Of
olives, his disciples ask him, Tell us.
when shall these things be? And what
shall be the sign of thy coming. and
the end OF the world?" In reply Je-
sus gave the disciples his Olivet dis
course and prophecies found In chap
ters "a and 20. To fully comprehend
this parable we ought to review alb
OF this teaching. The discourse as a
whole falls into these parts ID 24:1-44
deals with Israel as q nation: (2)
Il. ~ 49, w dCGlo Will lIl6 CuuTCu dS
being responsible for the king dur
ing the period between his two ad~
vents; and go 25:31-46 deals with the
Judgment of the nations when the Son
or Man comes in his glory. 1t will be-
seen then that this lesson comes in
the second part and iB one OF three
parallels concerning the responsible
ity OF the church. Jesus is the bride
groom. John 3:2s, 20; Eph 5:25; IL
Cor. 11:2; Rev. 21.9, and sets forth
the love Of Christ for the church.
Eph. 6:25, %, 30-32.
Two Classes.
!. "Whiis tho bridegroom tarried'"
w. is. The first and strongest idea
OF this section is that he, Jesus, the
bridegroom, Is coming again. Among
those who wait are two classes, the
wise and the foolish, though both.
were right mentioned The lamps
symbolize Christian profession, Luke
1875; II Tim. 3:5, and the oil that
which Is essential to give us power
whereby we maintain our profession,
Acts 1923; John 2:20-27. The fool
ish virgins were superficial and had
not enough to maintain their profess
sions. The wise virgins had enough
oil; SO also may the believer have the
abiding spirit of Christ's presence
wherein to maintain his Christian
profession. Waiting they all nodded
(slumbered) and others evidently lay
down (slcpt). The wise virgins could
afford to rest as they had all things
ready. If they had been awake, how
ever, they might have seen and rem
dered aid to those who were in the
sorry plight of not being ready. The
tarrying was test of the faith and
patience Of both the wise and tho
foolish as both awaited the "fulness
of time when he should appear.
The Great Question.
II. Behold the bridegroom cometh"
w. 6-13. All are awakened by this
midnight cry. The hour was one
when he was least expected, and the
church of today needs to be awak-
ened to realizing sense Of this truth.
meet him. but the wise were the only
ones whose lights could shine and
show the way into the banqueting
room. They all outwardly appear alike
even to the very point of separation.
The church Of God individually and
collectively. has yet to sense the dan
ger to it and to others If it's light for
any reason be not continuous. This
cry was a call to meet him" and we
all need to ask ourselves, ARE we
ready to meet him." The hour was
too late to make needful preparation
to meet him. In their emergency they
turned to the five wise ones but the
wisdom OF one cannot supply the de-
aciency or the foolishness of others
". 81. There is no Scripture to sup
port the teaching that one mans merit
s applicable to another except the
merit Of the Goldman Jesus as ap-
piled to sinful humanity. Hence the
wise sent their sisters to the orig
nal source OF supply for oil, and as
they went "the bridegroom came" So
will it be with all who put off too long
the securing of the Holy Spirit in
heir lives.
They that were ready went in.
hey that were not ready when they
came found the door shut" To at
end a marriage feast Is highly es+
.eemed everywhere, but it is priv
lege that is worthy of careful prep
aration.. Remember that Jesus is
1ere showing the attitude towards
himself of those who profess to be
devoted to him during the period OF
lis absence, and who expect his re-
urn as king. That being SO, We need
% remind ourselves Of the laws OF
he kingdom as he gave them at the
beginning of his public career. In
hem we hear his saying, "Ye are the
light Of the world Neither
10 men light a candle and put it un-
Ter a bushel but on a candlestick-
Let your light SO shine before
men that they may glorify
Tour Father which Is in heaven" Matt
!: 14-16. IL we apply these words to-
his particular parable there is re-
,ealed to us the fact that true and
cal waiting for Christ is that which
witnesses to men, and 1t was in this
hat the foolish virgins failed. At the.
utset their lights were shining but
hey failed to be in that close con-
act, In the exercise of those habits
nd practises of spiritual fellowship