The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-07-23

THE POUNDS AND THE TALENTS.
~ LESSON TExT-Luke 1e:11-27, CT. Matt.
GOLDEN TExr'.welI done. good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
lord" Matt. 1921 R. Y.
We are told plainly why Jesus spoke
the first parable ". 11). 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-
t1ty for each has 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 oar Lord with that
expected manifestation. Hence this
parable as recorded by Luke:
Issue Is Fidelity.
!. "occupy Till I Come" w. 11-14.
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 fulf1ls the departure into far
country" He will return to set up
that kingdom, Acts 1911, with '"alr
authority" Matt. 28:1S r. ", Eph. 1:
1928; Pet. 1922. He may return at
any time. In neither parable is there
full description of the kingdom as it
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 I'll;
Acts 4:27-28, and In this connection
we recall their cry, away with him.
cruelty" Luke 23:8: John 1915. These
Citizens" also include all Of his pro-
fessed followers but not necessarily
regenerated men, Matt. 1928. The
king gives to each servant ". 13) 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.
H.. "When He Was Returned" w.
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 25:18, Rom.
14:1o-12, II Cor. $40. AS Jesus stood
there, he, likewise of that as of all
other ages, saw ahead Of him Jeru-
salem with it's scourging, suffering
and death. He also saw beyond that
his resurrection and departure to re-
ceive kingdom ". 12), a period
therefore in this world during which
his servants shall be responsible for
the care of his interests, time dur
ing which they shall occupy, do bust
ness with what he has entrusted them
Of the kingdom authority and power.
ALI of this will eliminate in his re-
turn when he will deal with those to
whom this. responsibility has been
given, and then establish finally his /
kingdom. In the parable Jesus deals
with each servant separately, and en-
phasizes the fact of stewardship. The |
pound belonged to the king. For his |
the first servant received, |
Y. II, (a). the kings commentator |
and (b) authority over ten cities.
Later, ". 24) he also received another |
Mound. The second did not give quite |
so good report, and his reward
lacked the appreciation of. the king,
though he is placed over five cities"
His reward was in proportion to his
faithfulness.
The third report was bad. 1t re-
veals neglect, laziness, and wrong
conception regarding the king. He
sought to excuse his sloth by blaming
another. The excuses of the sinner
-. a ~ n