Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-24
LESSON FOR JULY &c


THE POUNDS AND THE TALENTS.
LESSON TExT-Luke "1s:11-z7. CT. Matt
25:14-30.
GOLDEN TExT-"weI done. good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
over a few things, l will set thee over
many things: enter into the Joy Of thy
lord" Matt. 1871 R. ".
We are told plainly why Jesus spoke
the first parable ". III. 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.
l.. occupy Till I Come" w. fila.
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 consummation, 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 a period of
preparation. Jesus, himself, is the
"nobleman" whose ascension into
heaven where he is to receive a king
dom fulfils the departure into a far
country" He will return to set up
that kingdom, Acts 1911, with "all
authority" Matt. 2S:1S R. ", Eph. i:
1928; l Pet. 1922. He may return at
any time. In neither parable is there
a 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 1:11;
Acts 4:27-2S, and in this connection
we recall their cry, Away with him,
cruelty" Luke 1858; John 1875. These
Citizens also include all of his pro-
fessed followers but not necessarily
r~egenerated 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 a 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 a 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.
II. "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 Is 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 all
other ages, saw ahead of him Jeru-
salem with its scourging, suffering
and death. He also saw beyond that
his resurrection and departure to re-
ceive a kingdom ". 12), a period
therefore in this world during which
his servants shall be responsible for
the care of his interests, a time dur
ing which they shall occupy, do BUSH
ness with what he has entrusted them
of the kingdom authority and power.
All of this will eliminate In bis 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
faithfulness the first servant received,
v. II, (a) the kings commentator
and (b) authority over ten cities.
Later, ". 24) he also received another
pound. The second did not give quite
SO good a 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 a wrong
conception regarding the king. He
sought to excuse his sloth by blaming
another. The excuses of the sinner
always condemn himself, not God, and
augment the sinners guilt. The
wicked servant" lost what he would
not use. If we will not use we must
lose. Doubtless this servant considered
himself unfortunate, though he was
judged "out of his W mouth" Re-
verting again to those citizens who
hated him and would not have the
king to reign over Them" Jesus
closes his parable ". 27) by a most
terrific Indictment. God bears long
with his enemies and is kind but he
will not bear forever, II Thess. 1873.
All of our present activities are
within the period during which the
Lord Is absent. We wait his coming.
This fact alone is an indication OF our
responsibility. He must reign-absent
or present, willingly. lovingly or even
tually by force till he hath put all
enemies under his feet" l Cor. 15:2 "a