The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-07-25
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlMSQ1O0L
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS Director n, Eva,,,~
department.. The Moody Bible Institute,
LESSON FOR JULY 26
THE POUNDS AND THE TALENTS

LESSON TEXT-Luke Billy. CT. Mat
GOLDEN TEXT-"well done, good an
over few things, / will set thee owe
many things; enter into the Joy of tn
lord" Matt. 1921 r. "
we are told plainly why Jesus spok,
the first parable ". III. We must be
ware OF confusing these two parablel
though they are one in their essentia
teachings.
The parable of the pounds was ut
tered before the triumphal entry o.
Jesus into Jerusalem while that o
the talents was spoken subsequently
This association does not mean iden
tlty 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 10 Fidelity.
]. occupy Till ! Come" w. TIA.
Both OF these parallels have to do with
the return Of an absent lord who will
then establish his kingdom. In view
or 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 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. 28:1S r. w.. Eph. 1:
1928; I 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" w. 14) include his
proper subjects the Jews, John I'LL;
Acts 4:27-2S. and in this connection
we recall their cry, Away with him,
cruelty" Luke 1888; John 1915. These
citizens" also include all of his pro-
fessed followers but not necessarily
regenerated 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 difference in the
amounts bestowed. This last empha-
sizes the fact that each is to be held
responsible according to the measure
or his own personal ability. Putting
these two together we see that all the
servants Of the king are responsible
Tor the one pound which Is a symbol
Of the common fact of the kingdom
power. At the same time the servant |
g also responsible for that common
power according to the measure in
which it is entrusted to him, in which |
lie is able to deal with it. The small
mount of one pound indicates our re-
possibility for the smallest gifts.
Parable Of Pounds.
u. "When He Was Returned" w.
$50. The parable of the pounds was
poken to those who thought he must
t once establish he kingdom of God.
That of the talents was given in an
wer to the disciples inquiry as to
5hen certain things which he had fore
old would take place. Upon his re-
urn all these servants will be sum-
1oned before him, Matt. 25:1S, Rom.
4:10-12, ii Cor. $40. AS Jesus stood
here, he, likewise of that as of all
Their ages, saw ahead of him Jeru-
alem with its scourging, suffering
nd death. He also saw beyond that
Is resurrection and departure to re-
Give a kingdom ". 12), a period
1erefore In this world during which
Is servants shall be responsible for
lie care of his interests, a time dur
lg which they shall occupy. do bust
ess with what he has entrusted them
the kingdom authority and power.
ii OF this will eliminate in his re-
i'm when he will deal with those to
HON this responsibility has been
ven, and then establish finally his
ngdom. In the parable Jesus deals
18th each servant separately, and en-
,asizes. the fact of stewardship. The
,und belonged to the king. For his
ithfulness the first servant received,
II, (a) the kings commentator
Id % authority over ten cities.
ater, ". 24) he also received another
und. The second did not give quite
good a report, and his reward
cked the appreciation OF the king, I
ough he is placed over five cities" I
Is reward was in proportion to his
ithfulness.
The third report was bad. 1t re- I
ais neglect, laziness, and a wrong q
inception regarding the king. He :
ught to excuse his sloth by blaming