The Washington herald., 1914-05-23

QO Even so ye also. when ye shall
have done al the things that are COM
manded you, say, We are improbable
servants; We have done that which 1t was
our duty to do.
The Narrative.
In our lesson today we have further
words Of the Lord spoken specially to His
disciples. most probably at the same
tine. but most certainly In the same at
mosphere-
The line Of teaching here is in direct
continuation of all that had preceded,
and results from the hospitality of the
scribes and Pharisees to Him on account
Of His reception of publicans and sinners.
The heart of Jesus was filed with COM
passion for the needy multitudes. He was
the good Shepherd. seeking the lost sheep.
He was angry with the men whose love
of money calloused .hem in the presence
of the need Of the multitudes. In this
spirit He turned again to His own dis
ciples and taught them.
He first admitted the fact that occa-
sions Of tumbling must come, but in the
most solemn way warned them against
causing such occasion. as He said that
1t would be better that a milestone should
be hanged about the neck Of q man. and
he thrown into the sea, than that he
should cause one OF these little ones to
stumble; that is. these very people that
Pharisees and scribes were holding In
contempt. Directly appealing then to
His disciples He showed them that their
true attitude toward a SHINING man
should be that Of rebuking him. and IL he
repented. that he should be forgiven.
This Is where the rulers were failing. II
they had seen things as they really were.
they would have discovered In the eager
ness Of publicans and sinners to hear
Jesus, at least a movement toward the
high moral standards which He was
erecting. and would have been ready to
forgive.
In answer to these words the apostles
said to Him. Increase our faith" This
exclamation revealed their sense Of the
Importance, superiority, and difficulty Of
His ideals They were right. It Is only
as mer are brought into personal fellow
ship with the Lord, of such a nature that
they actually see other men with His
eyes, and feel for them with His heart.
that they are able to fulfil His ideals.
To their exclamation He replied by rec.
ognizing the accuracy of their under
standing of their own need. Faith 10 in
deed the principle necessary to the over
coming Of the obstacles in the way Of
the realization of His ideals. Whereas
His phrase. faith As grain of mustard
Seed, may have had reference to size,
II Is Tar more probable that its deepest
note Of suggestion was that of the prin.
ciple Of life contained within such q
seed. When that is understood. then the
element Of smallness becomes even more
suggestive. showing as It does that how
ever comparatively small In amount faith |
may be, II It IL Of the true quality II 10 |
equal to the doing of the most mighty |
things.
Having said this. the Lord changed the |
line Of His instruction with the word, |
But" and the reader is conscious Of q
strange apparent departure from the sub 1
ject In hand. He declared that the doing |
Of duty creates no privilege. No service j
rendered which is due. can be q cause |
for boastfulness, neither does II IN itself
create any right to the expectation Of
specisl reward While. as We have said, l
This 10 an apparent departura II b not |
evident that in these words there was thei
Of . false motive which HsI
knew was even then operative IN the |
minds Of these men? They realized shsI
linlculty Of obedience to His comuAads |
md at the eame tims. recoguised tAaf |
= such obedience they would insure ~ ).