The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL.

NccDl TO- iIt Cli ' Al S,IiiS. Aht'tl -
lib.
We have for our lesson this week
another of the remarkable parallels
delivered by Jesus. The parable OF
the Ten Virgins" is far famed, beth
for the truths ii teaches an dts fine
portrayal CT the manner in which wed
ding ceremonies were carried out in
the days when Jesus was on earth,
nearly two thousand years ago. This
is one of Il number primarily designed
to open the eyes of the proud self
righteous Jews to their true state in
the new kingdom which Jesus came
to establish. One Of the others is that
of the marriage feast to which the
first invited guests would not come
and another the killing of the heir
to the estate reasoning that with this
done. the property would become that
of the tenants. The nom-attenGing
guests and the murderous tenants rep
resented the Jewish rulers who had
steadily refused to believe in Jesus
and were planning for His death at
the time the parable was spoken in
their hearing.
OF course much attention will be
given in the Sunday Schools to the
marriage customs OF Syria in the
days of Jesus and now From these
no spiritual light will be gained but
it is always necessary to give, as we
often term it. setting to the picture"
so that the best effect can be gained.
1t sometimes seems strange that in
countries where after marriage the
wife is but slave, liable to be di-
vorced, or another faVorite set in her
place that the wedding festivities are
made so nlucA OF, but such seems the
case. Taking UP briefly the marriage
customs CT the orient, it might be said
that there is much ceremony and eX-
element over the coming CT the eX-
pectant husband to the home Of the
bride. In this the populace generally
is allowed to join. With SO much cere-
mony and preparation the exact time
for the coming OF theb bridegroom is i'll
doubt and it is no disrespect to him
if those expecting to attend the we'd
ding sleep in the waiting interval.
The parable pictures ten young
women, virgins who with lamps in
their hands went forth to meet an eX-
pected bridegroom. It is said that five
were wise in that they took care to
have oil in their lamps, while five
were foolish in that they neglected to
take oil. The bridegroom delayed his
coming and. evening coming on, all
slept At midnight the cry arose the
bridegroom cometh,' whereupon the
ten young women arose to trim their
lamps and go with the wedding party
to the ceremony. Then is was the
foolish virgins came to realize that
they needed oil in their lamps, and
they begged the wiser ones to give
them oil. This they refused to do,
saying they had need Of all they had,
and advising that those lacking go
to the merchants and buy. This the
foolish ones did, but on returning they
came too late to the wedding and
found the door shut. According to
custom there was no way to compel
entrance once the door was shut. The
disappointed ones plead hard for the
door to be opened for them, but to no
avail. Jesus added but one comment
to the recital OF the parable, and this
was to warn all to watch, for ye
know not the day nor the hour where
in the Son OF man cometh.'
Tho lesson for the Jews of Jesus
day was in warning that they must
take thought to their future as regards
the condition they would be in when
the kingdom of Jesus was established
on the earth. They We're perfectly
sure in their own minds all would be
well with them for the future, that
they need take no thought as to that,
but could eat, drink and be merry be-
ing assured that as direct descendants
OF Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph they
would have the choicest places in any
thing Jehovah might arrange.
The lesson for us is not hard to find,
and it is that you and | must not take
it for granted that all will be well
with us in the great future after death
if we neglect the most needed pre-
paration for the same. AS there came
a time when the door was shut to the
foolish virgins, so there will come
time when our cries to God for help
will be without avail if we neglect the
through faith in Jesus. the Christ.
There is q vast forethouSk and ad-
monitor on the idea that we must not
only prepare for living in heaven. but
must prepare for all important places
we may be called upon to fill on earth.
AS children, we go to school and col
lege, we enter a lowly place in bus
mess. we read books and papers on
our chosen profession all to prepare. /
The person who does not thus pre-
pare will be an utter failure il life.
Nothing is so pitiful as to see one
given chance to be advanced, to
hold great place. and then not ''make |