The Denison review., 1914-07-01
Sunday School Notes
Side, Light, on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by Charles K. Meyers

July 5--Laborers in the Vineyard.
Math. 2O-11G.
We have for consideration this week
anothc rof the remarkable parallels
of Jesus. 1t took very many forceful
sayings OH the part OF Jesus to leave
u record for us which should portray
just what the Kingdom OF heaven"
truly is. 1t took also many parallels
to explain to the disciples OF Jesus
and the self righteous Jews as to their
true relation to it.
The parable of "Thc Laborers in
the Vineyard comes under the latter
head. 1t will be remembered that in
a lesson not long ago the disciples
asked what would be their reward for
following Jesus, seeing they had left
all for him. At another time there
was a wordy discussion among them
as to which should be the greatest. 1t
was to give them a hint, or to enlight-
en- them as to their true status that
the parable of this date was given.
1t will be remembered that the par
able tells Of the owner of the vineyard
who, wanting labOrers, went to the
market place to hire them. In the
morning bargain was made that
those hired were to have one penny a
day. TO this they agreed, and went to
work. At different times during the
day the owner went to the market
place and engaged more help, promis-
ing to pay them whatsoever is right
lie hired men even to within an hour
of the close of the day. At pay time
the last to come were paid first and
given the same wages as those who
had labored for the entire day. This
caused some complaint from those
who had worked all day. They were
told that they had been paid accord
ing to agreement and thus had no true
reason for complaint. Jesus added the
comment, $50 that the last shall be
first and the first last
The lesson for the disciples lay in
trying to have them understand that
they alone were not to be recognized
by God; there was no ariStOcracy in
the kingdom: that efficiency and not
length of service was to be recognized.
Peter, as leading disciple. had
W ltttl IL ttlOllS liilo llllC. Al ~,
his self conceit was to be taken away
by the test as to whether he would
deny Christ. He could not stand the
test, and the growing of the cock her
aided his downfall. Through the Wis
ion of the sheet filled with unclean
things he came to learn that God is
no rcspcctcr OF persons. In the COM
ing to the first place of Paul as an
apostle, Peter was able to better APP
precatc the parable of today. Peter
was obliged to take second place to
one who came much later into the
work of the Master than he.
Viewing work in the vineyard, as
servants in Gods kingdom here on
earth, and the pay as blessed eternal
life, it cannot be said that one begin
ming this work late in life has the same
reward as one who has been a chris
tan many years. A true christian
"gets his pay as he goes along The
happiness of being at peace with God,
of eternal life secured, OF love for fel-
lowmcn filling the heart, gives a joy
to life which is priceless and ample
pay if such is needed for whatever
burdens have to he borne.
Again. viewing the pay for christian
service as eternal life. it is but fitting
there should be no difference in its
degree, length or the station occupied.
If all receive the same reward there
can be no heart burning. All will be
so glad that they have won heaven
and that others have also. there will
be no thought as to how it came about
In case of shipwreck and the saw
ing of the crew. the question is not
asked as to which member has suf-
fercd most, waiting for rescue There
is no faultlinding that anyone else is
saved among those who face each 9TH
er safe on land. The great, over
whelming, abundant. JOY giving eNpe-
ricncc of eternal life will be so salts
flying, the past will have no place. but
the future of unending happiness will
fill every activity of soul.
God will be found to be just and His
Judgment ever right. Let us not
therefore alarm ourselves over what
is done to anyone else. but the rather,
determine that personally we will gain
the eternal life promised to all who
truly love and serve God.
In the language of St Paul, BE not
weary of well doing for as much as
We know that your labors are not in
vain in the Lord"