The Winslow mail., 1923-02-23
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
THE PARABLE OF THE POUNDS

! LESSON TEXT-Iuke 19:11-N
GOLDEN TEXT-He that is faithful in
that which is least, is faithful also in
EFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt 25:14-
! 80; l Tim. 4:13-15.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Working for Jesus
JUNIOR TOPIC-Faithful and Unfaith-
| full Workers
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| The Fidelity That Jesus Expects.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What Returns Does Christ Require of
Us?
The purpose Of this parable was to
correct the misapprehension of the
disciples as to the Immediate establish
ment Of the kingdom. They were on
the way to Jerusalem and they thought
that Immediately upon their arrival
there Jesus would begin the exercise
of His kingdom rule. 1t is to be
noted that Jesus did not correct them
for believing in the reality of the king
dom, but for believing that it would
Immediately appear
|. The Absent Lord (v. 12).
|
as nobleman going to receive king
dom. This was common occurrence
among them They knew how some of
the Herodian family had thus done
gone to Rome and secured their ap-
! pointment to rule over Palestine. Jesus
ascended on high to receive from God,
the Father, a kingdom. Let no one
mistake the certainty of His return,
though the time be unknown, and the
event delayed.
II. The Distribution of the Pounds
". 12).
These pounds represent Christ's
gifts to His servants. When Christ
ascended He gave gifts to men (Eph.
~, 8, II, 12). To each servant was
given the same amount, showing that
to all certain gift has been given
and therefore all will be held RESPONSE
BILE for it's use. The distribution was
made by the sovereign. 1t was also
purposeful distribution. They were to
| put their gifts to use during His alb
! sence. What the nObleman demanded
was faithfulness. The pounds were to
be used for the Master not for the
selfish enjoyment of the servant.
III. The RebeIIous Citizens (v. 14).
They hated Him and sent messen-
gers after Him, notifying Him of their
refusal to be subject to Him. This pic
lures the unbelief of the Jews after
Christ's ascension and their repudia-
ton Of His rule. It also pictures the
unbelieving world in its hatred and re-
lection of Christ.
w. The Accounting (vv. 1920.
1. It's Certainty. Christ will surely
bring everyone to account for the use
made of His gifts. He has appointed
day in which He shall judge the
world (Acts II :31).
2. Time OF (v. 15). 1t will take
place when Jesus comes back to earth.
AT that time L1s will summon His
servants and reckon with them. This
will take place when He has received
His kingdom. He will receive His
kingdom when he asks the Father Cps.
2:8).
3. Rewards Given for Faithfulness
wv. 16-19). (1) The first report (vv.
16, 10. The pound had gained ten
pounds. He did not say, II have made
ten pounds" but 'Thy pound hath
gained ten pounds" He recognized the
Lords ownership. To this the Lord
replied by commendation. He praised
him and promoted him. He was made
ruler over ten cities. (2) The second
report w. 18). In this case the pound
| had gained five pounds. He did not
get the Lords commendation for he
I had not done so well, but he was ap-
pointed to a place of rulership over
4 five cities. The reward in each case
was proportioned to faithfulness dur
ing the Lords absence. The principle
of reward was shown to be that faith
fulness in very small things prepares
for larger responsibilities.
f. Judgment Upon the Unfaithful
wv. 20-2O. (O His report wv. 20,2D.
This report was entirely bad He had
not put the pound to use, but laid it
away, throwing the blame upon the
Lord. He asserted that the character
Of the Lord was such as to produce
fear. Men are failing today in their
service because they have wrong con-
ceptions of Christ. (2) Commendatfon
wv. %, 23). The wicked servant is
judged out of his own mouth. His ex-
cuse increased his guilt. He is called
wicked. (3) Stripped of the pound
wv. 24-26). To fail to use ones gifts
means to lose them. One of the losses
of the next world will be the depriva-
tion of what we have now. (4) Warn
ing (v. 2O. Those who reject Christ,
refusing to submit to His authority,
shall share the same deprivation as
those who are unfaithful in His serv-
| ice