Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-02-22
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
TIE PARABLE OF THE POUNDS

- - EEnNo6E Vt TIE FOON6S
LESSON TExT-Luke Is:ll-27.
GOLDEN TEAT-He that is faithful In
uhst which is least. is faithful also in
n4scn.-Luke 1910.
REFERENCE MATERIAI<-Matt. a5:14-
80; | tin. 4:I3-15.
PRIMARY ToPIC-working for Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Faithful and Unfaith-
full Workers.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
the Fidelity That Jesus Expects.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-wnat Returns Does Christ Require Of
Usf
3 The purpose of this parable was to
correct the smisapprehension of the
disciples as to the immediate establish
menf 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. It is to be
noted that Jesus did not correct them
for believing in the reality of the king
dom, but for believing that 1t would
Immediately appear.
= NV HbSSHt EVtO w. LIZ.
He pictures His going back to God
as q nobleman going to receive king
dom. This was a common occurrence
among them. They knew how some of
ee Herodian family had thus done
gone to Rome and secured their ap-
pointment to rule over Palestine. Jesus
assembled on high to receive from God.
the Father, kingdom. Let no one
mistake the certainly Of His return,
though the time be unknown, and the
event delayedsssset1sis AZ So .s
u. The pistributlon Of the Pounds
~. W. ENC II sat Fsa /.
These pounds asepresents Chrint's
gifts to His servants. when Chyist
ascended He gave gifts teamen WpAs
~. 8. II. 12ls so eachsaeesants &aS
sven the -samAsaylseant, ss,l1lslngs3Dnt
= Ill ceEfa1n N has aeen ofkenl
and thereforesall NlD be held respoaak
be for it, usAssARhe distrtbntion1Was
made BY the ansBceign. Msxas alsOaa
DuEposeful distrihution. They were to
! mt their gifts to use during His ab-
eence. What the nohleman demanded
was faithfulness. The pounds were to
be used for the Master, not for the
selfish enjoyment of the servant.
III. The Rebeliious Citizens ". IA
4They hated Him and sent messen-
ers aftez Him. notifying Him Of their
tefusai to be subject to Him. This pic
ures the unbelief Of the Jews after
hrist's ascension and their repudia-
lon of His rule. 1t also pictures the
pbelieving world in its hatred and re
Rction of Christ.
w. The Accounting (vv. 1920.
l.. It's Certainty Christ will surely
king everyone to account for the use
Ehde Of His gifts. He has appointed
day in which lie shall judge the
orld (Acts 17:31).
2. Time Of w. 15). 1t will take
pee when Jesus comes back to earth
wants and reckon with them. This
take place when He has received
s kingdom He will receive His
lgd0m when he asks the Father Cps.
b.
Rewards Given for Faithfulness
/. 16-19). az The first report wv.
III. The pound had gained ten
lnds He did not say, II have made
pounds" but "Thy pound hath
ned ten pounds" He recognized the
rd's ownership. To this the Lord
blied by commendarion. He praised
and promoted him. He was made
er over ten cities. (2) The second
|ort ". 1877. In his case the pound
gained five pounds He did not
the Lords commentator for he
not done so wei, but he was ap-
nted to place Of rulership over
cities. The reward in each case
proportioned TO faithfulness dur
the Lords absence. The principle
reward was shown to be that faith
pess in very small things prepares
larger responsibilities.
Judgment Upon the Unfaithful
20-27). (1) His report wv. 2O.21).
report was entirely bad. He had
put the pound to use, but laid II
Y. throwing the blame upon the
He asserted that the character
[he Lord was snch as to produce
+. Men are failing today in their
vice because they have wrong con-
btions of Christ (2) Commentator
'. %. 23) The wicked servant is
lged out of his own mouth His ex.
be increased his guilt He is called
eked. (3) SStrip. ed of the pound
24-26). To fail to use ones gifrs
ans to lose them. One Of the losses
the next world will be the depriva
of what we have now. "a Warn
~. 27). Those who reject Chris
using to submit to His authority
II share the same deprivation a.
Sc who are unfaithful in His serv
Hypocrisy