The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-04-04
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
JESUS: INVITES ALL PEOPLE
By HIGHT {. MOORE

:, Sunday School Lesson for Sun
day, April 5, 1886. ..,-
Golden Text-Comc; for al
things arc now ready (Lukc IA
10.
Scripture - Read Luke Ia
Study Luke Ia: 1924.
Early in 30, AID, as Jesus went
through the villages of Pcrca or
his last journey to Jerusalem, he
accepted Sabbath invitation to
dine with a chief Pharisee. The
meal was marked by the healing OF
the dropsical man, despite evident
disapproval; the reproof of the
guests who scrambled for the
chief seats; the lesson on hospital
ity which included the destitute
and the Parable Of the Great Sup
per which showed that gospel priv
ilcgc to be enjoyed must be &C
ceptcd.
In the Parable of the Great Sup
pcr. directed primarily to the for
mai rcligionists of the time,
Jesus set forth the privileges of
the gospel which were first offer
cd to the chosen people but re-
iccted by them, and then gra-
ciously extended to all people.
THE INVITATION DESIRABLE
Verse 49, $50.
Fellowship in prospect made
the invitation desirable. At the
Sabbath feast in a Pharisec's
home, Jesus had just healed a
man that had dropsy and then
taught two very important les
sons-Onc to guests on humility,
and the other to hosts on hospi-
tally to the poor, manned, lame,
and blind who could not repay, in
view of the rccompense in the
resurrection of the just. There
upon one of the guests, reclining
at the table with Jesus, piously
c calculated. blessed is he that
shall cat bread in the kingdom of
God" He seems to have assumed
that the Pharisee and his guests
and the Jews generally would
have that happy privilege as chill
dren of Abraham. But he was now
to learn. that the invitation to
the heavenly banquet must be &C
ceptcd or it cannot be enjoyed. :
THE INVITATION EXTENDED
VERSES. 1910 ~
Opportunity in offer came with
the invitation extended. Here is
a true and striking picture of a
rich Oriental planning a great
banquet for the entertainment of
his friends and the display Of his
royal hospitality. In this instance,
It was supper that was provided,
The afternoon meal being the
one and the most suit
able for the purpose. Vast prepa-
ratiOns had been made and every
thing essential had been abund-
aRtly supplied. Moreover, the, i'll
vited guests were numerous so
that all things. pointed to mag
banquet The guests had
been notified beforehand of their
invitation to the, supper and they
we're also aware Of the making of
preparation for . their
comfort and enjoyment. But in
accordance with a custom of the
time, at the moment the prepare
tons were complete, the guests
were summonedSto the house of
feasting.. Hence the host sent his
to say to them that were
Come: for all things are
now ready" T
THE. INVITATION DECLINED
. VERSES 1920
Rejection, in slight if not in
Scorn was shown, in the invitation
without good reason was consid-
cred a discourtesy; to refuse at
the last moment to come was
less than contempt. The
invited guests knew this. Yet,
they all with one consent began
to make excuse!" 1t is not that
they hated the host or would not
have enjoyed the supper had they
gone, but rather that they put
other things before the accept
ance of the invitation. There was
nothing wrong in their employ
ment; looking over a newly
bought farm, the trial of the
oxen, and the care of a wife. The
wrong was in allowing these
things to obscure the higher du-
tles' The center of the landlords
excuse was pride, and it looked
backward over the past. The
hcrdsman's excuse was keyed to
profit, and he looked to the flu
ture. The bridegroom's excuse
was occupied with pleasure at the
moment and showed total uncon-
Germ about the. weightier matters.
As matter of fact, the excuses
were worse than. unavaillng; they
actually betrayed an icy indiffer-
ence to the invitation and a lack
Of. interest in him who extended
It,, :: -. = ...
So two of the1bidden guests had
asked to be excused, while the
third positively and bluntiy reject
cd the >genctous summons. Of
course, the servant came and
showed his, lord these things. Very
naturally the master of. the house
Mrs j. I. Thompson. 16 Whitfield
street.
The Board of Christian Educa-
tion VIII meet in the pastors
study Tuesday at $3.50 p. m.
nc nrSt meeting of the Junior.
E =, League will be held on
wednesday evening at GAS in,
the ladies' parlor of the church