The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1960-04-23

not to pay, his lord command
ed him to be sold, and his wife,
and children, and all that he
had, and payment be made
But business being business,
the king demanded that as
much of the debt as possible
be settled by selling every
thing the debtor had, including
himself and his family. "The
servant therefore fell down,
and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me,
and will pay thee all" -.
At least he showed evidence
of wanting to face his honest
obligation. although in reality
it was we'll night impossible
for him to find that much
money. Then the lord of that
servant was moved with COM
passion and loosed him, and
forgave him the debt" :.
Here he received more than he
requested, for he only asked
for more time to enable him
TO raise the money he owed his
lord but the king went beyond
that and cancelled the debt
completely, which meant that
the debt had been satisfied
and did not have to be paid.
"But the same servant went
out, and found one of his fell
low servants, which owed him
a hundred pence: and he laid
hands on him, and took him
by the drought, saying Pay
me that thou owest" we
are strictly cautioned that our
forgiveness with God is con-
ditioned by our own spirit of
mercy which we show toward
our fellow men. "And his fell
low servant fell down at his
feet, and besought him, say
ing, Have patience with me,
and | will pay thee all' !.
This was a much more likely
possibility than the payment of
the debt owed the king. The
fellow servant showed the
same humility toward this ser
want as had been shown the
king when his majesty's patti
ence was petitioned. "And he
would not: but went and cast
him into prison, till he should
pay the debt" This man
showed both a lack of for
giveness and a lack of wisdom.
$50 when his fellow-servants
saw what was done, they were
very sorry. and came and told
unto their lord all that was
done" These servants
must have had knowledge of
the great debt thaving been
forgiven this unmerciful ser.
want, and knew also how he
had treated his fellow servant.
They we're sorry for the SER
want that had been cast into
prison and evidently angry at
the servant that had shown SO
little mercy. Then his lord,
after that he had called him,
said unto him, 0 thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all that
debt, because thou desirest
me" it was not for any
merit on the servants part
that he deserved such kind
ness, but because he begged to
be given another chance to
make good his lord granted
him more by far than he had
requested. "Shouldest not thou
also, have had compassion on
thy fellowservant, even as |
had pity on thee" Jesus
said that is what happens to
all of us who seek mercy but
are unwilling to show it to
others.
PRACTICAL POINTS ON
THE LESSON:
The two Christian virtues
dealt with in the lesson today
are righteousness and mercy.
AS it is Gods nature to be
righteous or just, so it must
be our disposition to do Just
ly. AS it is the nature of our
Heavenly Father to pity or to
show compassion upon His
hayward children just as an
earthly fathed pities or shows
compassion upon his children,
so 1t is the Christians duty
and demand to love mercy. Es-
pecially to be noted in today's
lesson is the fact that what is
divinely required of us is the
thirst and hunger for right
BUSINESS. Mercy is kindness and
compassion.