IMPORTUNITY REWARDED.IMPORTUNITY REWARDED.
IMPORTUNITY REWARDED.
A certain King took account of his servants and began to reckon what they owed him. And there was brought to him one that owed him nearlyten million dollars. But as he had not the money to pay, the King commanded that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and everything that he had, that payment might be made. Then the servant fell down before the King and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Then the King had compassion on his servant, and loosed him, and forgave him his debt.
But when that servant had gone out from the presence of the King, he found a fellow-servant who owed him a little overfifteen dollars, and he laid hands on him and seized him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that which thou owest." And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and implored him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." And he would not have patience, but cast his fellow-servant into prison till he should pay the debt.
When his other fellow-servants saw what had been done they were very sorry, and came to their King to tell him all about it. Then the King called the unmerciful servant to him, and said, "O thou wicked servant; I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?"
And the King was wroth, and delivered him up to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise, says Christ, shall our Heavenly Father do also unto us if from our hearts we forgive not every one that trespasses against us.
"Forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive them that trespass against us."
"Forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive them that trespass against us."
THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.
THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.
In one of His beautiful parables, Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd. "I am the good shepherd," says He, "the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." And Jesus tells how the hired servant who cares for nothing but his wages, runs away when the wolf comes; but how the faithful shepherd, when robbers threaten his flock, or wild beasts attack them, defends his sheep bravely, often laying down his life for their sake. Jesus also speaks of how the shepherd knows his sheep by name; and how, when he goes before them, they will follow him, because they know his voice, but that they will not follow strangers. And the Bible, speaking of Jesus Himself, says, "He shall carry the lambs in His bosom," or His arms, like the kind shepherd is doing in our picture.
Now, why does Jesus call Himself the "good shepherd," and the Bible speak of Him as carrying the little lambs? Is it not because He loves us; because He knows each one of us; because He gave His life for us when He died on the cross, and has gone to heaven showing us the way thither; because He calls us to follow Him; and because He is so willing to lead even the tiny ones, and shield them from harm, just like the good shepherd carries the poor wee lamb? But Jesus asks one thing of us in return for all His kindness and care, and that one thing is our love. Are we giving Him our love now? Are we asking Him to lead us, and keep us safe from harm? May we seek to follow Him and to know His voice.
THE SHEPHERD AND THE LAMBS.THE SHEPHERD AND THE LAMBS.
THE SHEPHERD AND THE LAMBS.
Jesus had been preaching to a crowd of publicans and sinners. The publicans of those days were the collectors of taxes for the Romans, and it was a constant complaint against them that they exacted more from the people than they had any right to do. So they were looked upon as wicked men, although they were not all bad. Now the Scribes and Pharisees, who made a great show of religion, so far as outward forms went, were greatly shocked at seeing Christ sitting with publicans, and said, "This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them."
Then Jesus asked them, "What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost one, until he has found it? And when he has found it, he lays it upon his shoulders and takes it home, rejoicing; and calls together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.
"Again, what woman if she has ten pieces of money, and loses one, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece of money which I had lost.'
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner that repenteth."
THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY.THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY.
THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY.
A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of thy wealth that would fall to me at thy death." He did so, and a few days after the younger son gathered all his wealth together and journeyed into a far country. There he met with evil companions, and wasted his money in riotous living. When he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want of bread to eat. So he went and hired himself to a man of that country, who sent him into the fields to feed his pigs. And he was so hungry that he would have been glad to have eaten the coarse food such as the swine eat; but no one gave it to him.
His sufferings brought him to his senses, and he thought how foolish he had been, for he remembered that his father's servants had food enough and to spare, whilst his father's son was perishing with hunger. He said, "I will leave this land and go to my father and tell him how I have sinned against heaven and him. I will tell him I am no longer worthy to be called his son, and will implore him to make me one of his hired servants." And he arose and went towards his father's house, but when he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and was sorry for him, and ran and embraced him. Then he told his father how he had sinned and had lost his title to be called the old man's son, but the father was so glad to have his son come back repentant, that he told his servants to bring the best clothing and a ring to put on his son. And he made a great feast, and they were merry, for he said, "Thisis my son that was as one dead to me and is now alive again; he was lost and is found."
But the elder son was very angry, and would not go in to the feast, but said to his father, "Lo, these many years have I served thee, and never offended or disobeyed thee, and thou hast never made a feast for me and my friends; but now this thy other son has come back, that has wasted thy wealth in riotous living, thou hast made a great feast for him." And his father said, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all I have is thine. It is right that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was as one dead to us and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.
After Jesus had left the Centurion He went to the house of his disciple Peter, and there He saw Peter's wife's mother, laid on a bed, sick with fever. And He took her by the hand and lifted her up. The fever left her and she was cured. She rose up from her bed and attended upon them.
That evening, when the sun was setting, they brought to Jesus all those that were ill, and many that were possessed with devils. And He cast out the devils by His word, and healed all those that were sick.
"At even, ere the sun had set,The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay;Oh, in what divers pains they met,Oh, with what joy they went away!"
"At even, ere the sun had set,The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay;Oh, in what divers pains they met,Oh, with what joy they went away!"
PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER.PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER.
PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER.
See where the steward, worldly wise,With wicked cunning in his eyes,Shows his lord's debtors how to cheatHis master of his oil and wheat."A hundred measures dost thou oweOf oil? My friend, 'tis scarcely so:Here, take thy bill and quick inditeFifty: that puts the matter right.""A hundred measures isthydebtOf corn? My friend, thou dost forget:Here, take thy bill, and write fourscore;Surely thou owest nothing more."Thus wickedly he would provideHouses in which he might abide,When for his former acts unjustHe from his stewardship was thrust.And when his master heard, he smiled,Though of his goods he was beguiled:Nor did he e'en forbear to praiseThe crafty foresight of his ways.The children of this world, alas!The children of the light surpass,In planning methods to provideFor ills from which they cannot hide.And so our Master bids us takeThe money which He gives, and makeFriends with our riches for the dayWhen earthly treasures flee away.That when we leave our house below,And into unknown regions go,Through Jesus, we may find aboveAn everlasting home of love.Do I my little store expendFor such a wise and prudent end;Or only think of my own gain,And not of others' want and pain?Lord, by Thy Spirit, make me wiseAbove my selfishness to rise,And something daily give awayTo find again in Thy great day!Richard Wilton, M.A.
See where the steward, worldly wise,With wicked cunning in his eyes,Shows his lord's debtors how to cheatHis master of his oil and wheat.
"A hundred measures dost thou oweOf oil? My friend, 'tis scarcely so:Here, take thy bill and quick inditeFifty: that puts the matter right."
"A hundred measures isthydebtOf corn? My friend, thou dost forget:Here, take thy bill, and write fourscore;Surely thou owest nothing more."
Thus wickedly he would provideHouses in which he might abide,When for his former acts unjustHe from his stewardship was thrust.
And when his master heard, he smiled,Though of his goods he was beguiled:Nor did he e'en forbear to praiseThe crafty foresight of his ways.
The children of this world, alas!The children of the light surpass,In planning methods to provideFor ills from which they cannot hide.
And so our Master bids us takeThe money which He gives, and makeFriends with our riches for the dayWhen earthly treasures flee away.
That when we leave our house below,And into unknown regions go,Through Jesus, we may find aboveAn everlasting home of love.
Do I my little store expendFor such a wise and prudent end;Or only think of my own gain,And not of others' want and pain?
Lord, by Thy Spirit, make me wiseAbove my selfishness to rise,And something daily give awayTo find again in Thy great day!
Richard Wilton, M.A.
THE UNJUST STEWARD.THE UNJUST STEWARD.
THE UNJUST STEWARD.
There was a certain rich man who was clothed in rich silks and fine linen, and feasted on costly food each day. There was also a poor beggar, who was ragged and hungry, and covered with sores. His name was Lazarus, and they laid him at the rich man's gate, for he desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the well-supplied table. And even the dogs had pity on him, for they came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass that the beggar died, and the angels carried him away to heaven, where he was no longer clothed in rags, but in glorious array. Neither was he hungry, for he sat with Abraham and leaned upon his bosom.
The rich man also died, and was buried. He was not carried to heaven, but went to a place of torment, where he lifted up his eyes, and in the distance saw Abraham with Lazarus on his bosom. And he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in these flames." But Abraham said, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, whilst Lazarus had only evil things; and now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed."
Then said the rich man, "I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren. Let him go to them and testify unto them, that they may repent, lest they also come into this place of torment." Abraham said unto him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said, "Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." But Abraham said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.
THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.
In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared for man. And in the same city there was a widow that had an enemy, and he had done her an injury. And she came to the judge and implored him, saying, "Give me justice; avenge me of my adversary." But he would not. Then the widow came to him every day and cried, "Give me justice;" but still he would not for a long while. At last he became wearied of her constant cry, and he said within himself, "Though I fear not God nor care for man, yet, because this widow troubleth me with her complaint, I will avenge her; lest by her continual coming she weary me."
And Jesus said, "Hear what the unjust judge saith. And if he, who was an unjust judge and a wicked man, would grant the widow's petition, because she asked so often, will not God, who is good and just, give His children what is good and right for them? Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?"
In this parable Jesus impressed upon his disciples the truth that, although great trials might come upon them, and their lives be in peril, yet they were not to lose faith in God, or be disappointed because their prayers were not answered at once. They were to keep on praying; asking God for such things as were right, and trusting that He would preserve them amidst all their enemies; and in His own way make them to triumph over their foes. Whatever is best for His people, God will give them. He cares for the sparrows, and, even more, for those who love Him.
THE UNJUST JUDGE.THE UNJUST JUDGE.
THE UNJUST JUDGE.
The tax-gatherers in those days were called Publicans. They were reputed to be very unjust, exacting from people more than the law required them to pay, and other wickedness was charged against them. Of course, there were good men among them; St. Matthew was a tax-gatherer before Jesus called him to follow Him. The Pharisees studied the Scriptures and explained them to the people, but they did not follow the teachings of Scripture. They were proud, and pretended they were more religious than other men, but it wasonlypretense. Jesus compared them to whited sepulchres, and said they were hypocrites, who led the people astray.
A Pharisee and a Publican went up into the Temple to pray. The Pharisee stood in a part of the Temple where all could see him, and prayed thus: "O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, who are unjust, and who take more than belongs to them. I thank Thee that I am not like this Publican. I fast twice a week; I give to the priests and Levites a tenth part of all I possess." But the Publican, who knew that he was wicked, and felt sorry for it, stood afar off in a quiet part of the Temple where none would see him. He bowed his head and beat upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
Jesus said that this Publican went to his home more forgiven than the Pharisee, for every one that is proud and thinks much of himself shall be put down, and he that humbleth himself and is sorry for his sins, shall be exalted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," says Jesus.
THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.
THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.
"Go, work within my vineyard's bound,At eve your 'penny'[1]shall be found:"So spake the vineyard's lord, and theyBegan to toil at break of day.For hours the sun had shown his face,When idlers in the market-placeOnce and again were sent withinThe vineyard's wall their wage to win.Nay, when but one short hour remainsBefore the sun its goal attains,More loiterers hear the Lord's commandAnd set to work with willing hand.The steward came at close of dayTheir wage to reckon and to pay;And they whose toil could scarcely tire,Received a penny for their hire.But they who the day's burden boreAnd noonday heat, expected more:And murmur'd that the generous lordTo all one penny should accord.But he replied, "I wrong not you;I give you the full wages due;And why should you my bounty blame,In paying these beyond their claim?"Lord, to Thy vineyard Thou dost callThe least, the youngest of us all:To each Thou dost assign a task,From each some service Thou dost ask.How kind such feeble hands to use;Such pleasant work I needs must choose:I ask no wages, Lord, from thee,For Thou hast given Thyself for me.When I remember all Thy grace,I cannot loiter in my place:And when I think of all my sin,What wages can I hope to win?Thanks, Lord, if yet my years are few,And I retain the early dew:Oh, keep me through the noonday heat,And cheer me with Thy presence sweet.For if I have Thy presence, Lord,'Tis an exceeding great reward;And if at last I see Thy face,'Tis not of merit, but of grace.And, oh, what will that "penny" beWhich Thou wilt then bestow on me?A glorious image it will bear,Thy own dear Self, Lord, will be there!Richard Wilton, M.A.
"Go, work within my vineyard's bound,At eve your 'penny'[1]shall be found:"So spake the vineyard's lord, and theyBegan to toil at break of day.
For hours the sun had shown his face,When idlers in the market-placeOnce and again were sent withinThe vineyard's wall their wage to win.
Nay, when but one short hour remainsBefore the sun its goal attains,More loiterers hear the Lord's commandAnd set to work with willing hand.
The steward came at close of dayTheir wage to reckon and to pay;And they whose toil could scarcely tire,Received a penny for their hire.
But they who the day's burden boreAnd noonday heat, expected more:And murmur'd that the generous lordTo all one penny should accord.
But he replied, "I wrong not you;I give you the full wages due;And why should you my bounty blame,In paying these beyond their claim?"
Lord, to Thy vineyard Thou dost callThe least, the youngest of us all:To each Thou dost assign a task,From each some service Thou dost ask.
How kind such feeble hands to use;Such pleasant work I needs must choose:I ask no wages, Lord, from thee,For Thou hast given Thyself for me.
When I remember all Thy grace,I cannot loiter in my place:And when I think of all my sin,What wages can I hope to win?
Thanks, Lord, if yet my years are few,And I retain the early dew:Oh, keep me through the noonday heat,And cheer me with Thy presence sweet.
For if I have Thy presence, Lord,'Tis an exceeding great reward;And if at last I see Thy face,'Tis not of merit, but of grace.
And, oh, what will that "penny" beWhich Thou wilt then bestow on me?A glorious image it will bear,Thy own dear Self, Lord, will be there!
Richard Wilton, M.A.
[1]The penny, ordenarius, was a silver coin, stamped with the image of the Roman Emperor, and worth about 16 cents of our money. It was a full ordinary day's wage at that time.
[1]The penny, ordenarius, was a silver coin, stamped with the image of the Roman Emperor, and worth about 16 cents of our money. It was a full ordinary day's wage at that time.
THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.
THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.
In the morning, when Jesus had left Bethany and was coming towards Jerusalem, He was hungry. Seeing a fig-tree afar off, covered with leaves, He came to it, hoping to find some fruit on it. But the tree was a young one, and had not yet commenced to bear fruit. And He found thereon nothing but leaves. Then He said unto it, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever." And the fig-tree withered away and was dead from the roots. When the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, "How soon the fig-tree is withered away!"
Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do as I have done to this fig-tree, but, also, if ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou removed and be cast into the sea,' it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believe that ye will receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye are praying, forgive any that have injured you, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses against Him. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
How strange it seems that Jesus, who was gentle and kind, should pronounce a curse on this fig-tree, and cause it to wither away. Why did He do so? Because He wished to impress upon His disciples the terrible danger of unfruitfulness. If we are the disciples of Jesus, we must bear good fruit; we must be loving, kind, and gentle, and try, like Him, to be always doing good.
THE BARREN FIG-TREE.THE BARREN FIG-TREE.
THE BARREN FIG-TREE.
One day when the priests and elders of the Temple were asking questions of Jesus, He told them this parable.
There was a certain man who had a vineyard which was hedged or walled round, and had a tower. But he was going away into a country far off, so he let the vineyard to a number of husbandmen, or labourers, who were to give him part of the fruit of the vines. When the time had come that the fruit was ripe, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that he might receive his share. But the wicked husbandmen took his servants, and slew one, and beat another, and stoned the third. Then he sent other servants, more than before, but the husbandmen served them as they had done the others. Last of all he sent his own son, saying, "They will reverence my son." But when those wicked men saw him coming, they said among themselves, "This is the heir to all the vineyard; come, let us kill him and seize on his inheritance." So they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
Then Jesus said to the priests and elders, "When the Lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto these husbandmen?" And they answered, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to others, who shall render him the fruits in their season."
In this parable the owner of the vineyard means God; the vineyard Canaan, and the husbandmen are the Jews, who had promised to obey Him, but had not done so. He had sent His prophets among them, to warn them, but these had been killed. At last He sent His only Son, but they would not own Him as such, and soon they would kill Him. When the priests heard this they knew it referred to them, and they were very angry and would have taken Him and killed Him, but they were afraid of the people, who took Jesus to be a prophet.
THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.
THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.
There was a certain King who gave a great feast upon the occasion of his son's wedding. And he sent out his servants to bring in those that had been invited, but they would not come. Then he sent forth other servants, saying, "Tell them which were bidden, 'Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come unto the feast.'" But they made light of the message and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his warehouse; others took the servants and slew them.
When the King heard what had been done, he was very angry, and sent out his army to destroy the murderers, and burn up their city. Then said he to the servants, "The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and all ye shall find, bid them come to the marriage." So they gathered together as many as they could find. And upon each one, as he entered the house, was put a beautiful marriage garment, which the King had prepared. But when the people were all seated, and the King had entered the house, he saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment, and he said unto him, "Friend, how camest thou in hither without a wedding garment?" And the man was speechless, for the garment had been offered to him at first, but he had refused it. Then said the King to the servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away and cast him into outer darkness."
In this parable, the King means God, who gave the feast for His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who were first asked were the Jews, who refused to believe in Christ. Those who were afterwards brought in, signify the people who have since listened to His Word, and believed in Him. The one without the wedding garment is any one that pretends to accept the invitation to be one of God's people, but in his heart does not believe in Christ.
WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT.WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT.
WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT.
In certain parts of the East it is the custom for a man when he is married to bring home his bride at night, and for his relatives and friends to go out with lamps and torches and music to meet him.
Ten young women had been invited to meet the bridegroom with their lamps burning and to sit down with him at the wedding-feast. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. The wise ones took a supply of oil in case their lamps should burn out before the bridegroom arrived; the foolish five took no oil but what was in their lamps. But before the bridegroom came they all fell asleep.
At midnight there was a cry, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." But five lamps had almost burnt out, and the foolish virgins said unto the wise, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out." But the wise ones answered, "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and for you. Go ye, rather, to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage-feast, and the door was shut.
Afterwards, came also the other virgins, saying, "Lord, Lord, open the door to us." But he answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not," and would not open the door to them.
In this parable the bridegroom means Jesus returning to earth, on the Day of Judgment. The ten virgins are the people of this world, some of whom have their hearts full of the love of God and keep their lamps burning with a steady and bright light; that is, they fulfil God's commandments and obey the teachings of Christ. The others have not this love in their hearts, and are not prepared for Christ's coming. Their lamps give out a feeble light and soon will go out.