REVIEW QUESTIONS.—(a) In view of what should we arm ourselves to suffer? (b) What is put to death in this suffering? (c) How will those who are carnal in heart regard this turning from evil? (d) What injunctions are given in view of the end? (e) What is the crowning grace of the Christian? VERSE 9: "Using hospitality one to another without murmuring." 1. In what spirit should hospitality be extended? 2. Should this be limited to brethren alone? "Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to show love unto strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Heb. 13:1, 2. 3. What does Christ say of those who receive or reject even the least of his children? "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me." "Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me." Matt. 25:40, 45. Verses 10, 11: "According as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1. What has every man received? 2. From whom does he receive these gifts? Note 1. 3. Through what do these gifts come? Note 2. 5. What are they called by our Lord? 6. For how long were they given? For what purpose? 7. To how many were they given? 8. As everyone has received, how should he use? 9. Why is God's grace called "manifold"? 10. How should he who aims to instruct, speak? 11. How should he who serves, minister? 12. What will be the effect of this? 1. Received a Gift.—The giver of every good and perfect gift is God (James 1:17), and he gives all his gifts through his manifold grace, or favor. That is, we do not deserve them; they are gifts. 2. Manifold Grace.—God's grace is here said to be manifold, because manifested in so many ways in the church of God, even as the many angled glass object reflects the lights shining upon it and through it. This grace comes through the gracious Spirit of God (Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 12:4); these gifts of God's Spirit are given to everyone who is Christ's (Rom. 8:9; Eph. 4:7), to profit, or increase (1 Cor. 12:7), divided not according to the will of the man, but according to the will and the wisdom of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11); these gifts were bestowed upon the church when Jesus left this world (Eph. 4:8), for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body, or church of Christ (verse 12); and these gifts will continue according to the measure of faith and consecration of the church till the perfect day, or till Christ comes (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Eph. 4:13). Some of these gifts are mentioned in Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28; Eph. 4:11. In Luke 19:12-17 these gifts are by our Lord called pounds (the highest denomination of Roman money); in Matt. 25:14-30 they are called talents (the highest denomination in Jewish money), thus showing their great value. These talents and pounds are given by the same One that gave the gifts, to the same ones, at the same time, for the same purpose, to continue the same length of time; they are therefore the same. The solemn importance of this stewardship is given in these parables; they should be studied in connection with this lesson. Does any one think he has no gift? Let him be assured if he is the Master's "own servant," he will be given according to his ability to use. Matt. 25:14, 15. Ours is the consecration; God is the giver. "The Lord calls for every talent and ability to be put to use. When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested; divine power will combine with human effort; the church will see the providential interpositions of the Lord God of hosts, the light of truth will be diffused, the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent."—Ellen G. White, in Conf. Bulletin, 1893, p. 420. WORD THOUGHTS.—Use hospitality (v. 9), literally, "be kind to strangers."—According (v. 10), like as, in the same measure.—A gift (charisma), something freely given, a gift of grace (charis), used of God's blessing, bestowed upon sinners (Rom. 5:15, 16), and also of special and extraordinary endowments, as in our lesson.—Manifold, many colored, many sided, suited to all conditions. God in his manifold wisdom (Eph. 3:10) gives manifold grace (1 Peter 4:10), that we may be enabled to meet the manifold trials and temptations (1 Peter 1:6; James 1:2).—Minister, "to act as a deacon, to serve" (compare Matt. 8:15; 20:28).—Stewards, house builders, or house managers (see Luke 12:42). Caring for the things of God committed to us.—Oracles (v. 11), logia, "in classical Greek, of the oracular responses of heathen deities." His divine utterances or revelations." (Vincent.) (See Rom. 3:2; Acts 7:38.)