LESSON XII.—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1900.
11 "And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, 14 and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, 15 We will not that this man reign over us. And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know 16 what they had gained by trading. And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more. 17 And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant; because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou 18 authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Thy 19 pound, lord, hath made five pounds. And he said unto him 20 also, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I kept laid up in a 21 napkin; for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that 22 thou didst not sow. He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, 23 and reaping that I did not sow; then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should 24 have required it with interest? And he said unto them that 25 stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto 26 him that hath the ten pounds. And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds. I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 Howbeit these mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." NOTE.—Compare with this lesson the parable of the talents, Matt. 25: 14-30. Read also Matt. 13: 12, Luke 8: 18, and commit Matt. 25: 21. This parable was spoken while Jesus was on His last journey to Jerusalem, a few days before the crucifixion. Golden Text: "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14: 12. (1) Before Jesus left the house of Zaccheus, what did He speak to the people? What two reasons are given for speaking this parable at this time? V. 11. Note 1. (2) Whom does the Saviour introduce as the principal figure in the parable? What did this one do? For what purpose did he take the journey? V. 12. Note 2. (3) Before taking his departure, whom did he call to him? What did he give to them? What were they to do with the money? V. 13. (4) How did the citizens of that kingdom feel toward him? What measures did they take to prevent his receiving the kingdom? What did these persons declare? V. 14. (5) After he received his kingdom and returned, what command did he give? What was his purpose in having them called? V. 15. (6) What report did the first of the servants have to bring? V. 16. (7) How was his report received by the master? What was the servant's reward for his faithfulness? (8) What report had the second to bring? V. 18. (9) What was the reward of this one? V. 19. (10) What did another of the servants say when he came to his lord? What had he done with his lord's money? V. 20. (11) What did he offer as an excuse for bringing no increase? V. 21. (12) What did his lord say he would do with him? What did he call him? In judging this servant out of his own mouth, what did the master say the servant knew? V. 22. Note 4. (13) Claiming to know this about his master, what ought he to have done? What would the master then have received? V. 23. (14) What command did the master then give? V. 24. Note 5. (15) What did those say who stood by? V. 25. (16) What did the master then say in reference to the judgment which he had rendered? V. 26. (17) What judgment did he pronounce upon those who would not have him to reign over them? V. 27. Note 6. 1. Because He was nigh to Jerusalem.—Between fifteen and twenty miles from Jerusalem, a distance easily covered in one day's travel. The Messiah was to reign on the throne of David, and Jerusalem was to be the capital; and many who believed in Jesus as the Messiah believed also that He was to begin His reign in His kingdom at that time; to set Himself up as king on His entry into Jerusalem. Therefore He spake this parable to undeceive them; and had they heeded His words in this parable, they would have been fortified against the great disappointment which they suffered at His crucifixion. 2. A certain nobleman.—A man of high rank and noble blood. This would be a fitting description of Christ Himself. The kingdom was not in the far country, but the one who had the right to give it was there. Christ, after His resurrection, went to that far country, heaven. While there he receives His kingdom (the earth renewed and purified, 2 Peter 3:13) at the hands of the Father (Dan. 7:13, 14); and when He returns to the earth, He brings His capital, the New Jerusalem, with Him (Rev. 21: 1, 2). This parable seems to have been founded on facts with which the people of that time were familiar. "Two 'nobles,' Herod the Great and his son Archelaus, had actually gone from Jericho to a far country, even to Rome, for the express purpose of receiving a kingdom from the all-powerful Cæsar."—Cambridge Bible. "Archelaus, on the death of his father, Herod the Great, went to Rome, B.C. 3, to receive from Augustus the same royal dignity, and the Jews sent at the same time a deputation to the emperor, consisting of 500 Jews (according to Josephus), who were supported by 8,000 Roman Jews, asking Augustus to dethrone the cruel family of the Herodians."—Peloubet. Archelaus, on his return from Rome, rewarded those who had been loyal to him by placing them over the different cities of his dominion. 3. An austere man.—The master in this does not admit the charge of the servant, but is taking him on his own grounds, and showing that he is inconsistent with himself. Claiming to know what he did, he should have done differently from what he did. He did not take a wise course at all. If he knew that his master was an austere man, he should, for the sake of his own safety, have acted differently,—put the money at interest, instead of burying it in the ground. The servant who will not use the means intrusted to him to glorify God, should put it in the hands of those who will. 4. Take away from him the pound.—The master is not taking away from the servant anything that belonged to the servant, nor is he giving to the other servant anything that belonged to that servant. He is simply taking his own money away from the one who would not use it properly, and placing it in the hands of one who would use it as the master desired. So from him that has not been faithful, the talent which had been intrusted to him shall be taken away; and the one who had proved faithful to his trust will be given greater trust. 5. These mine enemies.—All who would not have "this man to reign over" them, and this includes every soul on earth who has refused Christ. Upon them will the judgments of God be visited in final, complete destruction (Mal. 4: 1-3), so that there will be nothing left in all the universe of God except that which is in harmony with the rule of Christ. See Rev. 5: 13.