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, "This is my son that was as one dead to me and is now alive
again; he was lost and is found."
[Illustration: THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.]
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."
* * * * *
PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER CURED.
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!"
[Illustration: PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER.]
THE UNJUST STEWARD.
See where the steward, worldly wise,
With wicked cunning in his eyes,
Shows his lord's debtors how to cheat
His master of his oil and wheat.
"A hundred measures dost thou owe
Of oil? My friend, 'tis scarcely so:
Here, take thy bill and quick indite
Fifty: that puts the matter right."
"A hundred measures is _thy_ debt
Of corn? My friend, thou dost forget:
Here, take thy bill, and write fourscore;
Surely thou owest nothing more."
Thus wickedly he would provide
Houses in which he might abide,
When for his former acts unjust
He 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 praise
The crafty foresight of his ways.
The children of this world, alas!
The children of the light surpass,
In planning methods to provide
For ills from which they cannot hide.
And so our Master bids us take
The money which He gives, and make
Friends with our riches for the day
When earthly treasures flee away.
That when we leave our house below,
And into unknown regions go,
Through Jesus, we may find above
An everlasting home of love.
Do I my little store expend
For 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 wise
Above my selfishness to rise,
And something daily give away
To find again in Thy great day!
RICHARD WILTON, M.A.
[Illustration: THE UNJUST STEWARD.]
THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.
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."
[Illustration: THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR.]
"AVENGE ME OF MY ADVERSARY."
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.
[Illustration: THE UNJUST JUDGE.]
THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.
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 was _only_ pretense.
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.
[Illustration: THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER.]
THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.
"Go, work within my vineyard's bound,
At eve your 'penny'[1] shall be found:"
So spake the vineyard's lord, and they
Began to toil at break of day.
For hours the sun had shown his face,
When idlers in the market-place
Once and again were sent within
The vineyard's wall their wage to win.
Nay, when but one short hour remains
Before the sun its goal attains,
More loiterers hear the Lord's command
And set to work with willing hand.
The steward came at close of day
Their 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 bore
And noonday heat, expected more:
And murmur'd that the generous lord
To 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 call
The 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" be
Which Thou wilt then bestow on me?
A glorious image it will bear,
Thy own dear Self, Lord, will be there!
RICHARD WILTON, M.A.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The penny, or _denarius_, 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.
[Illustration: THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.]
THE BARREN FIG-TREE.
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.
[Illustration: THE BARREN FIG-TREE.]
THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.
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.
[Illustration: THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.]
THE WEDDING GARMENT.
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.
[Illustration: WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT.]
THE FOOLISH VIRGINS.
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.
[Illustration: THE FOOLISH VIRGINS.]
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
One day Jesus told His disciples this parable or story.
A certain nobleman was called away to a far country to be appointed
king of it, and to return after a time. And he called his servants
unto him, and charged them with the care of his goods and treasure,
giving to each man according to his ability to use the same. To one
servant he gave five talents, to another two, and to another only one.
And straightway he left them, and departed upon his journey. Then the
man that had five talents went and traded with them, and did so well
that in time the profits amounted to five talents more, making ten
altogether. And he that had received two talents, also traded with
his, and added two other talents to them by way of profit. But he that
had had but one talent went away and covered it up in a cloth and hid
it away.
After a long time the nobleman came back and called his servants to
him, and asked them for the treasure he had entrusted to their
keeping. And he that had received five talents, brought ten, and said,
"Lord, behold, I have gained five other talents beside them." And his
lord said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.
Enter thou into the joy of thy lord." And to him that had two talents,
and brought back four, the lord said the same words. Then came he that
had received but one talent and had hid it; and he said, "Lord, I knew
thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and I
was afraid, and went and hid thy talent, and lo, here thou hast that
which is thine." His lord said unto him, "Thou wicked and slothful
servant. Thou knewest that I reaped where I had not sown; thou
oughtest therefore to have put my money in the bank, that I might have
received mine own with interest for its use. Take therefore the
talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten; and take the
unprofitable servant and cast him into the outer darkness."
Now the talent here mentioned was an eastern sum of money (nearly one
thousand dollars), but it really means the powers and opportunities
for doing good that God has given to all of us. One day we shall all
be called upon to give an account of the talents entrusted to our
keeping, and woe be to those who have abused their stewardship by
hiding their talent away. But those who have done good, according to
the power and opportunity given to them, shall be received into
everlasting joy by Christ the Lord.
[Illustration: THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.]
* * * * *
MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND.
One Sabbath-day Jesus went into the synagogue, and there He saw a man
that had a withered hand. By some means the muscles had lost their
power, and he could neither use his hand nor stretch it out. And the
Pharisees watched Jesus, to see if He would heal this man on the
Sabbath, that they might bring a charge against Him of breaking the
law. They asked Him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath-day?" and He
replied by asking who among them, if he had a sheep which had fallen
into a pit on the Sabbath-day, would not lay hold on it, and lift it
out. "How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is
lawful to do good on the Sabbath-day."
Then said He to the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And he stretched
it forth, and it was made whole and healthy like the other.
Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him, to
consider how they might destroy Him; but when Jesus knew it, He
withdrew Himself from that part, and great multitudes followed Him,
and He healed them all.
[Illustration: THE WITHERED HAND.]
JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN.
Jesus had been cruelly put to death. His hands, which had been placed
on the heads of little children when He blessed them, had been nailed
to a cross of wood; and cruel nails had been driven through his feet.
And hanging on the cross, Jesus had died. But on the third day He had
risen from the tomb, and for forty days He had remained upon the
earth, meeting frequently with His disciples. At the end of that time
Jesus led the eleven apostles from Jerusalem towards Bethany; and when
near that village, and away from the multitude, He spoke to them,
promising that they should be made bold by the Holy Spirit, and
receive power to witness for Him both to the Jews and Gentiles. Then,
the Bible tells us, "He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it
came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and
carried up into heaven." And as He went up, a cloud received Him out
of their sight.
The apostles fell down and worshipped Jesus, looking steadfastly after
Him as He went up; and as they did so, two angels in white garments
stood by them, and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Then
the apostles returned to Jerusalem.
Yes, Jesus has ascended to heaven, and now He sits at the right hand
of God; but He tells us that He will come again, and take those that
love Him to dwell with Him in His glorious home for ever and ever. "I
go to prepare a place for you," Jesus says.
[Illustration: JESUS ASCENDING TO HEAVEN.]
THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER.
Paul and Silas were in prison. They had done no wrong, but wicked men
had taken them before the magistrates; and the magistrates had caused
them to be severely beaten, and afterwards had sent them to prison,
where they were securely fastened in an inner dungeon, and their feet
made fast in the stocks. This was a most painful position for Paul and
Silas. But they were not unhappy. They prayed to God, and sang praises
to Him; and they sang so heartily that the other prisoners heard them.
It was midnight, and all was dark in the prison. But suddenly there
was an earthquake; so that the foundations of the prison were shaken,
all the doors were opened, and every one's bonds were loosed. All the
prisoners might have run away had they been minded to do so.