THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.
IT seems that many of the followers of Jesus thought his reign was immediately to begin; and as he drew near to Jerusalem, he began to teach them that he must first go away to a "far country," but that he would afterward return, and reward all his servants who would prove faithful.
This instruction was the more necessary from the fact that he was about to make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and many might suppose that he intended to establish his kingdom at once.
In order to make the stronger impression upon the minds of his disciples, and perhaps in order that those who had scorned his teaching might not understand, he clothed his instruction in the following parable:- "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou 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.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, 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.
Then he, which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke, in the nineteenth chapter, relates a parable, which is evidently intended to teach the same lesson as the one given above.
By many, it is thought to be the same parable told in a somewhat different manner.
"And the Jews' Passover was nigh at hand; and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
"Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."
"And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her?
She hath wrought a good work on me.
For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; but me ye have not always.
She hath done what she could; she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
"Much people of the Jews knew therefore that he was there; and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus."
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"GOD BE WITH THEE."
IT is related by travelers, as an instance of how little the customs of Eastern nations have changed during many hundreds of years, that in the fields of Palestine the very same words may be heard now as in the days, of Boaz and Ruth. When the master enters the harvest field, he salutes his reapers, just as Boaz did, "The Lord be with you;" and the peasants respond always in the words, "God bless thee." It is a happy custom that may well see no change. We should all do well to use from the heart this ancient salutation,
"The Lord be with thee."
EARLY impressions usually mark the course to be taken through life. Take a fresh molded brick, and impress a leaf upon it; subject the brick to the kiln, and it will come back with the impression ineffaceable. Build it in a house, and you may see it across the street. The child's mind is the moist brick. Delay not to bring the truth of God in contact with it.