NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of “Christ’s Object Lessons” as apply to each lesson.
24 “Another parable set He before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed 26 tares also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the 27 tares also. And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? 28 whence then hath it tares? And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt 29 thou then that we go and gather them up? But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the 30 wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Verses 36-43.
36 “Then He left the multitudes, and went into the house; and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Explain unto us the 37 parable of the tares of the field. And He answered and said, 38 He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the 39 kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil; and the harvest is the 40 end of the world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall 41 it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all 42 things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the 43 weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
What did our Lord again speak?
What was this parable given to illustrate?
To what did He compare the kingdom of heaven?
What did the enemy do? When?
When did the tares appear?
Apart from the fruit, then, were the tares readily distinguished?
What is the great test as to true or false teachers? Matt. 7: 16-21.
Who told the householder about the tares?
What question did they ask?
What was the reply?
What was the servants’ second question?
What answer was given?
What reason was given for this answer?
How long must both grow together?
At that time, what will be said to the reapers?
What is done with the tares?
What is done with the wheat?
Who especially inquired about the parable?
Where was Jesus when this inquiry came?
Where was the multitude?
Who sowed the good seed? What is the field? The good seed are who? Who are the tares? Who sowed them? What is the harvest? Who are the reapers?
Of what is the gathering and burning of the tares a simile? Out of what are these offenders gathered? By whom is this done? Where are they cast?
What shows the literal character of the fire and the suffering?
At that time who will shine forth? Where?
NOTES.
The tares represent a class who are the fruit or embodiment of error, of false principles. “The enemy that sowed them is the devil.” Neither God nor His angels ever sowed a seed that would produce a tare. The tares are always sown by Satan, the enemy of God and man.
It is from enmity to Christ that Satan scatters his evil seed among the good grain of the kingdom. The fruit of the sowing he attributes to the Son of God. By bringing into the church those who bear Christ’s name while they deny His character, the wicked one causes that God shall be dishonored, the work of salvation misrepresented, and souls imperiled.
Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church; but He has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive.
The Redeemer does not want to lose one soul; His experience with Judas is recorded to show His long patience with perverse human nature; and He bids us bear with it as He has borne.
The Saviour does not point forward to a time when all the tares become wheat. The wheat and tares grow together until the harvest, the end of the world. Then the tares are bound in bundles to be burned, and the wheat is gathered into the garner of God.
15 “And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they 16 sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command 17 before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And 18 his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they 19 said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, 20 Fear not: for am I in the place of God? And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to 21 pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. 22 “And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and 23 Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph’s knees. 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land 25 which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”
Golden Text.—“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Ps. 90:12.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) When Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, what came forcibly to their minds? Verse 15. Note 1. (2) What message did they send to Joseph? How was Joseph affected by this message? Verses 16, 17. Note 2. (3) After sending the message, what did they do? Verse 18. Note 3. (4) What reassuring reply did Joseph make? Verse 19. Note 4. (5) How did he explain the providence of God in the matter? Verse 20. (6) What further comforting words did he speak to them? Verse 21. (7) How long did Joseph live? How much of this time did he reside in Egypt? Verse 22. Note 5. (8) How many generations of his posterity did Joseph see? Verse 23. (9) As Joseph was about to die, what former promise was repeated to his brethren? Verse 24. Ch. 15:13–16. (10) What oath did Joseph exact of his people? Verse 25. Note 6. (11) When Joseph died, what was done with his body? Verse 26.
NOTES.
1. Joseph’s brethren had no reason to fear his revenge for their cruel treatment of him in his youth; for they had experienced ample evidence of his free and full pardon. But their fear has many counterparts among Christians of to-day, who are daily asking the forgiveness of their sins, but are always fearful lest some offense committed in the long past is still held against them. They can not see how it could be forgiven. Such doubt discredits the Lord’s love and mercy. “Mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
2. Jacob evidently knew of the fear of his sons lest Joseph would retaliate after his father’s death. He may or may not have shared their fear; in either case, his “command,” or advice, indicated the best course for them to pursue, under the circumstances. “Joseph wept” to see how they yet distrusted him. So did Jesus when His brethren, the Jews, did not accept His offers of mercy in good faith. See Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:41, 42.
3. In the act of falling down before Joseph, and in acknowledging themselves his servants, Joseph’s brethren once more fulfilled his dream of the sheaves of grain.
4. “Am I in the Place of God?”—Joseph had forgiven the offense of his brethren against him. He had nothing to do with the offense against God. He recognized the principle that the civil ruler has nothing to do in that sphere. Jesus enunciated this principle in the saying, “If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12.
5. Of Joseph’s 110 years, about 93 had been spent in Egypt, and 80 years of that time, in prominent position in the government. Even after his death his name was honored, and his people respected, until a foreign king came to the throne who “knew not Joseph.”
6. On his death-bed Joseph manifested his faith in the promise of God to deliver His people. This was shown by his commandment that they should carry up his bones with them. “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Heb. 11:22.
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The Desire of Ages
By MRS. E. G. WHITE,
Author of some twenty books on Biblical subjects, as “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Steps to Christ,” “Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,” Etc.
This is the grandest book ever published upon the greatest subject which men have ever attempted to consider, and is the result of fifty years of careful study, ten of which were spent in preparing it in manuscript for the printer.
There are many “Lives of Christ” written, excellent books, large funds of information, elaborate essays on chronology and contemporaneous history, customs, and events, with much of the teaching and many glimpses of the many-sided life of Jesus of Nazareth, but the reader of this mighty living stream of everlasting facts will say, “The half has never been told.” Many new and glorious gems of light, life, and beauty flash forth from many a familiar scripture, the depth of which the reader supposed he had long since fathomed, opening before him undreamed-of riches from this infinite treasure-house, giving new confidence in the study of the Bible and new hope in the desire of all ages.
The deceitful and exciting influences of light literature will be driven from the mind of the young who study the pages of this book above books, in which is illustrated the life of the Saviour as found in the great Prophetic History of time, in His fifteen years as a youth, His twelve years as a carpenter, and His three years as a Minister in Galilee, giving His sayings, sermons, parables, and miracles, and all that made up the greatest life that ever walked the face of the earth. The great difference between this and all other books on the life of Christ is that this deals directly with the principles which He came to establish in the lives of men to make them better.
As a wedding, birthday, or holiday present, there is a worth in this work that, by the receiver, will be appreciated through life.
In size, it is 7 inches wide, 10 inches long, contains eighty-seven chapters and nearly nine hundred pages; beautifully finished with more than four hundred illustrations elegantly printed on super-calendered paper made especially for this book.
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Fifteen Gifts
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Next week we expect to present to our readers a plan enabling them to make fifteen holiday gifts to their friends and neighbors at a cost of ONLY ONE DOLLAR DOWNand one dollar a month for six months.
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THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD.
By M. C. Wilcox
By M. C. Wilcox. This tract of 40 pages sets forth in brief some of the more important events of the Great Day of God Almighty. It discusses the character of that day, shows when it begins, the coming of the Lord, the events in connection with that coming, the Millennium, the Saints in Judgment, when the Day of the Lord Ends, and the Eternal Home of the Redeemed. Bible Students’ Library No. 65. Price, 5 cents.
CO-OPERATION CORNER.
By Editor
Many of our faithful missionary workers would gladly use much larger clubs of the SIGNS than they are now circulating if they could afford to do so, while there are others who would be just as glad to pay for such clubs if they knew who needed them.
For these reasons we have opened the “Co-operation Corner.” It will contain requests for clubs of papers for use in various fields, short reports from those who are using such clubs, acknowledgments of money received, and such other information as will bring together those who can use papers but can not pay for them, and those who can pay for papers but are not situated so they can use them.
Since we last reported, we have received $4.00 for the club of Little Friends going to the orphan asylum, which finishes paying for that club.
Just as we close the forms for this issue, a check for $10.00 is received from Jacob Kloaster, of Chicago, Ill., to help defray the expense of sending the SIGNS to worthy individuals who desire the paper, but are unable to meet the expense themselves. The call for funds on this account appeared in the issue of October 2.
The club of 75 SIGNS going to Pastor S. N. Haskell and associate workers in New York City has been furnished for some time by the employees of the Pacific Press Pub. Co. It has now expired, and Sister Haskell says: “We will be very grateful if the club is continued. Those who help will share in the reward in the great gathering day, when the fruit of the labor is gathered into the garner above.”
The price of the club for six months is only $24.75. Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
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Why We Misjudge.
Dr. C. H. Parkhurst, who is now sojourning in Europe, draws the following pertinent moral from a significant condition:—
The unhesitating and undisguised admiration that France cherishes for Russia is interesting in the light of the fact that the Russian Government is dealing with Finland in precisely the same manner of regardless tyranny that France is persistently charging upon the British Government in its attitude toward the Boers. This is only another illustration of the fact that the estimate men pass upon any piece of wickedness depends principally upon their prior regard for the party that commits the wickedness. It is a great art to be able to see a thing as it is, uncolored by the complexion that our own precious judgment puts upon it. The reason we have so much difficulty in reaching a sound opinion upon men, nations, and ideas, is our lack of what Scripture calls “truth in the ‘inward parts.’” Our judgments and opinions are, many of them, a lie, for the reason that we are ourselves so much of a lie.
Good Mental Food for Children
By Editor
Our home department is crowded this week to small space on account of more advertising matter. But we trust that this will be of interest to our readers. Especially do we ask parents to consider the exceptionally good offer on page 11.
One of the most important things a parent can consider is to furnish good mental food for his children. Good careful selection is demanded in this day, when there is such a multiplicity of all sorts of trash concocted and thrown together for the young. To those who wish to secure a fine lot of books, works of description, biography, story, we commend those offered on page 11. Read the offer made there, and profit by it.
Tube Company Faces Sunday-Law Opposition
The National Tube Company have run up against another combination. Before it was tube trust against labor trust. Now it is tube trust against Sunday trust. Announcing that it would start its mills in McKeesport, Pa., on Sunday, October 6, and continue to run thereafter on Sundays, raised a stir among the Sunday-law men, who appealed to Mayor Black. He refused to interfere. Mass meetings will be held. The Sunday-law people stopped the work in 1874 by threatening to arrest every one who worked. What the outcome will be, we do not know.
Increase of Divorce.
It was brought out by David H. Greer, D. D., of New York, in the discussions in the great Episcopal convention, recently held in San Francisco, that “in a recent year more divorces were granted in this country than in all of the countries of Europe and Australia and Canada; that while during the past twenty years the population of this country has increased at a ratio of 60 per cent, the divorces of that period have increased at a ratio of 156 per cent; and further, that if this accelerating ratio shall continue, there will be more marital separations by the end of the century by divorce than by death.” This is an appalling record. It indicates not so much the need of reform in civil law as growing laxness in moral law. It is a part of the abounding lawlessness of which our Lord speaks in Matt. 24:12; the incontinency of which Paul speaks in 2 Tim. 3:1–5. All these increasing evils should mean at least three things to the Christian,—more faithfulness in his own life, more earnestness in working for others, and bright hope that we are nearing the Lord’s coming. The sad fact is that it often has an opposite effect.
Loyalty to God and Neighbor
The man who is loyal to God will be loyal to the best good of all God's creatures; for is it not a declared truth that he who loves God with all his heart, might, mind, and soul, will love his neighbor as himself?
A Monument to McKinley
Since the assassination of President McKinley, people of all parties and denominations have said the best things they could think of regarding his life and character. But it remains for his political opponent, Mr. W. J. Bryan, to express one of the highest compliments in a single sentence. In his paper, The Commoner, he says: “The best monument that can be erected to the memory of William McKinley will be American homes as full of love and tenderness as the home at Canton was before the assassin’s bullet was fired.”
Autumn Is Not Sad
The days of autumn are here, somber, sober days, some call them.
“The melancholy days have come,
The saddest of the year,”
writes the poet. Yet it does not seem so to us as we look out upon nature on this balmy October day, not here in California alone, but in the Eastern and Middle States, as the old geographers named them. We see them to-day as often of yore. True, there have been some soaking rains, some heavy frosts perhaps; many of the trees are becoming leafless; the fields of grain have given place to stretches of unsightly stubble. These are among the losses Autumn brings us; but they are not serious. Never shall we see, till Autumn visits us again, such beautiful slumberous haze, softening into peculiar beauty the light which falls upon landscape and water scene. There is stubble in the field, but the barns and granaries are filled with golden, blessed harvest. The earth has yielded her store of roots. The trees have with wide extended hand reached out their fragrant fruit, oftentimes ungratefully received. Cellar and cask and jar are filled with the store which Autumn has brought so bounteously. The dry pastures turn to greener hue, the empty brook-beds again babble in song; and even the frost and sun enter into co-partnership for a time to clothe the forests in oftentimes barbaric splendor, brown and gold and crimson, with banks and islands of living evergreen. Autumn is not sad. Why should we be? If we sowed good seed in good soil, we have reaped abundant harvest. Let life be such that our sowing for life shall be so sure in Jesus Christ that the harvest shall be the gladdest day of all, the triumph of a life, filled with bounteous good.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
By Editor
Has naught against a single soul on earth; neither have its publishers or editors. There are many who disagree with its teachings; we are sorry, because we believe the teachings to be truth.
But all who do not agree have the right to disagree. We would not compel them to agree if we could. If we were one million and our opponent but one, he has equal rights with ourselves.
Jesus Christ did not condemn those who disagreed with Him. His own words are: “If any man hear ‘My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. He is the example of the Christian. Jesus knew that He spoke the truth; He knew those who opposed Him were wrong; yet He did not condemn. As men, all stood equal before God. Let God decide the matter in His own time. And so He declared: “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth ‘not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word ‘that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the ‘last day.” John 12:48.
Let God’s Word judge. Wait till God’s own time, the last day. In the meantime let us remember that God is very jealous concerning the rights of the least of His creatures. He is no respecter of persons. Let us so live that we shall be willing to receive the same judgment which we have meted out to others; “for with what judgment ye judge, ye ‘shall be judged.” Matt. 7:2.
