The Wisdom of Watching for the Lord’s Return

The Wisdom of Watching for the Lord’s Return, pare Matthew 24:43-51.)

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS.

J. Watching for their absent Lord, vv. 35-40.

What is the proper attitude of mind of disciples of Jesus Christ toward their absent Lord? (2 Peter 3:11, 12, R. V.;

Luke 12:35-48. (Corn-Titus 2:13; 2 Tim. 4:8.) Why do the faithful servants watch for Him? If He should come today would all His professed disciples be ready to “open unto Him immediately”? Would you? In order to be looking for Him what must at least he possible? Why is it that there are so many who are not looking for Him? Does He come and knock at any time besides at His second coming? (Rev. 3:20.) In order to hear His knock and let Him in, in what attitude of mind must we be? Suppose we are not watching and do not respond promptly to His knock, what then? (Solomon’s Song 5:5, 6.) How are we to show that we are looking for His return? What is the object of having the “loins girded about” (v. 2,7) “^ (i Kings 18:46.) What “loins” are we to gird? (i Peter 1:13.) With what? (Eph. 6:14.) How? (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.) What are the “lamps” (R. V.) which are to be kept burning? (Matt. 5:16; 25:1, 3; 2 Tim. 3:5.) What is necessary in order that the lamp be kept burning? (Matt. 25:3, 4, 8.) Of what is this oil a symbol? (Acts 10:38; I John 2:20, 27; Ps. 45:7.)

What word describes the experiences of Christ’s watching servants when He comes? In what will their blessedness consist? Will that be a feast worth having a part in? Will all Christ’s servants have a part in it? How many times are we exhorted in the Bible to watch? If our “loins are girded” to serve Him what will He do? Does it make any difference in the blessedness of the watching servant at what hour He comes? What is it more important to have a care to than in what particular watch He comes? In what watch is He coming? (Mark 13:35.) By what illustration does He enforce this teaching about the necessity of constantly watching? What is the point of this illustration? Is the coming of Christ elsewhere compared to the coming of a thief? (Matt. 24:43, 44; I Thess. 2:3; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. Z’Z’, 16: 15.) Where is the similarity? In what manner will He come? (Acts i:ii.) In

what way can we prevent that day overtaking us as a thief? (i Thess. 5:4-6; i John 2:28.) If He should come today would you be overtaken by surprise and dismay or not?

What is the lesson our Lord draws from this parable? When should we be ready? What will those who are “ready” when the Lord comes do? (Matt. 25 :io.) What will happen to those who are not ready? (Matt. 25:10-12.) Are men, or the church as a whole, looking for His coming today? Is that any evidence that He is not coming?

2. Faithfully serving their absent Lord, vv. 41-48.

What was Peter anxious to know? Is it necessary in order to correctly understand the Bible to know to whom any particular promise, warning, exhortation or commandment is addressed? What is the best way to find out? To whom was this parable and its lesson addressed (v. 42)? (Mark 13:3s. 27-) To what are teachers compared? Is this figure found elsewhere? (Matt. 24:45, 46; Acts 20:28; I Cor. 4:1, 2; I Peter 4:10.) What is the steward’s business? What is the pastor’s and teacher’s business? (John 21:15-17; i Peter 5:2; Jer. 3:15.) “Who, then, is the faithful and wise steward”? Do all whom Christ has appointed to this office do this? Whom do some whom He has called to be stewards feed? (Ezek. 34:2, 3.) With what does the “wise and faithful steward” feed the “household”? (i Peter 2:2; 4:10, 11.) Do all stewards give the household this meat? With what do they sometimes try to feed the household? When should the steward give the household their portion of meat?

What word is used to describe the experience of the wise and faithful steward at the coming of his Lord? In what will his blessedness consist? Wherein lies the appropriateness of this reward? Who is placed in contrast with this faithful and wise steward? What lies at the bottom of his evil doing? What is the practical effect upon the church and individual of regarding the coming of their Lord as a far away and unreal event? What is the effect of thinking of it as a most real and possibly imminent event? (Matt. 26:6, 7.) What is the one great cause according to this verse (45) of worldliness and laxness in evangelical enterprise and of oppression and self-indulgence among many professed stewards of Jesus Christ? What was the great cry of the early church as it pushed the evangelization of the world? (Phil. 4 :5; Jas. 5 :?, 8; i Cor. 16 :22, R. V., margin.) Where was it the unfaithful servant said: “My Lord delayeth His coming”? Can one have a head faith and a heart unbelief in the coming of the Lord? How can we show we have a heart faith in it? Is there any step beyond saying: “My Lord delayeth His coming”? (2 Peter 3:3, 4.) Are there any mockers in the church saying this today?

How first of all did loss of faith in the near approach of the Lord show itself in the unfaithful servant? For what is that a figure? Is there a warning against this anywhere else in the N. T.? (i Peter 5:3.) How in the second place did this loss of faith show itself? Have these faults in the actual history of God’s people been seen in those whom the Lord has “set over His household”? (i Sam. 2:13-16; Ezek. 34:3; Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29; Titus 1:10, 11; 3 John 9, 10.)

How are these unfaithful stewards to be brought to their senses? Will the day of Christ’s coming be a joyful day for all who have been in authority in His church? What will be done to the unfaithful servant? With whom will his lot be eternally

cast? (Matt. 24:51.) Why? (Acts i :25.) To whom may this solemn and terrific warning be justly applied? (i Peter 4:10.) Why does our Lord delay His coming? (2 Peter 3:9.) Will all unfaithful servants be punished with equal severity? What will be the measure of the punishment? Will ignorance of the will of Christ avail to deliver one from punishment altogether? What does the greatness of our opportunities increase? (Matt. 11:21-24.)

CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS.

/. Our Lord.

Coming back, 36, 40; may come at any moment, 36, 38; will come when He is not expected, 39, 40; the important point is that we be ready whenever He comes, 38; wishes His servants to be watching for His return, 36; will gloriously reward the faithful at His coming — (a) if we are watching and have girded ourselves to serve Him, He will gird Himself and serve us, 35, 37; (b) if we have been faithful in the use of little power and opportunity He will give us all power and opportunity, 42-44; will fearfully punish the unfaithful at His coming, 45, 46.

^. Christ’s servants.

Should always be — Watching for His coming, 36; ready for His coming, 40; ready to open to Him immediately, 36; engaged in the work to which He has appointed them, 43. Should always have — Their loins girded, their lamps burning, 35. Should never — Say: “My Lord delayeth His coming,” exercise oppression over those under their authority, practice self-indulgence, 45. Their opportunity and responsibility — Over Christ’s household, the welfare of Christ’s family in their keeping, 42.

Their duty — To watch, to open to Christ immediately, 36; to give the household their meat in due season, 42.

Their blessedness — Our Lord Himself will make the watching servant a feast and serve him, 37; dominion given the faithful servant over all the Lord hath, 44.

3. The unfaithful servant. (i) His theology: “My Lord delayeth His coming,” 45.

(2) His practice:

Tyranny, self-indulgence — feeds himself, 45; neglect to give the household their meat, 42, 45.

(3) His destiny:

Surprised by Christ’s unexpected coming, driven into outer darkness, 46: the more light the greater guiit and heavier punishment, 47, 48.

LESSON 8L One More Opportunity. Luke 13:1-17.

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS.

I. Repent or perish, vv. 1-5.

What gave rise to Christ’s warning in these opening verses? What idea about the Galileans did those who spoke to Christ have? Did He say that these Galileans were not sinners? Did He say that the suffering that befell them was undeserved? What use did He make of their calamity? In the calamities that overtake men what should sinners always see (vv. 3, 5)? O^ whose sins were those who spoke to our Lord thinking? To whose sins did He direct their attention? With whose sins would He have us most occupied? (Ro. 14:4, 10, 12.) With whose sins are men most prone to be occupied? Is there any connection between our sinning and our sufifering? (John 5:14; Matt. 9:2; i Cor. 11:29, 30, 32.) Is it safe to infer from this that when men are especially aflflicted they are especially sinful? (Heb. 12:6; John 9:2, 3; Matt. 5:10-12.) What did our Lord say was the only way in which to escape the penalty due our sins? What is it to repent? (Luke 11:32, compare Jonah 3:10; Ezek. 33:11; Is. 55:7; Acts 26:20; Rev. 2:4, 5;

9:20, 21.) Is sorrow for sin repentance? (2 Cor. 7:10.) From what sin especially must men repent if they are to be saved? (Acts 2:36-38; 3:14, IS, 19.) To whom should repentance be preached? (Acts 20:21.) What will happen to men if they do not repent (vv. 3, 5)?

Did the Jews as a nation repent? Did they perish? (Luke 19:42-44; 21:22-24; 23:28-30; Matt. 22:7; 23:3s, 38.) Did they perish in the way these Galileans did? Was their blood mingled with their sacrifices? To what other incident did our Lord refer to enforce His teaching of repentance? Where did He get His texts and illustrations? Did the Jews perish as the men on whom the tower in Siloam fell? Did towers fall on any of them in the siege of Jerusalem?

2. Bear fruit or he cut down, vv. 6-g.

Is it only for positive sin that men are to be destroyed? How does our Lord bring this out? Who is represented by the man who had a fig tree? Who is represented first of all by the fig tree? (Ps. 80:8-13; Is. 5:1-3, 7; Luke 20:10-13.) Can it be applied to anyone besides the Jew? What was the owner’s complaint? Had he a right to expect fruit? Has God a right to expect fruit from us? What fruit? (Gal. 5:22, 23; Ro. 1:13; Phil. 4:17; Col. 1:10.) What was the owner’s sentence upon the fruitless tree? What is God’s sentence upon the fruitless man or nation? (Matt. 3:10; 7:19; John 15:2, 6; 15:16, 8.) By what act in His life did our Lord teach the same lesson? (Mark 11:13, 14- 20, 21.) For what purpose has He chosen His disciples? (John 15:16.) If a tree in a vineyard does not bear fruit what does it do (v. 7)? If a nation, a church, an association or an individual does not bear fruit for God what do they do? In the mind of God what is the thiig to do with such? Is the divine sentei.ce of judgment to oe executed at once? Why not? (2 Peter 3:9.) Does God always forewarn men of the judgments to come upon them and give them space for repentance? (Gen. 6:3; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Chron. 33:10, 11, etc.) Who held back God’s judgment from falling on fruitless Israel? (Ex. 32:11-13, 30-32; 34:9; Num. 14:11-20; Ps. 106:23.) Who stands between us and our merited doom? (Heb. 7:25; I John 2:1.)

How long a space was Israel given for repentance after the warning in this passage? Did they repent? What therefore was done? What was done with the tree during the year of grace granted it? What is symbolized by this additional care? What was the added and extraordinary grace bestowed upon Israel in the time immediately preceding their judgment? Is it customary with God to multiply means of grace to nations and communities and individuals just preceding times of judgment? (Noah before the flood; Jeremiah, Isaiah and others before the captivity; Christ, the apostles and Pentecost before the destruction of Jerusalem, etc.) Is this a day of especial grace? By what may we expect it to be followed? What was to be expected from this added care bestowed upon the tree? What is to be expected from t-he added and especial grace bestowed upoH men? What would be the consequence if the added care did not result in fruit? What will be the consequence if God’s special grace in the days of His patient waiting does not produce fruit? With what then are we to expect special seasons of grace to nations, communities and individuals to be followed if they do not bear fruit in their lives? With what will God’s long suffering close if it is persistently abused? (2 Peter 3:9, 10; Ro. 2:4, 5.) If the sinner abuses the special grace given him in the days of God’s long suffering patience, will Jesus Christ any longer take his part? What will He say (v. 9)?

S- Man’s unmcrcifulness and God’s mercy, vv. lo-ij.

Where is the scene of this incident laid? What day was it? What sight was there in the synagogue to awaken compassion? Did the sight awaken any compassion in the heart of the ruler of the synagogue? In whose heart did she awaken compassion? How did He show it? Did He do anything besides speak to her? Could He heal by a mere word? Why did He lay His hands upon this woman? What was the effect of His words and the laying on of His hands? To whom did she attribute her cure? How would the ruler have been affected if he had a heart of love and compassion? How was he affected? Was he a religious man? Can a religious man be an unmerciful man? Will that kind of religion save one? For what was the ruler a stickler? For what had he no care whatever? What did our Lord call him? What characteristic of our Lord did we see in this? Was this rebuke too severe and harsh? By what illustration did our Lord expose his hypocrisy? Was it jealousy for God’s law or hatred for Jesus that led to the ruler’s protest? Do men nowadays ever cover up hatred for some man by the pretense of jealousy for God’s law?

Who did our Lord say had bound the woman? Is sickness Satan’s work? Who can loose every bond of Satan? (i John 3:8.) What was the effect of our Lord’s word upon His adversaries? Upon the people?

CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS.

I. God.

All blessings are from His hand, all glory should be rendered to Him, 13; all men are His property. He expects, demands fruit from all men, often finds no fruit, 6, 7; regards the fruitless tree as an injury to the ground, 7; bears long with sinners, 3, 5, 8, 9; warns men to think of their own sins rather than those of others, 1-5; exhorts men in the calamities of others to hear the voice of warning for themselves, 3, 5; demands repentance as the universal condition of salvation, (a) repentance about sin.

3, 5; (b) repentance about f ruitlessness, 8, 9; in His mercy He warns men before He destroys them, grants space for repentance, multiplies grace before He executes judgment, 8, 9; in His severity He utterly destroys those who despise mercy, brings in swift and certain judgment where men reject abounding grace, 3, 5, 9.

Jesus Christ.

Taught in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, 10; His compassion, power over disease, 12, 13; hatred of hypocrisy, severity in dealing with hypocrites, IS; put to shame all His adversaries, caused the people to rejoice, 17.

The woman.
(i) Her exalted position:

Daughter of Abraham, 16.

(2) Her misfortune:

Had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, was bowed together, could in no wise lift herself up, 11; no sympathy from man, 14; bound by Satan, 16.

(3) How she was healed:

Went to the place of worship, 11; met our Lord there. He spoke to her, 12; He laid His hands on her, she was immediately made straight, glorified God for her healing, 13.