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August 5, 1914.
A FAMILY' PAPER.
Inthe Sabbath School
Lesson VIIL August 23, 1914
THE WEDDING FEAST.
By Rev. Owen F. Thompson.
Golden Text.—0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that
killeth the prophets, and stonest them that are
sent unto her, how often would I have gathered
thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her own brood under her wings, and ye would
not! Luke 13:34.
"• Lesson Text.—Matthew 22:1-14.
Time.—April A. D. 30. Place.—Jerusalem.
Suitable Psalms.—23, 2, 133, 37,. verse 22.
Exposition.—There are a good many things
that we can learn from this lesson of the Wedding
Feast. Some of the most prominent are
snch as these.
We learn here of God's wonderful goodness in
providing for the needs of his people.
To God in heaven, looking down upon the
needy men and women of the world, it was not
enough that he had given us the beautiful worlri
where there are gardens and woods, mountains
and valleys covered with trees. There are flowers
and beautiful scenes everywhere. There are
rivers and springs of water. He has filledthe
earth with his treasures and he makes the grain
to grow and fillsthe land with comforts that
are to cheer the hearts of his people and which
do cheer them when the sin in men's hearts
does not make them steal from their brothers
what God has wanted them to have.
It was not enough that he should give us our
friends and opportunities to make the most of
the talents that are ours but he must give to
men the spiritual blessings that they threw away
when they decided to take the fruit of he forbidden
tree.
He has sent down from heaven the Bread of
Life and the water of life fiows constantly from
tho fountain that has been opened and there all
who will may come and be refreshed so that
those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
are filled. He has provided that which will perfectly
satisfy every good desire and he has prepared
enough for all who come.
We learn here of God's personal love for his
people in that he invites them into the fellowship
ot Ills home and his table.
family There circle is nothing that shows the hospitality intimate of
friends. a people more than for them to invite others into
the That fellowship is a feeling of their that homes. almost everyone There are shares, many
but who it are is willing a feeling enough that we to help should with not a church give up dinner
too or great a picnic a measure. and are willing In many to instances engage in there any
to
in
is general nothing work that for will the mean poor as and much those in who the are life in of
another trouble but as to they, bring do not them like right to open into their homes
and to those make who them are feel in need that of they home are comforts. one in They the
circle feel like there. that is A asking stranger too may much be and made they to think feel
very that lonely the home even life when should all the be kept needs sacred of his to body the
are cared for with and the perhaps best that the money most can buy
iust by being left out of the family circle.
Goi, to show his inflinite love and his personal
love for his people as his own children, has
invited them into his own home and has made a
jilace for them at his own table. He has called
tnem his sons and daughters and has asked them
to call him their Father, Is it not a wonderful
love that we have in him
We learn here of the patience and long suffering
of God in his offer of salvation to men.
They rejected time after time, but God in his
Boodness sent others to tell them that there was
still a place if they would but come.
Is it not true still that God pleads with men
Jlay after day to come to hirn He does not turn
i