The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-10
The Sunday School.
Eessnm Series tor 1855.
FIRST QUARTER.
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
March IS, 1888.
LESSON XII.-THE SON REJECTED.
BY REV. ROBERT T. POLK.
Gessnn Series tnr 1883.
FIRST QUARTER.
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
March rs, 1888.
Matthew xxi. 33-46. ]
TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE.

TIME.-After the events described in the
last Lesson, we are informed that JESUS and
the Twelve went forth from the Temple and
city to Bethany, where they lodged. JESUS evil
IDENTIFY had friends in thatvillage whose hos
pitality he enjoyed. He was doubtless always
welcome guest in the home of Mary and Mar
tina and their brother, Lazarus, whom he had
restored to life from the tomb (John xi. l. 81;
xii, 1-9; Matthew XVI. 6.13). Luke tells us
that " every day he was teaching in the Tenn
pie, and every night he went out and lodged
in the mount that is called Olivet, and all the
people came to him early in the temple to
hear him." His teaching contained in the
Lesson occurred two days after his arrival
and triumphant entry into the city which was
described in the last Lesson, on Tuesday or
Wednesday, probably the latter, of Passion
Week (see last Study.
EFFECT.-One effect of JESUS popular
ministry in the Temple was to exasperate
the ruling Jews who had determined upon
his arrest, but who now feared an insurrec-
ton if they should attempt to execute their
determination, seeing the world had gone
after him." John xii. 19). They sought some
reasonable pretext that might satisfy the
multitude who favored him, upon which they
might bring him before the magistrates and
discredit him. The Rabbits were authorized
to publicly teach by their brethren. The
prophets claimed to teach by Divine author
ity. 1t was proper for the rulers of the Tenn
pie to inquire into JESUS authority for exer-
cising the functions of public teacher In the
principal place of the nation for religious in
struction and worship. Here in his child
hood he had astonished the Rabbits by his
wisdom and interest in the deep things of
their religion (Luke ii. 41-47). Here, also
in his early ministry, when he had done the
things he was now doing, he convinced one
of their number, Nicodemus, that he was
divinely authorized teacher (John iii. p
Representative of the ruling Glasses, if not, a
formal deputation from the Sanhedrin itself,
the highest ruling council of the Jewish COM
monwealtb, came to JESUS as he was teach
ing and healing in the Temple, and inquired
as to the nature of his authority and by
whom he exercised it (23). But he was not
to be ensnared by their craftiness. Instead
of answering them directly, as they expected,
he asked them a question the answer 10
which would also answer their own question
and condemn their opposition to him. He
asked them to tell him by what authority
John the Baptist exercised his public minis
try. Seeing their dilemma they declined to
answer. JESUS therefore declined to answer
them (24-27). John had testified of him,
and his own works had declared his Divine
nnt hnUo
idence than he had given, and besides they
sought only an occasion to discredit him In
the popular estimation, and to arrest him
without arousing popular indignation. Hav-
ing turned their thought upon themselves,
JESUS proceeded to illustrate the religious
character and attitude of the Jewish teachers
and rulers in a series of parallels. The f1rst
(25-32) is the story of two sons, one of whom
refused when requested to cultivate his IA
theirs vineyard, but afterward repented and
did it; the other promptly promised to do as
requested, but did it not. The story is made
to illustrate the Jewish authorities, who by
their position and profession, were promls-
ing to promote the kingdom of God, but had
refused to enter il when it approached, and
the publicans and sinners, who by their lives
and characters, had refused to acknowledge
any obligation to obey the will of GOD, but
upon the preaching of John and JESUS, had
repented and entered the kingdom before
the professed religious guides. The second
parable is the subject of our Lesson, and
continues the figure of the..vineyard, by winch
the ruling Jews are represented as husband
men, or resident tenants, and illustrates their
disposition toward and treatment of the
prophets and JESUS himself, the Fathers
ministers of His will and truth.