Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-03-17
THE son REJECTED.
LESSON XII, INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY
SCHOOL SERIES. MARCH ts.

lFrom Lesson Helper Quarterly, by permission oe
II. S. Hoffman. Philadelphia. puhlisher.l
Notes--A parable, spiritual truth conveyed
under material forms or images A wine
press, rather "a place for the wine fat.p This
is usually formed in ledge Of rock, it is
rectangular in form and communicates with
lower vat into which the juice runs as the
grapes are pressed in the one above. A
tower, sometimes called "a lodge" for the
keeper of the vineyard. Let it out, or hired
it out for part of the crop Husbandmen,
those who worked the vineyard. Stoned, not
killed, but drove him Off with stones. Like
wise. in the same way. Reverence, pay
respect to. Heir. one who receives property
from another by descent. Inheritance, tho
property that was to so to the heir. Here it
is the vineyard. Render, return. pay or
yield Marvellous, wonderful. Perceived,
saw or understood. Lay hands on him, or
do violence to him. Powder, fine dust.
Prophet, foreteller of future events and so
Gods messenger to them.
v. 33. There is no question that the parable
here spoken by our Lord is the reproduction
Of Isaiah v, IL For the statement is alto
gether unqualified "The vineyard of the
Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel and the
Z. And again we read, "Yet l had planted
thee a noble vine," jeremiah ii, 81. And we
can trace each event described in this verse.
Doubtless the planting took place at Horeb.
Read Exodus xix, 40. Israel was chosen
before this. But their visible taking out
from the nations took place then and there.
There the planting took place. And the set
ting of the hedge about them, what was this
but the enactment of the statutes and ordi-
nances shutting them in from the nations
about them. And the wine press and the
tower, what are these but completed arrange
ments for their efficiency and safety as the
vineyard Of the Lord. Now, there was
purpose in all this And that purpose was
the receiving of the fruits Of the vineyard.
And here comes in the letting out to hus-
bandmen and the departure of the owner
into another country as perfectly natural in
cidents Of the parable. And so Israel stands
before us, let out to or put into the hands OF
the rulers, who were appointed of God to con-
duct its affairs as really as husbandmen do
those of vineyard.
" 1886. There can be no shadow of q
doubt that these servants represent the seers
and the prophets sent in the Lords name to
hold the rulers to the faithful discharge of
the great trust put into their hands. From
Acts iii, "a, it seems that Samuel was the
first Of the line. And from him the line
sweeps onward unto John, who was the last
before the son. And from the verses before
us we learn:
/. God expects fruit from spiritual privi-
leges.
2. That he holds men to account for them.
3. There is enmity in mans heart against
God
v. 81, SS. The ruling spirit of enmity
within comes to climax here. The Son of
the Lord Of the vineyard is sent last of ell,
and him they cast out and kill OF course
the doubt as to how he would be re ceived APP
plies only to the earthly side of the parable.
The owner Of this vineyard did not know.
But we cannot carry this over to its spiritual
side. or o that which the parable represents.
Here all is clear in the certainty OF knowl-
edge as to the treatment he would receive
In the councils of the Godhead be was sThe
lamb slain from the foundation of the
world Rev. xii, s. And as the shadows Of
the cross darkened about him, he said Nov
is my soul troubled. And what shall say
Father, save me from this hour But for
this cause came / to this hour John xii,
q. And yet this certainty of the fact Of his
rejection and death at their hands did not
affect to the shadow Of q hair the yoluntari-
ness Of their action in rejecting and cruelty
ing him. "By wicked hands We have crCci-
fed and slainn him, was the charge Of the
apostle sgainst them under the direct teach
ing of the Spirit. And the essence Of their
wickedness was, sThey hated Ins without a
cause" John xv, p. And there was no
cloak for that sin.
". 39-41. Now, in view Of the facts Of this
treatment, our Lords question here is most
natural and pointed And to it there could
be but one answer, and this the chief priests
and Pharisees gave at once. And in it there
are two truths very clearly stated:
/. A just retribution, and
2. A new disposition Of the vineyard
". AZ. Now comes the application Of this
BY the Lord to themselves. And lie did 50 in
the words Of their own scripture There is
no shadow Of doubt that the reference Is to
the Messiah, and has always been held to be
So. sThe stone1 is the Messiah. The builders,
the rulers Of the Jews The refusing or re-
iecting Of the stone, the crucifying Of tho
Lord and making him the head Of the corner,
his rising from the dead All this Is clear o.
light without cloud. And just as clear,
too, is the truth that under this change Of
figure, Gods everlasting purpose Of the ex-
altati0n Of the Son whom the husbandncEl
we're about to cast out and kill was thus on
nouncel to them. In the one figure they
were the "builders.n In the other the sshus-
bandnicn.r And in each destruction was the
inevitable doom.
". 43 How full Of solemn majesty are
these words: Therefore say unto y0u, 2 etc.