The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-04
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

zone reading these notes should hTst carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboYe.t
SUBJECT: THE REJECTION BY THE WORLD OF
THE Son OF GoD AS SAVIOR.
We deal with one of Christ's parallels. The
student should read the accounts by SITS. Mat
thew and Luke. ST. Matt, 81: 3346, aud st.
Luke, 20;9 19. This is the parable of the
murderous vine dressers 1t is an illustration
of Jewish guilt as to the Messiah. 1t shows
that those who rejected the prophets and abused
the Christ were themselves rejected and de-
stroyed, a commentary on len tdtioHls.
l. Preliminary
Christ uttered this parable in the Court of
tho Women, part of the Temple at Jerusa
lem. 1t was Wednesday, March 16, A. ID. 20,
only two days before his crucifxion. The
hearers were the crowd in general, IS they
passed here and there in the court. 1t was the
week of the Passover, aud great numbers of
Jews were gathered from all over Palestine.
The object of this parable is to show Gods
mercy and justice. 1t is seen God snot incon-
sistent in rejecting men who rejected him.
Those men rebuked of God had rejected Gods
messenger; yea, had refused to heed his Son.
No wonder God rejected them.
The parable may state specific fact 1t is
more likely that it clothes general principle.
Many a householder might have suffered some
thing as did the one supposed in the parable.
Christ took most graphic way of Gliding his
hearers The general principle existing even
in the unregenerate heart is inclined to de-
nounce such shameful treatment of proprie-
tor as that set forth in the parable. The para
BILE was readily understood by Jewish audi
ence. Vineyards were common in Palestine.
Often proprietor would find it necessary to
be absent, and be forced to intrust his business
to agents.
q Tie Parable Literally.
Let us consider the parable literally. A
vineyard is an Enclosure or plantation for the
cultivation of grapes. These grew bountifully
in the Promised Land. The spies who left
Kadesh-Barnea at the direction of Moses to go
through Palestine and report as to its product
iyeness were specially enthusiastic over the
rich punches of grapes which they found in the
land. The apparatus for the making of wine
was double; the upper for pressing the grapes
and the lower for receiving the juice. The
lower part was a sort of cistern. Sometimes it
was made by excavating rock and leaving a
kind of cask or vat, into which the juice press
ed from the grapes ran. The grapes were often
pressed by the tramping on them of persons
barefooted. Near by was tower. OF it Trench
said: :" 1t may have been the villa where at
once the fruits were kept and the husbandmen
resided but I should rather suppose it the
tower of the watchmen."
Bloomfield wrote thus: This was built
partly as place of abode for the occupier while
the produce was collected, and partly for Sc
curity to the servants stationed there as guards
over the place." The owner let it out to hus-
bandmen, men skilled IN cultivating the vine.
WeSee the plan of leasing land is old, and that
the payment in kind was an ancient practice.
Probably the vineyard was worked on shares.
Those must have been very heartless employees
who would treat so cruelty the agents of their
proprietor. They were murderers. They went
far 70 ulox ha cn,aO of he OyH-p1 no
prophets approached the servants or workmen
| in the vineyard on an honest mission, to wit
| to collect that portion of the products OF the
] vineyard which by contract was due to the
| owner. Such conduct as that of the servants
| was too outrageous to tolerate, and called, In
! deed, for severe punishment. The owner soon
| appeared. He ordered the murderers to be put
to death Then he rented his vineyard to par
! ties so recommended that he had confidence
| they would be true to his interests
| 8. The Parable Spiritually or Fig,ratirely.
| We need have no difficulty in determining
| the spiritual significance of the parable. The
vineyard is the Church, the history of which
| began with Adam and will continue through
| all time. The vineyard is maintained for the
| purpose of cultivating divine manhood religi
Gus character, noble virtues, pure affections
| There were subjects in this Kingdom or Church
/ before Moses. After his day the living product
were devont Jews. Thus it was till Christi
DEATH After that the vines were Christians
and such they are yet. The husbandmen are
pastors, teachers, all who train the vines, al
! who instruct in religious things. The servants
sent to inspect the products of the vineyard
were the eminent prophets, G. g., Elijah, Elisha
Malichi aud others. We recall how cruelty
many of these were treated. (See Heb, IL: 81
40.) By the Son is meant Christ. Him they
slew. Heb Is: 11-f39 Thus were the prophet
| bondiad - (St Mark II. 4 Tim
was Christ crucifed All of this was at thu
hands of the Jews. No wonder God is indig
nant at the Hebrews. No wonder he deter
mined to let out his Kingdom or vineyard t.
husbandmen more worthy.
We have a splendid illustration of the divin
forbearauce. God took every pains with tn
VINEYARD He planted the Church put pro
tections, hedges, about it got 1t into good con
dition (dgged about it, Then he Withdrew
from personal visible communications, as il
Eden with Abram, in talks with Moses. Ill
intrusted the vineyard to the hands of mel
whom we would think worthy and who shOult
have toled for its highest culture. Years ant
years he waited. Prophet after prophet wa
| sent, only to be insulted and slain. Many cen
turtles passed. Then he sent his beloved Son
only that the cross might be raised and th
Sons life brutality taken. Even yet he Ia
! patience. lie did not annihilate mankind. III
| seizes the vineyard from those who had prove
so unworthy aud selects another class of per
sons, with a hope they may be faithful. w
would think the Jews too Indifferent to car
about the change, but ST. Luke tells US tina
when informed the Kingdom was to be enlarge
and Gentiles to be welcomed, they had enOug
interest to excaim, God forbid" This ma
have been an cutlery OF Indignation against th
innovation rather than an outburSt of sOrro'
that they were TO be thus deprived of thei
special privileges.
We see how Christ instructs. lie forces me
to condemn hemselves-compeis them to pre-
nounce their own sentence. Having uttere
the parable, he asks what ought TO be don
with such wretehed husbandmen. (Vers
401 They reply that such conduct is worth
, of capital punishment Verse Al To pr'
pare them for the assertion of his purpose
supplant the Jews by the Gentiles as TO an
special privilege III his vineyard, Christ draw
from his audience the admission that the vim
, yard ought to be put into the hands OF oth'
husbandmen (Y.4I) Now is Christ's ehane
, Now, as did Nathan in the case of David, /
! turned on them their own argument, declarir
to each Thou art the man.
L. Christ the Rejected Stone.
Reference is made in Verse AZ to Ps. lis:
"The stone which the builders refused is b
come the headstone of the corner" This pril
ciple often applies. 1t was true in the case
!, the author David. He WAS little, least likely
his brothers to become famous, and yet he su
t passed all. The stone seemingly SO unfit w
after a time the very one selected to be Il