The National tribune., 1895-04-04
SUNDAY MEDITATION

A Dluuy vi lnt ilieliidti0lldl Ouiludy-
School Lesson Appointed for April
IA, 1895. %
Subject, The wicked Husbandman. st.
Mark, IL: 1-12.
Zone reading these notes should frs. carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures az
indicated above.i $50
INTRoDUcTIoN.
The instance now to be studied has found IL
lustration in the cases of foreign landlords
owners of farms in the United States but resi-
dents abroad. There is liability to trouble.
This was seen In the Anti. Rent war in New
York State. When owners or their represent
stives went to the premises for rent they were
often greatly abused and frequently their lives
were in danger There were cases where heirs
came to set matters right. but such were moro
abused than their former representatives IL
was from such real or imagined cases that
Christ drew his parable. We are not to say
whether such rental is right or the reverse.
business should be conducted on right princi-
Piles. Landlords have rights and tenants have
duties Both should be adjusted on fair prin-
cipes.
SUBJECT: THE PARABLE OF THE NUMEROUS
VINE-DREssERs.
/. Data.
Hss of all the student should read criti-
cally the three accounts which we have of this
parable-St. Matt, 81 33 46; St. Mark, 12:1-
10; st. Luke 20: 9-19. The subject is, The
Rejection by the World of the Son of God as
the Savior. 1t illustrates jewish guilt as to
the Messiah. 1t shows that those who reject
ed the prophets and abused the Christ were
themselves rejected and destroyed a common
tary on Ie5 talionis. It is sometimes called the
Parable of the Householder. This NAME house
holder, comes from the account by st. Mat
thew, 81: 80.
2 Time.
The parable was uttered on Wednesday,
March Is, A. d. %. This was two days before
Christ's crucifxion. Rem Numbering this fact,
and VIC have strange sensations when we read,
LET US kill him."
The parable was spoken in the Court Of the
Women, part of the Temple at Jerusalem.
4. The Speaker.
There is no question but that Christ uttered
this parable It is like him to teach in the
form of story. While he could not so we'll
declare to the Pbarisees and chief priests that
they were to be the murderers OF the Messiah,
he could picture forth the fact so graphically
that hearers would not go far amiss in under
standing Alright what be meant
5. Hearers.
St. Matt, 81: As, tells US Pharisees heard
Christ utter the parable st. luke mentions
chief priests and scribes. ". 49, And all
three accounts declare that the audience was
composed more generally of the people or null
titude in mass
6. The Occasion.
A delegation had waited on Christ, question
ing his authority to act so conspcuously as q
religious Teacher. It represented the animus
Of the Sanhedrim by whom it was sent. As
guardians of the religious concerns of the
jewish people. the Sanhedrim had right to
investigate religious movements, and Christ |
respected such right Ehe method-the evil |
diabolics purpose-the cowardly |
unmaplys bearng-of the dele |
cation were despised by Christ. DR.. Shedd |
wrote: I" 1t was well-arganized delegation,
and one chosen, undoubtedly, not without re-
dection, from the Sanhedrim. whose different
elements are therein carefully represented"
Coming to misunderstanding Christ droitly
10 put casuistic questions-they met surprise.
They could not have expected to be photo
yraphed, to have their moral likenesses taken,
% bo presented picture Enthusiastically of
and yet not complimentary rep
-esentation. 1t was an occasion demanding
plain, bold manipulation, and Jesus was equal
% the task.
z. Explanations of Words and Phrases.
Z. Parable. This is the throwing by the side
" a something not understood another some
hing which is comprehended, in order to cast
light on that which Is not understood; the rep
of truth in igurative way; the
method of pedagogical illumination, found
lseful not only in simplifying religious facts
,ut scientific teachings; to attempt to reduce
he obscure to tho grade of story as to rom
Ter 1t attractive and easy Of reception by the
Garner.
2. Another parable. st. Mt, 81: 49, Christ
,ept plying the truth. Practically he said:
Hold! Hear! / am not yet through with
ou."
9. Vineyard. The Vulgate has pineam. Some
hink we are to understand Palestine. Others
az Jerusalem. "Out Of" in st. Mt, 81: 80.
night mean outside the walls of Jerusalem.
,alvary was beyond said walls.
Much of Scriptural imagery is drawn from
he vineyard. The lesson reminds one of Is,
:1-7, and Ps, 30: SIG.
The owner is supposed to put his vineyard
nto most complete order. A hedge surrounds
+. There is tower. Stones were gathered
rom it, A vino press is provided. trench
Tas dug. Watchmen are stationed to protect
he ripening grapes.
The people of Palestine were familiar with
ineyard life. Selah Merrell wrote: "The
lopes of the Judean hills have been the para
Use of grapes from the days of Noah unto the
resent time"
1t was very natural for Christ under the cir
INSTANCES to picture truth by common facts
nd so we not surprised he used the figure
vineyard. The hearers of the parable found I
o trouble in applying it to themselves. They
new well Christ meant by the vineyard the I
ewish Nation, and by the husbandmen the
cribes and Pharisees.
We might say Palestine was land of vine
ards. Hills were terraced to their SUBMITS J
18th vines.
DIR. Robinson describes as follows the vine .
ards in vicinity of Hebron: The vines are
anted in rows eight or ten feet apart in each
ERECTION. The stock is suffered to grow up
rye to the hight of six or eight feet, and is
,ere fastened in q soping position to strong
axes, aud tho shoots suffered to grow and ex-
md from one plant to another. forming line
festoons. Sometimes two rows are made to
ant toward each other, and thus form by their
loots a sort OF Arch"
4. Hedged. BY hedge we may understand
~ inclosure as literal hedge, or wall, or fence.
he purpose was to keep of intruders. 1t
rived also to keep away animals. Can't,
g; 2:15. Farmers and vineyard owners
ten incosed land by hedges of dense thorn
Ishes. prickly pear. etc.
5. Wine-press. Is, 1910; So: g, 8; Joel,
IL. Barnes says: "Phe wine.press was made
two receptacles. The upper one at present,
Persia, is about eight feet square and four
ct high. In this the grapes are thrown and
odden down by men, Jand the juice runs into
10 large receptacle or cIstern below" h
st. Mark. IL: /, says "winefat." Fat means1
It. We are to understand the lower receptacle
vat into which runs the pressed juice On
{ tvat) see Joel, 3 49, Hag, 9: Is.