The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL LESSON, May "a.
Jesus Teaching I'm the Temple, as Re-
lated I'm Luke Xxx, Verses 9-10-The
Parable of the Vineyard.
BY Rev. JAMES z. GILBERT.
Secretary of the American Society OF Re
ligious Education.

BY Rev. JAMES E. GILBERT.
Secretary of the American Society OF Re-
ligious Education.
CONTExT.-Having delivered the parable
Of the pounds. Jesus resumed His journey
toward Jerusalem. He made brief visit
at Bethany to see Lazarus. John xii. 9-1i-)
Hating at Bethpage. a little village on the
Mount Of Olives. He sent two of His dis
ciples to bring a colt from neighboring
village. Seated on this, He rode in tri-
umph into the city. preceded and followed
by a great multitude. (aIark XII, l-1l) II
was at the beginning Of Passover week.
and the city was fun of people. Notwith-
standing His recent instructions and His
many disclaimers. He was hailed as Mes
siah, and the shouts were heard, 'Hosanna
to the Son ef David, Blessed Is the King
of Israel on entering the city He was
visited BY some Greeks, to whom He deliv-
cred ar address. John xii. 2O-s6) Spending
the night IN Bethany, He returned to Jeru-
salem or tl1s following day. cursing the fig
tree as He passed. Mark XII, 15-1s) An
other night was spent in Bethany, and a
third time He entered the great metropolis.
Entering into the temple He cast out those
that bought ard sold and overthrow the
table Of the money changers. Afterward
the CHEF Driests and scribes gathered about
and questioned His authority. AS part Of
His reply. Hs delivered the parable which
is set for our study to-day.
VINEYARD.-This parable Is somewhat
similar to one found In the Old Testament.
Qsa. v. 1-3.) 1t deals with a very common
occurrence in Eastern countries, one very
familiar, therefore. to the apostles and to
the people, The owner had put his vine
yard .rto very excellent condition. He
planted it, set the vines in prepared soil:
he tedged II around about. that no beast
misSht Srea,, through; he made a wine
press, visre the juice Of the grapes might
be sApresssd he built tower. a lodging
place for the keeper. (datt. XXI 49, Moth
ing Was lac'ing. Qsa. l. ~ And then he
let IT, out 10 liusbandmen. This vineyard
represents the Jewish state or church. Qsa.
v. T., II belonged to God. and was the OBJ
ject s,f His peculiar care. psalm xxx, 49,
He had separated 1t from surrounding peo-
pies and guarded against their encroach-
ments by many ordinances. (Ex. xxxiii. 49,
He had instituted those agencies by means
Of which the highest spiritual condition
might be attained. Deut. xxxiii q. 2S) He
had intrusted this church and government
to the priests and kings, as tenants. ex-
pecting that. as His Representatives. they
purpose for which Jndaism had been a sre
pointed would be achieved. Thus Christ
was recalling to <he minds Of His hearers
the high mission Of the Jews as the chosen
FRUI1AGE.-The parable next represents
the owner Of the vineyard as sending 10 the
tenants that he might receive the fruit, thar
which properly belonged 10 him, in fact
that for which the vineyard was planted and
the husbandmen We're appointed. After all
his outlay he had good reason to expect a
large return. In like manner the Jewish
people were raised up that they might yield
a glorious harvest or virtue and be bless
s 10 IS. ether al to sse s s9Fy OF
ular may be easily perceived by all who con-
slider their condition. Their country was
centrally located. SO that all the lines of
Ill, 81 There was every variety of climate,
and the resources were rich and abundant.
lisa. Ii. ~ They could have reached out
fiuenced every land for good. They alone
had knowledge Of the true God and the
Institutes Is +; OF religion ordained by Him
about In darkness. They had a code OF laws
which have been the wonder of all subse-
quent centuries. What work for humanity
race might have been done by this Jewish
people. The fruitage of that vineyard ought
to have been exceedingly great and pre-
BEATING.-The response which the hus-
bandmen made to the owners rightful re-
quest next comes out in the parable. They
rejected it and resented 1t outright and en-
tire. They even treated the messengers With
fndignity,- as II TO intimidate any who miNht
afterward come on the same errand. and
this they did repeatedly, showing a fixed
purpose to make no return whatever OF the
products of the vineyard. Moreover, their
conduct was increasingly violent as the sue.
cessive demands were made. The first and
second servants were beaten and sent away
empty. This is intended TO Illustrate the ear
lier forms Of opposition manifested by the
Jews toward the prophets whom aod sent
They i'll treated Moses eek. xvii. p and his
successor Josh. xiv, H) Elijah. that
tenth century before Christ. apparently Q
very angel out Of The skies, was condemned
q Kings xviii. I'D So. most Of all those or
degree were Knocked and scourged and giver
to bonds and imprisonment (Heb. XII. $50. fol
no offense except that they came in tn
name OF God to secure the nations loyalt,
to Him.
able sent out by the owner OF the vineyard
was even more severely. handled; ne wa.
wounded and cast. out, left to suffer ant
perhaps to die with no one TO befriend him
This inhuman cruelty figured the extreme
Je%sh an peope arSen %hen
men denounced their unholy plans and prac
| tees OF this there is no better instance
| xxi, -. who. while displaying the creates
| fidelity endured extreme suffering, ending hi
| career in tears. But 1t Is probable that thu
| sacred writings do not record the wors
| form of persecution. Stephen, in his bold
| speech before the Sanhedrin, makes allusion
that would warrant such a conclusion (Act.
vii. so. and the writer to the Hebrews to
ward the end of a long recital Of the heroe
| OF faith. intimates that the Jews were guilt,
| OF offenses toward Gods servants beyond
| what is preserved in history. (Heb. XII, 81
| 49, The murderous spirit OF the covenan
| people, thus presented. Is one of the mos
| melancholy exhibitions of the deep depravit.
OF the human heart. 1t shows to what depth
men may fall, even while processing TO b.
| religious. This arraignment of hard
hearted and stiff-necked race was one of tn
| boldest acts of Jesus.
KILLING.-The foregoing references 4
| the three servants was followed In the par
| able by a final effort TO regain his vineyard
| He concluded that the wicked h1sbandmel
| would at least respect his son. and therefor
| resolved to send him on the same errand
| But the opposite result followed. They rea
soned that, as the son was the heir, the,
| needed only to kill him and seize the in
heritance thereafter having no trouble. An
| they acted accordingly. There can be bu
| TO himself. He had come. as the Son O
| God John !, 80. after all the prophets ha
labored and suffered to bring back this wan
| dering people. luke xix, 10.) But the rul
ers Of the church had turned against Him
Bitterness, jealousy and hatred were in thei
| hearts. They were about TO XIII Him
few days later He was. by their fnstfgation
led out Of the city and crucifled. SMars
XIV, l) Before the eyes OF His audienc
| transaction. people. the most highly hon
| Ored. about to commit the y,,ocf xu-(,1