The Tupelo journal., 1910-09-02
Two PARALLELS Of
Judgment
Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 4. 1910
Specially Arranged for This Paper

TIME.-Tuesday, April & A. d. 30. Two
days after the triumphal entry.
PLACE.-In the courts of the temple
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Sustaining the Faith of His Disci-
pies, which was SO soo to be tested
to the utmost.-Matt. 21:20-21: Mark
11:2O-25. The fig tree on which the
curse for fruitlessness rested on Mon.
day morning, vas found withered as
Jesus and his disciples passed by 1t
Tuesday morning on their way to the
temple.
The Authority of Christ Challenged.
and Christ's Answer.-Vs. 21-27. mark
l1:27-33; Luke 20:1-8.) The Pharisees
came to Jesus and demanded by what
authority he took upon himself to
drive out the money-changers, and the
cattle, and the dealers in them from
the temple. What authority had he
10 call himself the Messiah, and to op.
pose those who were the divinely ap.
pointed leaders In the ritual OF a dt.
vinely authorized religion and tenn
Pile?
1t was useless to answer them by
any statement of fact They would
have denied his authority, and made
his claims a means of bringing him be-
fore the Roman court. His deeds and
teachings were known, and they could
have learned his authority. Jesus,
therefore. refused to answer, but said
unto them, l also will ask you one
tbfpo ,, NOT N p,11Jo fbom Int RI Lad
them to answer their own question In
answering his.
25. The baptism of John, whence
was 1t? from Heaven, or of men? That
is, tell me what was Johns authority
for his teaching. represented by bap.
tism, and l will tell you what mine is.
for both are from the same source.
The rulers were afraid to express
their opinion, and said they could not
tell. They could not do SO without
making trouble for themselves, or an
swering themselves the question they
clans and not statesmen, or patriots.
Jesus therefore refused to answer
their question, and they could not con
plain. 1t was very wise and true ac-
ton on the part of Jesus.
The Parable of the Two Sons. Good
Resolutions Versus Good Deeds.-Vs.
1882. But what think ye?" He
would not answer their question, but
he would give them a parable to think
Of, a mirror in which they could see
their own characters, and be led to re-
p%entance. "a certain man." represent
Ing God, our Father in Heaven, had
two sons. Compare Luke 1911.
The First Son represented those who
made no ~pretension to the service Of
God, but stood opposed to 1T in doc
trine, in character and In life.
The Second Son represented those
who had In form at least been carry
ing on the work of their Father, repre-
scented by the elder son in the parable
of the Prodigal SON. This class In
cluded the Jewish leaders, and all
those who joined with them as repre-
s~entatives of the kingdom of God in
the world, as his professed servants
In unfolding his true religion. They
were particular about ritual and form
and outward observances. They sat
In the chief seats of the synagogue.
To both sons was given the same
command, to cultivate their fathers
vineyard. All Gods children are sent
into this world to make it bring forth
the fruits Of the Spirit, to make it a
kingdom of Heaven, in their own souls
and lives, and in the world as a whole.
The first SOL refused to obey. HE
answered I will not" Their
whole conduct said 81 will not" And
this continued for ages. "But after
ward he repented, and went" The SEQ
ond son answered and said, l go, sir;
and went not" Those whom this
son represented had said by their &C
items and professions. Il go, sir"
Then, before they saw the applica-
ton, Jesus asked them to decide
whittier Of them twain did the will
OF his father?"
The only possible answer was. The
first"
Then Jesus made the application.
and they saw themselves as in a mir
ror.
The Parable of the Vineyard and the
Husbandmen.-Vs. 33-41. The Vine
yard represented the kingdom Of God,
which was entrusted to the Jews.
planted by God with the rich and fruit
full vines Of the knowledge of God, his
commandments, the institutions of re-
ligion, and his revealed word. The
Hedge or fence around 1t represented
all that God did to protect and de-
fend the nation. The Winepress. usu-
ally hewn out Of solid rock, repre-
scented all the means and institutions,
and influences conferred upon the Jew.
ish people, for their prosperity and
usefulness. The Tower was used for
the watchmen, and represents Gods
watchful unceasing car for his peo'
pie. The Husbandmen whose business
was to cultivate and ARE for the vine
yard, represented first the rulers of the
Jews, and then the nation as a whole.
All church members are the husband.
men.
They Stay the Son, Their Only Hope.
Because they wanted to keep their
places. their honors. their wealth.
their own pleasure.
The Result was that they lost all.
They killed that they might possess;
but 1t was the shortest road to entire
loss. Those who reject Christ In or
der that they may keep possession Of
themselves, their pleasures and hopes,
have taken the shortest and surest