The Montgomery tribune., 1910-09-02
Two PARALLELS of
Judgment
Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 4, 1910
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PLACE.-In the courts of the temple.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Sustaining the Faith of His Disci
pies, which was so soon to be tested
to the utmost-Matt. 21:20-21; Mark
11:2025. The fig tree on which the
curse for fruitlessness rested on Mon
day morning, was found wlthered as
Jesus and his disciples passed by 1t
Tuesday morning on their way to the
temple.
The Authority of Christ Challenged
and Chrlst's Answer.-Vs. 21-27. Mark
11:27.33; Luke 20:1-S) 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
to call himself the Messiah and to op.
pose those who were the divinely ap.
pointed leaders in the ritual of di-
vinely authorized religion and TEN.
pie?
1t was useless to answer them by
any statement of fact. They would
have denied his authority, and made
his claims 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
thing" not to puzzle them, but to lead
them to answer their own question in
answering his.
25. The baptism of John, whence
was Il? 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
asked Jesus. They were mere politi-
clans and not statesmen, or patriots.
Jesus therefore refused to answer
their question, and they could not COM
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
1 would not answer their question, but
he would give them a parable to think
Of, mirror in which they could see
their own characters, and be led to re,
pentance. "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 it 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-
sented 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-
sentatives of the kingdom of God in
the world, as his professed servants
In upholding 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 1t a
Kingdom of Heaven, in their own souls
and lives, and in the world as a whole
The first son refused to obey. -He
answered l will not" Theil
whole conduct said 81 will not" And
this continued for ages. "But after
ward he repented, and went" The sec
ond son answered and said, go, sir
and went not" Those whom this
son represented had said by their &C
tions and professions, II go. SIR"
Then, before they saw the applica.
ton, Jesus asked them to decides
Whittier of them twain did the will
Of his father?"
The only possible answer was, 1.-THE
first"
Then Jesus made the application
and they saw themselves as in a mir
ro".
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.
They Slay 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
way to lose them.
LIVE WIRES.
The parallels may seem far away