Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-09

but a part of the reply which Jesus made
to the Pharisees and rulers of the syn
agoEue, who questioned his authority to
teach and work in the temple. and also
that 1t was on Tuesday of the last week
OF His life on earth. You will also re-
call that in answering their question
He had made them confess that the life
service they had rendered was unaccept-
able, and had made them pronounce
Judgment on themselves for not bearing
fruit. They had appreciated the posi-
ton in which they found themselves,
and sought an opportunity to lay hands
on Him. but did not because they feared
the people
In the parable of the wicked husband
men He had shown them that God had
been wonderfully gracious in placing
them in charge Of His vineyard and pro-
viding everything necessary for fruitbear-
ing Gods service required work and
He expected fruit. He rejec ted them
because they did not yield fruit.
NOT ALL WORK, BUT REJOICING
He continued Immediately and gave
them this parable. the last of the three,
on the kings wedding feast for his son,
Il: A certain king makes a wedding
feast in honor OF his son; many invita-
lions have been sent out; when the time
arrives he instructs his servants to go
out and inform those who have been in
vited that everything is ready, and bid
them come in. Their action is very
strange; they will not come in. The king
graciously sends other servants to tell
them that he has prepared the dinner,
the oxen have been killed, and every
thing waiting on them for the marriage
to proceed. Some made light Of il and
went their ways, one to his farm, anoth-
er to his business, while some actually
took the kings servants and shameful
" abused them and killed them.
When the king heard Of 1t he was
very angry. and sent his army to de-
stroy the people who had acted thus,
and burn their cities Then he ordered
other servants TO go out into the part
ing OF the highways where crowds would
be gathered, and invited all sorts of peo-
pie, good and bad. to come IN. They
did so and the wedding was furnished
with guests. OF course, such a COM
pany would not be prepared TO come into
the kings presence. so a wedding gar
ment is furnished each one.
When the king comes in he scrutinizes
them closely ESQ the Greek is), and found
one without q wedding garment When
asked why, he could give no answer,
for he did not want to tell the truth,
that he had not been appreciative Of
either the graciousness OF the king in
providing the garment, or OF the dignity
of the kings presence, necessitating its
use He was without excuse and speech
less. BY the kings order he was bound,
taken. and cast out into the outer dark
60 a
This parable. Jesus said, was a word
picture OF the kingdom Of heaven. Many
are called, but few are chosen; not be-
cause OF Gods lack Of graciousness in in
vtting them. or in providing for them;
but on account OF their lack OF appreci-
alton OF these.
Is not this story the same as that Of
the wicked husbandman. only with diff
| ferent coloring7 Does Jesus not set
| forth here, as there, the service Of king?
| It is not all work, but II is also rejoic-
ing In Gods service we each have work
to do which must be done. God has
graciously provided everything we need,
| and He expects us to work with all our
might so as to yield the maximum of
fruit. II we do not yield fruit. He will
give the vineyard to others who will.
But as the old saw says: IAN
work and no play makes Jack a dull
kingdom God doesn't expect us to work
/ all the time; we may have joy in our
work all the time; but there is also a
period OF play. so TO speak, of rejoicing,
| represented here by the marriage feast.
| Do not let us lose sight OF this glorious
truth. Gods service means rejoicing Just
as truly as ii means work.
| IMMEASURABLY GRACIOUS.
II the householder was gracious in pro
viding everything needed to make the
vineyard fruitful. and in repeatedly send
| ing servants to receive fruit even though
they had been so ,maltreated, the King
was even more gracious in repeatedly
extending the invitation. TO the feast.
| Suppose you had invited some people to
your home. and had sent word to them
at a certain time that the entertainment
was ready and waiting for them. and
they had refused to come. Would you
send word to them again? Would you
I be inclined to take even a charitable
view OF II that they could not possibly
have understood your servants. and to
| send them word more explicitly? I
| doubt not. We should be almost certain
| to say that we would see them dead be-
fore we would ask them to our house
again: IL they acted so rudely. and show
ed so little desire for our fellowship. we
l should not give them another oppor-
/ tunity 10 refuse. How wonderfully gra-
4 rious was the kinRf He NOT only gave