The Elbert County tribune., 1914-08-14

\
the fig tree withered away from the
roots. Passing on they enter the
temple where Christs authority is
challenged. Following his discomfort
ing reply (21;23-2D Jesus taught
three parallels of warning of which
this lesson is the second.
/. The parable, w. 33-39. 1t Is
story of Gods long suffering goodness
and Luke (20:9) tells us that 1t was
addressed to the people. We need to
Keep in mind the previous parable OF
the two sons wv. 1892 in order to
understand perfectly the method he
employed IN answering the chief
priests. In the first he states case
and appeals to them for a verdict.
without hesitation they replied and by
so doing condemned themselves. In
this parable he states a case and asks
for a reply, v. 40. This they gave and
in SO doing declared righteous judg-
ment which must fall upon their mo-
tives In both parallels Jesus en-
pioys the figure of vineyard. In
the Old Testament this stands for
Israel. Ps. s0:S-11, lisa. 5:1.
Kingdom Committed to Us.
In this case 1t stands for the King
dom of God which is no longer identi-
fed with Israel but taken away from
1t and given to the Gentiles ". 43).
The Lord WAS dealing with the re-
sponsible rulers of Israel, those ia
miliar with the prophetic writings.
His reference to the digging and care
suggests that for his vineyard he had
done all that could have been done.
lisa. 5:4. Being fully equipped. he
places it first of all In the care of
Israel. verse 43. Today it is in charge
of believers, l Peter 4:10. The hus-
bandman did not own the vineyard, 1t
was only entrusted to his care. So
in a sense. God has committed the
kingdom to us, does his work through
US, and of a right expects an account
ing by us, see Matt. 25:14, 15; Mark
1894; Luke 1912.
In these parallels we can trace the
whole history of Israel according to
Isaiah. The fruits he looked for from
the vineyard ''let out to the husband
man" were those of Judgment and of
Righteousness. Their response had
ever been that of prosecuting the
prophets. ill treatment of those that
were sent, and a selfish appyopr4tion
of the blessings he had giveiy These
servants sent to get an accounting
were God-commissioned and God-in-
spired. hence It is small wonder that
such people would accord like tleat-
ment of the king when he c4i he.
This is still the, way the world uses
OIL 1u
the worlds natural hatred to God.
John 1913, 10; Rom. 81.
Appeal to Hearers.
u. The application, w. 4o-46. Jesus
then appeals to his hearers as to
what should be done to the husband
man. v. 40. They declared. he will
miserably destroy those miserable
men and will let out the vineyard to
other husbandmen, which shall render
him the fruits In their seasons" At
this Jesus reminds them of their
ScriptureS>and what they taught con-
corning the fact of the stone rejected
by the builders becoming the head of
the corner.
The masters question ". 40) sug-
gests the one found in Heb. 1928,
30. Historically, God did "miserably
destroy these miserable men," That
happened at the destruction of Jerusa-
lem, one of the most appalling sieges
recorded in military history. 1t was
then that the doom pronounced by
Jesus was executed when he said,
"The Kingdom of God shall be taken
away from you, and shall be given to
a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof" see Acts 15:14; Pet. 2:9;
Rev. SO. In these words Jesus for
mally and authoritatively passed SEN
tence upon the nation and rejected 1t
| from a place of service. 1t is signifi-
cant to observe the alternative of fall
Ing upon the stone and being broken
or of having the stone fall upon and
crushing all to dust In the erection
of the temple one is the keystone of
the whole. on that stone the build
ers were now falling" and being
broken" lisa. 8:15. Soon In their
corporate capacity. as ones entrusted
with a vineyard. the stone should
fall upon them" in the destruction
Of the city, and individually and per-
sonally as unbelievers, In a more aw-
full sense.
Once again in this lesson We face
the fact that the chosen people were
rejected because of their unfruitful-
ness. that is. they had failed to fulfil
the purpose for which they were
created. The sin of these rulers was
that of their failure to administer
the affairs of the people In q !, In
terests OF Gods kingdom. The fail
ure OF the people was that they sub
mitted to such false rulers. The su-
preme value of this lesson is in the
revelation of the wonderful mower and