The Washington herald., 1914-08-08

who gave Thee this authority to do these
things?
C2O And Jesus said unto them. I will
ask OF you one question, and answer Ne,
and I will tell you by what authority l
do these things
900 The baptism OF John. was 1t from
heaven. or from men? answer Ne.
C3D And they reasoned with themselves,
saying. II We shall say. From heaven. He
will say, Why then did ye not believe
Him?
C39 But should We say, From men
they feared the people; for all verify held
John to be a prophet.
C33) And they answered Jesus and say.
We know not And Jesus saith unto
them, Neither tell you by what author
ity 1 do these things.
80 And He spake this parable: A GER
tain man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard: and he came seeking fruit
thereon. and found none.
"a And he said unto the vinedresser.
Behold, these three years I come seeking
fruit on-this fig tree. and find none; cut
It down: why doth II also cumber the
ground?
80 And he answering saith unto him.
Lord. let it alone this year also, till I
shall dig about it, and dung It.
CS And II it bear fruit thenceforth,
we'll: but IL not, thou shalt cut It down.
The Narrative.
Our lesson today consists OF two Incl
dents, and a parable spoken earlier dur
ing the ministy in PeTaea. This parable
OF the barren fig tree is well set in con-
nection with our lesson as helpful to an
Interpretation OF the first OF the incidents.
The story of the lesson is the story OF
two days. and it is well that We should
keep them separate. The first day was
that after the triumphaI entry. On His
way from Bethany to Jerusalem in the
morning. accompanied by His disciples.
He wrought the one and only miracle of
judgment on record. We need waste no
time in discussing the credihility OF the
story. We may rest assured that at this
moment our Lord employed no symbol
unfittinGly. There can be no question
that upon this tree there should have
been fruit. Moreover II is idle to ques-
ton the right Of the Creator to make use
Of some part Of His cree ton. in which
failure was manifest. in order to teach
the highest spiritual lessons.
Let US therefore observe carefully the
sentence He pronounced upon the tree
that day. 1t ran thus. NO man eat fruit
from thee henceforward for ever" II
was the sentence OF perpetual fruitless-
ness pronounced upon the sin of fruitless-
ness. The tree had failed to bear fruit.
II was doomed to bear no fruit The
sentence was a ratification Of its own
condition.
Together with His disciples He passed
on to the city. and into the temple: and
there. as at the commencement of His
ministry so again at the close. He exer-
cised His authority therein. 1t was a
wonderful event. He cleansed 1t Of the
things that polluted it. He guarded II
for a while. suffering no man TO carry a
vessel through II. He then used II as He
taught therein. He seems to have exer-
cised a most remarkable power. There
was no opposition. for none was possible.
All the forces of the city seem to have
been held in suspense. There in the back
ground the chief priests and scribes are
seen. filled with fear. and filled with
hatred, seeking how to destroy Him; but
apparently for that day nothing was
done. At eventide He left the city.
The next day on the way from Beth
any to Jerusalem, again they passed the
fig tree, but now it was withered. The
sentence of the day before was carried