The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-08-11
Kingdom Committed to us.

Kingdom Committed to Us.
In this case it stands for the King
iom of God which is no longer identi-
fed with Israel but taken away from
it 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 4S. Today it is in charge
Of believers, Peter 4:10. The hus-
bandman did not own the vineyard, 1t
was only entrusted to his care. So
in 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, Is; Mark
ID: "a; Luke 1912. Presently we read
that these rulers knew that Jesus was
speaking of them and there can be
no question but that they connected
his teaching with Isaiah's great song
of the vineyard. Moreover there is
close connection here in the insistence
upon the Importance of fruitfulness,
with the symbolic miracle of the fig
tree. The whole activity of Jesus at
this time was that of Judgment.
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. i'll treatment of those that
were sent, and a selfish appropriation
of the blessings he had given. These
servants sent to get an accounting
were God-commissioned and God-in-
spired, hence it is small wonder that
such people would accord a like treat
ment of the king when he came.
This Is still the way the world uses
godly men, II Tim. 1912. 1t reveals
the worlds natural hatred to God.
John 1918, 10; Rom. ST. All of these
prophets were only "bond-servants,"
whereas Jesus was the son, the only
son, Mark 1876 r. v. This makes
their wickedness seem inconceivable,
v. 81, see Jer. 1913; Zeph. 3:7. We
do not mean TO imply that these
rulers recognized in Jesus the Messiah
and deliberately set about to kill him.
yet there was a sufficiently clear idea
and a full determination not to accept
mis- claims lest they lose their place of
prominence and power, John 11:47.
49, The threat of verse 80 was &C.
tually carried to its execution and If
we continue IN our sins we must logic
ally go on to the same end for 1t was
sin that nailed Christ to the tree.
The casting forth without the gate
w. 39) was fulfilled in the crucifixion
of Jesus without the gates of Jerusa-
lem Heb. 1912. IS.
Appeal TO Hearers.
n. 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, The 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.
20. 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 1874: I Pet. 2:9;
Rev. So In these words Jesus for
mally and authoritatively passed sen
tence upon the nation and rejected II
from 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. s:15. Soon in theiI
corporate capacity. as ones entrusted
with vineyard, the stone should
"fall upon them" In the destruction
OF the city. and individually and per
sonally as unbelievers. In q more az
ful sense.