The Brinkley argus., 1914-08-14

| head of the corner" Matt. 21:42 k. "
 Tuesday morning of this his last week (Mark 11:20) the disciples saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. Passing on they enter the temple where Christ's authority is challenged. Following his disconcert- ing reply (21:23-27) Jesus taught three parables of warning of which this lesson is the secoRd.
 |. The parable, w. 33-39. It Is a story of Gods long suffering goodness and Luke (20:9) tells us that it was addressed to the people. We need to keep in mind the previous parable of | the two sons (vv. 2S-32) in order to understand perfectly the method he employed in answering the chief l priests. In the first he states a 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 reply, V. 40. This they gave and in so doing declared righteous judg
  tiyes. In both parables Jesus em- ploys the figure of a vineyard. In the Old Testament this stands for Israel, Ps. s0:S-11, Isa. 51.
 Kingdom Committed to Us. In this case 1t stands for the King dom of God which is no longer identi- fled with Israel but taken away from it and given to the Gentiles (v. 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, 1sa. 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, 1 Peter 4:10. The hus- hsndsnan did not own the vineyard, it Vas o~1v ptrusted to his care. So in q sense God has committed the kingdom to us, does hts work through us, and of right expects .,n account ing by us, see Matt. ASIA. 1b \ saa-k 13: 34; Luke 1912.
 In these parables 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 selfish appropriation of the blessings he had given. These servants sent to get an accounting were God-commissioned and God-in- spired, hence 1t is small wonder that such people would accord like treat ment of the king when he came. This is still the way the world uses godly men, II Tim. 3:12. It reveals the worlds natural hatred to God. John 15:1S. 19; Rom. S:7.
 Appeal to Hearers.
 II. 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 or the corner.
 The masters question (v. 40) sug- gests the one found in Heb. lo:zo' go. Historically, God did "miserably destroy these miserable men," mat happened at the destruction of Jerusa- lem, one of the most appalling sleges recorded in military history. It was then that the doom pronounced py 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 trults thereof" see Acts 15:14; Pet. z:S' Rev. 5:9. In these words Jesus for- mally and authoritatively passed sen tence upon the nation and rejected IL from a place of service. It Is slgnln- cant to observe the alternative Of fali- ing upon the stone and being proken or of having the stone fall upon anu crushing all to dust. In the erectloii of the temple one Is the keystone or the whole. On that stone the buiid- CTS were now failing" and being "broken,"F Isa. S:15. Soon in their corporate capacity, as ones entrusteu with a vineyard, the stone should fall upon them" in the destructloh of the city, and individually and per sonally as unbelievers. in more aw- full sense.
 Once again in this lesson we race the fact that the chosen people were rejected because of their unfruitfui- ness that is, they had failed to fuihi 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 the ln- terests of Gods kingdom, The fall ure of the people was thatsthey SUD mitted to such false rulers. The SUI preme value of this lesson Is in the revelation of the wonderful power and wisdom of God. This is shown by ms compelling these men to find verdlct that passed sentence upon thenrseives'