The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-08-11

bead of the corner" Matt. H:42 r. ".
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 (21:23-2D Jesus taught
three parallels of warning of which
this lesson is the second.
/. The parable, w. $3.50. 1t ia 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 wv. $500 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 case and asks
for a reply, " 40. This they gave and
In so doing declared a righteous judg-
ment which must fall upon their mo-
tives. In both parallels Jesus en-
ploys the figure of q vineyard. In
the Old Testament this stands for
Israel, Ps S0:S-11, Isa. 81.
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
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 bis vineyard he had
done all that could have been done,
lisa. ga. Being fully equipped, he
places 1t 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 right expects an account
ing by us, see Matt 25:14, Id; Mark
1894; 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 Isaiahs great song
of the vineyard Moreover there Is
close connection here in the insistence
upon the Importance Of fruitfuiness,
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 his 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
cody men, II Tim. 3:12. 1t reveals
the worlds natural hatred to God,
John 1918, 10; Rom. 81. 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 30:3; 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 full determination not to accept
HIS claims lest they lose their place of
prominence and power, John 11:47,
48. The threat of verse 80 was &C
tually carried to it's execution and IL
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
| ". 39) was fulfilled in the crucifxion
| of Jesus without the gates Of Jerusa'
! lem, Heb. 1912, 10. ~
r. 49, III As y. (