Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-08-22

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 parallels of warning of which
this lesson is the second.
l. The parable, w. 1899. 1t 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 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 case and asks
for reply, V. 40. This they gave and
in so doing declared righteous judg-
ment which must fall upon their mo-
t1ves. In both parallels Jesus en-
ploys the figure of a vineyard. In
the Old Testament this stands for
Israel, Ps. 80:S-11, lisa. ISL.
NInqoom COMMITTED to Us.
In this case it 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 his vineyard he had
done all that could have been done,
1sa- ga. Being fully equipped, he
places it first of all in the care of
Israel, verse 43. Today it is in charge
of believers, / Peter 4:1O. The hus-
bandman did not own the vineyard, it
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, Is; Mark
1884 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, i'll treatment of those that
were sent, and selfish appropriation
of the blessings he had given These
sent to get an accounting
were God-commissioned and God-in- |
spired, hence it 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 |
yodly men, II Tim. 3:12 1t reveals
the worlds natural hatred to God, |
John 1918 Pom Q.y
Appeal to Hearers.
H. The application, w. 4o-46. Jesus
hen appeals to his hearers as to
what should be done to the husband
nan, v. 40. They declared, 'he will
niserably destroy those miserable
men and will let out the vineyard to
,ther husbandmen, which shall render
lin the fruits in their seasons" At
his Jesus reminds them of their
Scriptures and what they taught con-
.erning the fact Of the stone rejected
~ the builders becoming the head of
he corner.
The masters question (v. 400 sug-
.ests the one found in Heb. 1928,
9. Historically, God did "miserably
estroy these miserable men, That
appened at the destruction of Jerusa-
~A1, OAAC VI lAAo AAOSI appalling SlSSeS |
ecorded in military history. 1t was
hen that the doom pronounced by
esus was executed when he said,
The Kingdom of God shall be taken
way from you, and shall be given to
nation bringing forth the fruits
hereof" see Acts 1914; I Pet. 2:9;
ev. $50. In these words Jesus for
tally and authoritatively passed SEN
snce upon the nation and rejected it
ON place of service. It is signif-
ant to observe the alternative of fall
lg upon the stone and being broken
: of having the stone fall upon and
-ushing all to dust In the erection
the temple one is the keystone of
le whole. On that stone the build
s were now falling" and being
lisa. Sis. Soon in their
'rporate capacity, as ones entrusted
it'll a vineyard, the stone should
all upon them n the destruction
the city, and individually and per-
nally as unbelievers, in q more aw-
i sense.
Once again In this lesson we face
e fact that the chosen people were
jected because of their unfruitful-
SIS, that is, they had failed to fulfil
Q purpose for which they were
Gated. The sin of these rulers was
at Of their failure to administer
e affairs OF the people in the in
rests of Gods kingdom. The fall