The Madison journal., 1914-08-15

|
| GOLDEN TEXT-"The stone which tho
builders rejected the same was made the
| head OF the corner" Matt. 2l:42 X. V.
Tuesday morning OF this his last
week MARX ll:20) the disciples saw
the fig tree withered away from the
roots. Passing on they enter tho
temple where Christ's authority 10
challenged. Following his disconcert-
ing reply (2l:23-2O Jesus taught
three parallels of warning OF which
this lesson is the second.
!. The parable, w. 1899. 1t is a
story of Gods long suffering goodness
and Luke (20:9D tells us that IL 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
priests. In the first he states a case
and appeals to them for verdict.
Without hesitation they replied and by
so doing condemned themselves. In
this parable he states a case and asks
for a reply. V. 40. This they gave and
IN so doing declared a righteous judg-
ment which must fall upon their mo-
/ tlves. In both parallels Jesus en-
ploys the figure of vineyard. In
the Old Testament this stands for
Israel. Ps. S0:S-1l. lisa. 81.
Kingdom Committed to Us.
In this case 1t stands for the King
dom of God which is no longer identi-
ned with Israel but taken away from
1t 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 1t first of all in the care of
Israel, verse 43. Today 1t is in charge
OF believers, / Peter 4:10. The hus-
bandman did not own the vineyard, II
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 Is; Mark
1884; 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.
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 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. 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 30:3; Zeph. 81 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
pre-eminence and power, John 11:F.
As. The threat of verse 80 was ac-
tually carried to its execution and II
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 crucifixion
of Jesus without the gates Of Jerusa-
lem. Heb. 1912, 13.
Appeal to Hearers.
". INC dPphCaVoh, w. fo~To. JeSuB
then appeals to his hearers as to
what should be done to the husband
man, v. 40. They declared. he 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-
cerning the fact OF the stone rejected
by the builders becoming the head Of
the cosner.
The masters question ~. 400 sug-
gests the one found in Heb. 1923.
90. 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; / Pet. 2:9:
Pay go In thaaa unrda Jocua for