Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-17

Our lesson is taken from the last
public efforts that Jesus made as q
teacher to win the nation that He loved
to accept him as their King The teach
ings of our lesson grew out of the bitter
partisan conflict that developed rapidly
after His public entrance into Jerusalem
in a manner that proclaimed Him as the
long expected Messianic King. In the
opening part of our study is the last one
of group of parallels that Jesus ad-
dressed to the religious leaders of His
people. He was warning the chief
priests and the Pharisees, who haC
agreed that the Master was to be put tt
death, and Judas, who would betray Hin
by turning friendship into cash. Jesus
knew that the end of His public ministry
was rapidly approaching when He spoke
the messages of todays lessons, full Of
warning to His enemies of Christ's time
and for all today.
Kings Invitation Rejected.
No. race or religion of ancient times
equals the Hebrews for their high ideals
Of home and the sacred relations Of
married life. In the parable of thu
marriage feast Jesus used the nations
custom to warn them of their approach.
ing danger. His enemies understood the
meaning of the parable and saw in II
His claims to be the King, whose invita-
ton to accept Him they had repeatedly
rejected. Jesus did not speak of ar
invitation issued by an ordinary citizen
He spoke Of the invitations being sem
TO them from the royal palace, for Il
was the feast given in honor of the mar.
riage of the Kings son. Among the
scrupulous in the observance Of mar.
riage, investing 1t with much impor.
lance and festivity they would natural
ly be expected to give proper considera'
ton to an invitation to attend q feast
in connection with the marriage OF the
Kings son, but they treated the severa
invitations contemptuously.
The motives that prompted the ig.
noring of the invitation are the same
that prompt men today to ignore the
cause of Christ and His kingdom. Their
covetouSness was seen in their placing
their own business ahead of the king:
invitation, for one went to his farm ant
the other put his business ahead of the
Kings request Aroused by the repeated
reflections of His invitation, the King
turned away from the society folks
whom he had invited. and summoned
to the feast class who would welcome
the invitation, for he sent his servant;
out into the highways to bid the others
the gentiles, so that his tables could be
filled.
One Of the guests accepted the invi
tation to partake of the feast, but hi:
host observed that the guest had evi.
IDENTIFY refused to put on wedding gar.
ment. He had entered without comply
ing with the conditions, for he had ne.
elected to put on the wedding garment
that the King had provided for him tc
wear. Only one person in the Grove
that had accepted the invitation en-.
tered without being properly prepared
1t was his own fault and 1t resulted ir
his exclusion. We must have on oul
wedding garment. when We are sum.
moned to dine with the King of King.
when He shall return to judge us fol
our works and set up His kingdom.
formal profession of real religion will
not satisfy our Lord, when He comes
Planning His Death.
The Masters enemies recognized that
He was warning them against going