MATT. XXI. 29 my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward 30 he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him :' and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. § 116. PARABLE OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.-Jerusalem. ble: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a 34 far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the hus bandmen, that they might receive the fruits 35 of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one,3 and killed another, and stoned another.5 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the 1 2 Third Day of the Week. MARK XII. 1-12. And he began to 9 3 4 3 And again he sent another; 2 Comp. Isa. 5, 1-4. 6 His only and beloved son. This place is very striking and important, as showing how Christ 6 LUKE XX. 9-19. Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. made an essential distinction between himself and all former messengers of God: they were but servants, while he stood in the wholly peculiar relation of Son to God, that is, he was a Divine person; compare Heb. 1. 1-3, and 3. 5, 6. 39 MATT. XXI, when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inherit ance. 1 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew 40 him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those hus41 bandmen ?__They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in 42 their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did 10 ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the 11 corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits there44 of.2 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him 45 to powder. And when the chief priests and 12 Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake 46 of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. 7 8 9 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 1 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner ? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him 19 to powder. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. Psa. 118. 22. 2 Comp. Acts 13. 46-48. 3 Comp. Isa. 8. 14, 15; Zech. 12. 3; Dan. 2. 34, 35, 44. 1 117. PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING'S SON.-Jerusalem. Third Day of the Week. MATT. XXII. 1-14. And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king,' which made a marriage 3 for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to 4 the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come 5 unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to 6 his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, 7 and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those 8 murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The 9 wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the mar10 riage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good and the wedding was 11 furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he 12 saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither 3 not having a wedding garment ? 13 And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there 14 shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.5 15 § 118. INSIDIOUS QUESTION OF THE PHARISEES AND HERODIANS: TRIBUTE TO MATT. XXII. 15-22, Then went the Pha- 13 risees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out un- 14 to him their disciples with the Herodians," saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person 17 of men. Tell us there fore, What thinkest CESAR.Jerusalem. Third Day of the Week. 6 And they send unto 20 1 Comp. Luke 14. 16-18; Rev. 19. 6-9. 2 Comp. John 5. 40; Rom. 10. 16-21. 3 How camest thou, &c. It was the custom for princes to provide garments for their guests to wear on such occasions, and therefore the man was without excuse and speechless; or rather his neglect indicated a proud disregard of the king's pleasure; so that he was justly thrust out of the LUKE XX. 2026. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but wedding chamber, into the darkness outside (Tò KOTOS TO TEpov, in the pitchy night-timeThe wedding garment probably denotes the righteousness of faith, which is God's gracious gift to every humble soul, Rom. 3. 22-24; Phil. MARK XII. 22 24 Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their 23 hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 25 And they said unto him, Cæsar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to 26 God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. LUKE XX. teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar's. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's, and unto God the things which be God's.3 And they could not take hold of his words before the people and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace. § 119. INSIDIOUS QUESTION OF THE SADDUCEES: THE RESURRECTION.-Jerusalem. 23 24 25 MATT. XXII. 23-33. The same day came 18 to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, saying, 19 Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Third Day of the Week. MARK XII. 18-27. Then come unto him 27 the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, 28 Moses wrote unto us," If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed LUKE XX. 27-40. Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrec tion; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto Now there 20 unto his brother. Now 29 his brother. There were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, 21 having no issue, left his wife unto his bro there were seven brethren and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the 30 second took her, and died, neither left he 26 ther: likewise the any seed: and the 31 second also, and the 22 third likewise. And A penny: the Roman denarius (equal to 74d. of our money) was the coin in which the tribute (or rather poll-tax, census) had to be paid. 2 Rom. 13. 7. were therefore seven brethren and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like 3 Dan. 3. 16-18; 6. 10-13; Acts 5. 29, in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for 29 they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. LUKE XX. manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to for the seven had her 34 wife. And Jesus an24 to wife. And Jesus 25 But as 26 touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you 32 by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of 27 the dead, but of the 33 living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 34 answering said unto 1 And as 36 37 swering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses 1 showed at the bush,2 when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast 40 well said. And after that they durst not ask him any question at all. touching the dead, that § 120. A LAWYER QUESTIONS JESUS. 39 THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS. Third Day of the Week. MATT. XXII. 34-40. But when the Pharisees had heard 28 that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 1 Our Lord, in dealing with the Sadducees, takes his proof from the Pentateuch, because to that alone they allowed Divine authority. He meets them on their own ground, saying, “even MARK XII. 28-34. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had an Moses showed," &c. In other books of the Old 2 Ex. 3. 6. |