Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1914 — BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDY ON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDY ON

WICKED VINEDRESSERS. Matthew 21:33-46 Aug. 16. “TM Stone that the builders rejected, the same Is become the Head of the corner.”— Matthew 21.«. %TOT only did the Redeemer teach |XI chiefly by parables, but nearly I all of those parables related / to the Kingdom. The reason for this is plain. The Divine Plan calls for the setting up of the Kingdom of Righteousness by Divine Power for the overcoming of the Princ'e of Darkness, whose reign of six ' thousand years has been a Reign of Sin and Death. Today’s lesson points indirectly to the Kingdom. While the whole world lay in sin and under Divine sentence of death, God planted in the world a root of Promise, a hope. This Promise, made to Abraham, foretold that his seed would eventually become very powerful and would cause God’s blessing to fill the earth and roll away the curse. In due time this Prondse came to the nation of Israel, Abraham’s posterity and heirs of the Promise. Thus God planted a vineyard in the world, the Jewish nation, bound to Him by their Law Covenant. He set a hedge about them—the Divine prom-

ise that as long as they were faithful and loyal to God, they would be thoroughly protected ag a Inst their enemies. Jehovah Himself was their Watchtower. Ile placed as watchmen the Prophets, who warned the people In respect to every breaking

down of the wall; for this protection could be broken down only by disloyalty, carelessness, sin, on Israel’s part. The Original Vine-Dressers. While the entire nation of Israel is .represented by the vineyard, the husbandmen were the religious leaders. These vine dressers became conceited and acted as if they were the owners, and not merely the Owner’s servants. |Even In their speech they became accustomed to call the people “our people,” “my people,” etc. Thus they failed to glorify God properly, and felt themselves to bo more than the serv/ants of God, honored In being permitted to be vine dressers in His vineyard. In due time the Owner, Jehovah, sent His servants, the Prophets, to These servants and their messages became tests of the loyalty of the vine dressers and of the characterdevelopment of the people. But alas! the vine dressers’ pride and desire to show off before the people prompted the mistreatment of the Prophets. Some of the servants they beat, others they stoned, others they killed. Finally the Owner sent Ills Son. The Bible informs us that God foreknew that Israel's rulers would crucify the Son. But the parable states the matter as though the Owner had said, “They will reverence My Son.” Surely tlie Jewish rulers should have recognized Him of whom people declared, “Never man spake like this Man.” Surely they should have hearkened to ills Message, should have repented of their sins and come back through Him into harmony with God. However, tiie spirit of selfishness and self-conceit often leads its possessors to monstrous acts which afterward appal even themselves. The Jewish Doctors, clergy of that time, perceived that Jesus, the Son of God. Representative of the Owner of tho vineyard, exerted a mighty influence over the people. They reasoned that to whatever extent His cause should prevail, their power, their influence, their titles, their honors of men, would fade.

In their exasperation against Jesus, the vine-dressers determined that His death was necessary for the success

of their theories and plans. They did not realize that their course was the very one which would lead to the destruction of that typical kingdom of God, that typical vineyard. The parable was fulfilled.. God’s judgment came uppn the Jewish nation. In A.

D. 70 it was overthrown. and has uever since l been restored, nor will it be uiitil Messiah shall establish His Kingdom. The New Vine-Dressers. The Izird said that they were wicked, vine dressers. He appointed new ones —the twelve Apostles, St Paul taking the place of Judas. Moreover, He started a new vineyard, putting into it only the trub Vine. Of this vineyard our Ix>rd said, “I am the Vine; ye are the branches. ’’ Century aftpr century these true branches of the true Vine have been planted by baptism ' into death with their Master and have been bringing forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Ere long, we believe, this fruitage will all be gathered and, by the resurrection “change,” be transplanted into Heavenly conditions. The Scriptures also represent the, Church by a pyramid, which has five corner-stones, the chief one of which, the top-stone, is Itself a perfect pyramid. Jesus, rejected by the Jews, crucified, is the Chief Corner-Stone of this great Temple of God. the Church. Already He is glorified, and His Church will soon be united to Him.

The Wicked Vinedressers.

The Stone that the Builders Rejected.