SECTION LXVII.

Chap. xx. ver. 9—18.

CHRIST ANSWERETH THE SCRIBES.

9. 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.

The vineyard was the Jewish church and people then; it sets forth Christians now, with all the means of grace and salvation in their hands. The parable is for us, as well as them; and we shall get no instruction from it, if it does not help us to see our own case.

10. 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.

It was at the season, when he knew fruit might be expected; having given them time, and afforded them means for it. "But the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty."-One was a consequence of the other. Not having fruit, their wicked nature worked according to its kind, and they could not afford the servant civil usage; they did not only send him away empty, but beat him also. It is the same world still.

11. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

Observe, and wonder at the patience of God; and also what sufferings he exposes his servants to for the sake of men's souls. When will they be as dear to ourselves? Still he does not give them up. So long as one thing more can be done for them, they shall not perish. All who do perish, will know one day that they have resisted all the means that could be used to prevent it.

13. 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.

"What shall I do?" what can I do more? what will I not do for these unhappy creatures, who are thus pulling destruction upon their own heads? Oh! it is a marvellous opening of our danger in sin, and God's concern for us.

We may easily apply the verse, as we proceed. We know who this beloved son is, and that he hath been sent

to us.

66 It may be they will reverence him when they see him." God knew, indeed, that they would not. The design of the expression is to show what might have been expected, and what in all reason they should have done.

14. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be our's.

We may think their sin unparalleled, and that we abhor it. But sinners are always the same; and those who reject Christ now, would have joined with the Jews in crucifying him. The scripture says plainly," they do crucify to themselves the Son of God." The end they propose is to obtain the inheritance. So many think in their hearts, though, perhaps, they do not believe it, and dare not speak it out, that they should be better, if not without God in the world, yet without his law. If they had their choice, they had rather be left to themselves. This is, in fact, the choice of all who do not submit to Christ.

15. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

A little before it was said, What shall I do to save them? Now that time is past; mercy is at an end, and judgment must have its turn.

16. He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.

God grant that we may render him the fruit of it! For we are now the husbandmen, and if we do not, their doom will be our's.

VOL. II.

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16. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

This was a vain wish, and as vain a protestation of their innocence. Notwithstanding, they were destroyed, for a warning to all. It is a vain wish in others, when they are ripe for destruction, to deprecate the judgment of God. He cannot deny himself to spare us. He is not just such a being, as we please to make him. His justice is as much his nature, as his mercy. He has so revealed himself; and we are undone, by not noticing his attributes and perfections. Ex. xxxiv. 6, 7.

17. 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 ?

Jesus beheld them with a mixture of authority, indignation, and pity, in his countenance. Doubtless it was a piercing look. He showed them that they did not understand their own scriptures. He wished them to know, that he might be the Messiah, notwithstanding their rejection of him, and that he could not be the Messiah, if he had not been rejected.

18. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

It will be an awful thing to fall upon it, or be offended at Christ on any account whatsoever; though his venge. ance will fall heavier on some than on others, according to the degrees of their obstinacy, and malicious wickedness. Let us endeavour to know what is in our hearts, since Christ does.

SECTION LXVIII.

Chap. xx. ver. 19—38.

CHRIST CONFOUNDS THE SCRIBES AND THE SADDUCEES.

19. 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.

And yet they continued as blind as ever. What! they the men! They protest against it, it could not be. And their next thought was how to be revenged on him. Let all wicked men take heed that it be not spoken against them. If such are full of self-conceit, and proof against conviction, as they were, let sinners see in them what inward workings they will have. Christ himself is out of their reach; but those who preach him truly, must stand the brunt of the malice of obstinate sinners.

20. 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.

21. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly :

22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no?

23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

We may suppose Christ asked this question with grief and concern. O! why will you still be making trial of me, when you should know what is within yourselves?

24. Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar's.

25. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

No one can be a christian who has not his eye upon these two commandments, as well as any other. The world is very favourable to those who sell or buy unaccustomed goods, or rob God in his tithes; but his judgment will be according to truth, and not according to man's opinion. We may keep our reputation with a very bad conscience; but the latter only will be inquired into.

26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Thus all sinners will be silenced at the day of judgment.

27. Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

28. 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 his brother.

29. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

30. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. 31. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

32. Last of all the woman died also.

33. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

See here, the wisdom of Christ triumphs over the folly of men.-Edit.

34. And Jesus answering, said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage :

36. 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.

Some of the most important questions which a man can put to himself, are the following:-What is the chief end and aim of my life? What is the great wish of my heart? Is it to be a child of God, that thereby I may be entitled to a happy resurrection? When this hope is lively in us, and governs all our thoughts, words, and actions, our eyes are opened we are changed men and women, and born again of the Spirit. And in all conditions, the thought, that though all other projects fail us, this never can, will make life easy, and death welcome.

37. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the