THE PARABLES OF JESUS

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 23, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 49.

Read the full edition

THE PARABLES OF JESUS.

Lesson XIV.—The Wicked Husbandmen.

(Sabbath, January 1.)

1. WHAT attracted many people to Bethany on the last Sabbath our Lord spent upon the earth? John 12.

2. Under what circumstances did he enter Jerusalem the next day? Matt. 21.

3. What did he say when the Pharisees asked him to rebuke his disciples for shouting his praises?

"And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19: 39, 40.

4. What important thing occurred on the second day of the week?

"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." Matt. 21: 12, 13.

5. How did this rebuke affect the chief priests and scribes?

"And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him." Luke 19: 47.

6. How were they perplexed?

"And could not find what they might do; for all the people were very attentive to hear him." Verse 48.

7. How did they confront him the next morning when he came into the temple?

"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?" Matt. 21: 23.

8. How did Jesus confound them?

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from Heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From Heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." Verses 24-27.

9. What parable did he then put forth?

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir; and went not." Verses 28-30.

10. How did Jesus make this parable condemn the Jewish rulers?

11. What other parable did he put forth for the same purpose?—The parable of the wicked husbandmen.

12. With what words did he introduce the parable?

"Hear another parable: 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 far country." Matt. 21: 33.

13. Who were the characters introduced in this parable?

14. Give a brief account of what the householder did at first. Verse 33.

15. What did he do when the time of fruit drew near?

"And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it." Verse 34.

16. How were these servants treated?

"And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another." Verse 35.

17. What was his next effort, and how did it succeed?

"Again, he sent other servants more than the first; and they did unto them likewise." Verse 36.

18. What did he then do as a last resort?

"But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son." Verse 37.

19. How did the husbandmen reason among themselves when they saw the son?

"But 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 inheritance." Verse 38.

20. How did they carry out their purpose?

"And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him." Verse 39.

21. When our Lord had thus related the parable, what question did he ask the scribes and Pharisees?

"When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen." Verse 40.

22. How did they answer him?

"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 their seasons." Verse 41.

23. How is God the Father represented in this parable?

24. How are the holy prophets and true religious teachers represented?

25. How was Jesus himself represented?

26. How were the Jewish people and especially the priesthood represented?

27. How did God plant the vineyard?—By dispensing the seeds of divine truth.

28. What fruit had he a right to expect?—

(Continued from page 779.) The fruit of righteousness, due honor to himself, and acceptable worship, and characters ripe for the kingdom of Heaven.

29. Could the priests and Pharisees understand and apply this parable?

"And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them." Matt. 21: 45.

30. Instead of being penitent for their sins, what was their chief trouble?

"But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet." Verse 46.

31. How did Jesus show that in rejecting him they were fulfilling the Scriptures?

"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?" Verse 42.

32. What did he say should happen to them?

"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Verse 43.

33. With what words did Jesus conclude his remarks?

"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Verse 44.