Priests and Rulers Silenced

Baffled and disappointed, scribes, priests, and rulers all stood scowling, not daring to press further questions on Christ. The people stood by, amused to see these proud, self-righteous men defeated.HH 274.4

All these sayings and doings of Christ were important. After His crucifixion and ascension they would have an ever-increasing influence. Many who would finally become His disciples had first been drawn by His words on that eventful day. The contrast between Jesus and the high priest as they talked together was obvious. The proud dignitary of the temple wore rich and costly garments. On his head was a glittering tiara, his bearing was majestic, his hair and beard silvery with age. Facing this important-looking person stood the Majesty of heaven, without adornment or display, His garments travel-stained, His face pale, expressing a patient sadness. Yet dignity and benevolence were written there. Many who witnessed the words and deeds of Jesus in the temple enshrined Him in their hearts as a prophet of God from that time on. But as the popular feeling turned in His favor, the priests’ hatred toward Jesus increased.HH 274.5

It was not Christ’s intention to humiliate His opponents. He had an important lesson to teach. The acknowledged ignorance of His enemies regarding John’s baptism gave Him opportunity to speak, presenting before them their real position and adding another warning to the many He had already given.HH 274.6

“What do you think?” He said. “A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”HH 275.1

This abrupt question threw His hearers off guard. They immediately answered, “The first.” Looking intently at them, Jesus responded in stern and solemn tones: “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.”HH 275.2

The priests and rulers had no alternative but to give a correct answer to Christ’s question, and so He got their opinion in favor of the first son, who represented the tax collectors. When John came, preaching repentance and baptism, the tax collectors received his message and were baptized.HH 275.3

The second son represented the leading men of the Jewish nation who would not acknowledge that John came from God. They “rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” Luke 7:30. Like the second son, the priests and rulers professed obedience, but acted disobedience.HH 275.4

The priests and rulers remained silent. But Christ said, “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”HH 275.5

The priests and rulers answered, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” The speakers now saw that they had pronounced their own condemnation. As the vinedressers were to return to the owner a due proportion of the vineyard’s fruits, so God’s people were to honor Him by a life that reflected their sacred privileges. But as the vinedressers had killed the servants whom the owner sent to them for fruit, so the Jews had put to death the prophets whom God sent to call them to repentance.HH 275.6

Up to that point no one could question the parable’s application, and in what followed it was just as clear. In the beloved son whom the vineyard’s owner finally sent to his disobedient servants, and whom they seized and killed, the priests and rulers saw a distinct picture of Jesus and His approaching fate. The punishment inflicted on the ungrateful vinedressers portrayed the doom of those who would put Christ to death.HH 276.1