October 31, 1900

The Parable of the Vineyard

EGW

In the parable of the vineyard Christ opened before the Jews the past history of their nation, showing the deeds of unrighteousness they had done, notwithstanding the great light given them. In the immense congregation surrounding Christ there were many priests and rulers. The divine Teacher's gaze took in past, present, and future, as He presented before the Jewish rulers their own course of action. Messenger after messenger had been sent by God to the husbandmen in charge of the vineyard, to receive the fruits thereof. These messengers bore to the husbandmen a most solemn message. But they were shamefully treated by them. One was beaten, another stoned, and another killed.ST October 31, 1900, par. 1

Last of all, the owner of the vineyard sent His Son, saying, “They will reverence My Son.” But when the husbandmen saw Him, they said, “This is the heir; come, let us kill Him, and let us seize on His inheritance.”ST October 31, 1900, par. 2

As Christ described His vineyard, fenced about by the commandments of God, and as He spoke of the treatment His messengers had received, the Jewish rulers stood as if riveted to the spot; and when Christ asked, “When the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will He do to those husbandmen?” they joined with the people in answering, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out His vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render Him the fruits in their season.” With their own lips they pronounced their sentence.ST October 31, 1900, par. 3

Jesus looked upon them, and seeing His look, they knew that He read the secrets of their hearts. His divinity flashed before them with unmistakable power, and, seeing in the husbandmen a representation of themselves, they involuntarily exclaimed, “God forbid.”ST October 31, 1900, par. 4

With heavenly light shining from His countenance, Christ said, “Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?” What an impression these words made upon those who heard them! If they had received Christ as the Sent of God, saying, “Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord.... Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee; Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee,” how different would have been their future! But they rejected Christ, and He declared, “Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder.” The husbandmen had yielded to God no returns, and in these words is portrayed their final doom. The Stone lies passive under the treatment It receives. It is discarded, stumbled over, mocked at; but at last a living power takes possession of It. It seems to rise from the earth, and falls on those who have treated It with such contempt. On those who do not fall upon It and become broken, whose hearts are not cleansed by the mercy and forgiveness of God from hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, that Stone will fall and grind them to powder.ST October 31, 1900, par. 5

“And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spake of them.” Their hearts were filled with hatred toward Him, “but when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet.”ST October 31, 1900, par. 6

Those who are true learners in the school of Christ will study with intense interest the parable of the vineyard. In this parable Christ presented the true condition of the once chosen people of God. He revealed to them their sinful breach of trust. He designed this parable to be a lesson to all, warning them that unless they walk in the ways of the Lord, keeping all His commandments, He can not bless and sustain them. The church on earth is greatly beloved by God. It is the fold provided for the sheep of His pasture. But the Lord will not serve with the sins of His people. Many times He has suffered calamity and defeat to come upon them because they have glorified themselves, weaving false principles into their practise. He willingly forgives those who repent, but He will remove His favor from those who go on sinning, exalting self, and mingling the sacred with the common. Terrible judgments will destroy those who have misrepresented Him, saying, “The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these,” when their example is misleading.ST October 31, 1900, par. 7

In His daily life Christ gave men an example of the work they were to do. In the temple, in the highways and byways, by His parables, His miracles, His divine compassion and sympathy, He constantly declared, I came not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. He went about doing good, healing the souls and bodies of those who were sick; and when Pilate gave Him up to the rage of the people for whom He had done so much, it was with the words, “I find no fault in Him.” His was a perfect humanity. In His life, activity and devotion were harmoniously blended. The day found Him teaching in the temple or healing the sick; and the night, praying in Olivet for strength to complete His work. The Son of man, He must brace Himself for duty and temptation. He must have vigor of soul and body. He must leave His followers a perfect example of how to combat the enemy. And He prayed earnestly to His Father for strength to do this. For all who desire to follow Him, His example is left on record. Prayer sanctified His ministry. Strength and vigor for daily duty are derived from worshiping God in the beauty of holiness. The lamp must be filled with holy oil before its light can shine amid the moral darkness.ST October 31, 1900, par. 8

The Lord has a warning for His people. When men is positions of trust grow careless, when they disregard the requirements of God, when they abuse the influence and misappropriate the talents God has given them, they are abusing His goods, and punishment will surely come upon them. Those who are called by Christ's name are to wear His credentials, showing that they have learned His meekness, His lowliness, His compassion, His love for others. When Christians do this, there will be a different condition of things in the church; for Christ will be revealed. Humanity will be under the influence of divinity.ST October 31, 1900, par. 9

For the good of His church God has intrusted to men of His appointment the work of representing Him by their well-chosen words and their firm resistance of evil. The hearts of these men are to be tender and their characters symmetrical, that they may rightly represent the Saviour. But many in God's service are harsh and discourteous. Their spirits are loveless; for they are filled with selfishness and covetousness. They think they have a right to make their own terms regarding the value of their labor, and they become oppressive. If, after testing them, God sees that they will not repent, He removes them, and gives their place to men who will better represent Him. If those who are thus raised up by the Lord remain true and loyal, the Lord will work through them in a remarkable manner.ST October 31, 1900, par. 10

The confusion which weakens the church of God is a result of the work of unconsecrated men, whose narrowness of vision prevents them from seeing the loving-kindness shown them by God. They fail to see that God gives to them in order that they may impart to others. All the counsels of God are faithful and true. He disciplines His people that He may lead them in the right way. If they refuse to be instructed, if they will not heed the command to impart what they receive, God can not use them. When God's people become so blind that they lose sight of principle, when they partake of the same spirit that is stirring the hearts of the ungodly, they can not bear God's sign or seal. The severity of their punishment will be proportionate to the light which they had but to which they did not give heed.ST October 31, 1900, par. 11

Satan is constantly using mighty principalities and powers to destroy the chosen people of God. Unconsecrated Christians are aiding him in his work. All who fail to keep Christ in view are working away from the right. They are not gathering with Christ, but are scattering abroad. The life-giving power of Jehovah is more needed now than at any former period in the history of the church. God's people are to stand firm in the acknowledged strength of Jesus Christ. He is their refuge and defense.ST October 31, 1900, par. 12

True faith and sanctified work are greatly needed at this time. God says to His people, “Press together, press together; that you may not be destroyed as were the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” “Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Persecution is coming, and God calls upon all to stand firm in Christian love, their hearts knit together, of one mind and one judgment. His people are to cleave to Him, and they are to love one another as He has loved them. Christ's life is to be their example. In love, in meekness, in humility, they are to follow Him.ST October 31, 1900, par. 13

Mrs. E. G. White