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ad healed the sick； miraculously fed thousands of people； walked upon the waves； and spoken peace to the troubled sea。 He had repeatedly read the hearts of men as an open book； He had cast out demons； and raised the dead。 The rulers had before them the evidences of His Messiahship。 They now decided to demand no sign of His authority； but to draw out some admission or declaration by which He might be condemned。
Repairing to the temple where He was teaching； they proceeded to question Him： 〃By what authority doest Thou these things？ and who gave Thee this authority？〃 They expected Him to claim that His authority was from God。 Such an assertion they intended to deny。 But Jesus met them with a question apparently pertaining to another subject； and He made His reply to them conditional on their answering this question。 〃The baptism of John；〃 He said； 〃whence was it？ from heaven； or of men？〃
The priests saw that they were in a dilemma from which no sophistry could extricate them。 If they said that John's baptism was from heaven； their inconsistency would be made apparent。 Christ would say； Why have ye not then believed on him？ John had testified of Christ； 〃Behold
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the Lamb of God； which taketh away the sin of the world。〃 John 1：29。 If the priests believed John's testimony； how could they deny the Messiahship of Christ？ If they declared their real belief； that John's ministry was of men； they would bring upon themselves a storm of indignation； for the people believed John to be a prophet。
With intense interest the multitude awaited the decision。 They knew that the priests had professed to accept the ministry of John； and they expected them to acknowledge without a question that he was sent from God。 But after conferring secretly together； the priests decided not to commit themselves。 Hypocritically professing ignorance； they said； 〃We cannot tell。〃 〃Neither tell I you；〃 said Christ； 〃by what authority I do these things。〃
Scribes； priests； and rulers were all silenced。 Baffled and disappointed； they stood with lowering brows； not daring to press further questions upon Christ。 By their cowardice and indecision they had in a great measure forfeited the respect of the people； who now stood by； amused to see these proud； self…righteous men defeated。
All these sayings and doings of Christ were important； and their influence was to be felt in an ever…increasing degree after His crucifixion and ascension。 Many of those who had anxiously awaited the result of the questioning of Jesus were finally to become His disciples； first drawn toward Him by His words on that eventful day。 The scene in the temple court was never to fade from their minds。 The contrast between Jesus and the high priest as they talked together was marked。 The proud dignitary of the temple was clothed in rich and costly garments。 Upon his head was a glittering tiara。 His bearing was majestic； his hair and his long flowing beard were silvered by age。 His appearance awed the beholders。 Before this august personage stood the Majesty of heaven； without adornment or display。 His garments were travel stained； His face was pale； and expressed a patient sadness； yet written there were dignity and benevolence that contrasted strangely with the proud； self…confident； and angry air of the high priest。 Many of those who witnessed the words and deeds of Jesus in the temple from that time enshrined Him in their hearts as a prophet of God。 But as the popular feeling turned in His favor； the hatred of the priests toward Jesus increased。 The wisdom by which He escaped the snares set for His feet； being a new evidence of His divinity； added fuel to their wrath。
In His contest with the rabbis； it was not Christ's purpose to humiliate His opponents。 He was not glad to see them in a hard place。 He had
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an important lesson to teach。 He had mortified His enemies by allowing them to be entangled in the net they had spread for Him。 Their acknowledged ignorance in regard to the character of John's baptism gave Him an opportunity to speak； and He improved the opportunity by presenting before them their real position； adding another warning to the many already given。
〃What think ye？〃 He said。 〃A certain 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 repented； and went。 And he came to the second； and said likewise。 And he answered and said； I go； sir： and went not。 Whether of them twain did the will of his father？〃
This abrupt question threw His hearers off their guard。 They had followed the parable closely； and now immediately answered； 〃The first。〃 Fixing His steady eye upon them； Jesus responded in stern and solemn tones： 〃Verily I say unto you； That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you。 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness； and ye believed him not： but the publicans and the harlots believed him： and ye； when ye had seen it； repented not afterward； that ye might believe him。〃
The priests and rulers could not but give a correct answer to Christ's question； and thus He obtained their opinion in favor of the first son。 This son represented the publicans； those who were despised and hated by the Pharisees。 The publicans had been grossly immoral。 They had indeed been transgressors of the law of God； showing in their lives an absolute resistance to His requirements。 They had been unthankful and unholy； when told to go and work in the Lord's vineyard； they had given a contemptuous refusal。 But when John came； preaching repentance and baptism； the publicans received his message and were baptized。
The second son represented the leading men of the Jewish nation。 Some of the Pharisees had repented and received the baptism of John； but the leaders would not acknowledge that he came from God。 His warnings and denunciations did not lead them to reformation。 They 〃rejected the counsel of God against themselves； being not baptized of him。〃 Luke 7：30。 They treated his message with disdain。 Like the second son； who； when called； said； 〃I go； sir；〃 but went not； the priests and rulers professed obedience； but acted disobedience。 They made great professions of piety； they claimed to be obeying the law of God； but they rendered only a false obedience。 The publicans were denounced and cursed by the Pharisees as infidels； but they showed by their faith and works that
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they were going into the kingdom of heaven before those self…righteous men who had been given great light； but whose works did not correspond to their profession of godliness。
The priests and rulers were unwilling to bear these searching truths； they remained silent； however； hoping that Jesus would say something which they could turn against Him； but they had still more to bear。
〃Hear another parable；〃 Christ said： 〃There was a certain householder； which planted a vineyard； and hedged it round about； and digged a wine press in it； and built a tower； and let it out to husbandmen； and went into a far country： and when the time of the fruit drew near； he sent his servants to the husbandmen； that th