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d iniquity。 Jesus continued：
〃Woe unto you； scribes and Pharisees； hypocrites！ because ye build the tombs of the prophets； and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous； and say； If we had been in the days of our fathers； we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets。 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves； that ye are the children of them which
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killed the prophets。〃 To show their esteem for the dead prophets； the Jews were very zealous in beautifying their tombs； but they did not profit by their teachings； nor give heed to their reproofs。
In the days of Christ a superstitious regard was cherished for the resting places of the dead； and vast sums of money were lavished upon their decoration。 In the sight of God this was idolatry。 In their undue regard for the dead； men showed that they did not love God supremely； nor their neighbor as themselves。 The same idolatry is carried to great lengths today。 Many are guilty of neglecting the widow and the fatherless； the sick and the poor； in order to build expensive monuments for the dead。 Time； money； and labor are freely spent for this purpose； while duties to the livingduties which Christ has plainly enjoinedare left undone。
The Pharisees built the tombs of the prophets； and adorned their sepulchers； and said one to another； If we had lived in the days of our fathers； we would not have united with them in shedding the blood of God's servants。 At the same time they were planning to take the life of His Son。 This should be a lesson to us。 It should open our eyes to the power of Satan to deceive the mind that turns from the light of truth。 Many follow in the track of the Pharisees。 They revere those who have died for their faith。 They wonder at the blindness of the Jews in rejecting Christ。 Had we lived in His day； they declare； we would gladly have received His teaching； we would never have been partakers in the guilt of those who rejected the Saviour。 But when obedience to God requires self…denial and humiliation； these very persons stifle their convictions； and refuse obedience。 Thus they manifest the same spirit as did the Pharisees whom Christ condemned。
Little did the Jews realize the terrible responsibility involved in rejecting Christ。 From the time when the first innocent blood was shed； when righteous Abel fell by the hand of Cain； the same history had been repeated； with increasing guilt。 In every age prophets had lifted up their voices against the sins of kings； rulers； and people； speaking the words which God gave them； and obeying His will at the peril of their lives。 From generation to generation there had been heaping up a terrible punishment for the rejecters of light and truth。 This the enemies of Christ were now drawing down upon their own heads。 The sin of the priests and rulers was greater than that of any preceding generation。 By their rejection of the Saviour； they were making themselves responsible
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for the blood of all the righteous men slain from Abel to Christ。 They were about to fill to overflowing their cup of iniquity。 And soon it was to be poured upon their heads in retributive justice。 Of this； Jesus warned them：
〃That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth； from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias； whom ye slew between the temple and the altar。 Verily I say unto you； All these things shall come upon this generation。〃
The scribes and Pharisees who listened to Jesus knew that His words were true。 They knew how the prophet Zacharias had been slain。 While the words of warning from God were upon his lips； a satanic fury seized the apostate king； and at his command the prophet was put to death。 His blood had imprinted itself upon the very stones of the temple court； and could not be erased； it remained to bear testimony against apostate Israel。 As long as the temple should stand； there would be the stain of that righteous blood； crying to God to be avenged。 As Jesus referred to these fearful sins； a thrill of horror ran through the multitude。
Looking forward； Jesus declared that the impenitence of the Jews and their intolerance of God's servants would be the same in the future as it had been in the past：
〃Wherefore； behold； I send unto you prophets； and wise men； and scribes： and some of them ye shall kill and crucify； and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues； and persecute them from city to city。〃 Prophets and wise men； full of faith and the Holy Ghost；Stephen； James； and many others；would be condemned and slain。 With hand uplifted to heaven； and a divine light enshrouding His person； Christ spoke as a judge to those before Him。 His voice； that had so often been heard in gentleness and entreaty； was now heard in rebuke and condemnation。 The listeners shuddered。 Never was the impression made by His words and His look to be effaced。
Christ's indignation was directed against the hypocrisy； the gross sins； by which men were destroying their own souls； deceiving the people and dishonoring God。 In the specious deceptive reasoning of the priests and rulers He discerned the working of satanic agencies。 Keen and searching had been His denunciation of sin； but He spoke no words of retaliation。 He had a holy wrath against the prince of darkness； but He manifested no irritated temper。 So the Christian who lives in harmony with God； possessing the sweet attributes of love and mercy； will feel a righteous
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indignation against sin； but he will not be roused by passion to revile those who revile him。 Even in meeting those who are moved by a power from beneath to maintain falsehood； in Christ he will still preserve calmness and self…possession。
Divine pity marked the countenance of the Son of God as He cast one lingering look upon the temple and then upon His hearers。 In a voice choked by deep anguish of heart and bitter tears He exclaimed； 〃O Jerusalem； Jerusalem； thou that killest the prophets； and stonest them which are sent unto thee； how often would I have gathered thy children together； even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings； and ye would not！〃 This is the separation struggle。 In the lamentation of Christ the very heart of God is pouring itself forth。 It is the mysterious farewell of the long…suffering love of the Deity。
Pharisees and Sadducees were alike silenced。 Jesus summoned His disciples； and prepared to leave the temple； not as one defeated and forced from the presence of his adversaries； but as one whose work was accomplished。 He retired a victor from the contest。
The gems of truth that fell from Christ's lips on that eventful day were treasured in many hearts。 For them new thoughts started into life； new aspirations were awakened； and a new history began。 After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ； these persons came to the front； and fulfilled their divine commission with a wisdom and zeal corresponding to the greatness of the work。 They bore a message that appealed to the hearts of men； weakening the old superstitions that had long dwarfed the lives of thousands。 Before their testimony human theories and philosoph