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n had succeeded in preparing the hearts of the people to
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reject the Saviour when He should appear。 Their own pride of heart； and their false conceptions of His character and mission； would prevent them from honestly weighing the evidences of His Messiahship。
For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had waited the coming of the promised Saviour。 Their brightest hopes had rested upon this event。 For a thousand years； in song and prophecy； in temple rite and household prayer； His name had been enshrined； and yet when He came； they did not recognize Him as the Messiah for whom they had so long waited。 〃He came unto His own； and His own received Him not。〃 John 1：11。 To their world…loving hearts the Beloved of heaven was 〃as a root out of a dry ground。〃 In their eyes He had 〃no form nor comeliness；〃 they discerned in Him no beauty that they should desire Him。 Isaiah 53：2。
The whole life of Jesus of Nazareth among the Jewish people was a reproof to their selfishness； as revealed in their unwillingness to recognize the just claims of the Owner of the vineyard over which they had been placed as husbandmen。 They hated His example of truthfulness and piety； and when the final test came； the test which meant obedience unto eternal life or disobedience unto eternal death； they rejected the Holy One of Israel and became responsible for His crucifixion on Calvary's cross。
In the parable of the vineyard； Christ near the close of His earthly ministry called the attention of the Jewish teachers to the rich blessings bestowed upon Israel； and in these showed God's claim to their obedience。 Plainly He set
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before them the glory of God's purpose； which through obedience they might have fulfilled。 Withdrawing the veil from the future； He showed how； by failure to fulfill His purpose； the whole nation was forfeiting His blessing and bringing ruin upon itself。
〃There was a certain householder；〃 Christ said； 〃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。〃 Matthew 21：33。
Thus the Saviour referred to 〃the vineyard of the Lord of hosts；〃 which the prophet Isaiah centuries before had declared to be 〃the house of Israel。〃 Isaiah 5：7。
〃And when the time of the fruit drew near；〃 Christ continued； the owner of the vineyard 〃sent his servants to the husbandmen； that they might receive the fruits of it。 And the husbandmen took his servants； and beat one； and killed another； and stoned another。 Again； he sent other servants more than the first： and they did unto them likewise。 But last of all he sent unto them his son； saying； They will reverence my 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。 And they caught him； and cast him out of the vineyard； and slew him。〃
Having portrayed before the priests their crowning act of wickedness； Christ now put to them the question； 〃When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh； what will he do unto those husbandmen？〃 The priests had been following the narrative with deep interest； and without considering the relation of the subject to themselves； they joined
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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 seasons。〃
Unwittingly they had pronounced their own doom。 Jesus looked upon them； and under His searching gaze they knew that He read the secrets of their hearts。 His divinity flashed out before them with unmistakable power。 They saw in the husbandmen a picture of themselves； and they involuntarily exclaimed； 〃God forbid！〃
Solemnly and regretfully Christ asked： 〃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？ Therefore say I 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。〃 Matthew 21：34…44。
Christ would have averted the doom of the Jewish nation if the people had received Him。 But envy and jealousy made them implacable。 They determined that they would not receive Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah。 They rejected the Light of the world； and henceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight。 The doom foretold came upon the Jewish nation。 Their own fierce passions； uncontrolled； wrought their ruin。 In their blind rage they destroyed one another。 Their rebellious； stubborn pride brought upon them the wrath of their Roman
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conquerors。 Jerusalem was destroyed； the temple laid in ruins； and its site plowed like a field。 The children of Judah perished by the most horrible forms of death。 Millions were sold to serve as bondmen in heathen lands。
That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel； the chosen nation； He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today。 He has 〃let out His vineyard
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unto other husbandmen；〃 even to His covenant…keeping people； who faithfully 〃render Him the fruits in their seasons。〃 Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own。 These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel； and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people。
Today the church of God is free to carry forward to completion the divine plan for the salvation of a lost race。 For many centuries God's people suffered a restriction of their liberties。 The preaching of the gospel in its purity was prohibited； and the severest of penalties were visited upon those who dared disobey the mandates of men。 As a consequence； the Lord's great moral vineyard was almost wholly unoccupied。 The people were deprived of the light of God's word。 The darkness of error and superstition threatened to blot out a knowledge of true religion。 God's church on earth was a verily in captivity during this long period of relentless persecution as were the children of Israel held captive in Babylon during the period of the exile。
But； thank God； His church is no longer in bondage。 To spiritual Israel have been restored the privileges accorded the people of God at the time of their deliverance from Babylon。 In every part of the earth； men and women are responding to the Heaven…sent message which John the revelator prophesied would be proclaimed prior to the second coming of Christ： 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment is come。〃 Revelation 14：7。
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No longer have the hosts of evil power to keep the church captive； for 〃Babylon is fallen； is fallen； that great city；〃 which hath 〃made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication；