Page 412 - Bible History

CHRIST, THE GREAT TEACHER 385
and their rights to His Kingdom were given to others. This fact, Jesus foretold in the story of the Wicked Husbandmen.
"A certain man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen, after which he went abroad for a long time. en the harvest season came, he sent a serv­ ant to the husbandmen, asking them to give hi some of the fruits of the vineyard. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
''Again, he sent another servant, but they beat him also and, treating him shamefully, sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent a third servant, but they wounded him also and killed him.
"Then the lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be when they see him, they will reverence him.'
"But when the husbandmen saw him, they said, 'This is the heir; let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.' So, casting him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What, therefore, ll the lord of the vineyard do to them? He will come and will destroy these husbandmen, and- will give the vineyard to others.''
Although the Pharisees were very exact in observ­ ing small details of the Law of Moses that were not very important, they allowed many grave abuses to creepintothereligiouslifeofthepeople. AsourLord said about them, ''They would strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.'' For example, the people showed a great lack of reverence for the Temple of God. Mer-
Rever· e e forlhe House ofGod