This three-fold repetition is alone sufficient to point out the importance of its contents.
The parable, no doubt, was specially intended for the Jews to whom it was addressed. But we must not con- fine its application to them. It contains lessons which should be remembered in aU churches of Christ as long as the world stands.
In the first place, the parable shows us the deep cor- ruption of human nature. The conduct of the wicked " husbandmen," is a vivid representation of man's dealings with God. — ^It is a faithful picture of the history of the Jewish church. In spite of privileges, such as no nation ever had, in the face of warnings such as no people ever received, the Jews rebelled against God's lawful authority, refused to give Him His rightful dues, rejected the couur sel of His prophets, and at length crucified His only- begotten Son. It is a no less faithful picture of the history of all the Gentile churches. Called as they Tvere out of heathen darkness by infinite mercy, they have done nothing worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called. On the contrary, they have allowed false doctrines and wicked practices to spring up rankly among them, and have crucified Christ afresh. It is a mournful fact that in hardness, unbelief, superstition, and self-righteousness, the Christian churches, as a whole, are little better than the Jewish church of our Lord's time. Soth are described with painful correctness in the story of the wicked husbandmen. In both we may point to countless privileges misused, and countiess warnings des- pised.
Iiet us often pray that we may thoroughly understand