The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 319

follow, if thoy willed to do so; he only positors consider the two sons to represent l!'llows the.t they he.ve lost the position which Gentiles and Jews; the former making no they ought to ho.ve occupied, e.nd the.t those pr?fessiou of serving God,. and yet in time whom they despised e.nd spurned he.ve bemg converted e.nd turmng to him; the accepted the offered salve.tion, e.nd shall le.tter me.king much outward show ol he.ve their rewartl. We must reme.rk that ob~cli~nce, yet i_n reality denying him and the Lord has no censure for those who some- reJecting salvation. It is obvious that such time were disobedient, but afterwards re- explanation is e.llowe.ble, a.nd coincides with pented; his rebuke fe.lls on the professors the letter of the parable; but it does not o.nd self-righteous, who ought to he.ve been satisfy the context, and fails in not answer- leaders e.nd guides, e.nd were in truth im- ing to Christ's intention in uttering this pious e.nd irreligioua. similitude. Others see herein a picture of Ver. 32.-For John co.me unto you. This what happens in Christian lands, e.nd is the gives the reason for Ohrist's assertion at experience of every Christian minister-how the end of the le.et verse. John came with the irreligious e.nd e.pparen tly irreclaimable a special call to the rulers of the people, a.re by God's grace bronght to repentance and they made some show of interest, by unto life; how the seemingly pious often sending a deputation to demand his cre- make much show, but fall away, or bring dentials, and by coming to his bapt:iem; but no fruit unto perfection. And as the parable that was all. They did not alter their lives involves e. general principle, so it may be or change their fe.ulty opinions at hie applied universally to those who make great pree.ching, .though they "were willing for e. professions of religion, and are for a time season to rejoice.in his light" (John v. 85). full of good resolutions, but in practice fall In the way of righteousness. In that path very short; and to those who ha.ve been the of strict obedience to law, and of e.scetio slaves of lust, covetousness, or sgme other holiness, which you profess to rege.rd so wickedneas, but have been recovered from highly. If they be.d [followed the path the snares of the devil, e.nd have learned to whioh_ John indicated, they would have lead a. godly, righteous, and sober life. attained to righteousness and salvation. Vere. 83--46.-Parable of the 'flineyard let John preached Christ who is "the Way'' (John xiv. 6). (For "we.y," meaning doo- out to hmbandmen. (Mark xii.1-12; Luke rine, religious tenet and pre.otice, see oh. XX. 9--19.) xxii. 16; Aots ix.. 2; xix. 9, 28; 2 Pet. ii. Ver. 88.-Hee.r another parable. The 21.) Ye believed him not, to any prao- domineering and lately imperious party are tice.l purpose, even as it is said else- rednced to the position of pupils; they have where (Luke vii. 80), "The Plle.risees e.nd to ltsten to tee.ching, not to give it; to answer, the lawyers rejected for themselves the not to put questions. Thie po.re.hie sets forth, counsel of God, not he.:vi,ng been b!!,ptized of under the guise of hietory, the Pharisaical him." Those who did receive hie bapt:iem pe.rty tin its official ohare.cter, and as the were _the exception; the gree.t majority ropresentative of the nation. It also de- stood aloof. Believed him. Though these nounces the punishment that surely awo.ited sinners may he.ve first rejected him, yet hie these rejecters of the offered salvation; thus preaching softened their hearts ; they re- exemplifying the teaching of the withered pented, confessed their sins, e.nd were be.p- fig tree (ve111. 17-20). As applicable to tized (see for exe.mples, Luke iii 10, the Jew:ieh nation generally, it represents eto. ; vii. 29). This was another oa.ll to the the long-suffering of God e.nd tile varioua Pharisees to go and do likewise. When ye mee.ns which, in the course of their history, had seen it ; i.e. the fruits of true repent- he he.d used to urge them to do their duty o.noe in these sinners, whioh conversion we.s as his serve.nts ; e.nd it ends with a prophecy indeed o. -loud appeal to the rulers to con- of the coming events, and the terrible issue sider their own ways, and to bow to God's of impenitence. We must te.ke the parable hand. Repented not (see ver. 29). They as partly retrospective, and partly predictive. profited not by this miraole of gre.oe. That There was a oertain householder ; a man ye might believe him. The end and result (~vBpw,ros) that tDas an h01S11eholder. Christ of repentance would be to believe in John's in his parables often, e.s here, introduces mission, a.nd to attend to his teaching. God in his dealings with mankind as e. ma:n. Christ offers the a.hove explanation of the His house is the house of Israel in particular, pamble (vers. 31, 32) in view of the purpose a.nd in genera.I the whole human family. for whioh he uttered it. It has been, and A vineye.rd. God's kingdom upon earth, may be, taken in different senses, and in e.nd particularly the Jewish Ohuroh. The wider applioa.tion. " Wh1:1t is set forth in figure is common throughout Scripture (see individual cases is but e. so.mple of wha.t on oh. xx. I). It was planted when God t1:1kes place in whole classes of persons, ancl gave Israel o. la.w,and put them in possessiou even nations" (I. Willie.ms). M1:1ny ex- of the promised land. The pE\re.ble itself ill  324 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [orr. xxx.1-46.