The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 161

here by Jcsus as spoken by God, possess the increases in hie next words, when, looking deepest dootrinal value. They, under the at them with gi-avee.nger (lµ/3>,.11/,as), he pro- thin veil of the parable-story, answer the ceeds to speak of himself under the figure question of the Sanhedrin (ver. 2), "By of the rejected stone. Quoting a well- who.t authority doest thou these things?" known psalm (cxviii. 22), and using the The deliberative words, "What shall I do?" imagery of Isa. viii. H, 15 and Dan. ii. 44, recall the Divine dialogue alluded to in he describes his fortunes nuder the image Gen. ·i. 26. St. Luke here ·represents the of a comer-stone-that stone which forms 1''o.tber as calling the Son, "my Beloved." the junction between the two most prominent St. Mo.rk adds that he was an only Son. walls of e. building, and which is always Such sayings as this, and the remarkable laid with peculiar care and attention. In prayer of Matt. xi. 25-27, are a clear indi- eh. ii. 34 of onr Gospel Simeon refers to cation of the Christology of the synoptists. the same well-known prophetic Bllying. The Their estimate of the Person of the blessed ' hasbnndmen who had just been described as Son in no wise differed from that given us vine-dressers are now described as builders, by St. John at much greater length and and the murdered son is reprodnced under with fuller details. the image of a come1·-stone tossed aside as Ver. H:.-But when the husbandmen saw useless. In the first part of the picture, the him, they reasoned among themselves, sa.y- earthly humiliation of Messiah is portrayed ing, This is the heir: oome, let us kill him, when the stone is laid in tbe earth. In the that the inherita.noe may be ours. The second, the atone falling from the top of husbandmen are represented as knowing the the building represents the crushing of all son and heir. Nor can we resist the con- earthly opposition by Messiah in his glory. clusion that some at least of those grave Woe to the builders, then, who had scorn- learned men who sat in the Sanhedrin as fully rejected him I priests or scribes well knew who the Speaker Ver. 19.-And the chief priests and the of the awful words claimed to be, and, in scribes the same hour sought to lay ha.nds resisting him and seeking his destruction, on him ; and they feared the people : for were deliberately sinning against the TOice they perceived that he hed spoken t.ll.i.e of their own hearts. parable against them. Again the Sanhedrin Vers. 15, 16.-So they cast him out of the take counsel. They long to arrest him on vineyard, and killed him, The parable-story some capital charge; but they dared not, for of itself was an improbable one. The con- the people, joined by the Passover pilgrims, duct of the hnsbandmen, the long patience had exalted him to the rank of a hero. of the owner of the vineyard, his last act in Not a few evidently looked on him at that sending bis beloved e.nd only son,-all this period as King Messiah. But the feeling of makes up a history without a parallel in the great council was intensely bitter. They human experience. Yet this is an exact felt their power and influence was slipping sketch of what did actually take place in away from them. These last p::i.ro.bles were the eventful story of Israel I What therefore scarcelv veiled attacks on them. In the shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them t lo.st spoken words he had calmly annonnced Re shall oome and destroy these husband- tho.t he wus to die, and the·ir hands were to men, o.nd shall give the vineyard to others. <',nry out the bloody work. Aud then, in Again a hint of a solemn deliberation in the simile of the corner-stone, he, in no heaven, a prophetio picture of the future ambiguous te1·ms, told them that in killing of the Jewish re.ce fulfilled with terrible him they will not be do:ie with him, for exactness. And when they heard it, they that in the enJ. they will be utterly crushed oa.id, God forbid ! Well understood they the by his power. Speaker's me11ning here. He foreshadowed, Vers. 20-26.-The question of the tribute in no veiled language, the utter ruin of the money. Jewish polity. When they heard this, for- Ver. 20.-And they watched. him, ar>.d getting to be scornful, they exclaimed, in sel!t forth spies, which should feign them- lleprecution of the ominous and terrible selves just men, that they might take hold prediction, M¾ 'Y•vo,To ! which we 1"e11der of his words, that so they might deliver him accurately, tllough not literully, "'God unto the power and authority of the governor. forbid I" In their intense hatred, conseious thnt the Vere. 17, 18.-And he b3held then1, and populace were on the whole in sym1mthy said, What is this then that is wii.tten, The with Jesus, the Sauheclri11, to <'Rrry out stone which the builders rejected, the same is their design on his life, determined to avail become the head of the corner l Whosoever themselves of the hated Il.ornan military shall fall upon that stone shc.ll be broken ; police. Their hope henceforword ia to sub- but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind stantiate a charge of treason ngainst him. him to powder. In spite of the deprec11ting 'fhis wt1s, in thoge tronblons tillll'S, when exvresHion, the so verity of the tone of Jesus insurrection aguinst tile detested Lientile  168 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING '1'0 ST. LUKB. [on. xx. 1-47.