Is the borne the burden and heat of the day." middle of a sultry day the most unpleasant time for labour? Yes. What was the burden which the Jews had borne, and from which believers, under the Gospel dispensation, are exempt? It consisted in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances.* Mention the most burdensome of these carnal ordinances? Animal sacrifices; and the rite of circumcision. How long were those burdensome rites imposed on the Jews? Until the time of reformation.* What is meant by the time of reformation? The time when the Jewish dispensation was abolished, and the Gospel introduced. Was such a reformation, or change, necessary? Yes. Why was it necessary? Because the (ceremonial) law made nothing perfect.† Why could not the law make the comers thereunto perfect? Because the law had only a shadow of good things to come.‡ And where is the substance or reality of those things to be found? In the Gospel. 13. What reply did the Lord of the vineyard make to these complainers? "He answered one of them and said, Friend,|| I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny 14. What more did he say? "Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee." 15. What further arguments did he use? "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? *Heb. ix. 10. Heb. vii. 19. + Heb. x. 1. The word "Friend" is here used as a term of civility, not of affection. M -Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" The Jews. What ex What are we to understand by an evil eye? Sometimes it means a blind eye;* and sometimes an envious eye.† What does it mean in this parable? An envious eye. What is envy? A feeling of pain at the goodness or happiness of others.‡ Is it very wrong to be envious? Yes; it is a mark of folly and ignorance.|| Who are here set forth as envious? Whom did they envy? The Gentiles. cited the envy of the Jews? The fact, that God put no difference between them and the Gentiles.§ In what respect did he put no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles? In this respect that God saves both in the same way. In this verse, and the two preceding (which contain the reply of the householder), what do you particularly notice? The mildness of his address; the faithfulness of his conduct; and the riches of his grace. What was his address? "Friend, I do thee no wrong." Wherein does the faithfulness of his conduct appear? He gave, according to his promise, saying, "Take that thine is." How were the riches of his grace displayed? He gave as much to those who were hired at the eleventh hour, as to those who had been all day in the vineyard. Whom did Jehovah treat according to his promise? The Jews. And who experienced the exercise of his sovereign goodness? The Gentiles. Does the parable end here? Yes. What As in Matt. vi. 23. Ps. lxxiii. 3. ý Acts xv. 7-9; Rom. x. 12. As in Mark vii. 22. Ps. lxxiii. 22. ¶ Acts xv. 11. follows? The application of it. Where is the ap plication? In the following verse. 16. How is it expressed? "So the last shall be first, and the first last." When had our Lord uttered that truth before? At the commencement of the parable.* Why did he now repeat these words? Because the disciples would understand them better, after having heard the parable. When our Lord had finished the parable and its application, what solemn truth did he utter? "Many be called, but few chosen." What is this call? An outward call. An outward call to what? To believe and be saved. What is the choice spoken of? God's purpose to save. Who are called with this outward call? Many." Who are the objects of God's gracious choice? "Few." May not all who have the outward call come to Christ and be saved? Yes; He says, Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Why do not all who hear the call obey it? Because they will not.‡ What did our Lord expressly say of the force with which that unwillingness operates ? No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.|| Are you and I among the number of the "called"? Yes. Since "many be called, but few chosen," what should be our individual concern? That we may be numbered among the "chosen." 17. Of whom does the Evangelist here speak? What is said of him? Of He was "going "Jesus." *See xix. 30. + Isai. xlv. 22. John v. 40. up to Jerusalem." For what purposes was our Lord going up at this time to Jerusalem ? 1st. To appear there as the King of Zion; 2dly. To keep the last Passover; and 3dly. To suffer death for the sins of the world. Who accompanied the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem? "The twelve disciples;" and many others, who were likewise going up to the feast.* What did Jesus do as they were proceeding on their journey? He" took the twelve disciples apart in the way." Apart from whom? From the multitudes who followed him. For what purpose did our Lord withdraw his disciples from the rest of the people? That he might speak to them of his approaching sufferings. Why did our Lord speak of his sufferings as he was going up to Jerusalem? That his disciples might know that his sufferings were voluntary.† How does this circumstance prove that the sufferings of our Lord were voluntary? It shows that he knew all that was before him; and yet he went up to Jerusalem of his own accord. 18. What did our Lord say respecting his approaching sufferings? "Behold we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death." Did our Lord always speak of Jerusalem as the place where he was to suffer? Yes; he said, It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.‡ How do you account for that? The council, by which prophets were tried and con*The crowd increased as they proceeded--See ver. 29, and xxi. 8. + As he had said, John x. 17, 18. Luke xiii. 33. But is it not a demned, was held at Jerusalem. fact, that John the Baptist perished out of Jerusalem? Yes; but he fell a victim to private malice, and was never brought to public trial. What did our Lord here call himself? "The Son of Man." What did he predict concerning himself as the Son of Man? "The Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes." What is it to be tray? To give a person over secretly into the hands of his enemies. Who were the priests? See ii. 4. Who were the chief priests? See ii. 4. Who were the Scribes? See ii. 4. chief priests and scribes do? death." What would these "Condemn him to 19. Is it here mentioned, to whom our Lord should be delivered? Yes; "and shall deliver him to the Gentiles." Who should deliver him to the Gentiles? The chief priests and scribes. Who are the Gentiles? See iv. 15. What particular nation of the Gentiles is here referred to? The Romans. What treatment was our Lord to receive from the Gentiles? They would mock, and scourge, and crucify him. What other event did our Lord predict concerning himself? "And the third day he shall rise again." What is said of the disciples, when they heard these words of Jesus? They understood none of these things. But had they not been repeatedly told what their Lord was to suffer, and that he should rise again? Yes; this was at least the third time Luke xviii. 34. |