ample.
Priests and rulers became fixed in a rut of ceremonialism.
They were satisfied with a legal religion, and it was
impossible for them to give to others the living truths of
heaven. They thought their own righteousness all-sufficient,
and did not desire that a new element should be brought into
their religion. The good will of God to men they did not
accept as something apart from themselves, but connected
it with their own merit because of their good works. The
faith that works by love and purifies the soul could find no
place for union with the religion of the Pharisees, made up of
ceremonies and the injunctions of men.
Of Israel God declared: “I had planted thee a noble
vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the
degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?” Jeremiah 2:21.
“Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself.”
Hosea 10:1. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men
of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard.
What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have
not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring
forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
“And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My
vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be
eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be
trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned,
nor digged; but there shall come up briers and
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thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no
rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the
house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant:
and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for
righteousness, but behold a cry.” Isaiah 5:3-7. “The diseased
have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which
was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken,
neither have ye brought again that which was driven away,
neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force
and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezekiel 34:4.
The Jewish leaders thought themselves too wise to need
instruction, too righteous to need salvation, too highly
honored to need the honor that comes from Christ. The
Saviour turned from them to entrust to others the privileges
they had abused and the work they had slighted. God’s glory
must be revealed, His word established. Christ’s kingdom
must be set up in the world. The salvation of God must be
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made known in the cities of the wilderness; and the disciples
were called to do th
