The Signs of the Times
December 12, 1900
Unfaithful Stewards
Judged out of Their Own Mouths
Then began He to speak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.... Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?” The priests and Pharisees answered, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? ... And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” ST December 12, 1900, par. 1
The Pharisees had watched Christ narrowly as He gave this parable. They were cut to the heart by His words; for they could not fail to see their purpose. The Jewish nation had treated the servants whom God had sent unto them with contempt, injustice, and cruelty; and in consequence the vineyard would be taken from them, and they would be punished with fearful severity. And the Pharisees saw that He had pointed them out as the very ones whose sentence they themselves had pronounced. They were filled with anger against Christ. They decided that He knew too much of their base practises to be allowed to live. They feared that He would expose before the people the wicked deeds they had committed, and the result would be the loss of their popularity. ST December 12, 1900, par. 2
Baffled thus far in their attempts to entrap Christ, the Pharisees took counsel with the Herodians. Having laid their plans, they “sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words, that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor.” They did not send the old Pharisees, whom Jesus had often met, but young men, who were ardent and zealous, and whom they thought Christ did not know. ST December 12, 1900, par. 3
The representatives of the Pharisees and Herodians approached Christ with apparent sincerity, as if desirous to know their duty. “Master,” they said, “we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest Thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly.” This was a wonderful admission; but their words were not sincere, but were spoken to deceive. The testimony was true, however. The Pharisees did know that Christ said and taught rightly, and by their own words they will be judged. ST December 12, 1900, par. 4
“Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?” they continued. This was a question over which there was much contention. The Pharisees paid their taxes unwillingly, and many denied the right of the Romans to demand tribute. The spies expected Christ to answer the question by a simple yes or no. If He told them it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, He would lose popular favor. If He said the tribute was unlawful, they hoped to “deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor.” ST December 12, 1900, par. 5
They appeared to ask honestly, and they thought they had sufficiently disguised their purpose. But Jesus read their hearts as an open book, and sounded their hypocrisy. “Why tempt ye Me?” He asked, thus giving them a sign they had not asked by showing that He read their hidden purpose. They were still more confused when He said, “Show Me a penny.” “Whose image and superscription hath it?” He demanded, and they answered, “Caesar's.” Pointing to the inscription on the coin, Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.” ST December 12, 1900, par. 6
Thus Christ rebuked the hypocrisy and presumption of the Pharisees, and to the bystanders His answer seemed so wise that they admired His tact and wisdom. His reply was no evasion, but a candid answer, and in many minds a vexed question was settled. Forever after they held to the right principle. And altho many went away dissatisfied, they saw that the underlying principle had been laid out in straight lines. ST December 12, 1900, par. 7
When the Pharisees heard Christ's answer, “they marveled, and left Him, and went their way.” They were convinced against their will; but they would not yield and accept Christ. They could not at that time satisfy their wrath, but they were determined to carry out their purpose. Henceforth evidence had no effect on their deep-rooted prejudice. There was no more peace or rest for the Saviour; for they manifested the most bitter opposition and intense hatred, and their plans and schemes to entrap Him were abundant, never ceasing until the purpose of hate was fully accomplished on Calvary. ST December 12, 1900, par. 8
But in spite of the opposition of the priests and Pharisees, Christ kept His mission ever before Him. With a heart ever touched by human woe, He ministered to those around Him. He spoke with clearness, simplicity, and authority, and His sermons were such as had never before been heard. His principles were so clearly and wisely inculcated that none need make a misstep, if they will but follow Him, and keep His words. ST December 12, 1900, par. 9
Mrs. E. G. White