prophets and kings-第110节
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tiles； and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name； and a pure offering： for My name shall be great among the heathen。〃 Malachi 1：11。
The covenant of 〃life and peace〃 God had made with the sons of Levithe covenant which； if kept； would have brought untold blessingthe Lord now offered to renew with those who once had been spiritual leaders； but who through transgression had become 〃contemptible and base before all the people。〃 Malachi 2：5； 9。
Solemnly evildoers were warned of the day of judgment to come and of Jehovah's purpose to visit with swift destruction every transgressor。 Yet none were left without hope； Malachi's prophecies of judgment were accompanied by invitations to the impenitent to make their peace with God。 〃Return unto Me；〃 the Lord urged； 〃and I will return unto you。〃 Malachi 3：7。
It seems as if every heart must respond to such an invitation。 The God of heaven is pleading with His erring children to return to Him； that they may again co…operate with Him in carrying forward His work in the earth。 The Lord holds out His hand to take the hand of Israel and to help them to the narrow path of self…denial and
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self…sacrifice； to share with Him the heirship as sons of God。 Will they be entreated？ Will they discern their only hope？
How sad the record； that in Malachi's day the Israelites hesitated to yield their proud hearts in prompt and loving obedience and hearty co…operation！ Self…vindication is apparent in their response； 〃Wherein shall we return？〃
The Lord reveals to His people one of their special sins。 〃Will a man rob God？〃 He asks。 〃Yet ye have robbed Me。〃 Still unconvicted of sin； the disobedient inquire； 〃Wherein have we robbed Thee？〃
Definite indeed is the Lord's answer： 〃In tithes and offerings。 Ye are cursed with a curse： for ye have robbed Me； even this whole nation。 Bring ye all the tithes into the store…house； that there may be meat in Mine house； and prove Me now herewith； saith the Lord of hosts； if I will not open you the windows of heaven； and pour you out a blessing； that there shall not be room enough to receive it。 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes； and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground； neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field； saith the Lord of hosts。 And all nations shall call you blessed： for ye shall be a delightsome land； saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Verses 7…12。
God blesses the work of men's hands； that they may return to Him His portion。 He gives them the sunshine and the rain； He causes vegetation to flourish； He gives health and ability to acquire means。 Every blessing comes from His bountiful hand； and He desires men and women to show their gratitude by returning Him a portion in tithes
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and offeringsin thank offerings； in freewill offerings； in trespass offerings。 They are to devote their means to His service； that His vineyard may not remain a barren waste。 They are to study what the Lord would do were He in their place。 They are to take all difficult matters to Him in prayer。 They are to reveal an unselfish interest in the building up of His work in all parts of the world。
Through messages such as those borne by Malachi； the last of the Old Testament prophets； as well as through oppression from heathen foes； the Israelites finally learned the lesson that true prosperity depends upon obedience to the law of God。 But with many of the people； obedience was not the outflow of faith and love。 Their motives were selfish。 Outward service was rendered as a means of attaining to national greatness。 The chosen people did not become the light of the world； but shut themselves away from the world as a safeguard against being seduced into idolatry。 The restrictions which God had given； forbidding intermarriage between His people and the heathen； and prohibiting Israel from joining in the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations； were so perverted as to build up a wall of partition between the Israelites and all other peoples； thus shutting from others the very blessings which God had commissioned Israel to give to the world。
At the same time the Jews were； by their sins； separating themselves from God。 They were unable to discern the deep spiritual significance of their symbolic service。 In their self…righteousness they trusted to their own works； to the sacrifices and ordinances themselves； instead of relying upon
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the merits of Him to whom all these things pointed。 Thus 〃going about to establish their own righteousness〃 （Romans 10：3）； they built themselves up in a self…sufficient formalism。 Wanting the Spirit and grace of God； they tried to make up for the lack by a rigorous observance of religious ceremonies and rites。 Not content with the ordinances which God Himself had appointed； they encumbered the divine commands with countless exactions of their own devising。 The greater their distance from God； the more rigorous they were in the observance of these forms。
With all these minute and burdensome exactions it was a practical impossibility for the people to keep the law。 The great principles of righteousness set forth in the Decalogue； and the glorious truths shadowed in the symbolic service； were alike obscured； buried under a mass of human tradition and enactment。 Those who were really desirous of serving God； and who tried to observe the whole law as enjoined by the priests and rulers； groaned under a heavy burden。
As a nation； the people of Israel； while desiring the advent of the Messiah； were so far separated from God in heart and life that they could have no true conception of the character or mission of the promised Redeemer。 Instead of desiring redemption from sin； and the glory and peace of holiness； their hearts were fixed upon deliverance from their national foes； and restoration to worldly power。 They looked for Messiah to come as a conqueror； to break every yoke； and exalt Israel to dominion over all nations。 Thus Satan had succeeded in preparing the hearts of the people to
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reject the Saviour when He should appear。 Their own pride of heart； and their false conceptions of His character and mission； would prevent them from honestly weighing the evidences of His Messiahship。
For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had waited the coming of the promised Saviour。 Their brightest hopes had rested upon this event。 For a thousand years； in song and prophecy； in temple rite and household prayer； His name had been enshrined； and yet when He came； they did not recognize Him as the Messiah for whom they had so long waited。 〃He came unto His own； and His own received Him not。〃 John 1：11。 To their world…loving hearts the Beloved of heaven was 〃as a root out of a dry ground。〃 In their eyes He had 〃no form nor comeliness；〃 they discerned in Him no beauty that they should desire Him。 Isaiah 53：2。
The whole life of Jesus of Nazareth among the Jewish people was a reproof to their selfishness； as revealed in their unwillingness to recognize the just claims of the Owner of the vineyard over which they had been placed as husbandmen。 They hated His example of truthfulness and piety； and when the final test came； the test which meant obedience unto eternal life or disobedience unto eternal death； they rejected the Holy One of Israel and became responsible for His crucifixion on Calvary's cross。
In the parable of the vineyard； Christ near the close of His earthly ministry called the attention of the Jewish teachers to the rich blessings bestowed upon Israel； and in these showed God's claim to their obedience。 Plainly He set
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before them the glory of God's purpose； which through obedience they might have fulfilled。 Withdrawing the veil from the future； He showed how； by failure to fulfill His purpose； the whole nation was forfeiting His blessing and bringing ruin upon itself。
〃There was a certain householder；〃 Christ said； 〃which planted a vineyard； and hedged it round about； and digged a wine press in it； and built a tower； and let it out to husbandmen； and went into a far country。〃 Matthew 21：33。
Thus the Saviour referred to 〃the vineyard of the Lord of hosts；〃 which the prophet Isaiah centuries before had declared to be 〃the house of Israel。〃 Isaiah 5：7。
〃And when the time of the fruit drew near；〃 Christ continued； the owner of the vineyard 〃sent his servants to the husbandmen； that they might receive the fruits of it。 And the husbandmen took his servants； and beat one； and killed another； and stoned another。 Again； he sent other servants more than the first： and they did unto them likewise。 But last of all he sent unto them his son； saying； They will reverence my son。 But when the husbandmen saw the son； they said among themselves； This is the heir； come； let us kill him； and let us seize on his inheritance。 And they caught him； and cast him out of the vineyard； and slew him。〃
Having portrayed before the priests their crowning act of wickedness； Christ now put to them the question； 〃When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh； what
