The Barren Fig Tree - A Study of Luke 13: 6 - 9

2. After that Thou Shalt Cut it
Down
A Study of Luke 13: 6 - 9

3. Parable - Fig Tree
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He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig
tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and
sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard,
Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on
this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why
cumbereth it the ground?
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone
this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that
thou shalt cut it down.
Luke.13.6 - 9

4. Sound Fruit & Found None

"A certain man," He continued, "had a
fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he
came and sought fruit thereon, and found
none. Then said he unto the dresser of his
vineyard, Behold, these three years I
come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find
none: cut it down ; why cumbereth it the
ground?" (Luke 13: 6 & 7)
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5. Not MisUnderstand

Christ's hearers could not
misunderstand the application of His
words . David had sung of Israel as the
vine brought out of Egypt. Isaiah had
written, "The vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah
His pleasant plant." Isa. 5:7. The generation
to whom the Saviour had come were
represented by the fig tree in the Lord's
vineyard -- within the circle of His special
care and blessing .
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6. God’s Purpose

God's purpose toward His people , and the glorious
possibilities before them, had been set forth in the beautiful
words, "That they might be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified," Isa. 61:3.
The dying Jacob, under the Spirit of inspiration, had said of
his best-loved son, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful
bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall." And he
said, "The God of thy Father" "shall help thee," the
Almighty "shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that lieth under." Gen. 49:22, 25. So
God had planted Israel as a goodly vine by the wells of life .
He had made His vineyard "in a very fruitful hill." He had
"fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted
it with the choicest vine." Isa. 5:1, 2.
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7. Wild Grapes

"And He looked that it should bring forth
grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes ." Isa.
5:2. The people of Christ's day made a greater
show of piety than did the Jews of earlier ages,
but they were even more destitute of the sweet
graces of the Spirit of God. The precious fruits of
character that made the life of Joseph so
fragrant and beautiful, were not manifest in the
Jewish nation.
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8. Instead of Salvation
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God in His Son had been seeking fruit, and
had found none . Israel was a cumberer of the
ground. Its very existence was a curse ; for
it filled the place in the vineyard that a fruitful
tree might fill. It robbed the world of the
blessings that God designed to give . The
Israelites had misrepresented God among the
nations. They were not merely useless, but a
decided hindrance . To a great degree their
religion was misleading , and wrought ruin
instead of salvation .
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9. If It Bear Fruit, Well
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In the parable the dresser of the vineyard
does not question the sentence that the tree , if
it remained fruitless , should be cut down; but
he knows and shares the owner's interest in that
barren tree. Nothing could give him greater joy
than to see its growth and fruitfulness. He
responds to the desire of the owner, saying,
"Let it alone this year also , till I shall dig
about it and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well ."
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10. Greater Care

The gardener does not refuse to
minister to so unpromising a plant . He
stands ready to give it still greater
care . He will make its surroundings most
favorable , and will lavish upon it every
attention .
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11. Every Means
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The owner and the dresser of the vineyard
are one in their interest in the fig tree. So
the Father and the Son were one in their
love for the chosen people . Christ was
saying to His hearers that increased
opportunities would be given them. Every
means that the love of God could devise would
be put in operation that they might become
trees of righteousness, bringing forth fruit for
the blessing of the world.
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12. Mercifully Forewarning
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Jesus did not in the parable tell the result
of the gardener's work . At that point His
story was cut short . Its conclusion rested
with the generation that heard His words .
To them the solemn warning was given . "If
not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.“(v.9)
Upon them it depended whether the
irrevocable words should be spoken . The day
of wrath was near . In the calamities that had
already befallen Israel, the owner of the
vineyard was mercifully forewarning them
of the destruction of the unfruitful tree.
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13. Not Seen in Your Life

The warning sounds down along the line to us in this
generation. Are you , O careless heart, a fruitless tree in the
Lord's vineyard? Shall the words of doom erelong be
spoken of you ? How long have you received His
gifts ? How long has He watched and waited for a
return of love ? Planted in His vineyard, under the watchful
care of the gardener, what privileges are yours ! How
often has the tender gospel message thrilled your
heart ! You have taken the name of Christ , you are
outwardly a member of the church which is His body, and
yet you are conscious of no living connection with the
great heart of love . The tide of His life does not flow
through you . The sweet graces of His character , "the
fruits of the Spirit," are not seen in your life .
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14. Barren Tree Receives
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The barren tree receives the rain and the
sunshine and the gardener's care . It draws
nourishment from the soil . But its unproductive
boughs only darken the ground , so that fruitbearing plants cannot flourish in its
shadow . So God's gifts, lavished on you ,
convey no blessing to the world . You are
robbing others of privileges that, but for you,
might be theirs .
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15. Pitying Saviour
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You realize , though it may be but dimly, that you
are a cumberer of the ground . Yet in His great
mercy God has not cut you down . He does not
look coldly upon you . He does not turn away with
indifference, or leave you to destruction. Looking upon
you He cries , as He cried so many centuries ago
concerning Israel , "How shall I give thee up,
Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? . . . I will not
execute the fierceness of Mine anger. I will not return to
destroy Ephraim; for I am God , and not man." Hosea
11:8, 9. The pitying Saviour is saying concerning you,
Spare it this year also, till I shall dig about it and
dress it .
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16. Unwearied Love Did Christ
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With what unwearied love did Christ minister to
Israel during the period of added probation . Upon
the cross He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do." Luke 23:24. After His ascension the
gospel was preached first at Jerusalem. There the Holy
Spirit was poured out. There the first gospel church
revealed the power of the risen Saviour. There
Stephen--"his face as it had been the face of an angel"
(Acts 6:15)--bore his testimony and laid down his life. All
that heaven itself could give was bestowed . "What
could have been done more to My vineyard ," Christ
said, "that I have not done in it ?" Isa. 5:4. So His care
and labor for you are not lessened , but increased .
Still He says, "I the Lord do keep it ; I will water it
every moment ; lest any hurt it , I will keep it night
and day ." Isa. 27:3.
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17. Cut It Down
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"If it bear fruit, well; and if not, then
after that"-The heart that does not respond
to divine agencies becomes
hardened until it is no longer
susceptible to the influence of the
Holy Spirit . Then it is that the word is
spoken, "Cut it down ; why cumbereth it
the ground?"COL.218.002 & 003

18. Today He Invites YOU
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Today He invites you : "O Israel, return
unto the Lord thy God. . . . I will heal their
backsliding, I will love them freely . . . . I will
be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as
the lily , and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
. . . They that dwell under his shadow
shall return ; they shall revive as the corn,
and grow as the vine . . . . From Me is thy
fruit found ." Hosea 14:1-8.
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19. Consider the parable of the fig tree:
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"A certain man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon,
and found none. Then said he unto the dresser
of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I
come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none:
cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And
he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone
this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that
thou shalt cut it down." Luke 13:6-9.
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20. Lesson For All
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"Then after that." In these words there is
a lesson for all who are connected with the
work of God. A period of probation was
granted to the tree that bore no fruit . And in like
manner God bears long with His people .
But of those who have had great
advantages , and who are standing in
positions of high and sacred trust , and yet
bear no fruit, He says: "Cut it down; why
cumbereth it the ground?"
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21. Conniving at Wrong
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Let those connected with the Lord's special
instrumentalities remember that He will call for
fruit from His vineyard. Proportionate to the
blessings bestowed will be the returns
required . Heavenly angels have visited and
ministered in every place where God's institutions
are established. Unfaithfulness in these institutions
is a greater sin than it would be elsewhere, for
it has a greater influence than it would
elsewhere have. Unfaithfulness, injustice,
dishonesty , conniving at wrong , obstruct
the light which God designs shall shine
forth from His instrumentalities .
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22. World is Watching
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The world is watching, ready to
criticize with keenness and severity your
words, your deportment, and your business
transactions. Everyone who acts a part in
connection with the work of God is
watched , and is weighed by the
scales of human discernment.
Impressions, favorable or unfavorable to
Bible religion, are constantly made on
the minds of all with whom you have
to do .
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23. Advanced Truth
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The world watches to see what fruit is
borne by professed Christians. It has a
right to look for self-denial and selfsacrifice from those who claim to
believe advanced truth .
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24. Sermon--Parable of the Fig-Tree.
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"A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon,
and found none. Then said he unto the dresser
of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I
come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none:
cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And
he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone
this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it;
and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that
thou shalt cut it down." Luke 13:6-9.
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25. Their Last Trial
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The Jewish nation was represented as the fig-tree which
God had planted in his vineyard . This people he had
taken unto himself as his own. They had been greatly favored
with temporal and spiritual blessings, and he looked to them
to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. Year after year he
had come to them hoping to find fruit, but had found none.
He had been long forbearing. Justice had urged, "Cut it
down; why cumbereth it the ground?" But mercy pleaded for
still another trial. The Dresser of the vineyard will put forth
yet one more effort to save the fruitless tree . The Son of
God will come in person to plead with the chosen people. He
will take upon himself humanity , and set before them the
example of his own life . If this fails to bring them to
repentance , it is their last trial . "After that thou shalt cut
it down." In the terrible destruction which came upon the
Jewish nation we read the fate of the unfruitful tree .
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26. Symbol of the Fig Tree
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Under the symbol of the fig-tree, Christ represents ,
not the Jews only, but all who have neglected to
improve the gifts of Heaven. He has bestowed upon
us greater blessings than were granted to his ancient
people, and he claims of us fruit corresponding to
the gifts bestowed . What is this fruit? It is a pure
and holy character ; godliness , self-denial for
others' good , meekness and lowliness of heart .
Jesus claims penitence , faith , and obedience . He
came to leave for men a perfect model of character .
He was obedient to all the requirements of his
Father . If we follow him , we shall in our life
carry out the precepts of God's holy law .
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27. Through Christ
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Dear brethren, He who has given you
talents , has by these sacred trusts made you
capable of bearing precious fruit to his
glory . Through Christ , God has opened
heaven before you , and all needful grace is
brought within your reach . The Saviour
died that by his grace you might become
partakers of the divine nature . He
expects you to bear fruit . With what
interest has he watched and waited for
some returns for his great sacrifice .
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28. Solemn Lesson
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Consider, I pray you , the solemn lesson of this
parable . The dresser of the vineyard pleads for a
respite for the doomed fig-tree ; but if it still bear no
fruit, he himself declares , "After that thou shalt cut it
down." May not this be the position of some now
before me ? May they not be even now receiving
the last trial ? The divine illumination, the example of
perfect goodness, are granted us . From time to time,
new opportunities, new lessons, are given . And what
will be the result ? If we are careless and
neglectful , we know not how soon the word may
be spoken of us , "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the
ground?"
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29. Heir of Heaven
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How many years have we been in the Lord's
garden ? and what profit have we brought to the
Master ? How are we meeting the inspecting eye of
God ? Are we increasing in reverence , love , humility ,
confidence in God ? Do we cherish gratitude for all
his mercies ? Are we seeking to bless those around
us ? Do we manifest the spirit of Jesus in our
families ? Are we teaching his word to our children ,
and making known to them the wonderful works of
God ? The Christian must represent Jesus by both
being good and doing good . Then there will be a
fragrance about the life , a loveliness of character ,
which will reveal the fact that he is a child of God ,
an heir of heaven .
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30. 
Promise is Very Precious
Brethren, be no longer slothful servants. Every soul must
battle against inclination . Christ came not to save men in
their sins, but from their sins . He has made it possible for us
to possess a holy character ; do not, then, be content with
defects and deformities. But while we are to seek earnestly for
perfection of character, we must remember that sanctification is
not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime . Said Paul, "I die
daily." Day by day the work of overcoming must go forward.
Every day we are to resist temptation, and gain the victory over
selfishness in all its forms. Day by day we should cherish love
and humility, and cultivate in ourselves all those excellencies of
character which will please God and fit us for the blessed
society of heaven. To all who are seeking to accomplish this
work, the promise is very precious , "He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot
out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name
before my Father, and before his angels.“ (Rev.3.5)
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31. Love Souls as He Has Loved
Us
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Every Christian will have a missionary spirit.
To bear fruit is to work as Christ worked, to
love souls as he has loved us . The very
first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring
others also to the Saviour : and just as
soon as a person is converted to the
truth , he feels an earnest desire that those in
darkness should see the precious light
shining from God's word .
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32. Christ Spoke a Parable

Christ spoke a parable to convey to the
people a truth which would ever be remembered. He
said: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and
found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his
vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking
fruit on this fig tree, and find none; cut it down; why
cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto
him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig
about it, and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well; and if
not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." For three
years Christ had carefully sought for fruit among the
Jewish people. Rich opportunities and privileges
had been granted them .
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33. He Constantly Refreshed Humanity
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For three years and a half Christ had tabernacled among
men . "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled]
among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.“ (John.1.14) He
was as the shadow of a great rock in a desert land, where no
water is. He constantly refreshed humanity by opening
to men the cool streams of the brook flowing from Lebanon .
He was ever seeking to refresh his vineyard. He sought
to leave his imprint upon the hearts and characters of his
followers. He identified his interest with that of fallen
humanity . Their weakness was his weakness . Their
necessity was his necessity . As a humble suppliant who
sought divine strength from the hand of his Father ,
he took the attitude of petitioner, that he himself might be
invigorated and refreshed by converse with God .
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34. Communion With God
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Christ took upon himself human nature , but
daily he linked it with the divine nature .
He devoted whole nights to prayer ,
leaving an example for all humanity ; for
as he relied upon God , the Source of all
strength , so are we to be invigorated and
refreshed , to be strengthened for duty
and braced for trial , through communion
with God .
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35. Christ Labored
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Christ labored for his vineyard. The Prince of heaven,
he was yet the intercessor for man , and he had
power with God , and prevailed for himself and for
his people . Morning by morning he communicated
with his Father in heaven , receiving from him daily
a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit . The Lord
awakened him from his slumbers in the early hours
of the new day , that his soul and his lips might be
anointed with grace which he should impart to
others . His words were given him fresh from the
heavenly courts , words that he might speak in
season to those that were weary and oppressed .
Of Christ we read , "The Lord God hath given me the
tongue of the learned, that I should know to speak a word in
season to him that is weary; he wakeneth morning by
morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."
(Isa.50.4)
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36. Human Agent

The Son of God , having humanity upon him,
lived in our world as a human agent . He
passed over the ground which man must travel. He
supplicated for suffering humanity till his
humanity was charged with a heavenly
current that should connect humanity with
divinity . He uttered supplications for a
people over whom the prince of darkness was
striving for mastery. He healed the sick ,
relieved the suffering and oppressed ,
consoled the bereaved , and restored the
backslider , seeking and saving that which
was lost . Christ worked for his vineyard ,
speaking words in season .
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37. Ominous Sentence

But what an ominous sentence is this --"And
if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou
shalt cut it down"! Our Saviour was calling the
Jewish nation to repentance . To them he
said , "Except ye repent , ye shall all likewise
perish ." (Luke.13.3 & 5) In the parable of the
vineyard Christ represented to them the
manner in which God had dealt with them .
He showed them the blessings that God
had given them ; for the vineyard was a symbol of
the Jewish nation.
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38. What Mean These Words
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Well might the Jewish nation inquire, "What mean
these words , And after that thou shalt cut it
down." They might have been answered, "O
inhabitants of Jerusalem, this is your day of
opportunity and privilege, your day of merciful
visitation." It was still time for them to know the
things which belonged unto their peace. Jesus
was in the midst of them , the only one who
had power to save them ; but their unbelief, their
resistance, was bringing to them its sure results of
hardness of heart and impenitence, and was filling
them with stubbornness and rebellion.
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39. Irrevocable Words

Jesus was diffusing light , scattering his
blessings upon every hand , showering mercies
upon the unthankful and the evil . His mercies
were unacknowledged , and Jesus , the Light , the
Way , and the Truth , was rejected . Still a brief
space was theirs before the irrevocable words
should be spoken . Shall the season of trial
close , and after that the mandate from heaven
be pronounced . "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the
ground?" They had fulfilled the word , "They would
none of My counsel; they despised all My reproof .“
(Pro.1.30) They had none to blame but
themselves if they perished in their sins . Jesus
had said to them , "Ye will not come unto me ,
that ye might have life ." (John.5.40)
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40. Wrought Ruin Instead of Salvation

The Lord had often punished the enemies of the
Jewish nation, and had saved his people when their
foes purposed to destroy them . As a mighty warrior
he had raised his hand to press back the powers of darkness,
working in behalf of his people in order that the Jews
and that other nations might have an opportunity to see
the character of God as represented in Christ Jesus .
He gave them an opportunity to repent and to
believe on the only-begotten Son of God . And "as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
(John.1.12) He bore long with the Jewish nation, even when
they were given up to idolatry. He saw them not as fruitbearing trees , but as cumberers of the ground. These
were not merely useless , but decided hindrances .
Their religion was misleading , and wrought ruin
instead of salvation .
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41. Great Teacher

But the great Teacher had undertaken the task of
correcting the evil that existed in the world. He sought
to break the spell which paralyzed every spiritual
energy . With what authority he spoke , with what
winning grace he gave his invitations , his
assurances, and promises! His commands and
denunciations were alike clothed in language that
was elevating and uplifting . His utterances were
the expression of paternal tenderness and love . In
no instance did he lower the standard of the law of
God . He came to show the world its value , its
elevated character . He was the Desire of nations ,
the world's only hope , and was obedient to all the
commandments of God , thus showing forth the
divine character ST.1895-11-21.007
.

42. He Came to Test

He came to test the Jewish nation, to try them after
the plan of God . If they persisted in continuing
in transgression , they would miserably perish .
This will be the fate of all who turn a deaf ear to
the words of invitation and warning sent of God .
Those who refuse to listen in this their day of
test and trial , will have to meet the results of
their own perversity . They may grasp eagerly
for the treasures of the earth , seek its honors
and pleasures , but what a scene will the
judgment present when the books are opened ,
and every man is rewarded according as his
works have been !
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43. Soul’s Value

The soul's value is estimated by the cross of
Calvary . The Lord appreciates the souls for whom
he died, and wants them to be the subjects of his
kingdom; but the god of this world blinds the
perceptive powers of men so that they do not see
their peril. To them Christ is saying , "If thou hadst
known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong unto thy peace!" (Luke.19.42) He is
still pleading that they may understand the day of
their visitation , saying, as did the gardener
concerning the unfruitful tree, "Let it alone this year
also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it, and if it bear
fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it
down." (Luke.13.8 & 9)
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