(Mark xi. 13.) A. It was the custom in those hot countries, to suffer the fruit, of which the trees produced two crops in the year, to remain on the trees long after it was ripe; and as the time for gathering in the figs had not yet come, our Lord might have expected to find some, 121. Did our Lord really expect to find any? A. No; we cannot suppose so, for he knew every thing; he only did it for the instruction of his followers, and to show them the necessity of yielding fruits or good works if they expected the favour of God. 122. What particular instances of his Divine wisdom did our Lord give, as recorded in this Gospel, exclusive of his numerous prophecies, and his knowledge of even the thoughts of man? A. His directing Peter to find the tribute-money in the belly of the fish (Matt. xvii. 27); 2d. His directing his two disciples to find the ass and her colt (Matt. xxi. 22); 3d. His directing them how to find the room for the passover (Matt. xxvi. 18; Luke xxii, 10)1. 123. Why were the Jews commanded to offer sacrifices? A. They were typical of that one great sacrifice of the Messiah which afterwards took place, and they served to remind mankind, that repentance alone without a sin-offering, would never render them acceptable to God, for without shedding of blood there is no remission. 124. Had the sacrifices of the Jews power to take away sin? A Not the actual blood of bulls and of goats, but inasmuch as these offerings were typical, and represented Christ's future sacrifice of himself, the benefits of that atonement extended to those persons who lived before the Crucifixion, and who obeyed the law of Moses, which was but the shadow of good things to come. 125. What is meant by the law being a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? A. That in consequence of the innumerable ceremonies of the law of Moses, and the great severity of its ordinances, mankind would more readily embrace a religion which was typified by those rites, and by which all those oppressive ordinances were removed, and the outward ceremonies done away by the death of one victim, namely, Jesus Christ. Vide Gen. Quest. 51, chap. 1. 1 Vide John i. 48. 126. Why did the Jews permit the temple to be profaned by the buyers and sellers? A. It was only the outward court which the Gentile proselytes used, and the Jews had such a contempt for all other nations, that they did not regard with what indignities they were treated. CHAPTER XXII. 1. WITH what does this chapter commence? the parable of the marriage of the king's son. A. With 2. Give some account of this parable. A. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come.—v. 2. 3. What did the king do when they refused? A. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage.-v. 4. 4. What are fatlings? A. Beasts fatted for food. 5. Did they accept of the second invitation ? A. No; they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandize.-v. 5. 6. What did the remainder of those who were invited do? A. They took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. -v. 6. 7. How did the king act when he heard what they had done to his servants? A. He sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burnt up their city.—v. 7. 8. What did the king then say to his servants? A. The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy; go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.-v. 9. 9. What did the servants do? A. They went out into the highways, and gathered together all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. v. 10. 10. Was the king pleased with all the guests? A. No; when he came in to see them, he saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment.—v. 11. 11. What is a wedding garment? A. A white robe, which in those times the person who gave the entertainment distributed to each of his guests who came to the marriage. 12. What did the king say to him? A. Friend, how camest thou hither, not having on a wedding garment?— v. 12. 13. What did the man answer? A. He was speechless; he could say nothing to excuse himself, as he might have procured one if he pleased. 14. What did the king then say to his servants? A. Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; for many are called, but few are chosen.- -v. 13. 15. Whom does the king represent? A. God, the King of kings. 16. Who is the king's son? A. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Gɔd. 17. What does the marriage feast represent, to which the guests were invited? A. As marriage feasts are usually attended with demonstrations of joy, so it is here used by our blessed Lord to express those everlasting joys which the Gospel proclaims to fallen creatures, and to which all mankind are invited through the sacrifice of the Son of God, under the form of a man. 18. Who are represented by those servants that were first sent to summon the guests to the marriage? A. The holy prophets, who foretold the coming of our blessed Lord, amongst whom was John the Baptist. Our blessed Saviour himself also, and his holy apostles during his lifetime, invited the Jews to partake of the blessings of the Gospel. 19. Whom do those persons represent that were first bidden to the feast? A. The Jews, God's chosen people, to whom the Messiah had been promised. 20. What is meant by and they would not come? A. They would not follow the advice given to them by our blessed Lord and his apostles, to embrace the Gospel. 21. Who are meant by the second servants whom the king sent forth? A. The apostles, who continued to preach the Gospel to the Jews after our Lord's resurrection. 22. What is meant by the dinner being prepared, and the oxen and fatlings being killed? A. That the Gospel covenant was now established by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ that the joys of heaven, purchased through his blood, were now prepared for those who embraced the Gospel. 23. What is meant by some going to their farms, others to their merchandize, while others took and slew the servants? A. That some of those to whom the Gospel was preached neglected it, and thought more of their worldly concerns than they did of those important truths, and that others were so far from being grateful for the mercies vouchsafed to them, that they put the apostles to death, and caused them to suffer the most cruel persecutions, for no other reason than for inviting them to the wedding feast of the Son of God. 24. Whom do those on the highway represent? A. The Gentiles. 25. What is meant by their being invited to the marriage? A. The Gospel being preached to the Gentiles, after the Jews had rejected it. 26. What is meant by gathering all, both bad and good? A. Men of all descriptions, both rich and poor, devout and wicked, are called upon by the Gospel to repent and come to Christ, the only naine under heaven whereby mankind can be saved. 27. What is meant by the king coming to see the guests? A. When the day of judgment arrives, when trembling sinners are examined before the tribunal of the King of kings, who will give unto every one according to their works. 28. What is meant by the king sending forth his armies, destroying those murderers, and burning up their city? A. It alludes to the destruction of Jerusalem, which was a judgment on the Jews for having rejected the Gospel, and persecuted the apostles who preached to them. 29. What persons are represented by the one guest who had not on the wedding garment? A. Those outward professors of the Gospel, who do not possess that inward holiness, which can alone render us acceptable to God through Christ. 30. What is meant by the man being speechless? A. It alludes to that state of confusion to which hardened sinners will be reduced, when righteousness of life and purity of heart will be required of them, as the conditions on which they are to partake of the privileges of the feast, and to which every person can aspire, who sincerely prays to God for assistance to enable him to put on the inward as well as the outward garment of righteousness. 31. What is meant by the king ordering him to be bound hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness? A. The punishment of the wicked is here described, who will be condemned to eternal torments if they make not a proper use of those advantages with which they have been blessed by God. 32. What is meant by many being called, but few chosen? A. That many have the Gospel preached to them, and adhere to its outward forms, but comparatively few assume the wedding garment of holiness, without which no man can see the Lord. 33. Had our Lord ever before made use of this expression? A. Yes; twice before. (Vide 20th chap. Quest. on 18th ver.) 34. What steps did the Pharisees now take respecting our blessed Lord? A. They took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.-v. 15. 35. Whom did they send to him? A. Their own disciples, with the Herodians.-v. 16. 36. Who were the Herodians? A. Followers of Herod, who introduced several heathenish doctrines into the Jewish religion. They were great supporters of the Roman power. 37. What question did they ask our Lord? A. Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men: tell us therefore, is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar or not? 38. What is meant by their paying tribute unto Cæsar? A. The Jewish nation, being under the dominion of the Romans at that time, paid taxes or tribute to Tiberius Cæsar, the Roman emperor. 39. What did Jesus answer? A. He perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?— v. 18. 40. Why were they hypocrites? A. Because, by their manner of addressing him, they pretended to have a great K |