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Destruction of Jerusalem
15
the nation. Wonderful was the long-suffering of God toward the
rejecters of his gospel and the murderers of his Son. The parable
of the unfruitful tree represented God’s dealings with the Jewish
nation. The command had gone forth. “Cut it down; why cumbereth
it the ground?” [
Luke 13:7
.] but divine mercy had spared it yet
a little longer. There were still many among the Jews who were
ignorant of the character and the work of Christ. And the children
had not enjoyed the opportunities or received the light which their
parents had spurned. Through the preaching of the apostles and
their associates, God would cause light to shine upon them; they
could see how prophecy had been fulfilled, not only in the birth
and life of Christ, but in his death and resurrection. The children
were not condemned for the sins of the parents; but when, with a
knowledge of all the light given to their parents, the children rejected
the additional light granted to themselves, they became partakers of
the parents’ sins, and filled up the measure of their iniquity.
The long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem, only confirmed
the Jews in their stubborn impenitence. In their hatred and cruelty
toward the disciples of Jesus, they rejected the last offer of mercy.
Then God withdrew his protection from them, and removed his
restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left
to the control of the leader she had chosen. Her children had spurned
the grace of Christ, which would have enabled them to subdue their
[30]
evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors. Satan aroused
the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul. Men did not
reason; they were beyond reason,—controlled by impulse and blind
rage. They became Satanic in their cruelty. In the family and in the
nation, alike among the highest and the lowest classes, there was
suspicion, envy, hatred, strife, rebellion, murder. There was no safety
anywhere. Friends and kindred betrayed one another. Parents slew
their children, and children their parents. The rulers of the people
had no power to rule themselves. Uncontrolled passions made them
tyrants. The Jews had accepted false testimony to condemn the
innocent Son of God. Now false accusations made their own lives
uncertain. By their actions they had long been saying, “Cause the
Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” [
Isaiah 30:11
.] Now
their desire was granted. The fear of God no longer disturbed them.