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Christ’s Object Lessons
Christ declared John the Baptist to be one of the greatest of the
prophets, and He showed His hearers that they had had sufficient
evidence that John was a messenger from God. The words of the
preacher in the wilderness were with power. He bore his message
unflinchingly, rebuking the sins of priests and rulers, and enjoining
upon them the works of the kingdom of heaven. He pointed out to
them their sinful disregard of their Father’s authority in refusing to
do the work appointed them. He made no compromise with sin, and
many were turned from their unrighteousness.
Had the profession of the Jewish leaders been genuine, they would
have received John’s testimony and accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
But they did not show the fruits of repentance and righteousness. The
very ones whom they despised were pressing into the kingdom of God
before them.
In the parable the son who said, “I go, sir,” represented himself as
faithful and obedient; but time proved that his profession was not real.
He had no true love for his father. So the Pharisees prided themselves
on their holiness, but when tested, it was found wanting. When it
was for their interest to do so, they made the requirements of the law
very exacting; but when obedience was required from themselves, by
cunning sophistries they reasoned away the force of God’s precepts.
Of them Christ declared, “Do not ye after their works; for they say, and
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do not.”
Matthew 23:3
. They had no true love for God or man. God
called them to be co-workers with Him in blessing the world; but while
in profession they accepted the call, in action they refused obedience.
They trusted to self, and prided themselves on their goodness; but they
set the commands of God at defiance. They refused to do the work
which God had appointed them, and because of their transgression the
Lord was about to divorce Himself from the disobedient nation.
Self-righteousness is not true righteousness, and those who cling
to it will be left to take the consequences of holding a fatal deception.
Many today claim to obey the commandments of God, but they have
not the love of God in their hearts to flow forth to others. Christ calls
them to unite with Him in His work for the saving of the world, but
they content themselves with saying, “I go, sir.” They do not go. They
do not co-operate with those who are doing God’s service. They are
idlers. Like the unfaithful son, they make false promises to God. In
taking upon themselves the solemn covenant of the church they have