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plan and study to please themselves。 They act only in reference to self。 Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves。 In all the affairs of life this is their object。 Not for others but for themselves do they minister。 God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed。 He designed them to help their fellow men in every possible way。 But self is so large that they cannot see anything else。 They are not in touch with humanity。 Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree； which made every pretension but was fruitless。 They observe the forms of worship； but without repentance or faith。 In profession they honor the law of God； but obedience is lacking。 They say； but do not。 In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense。 He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God； but who bears no fruit to His glory。
The parable of the fig tree； spoken before Christ's visit to Jerusalem； had a direct connection with the lesson He taught in cursing the fruitless tree。 For the barren tree of the parable the gardener pleaded； Let it alone this year； until I shall dig about it and dress it； and if it bear fruit； well； but if not； then after that thou shalt cut it down。 Increased care was to be given the unfruitful tree。 It was to have every advantage。 But if it remained fruitless； nothing could save it from destruction。 In the parable the result of the gardener's work was not foretold。 It depended upon that people to whom Christ's words were spoken。 They were represented by the fruitless tree； and it rested with them to decide their own destiny。 Every advantage that Heaven could bestow was given them； but they did not profit by their increased blessings。 By Christ's act in cursing the barren fig tree； the result was shown。 They had determined their own destruction。
For more than a thousand years the Jewish nation had abused God's mercy and invited His judgments。 They had rejected His warnings and slain His prophets。 For these sins the people of Christ's day made themselves responsible by following the same course。 In the rejection
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of their present mercies and warnings lay the guilt of that generation。 The fetters which the nation had for centuries been forging； the people of Christ's day were fastening upon themselves。
In every age there is given to men their day of light and privilege； a probationary time in which they may become reconciled to God。 But there is a limit to this grace。 Mercy may plead for years and be slighted and rejected； but there comes a time when mercy makes her last plea。 The heart becomes so hardened that it ceases to respond to the Spirit of God。 Then the sweet； winning voice entreats the sinner no longer； and reproofs and warnings cease。
That day had come to Jerusalem。 Jesus wept in anguish over the doomed city； but He could not deliver her。 He had exhausted every resource。 In rejecting the warnings of God's Spirit； Israel had rejected the only means of help。 There was no other power by which they could be delivered。
The Jewish nation was a symbol of the people of all ages who scorn the pleadings of Infinite Love。 The tears of Christ when He wept over Jerusalem were for the sins of all time。 In the judgments pronounced upon Israel； those who reject the reproofs and warnings of God's Holy Spirit； may read their own condemnation。
In this generation there are many who are treading on the same ground as were the unbelieving Jews。 They have witnessed the manifestation of the power of God； the Holy Spirit has spoken to their hearts； but they cling to their unbelief and resistance。 God sends them warnings and reproof； but they are not willing to confess their errors； and they reject His message and His messenger。 The very means He uses for their recovery becomes to them a stone of stumbling。
The prophets of God were hated by apostate Israel because through them their hidden sins were brought to light。 Ahab regarded Elijah as his enemy because the prophet was faithful to rebuke the king's secret iniquities。 So today the servant of Christ；the reprover of sin； meets with scorn and rebuffs。 Bible truth； the religion of Christ； struggles against a strong current of moral impurity。 Prejudice is even stronger in the hearts of men now than in Christ's day。 Christ did not fulfill men's expectations； His life was a rebuke to their sins； and they rejected Him。 So now the truth of God's word does not harmonize with men's practices and their natural inclination； and thousands reject its light。 Men prompted by Satan cast doubt upon God's word； and choose to exercise
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their independent judgment。 They choose darkness rather than light； but they do it at the peril of their souls。 Those who caviled at the words of Christ； found ever…increased cause for cavil； until they turned from the Truth and the Life。 So it is now。 God does not propose to remove every objection which the carnal heart may bring against His truth。 To those who refuse the precious rays of light which would illuminate the darkness； the mysteries of God's word remain such forever。 From them the truth is hidden。 They walk blindly； and know not the ruin before them。
Christ overlooked the world and all ages from the height of Olivet； and His words are applicable to every soul who slights the pleadings of divine mercy。 Scorner of His love； He addresses you today。 It is 〃thou； even thou；〃 who shouldest know the things that belong to thy peace。 Christ is shedding bitter tears for you； who have no tears to shed for yourself。 Already that fatal hardness of heart which destroyed the Pharisees is manifest in you。 And every evidence of the grace of God； every ray of divine light； is either melting and subduing the soul； or confirming it in hopeless impenitence。
Christ foresaw that Jerusalem would remain obdurate and impenitent； yet all the guilt； all the consequences of rejected mercy； lay at her own door。 Thus it will be with every soul who is following the same course。 The Lord declares； 〃O Israel； thou hast destroyed thyself。〃 〃Hear； O earth： behold； I will bring evil upon this people； even the fruit of their thoughts； because they have not hearkened unto My words； nor to My law； but rejected it。〃 Hosea 13：9； Jer。 6：19。
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Chapter 65
The Temple Cleansed Again
At the beginning of His ministry； Christ had driven from the temple those who defiled it by their unholy traffic； and His stern and godlike demeanor had struck terror to the hearts of the scheming traders。 At the close of His mission He came again to the temple； and found it still desecrated as before。 The condition of things was even worse than before。 The outer court of the temple was like a vast cattle yard。 With the cries of the animals and the sharp chinking of coin was mingled the sound of angry altercation between traffickers； and among them were heard the voices of men in sacred office。 The dignitaries of the temple were themselves engaged in buying and selling and the exchange of money。 So completely were they controlled by their greed of gain that in the sight of God they were no better than thieves。
Little did the priests and rulers realize the solemnity of the work which it was theirs to perform。 At every Passover and Feast of Tabernacles； thousands of animals were slain； and their blood was caught by the priests and poured upon the altar。 The Jews had become familiar with the offering of blood； and had almost lost sight of the fact that it was sin which made necessary all this shedding of the blood of beasts。 They did not discern that it prefigured the blood of God's dear Son；
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which was to be shed for the life of the world； and that by the offering of sacrifices men were to be directed to a crucified Redeemer。
Jesus looked upon the innocent victims of sacrifice； and saw how the Jews had made these great convocations scenes of bloodshed and cruelty。 In place of humble repentance of sin； they had multiplied the sacrifice of beasts； as if God could be honored by a heartless service。 The priests and rulers had hardened their hearts through selfishness and avarice。 The very symbols pointing to the Lamb of God they had made a means of getting gain。 Thus in the eyes of the people the sacredness of the sacrificial service had been in a great measure destroyed。 The indignation of Jesus was stirred； He knew that His blood； so soon to be shed for the sins of the world； would be as little appreciated by the priests and elders as was the blood of beasts which they kept incessantly flowing。
Against these practices Christ had spoken through the prophets。 Samuel had said； 〃Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices； as in obeying the voice of the Lord？ Behold； to obey is better than sacrifice； and to hearken than the fat of rams。〃 And Isaiah； seeing in prophetic vision the apostasy of the Jews； addressed them as rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah： 〃Hear the word of the Lord； ye rulers of Sodom； giv