They really abdicated their position. They, therefore, were disqualified
to pass an opinion on the exactly parallel case of the authority of Jesus.
Jesus had defeated them with their own weapon. No wonder that
subsequently, when on trial before such judges, he refused to answer them
a word. He had shown their incompetence, their insincerity, their
unbelief. Honest doubters are deserving of sympathy; but professed seekers
after truth, who are unwilling to accept the consequences of belief,
should expect to receive no further light. An increasing knowledge of
divine realities is conditioned upon humble submission of the heart and
the will to what already has been revealed.

C. The Parable Of The Husbandmen. Ch. 20:9-18

9 And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man
planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into
another country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent unto
the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit
of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away
empty. 11 And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat,
and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And he
sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth.
13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send
my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. 14 But when the
husbandmen saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, This
is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15
And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What
therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16 He will
come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto
others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17 But he
looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written,

The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner?

18 Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces;
but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

To the malicious challenge of his enemies Jesus had already replied,
claiming for himself divine authority and condemning the rulers for their
guilty unbelief. He now added a parable, more clearly stating his claims
and more solemnly rebuking these hostile rulers and pronouncing judgment
upon the nation they repr