Jesus Astounds the Rabbis

BY ADOLPH VON MENZEL, THE GERMAN MASTER, DIED 1905.

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"And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”—Luke, 2, 47.

T

HE first Biblical event in which we find Jesus taking

an active part, the first, that is, which presents Him not as a babe protected by others but as the Divine Mediator acting for Himself, occurred when He was a lad of twelve. Luke tells the story. Mary and Joseph had gone up to Jerusalem for the yearly feast of the Passover. The journey was an annual custom among religious families; but this year, probably for the first time, they had taken the boy Jesus with them. Youth develops rapidly in the warm clime of Palestine, and a forward boy at twelve would begin to be counted as a

man.

Becoming separated from His parents, we know not how, Jesus entered the sacred Temple, where were gathered the aged priests and learned rabbis of the day. With these He engaged in converse. What was their amaze to find that the lad knew more than they, not only of the Scriptural writings and their interpretation, but of all wider knowledge, human and divine! For three days. the youth remained the centre of a marvelling group. There were wise men there whose names and teaching have come down to us, Rabbi Hillel, Rabbi Shammai and others; but none could argue against the inspired child.

MATTHEW XXI-PARABLE OF THE SON

1541

winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will

reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen ?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes ?1

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Chapter 22

1 The parable of the marriage of the king's son. 9 The vocation of the Gentiles. 12 The punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment. 15 Tribute ought to be paid to Cæsar. 23 Christ confuteth the Sadducees for the resurrection: 34 answereth the lawyer, which is the first and great commandment: 41 and poseth the Pharisees about the Messias.

ND Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 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.

'Psalm 118, 22 and 23.