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I. THE PRINCIPLE HERE ASSERTED. The quotation is from Psalm 118:22, 23.

1. The intrinsic excellence of a thing is not at all affected by its non-recognition.

2. The intrinsic excellence of true principles enables them to become, in spite of human contempt, true rulers of the world and of life.

3. In their opposition to the true and the good, men know not what they do.

4. We see now how God must make use of what seem the unlikeliest instruments for the realization of His gracious purposes.

5. The processes of spiritual regeneration and new life are carried on by means of rejected powers.

II. THE REACTION OF THIS PRINCIPLE UPON THE MEN OF CHRIST'S TIME. "They knew that He had spoken the parable against them." They lost the Christ they rejected. "To him that hath shall be given," etc.

III. THERE ARE SPECIAL LESSONS HERE FOR THE MEN OF THE PRESENT AGE.

1. The possession of great privileges and advantages is not to be regarded as excluding moral abuses and dangers.

2. Faithfulness to spiritual truth is the true life giving and conservative force in individual and national life. What is morally wrong can never be safe.

3. Personal relations to the Christ determine destiny. "Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder."

(The Preacher's Monthly.)

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KJV: And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

WEB: He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.