not a second time passed over. This time they had "crucified unto themselves afresh the

Son of God, and put Him to an open shame," and "that which beareth thorns and briers is

rejected and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned" (Heb. 6: 8). They had

"trodden under foot the Son of God." "For if they escaped not who refused Him that

spake on earth (first invitation), much more shall not we, if we turn away from Him that

speaketh from heaven" (Heb. 12: 25) (second invitation). And so we read:--

Between verses 7 and 8 of Matt. 22: comes the dispensation of the mystery, just as

it comes between "the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our

God."  When the Lord once again takes up the threads of this purpose, the words of

verse 8 onwards become true. "The wedding feast is ready, but they which were bidden

were not worthy." Because of their rejection of the head stone of the corner, "the

kingdom of God will be taken from them, and given to a nation producing the fruits of

it." Because of their refusal and neglect they made themselves "unworthy," and failed.

The day will come when they shall see those who have come from the east and the west,

and from the north and the south, sitting down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the

kingdom of the heavens, but themselves cast out. They knew not the day of their

visitation. To no generation of Israel or of men had such exceptional favours been given.

They proved unworthy, and forfeited their place. The day will come when the dispersed

sons of Abraham will be gathered from the four corners of the earth to sit down in the

kingdom. Those who so miserably failed during the two ministries of the Gospels and

the Acts will be there, but not in a position of blessedness such as shall those who have

thus been gathered in. Weeping and gnashing of teeth (terms that demand a separate

study) accompany the vision they have. They were not worthy.

It is interesting to note that the word axios, "worthy," and the word hetoimazõ, "to

make ready," occur prominently in Matthew and in Revelation. Axios occurs seven times

in the Revelation. Hetoimazõ occurs seven times in the Gospel of Matthew, and seven

times in the Revelation. It seems that there is a connection between the being made

ready, and the being worthy.

If we view the parable and its teaching from the standpoint of the Epistles of the

Mystery, we shall be conscious of a difficulty to reconcile the very distinct aspects of

truth presented. If we keep within the sphere of the kingdom, the teaching will be clear.

In Matt. 10: the twelve who were sent forth were to enquire in each village for a "worthy

person," and a "worthy house." Verses 37, 38 tell us what constituted "worthiness."

Axios occurs seven times in the Acts. There we read that the Jews "judged themselves to

be unworthy of eonian life" to the blessing of the Gentiles (Acts 13: 46-52; compare

verse 51 with Matt. 10: 14), and that Paul had echoed the words of John the Baptist

(Matt. 3: 8) in urging "fruit worthy of repentance" (Acts 27: 20).

In Rev. 3: 4 we read of some who shall walk with the Lord in white (robes), "for

they are worthy," and in 16: 6 of some who shall have blood to drink because "they are

worthy." Of similar import is Luke 7: 4 and 12: 48. It is evident from the usage of