Interruption to the Charge.

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selves; you are of more worth than many sparrows. Also I tell you, Every one who shall confess himself to be in Me before men, I will confess Myself to be in him before the Angels of God; and he who has (practised hypocrisy and) denied Me in the presence of men, shall be denied (by Me) in the presence of the Angels of God; and every one who speaks a word against the Son of Man, tó him it shall be forgiven; but it shall not be forgiven the man who has blasphemed against the Holy Ghost."

(From the frequency of the excommunication of His followers, and from the broad front of the opposition gathering against Jesus Himself, the Apostles became uneasy at their own position; Jesus therefore prepares them for every extremity, and says,) "Whenever they shall bring you before the (councils of the) synagogues, and governments, and authorities, do not harass yourselves with care how or what you should plead in defence, or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit shall teach you at the very time what you ought to say."

Chapter Ixxxi.

An Interruption to the Charge by one of the People. (IN the midst of this discourse He was interrupted.) A man from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher,

speak to my brother, that he divide with me the inheritance." But He replied, "Man, who has appointed Me a judge or divider over you?" He said to them (the crowd), "See that you guard against every kind of avarice, for a man's life is not derived from his possessions through their abundance," (but through the word of God enabling him fitly to use them.)

He spoke to them (the people) a parable (on the use of wealth. For the season of parables, or the third section of the fourfold system, had now commenced in Peræa on account of the increase of opponents), saying, "The farm of a certain rich man made a good return; and he began to reason with himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have not where I shall stow my produce?' And he said, 'This I will do, I will take down my granaries, and I will build greater; and there I will store all my produce and my goods, and I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry!' But God said to him, 'O foolish man, on this night (it is) your soul they are demanding from you, and whose shall be what you have prepared' (for the body)? Such is the case of him who lays up treasure for himself, and has not riches in God," (that is, gratitude in the widow's heart, or thanks in the orphan's mouth.)

a

• πάσης.

Ὁ εὐφόρησεν.

The Charge continued.

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Chapter lxxxii.

The Charge continued.

b

(JESUS again turns towards His disciples, and continues His discourse to them in the presence of the crowd.) And He' said to His disciples, "On this account I say to you, Do not harass yourselves with care for your soul as to what you should eat; much less for your body as to what you should put on. The soul is more (important) than the food, and the body than the clothing. Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor do they reap; who have no store closet (for present use), much less granary (for future necessities), and God feeds them. By how much do you excel (in value) the birds of the air? Which of you by harassing himself with care is able to add to his life's course one span? If therefore you cannot even in the least degree (lengthen life), why harass yourselves about the other matters? Consider the lilies how they grow; they labour not, much less do they spin; and I tell you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these. But if God thus clothe the herbage in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is (bound in bundles and) thrown into the oven, by how much rather shall He clothe you, O men of little faith?

Do not you therefore seek what you should eat, or what you should drink; and do not be tossed with anxiety. For after all these things the nations of the world are seeking; but your Father knows that you have need of these things. At all events seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you. Be alarmed at nothing, My little flock, because your Father has been well pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your property, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses which grow not old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where thief draws not near (to rob), much less does moth corrupt (the store); for where your treasure is, there also your heart will be."

(Jesus proceeded, in order to give the multitudes an insight into the character of those whom He sent forth to teach, to call their attention to the responsibility of the Apostolic office, and the necessity of faithfulness therein.) "Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning; and be yourselves like men expecting their own lord, when he shall set out (to return home) from the marriage; in order that upon his coming and knocking, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the lord at his arrival (to take unto himself his bride) shall find watching. Amen (assuredly), I tell you, He will gird Himself, and will cause them to recline · ἀναλύσει.

e

* μετεωρίζεσθε.

The Lord comes suddenly.

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(at meat), and will come up to them in the marriage feast (as a servant waits upon the guests), and will minister to them. Should He come in the second watch, or in the third watch, and find it thus, blessed are they. But this you perceive, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief comes, he would have been wakeful, and would not have allowed his house to have been dug through. Be you therefore ready, because the Son of Man comes at an hour in which you expect not." (Whilst these words were spoken to the disciples in the presence of the multitudes), Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable to us, or also to all ?" The Lord proceeded (without giving a direct reply to Peter), "Who verily is the faithful and prudent steward, whom the Lord shall set over His household, to give them their measure of food in season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord upon His arrival shall find so doing. In truth I tell you, that He will set him over all His property. But (on the other hand) should that servant say in his heart, My Lord delays to come;' and shall begin to strike the men servants and maidens; to eat, to drink, and to be drunken; the Lord of that servant shall arrive in a day in which he expects Him not, and in an hour in which he does not recognize His approach, and shall cut him in two, and shall appoint his portion with the unbelievers.

That man however (namely) the servant who