128. Or because, “into a malicious soul wisdom does not enter,” Wisd. i. 4. the evil disposition of the traitor uttered this, and he valued the suffering of the Lord’s body at a dearer rate, that by the immensity of the price he might draw all away from the faith. And therefore the Lord offered Himself without price, that the necessity of poverty might hold no one back from Christ. The patriarchs sold Him for a small price that all might buy. Isaiah said: “Ye that have no money go buy and drink; eat ye without money,” Isa. lv. 1. that he might gain him who had no money. O traitor Judas, thou valuest the ointment of His Passion at three hundred pence, and sellest His Passion for thirty pence. St. Ambrose is not quite accurate here in his proportions, though the point is in itself immaterial. The denarius, or “penny,” was worth about ninepence, and was the day wage of a labourer; the shekel or “piece of silver,” was worth more, being of the value of four denarii. Thirty shekels was the price of a slave. Profuse in valuing, mean in selling.