516 GOSPEL. ACCORDING TO CHAP. XV.
shallobtaingreatthings.ThereforeHe introducesothers
sotroubledatthesegood thingsastobe consumedwithenvy,
butthosewho return,treatedwith such greathonour asto
become themselvesan objectof envy toothers.THEOPHYL.
Or by thisparableour Lord reprovesthe willof the Pha
risees,whom accordingto the argument He termsjust,as
iftosay,Let itbethatyou aretrulyjust,havingtransgressed
none of the commandments, must we then forthisreason
refusetoadmitthosewho turnaway fromtheiriniquities?
Hier. JEROME. Or,in anotherway,alljusticein comparisonof
Rom"7 theJusticeof God isinjustice.ThereforePaul says,Who
24. shalldeliverme from thebodyof thisdeath?and hence were
Matt. theApostlesmoved withangerat therequestof thesonsof
20l2*' Zebedee. CYRIL.Which we alsoourselvessometimesfeel;fur
someliveamostexcellentandperfectlife,anotherofttimeeven
inhisoldageisconvertedtoGod,or perhapswhen justabout
to closehislastday,throughGod'smercy washesaway his
guilt.But thismercysome men rejectfromrestlesstimidity
ofmind,not countingupon the willof our Saviour,who re
joicesinthesalvationofthosewho areperishing.THEOPHYL.
The sonthensaysto thefather,For nothingI lefta lifeof
sorrow,everharassedby sinnerswho were my enemies,and
neverhastthouformy sakeordereda kid to be slain,(that
is,a sinnerwho persecutedme,)thatI might enjoymyself
iKings fora little.Such a kid was Ahab toElijah,who said,Lord,19lH' theyhave killedThy prophets.AMBROSE. Or else,Thisbro
therisdescribedsoastobe saidtocome from thefarm,that
is,engagedinworldlyoccupations,soignorantofthethings
ofthe Spiritof God, as at lastto complainthata kidhad
neverbeen slainforhim. For not forenvy,but forthe
pardonoftheworld,was theLamb sacrificed.The envious
seeksa kid,the innocenta lamb,to be sacrificedforit.
Thereforealsoishe calledthe elder,becausea man soon
grows oldthroughenvy. Thereforetoohe standswithout,
becausehis maliceexcludeshim; thereforecould he not
hearthedancingand music,thatis,not thewanton fascina
tionsof the stage,but the harmonioussong of a people,
resoundingwiththe sweetpleasantnessofjoy fora sinner
saved. For they who seem to themselvesrighteousare
angry when pardon is grantedto one confessinghis