VER. 45 — 54. ST. LUKE. 425 THEOPHYL. But our Lord shews that the Jews have in heritedthe malice of Cain, since He adds, From the blood ofAbel to the bloodof Zacharias,fyc. Abel,inasmuch as he was slainby Cain ; but Zacharias,whom they slew between thetemple and the altar,some say was the Zachariasof old time,the son of Jehoiadah the Priest. BEDE. Why He beginsfrom the blood of Abel, who was the firstmartyr,we need not wonder; but why, to the blood of Zacharias,is a question,sincemany were slainafterhim even up to our Lord'sbirth,and soon afterHis birththe Innocents,unless perhaps it was because Abel was a shepherd, Zacharias a Priest. And the one was killedin the field,the other in the court of the temple, martyrs of each class,that is, under their names are shadowed both laymen, and those engaged in the officeof the altar. GREG. NYSS. But some say that Zacharias,the fatherof Gre;t. John, by the spiritof prophecy forecastingthe mystery of Diem1" the immaculate virginityof the mother of God, in no wiseNat. separatedher from the part of the temple set apart for virgins,wishing to shew that it was in the power of the Creatorof allthings to manifesta new birth,while He did notdeprivethe mother of the gloryof her virginity.Now thispart was between the altarand the temple, in which was placed the brazen altar,where for thisreason they slewhim. It is said also,that when they heard the King of the world was about to come, from fear of subjection theydesignedlyattacked him who bore witnessto His com- iug,and slew the priestin the temple. GREEK Ex. But Geome- othersgive another reason forthe destructionof Zacharias.ter' For at the murder of the childrenthe blessedJohn was to be slainwith the restof the same age,but Elisabeth,snatch ingup her son from the midst of the slaughter,sought the desert.And so when Herod's soldierscould not findElisa bethand the child,they turn theirwrath againstZacharias, killinghim as he was ministeringin the temple. Itfollows,Woe to you,Lawyers,for ye have takenaway the keyof knowledge. BASIL. This word woe, which is utteredBasil.in with pain intolerable,is suitedto those who were shortly ""' afterto be castout intogrievouspunishment. CYRIL. Now we say,the law itselfis the key of knowledge. For itwas