65. We find our Lord in the Gospels knowing,
yet not knowing, many things. Thus He does not know the workers
of iniquity, who glory in their mighty works and in His name, for He
says to them, Then will swear, I never knew you; depart from Me, all
ye that work iniquity St. Matt. vii. 23.. He declares
with an oath even, that He does not know them, but nevertheless He
knows them to be workers of iniquity. He does not know them, not
because He does not know, but because by the iniquity of their deeds
they are unworthy of His knowledge, and He even confirms His denial
with the sanctity of an oath. By the virtue of His nature He
could not be ignorant,
by the mystery of His will He refused to know. Again the
Unbegotten God does not know the foolish virgins; He is ignorant of
those who were too careless to have their oil ready, when He entered
the chamber of His glorious coming. They come and implore, and so
far from not knowing them, He cries, Verily, I say unto you, I know
you not St. Matt. xxv. 12.. Their
coming and their prayer compel Him to recognize them, but His
profession of ignorance refers to His will, not to His nature:
they are unworthy to be known of Him to Whom nothing is unknown.
Hence, in order that we should not impute His ignorance to infirmity,
He says immediately to the Apostles, Watch therefore, for ye know
not the day nor the hour Ib.
xxv. 13.. When He
bids them watch, for they know not the day or the hour, He points out
that He knew not the virgins, because through sleep and neglect they
had no oil, and therefore were unworthy to enter into His
chamber.