Lord calls the Pharisees " serpents." And yet in another place, He says to the disciples, "Be wise as serpents." In short I helieve that the same word may he used in one place as a figure of that which is good, and in another as a figure of that which is evil. In some places leaven certainly means " false doctrine." In the passage hefore us, I helieve it means " grace."
Stilla supports the view which I have maintained hy quota- tions from Augustine and Gregory.
[A woman,.. three mecuures of meal.] There are some who see allegorical meanings in the " woman," the numher " three," and the "meal." I will only record my own conviction, that these meanings were not in our Lord*s mind when the parahle was spoken. One great truth was intended to be conveyed. That truth was the small beginning of grace in a heart, and the in- fluence which it gradually acquires over the whole character. To this view let us adhere.
LUKE Xin. 22—30.
22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jenualem.
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved } And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate : for manj, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and mall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to tiie door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying. Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are :
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We
have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell vou, I know you not whence ye are j aepart from me, all ye workers of imquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shsul see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shaU be first, an^ there are first which shall be last.
We see in these yerses a remarkable question asked. We are told that a certain man said to our Lord, "Are there few that be saved P "
We do not know who this inquirer was. He may have been a self-righteous Jew> trained to believe that there was no hope for the uncircumcised, and no salvation for any but the children of Abraham. He may have been