Chapter XLVIII.--Test of Truth.
Then said Simon: "Since, as you say, we must understand the things concerning God by comparing them with the creation, how is it possible to recognise the other things in the law which are from the tradition of Moses, and are true, and are mixed up with these falsehoods?" Then Peter said: "A certain verse has been recorded without controversy in the written law, according to the providence of God, so as to show clearly which of the things written are true and which are false." Then said Simon: "Which is that? Show it us."
Chapter XLIX.--The True Prophet.
Then Peter said: "I shall tell you forthwith. It is written in the first book of the law, towards the end: A ruler shall not fail from Judah, nor a leader from his thighs, until He come whose it is; and He is the expectation of the nations.' [991] If, therefore, any one can apprehend Him who came after the failure of ruler and leader from Judah, and who was to be expected by the nations, he will be able by this verse to recognise Him as truly having come; [992] and believing His teaching, he will know what of the Scriptures are true and what are false." Then said Simon: "I understand that you speak of your Jesus as Him who was prophesied of by the scripture. Therefore let it be granted that it is so. Tell us, then, how he taught you to discriminate the Scriptures."
[991] Gen. xlix. 10.
[992] From the amended reading of Davis.
Chapter L.--His Teaching Concerning the Scriptures.
Then Peter: "As to the mixture of truth with falsehood, [993] I remember that on one occasion He, finding fault with the Sadducees, said, Wherefore ye do err, not knowing the true things of the Scriptures; and on this account ye are ignorant of the power of God.' [994] But if He cast up to them that they knew not the true things of the Scriptures, it is manifest that there are false things in them. And also, inasmuch as He said, Be ye prudent money-changers,' [995] it is because there are genuine and spurious words. And whereas He said, Wherefore do ye not perceive that which is reasonable in the Scriptures?' He makes the understanding of him stronger who voluntarily judges soundly.
[993] [Comp. Homily II. 40. The attitude of Peter, as here represented, disparaging the Old Testament, appearing to exalt the author of Christ's teachings, and yet ignoring the claims of His Person and Work, seeks its justification in rationalistic interpretation. The attitude is not an uncommon one at present.--R.]
[994] Matt. xxii. 29. [Misquoted and misapplied here, as in Homily II. 51.--R.]
[995] This is frequently quoted as a saying of Christ. It is probably from one of the apocryphal Gospels. [Comp. Homily II. 51.--R.]
Chapter LI.--His Teaching Concerning the Law.
"And His sending to the scribes and teachers of the existing Scriptures, as to those who knew the true things of the law that then was, is well known. And also that He said, I am not come to destroy the law,' [996] and yet that He appeared to be destroying it, is the part of one intimating that the things which He destroyed did not belong to the law. And His saying, The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law,' [997] intimated that the things which pass away before the heaven and the earth do not belong to the law in reality.
[996] Matt. v. 17.
[997] Matt. v. 18.
Chapter LII.--Other Sayings of Christ.
"Since, then, while the heaven and the earth still stand, sacrifices have passed away, and kingdoms, and prophecies among those who are born of woman, and such like, as not being ordinances of God; hence therefore He says, Every plant which the heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.' [998] Wherefore He, being the true Prophet, said, I am the gate of life; [999] he who entereth through me entereth into life,' there being no other teaching able to save. Wherefore also He cried, and said, Come unto me, all who labour,' [1000] that is, who are seeking the truth, and not finding it; and again, My sheep hear my voice;' [1001] and elsewhere, Seek and find,' [1002] since the truth does not lie on the surface.
[998] Matt. xv. 13.
[999] John x. 9.
[1000] Matt. xi. 28.
[1001] John x. 3.
[1002] Matt. vii. 7.