The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 6: The Fullness of Time • 199

For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 58 “Isn’t that unfair?” asked Cesar. “He is speaking about their hearts,” replied Ephrem. “With all due respect to Father Ephrem,” said Cesar, “I’d like to know what the Incomplete Commentary say about that.” Mentor looked for the passage and read, “The fault is not Christ’s for not wanting to speak openly, but theirs for not wanting to hear what they were hearing. For it was not because Christ spoke in parables that they did not see, but because they chose not to see that Christ spoke to them in parables.” 59 “In other words,” said Father Greg, “Christ spoke in a fitting way to those who did not want to hear what they were hearing, like Isaiah said—‘Hear and hear, but do not understand.’” 60 “What about the other part,” asked Preacher, “he who has will be given more?” 61 Mentor continued the reading:

58 Matt. 13:11-13.

59 My translation of Opus Imperfectum , Homily 32 in Patrologia Graeca 56, 798. See Kellerman, 2, 249.

60 Isa. 6:9.

61 Matt. 13:12.