{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/009/0090367.htm","path":"chr/ecf/009/0090367.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/009/0090367.htm","text":"16. Parables in Relation to Similitudes. Jesus in His Own Country.\n\u201cAnd it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence. And coming into His own country.\u201d 5253 Since we inquired above whether the things spoken to the multitude were parables, and those spoken to the disciples were similitudes, and set forth observations bearing on this in my judgment not contemptible, you must know that the sentence which is subjoined, \u201cAnd it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence,\u201d will appear to be in opposition to all these arguments, as applying not only to the parables, but also to the similitudes as we have expounded. We inquire therefore whether all these things are to be rejected, or whether we must speak of two kinds of parables, those spoken to the multitudes, and those announced to the disciples; or whether we are to think of the name of parable as equi-vocal; or whether the saying, \u201cAnd it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables,\u201d is to be referred only to the parables above, which come before the similitudes. For, because of the saying, \u201cTo you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to the rest in parables,\u201d 5254 it was not possible to say to the disciples, inasmuch as they were not of those without, that the Saviour spoke to them in parables. And it follows from this, that the saying, \u201cAnd it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence,\u201d is to be referred to the parables spoken above, or that the name parable is equivocal, or that there are two kinds of parables, or that these which we have named similitudes were not parables at all. And observe that it was outside of His own country He speaks the parables \u201cwhich, when He had p. 424 finished, He departed thence; and coming into His own country He taught them in their synagogue.\u201d And Mark says, \u201cAnd He came into His own country and His disciples follow Him.\u201d 5255 We must therefore inquire whether, by the expression, \u201cHis own country,\u201d is meant Nazareth or Bethlehem,\u2014Nazareth, because of the saying, \u201cHe shall be called a Nazarene,\u201d 5256 or Bethlehem, since in it He was born. And further I reflect whether the Evangelists could have said, \u201ccoming to Bethlehem,\u201d or, \u201ccoming to Nazareth.\u201d They have not done so, but have named it \u201cHis country,\u201d because of something being declared in a mystic sense in the passage about His country,\u2014namely, the whole of Jud\u00e6a,\u2014in which He was dishonoured according to the saying, \u201cA prophet is not without honour, save in his own country.\u201d 5257 And if anyone thinks of Jesus Christ, \u201ca stumbling-block to the Jews,\u201d 5258 among whom He is persecuted even until now, but proclaimed among the Gentiles and believed in,\u2014for His word has run over the whole world,\u2014he will see that in His own country Jesus had no honour, but that among those who were \u201cstrangers from the covenants,\u201d 5259 the Gentiles, He is held in honour. But what things He taught and spake in their synagogue the Evangelists have not recorded, but only that they were so great and of such a nature that all were astonished. And probably the things spoken were too high to be written down. Only be it noted, He taught in their synagogue, not separating from it, nor disregarding it.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol IX: Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.: Chapter XVI","type":"page"}