0' but this is not thy neighbour." The separation of the Jews, demanded by their theocratic position, was the explanation in part-not an excuse-for such feeling towards people of other nationalities. Heathen peoples had the same feeling towards enemies. "It was the celebrated felicity of Sulla; and this was the crown of Xenophon's panegyric of Cyrus the Younger, that no one had done more good to his friends or more mischief to his enemies." Plautus said, "Man is a wolf to the stranger" ("homo homini ignoto lupus est"). The term "stranger" in Greek means "enemy." But common as this philosophy was to the pre-Christian world, the Jew was specially known for his hatred of all not of his own nationality (Juvenal, Sat. xiv. 104, etc.). The "enemy" referred to in the passage is not a national enemy ( Keim) but a personal one (Weiss, Meyer, etc.). Our Lord subsequently defined who was to be understood by the term "neighbour" in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke x. 36).
205 Ps. lxix. 22.
206 Ps. cix. 9.
207 Rom. xii. 14.
208 Matt xi. 20-24 and Luke x. 13-15.
209 2 Tim. iv. 14. Augustin here again follows the better text than the Textus Receptus; so also Vulgate, reddet. See Revised Version.
210 See above chap. xix. 58.
211 Ps. ii. 1. The English version employs the present tense.
212 Ps. xxii. 18.
213 1 John v. 16.
214 See note p.
215 1 Cor. vii. 14, 15.
216 Ignosce; Vulgate, dimitte.
217 Luke xxiii. 34.
218 Acts vii. 60.
219 Sermonibus; Vulgate, verbis.
220 2 Tim. iv. 14-16.
221 Matt. xviii. 21. Luke xvii. 3.
222 Matt. xxvii. 4, 5.
223 Matt. x. 25.
224 Matt. xii. 24-33.
225 Rom. xii. 14, 17.
226 Rev. vi. 10.
227 Rom. vi. 12.
228 1 Cor. ix. 26, 27. Sevituti subjicio; Vulgate, in servitutem redigo.
229 "Not in power or wisdom,-which was the cause of man's fall, and leads evermore to the same,-but in love" (Plumptre).
230 John i. 12.
231 Rom viii. 17 and Gal. iv. 5.
232 Facit (above, jubet). Bengel's comment is good: "Magnifica appellatio. Ipse et fecit solem et gubernat et habet in sua unius potestate" ("Splendid designation. He made the sun, governs it, and has it in His own power").
233 Wisd. vii. 26.
234 Mal. iv. 2.
235 Wisd. v. 6.
236 Isa. v. 6.
237 Gen. i. 16.
238 "Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The Greek text has here the future: esesqe teleioi, "Ye therefore shall be perfect" (Revised Version). Meyer gives the verb the imperative sense; Alford, Lange, and others include the imperative sense. The imperative force adds not a little to the plausibility of deriving the doctrine of perfectibility on earth, or complete "sanctification," from the passage, as the Pelagians (whom Augustin elsewhere combats) and some Methodist commentators (Whedon, etc.). Alford, Trench, etc., deny that the verse gives any countenance to the doctrine. As regards the nature of the perfection, Bengel sententiously says, "in amore, erga omnes" ("in love, toward all" See Col. iii. 14). It seems "to refer chiefly to the perfection of the divine love" (Mansel); so also Bleek, Meyer. Weiss (whose Leben Jesu, i. 532-534, see) finds an allusion to the fundamental command of the Old Testament "Be ye holy," etc. In the place of the divine holiness, or God's elevation above all uncleanness of the creature, is substituted the divine perfection, whose essence is all-comprehensive and unselfish love; and in the place of the God separated from the sinful people, appears He who in love condescends to them and brings them into likeness with Himself as His children. The last verse of the Sermon as reported by Luke (vi. 36) confirms the idea that the perfection is of love: "Be ye merciful, as your Father which is in heaven is merciful." Commenting on this verse, Dr. Schaff says, "Instruction in morality cannot rise above this. Having thus led us up to our heavenly Father as the true standard, our Lord, by a natural transition, passes to our religious duties, i.e. duties to our heavenly Father."
239 Hos. vi. 6.