Tractates on the Gospel of John (continued)
TRACTATE 9 209 and sends rain on the just and unjust." Wherefore if a man becomes like to him whom he adores, what does it mean that "God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham"? Let us ask ourselves and we see that it has been done. For we come from the nations; but we would not come from the nations unless God had raised up children to Abraham from stones. We have become children to Abraham by imitating [his] faith, not by birth through [his] flesh. For just as they were disinherited because of their degeneracy, so we were adopted because of our imitation. Therefore, brothers, even this prophecy of the sixth jar pertained to all the nations; and therefore "they held two or three measures" was said about all.
17. But how do we show that all the nations pertain to "two or three measures"? For it was, to some extent, understood on the part of the one reckoning, that he should say that the measures which he had said were three were two — to point out, of course, the mystery. How are there two measures? Circumcision and uncircumcision. Scripture mentions these two peoples and it passes over none of the human race when it says "circumcision and uncircumcision."^^ In these two walls, coming from different directions, in order to make peace in himself Christ became the cornerstone.^^ (2) Let us show that the three measures are also in all these same nations. There were three sons of Noe through whom the human race was restored.^^ Whence the Lord said, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened." Who is that woman, except the flesh of the Lord? What is that leaven, except the gospel? What are the three measures, except all the nations, because of the three sons of Noe? Therefore "six water-jars, holding two or three measures" are six eras of time, holding the prophecy pertaining to all the nations, whether signified in the two races of men, that is, in the
57. Mt 5.45. 59. Cf. Eph 2.1 1-22. 61. Cf. Lk 13.21.
58. Cf. Col 3.11. 60. Cf. Gn 9.18-19.