43. Cf. Mt 22.13. 44. Jn 2.17, quoting Ps 68.10. (continued)
TRACTATE 10 221 a thing which is nowhere proper? Stop those whom you can; hold back those whom you can; frighten those whom you can; flatter those whom you can; but don't keep quiet. Is he a friend? Let him be gently admonished. Is she a wife? Let her be bridled with the utmost severity. Is she a servant? Let her be restrained, even with blows. Do whatever you can according to the role that you play; and you accomplish, "The zeal for your house has consumed me."
(3) But if you are cold, languid, looking to yourself alone, and as if sufficient to yourself, and saying in your heart, "What concern of mine is it to care about the sins of others? My soul is enough for me; may I keep it whole for God." Say now, does there not come to your mind that servant who hid the talent and refused to use it?^'^ For was he reproached because he lost it and not because he kept it without gain?
(4) Therefore, my brothers, listen so that you may not remain quiet. I am going to give advice to you; let him who is within give it, because, although he gives through me, he gives it. You know what each one of you does in his own house with a friend, with a tenant, with his own client, with an older person, with a younger person. As God gives access, as he opens the door to his word, do not stop trying to gain for Christ as you were gained by Christ.
10. "The Jews said to him, 'What sign do you show to us, seeing that you do these things?" And the Lord, "'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'Forty-six years has this temple been in building, and do you say, in three days I will raise it up?'" They were flesh; they knew things of the flesh. But he was speaking spiritually. And who could understand what temple he was speaking about? But we have not far to seek. Through the Evangelist he made it clear to us; he mentioned what temple he was speaking about. "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." "Forty-six years the temple has been in building and will you raise it up in three days?" "But," says the Evangelist, "he was speaking about the temple of his body."
45. Cf. Mt 25.14-30; Lk 19.1 1-27. 46. Or, "with someone greater in rank, with someone inferior in rank."