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| The Simpler Interpretation of the Promise About Not Tasting of Death. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
31. The Simpler
Interpretation of the Promise About Not Tasting of Death.
“Verily I say unto you there be some of them
that stand here that shall not taste of death.”5751 Some refer these things to the going
up—six days after, or, as Luke says,5752
eight days—of the three disciples into the high mountain with
Jesus apart; and those who adopt this interpretation say that Peter and
the remaining two did not taste of death before they saw the Son of man
coming in His own kingdom and in His own glory. For when they saw
Jesus transfigured before them so that “His face shone,”
etc., “they saw the kingdom of God coming with
power.”5753 For even as
some spear-bearers stand around a king, so Moses and Elijah appeared to
those who had gone up into the mountains, talking with Jesus. But
it is worth while considering whether the sitting on the right hand and
on the left hand of the Saviour in His kingdom refers to them, so that
the words, “But for whom it is prepared,” were5754 spoken because of them. Now this
interpretation about the three Apostles not tasting of death until they
have seen Jesus transfigured, is adapted to those who are designated by
Peter as “new-born babes longing for the reasonable milk which is
without guile,”5755 to whom Paul says,
“I have fed you with milk, not with meat,”5756 etc. Now, too, every interpretation of
a text which is able to build up those who cannot receive greater
truths might reasonably be called milk, flowing from the holy ground of
the Scriptures, which flows with milk and honey. But he who has been
weaned, like Isaac,5757 worthy of the good
cheer and reception which Abraham gave at the weaning of his son, would
seek here and in every Scripture food which is different, I think, from
that which is meat, indeed, but is not solid food, and from what are
figuratively called herbs, which are food to one who has been weaned
and is not yet strong but weak, according to the saying, “He that
is weak eateth herbs.”5758 In like
manner also he who has been weaned, like Samuel, and dedicated by his
mother to God,5759 —she was
Hannah, which is, by interpretation, grace,—would be also a son
of grace, seeking, like one nurtured in the temple, flesh of God, the
holy food of those who are at once perfect and priests.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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