Luke 13:26

We have eaten and drunk in thy presence,— "Over and above the privileges which you have enjoyed by the Mosaic dispensation, you shall plead on that occasion the peculiar favour which I shewed you in the days of my flesh, by exercising myministry among you, and by conversing familiarly with you." Perhaps some of the nine thousand whom Jesus had fed by miracle, may at last be in this miserable number. Compare John 6:26. Brennius refers it to their having eaten the sacrifices presented to God according to the Mosaic constitution; but different persons may use this plea in different senses. The paraphrase of Erasmus on this verse deserves attention: "Wherefore, Lord, dost thou not know us, or acknowledge us to be thine; whereas thou wast born among us, we have eaten and drank in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets; nay, we are thy disciples, and have more than once healed the sick, and cast out devils in thy name?"—Upon this the Master of the family shall answer, "All those things which ye have enumerated, are insufficient to prove you mytrue disciples. He that walks in my steps, shall be acknowledged for my disciple. But if you have not followed my example, it will avail you nothingto have known the law, to have heard me, to have been my countrymen, my disciples, or to have wrought miracles in my name; for whoever has impenitently lived in the neglect of internal piety and the social virtues, him I will never own to belong to me. Go your ways therefore, and receive your due reward from him whom you have obeyed and served."