Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor… A barren and a fruitful vine are growing side by side in the garden; and the barren vine says to the fruitful one, "Is not my root as good as yours?" "Yes," replies the vine; "it is just as good as mine." "And are not my lower leaves as broad and spreading? And is not my stem as large and my bark as shaggy?" "Yes," says the vine. "And are not my leaves as green, and have I not as many bugs creeping up and down? And am I not taller than you?" "Yes; it is quite true," replies the vine; "but I have blossoms." "Oh, blossoms are of no use." "But I bear fruit." "What! those clusters? Those are only a trouble to a vine." Such is the opinion of the fruitless vine; but what thinks the vintner? He passes by the barren vine; but the other, filling the air with its odour in spring, and drooping with purple clusters in autumn, is his pride and joy; and he lingers near it, and prunes it, that it may become yet more luxuriant and fruitful, So the moralist and the Christian. (H. W. Beecher.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. |
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