John 16:1-6 These things have I spoken to you, that you should not be offended.… In one of the Jews' books it is stated that when Abraham sat at his tent door, according to his custom, waiting to entertain strangers, he espied an old man stooping and leaning on his staff, weary with age and travel, coming towards him, who was a hundred years of age. He received him kindly, washed his feet, provided supper, and caused him to sit down. But observing that the old man eat and prayed not, nor begged for a blessing on his meat, he asked him why he did not worship the God of heaven. The old man told him that he worshipped the fire only, and acknowledged no other God. At which answer Abraham grew so zealously angry, that he thrust the old man out of his tent, and exposed him to all the evils of the night and an unguarded condition. When the old man was gone, God called to Abraham and asked him where the stranger was. He replied, "I thrust him away because he did not worship Thee." God answered him, "I have suffered him these hundred years, although he dishonoured Me; and couldest thou not endure him one night, when he gave thee no trouble?" Upon this, salts the story, Abraham fetched him back again, and gave him hospitable entertainment and wise instruction. "Go thou, and do likewise," and thy charity will be rewarded by the God of Abraham. (Jeremy Taylor.) Parallel Verses KJV: These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.WEB: "These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn't be caused to stumble. |
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