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living according to the message of the New Testament. With some, this sounds like
circular reasoning, but for those who have heeded the call to Á-°come and seeÁ-?, all things
become clear.

We learn the truth of the scriptures by hearing them used in the context of worship,
coupled of course with our struggle to learn and follow the commandments and our
personal study of the scriptures.

Commentary on the Parables for the Vespers of the 3 Hierarchs.

The first parable, describes the necessary character traits of the judges God appointed
over His people; these same traits are also exemplified by holy hierarchs, who are also
appointed to judge, that is to Á-°rightly dividing the word of truthÁ-?
1
Á-°
16
And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the
causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between
every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
17
Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the
small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of
man; for the judgment is God's:Á-?

The second parable also, in which God describes Himself, also describes more attributes
of a holy bishop (or any Christian, of which a bishop should be the best example). The
admonitions to the Jews also are fulfilled most exactly in the holy hierarchs:
Á-°
17
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a
great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons,
nor taketh reward:
18
He doth execute the judgment of the
fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him
food and raiment.
19
Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were
strangers in the land of Egypt.
20
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy
God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and
swear by his name.Á-?

'This parable also contains a graphic reference to our hearts:
Á-°16
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more
stiffnecked.Á-?
This is a kind of Á-°miniÁ-? parable in itself. We would do well to consider the metaphor
literally. Just as circumcision is the cutting away of flesh, and involves blood and pain,