40. The differences of pronunciation and language are indicated by Lightfoot (u.s.
lxxxvii.), and by Deutsch (u. s. pp. 357, 358). Several instances of ridiculous mistakes
arising from it are recorded. Thus, a wom n cooked for her husband two lentils
a
(ψξπλ+ )instead of two feet (of an animal, ψπλ+) as desired (Nedar. 66 b). On another
occasion a woman malpronounced 'Come, I will give thee milk,' into 'Companion, butter
devour thee!' (Erub. 53 b ). In the same connection other similar stories are told. Com .
p
also Neubauer, Geogr. du Talmud, p. 184, G. de Rossi, della lingua prop. di Cristo,
Dissert. I. passim.
41. Erub. 53 b.
42. The Rabbi asked: What road leads to Lydda? - using four words. The woman pointed
out that, since it was not lawful to multiply speech with a woman, he should have asked:
Whither to Lydda? - in two words.
43. In fact, only four great Galilean Rabbis are mentioned. The Galileans are said to have
inclined towards mystical (Kabbalistic?) pursuits.
Among such a people, and in that co untry, Jesus spent by far the longest part of His life
upon earth. Generally, this period may be described as that of His true and full Human
Development - physical, intellectual, spiritual - of outward submission to man, and
inward submission to God, with the attendant results of 'wisdom,' 'favour,' and 'grace.'
Necessary, therefore, as this period was, if the Christ was to be TRUE MAN, it cannot be
said that it was lost, even so far as His Work as Saviour was concerned. It was more than
the preparation for that work; it was the commencement of it: subjectively (and
passively), the self-abnegation of humiliation in His willing submission; and objectively
(and actively), the fulfilment of all righteousness through it. But into this 'mystery of
piety' we may only look afar off - simply remarking, that it almost needed for us also
these thirty years of Human Life, that the overpowering thought of His Divinity might not
overshadow that of His Humanity. But if He was subject to such conditions, they must, in
the nature of things, have affected His development. It is therefore not presumption when,
without breaking the silence of Holy Scripture, we follow the various stages of the
Nazareth life, as each is, so to speak, initialled by the brief but emphatic summaries of the
third Gospel.
In regard to the Child-Life,44 we read: 'And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,45
being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.'46 This marks, so to
speak, the lowest rung in the ladder. Having entered upon life as the Divine Infant, He
began it as the Human Child, subject to all its conditions, yet perfect in them.
44. Gelpke, Jugendgesch, des Herrn, has, at least in our days, little value beyond its title.
45. The words 'in spirit' are of doubtful authorit y. But their omission can be of no
consequence, since the 'waxing strong' evidently refers to the mental development, as the
subsequent clause shows.
46. St. Luke ii. 40.