The Shepherd of Hermas

I besought him much to explain to me the[*](The application of the parable as to the servant) parable of the field and the master and the vineyard and the servant who fenced the vineyard, and the fences, and the weeds which were pulled up from the vineyard, and the son, and the friends the counsellors.

He answered and said to me: You are very importunate with asking. You ought not, he said, to ask at all, for if it be necessary for it to be explained to you it will be explained. I said to him: Sir, whatever you show me and do not explain I shall have seen in vain, and not understand what it is. So likewise it you speak parables to me and do not interpret them to me, I shall have heard something from you in vain.

He answered and said to me again: Whoever, said he, is God’s servant, and has his Lord in his heart, seeks understanding from him and receives it, and he interprets every parable, and the sayings of the Lord which were spoken through parables are made known to him. But as many as are weak and idle in prayer, those hesitate to ask from the Lord.

But the Lord is very merciful and gives unceasingly to all who ask from him. But you, since you have been given power by the Holy Angel, and received from him such intercession and are not idle, wherefore do you not seek understanding from the Lord and receive it from him?

I said to him: Sir, when I have you with me I needs must ask you and enquire of you, for you show me all things and talk with me, but if I had seen or heard them without you, I should have asked the Lord that it might be explained to me.

I told you, said he, just now, that you[*](The further application) are obstinate and importunate in asking for the, explanations of the parable. But since you are so persistent I will explain to you the parable of the field and all the other consequences of it, that you may make them known to everyone. Listen, now, he said, and understand it.

The field is this world, and the Lord of the field is He who created everything, and perfected it and gave it strength. And the servant is the Son of God,[*](With the text given it must be noted that the Son in the parable (Sim. v. ii. 6.) remains unexplained.) and the vines are this people which he planted.

And the fences are the holy Angels of the Lord who support his people. And the weeds which are pulled up out of the vineyard are iniquities of the servants of God. And the food which he sent to him from the supper is the commandments which he gave to his people through his Son, and the friends and counsellors are the holy Angels who were first created. And the absence of the Master[*](The absence of the Master is not mentioned in the text of the parable; but see the critical note on Sim. v. 2, 2.) is the time which remains before his coming.

I said to him: Sir, all is great and wonderful and all is glorious. How then, said I, could I understand it? Nor is there any other man, however understanding he may be, who can understand it. Moreover, sir, said I, explain to me what I am going to ask you.