The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 134
The Figs, Fountain, and Apple Parables Explained
'They that bear good figs are the true teachers who preach good doctrine, but the world, which taketh pleasure in lies, seeketh from the teachers leaves of fine words and flattery. The which seeing, Satan joineth himself with the flesh and the sense, and bringeth a large supply of leaves; that is, a quantity of earthly things, in which he covereth up sin; the which receiving, man becometh sick and ready for eternal death.'
'The citizen who hath the water and giveth his water to others to wash off their uncleanness, but suffereth his own garments to become putrefied, is the teacher who to others preacheth penitence and himself abideth still in sin.'
'O wretched man, because not the angels but his own tongue writeth upon the air the punishment that is fitting for him!'
'If one had the tongue of an elephant, and the rest of his body were as small as an ant, would not this thing be monstrous? Yea, of a surety. Now I say unto you, verily, that he is more monstrous who preacheth penitence to others, but himself repenteth not of his sins.'
'Those two men that sell apples are—the one, he who preacheth for love of God, wherefore he flattereth none, but preacheth in truth, seeking only a poor man\'s livelihood. As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, such a man is not received by the world, but rather despised. But he who selleth the peel for its weight in gold, and giveth the apple away, he it is who preacheth to please men: and, so flattering the world, he ruineth the soul that followeth his flattery. Ah! how many have perished for this cause!'
Then answered he who writeth and said: 'How should one listen to the word of God; and how should one know him that preacheth for love of God?'
Jesus answered: 'He that preacheth should be listened to as though God were speaking, when he preacheth good doctrine; because God is speaking through his mouth. But he that reproveth not sins, having respect of persons, flattering particular men, should be avoided as an horrible serpent, for in truth he poisoneth the human heart.'
'Understand ye? Verily I say unto you, even as a wounded man hath no need of fine bandages to bind up his wounds, but rather of a good ointment, so also hath a sinner no need of fine words, but rather of good reproofs, in order that he may cease to sin.'
'Those who bear good figs are the true teachers who preach sound doctrine. But the world, which takes pleasure in lies, seeks from its teachers the leaves of elegant words and flattery. Seeing this, Satan joins himself to the flesh and the sense and supplies an abundance of leaves—that is, earthly things—with which he covers sin. By accepting them, a person becomes sick and ready for eternal death.'
'The citizen who possesses water and gives it to others to wash away their uncleanness, yet allows his own clothes to rot, is the teacher who preaches repentance to others while remaining in sin himself.'
'O wretched man! Not angels, but his own tongue writes upon the air the punishment fitting for him.'
'If someone had an elephant's tongue while the rest of his body was as small as an ant, would he not be monstrous? Certainly he would. Truly I tell you that a person is still more monstrous if he preaches repentance to others but does not repent of his own sins.'
'The two men who sell apples are these: the first is the one who preaches for love of God. He flatters no one but preaches truthfully, seeking only the modest livelihood of a poor man. As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands, such a man is not accepted by the world but is despised. The other, who sells the peel for its weight in gold while giving away the apple, is the person who preaches to please people. By flattering the world, he destroys the soul that follows his flattery. Ah, how many have perished for this reason!'
Then the writer answered: 'How should one listen to God's word, and how can one recognize a person who preaches out of love for God?'
Jesus answered: 'A preacher should be heard as though God himself were speaking when he preaches sound doctrine, because God speaks through his mouth. But anyone who fails to rebuke sins, shows partiality, and flatters particular people should be avoided like a dreadful serpent, for he truly poisons the human heart.'
'Do you understand? Truly I tell you, just as a wounded person does not need elegant bandages for his wounds but good ointment, a sinner does not need elegant words but sound rebukes, so that he may cease to sin.'
'They that bear good figs are the true teachers who preach good doctrine, but the world, which taketh pleasure in lies, seeketh from the teachers leaves of fine words and flattery. The which seeing, Satan joineth himself with the flesh and the sense, and bringeth a large supply of leaves; that is, a quantity of earthly things, in which he covereth up sin; the which receiving, man becometh sick and ready for eternal death.'
'The citizen who hath the water and giveth his water to others to wash off their uncleanness, but suffereth his own garments to become putrefied, is the teacher who to others preacheth penitence and himself abideth still in sin.'
'O wretched man, because not the angels but his own tongue writeth upon the air the punishment that is fitting for him!'
'If one had the tongue of an elephant, and the rest of his body were as small as an ant, would not this thing be monstrous? Yea, of a surety. Now I say unto you, verily, that he is more monstrous who preacheth penitence to others, but himself repenteth not of his sins.'
'Those two men that sell apples are—the one, he who preacheth for love of God, wherefore he flattereth none, but preacheth in truth, seeking only a poor man\'s livelihood. As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, such a man is not received by the world, but rather despised. But he who selleth the peel for its weight in gold, and giveth the apple away, he it is who preacheth to please men: and, so flattering the world, he ruineth the soul that followeth his flattery. Ah! how many have perished for this cause!'
Then answered he who writeth and said: 'How should one listen to the word of God; and how should one know him that preacheth for love of God?'
Jesus answered: 'He that preacheth should be listened to as though God were speaking, when he preacheth good doctrine; because God is speaking through his mouth. But he that reproveth not sins, having respect of persons, flattering particular men, should be avoided as an horrible serpent, for in truth he poisoneth the human heart.'
'Understand ye? Verily I say unto you, even as a wounded man hath no need of fine bandages to bind up his wounds, but rather of a good ointment, so also hath a sinner no need of fine words, but rather of good reproofs, in order that he may cease to sin.'