Homilies on the Gospel of John

“The servant abides not in the house, but the Son abides forever.”

Gently too from this He casts down the things of the Law, alluding to former times. For that they may not run back to them and say, “We have the sacrifices which Moses commanded, they are able to deliver us,” He adds these words, since otherwise what connection would the saying have? For “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace”, even the priests themselves. Wherefore Paul also says of the priest, that “he ought as for the people so also for himself to offer for sins, for that he also is compassed about with infirmity.” And this is signified by His saying, “The servant abides not in the house.” Here also He shows His equal honor with the Father, and the difference between slave and free. For the parable has this meaning, that is, “the servant has no power,” this is the meaning of “abides not.”

2. But why when speaking of sins does He mention a “house”? It is to show that as a master has power over his house, so He over all. And the, “abides not,” is this,“has not power to grant favors, as not being master of the house”; but the Son is master of the house. For this is the, “abides forever,” by a metaphor drawn from human things. That they may not say, “who are you?” “All is Mine, (He says,) for I am the Son, and dwell in My Father's house,” calling by the name of “house” His power. As in another place He calls the Kingdom His Father's house, “In My Father's house are many mansions.” For since the discourse was of freedom and bondage, He with reason used this metaphor, telling them that they had no power to set free.