Christ in Art. Ernest Renan
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Others were the thoughts of more modern sages, especially of Antigonus of Soco, Jesus, the son of Sirach, and Hillel, which were known to him, not through learned studies, but as proverbs often repeated. The synagogues were rich in maxims very happily expressed and formed a sort of current proverb literature. Jesus adopted nearly all this oral instruction, infusing into it a higher meaning. Increasing ordinarily upon the duties declared by the Law and the elders, he demanded perfection. All the virtues of humility, of forgiveness, of charity, of abnegation, of severity to self, virtues that are rightly named Christian, if by that is meant that they were really preached by Christ, were in seeds of these first teachings. For justice, he contented himself with repeating the well known axiom, “Do not to others that which ye would not that they should do unto you.” But this ancient wisdom, which was still somewhat selfish, was not enough for him. He went far beyond:
“Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”
“If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee.”
“Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you, pray for them that persecute you.”
“Judge not that ye be not judged. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven. Be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful. It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“Whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Rogier van der Weyden, The Adoration of the Magi, central panel, c. 1455.
Oil on oak panel, 138 × 153 cm.
Alte Pinakothek, Munich.
Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi, 1423.
Tempera on wood panel, 303 × 282 cm.
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.
Lorenzo Monaco, Adoration of the Magi, 1421–1422.
Tempera on panel, 115 × 170 cm.
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.
Concerning alms, pity, good works, gentleness, the desire of peace, complete disinterestedness of heart, he had little to add to the doctrines of the synagogue. But he gave to them an accent full of unction, which made new aphorisms uttered long before. Morality is not composed of principles more or less expressed. The poetry of the precept, which makes it lovely, is more than the precept itself, taken as an abstract truth. Now, it cannot be denied that the proverbs borrowed by Jesus from his predecessors, produced, in the gospel, an effect totally different from that in the ancient Law. It is not the ancient Law, it is not the Talmud, which has conquered and changed the world. Little original in itself, if by that is meant that it can be recomposed almost entirely with more ancient maxims, the evangelical morality remains none the less the highest creation which has emanated from the human conscience, the most beautiful code of perfect life that any moralist has traced.
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