Another remarkable parable spoken by Jesus at this time was that of the labourers in the vineyard. This parable taught two lessons; first it showed to the Jews as a nation, that though they might be said to have been labourers, from the time that they were first chosen by God, they ought not to be envious and angry, because the Gentiles were now, at the eleventh hour, called also to be the servants of God. The Jews in general could not bear the idea of any other people sharing with them, privileges, which they considered to belong to themselves alone; and many of Christ's discourses and parables were meant to correct this wrong feeling. The second lesson taught by this parable comes home to every individual; and shows, that though those are most blessed who from their childhood have truly served God, or, as it is called, "worked in the vineyard," still, _all_ who, at any age, so truly repent as to go and work, obeying the Word of God in everything, will be graciously received by the Lord of the vineyard; and must not therefore be despised by their fellow labourers, who were called at an earlier age. Jesus next received a message from Martha and Mary, the sisters of His friend Lazarus, saying, "Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick." When, after a delay of two days, Jesus "saith to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again"; they reminded Him that the Jews had of late sought to kill Him, and that He had better not go back. But Jesus told them, that as long as it was day, that is, His time for working, He was safe anywhere. He explained to them that Lazarus was now dead, and that He was going to wake him out of the sleep of death. The faith of the disciples seems to have been weak, but their love was strong, for all agreed in Thomas's proposal, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." "And as they went on their way, Jesus took again the twelve disciples apart, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him"; speaking plainly of being betrayed, delivered unto the Chief Priests, mocked, spitefully entreated, spitted on, scourged, and put to death by the Gentiles, and rising again the third day. But "they understood none of these things": so little idea had they of the literal meaning of our Lord's words, that at this very time, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came with their mother, to beg that they might sit, one on His right hand and the other on His left hand, in His kingdom.