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 The Teaching of Jesus 207 EARLY IDEAL PORTRAIT, IN GILDED GLASS, OF JESUS CHRIST, IN WHICH THE TRADITION.J^L BEARD IS NOT SHOWN people and to niiniinize the righteousness of other creeds and other raees. In the parable of the labourers he thrust aside the obstinate claim of the Jews to have a special claim upon God. All whom God takes into the kingdom, he taught, God serves alike ; there is no dis- tinction in his treatment, because there is no measure to his bounty. From all, moreover, as the parable of the buried talent witnesses, and as the incident of the widow's mite enforces, he demands the utmost. There are no privileges, no rebates and no excuses in the Kingdom of Heaven. But it is not only the intense tribal patriotism of the Jews that Jesus outraged. They were a people of intense family loyalty, and he would have swept away all the narrow and restrictive family affections in the great flood of the love of God. The whole kingdom of Heaven was to be the family of his followers. Wc are told that,, " 'VTiile he yet talked to the people, l)ehold, his mother and his- brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him. Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without^ desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Wlro is nTS' mother ? and who are my brethren ? And