Verse 16. — 'I called my servant, and he did not answer.' 50. Christ despised by His own servant, namely the Jewish people. — For what was the Jewish people but a servant, who obeyed the Lord not with the love of a son, but with servile fear? Against which it is said to us through Paul: 'You have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but the spirit of the adoption of sons, whereby we cry, Abba, Father' (Rom. 8:15). This servant, therefore, the Lord called, because, by the gifts He bestowed, He strove as it were with uttered words to draw him to Himself. But he did not answer, because he despised to render works worthy of His gifts.
For God calls us when He goes before us with gifts, and we answer His call when we serve worthily according to the gifts received. Because, therefore, He went before the Jewish people with so many gifts, let Him say: 'I called my servant.' But because, even after so many gifts, that people despised Him, let Him subjoin: 'And he did not answer.' There follows: