I blogged on Luke 9.23 the other day. Reading 2 Clement at lunch today, I came across 2 Clement 6, which is essentially a short meditation on Luke 9.25 (but this is part of the homilist's larger task, of course). Again, the edition is that of Ehrman*:

1. But the Lord says, “No household servant can serve as the slave of two masters.” (Lu 16.13; Mt 6.24) If we wish to serve as slaves of both God and wealth, it is of no gain to us.
2. “For what is the advantage of acquiring the whole world while forfeiting your life?” (Mt 16.26; Mk 8.36; Lu 9.25)
3. But this age and the age to come are two enemies.
4. This one preaches adultery, depravity, avarice, and deceit, but that one renounces these things.
5. We cannot, therefore, be friends of both. We must renounce this world to obtain that one.
6. We think it better to despise the things that are here, since they are brief, short-lived, and perishable, and to love those other things, which are good and imperishable.
7. For by doing the will of Christ we will find a place of rest; on the other hand, nothing will deliver us from eternal punishment if we disobey his commandments.
8. And the Scripture also says in Ezekiel, “Even if Noah, Job, and Daniel should arise, they will not deliver their children from captivity.” (Ezk 14.14ff)
9. But if even such upright men as these cannot deliver their children through acts of righteousness, with what confidence can we enter inot the kingdom of God if we do not keep our baptism pure and undefiled? Or who will serve as our advocate, if we are not found doing what is holy and upright?

The above references Luke 9.25, which is right after the section I blogged on earlier. So, after imploring the crowd to take up their crosses daily and follow Jesus, Jesus notes that if you do follow him, you can't follow anyone else. The author of 2 Clement (er, uh ... “A Homily to the Corinthians”) expands on that thought (vv. 5-7 above). Another practical reminder of how we, as Christians, should be living our lives in submission to our only Master, Jesus Christ.

* Ehrman, Bart. The Apostolic Fathers, Vol. I. Loeb Classical Library vol. 24. Harvard University Press: Cambridge. 2003. (2Cl 6.1-9).