Pruning the Thorns

Rebbi Elazar's post in the Roman administration troubled the sages. His teacher, Rebbi Yehudah ben Karcha, rebuked him: "Vinegar, the son of wine. How long will you continue to hand over the people of our God to be killed?"

Rebbi Elazar answered, "I am pruning the thorns from the vineyard." Rebbi Yehoshua ben Karcha replied, "Let the master of the vineyard come to prune His thorns."