FR.

TADROS EL-MASRY
One of Many Interpretations and Meditations of our Forefathers

Interpretation of The Gospel According to St. Luke

By Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
The Church of St. George the Martyr
At Sporting, Alexandria
The Gospel of St. Luke
St Luke the Herald of the Good News

Introduction
 The word “Luke” is probably an abbreviation of the Latin word “Lucanus” or “Lucuis”,
which means ‘the carrier of the light’ or ‘the enlightened’. Yet we have to differentiate
between the evangelist St. Luke and, and Lucuis who was mentioned in Acts 31: 1, also
Lucuis mentioned in Rom 6: 21.
 He is the only one among the writers for the New Testament who was not a Jew, but a
Gentile. He was probably forum Antioch in Syria. He accepted the Christian faith
unhesitatingly without becoming a Jew. The scribes explain the saying that St. Paul the
apostle when mentioning him in the epistle to the Colossians (4: 14), he did not include St
Luke among those who were circumcised (4: 10, 11) such as Aristreches and Mark, Barabes’
nephew, and Jesus called Justus.
 Some think he is one of the seventy apostles, and also one of the two disciples to whom Jesus
appeared after His resurrection on their way to Amos (Luke 24: 12), and that the apostle has
not mentioned his name due to the spirit of humility. The majority, those of modern studies,
think that he was not one of the apostles, but that he rather accepted the faith at the hands of
St. Paul the apostle. They pointed primarily to the fact of the lack of historical evidence, and
secondly because this idea seems to contradict the gospel introduction. For, the writer says
about the matters concerning the Lord Jesus (Luke 1: 2). Even as they delivered them unto
us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word”. It is as if the
writer has not seen the Lord Jesus, but has rather recorded what he has been handed over
through the copying of the records in great accuracy, and has confirmed it by those who have
witnessed it themselves. Maybe it was for this reason that one of those who studied these
comments on the gospel with the words ‘it is the outcome of the collective faith, based on the
copying of, and not an individual work..’
 St. Luke was a physician (Col 4: 14) and a painter. It is mentioned in the copying tradition
that he has painted the icon of the Virgin St. Mary.
 St. Luke was attached to St. Paul, the apostle for the Gentiles. In Acts of the Apostles, they
set out together forum Troas to Samothracia and the next day to Neapolis, and from there to
Philippi (Acts 16: 10-39, the second preaching trip). at another time, on the journey of St.
Paul the apostle, the third one of the preaching, on the way back he was followed by the
evangelist St. Luke from Philippi to Jerusalem (Acts 20: 5; 21: 18). Moreover, the escorted
St. Paul in Rome, when imprisoned (Acts 28: 30). In his last moments, St. Luke was with St.
Paul, for the latter says in his farewell epistle (2Tim 4: 11) “Only Luke is with me”.
 In this way they were both bonded together, the evangelist St. Luke recorded to us a great
deal about God’s preaching work through St. Paul the apostle in Acts of the Apostles. He was
called by St. Paul the apostle (Col 4: 14) “Luke, the beloved physician”, and in Philippians
he called St. Luke, the one who worked with him.
 It is said he lived a virgin, and that he worked in Achacia in Greece. He was martyred at the
age of eighty four, and that the emperor Constantinos II transferred his remains to
Constantinople in the year 357 AD. In the year 1177 AD they were transferred to Padua in
Italy.

The traveling attributions to St. Luke

1. the church record in the first centuries certified clearly that the writer is St. Luke the
herald, the writer of the Book of Acts, and that he was the apostle’s escort. It is also clear,
from the writings of the forefathers Justin the martyr, Irianus, Oreganus, and Tertullian,
that the same evidence exists.
2. In addition to these outer evidences, the book itself carries evidence that its writer is our
teach St. Luke. Among these evidences is the fact that the book is addressed to
Theophilus, the one and same person to whom Acts of the Apostles was addressed.
Added to this, is the introduction in the Acts of the Apostles, which came to complete the
conclusion of St. Luke’s gospel, since the writer is the one and the same. The two books
are similar in linguistics, style in writing and thoughts. Furthermore, the accurate
expressions he used in describing the diseases the Lord Jesus cured, point to the fact that
the writer was a physician. As a physician who held respect to the medical profession, he
did not say what St. Mark the apostle mentioned about the woman who had the bleeding
infinitely (Mark 5: 26) “And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent
all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse”. He rather thought it is
enough to say (Luke 8: 43) “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which
had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any”.

The Time for his writing

There is no sure tradition regarding the time of this writing or its site. St. Irianus thinks it was
written before the martyrdom of St. Paul, whereas St. Jerome think it was write after the
martyrdom of St. Paul the apostle, based on the historian Yousspios El Kaisarry’s words.
Since the gospel was written before the book of Acts, and the book of Acts was written before
the martyrdom of St. Paul the apostle, and no mention was made of the event, therefore many of
the students believe that it was written between the year 63 and 67 AD. It was probably written
in Rome, though some others believe it was written in Achacia or in Alexandria.

Its Aim
Our teacher St. Matthew the herald, being Jew, he wrote to the Jews to declare Jesus is the
Messiah the King . It was He whose coming long waited for by the fathers and the prophets, so
they have a share in the eternal spiritual kingdom. St. Mark wrote to the Romans to declare
Christ is the servant working not through the spirit of temporary authority, loftiness, and
violence, but rather through the spirit of sacrifice. He would save by means of his deeds of love,
and not by means of armies and temporary powers. As for our teacher St. Luke the herald, as a
Gentile educated physician, he wished to serve those of the Hellenistic concepts, and thus he
wrote to the Greeks about the Lord Jesus as being ‘a friend to the entire humanity! He presented
His divine deeds for salvation to fulfill what the Greek philosophy and human wisdom were
unable to fulfill. This is why this gospel is called ‘the gospel of God’s friendship’ or ‘the gospel
of Jesus the Savoir!’ it was furthermore called ‘the universal gospel’ since it represents an
invitation to the entire humanity to accept the call of the heavenly friend, and react with His deed
for salvation through love.
This aim we shall see most clearly in our discussion of the traits of this book.
St. Luke wrote this gospel to his dear friend Theophilus (Luke 1: 3). The title ‘dear’ is an
honorable one. This is why the majority of people think he is of honorable peers, of an
Antiochan origin, such as St. Luke the herald himself. He therefore wrote to him since he was a
Gentile like himself. He is not alone to benefit of it, but as the scholar Oregandes says, for the
triumphant ones of the Gentiles in general to benefit of it as well.
Some have thought that this Luke was a slave to his master the Gentile Theophilus, and since he,
as a physician, cured him, he rewarded him by being released from bondage. Hence, the
physician Luke sent him this gospel as a sign of his gratitude and appreciation. Others said the
word ‘Theophilus’ which means ‘God’s lover’, is only a covered name, for one of the dignitaries
in Alexandria. But this was not revealed by the evangelist, so that he would not be subjected to
hardships due to his Christianity. At any rate, this book is addressed to the Gentiles in general to
be blessed with the heavenly Friend, as a savior other the soul.

Its trait
1. Because the evangelist presented to us, this Lord Jesus being ‘the savior, the Friend to
humanity’, this is why he spoke so many times of ‘the Son of Man’, who came to us,
embodying our humanity so as to grant us the partnership of his divine nature. If the
Greek philosophy has offered mere concept, yet these cannot dwell in the heart and
change its depths. But as for the Son of Man, He came as a friend to man, to be accepted
inwardly, and by means of this unique friendship, he would be granted tremendous
abilities working in his depths, and are reflected on his behavior.
By calling the Lord ‘the Son of Man’, this pulls down our feeling of estrangement to
God, or His estrangement to us, for He has come down to us, to escort us on our way.
2. the most important quality of this gospel, may be that it presents ‘the Savior, the Friend’
to the entire humanity, for it is a gospel to the universe. It is a call to everyone, and not
only to the Jews. This is why we notice the following:
a. Due to the fact that the Jews looked upon themselves a righteous people, and all
the other nations as sinners, the evangelist declares the Lord Jesus as ‘the Friend
to sinners’. He was the only one to say the Son of Man has come (Luke 19: 10)
“to seek and to save that which was lost”. Moreover, he has presented to us a big
number of the Lord’s sayings and His parables, showing the friendship of the
Lord Jesus, and His companion on sinners, such as the particular parable of long-
suffering on the old barren fig-tree (Luke 13: 6-9). Also, the parable of the lost
sheep and the missing coin, and the prodigal son (Luke15). He moreover told us
of the sinful woman (Luke 7: 36-50), and the repentance of Zacchaeus the tax-
collector (Luke 19: 1-10), as well as the promise to the repentant thief on the cross
(Luke 23: 40-43)…etc.
b. He quoted the expressions and events that open the doors of hope to the Gentiles,
such as Isaiah the prophet who said “every being will see the Lord’s salvation”.
Also Elijah the prophet’s message to Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that
 was a widow (Luke 4: 25), and (Luke 4: 27) “And many lepers were in Israel in
the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman
the Syrian”.
c. He mentioned the dispatch of the seventy apostles. If the twelve disciples
represent the call to the Jews (the twelve tribes), than the number 70 point to the
fullness of the Gentiles.
d. In the genealogy of the Lord Jesus, he did not begin with Abraham, but rather
with Adam, the father of all mankind (Luke 3: 28).
3. because it is the book of the divine friendship towards man, then this friendship is
furthermore offered to the children and women as well. He sanctified childhood, and
uplifted the position of woman, and her positive role. He also paid special concern to the
poor, the needy, those exited and in bondage.
From the aspect of children, he was the only one to mention the birth of John the Baptist
and his childhood. Moreover, he was the only one to mention in detail the annunciation
of the Virgin with the birth of the Baby Jesus, and the embryo’s joy in Elizabeth’s womb
when the Saint Mary came in saluting Elizabeth. Also the circumcision of the Baby Jesus,
as well as going into the temple with St. Mary on the fortieth day, and His going to the
temple He was only twlve years of age…etc. all for these events were mentioned in
details.
Forum the aspect of woman, some scholars noticed that St. Luke the evangelist, since he
presented the catholic universal gospel, he has given special attention to woman more
than the other evangelists. In the Hellenic world, it seemed that a woman’s status socially
and according to the law, was ahead than that of the Jews at that time. This is why the
evangelist wished to prove the gospel message was unrestricted by the Jewish tradition.
The evangelist was the only one to mention the widow, Hennah, who worshiped in the
temple (Luke 2: 36). He also recorded to us Martha’s service, and her sister Mary’s
sitting at the savior’s feet listening to His words. The evangelist was concerned about the
poor, the needy and those in exile. Therefore, the good news ever sent to a poor girl in
Nazareth, and the angel even concerned with the simple modest shepherds. The Lord
also spoke of the rich man and the poor and the sick. He also said the parable of the Good
Samaritan, the parable of the tax-collector, the story of the prostitute in the house of
Simon the Pharisee, the parable of the prodigal son, the story of Mary Magdalene, and the
acceptance of the repented thief on the cross…etc.
One of the scholars says: “He showed concern about the minorities, and the forgotten,
rejected people such as the Samaritans, the lepers, the tax-collectors, the soldiers, and the
sinners in general who are in humiliation. He also mentioned the Gentile shepherds and
the poor – all of whom find encouragement in this gospel”.
4. Some, such as Leon-Dufour, think that the expression ‘the social gospel’ could be said
about the gospel of our teacher St. Luke the evangelist, in rather a restrictive sense. This
is due to the fact that he has mentioned a great deal the obligation of giving to the poor
(Luke 3: 10; 14: 12-14). He declared the penalty for those who do not share in supplying
their needs (Luke 16: 25). He moreover pointed clearly not to inflict injustice or hetrayal.
It is difficult to speak of a gospel as a social one or a spiritual one, because the life of
faith is a unified entity, an inseparable one. if the spiritual work is presented, then the
social aspect is not to be disregarded. Also, the opposite case, if the social work is
presented, it is of a spiritual actuality. What the evangelist has pointed out regarding the
 concern about the poor, the needy, those suffering, those wronged – all of these are a
normal outcome of our tasting the Lord Jesus’ friendship to us. He is the Friend
concerned about us all, particularly those in spiritual need, materialistic need, social or
physiological need. It is appropriate for us, being His friends, to repay His love with our
own, and to carry His qualities in us. for what he offers us, obliges us to offer in return, in
some way or another to our brethren.
5. as a Friend of us, He does not only offer us the salvation on the cross, but He also
through this love that enters our daily life, we see Him showing even our having supper
in the house of Simon the Pharisee, accepting the banquet of Zacchaeus the tax-collector,
and responding to the invitation of the Amos disciples and their welcome to Him.
As a Friend, He does not ask for violence or for fanaticism. We therefore see him
rebuking John for asking that fire descends to consume the Samaritan people (Luke 9:
54). He moreover rebuked the disciples saying: “he that is not against us is for us” (Luke
9: 50). It is the ‘gospel of mercy’ or ‘the gospel of the great forgiveness’.
As a Friend of ours, He is eager that we accept His friendship, and respond to His love.
This is why he often urges us to accept his friendship by drawing comparisons such as:
a. Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman: the former has offered his house and
the banquet but not whole-heartily; whereas the woman, despite her ?? sins, yet
by means of her love she knew how to be blessed with friendship and forgiveness.
b. The Pharisee and the tax-collector: the former went into the temple, having
Mosaic deeds that he cherishes, yet in his pride he was unable to befriend the
Lord; whereas the tax-collector was able to, though in the last row, to enter the
heart of the greatest Friend by means of his modesty and humility.
c. The Good Samaritan, the Levite and the priest: the former was able to enter this
friendship and react to it, by means of his open hearted love to mankind; whereas
the server of religion lost this friendship through their unloving and tight hearts.
d. The prodigal son and the older one: the former obtained the blessing, and enjoyed
the friendship by means of his repentance and his return; whereas the elder son
lost his relation with the father due to his pride.
e. The repentant thief and the thief that perished: the former usurped the kingdom of
heaven at the last moments.
f. The Beatitudes and the Woes.
g. Though the Greek thinking prevailed over the world at that time, yet it did not
offer humanity truthful people of true joy. Men lived asking each day for a new
philosophy or concept unheard of before. This is why the evangelist wrote this
book to announce that Christ is the Friend to all mankind, and that it is He who
grants the inward joy and piece. The book includes a big number of praising
hymns the church cherishes and uses in her worship and liturgies, such as the
angelic hymn of the birth (Luke 2: 14), as well as Zacharias’ hymns of praise
(Luke 1: 46-55), and the hymn of the elderly Simon (Luke 2: 29-32).
The coming of the Friend, the Savior, crested an atmosphere of joy. The book opens with
the angels’ words to Zacharias about the forerunner to this Savior Friend, saying (Like 1:
14): “And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth”. He also
narrates how His birth has overjoyed so many (Luke 1: 58). But as for the Lord’s Birth,
this was accomplished by the opening of the heaven on earth, for it to be proclaimed
(Luke 2: 10): “for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
 people”. When the seventy apostles returned after their preaching (Luke 10: 17): “And
the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us
through thy name”, it was then said (Luke 10: 21): “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit,
and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it
seemed good in thy sight”. It was as if the preaching of the this unequaled Friend has
brought joy to the Savior’s heart Himself for the sake of the meek, which is of pleasure to
the Father. He even declared there would be even in heavens at the repentance of one
sinner (Luke 15: 7, 10, 32).
It is an inward joy that fills the heart of the repentant sinner when he find every
satisfaction in his friend, for it was said of Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 6) “And he made haste,
and came down, and received him joyfully”. He was also joyful for the whole people, for
it was said (Luke 13: 7): “and all the people rejoiced for all the great works He did”. It
was also said of His entering into Jerusalem (Luke 19: 37): “the whole multitude of the
disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that
they had seen”.
The book concludes the ending with the joy of the Friend risen from the dead, and
ascending to the heavens. It is said of the disciples when their amazing Friend appeared
to them (Luke 24: 41): “And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered…”. Also,
after His ascension straightaway (Luke 24: 57): “…and they worshipped him, and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy”.
In this way, the Lord Jesus came to fulfill the Father’s pleasure and that he rejoices in the
humanity saved by His blood, and the heavens rejoice with Him. This is just like His
filling His apostles and His disciples with joy, and His pouring on the Church with His
gladness, as well on the repentant sinners.
To differentiate between this joy and the temporary joy of the world, He gives us the
parable of the foolish rich man who said to himself (Luke 12: 19): “Soul, thou hast much
goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry”. But he could not
rejoice, for he heard the godly voice saying (Luke 12: 20): “Thou fool, this night thy soul
shall be required of thee”.
All of this, made some call it ‘the gospel of the Mosaic joy’.
6. Because the Lord Jesus came as a friend to us, He gave us Himslef as an example, He
appeared praying on many occasions, as on His baptism (Luke 3: 21), and after cleansing
the leper, and before calling the twelve disciples (Luke 6: 12), also at the transfiguration
(Luke 9: 28). Moreover, He prayed on the cross for those who crucified Him, and at the
last moments of His life on earth. He wished to declare that ‘prayer’ is a mystery in our
relationship with God and in our friendship with Him. The Lord when praying also
means He carries us in Him, and through Him we are connected to the Father.
In this gospel, the Lord speaks to us of prayer more than in the other gospels. In it is
mentioned the Lord’s Prayer, and the He stressed the importance of constant and
persistent prayer. He gave us the parable of the friend who was in need of three loaves of
bread, and how he went to his friend asking in persistence. Also, He gave us the parable
of the unjust judge who heard the widow’s pleadings and answered her.
7. Some think the gospels in general, and St. Luke’s gospel in particular, did not aim at
merely speaking of the life of the Lord Jesus, or His history, as much as it aimed at
presenting the Church in which the Lord lived, working for its sake. It actually speaks of
 Christ’s church as he was tasted by her, by encompassing Him and being firm in Him. St.
Luke in his gospel, shows by means of the Holy Spirit inspiration, the Church life when
He was present physically on earth; whereas in the book of Acts St. Luke presents the life
of the Church with her Groom when He is there on the right hand of the Father after He
has ascended, and how he granted the Church his Holy Spirit.
He is the active Friend, working unceasingly. He worked when He was here in the body,
and He is still working after His ascension until He meets the Church on the clouds.
In the first church there prevailed the feeling that the coming of the Lord Jesus drew very
near, and that it would be fulfilled in the apostolic age. This issue was tackled by St. Paul
the apostle in his second epistle to the people of Thessalonica. He confirmed that the
Lord would not be manifested until after the appearance of the man of sin, and the
rebounding act is fulfilled. Our teacher St. Luke followed the same tread, declaring in this
book, as well as in the book of Acts, that the Lord’s death, His resurrection, and His
glorious ascension, these do not mean that His second coming would be instantly. Neither
will it be straight after the desolation of Jerusalem; for some have misunderstood the
words of St. Mark the evangelist (Mark 14: 62; 9: 1). St. Mark has declared the Messiah’s
kingdom is on actual fact that is fulfilled here, at the church first; and that it is fulfilled in
the heart. Every day there are those who are saved, who come to join the church. It is as if
the Lord’s coming is fulfilled first by His dwelling in the hearts of the elect, and when
His work is completed here on earth, He comes on the clouds.
8. Some scholars believe that St. Luke’s gospel came identical to the first six books of the
Old Testament, in the following way:
a. The new book of Genesis describes the birth of the Lord Jesus and his childhood
by means of which the new creation is fulfilled, with the appearance of the second
Adam, humanity has been released to the new world.
b. The new exodus has been fulfilled by the tribulation of the Lord Jesus in the
wilderness for forty days, where He overcame on our account. This is an opposite
situation to the maze that the people of the Israel faced for forty years after their
departure, and their perpetual fall into complaints and grumbling.
c. The book of the new Leviticus is the establishing of the twelve disciples, and
presenting the sermon which concerns their ordainment, as another book of
Leviticus (St. Luke 6: 20…etc.)
d. The book of the new Numbers is the mission of the seventy apostles.
e. The special part in the book of Deuteronomy represents the major part of the
gospel, since it comprises many sections of the Lord’s teachings, particularly in
Luke 9: 51, 18: 14.
f. The book of Joshua that was presented by our teacher St. Luke is the story of the
Lord’s suffering and His resurrection. Therefore, the acceptance of Rahab the
prostitute is faced by Zacchaeus the tax-collector (Luke 19: 1, 2).
9. The evangelist St. Luke showed clearly the role of the Holy Spirit. the angel declared that
John the Baptist was full of the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb (Luke 1: 15), he also
showed clearly the work of the Holy Spirit in the divine incarnation (Luke 1: 35), as well
as his work in the words of prophecy (Luke 1: 67; 2: 25-27), also in the baptism (Luke 3:
22). In this way the work of the Lord Jesus is linked to the work of His Holy Spirit (Luke
4: 1, 14, 18; 10: 21; 11: 13, 10, 12).
 10. This book has been called the gospel of coverage; it contains a great number of stories
that have not been mentioned in the other gospels, as well as so many parables. He is
supported in this due to his good relation with St. Mary.
He is singled out in mentioning the following miracles: the catching of the fish (Luke 5:
4-11), raising the widows son of Nain (Luke 7: 11), the woman who had an infirm spirit
(Luke 13: 11-17), the leperous man (Luke 14: 1-6), the ten lepers (Luke 17: 11-19), and
the healing of Malachi’s ear (Luke 22: 50, 51).
He is also singled out in mentioning the following parables: the two debtors (Luke 7: 41-
43), the Good Samaritan (Luke 14: 25-37), the persistent friend (Luke 11: 5-8), the
foolish rich man (Luke 12: 12-16), the barren fig tree (Luke 13: 6-9), the lost piece of
silver (Luke 15: 8-10), the prodigal son (Luke15: 11-30), the unfaithful steward (Luke
16: 1-13), the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31), the Pharisee and the tax collector
(Luke 18: 10-14).
He was also the only one to mention certain incidents, such as John the Baptist’s an to the
people, Jews crying overview Jerusalem, the topic of his speech with Moses and Elijah at
the transfiguration, the sweat that dropped forum His forehead like drops of blood, His
talking to the daughters of Jerusalem, the Lord’s encounter with the Amos disciples, and
also certain details that concern His ascension.
11. From the linguistic aspect, we have said before in more than one occasion that the Holy
Spirit works in the writer and inspires him in his writing, yet He does not make him lose
his identity, He rather makes use of the writer’s abilities, inspires him and protects him
from making any errors. The potentials of our teacher St. Luke the evangelist were
manifested from the point of view of the style. As a physician, he investigated
meticulously into many of the issues. Moreover, as a physician and a painter at the same
time, he was gentle in his writing style, with touches of sweet poetry, to the extend that
his gospel became source for artists to be inspired when painting icons.
Because he was a friend and escort of St. Paul on many of his journeys, there has become
some similarity between their writings, which made the scholar Tritilian say that St. Luke
the evangelist was enlightened by St. Paul the apostle.
(Revise Luke 4: 22, with Col 4: 6; like 4: 32 with 1Cor 2: 4; Luke 6: 36 with 2Cor 1: 3;
Luke 6: 39 with Rom 2: 19; Luke 9: 56 with 2Cor 10: 18; Luke 10: 8 with 1Cor 10: 23;
Luke 11: 41 with Titus 1: 15; Luke 18: 1 with 2Thes 1: 11; Luke 21: 36 with Eph 6: 18;
Luke 22: 19, 20 with 1Cor 23-29; Luke 24: 34 with 1Cor 15: 5).
Its sections:
1. Our Friend became like us 1-3
2. Our Friend is tempted like us 4
3. Our Friend feels our suffering 5-18
4. Our faithful Friend 19-23
5. Our Friend, the Risen from the dead 24

Section One – Our Friend became like us

 The good news of the incarnation 1
 The birth of the heavenly Friend 2
 The declaration about the Friend 3
Chapter I – the Good News of the incarnation
The first chapter of this book came as an introduction to it to reveal the aim of the entire book,
which is the proclamation of the Messiah, is His person. He is the true Friend to humanity who
grants it joy, and transforms its life into a joyful hymn of praise. In this chapter we find the
preparation for the unique Friend’s coming. It is He who grants Elizabeth, the barren one, in her
old age, a child to strip off her shame. He also opens the tongue of Zacharias the priest in praise
at the birth of Jesus’ forerunner. The Nazarene little girl, the virgin is blessed with the
tremendously heavenly good annunciation news. Even the embryo in Elizabeth’s womb gets
thrilled and dances joyfully. All of these are introductory images which reveal the personality of
the Lord Jesus Himself, and His work in our life as a heavenly Friend, able to strip off our
bareness, and opens our tongue, and gives us back our joy.
1. An introduction to the book 1-4
2. the good news to Zacharias of John’s birth 5-17
3. Zacharias’ dumbness 18-25
4. the Annunciation of the Divine Incarnation 26-38
5. Mary’s Encounter with Elizabeth 39-45
6. The Virgin’s hymn of Praise 46-56
7. John’s Birth and the Circumcision 57-66
8. Zacharias the priest’s Prophecy 67-80

An Introduction to the Book

Our teacher St. Luke opened his gospel with the following words (Luke 1: 1-4): “Forasmuch as
many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely
believed among us. Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect
understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent
Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been
instructed”
In this introduction which is written in beautiful Greek style, we notice the following:
1. These circumstances in writing, is the presence of many who wrote of sure matters
concerning the Lord Jesus and His deeds of salvation. Few of the scholars think that by
this he means the evangelists St. Mark and St. Matthew. The majority believe he means
disloyal people who attempted to write about the personality of the Lord Jesus in
wrongful thinking. But their works were never accepted by the first church as lawful
books. The scholar Oreganus differentiates between the gospel of our teacher St. Luke, as
well as the other gospess that were written by means of the Holy Spirit inspiration and
given to the church, and between the human attempts to write gospels. He therefore says
“The meaning of the word ‘they took’ is that they have attempted. This implies an
inclusive accusation addressed against them; for they have attempted to write the gospels
without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But as for the heralds the good news Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John, these have not attempted to compose, but they were rather filled
with the Holy Spirit, and thus they have written the gospels. Four gospels are these that
are according to the law and from these we drink our faith in our Lord and our Savior”.
The Pope St. Athanassious the apostolic says “the devout St. Luke rebukes what is of
people’s making, and he handed to us what is quenching to the thirst, given to us by the
 saints. Every saint who is handed tradition participates without any deviation, to make
firm the teachings of the mysteries. To these alone we have to listen. This is why the
divine word asks us to be their disciples, for these are our true teachers. To these alone
(1Tim 1: 15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners”. These are not disciples who have heard of others,
but they are rather eye-witnesses and ministers to the word, for they have heard of Him
what they handed over”.
2. Our teacher St. Luke writes ‘the certainty of these things’ which are of assurance. This is
why St. Ambrosios compares this book to a house built on the rock, linked to the perfect
faith, firm and unshaken. This faith is based on the spiritual understanding, awareness,
and the discernment between what is truthful and what is false, and not based on mere
miracles.
Having the same concept, the scholar Oreganus says: “St. Luke expresses his feeling by
saying ‘the certain matters that we have’. He has known the story in assured faith and
mind, and he has not hesitated to believe it. This is the same case with the believer. He
has attained the peak of faith as the prophet has said (Psalms 119): “O let me not wonder
from thy commandments”. This is why the apostle says about the story and mighty
believers, that they are well founded and rooted in their faith (Eph 3: 17).
The man, who is deeply rooted and well founded in the faith, can never be destroyed, or
have its walls fall down, even if the tempest rages and the strong winds blow, and the
rains fall down to flood him, because its construction is strong and sturdy. It is
appropriate for us not to believe that the strength of our faith is based on the tangible
visions, or the fruit of mental intelligence. Let us leave this to the unbelievers who
believe my means of signs and wonders that are only apparent. But as for the smart
believers, the strong in faith, he believes and thinks by means of the Spirit, discerning the
truthful from the false one.
3. What St. Luke the evangelist records to us, has only been accepted through ‘the
submission’ or what we call ‘the tradition’. This is the deposit or earnest that we live in
the church life by means of the Holy Spirit. These are handed down the generations
through the verbal or oral and written hand down documents, and by means of worship
and conduct. This is what was confirmed by the evangelist’s words “Even as they
delivered them unto us, which from the beginning was eyewitnesses and ministers of the
word”.
The scholar Oreganus comments on the above statement, showing clearly two major
points in the church tradition: firstly, his saying ‘eyewitnesses’ does not only mean the
mere physical vision; for many have seen the Lord Jesus physically, and yet have not
been aware of His person, and have not been blessed with His deed salvation. Secondly,
the spiritual witnessing, or the spiritual awareness, is blended with the work. This is why
he said ‘ministers to the word’. There is no division between the spiritual life of
meditation and work, for he says “the apostles meditated on God the Word, not because
they have seen Christ the Savior Incarnate, but because they have seen God the Word”.
Here he does not mean the separation of Christ into two persons, but rather confirms our
commitment to realizing the reality of the Incarnate Savoir.
In seeing Christ physically only means to see God the Word, this would have meant that
Pilate who has handed over Christ, has seen the Word; also Judas who betrayed him, and
all those who cried out ‘crucify Him, crucify Him’ (John 19: 15). This concept is far from
 him; for the unbeliever cannot se the Word of God. Seeing God the Word was made clear
by the Savior’s words (John 14: 9)”he who has seen Me has seen the Father”. He has also
commented on his words which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of
the word saying, we conclude from these words that knowledge could be an end in itself,
yet it is interestingly crowned by work. To think knowledge is enough without its
application is useless science. Just as science is linked to its application in practical life,
likewise knowledge is liked to the Word service. The word ‘eyewitnesses’ means the
theoretical knowledge, whereas the Word ‘ministers’ refers to the applied knowledge.
These two trends of thought of the scholar Oregaus were explicit in the writings Of St.
Cyril the great and St. Ambrosios.
St. Cyril the great says, “St. Luke describes Christ’s apostles as seeing the Lord’. He
agrees in this with St. John, for the latter wrote (John 1: 14) “And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth”. It was a must that Christ be manifested in the flesh, so
we could see Him and feel Him, for glory be to His name, in His nature He is not seen
neither is He touched. For John also says (1John 1: 1) “That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life”. Do you hear how the life
has been manifested to us, and thus we have touched Him with our hands, and we have
seen Him with our eyes? Christ has manifested Himself so we realize that the Son has
become flesh, and we have witnessed Him as a human, whereas previously, we have not
seen Him for he is God.
Following the same concept St. Ambrosios says, “the disciples saw the Word of God and
heard Him. The lord saw those who have seen the glory of the Word with Moses and
Elijah (Matt 16: 3). These have seen the Lord Jesus for they saw Him in His glory. But as
for the other Jews, these have not seen Him for they knew Him according to the flesh. It
was given to the spiritual vision and not to the physical vision to see Jesus. The Jews did
not see Him though they saw him physically. As for Abraham, he has seen Him, as is
written (John 8: 56) “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was
glad”, although it is certain he did not see Him physically. But the Jews did not see Him
(Rom 1: 21) “and their foolish heart was darkened”. “When we see the Lord, we see
Emanuel, and we thus realize God is with us. But he who does not see God with him,
then he does not yet know the One born of the Virgin”.
Therefore, our teacher St. Luke the evangelist writes through the gift granted to those
who witnessed the Lord, not only according to the flesh, but they have also witnessed
Him in their depths, and have realized the mystery of His coming into them, and His
work inside them.
I confirm that we too, if we wish to understand the gospel we have to accept seeing the
Lord in us, and encounter Him on the basis of live and physical faith, so we do not hear
the words of rebuke that the Lord said to Philip (John 14: 9) “Have I been so long time
with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?”
4. The evangelist has not only called the apostles the eyewitnesses of the Word, but he also
called them ‘ministers to the Word’! if the apostolic mission is based on witnessing the
Lord in spiritual vision and thus realize His divine mysteries, yet without being separated
from the work; thus in this way, knowledge is blended with the spiritual experience, and
the faith by means of struggling, and meditation by means of the service. St. Ambrosios
 says, “the apostles have obtained this blessing. They have witnessed; and it is understood
forum this how they have struggled to know the Lord, and have served, and it is also
understood the outcome fruits of this struggle”.
5. the gospel was addressed to the dear one Theophilus, whom we have previously spoke of.
The word ‘dear’ is a title attributed to dignitaries in the Roman world. It was addressed to
Felix (Acts 23: 26; 24: 13), also to Festus (Acts 26: 25). The name Theophilus meant
‘God’s lover’, and for this reason St. Ambrosios remarks “if you love God, then this good
news is written for you. Therefore accept it from the evangelist as a deposit and keep it in
the bottom of your heart (2Tim 1: 14) “That good thing which was committed unto thee
keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us”. Meditate on it perpetually and armor
yourself constantly with it. The foremost of your duties is the honesty to this deposit,
which is not worn out by moth, that is to say, the heresies, and is not ruined by any rust.
The scholar Oreganus says, “some may assume the gospel was written to someone by the
name of Theophilus, but, if you listeners all of you love the Lord, then you are all
Theophilus. Theophilus is a very righteous and strong man, there is no Theophilus who is
weak. I confirm that every Theophilus is a strong one, and the source of his strength and
might is the Word of God”.

The Good News to Zacharias of John’s Birth

The Lord Jesus came a savior to the world, granting the world an inner people and heavenly joy.
Therefore in the preparation for His coming, the barren Elizabeth brought forth ‘John’, which
means ‘God is compassionate’ and s a result Zacharias’ tongue which had been dumb became
full if Lord praises. Elizabeth as a woman, refers to the body, and with God’s compassion and
grace He stripped the shame off her body, and it became blessed with an amazing spiritual fruit;
whereas Zacharias represented the soul, and inwardly it was released in the spirit of praise and
joy instead of the dumbness build on impotence.
St. Luke recounts to us the good news to Zacharias telling him of John’s birth, in a language of
humility and worship, saying (Luke 1: 5-7), “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea,
a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of
Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that
Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years”
In his narration we notice the following:
1. Because St. Luke was a man of science, being a physician, he defined clearly the date of
the event; that in the deep of Herod the great being of Judea, the second son to Antipas of
Edomite origin. This man married ten women and he killed two of them. He had many
children of whom he murdered one. He also killed the children of Bethlehem, and on the
deathbed he asked the Jerusalem dignitaries be killed so that no one would be able to
rejoice after his death. But he died before fulfilling his wish.
It was a very dim atmosphere, politically and religiously, for the prophecy was ceased for
three centuries. Everyone lived in an atmosphere of corruption, and despite this, there
lived two righteous people before God: These were ‘Zacharias’ which means ‘good
remembers’ , and ‘Elizabeth’ which is the Greek derivation from the Jewish word ‘also
yeshba’ which means ‘God swears’ ‘God’s right hand’.
They both begot ‘John’ or ‘God is compassionate’ or ‘God blesses’. It is as if in the midst
of this world of corruption, when we remember God and blend in His oath and true
promises, we are then blessed with his mercy and divine blessings that work in us.
St. Ambrosios comments on the expression “And they were both righteous before God,
walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless”, saying, “the
expression ‘righteous before God’ has a special purpose, for the righteous before people
are not necessarily righteous before God, Man’s view is different than that of God,
because man looks at the appearance whereas God looks at the heart’s (1Sam 16: 7). It
seems to me that a man is not worthy to be called righteous, for with the Lord it is not as
such, because the motive for sanctity is that of hypocrisy and not that of the humble heart.
Therefore, man cannot discern what is hidden, and the perfect reward is to be counted as
righteous before God, as the apostle says (Rom 2: 29) “whose praise is not of men, but of
God”. Blessed is he in truth who is justified before God! Blessed is the truth, who is
worthy to hear the Lord telling him (John 1: 47) “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is
no guile!” for the real Israelite is the one who sees God and he realizes that God sees him,
uncovering the hidden parts of his heart.
The scholar Oreganus explains the meaning of the expression “righteous before God”
saying “There may be nothing for a man to accuse me of after investigating me, for I am
righteous before people, But people’s judgment is not correct’ for they are ignorant of the
fact that one day in sinned in secret, in my heart. They do not know that I have looked
upon a woman and coveted her., and that I have lived in the heart’s adultery. People may
see me giving charity according to my means, but they are ignorant of the fact that I make
this for the sake of God’s commandment, or to ask for people’s praise. Blessed is the
righteous man before God, and whose praise is from God, for man is unable to judge
righteously in fairness and clarity. People may praise those who are unworthy of any
praise, and they may condemn those who deserve no condemnation. God alone is the just
One to praise or to condemn.
He also comments on the word ‘blameless’ saying “Our Lord Jesus referred to the church
that it is (Eph 7: 25) “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,
but that it should be holy and without blemish”. This does not mean that the son of the
church has never sinned, but that he rather leads a life of repentance. The expression
‘without blemish’ means the hatred of the old man, and cesting to commit any sin. This is
why he continues with the statement “that it should be holy and without blemish”. The
soul has inherited sin, yet it could become pure and blameless if the dirt of sin has been
stripped off.
Moreover, the gospel declares their righteousness before God, and that they are blameless
in particular conduct in all of God’s commandments and ordinances. It is as if the secret
righteousness is linked to the obedience of the commandments, and accepting God’s
judgments. This is the way of our righteousness by means of the Holy Spirit that grants
us to be worthy of the blood, to enter the commandment and live it in obedience and joy,
and that we understand God’s judgment and plans, and thus we carry the Spirit of
discernment in us.
Because St. Augustine has tackled the topic “the righteousness in Christ” he spoke of
Zacharias and Elizabeth’s righteousness. He declared the men of the Old Testament were
also counted righteous in Christ, through their hope in the Messiah long waited for. He
would offer His life, a sacrifice so costly for the sake of our righteousness. In his
 discussion about ‘nature and grace’ he refers to the words of St. Ambrosios saying
‘undoubtedly the men of the Old Testament have lived this kind of faith in Christ even
before His death on the cross. It is only Christ who sends the Holy Spirit given to us, by
whose means love is poured into our hearts, and by whose means alone the righteous men
are counted as righteous”. On another occasion, St. Ambrosios confirms that Zacharias’
righteousness is build on the sacrificed offering of the Lord Jesus through his practicing
the priesthood and offering the sacrifice and offering the sacrifice of animals, as a symbol
of Christ’s sacrifice. He says, “Zacharias was used to, undoubtedly, to offer slaughtered
sacrifice for his sins”.
If Zacharias is regarded as being righteous, yet this does not mean he has not committed
any sin. St. Augustine has repeated on many occasions the words of St. Ambrosios
‘There is no one in the world which is sinless’.
2. ‘Zacharias was of the course of Abia’ (Luke 1: 5). The word Abia means ‘my father is
Yaho’ this group is of Eleazer the priest’s descent. it is considered the eighth of the
twenty-four groups that have been divided by the priesthood category since the time of
David. each course or group works for a week every six months according to its lottery.
They also drew lottery so as to know who would be chosen by God to perform the
incense service from the midst of the group the Jews usually used to offer the incense
only in the mornings and in the evenings.
St. Ambrosios thinks Zacharias has been selected by the lottery to go into the Lord’s
sepulcher and give incense, which refers to the Lord Jesus since He is the bread of the
priests, who alone is able to enter to the heavenly holies, to perform priesthood on our
account, and intercede for us with his blood. The lottery fall refers to His mission which
was not of the people but from the Father.
3. The scholar Oreganus comments on the evangelist’s expression (Luke 1: 11) “And there
appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense”,
saying that man, because he has a dense body, cannot see the divine and spiritual beings,
neither can he feel them unless they appear to him. it is as if God’s manifestations as well
as those of His angels depends on God’s will and His wish that we witness them. For God
is present with us, as well His angels, and yet we do not see them. some of his words are
the following:
‘The Lord appeared to Abaraham and to other prophets according to His grace. it is not
Abraham’s spiritual inner eye that is an obstruction to seeing the Lord, but it is rather
God’s grace that enabled him to be granted with this’
‘There could be an angel now next to us as we are speaking, yet we cannot see him
because of our unworthiness. The mere eye or the inner could exert an effort to reach this
vision, yet, if the angel does not manifest himself to us, we are unable to see him, even if
we are extremely eager for it’.
‘This real fact does not only concern our seeing God at this present age, but also when we
depart from this world. God and His angels do not appear to everybody directly after the
departure, but the grace is granted to him who has a pure heart and is worthy to witness
God. but he who has a heard burdened with filth, could be present with him who has a
pure heart in the very same place, and yet he who has the pure heart sees God whereas
the one who has the impure heart is unable to see what the other one does’.
 ‘I think this happened concerning the Lord Jesus when He was on earth in the flesh, for
not everyone who saw Him has seen God. For instance, Pilate saw Jesus, and so did
Herod the king, and yet they have not seen Him as He is, for they were unworthy of it’.
St. Ambrosios’s interpretation embodied both of the concepts: that God and His angels
manifest themselves when God wants it as a divine gift, and that the pure heart witnesses
God. Some of his words are the following:
‘We see the lord when He wishes for this, but we are unable to see Him in His nature as
He is. He appeared to Abraham because He wanted this. But if man does not want this,
then the Lord does appear to him. St. Stephan saw the heavens open, and the Son of Man
on the right hand of God, whereas the people were stoning him (Acts 7: 9) and yet that
people could not see God. also Isaiah saw the Lord of hosts (Is 6: 1), yet no one else was
able to see Him’.
‘What is it that amazes us if no could see God in this world since He is invisible? for He
will not be seen unless He reveals Himself. But in the resurrection no one will see Him
except those who have a pure heart, for (Matt 5: 8) “Blessed are the pure in heart: for
they shall see God”. The Lord has blessed many, but He has not promised anyone to see
God except those of pure heart!’
‘We do not see God in a certain place, but rather in the pure heart. Do not search for God
with your physical eye (Eph 3: 18) that you “May be able to comprehend with all saints
what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God”. With
God’s compassion and mercy on us, we are able to reach the full stature of Christ, so we
be able to witness Him’.
We have previously spoken of ‘Witnessing God’ in our book ‘St. John Chrysostom’ But
what we wish to assure you of, is that God though invisible, yet He wishes to manifest
Himself, and He is eager that we see Him. this is His free gift, offered to the pure heart.
For he works in us continuously by means of His Holy Spirit, so that our hearts be
purified in Him, and be uplifted to witness Him, and enjoy His fatherly embrace, and
sharing the heavenly glories.
4. The angel of the Lord appeared on the incense altar, that is, between the golden altar (for
prayer) and the table for the Bread of life (the mystery of the Eucharist). it is as if he who
wishes to encounter the heavenly hosts, has to open his hands in prayer, and hence offer
the sacrifice of love and fragrant incense before God . He has to enter to the Lord’s table,
and to encounter the Lord of the heavens, and carry Him in his inward heart.
From the prayer aspect, St. Augris says, ‘Know well that the saintly angels urge us to
prayer. They therefore stand next to us at this time, happily praying for our sake. if we are
slothful and accept foreign thoughts to intervene, they (the angels) are infuriated, because
whereas they are fighting for us so strongly, we do not even wish to plead to God for our
own sake. We put their service aside, and we go away from the Lord their God and so go
to the defiled devils’.
As for drawing close to the sanctified table, this is spoken of by St. John Chrysostom,
saying ‘It is as if man has been taken to the very heaven, standing next to the glorious
throne, flying with the Seraphims, chanting the sanctified hymns of praise!’
5. (Luke 1: 12, 13) “And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard!”. To see the
heavenly hosts disturbs the heart for he is witnessing an amazing thing; yet he does not
 remain confused, for he finds the very heavens concerned about himself, and calls him in
his own name; moreover, they are concerned about him personally. They satisfy him with
inward peace, in addition to gifts and divine super goods granted to him.
St. Antonious the Great presents to us the discernment between the heavenly visions and
the deceptive ones: the former one, even if it begins in fear or confusion, this is because
man is unused to it. Yet they convey real peace to the soul. But as for the other one, the
soul loses its peace. The former kindles the heart with what is heavenly, but as for the
latter, it preoccupies the mind and confuses it with what earthly. For he says ‘The
appearance of these angelic spirits is peaceful and quiet, creating joy in the soul as well
as courage, because the Lord is our joy’.
The thoughts that spring from these appearances make the soul unshaken till it is
enlightened with this joy; and thus the soul knows what those spirits are that appear to it.
God’s eagerness, and the eagerness for the blessings awaiting us, these enter the soul and
unite with it. These are those who fear the appearance of the evil spirits; but these good
spirits put fear aside due to the love manifested, just as with Gabriel and Zacharias (Luke
1: 3). Also, as when the angel appeared to the woman at the Lord’s tomb (Matt 28: 5),
and as when the angel appeared to the shepherds telling them ‘Fear not’ (Luke 2: 10).
The fear of those ones was not the result of fear, but rather as an outcome of assuredness
of the manifestation of the good angels. This is the appearance of the saintly angels’. He
also says, ‘If we see, spirits that cause confusion and outer blows, and worldly
hallucination, and threatening death, and all that we have mentioned, then we should
know that this is an attack of evil spirits’.
6. Zacharias may have forgotten his request from God, or he may have lost all hope of
begetting an issue; but his name is Zacharias which means ‘God remembers’. Therefore
God remembered him and his wife as well as their request, and gave them not only the
joy of their heart alone, but also he who gladdens the hearts of many. He gives despite
our forgetfulness, and He gives us more than what we ask for or wish for. He gives to
assure us of His gifts, and He has even given the baby his name.
Concerning John, the gift of God to Zacharias and Elizabeth, the angel declared the
following:
Firstly: he is the mystery of joy to many (Luke 1: 14) “And thou shalt have joy and
gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth”. We have said before that St. Luke’s gospel
is ‘the gospel of joy’. God has send St. John the forerunner, to call for repentance,
preparing the way for the Lord in the hearts of many, and thus the heavnly host would
rejoice as much as the believers. God’s aim was to regain us to His eternal wedding, and
he in heavenly peace without any bitterness or hardship. Here he is preparing for this
wedding, even by the good news of the forerunner’s birth.
In our study of the book of Leviticus (Chapter 12), we saw the child in a period of time
which is calculated ahead of time, that she is considered as defiled. This is because sin
has been stuck to us even at our birth and death. But now, the sun or righteousness began
to shine on mankind, and is getting to be reconciled with the heavens, therefore our life in
Him has been changed into joy, and the birth is now a joyful one. As St. Ambrosios says,
“There is a special joy at the conception of pregnancy with the saints, and also at their
birth. The saint does only bring happiness to the family alone, but he is also a cause of
salvation to many. These words teach us to rejoice greatly at the saint’s birth’.
I wish we, too, if we have lived so long with a barren spirit and a spiritually fruitless
body, let us accept God’s heavenly promises, and be filled with God’s tenderness and
grace. This means ‘John’ is inside us, and therefore let us rejoice with God, and many
will rejoice with us as well. Even the heaven itself will share us our joy (Luke 15: 7).
May our life, be fruitful in the Lord, and may it give joy to many. Let it not be an infertile
one, or have a deadly fruit or a killing one. Father Tadros says, “life and death in their
essence are neither righteous nor evil. This is confirmed by the birth of John and Judas.
One life of theirs was a useful one, and this is proved by what was said of him (Luke 1:
14) “many shall rejoice at his birth”. The otherone was spoken of as (Matt 26: 24) “it had
been good for that man if he had not been born”. Secondly: (Luke 1: 15) “For he shall be
great in the sight of the Lord”. John had not yet been born, and neither has his mother yet
been conceived in her womb, and despite this, the angel called him ‘great in the sight of
the Lord’. Greatness is not counted by the big number of days of years, and neither by the
physical strength and apparent deeds, but rather by the inward strong lif.
The world at that time scorned and disregarded children, in a general sense. They had no
human rights offered to them. But the gospel of the Lord Jesus uncovered His friendship
to children, and He looked upon them as great in His eyes. This was confirmed by the
Lord, later on, to His disciples when He presented to them a child to be set as their
example, and to follow this example of a child so as to reach the heavenly greatness
(Matt 18: 2, 3; Luke 18: 15).
Let us be as children in doing evil, and so be counted as great and mature in the Lord. But
let us not behave in the weakness of childhood that is immature, otherwise we shall be
counted as (Gal 4: 3) “when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the
world”. As St. Antonious says, “it is only the spiritually mature person who could
overcome the elements of the world”. Let us therefore be spiritually mature in the Lord,
and thus not to disregard children, as the Lord has said (Matt 18: 10) “Take heed that ye
despise not one of these little ones”.
St. Ambrosios tells us in his interpretation of St. Luke’s gospel about the greatness of St.
John the Baptist, saying, “Our life is not estimated according to the time, but according to
levels of virtue. For John was called great not because of his physical strength, but
because of his spiritual one. He did not overcome empires, neither did he plan on virtues
and conquests; he rather looked up to what is by far greater. For he was the voice crying
in the wilderness who defeated the physical pleasure, and the bodily lapses in his sublime
spirit and its strength. He was small in the worldly matters, yet great in the spiritualities.
Finally, the mystery of his greatness is that the love of the temporary life did not overrule
him, which did not hinder him from condemning sin.
Thirdly: (Luke 1: 15) “and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled
with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb”. After defining his name, and
declaring his impact as someone who rejoices the hearts, he made clear his possibilities
and abilities. From the negative point of view ‘shall drink neither wine nor strong drink’.
Being consecrated to the Lord, the pleasures of the world or its glamour, these will have
no place in his heart or in his body. But from the positive aspect, he will not live in
deprivation, but he will rather be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. He
will be deprived of the materialistic wine that drunkens people, whereas he will be
quenched with the joyful heavenly wine!
The scholar Oreganus says, “The archangel declared John’s birth, this person who will be
filled with Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. For in his mother’s womb John rejoiced
greatly and could not stop himself when Jesus’ mother walked in; he was trying to get out
of his mother’s womb (Luke 1: 44) ‘For, lo, as soon as the voice of they salutation
sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy”
St. Ambrosios says, “As an embryo, he lacked the spirit of life, and yet he obtained the
spirit of grace. The reality of life is preceded by the grace for sanctification, for the Lord
says, (Jer 1: 5) “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”.
There is a drastic difference between the spirit of the world, and the Spirit of grace. The
former begins with birth and ends with death. But latter is unrestricted by time or by
years. Death does not extinguish its flame, and the womb of motherhood is not shut upon
it. He who possesses the Spirit of grace lacks nothing at all. He who has obtained the
Holy Spirit has reached the peak of all virtues.”
Fourthly: (Luke 1: 16) “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their
God”. At this point he confirms his mission which is, to bring many of the children of
Israel back to the Lord their God, by paving the way for repentance, so as to accept the
Lord Jesus, the Savior of the world. The scholar Oreganus observes the world is in
constant need for John’s mission which he calls ‘John’s mystery’, so he could make firm
every soul in Christ. For he says ‘I personally believe that John’s mystery can still be
fulfilled up to this day: For man can believe in Jesus Christ, if he has John’s spirit and his
strength in himself, so he prepares a perfect congregation to the Lord. also if he has the
toughness and goes through the narrow gate. Up till today, John’s Spirit and his strength
precede the coming of the Lord Jesus’.
Fifthly: (Luke 1: 17) “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah”. The
Scholar Oreganus comments on this statement saying “He did not say in the soul of
Elijah, but rather ‘in the spirit of Elijah and his power’. Elijah had a spirit and strength or
power as all the other prophets. The spirit that dwelt in Elijah also dwelt in John, and the
power in Elijah was also in John.
St. Ambrosios draws an interesting comparison between Elijah and John the Baptist in
this way: “Elijah lived in the wilderness and so did John. The ravens took care of the
former, whereas the latter being in the wilderness, he tried on all the temptations and
attractions and he loved poverty and hated what was luxurious. One did not seek to win
the pleasures of Ahab the king, and the other scorned the pleasures of Herod the king.
The garment of the former rented the Jordan waters, whereas the latter made this water a
working basis that grants salvation. The former appeared with the Lord in glory at the
transfiguration, whereas the latter lived with the Lord on earth. One preceded the Lord’s
first coming, and the second preceded the Lord’s second coming. The former make the
rains fall on the earth after the drought has been for three years, and the latter washed the
dust of the bodies in the River Jordan’s waters of faith throughout the period of three
years (a year for the covenant of the Father, a year for the covenant of Moses and the
prophets, then a year of the Lord’s coming, our God and our Savior).
The mystery of power in St. John is that he carried Elijah’s spirit. This does not mean his
spirit as a person, but rather the spirit of power granted to him from God, or the abilities
offered to him. This is why St. Augustine says “He means by Elijah’s spirit, the Holy
Spirit that Elijah has accepted”.
Zacharias’ Dumbness
(Luke 1: 18-20) “And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old
man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel,
that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad
tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things
shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their
season”.
In this conversation that occurred between the archangel Gabriel and Zacharias the priest inside
the Altar, we notice the following:
Firstly: Zacharias the priest did not believe the angel’s words, in spite of seeing the angel and
listening to the angelic voice in a tangible way. It was in daylight, inside the altar, which made
him blameworthy of it, particularly because the holy history mentions living examples of elderly
people who begot children whereas their wives was barren, such as Sarah, Abraham’s wife for
not having children. He did not even mention between himself and the angel that should was
barren. He did not even mention between himself and angel that she was barren. He rather began
with himself, saying, ‘for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years’. I say how
beautiful is a caring righteous soul in its feelings. It does not hurt others’ feelings even in their
absence. He does not complain even to the heavens of his wife’s barrenness.
Secondly: The archangel declared himself that he is Gabriel, which means ‘God’s almightiness’.
As for the mystery behind his strength and his might, it is the fact as he said that he stands before
God. He came carrying the divine promise. He came to herald the good news, but he also had to
discipline with dumbness as God commanded.
Thirdly: in his love, he granted Zacharias the priest the good and joyful news of John’s birth, as a
free gift offered to him, and to the entire humanity. And now, the priest was blessed with the
affirmed promise, and the Lord defined by the mouth of the archangel the child’s name, his
qualities, his mission, his potentials…but despite all of this he could not believe. This is why
God allowed, in His love also, to discipline him for some time.. God in His fatherhood to us
grants and also disciplines us, all for our won construction and edification.
What is amazing is that even the mistakes we make, God uses these for our own good. what
happened to Zacharias because of his doubt has become a symbol to what happens to the Jewish
people. They did not accept our Lord Jesus a spiritual king and Savior. This is why they fell
under the discipline of becoming dumb until they accept the faith at the end of the ages. They fell
under dumbness for they have rejected the Incarnate Word of God. He therefore took away from
them the prophets, and the worship in the Altar was stopped.
St. Oreganus says, “The silence of Zacharias is the silence of the prophets with the people of
Israel. Therefore God will not more speak to the Jews, whereas God the Word who is from the
beginning, has come down. Christ has become with us, He who is never silent, but He is silent
till this day with the Jews.
St. Ambrosios says, “Silence is to cease offering sacrifice, and is the silence of the prophets; for
the voice of the prophet and the priest has ceased. God therefore says (Isaiah 1: 31) “I will take
away the mighty, the prophet, and the judge”. as for us, the Word of God has come down to us,
He who can never be silent in us, therefore the Jews cannot argue with the Christian (1Cor 13: 3)
“For you ask the proof of Christ who speaks in me”.
Zacharias in his silence had to beckon with signs for being deprived of the gift of speaking. This
also refers to the Jews who were concerned with the old law physically without ay spiritual
understanding. As the scholar Oreganus says, “I believe there are actions with no words or no
meaning, that are no different than the beckoning and gestures of no meaning. We consider the
Jewish doctrines as wordless for not being comprehended or interpreted. We can explain what
happened to Zacharias as a copy of what is happening to the Jews will this day. Purification for
them is a simple meaningless gesture. If we look upon it, we can consider it a simple beckoning
and a silent action. Also the Passover and the other feasts are nothing else than simple actions
and not factual realities. Up till today, the Israelites are dumb and deaf for, since they rejected the
‘Word’ and gone far away from Him, they have become as such.
Zacharias the priest became speechless so as to declare the need of the Word, the divine One
who was missed by Israel. It is as if by this dumbness he has paved the way to declare the Lord
Jesus. On the other hand, God allowed him to be speechless, as a wonderful opportunity to cease
speaking with people, so as to preoccupy his heart in speaking to God, meditating on His deeds,
touching His mysteries and understanding the prophecies.
Just as Zacharias the priest isolated himself from speaking with people due to his dumbness,
likewise did Elizabeth his wife got isolated from people due to her embarrassment. The
evangelist syas. “And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months,
saying ‘Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me’”. They both had
a spiritual chance to speak with God alone, meditating on His deeds with them, and waiting for
His gift to them.
The scholar Oreganus and St. Ambrosios assumed the shyness of Elizabeth was due to the fat
that she had not delivered any children for so long and she might have ceased any physical
relation between her and her man, for God’s men lay physically with their wives for the sake of
begetting an offspring. So, if they knew they were unable to have any children their relations
remained tied in matrimonial love with no physical intercourse. This is why when Elizabeth
conceived, she was to ashamed to appear before others, until she met the Virgin Mary, pregnant
with the Incarnate Word of God in her womb. When the embryo rejoiced in her womb, Elizabeth
no longer felt any shame, for she was carrying a wonderful offspring. She was carrying he who
was the greatest of those bore of women, John the forerunner.
We can say that the physical relation between the husband and wife is sanctified and pure as long
as it is moderation, with no spirit of passion or selfishness in the physical pleasure, but rather in
the spirit of mutual matrimonial love and giving, all in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God.
The two married ones find themselves as becoming one body, living in the spirit even when they
have their intercourse together. They are overshadowed by God’s Spirit unceasingly, and thus
become perpetually sanctified in all their actions.

The Annunciation of the Divine Incarnation

(Luke 1: 26, 27) “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of
Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary”.
Firstly: Five months before the angel brought the good news to Zacharias the priest. Now with
the beginning of the sixth moth he came to herald St. Mary with the good news. But there is a
great difference between the two heraldries. Indeed, the first good news was fulfilled inside the
altar during the group worshiping, escorted by Zacharias before all. It was spoken of by the other
priests for it happened with their fellow priest; it was the good news of the birth of the greatest of
those born of women, John the forerunner, the servant of the Word. As for the second heraldry it
happened in an unknown house in a poor village, in a secretive way. Even the owner of the house
did not feel it, St. Joseph the carpenter. It was the good news of the incarnation of the Word
Himself! The Son has given up Himself even in the heraldly of Himself. It was not fulfilled
among the priests or inside the altar, or among the level of groups, It has been fulfilled with a
poor girl in a simple modest place.
Secondly: The angel was sent to a betrothed girl, espoused to a man. Why was the angel not sent
to an unbetrothed girl?
1. The scholar Oreganus answers saying, the fact that there was a man for St. Mary wipes
out any doubts regarding her when the pregnancy symptoms show in her. St. Ambrosios
says, “Maybe so that no one thinks she has committed any adultery. The Holy Book gave
her two descriptions at the same time; that she is a wife and yet a virgin. She is a virgin
for she knew no man, and a wife so she be protected from what could harm her name.
Her belly getting larger refers, in people’s eyes, that she has lost her virginity. In addition
to this, the Lord has chosen that some may doubt His real descent rather than doubt His
mother’s chastity. The Lord found no need to reveal his personality on account of His
mother’s reputation.
We have previously studied the engagement process and marriage according to the
Jewish tradition, and how the engagement period equaled matrimony which is present
today in everything except that of physical relation. This is why St. Mary is called
‘Joseph’s woman’.
2. The scholar Oreganus thinks, according to St. Ignatius, that the presence of Joseph might
make Satan doubt and get confused about the newborn regarding the divine incarnation.
St. Ambrosios presented to us the same idea when he said, “there is another reason which
cannot be disregarded, which is that the ruler of this world did not discover the virginity
of the Virgin Mary. Because he saw her with her man, he did not suspect the baby born of
her. The Lord wished the ruler of this world to be blinded of knowing of this matter. This
was shown when the Lord commanded His disciples to tell no one He is the Christ (Matt
16: 22). The Lord also forbade those whom He healed to reveal His name (Matt 5: 4).
Moreover, He ordered the devils not to speak of the Son of God (Luke 4: 35). The apostle
also confirmed (1Cor 3: 7, 8) “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the
hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the
princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord
of glory”. This means that if they wanted I would be saved by the Lord’s death. Therefore
the Lord did not reveal Himself for the sake of our own salvation. He hid Himself so He
overcomes him, He hid Himself also in a tribulation, and when Satan cried out to Him
calling Him ‘the Son of God’, the Lord did not confirm to him his godliness. The Lord
moreover did not reveal Himself to the human rulers. Even though Satan hesitated when
he said (Matt 4: 6) “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down”, yet the issue ended
with Satan knowing Him. The devils have known him when they cried out (Matt 8: 29)
“What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment
us before the time?”. The devils knew Him, since they expecting His coming. As for the
rulers of this world of this world, they did not know Him. Satan, in his cunningness, was
able to uncover the written matters, but those of the world dignitaries where unable to
know the work of God.
Thirdly: The evangelist repeated the word ‘virgin’, as if he wished to assure us of her virginity,
to declare the Lord Jesus was not born of mankind. This is what Ezekiel the prophet declared
about the door in the east (Ez 44: 2-3) “Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it
shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath
entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat
bread before the LORD”. This is why in the Byzantine ritual it was said of the Virgin Mary
‘Peace be to you , you unique gate, which was crossed by the Word alone’.
She is a virgin and a bride wife at the same time, for she represents the first member in the
church Virgin, the Bride for Christ.
As St. Ambrosios says, “St. Mary, the virgin wife represents at the same time the bride, the
Church that is flawless. For the Church is virgin bride for Christ. The Church became pregnant
with us by means of the Holy Spirit, and she delivered us with no pain. St. Mary became
pregnant by means of the Spirit and not by means of marriage. In this way, she has become to
represent all the churches that give fruit by means of the Spirit and grace, even though it unites
outwardly under the leadership of a human shepherd.
St. Augustine says, “Just as St. Mary gave birth to He who is your Head, likewise did the church
give birth to you, for the church is also a mother and a virgin. She is a mother in the innermost
part of our love, and a virgin in her unwavering faith. The Church is a mother of many nations
that represent one body. This follows St. Mary’s example, the mother of so many and at the same
time is a mother to the only One”.
St. Cyril the great says, “Let us praise St. Mary the ever virgin in joyful praises, who is the very
same as the sanctified Church”.
Fourthly: The evangelist specified the name of the town to which the angel came to encounter St.
Mary the virgin, and the name of the town was ‘Nazareth’. It was a town in Galilee, north of
Palestine, 88 miles north of Jerusalem, 15 miles southwest Tiberies. St. Joseph and St. Mary
lived in it and Jesus Christ spent most of the first thirty years of His life in it (Luke 3: 23; Mark
1: 9). He was therefore called ‘the Nazarene’ (Matt 12: 11; Mark 1: 24). When he began His
mission, He was rejected twice by its people (Luke 4: 28-31’ Matt 4: 13, 13: 54-58; Mark 6: 1-
6). The town is located on a hilltop (Luke 4: 29). It barely had any importance for it was not
mentioned in the Old Testament, neither in any of the documents of the major countries before
Christ’s coming, nor in the writings of the Jewish historian Yousefios.
The word ‘Nazareth’ may mean ‘track’ or ‘branch’, and this is why Christ was often called ‘the
Branch’.
Fifthly: The angel saluted her (Luke 1: 25) “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with
thee: blessed art thou among women”.
This was not normal greeting; it was a unique greeting that implied a joyful meaning. The Greek
word ‘Sherie’, which is translated here as peace, has been reiterated 80 times in the ‘seventies
translation’ in the Old Testament. Half of these were translated ‘to rejoice’, and the other half
was used to express the joy of God’s people with an exciting deed that concerns their salvation.
It is as if St. Mary has obtained in the entire church’s name, in which the virgin is a member, she
has obtained excessive joy through God’s incarnation, the Word, and His dwelling in her.
The following are some of the fathers’ comments on this unusual and unique greeting:
 She was the only one to be called ‘blessed art thou among women’, for she alone has
obtained the blessing that belonged to no one but her, for she was filled with the gifts of
grace.
St. Ambrosios
 This birth is absolutely a blessing and grace. In it the unity was fulfilled, the unity of man
with God, and the body with the Word. The good deeds were not the worthiness on which it
could be fulfilled.
St. Augustine
 She was wrapped with God’s blessing as a garment. Her soul was filled with divine wisdom.
In the heart she was blessed with the marriage to God and she received God in her womb!
Father Theodosious, Bishop of Ankara
St. Mary heard the angel say to her ‘The Lord is with thee’. Those words had a special meaning
to her, for she has tasted the company of God in an unequaled way, for she carried God’s Word
in her womb, and has offered Him of her own flesh and blodd.
“Blessed art thou among women”; as the scholar Oreganus says, “The joyful news that Gabriel
sounded the trumpet with to Mary, restrained God’s sorrow against Eve. Great as sin began with
woman and then crossed over to man, likewise did the good news begin with the two women,
Mary and Elizabeth”.
Sixthly: (Luke 1: 29, 30) “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for
thou hast found favor with God”.
St. Jerome says, “She was distributed and was unable to answer him, for she had not offered
salvation to a man before. But when she came to know him, she answered him. She who feared
speaking to a man became able to speak fearlessly with an angel”.
Likewise do many fathers think: that the Virgin Mary is a living example of the virgins who
devote their lives to worshiping. They conduct themselves in great decency, and do not meet any
men. They rather spend their life in their homes or in virgins’ homes that do not deal with men.
The Virgin Mary was exceedingly decent, and has consecrated her entire life on God’s account.
She was unwilling to get married, for she told the angel ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a
man?’ but despite this, she was the active person in the sanctified group. She was active my
means of her prayers and her righteousness, and she was also active by accepting the tremendous
gift of God, the incarnation of the Word in her womb. Moreover she was active in the service as
well. In the first miracle of the Lord Jesus she asked Him ‘they have no wine’ (John 2:3). She
also escorted the Lord till the cross. After the ascension, she was with the disciples, supporting
them. Therefore, virginity does not mean to be passive, but rather positive in sacrificial love,
declared by the means of worshiping and working within the boundaries of man’s gifts, that have
been given to him by the Lord. This is why St. Augustine says, “Virginity is not honored for its
own sake, but because it is attributed to God”.
Seventhly: God’s promise came to the Virgin St. Mary, spoken out by the angel (Luke 1: 31)
‘And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name
JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give
unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and
of his kingdom there shall be no end”.
The Virgin St. Mary was blessed with this divine conception, for the Son of the Highest has
become incarnate of her. This was he who was long awaited for by the Old Testament men, as a
King to sit on David’s throne, and reign forever, and as a Savior, so this is why He is called
‘Jesus’ which means ‘Jehovah, my Savior’.
 There is no like the mother of God, for whereas you were living on earth, you were mother to
the Creator.
Paralex – the tune of blessing
 If the Son of God has become a Son to David, therefore do not doubt, you son of Adam to
become God’s son.
If God has descended to such depths, then He has not done this in vain, but rather to raise us
to the highest!
 He was born of the flesh so you would be born a second time according to the Spirit.
He was born of a woman, so you would become a son to God.
St. John Chrysostom
Eighthly, when St. Mary heard God’s promise, in a spirit of lowliness and in faith, she was
amazed because the promise was a unique one. she has never heard in the holy books of a person
who has obtained such a thing; she therefore asked, (Luke 1: 34, 35) “How shall this be, seeing I
know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”.
1. From the Virgin’s words, it is clear she was dedicated by a vow to remain a virgin. If she
had wished to be married, she would not have said so. She would rather have said ‘when
will this be?’ in expectation of the promise to be fulfilled during matrimonial time. It was
set in her heart that she be kept in virginity to the spiritual church virginity. As St.
Augustine says, ‘Today, the church celebrates the Virgin with the Virgin birth. The Lord
Jesus has ascertained the heart’s virginity that He wants firstly for the church by means of
the virginity of St. Mary’s body. The church is the only one that can be a virgin when
bonded to the Groom, who is the Son of the Virgin, when she offers herself in her
entirety.
2. St. Ambrosios says, “St. Mary did not reject the belief in the angel’s words, and neither
did she apologize for not accepting its words ‘How shall this be?’ this does not mean she
doubted the issue at all, it is just a wondering as to how this will be fulfilled. She was
only trying to find a solution to the issue. It is her right to know how the miraculous
delivery would be like”. This is why the angel’s answer to her revealed the mystery of
God’s work in her to have this delivery fulfilled. “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”.
The Holy Spirit shall come upon her to sanctify her, spiritually and physically. Thus she
will be prepared for God’s work; God who will send His Son in her womb to be incarnate
of her. Indeed, what a marvelous mystery of God in which God declares His love so
amazingly to man, and the fact that He gives honor to man!
Before this declaration, she bent her head in obedience and said (Luke 1: 38) “Behold the
handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”. Zacharias the priest doubted
his wife begetting an offspring, whereas the Virgin believed, and in her obedience she
accepted God’s work. As St. Ambrosios says, “In her faith, she was more sublime than
the priest, for the priest erred and hid, whereas the Virgin corrected the error”.
This is why Zacharias became dumb due to his doubt, whereas the Virgin became
pregnant with the Incarnate Word, or the divine utterance that will not be silent.
St. Irenius thinks St. Mary’s obedience replaced her mother Eve’s disobedience. The
latter complicated the situation due to her disobedience, whereas her daughter came to
untie the knot through her obedience.
Scholars of the Bible think that at this moment in which she offered her obedience to God
and her submission to Him, she received the Incarnation, for it was not possible to fulfill
the incarnation without her will and her acceptance to receive the works, for God
sanctifies human freedom.
St. Ambrosios says, “she describes herself as the hand-maid of the Lord, even though she
has been chosen a mother to Him. The promise that has been fulfilled did not make her
 fall into pride”. St. Augustine also says, “the humble Lord Jesus did not teach His
mother, when pregnant with Him, any pride but He rather brought her lowliness.

Mary’s Encounter with Elizabeth

The virgin St. Mary has become a representation of the believing humanity, or a representation
of the church for she has accepted the belief in God’s promise, and she bent down in obedience
so the Word of God comes to dwell in her. When she became blessed with the Word inside her,
she could not help running (Luke 1: 39) “into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah”, so
she would encounter Elizabeth her cousin. This is a vivid picture of the church that carries the
Groom in her, and that will not rest, but rather go in haste across the generations, just as on the
hills, so she would present her Groom to every soul in the world.
According to the human logic, she was supposed to hide herself, and think things over to herself,
as well as with her groom so as to plan for the pregnancy and delivery. But she has now carried
in herself He who carries the burdens of the world, and He who provides for everything’ she did
not worry about what is hers, but rather in the receiving spirit, she hastened to the hills to the city
of Judah, so as to serve Elizabeth.
If we carry our Christ inside us, we speak out with an open heart, and get out of our ‘ego’, is
hearts full of love to all, eager to serve everybody.
We notice in this blessed encounter the following points:
Firstly: According to the human logic, the poor search for riches, the need search for he who
supplies him with his needs, and the student searches for the teacher. But according to the divine
logic, the elder asks for the young one, and searches for him so as to embrace him lovingly and
carry him on his shoulders.
In the very same way did ‘God first love us’. He has begun the initiative in love, and He came
down to us for we are unable to go up to Him. He bends to carry us from the dust, and rescue us
from the depths, to enter with us to the Father’s embrace, and uplift us to His heavens. In this
way likewise, when he dwells in we, we run in haste to those who are weak, and search for
everyone to help in serve.
The scholar Oreganus says, “The excellent ones come to those who are less excellent to grant
them some of the privileges. In this way did the Savoir come to John to sanctify the baptism. As
soon as St. Mary heard the angel’s message that she would conceive the Savior, and that her
cousin Elizabeth was pregnant (Luke 1: 39, 40) “went into the hill country with haste, into a city
of Judah; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth”. Wheen Jesus was still
in the Virgin’s womb hastened to sanctify John the Baptist who was yet in his mother’s womb.
St. Ambrosios says, “He who is of a higher level visits his of a lesser one; Mary went to
Elizabeth, and Jesus went to John, for Jesus wished to sanctify John’s baptism by Himself
becoming baptized.
If we carry our Holy Christ, we are sanctified, and we hasten to every spot eager to have
everyone sanctified with us!
Secondly: The scholar Oreganus says, “St. Mary deserves to be mother to God, and so she had to
go up the hill country and stay up in the heights”. In addition to this, St. Ambrosios says, “is it
unusual for her who became filled with God, the go up in hase to what is high?”
Thirdly: Because St. Mary was carrying in pregnancy the Word of God, the Lover of mankind,
her encounter with Elizabeth was gentle to the maximum extent. She was carrying the spirit of
service in humility. This is why St. Ambrosios asks in his interpretation of St. Matthew’s gospel
that the virgins would learn from St. Mary her tenderness, her humility, and her respect to others.
We are badly in need today of obtaining God’s blessings, and realizing, particularly the clerical
positions, to be motivated to humble service, with no love of honor or authority, but rather in
eagerness to wash the feet in gentleness!
Fourthly; St. Mary entered Elizabeth’s house carrying her Groom in her womb, so as soon as she
greeted her, the evangelist says (Luke 1: 41) “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the
salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit”.
I wish in our visits and encounters with other, we carry our Holy Christ which thrills their inner
being and kindles His Holy Spirit in them; instead of carrying with us evil thoughts, and words
of condemnation, and fill them with worries, and extinguish the Spirit in them.
Scholars have noticed the word ‘leaped’ in Hebrew means ‘to dance’. This is the very same word
which was used when David the prophet danced before the ark of the tabernacle.
 I ask of you to accept this conception, and to dance before Him, if not in the womb as John
did, then let it be when the ark is set, just as David did.
St. Gregory el Nazinzi
 Undoubtedly, when Elizabeth was filled of the Holy Spirit, this was for her son’s sake. John,
who was till in his mother’s womb, has become filled of the Holy Spirit. Because the son
became sanctified, Elizabeth was then also filled of the Holy Spirit.
The scholar Oreganus
 There appeared on the spot, the blessings of Mary’s visit and the Lord’s presence, because as
soon as Elizabeth heard the voice of St. Mary’s greeting, the babe leaped joyfully in her
womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth was the first to hear St. Mary’s voice, but John was the first to be affected by the
blessing. Elizabeth knew of St. Mary’s coming, and John felt the presence of Christ. The
woman felt the woman’s presence, whereas the babe felt the babe’s presence. As they were
speaking of the blessings and graces, the babes were fulfilling inside the divine deeds of God,
so full of mercy. The babe leaped, then the mother was filled of the Holy Spirit, but she was
not filled before the leaping.
St. Ambrosios
 When john was filled with the Holy Spirit, he became sanctified when still in his mother’s
womb, so he could baptize the Lord.
John did not grant the Spirit to those whom he baptized, but he preached Him who granted
the Spirit, for he said (Matt 3: 11). “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he
that cometh after me…he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”. Why with
fire? Because the Holy Spirit descended in the shape of tongues of fire (Acts 2: 3).
Concerning this, the lord said Joyfully (Luke 12: 49) “I am come to send fire on the earth;
and what will I, if it be already kindled?”
 This Spirit worked in Elizabeth. He knows the virgins, and is the friend also, of those who
are married if their marriage is a legal one.
St. Cyril El Orshilimy
Fifthly: The babe’s joy in the womb refers to the spiritual inward fruitfulness in the soul. The
body, likewise, shares with the soul in this fruitfulness. This is why St. Elizabeth’s tongue was
released declaring what was inside her in harmony and accord with John’s (Luke 1: 42-45) “And
she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo,
as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told
her from the Lord”
Although the entire world was ignorant of the good news to Virgin Mary, yet Elizabeth declared
St. Mary’s motherhood to her Lord, though there was no apparent phenomenon for this divine
event. The amazing thing is that these unusual events – such as the babe leaping joyfully, and
Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit, and her witness to her motherhood to her Lord – all
of these things happened as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s salutation. It is as if the Son of God
who dwelt in St. Mary’s womb has spoken Himself on His mother’s tongue, and has worked
through her action.
Elizabeth blessed Mary because she as become the mother of God by means of Incarnation of the
Word; and the church kept blessing her throughout generations ever since. St. Cyril the great
stood before the fathers in the Ehesus assembly and said, “Peace be to Mary to mother of God,
the world treasure so entirely royal, the undimmed lantern, the crown to virginity, the Orthodox
scepter, the incomprehensible altar, the habitation of the unbounded, the mother and the virgin.
Peace to you who conceived the uncontained in her sanctified virgin womb”.
The scholar Oreganus comments on Elizabeth’s words on her own tongue saying, “what good
work did I make? Or, of what importance are the deeds I made that the mother of my Lord would
come to see me?
Am I a saint? What perfection or what inward integrity that I accordingly deserve to obtain this
privilege: the visit of my Lord’s mother to me?!”
St. Ambrosios comments on the words saying, “And whence is this to me? what righteousness
did I make, or what right do I have…for I feel the miracle, and I can touch the mystery”.

The Virgin’s Hymn of Praise

When Elizabeth’s tongue was released in blessings to the Virgin, because she has believed the
promises and has carried the Word of God in her womb; likewise did the Virgin’s tongue began
do praise God. In this way the encounter was changed into practicing a life of worship on the
level of angelic hymn chanting of praise, of God’s glory, and declaring His sublime mysteries,
all said in excessive joy.
(Luke 1: 46, 47) “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in
God my Savoir”.
The scholar Oreganus says, “Before John’s birth, Elizabeth prophesied and before our Savior’s
birth Mary prophesied. Just as sin began with the woman and then reached the man, likewise did
salvation begin in the world by means of woman who overcame the weakness of their nature.
Let us now see the Virgin’s prophecy when she says “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my
spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior”. The spirit and the soul have both shared in the praise”
Eve has harmed her Creator when she distorted he soul her soul due to her disobedience, and she
ruined God’s good creation. Her life no longer gave praise to the Creator, and neither did her
depths declare his splendor. But St. Mary came to carry God’s Word in her womb, by means of
whom she regained her first beauty, and her spirit became joyful, for she is in God’s likeness and
his image.
The scholar Oreganus says, “there is a question: how can my soul magnify the Lord? Indeed, if
the Lord does not accept what is more or what is less, but rather the unchangeable, then, to what
extent can St. Mary say these words? ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord”? the more the spiritual
image becomes in its splendor by means of my deeds, thoughts and words, the more and the
bigger the image of the Lord becomes, and is hence praise all the more, first as the Lord’s picture
increases in its splendor in us, likewise, if we err, the picture becomes smaller, and fades in ??”.
He concludes his words declaring our obligation not to make a man or an animal’s image, s
mentioned in Deuteronomy, which means we have to carry inside us God’s image. We therefore
should not have an image or a picture of a lion, or a fix or any kind of beast. From the words he
said “when we are plunged in our own pleasures, we are wearing the mask of a goat”.
As for St. Mary’s words: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior”, this implies an
important godly concept: that though St. Mary is of tremendous sublimity, yet she needs
‘salvation’ as everybody else does. She rejoices in Him, because she was born carrying the
original serious sin that we have inherited from our first forefathers.
The saint has realized the mystery of obtaining God’s grace for she said, “For he hath regarded
the low estate of his handmaiden”. She did not say that God has looked upon her prayers or
fasting or her watchfulness at night, or her justice or her wisdom. He rather looked upon the low
estate of his handmaid. She has come to know the way to reach God’s mercies, and take by force
his gifts, which is ‘lowliness’. If the adversary has lost his position due to his pride, he thus made
pride an ambush by means of which he could take prey of all mankind to his dark kingdom. He
would thus deprive us of our Creator, the source of our life.
(Luke 1: 48-50) “for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is
mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear
him from generation to generation”. St. Mary has realized the tremendous gift she has obtained
for she has become blessed with Him whom she carries in her womb. This is why all the
generations, that is, all the believers throughout the ages, shall bless her because of what God did
to her; and thus we find the church full of liturgies in blessing her, declaring God’s deed in her
and with her, by becoming the Word in flesh, the Savior of the world.
We bless her throughout the ages, not as a virgin who lived and then died, but as a virgin in
whom God’s tremendous work of salvation has been transfigured in her life. For every believer
who looks p to her, could see God’s wonderful grace that was granted to mankind. If the virgin
has been blessed with the motherhood of the Lord Jesus because she carried Him incarnate in her
womb, just as she also carried Him by means of faith in her heart, likewise does the soul that is
blessed with the partnership in Christ is also blessed with a kind of motherhood. This is why
Father Methodosious says, “the church is in a state or labor until the Lord is formed and is born
inside us. for every saint is blessed in the partnership with Christ, as if Christ is born in him all
anew”.
St. Ambrosios also says, “Be careful so as to fulfill the Father’s will so you be a mother to Christ
(Mark 3: 35)”.
St. Cyril the great comments on the remaining part of the Virgin’s praising hymn saying, “He
hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their
hearts”. St. Mary refers to ‘the arm’ as to mean the Lord Jesus Christ to whom she gave birth;
‘the proud’ refers to Satan and his hosts that have been misled by their pride, and thus they fell
into the mire of humiliation and misery. St. Mary a refers by ‘the proud’ to the Greek wise
people who rejected to accept the Christian faith, which they claimed to be ‘ignorant’. She also
refers to the Jewish multitude who did not believe in Jesus Christ, and thus they got scattered all
over the earth.
Christ brought down whose of dignity and pride from their positions. Satan’s power and his hosts
have collapsed, and they no longer possessed the world front by besieging the multitudes of the
human race. The Jewish scribes and the Pharisees fell from their earthly glory because they
haughtily rejected to accept the Lord Jesus.
(Luke 1: 52) “He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree”.
Satan’s hosts and the Greek philosophers, as well as the Jewish scribes and Pharisees, all got
drowned in the sea of false pride and vain imagination. Therefore God humiliated them, and
uplifted over them people of the lowly hearts and good conscience (Luke 10: 19) for they were
given “power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy, and nothing
shall by any means hurt you”. The defiled and base conspiracies will not harm us neither will
those tricks managed by the disdainful proud ones.
Haven’t the Jews has one day a very spacious country, but because of their lack of belief they
shrunk to where they are today. But as for the Gentiles, their faith has strengthen them to have
power of a refined level and an honorable status.
(Luke 1: 53) “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away”.
By ‘the hungry’ it is meant ‘the human bulk’, for all the people except for the Jews, were in need
of God’s glory and have tasted the bitterness of hunger. These were none among the people,
except for the Jews, who were able to be blessed with the pleasures of the old law, and the
education of their minds with apostles and prophets’ teachings; for (Rom 9: 4) “to whom
pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the
service of God, and the promises”; but their haughtiness led them to the abyss of pride and
distain. They have rejected to worship the Incarnate God. It is not surprising, therefore, if they
return with no faith, no knowledge, no hope, no grace, since they were cast out of the earthly
Jerusalem, and even kicked out of the life of glory and grace which appeared, for they did not
accept the authority of life. They have crucified the Lord of glory, and have deserted the living
spring of life, and they did not value the living bread coming down from heaven. It is not
surprising, thus, if they taste the bitterness of hunger like no one else did. Their tongues got
burned with thirst like nothing else, for their hunger and their thirst were not to be touched
materially. They were of spiritual implication, or as Amos says (Am 8: 11) “Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a
thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD”.
As for atheists who became believers, they often suffers from spiritual thirst and they were heart-
broken with misery, yet their souls were satisfied with the richness of God’s word, and their
hearts were quenched with the healing living water, because they have accepted the Lord Jesus
Christ. Thus they obtained the promises that were previously assigned to the Jews.
(Luke 1: 54) “He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy”.
The Lord did not help Israel according to the body; though Israel was distinguished by his pride,
his descent and relations. The Lord rather helped Israel according to the spirit that values the
name and would work to uplift it and honor it. this would be achieved by the confidence in God,
and in the faith in His Son, and also by obtaining the blessing of adoption from the Lord Jesus,
according to God’s promises to the prophets and popes of the Old Testament.
The verse also refers to the Jewish multitudes in the body. These are the ones who believed in
the Lord Jesus Christ.
For God almighty be His name, promised Abraham saying that his descent would be blessed
(Heb 2: 16) “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of
Abraham”.
Finally, after recording the praiseful hymn, he said (Luke 1: 56) “And Mary abode with her
about three months, and returned to her own house”.
The scholar Oreganus comments on these evangelical words saying, “If St. Mary’s coming to
Elizabeth and her salutation were enough to make the babe leap joyfully, and for Elizabeth to
prophesy after her being filled with the Holy Spirit…if all of this happened in an hour, we can
imagine the tremendous progress that John achieved in the period of three months in which St.
Mary lived with Elizabeth. In one moment, or on the spot, the babe leaped in his mother’s womb,
or in the words he jumped in excessive joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; so how
much more would Elizabeth and John increase in development in the period of three moths,
when they were close to the mother of God, and the Savior Himslef would be present! In these
three months John was getting stronger in the heroes’ arena, and getting prepared when still in
his mother’s womb to an amazing birth and a more amazing education! For he lived in the
wilderness until the time came for him to appear to Israel”.

John’s Birth and the Circumcision

(Luke 1: 57, 58) “Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought
forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy
upon her; and they rejoiced with her”.
When Elisabeth became blessed with God’s kindness and His grace in her womb (John) and
when she became filled with the Holy Spirit, this was put into effect by the actual delivery of
John in his due time, which rejoiced the hearts of many. In this way, likewise, we too have to put
into effect what godly blessings we have in our depths, to outer fruits that rejoices those in
heaven and on earth.
St. John’s birth rejoiced the hearts, and has released them towards praising God in true joy. St.
Ambrosios says, “On the birth of saints, joy overrules everybody, for it is a blessing to
everyone”.
When it was time for the circumcision, they wished to name him Zacharias as his father’s name.
But as for his mother who was filled with the Holy Spirit she said ‘John’. Even Zacharias himself
asked for a board of wax, and wrote the name ‘John’, without any previous agreement with his
wife, and his tongue was released at once, and he prophesied. It is as if when the Spirit of God
came to lead the situation, the two spouses Zacharias and Elisabeth had not only one fruit in
common, that is John, but they also had one thought in the Lord.
We can also say when God’s Spirit takes over the leadership in our life, Elisabeth gets in
harmony with Zacharias in thought and work. This means the body (Elisabeth) goes in harmony
with the soul (Zacharias) so as to work together in one sanctified thought.
At any rate, though God did not deprive the parents of naming their son, for they named him out
of their own will, yet the name was from the Lord and by his guidance. When God takes over our
life, He takes care of us, even in giving us our name. For the Lord has previously called Abraam,
Abraham, and Sarai, Sarah, and Jacob, Israel…etc.
Now that Zacharias has been blessed with God’s gift to him, in giving him ‘John’ (Luke 1: 64)
“And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God”
Then great fear fell on all those around, and these things were spoken of in all of Judea. So all
those who heard it pondered about it in their hearts saying (Luke 1: 65, 66) “What manner of
child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him”.
When we are blessed with the God’s kindness, our inward mouth in opened, and our tongue is
loosened in joyful praise, blessing the Lord not in human words, but by God’s power so that
God’s fear falls on all those around us. The true believer, in his touch with God, carries joy and
gladness, and his entire life is changed to an inward mouth that gives praise. This praise shakes
those in heaven in excessive harmonious joy, and destroys the adversary.
John’s birth became a preaching, sermon, though it had begun mysteriously, but the Lord’s hand,
that is, the Son the Word has become a companion to him so as to support him; for He took John
to the wilderness, and there He took care of him, so that He appears to Israel at the appropriate
due time.

Zacharias The Priest’s Prophecy

Zacharias the priest was blessed with God’s kindness and His grace, that is, by John. His tongue
got loosened and he praised the Lord under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He was able to see
God’s plan for salvation was not solely for him, and neither was it solely for his tirbe, it rather
comprised everyone.
The evangelist says (Luke 1: 68) “And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his
people”. The scholar Oreganus comments on this saying, “when Zacharias was filled with the
Holy Spirit, he prophesied two general prophecies: the first concerns Christ, and the second
concerns John the Baptist and his coming. It is clear from Zacharias’ words that he spoke of the
Savior as actually present in the world, then his words about John follow after”.
St. Ambrosios says, “The man who was dumb for a long time has begun to prophesy! He has
become filled with God’s grace which made the suspicious people to praise Him! I wish every
person not to lose his confidence and not to despair when he thinks over his previous sins, and
that he remembers God’s blessings”.
He prophesied about Christ saying (Luke 1: 69, 70) “And hath raised up an horn of salvation for
us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have
been since the world began”. St. Jerome says, “the Horn in the Holy Book means the kingdom or
authority”. St. Gregory El Nazinzi says, “When we were cast down, our salvation horn was
raised for our sake”.
St. Cyril the great says, “The word ‘horn’ does not only refer to power but also to the royal
authority. The Lord Jesus our Savior who came from King David’s family is the king of kings
and the Father’s great power”. The scholar Oreganus says, In truth, the peak of salvation came
from the house of David. The prophecy came to reverberate the words that honor has been
planted at the summit. And what summit is it? it is Jesus Christ about whom is written “and hath
raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; and he spoke by the mouth
of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began”.
(Luke 1: 71) “That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us”.
The scholar Oreganus says, “what is meant here are not the physical enemies, but rather the
spiritual ones. And indeed, Jesus came strong in the fight so as to wipe out all our enemies, and
save us from their evils, and liberate us from our enemies and all those who hate us”.
(Luke 1: 72) “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy
covenant?.
St. Cyril the great says, “Christ is the mercy and the justice, because through Him we have
obtained mercy, and have become justified by wiping out our sins because of our faith in Him”.
the scholar Oreganus says, “I believe that the coming of the Lord our Savior has benefited
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob our fathers, by God’s foregiveness to them; for it is impossible to be
assured that these men who had prophesied of this day, and have rejoiced for it, have not
benefited by the Savior’s coming and His miraculous birth. Whey do we fear saying that His
coming made our fathers benefit from it?”
The Savior’s coming declared God’s mercy with our forefathers and fulfills His constant
promises, that have been manifested clearly in the days of Abraham, with whom God made a
sanctified covenant and with an oath, for he says (Luke 1: 73-75) “The oath which he sware to
our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of
our life”. This covenant was fulfilled by Christ’s coming, and it is of two sections: the first
section is the victory over our spiritual enemies, that is, the powers of darkness, without any fear
on our part. The Lord has destroyed their ambushes, and has destroyed their authority under our
feet, if we only carry Him in us. As for the second section, and which goes together with the first
one, it is our entry into inheritance, worshiping the Lord in holiness and righteousness. That is,
we have a new nature to live by all the days of our life.
This is concerning the prophecy about the Lord Jesus. As for John the Baptist, he said (Luke 1:
76-79) “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the
face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the
remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on
high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the way of peace”.
What follows are some comments of the fathers regarding this prophecy:
 “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest”. I wish you also to notice that
Christ is the Highest, and that John was ahead of Christ in birth and work. So what is it that
denies the coming of Christ’s goodliness? (this concerns the Ariosites).
“to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”.
John the Baptist was a shining bright light amidst Judea: (Psalm 132: 17) “I have ordained a
lamp for Mine anointed”.
In Moses’ law one of the lamps was always lit in the assembly tent, as a symbol of John.
But the Jews, after they had assembled around John’s baptism basin for a ehilw, they
deserted it and departed. They exerted their utmost to blow out the brightly lit lamp. It is not
surprising therefore that Christ describes John the Baptist saying, (John 5: 35) “he was a
burning and shining light, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light”.
(Luke 1: 79) “to guide our feet into the way of peace”; The world was knocked about in the
very dark mazes, and in shameful ignorance. The cloud of ignorance forbade the multitude of
people from seeing the Lord Jesus, the redeemer. He is the God of truth and justice, the Lord
of all was manifested to the Israelites, a light to them and a sun to their souls.
St. Cyril the great
 I think Zacharias was quick to address the words to the babe, because he knew that John
would go to live in the wilderness, and that he would not enjoy his presence after that.
Actually, (like 1: 80) “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts
till the day of his shewing unto Israel?
Moses also lived in the deserts, but that was after his escape from Egypt, and he was forty
years old then. But as for John, since his birth he had gone to the wilderness. It was he about
whom was said he is the greatest of all those born of women, and he was worthy of the most
excellent upbringing.
The scholar Oreganus
 Some may think this is exaggeration that these words he addressed to a child of eight days.
But we are able to realize that this is quite possible, for the embryo was able to hear St.
Mary’s voice before his birth. Because John was a prophet, prophets have other ears opened
by God’s Spirit, and they are not opened by the body’s growth, John was able to understand
for he had previously leaped joyfully in his mother’s womb.
St. Ambrosios
Revised by Isis Hafez
Chapter Two

The Birth of the Heavenly Friend

The heavenly friend found no other place to be born other than the manger. But He opened
the doors of heaven for the meek at heart to listen to the angelic voice congratulating them on
the great joy that will reign over people. He was taken into the temple as a child, and so
opened the eyes of the elder Simon who was joyfully eager to be released to paradise. He had
realized the Light that would be declared to the nations. The child also made Hannah’s
tongue deliver praises in prophecies. At the age of twelve, He entered the temple to amaze the
elders with his teachings.
1 Our friend’s Birth 1- 7
2 The Shepherd’s Heraldry 8 – 20
3 The Lord’s Circumcision 21
4 The Sacrifice offering 22- 24
5 The Praise of Simon the Elder 25- 35
6 The Praise of Hannah, the Daughter of Phanuel 36 -38
7 The Return to Nazareth 39 -40
8 Jesus in the Temple 41-52

1 Our Friend’s Birth:

In the previous chapter we saw God’s amazing plan in His preparation for our
heavenly Friend. The heaven opened to send the archangel Gabriel heralding the birth of
John, the forerunner of the Lord. He also heralded the virgin girl of Nazareth of the holy
conception. Elizabeth became filled with the Holy Spirit when she heard St Mary’s
salutation. The babe in her womb leapt in joy, Zechariahs’ tongue was loosened in praise
and he gave thanks to God, blessing the God of Israel not for the birth of John, but rather
for the sake of He to whom John was to prepare the way, Zechariah has seen the
forefathers and the prophets who had been sleeping rejoiced for God’s fulfillment of His
holy promise concerning the Messiah, the coming Savior. Now he speaks in simplicity
about Christ’s birth, showing clearly how God used, even the human means such as the
Roman decree dyed in the Jewish colour to fulfill his divine goal and the prophetic
fulfillment. The evangelist says:
(Luke 2: 1-4) “ And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from
Ceasar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria and all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of
David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and lineage of David”

In the days of Cauis or Octavius Caiphas, who was granted by the assembly of
dignitaries the title “Augustus” This word meant in Latin “the revered”. The decree was
that the entire world was to be taxed. This means, all the countries subjected to the
Roman Empire, which used to overrule the cultural world at that time. This was a decree
to satisfy the emperor’s passion for greatness. He wishes to extend more and more his
overpowering authority, so he would be supported in the tax collection. The decree was
according to the Roman regime, in which it could be carried out at any site, without the
necessity of each person going to the town where he was brought up. But the Romans,
who wished to please the Jews, commanded that it should be performed according to the

1
 Jewish regime, where each person would register his name in his place of origin. In this
was Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem in Judea to register their names as they
were of the house and tribe of David.

It was quite tedious for the elderly Joseph and the expecting St Mary to carry out this
mission, particularly because the town was filled with those coming; they therefore could
not find any place in the inn, and they had to sleep in a manger for St Mary to have her
delivery there. This apparently came to take place, based on the emperor’s command to
register in a Jewish fashion. But the hidden reality was that what happened was God’s
plan declared previously by the prophet “Micah 5:2” “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me
the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”

What follows are some of the comments said by the fathers regarding the above
mentioned:
“Luke 2:1-3” “ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed….” Christ was born, therefore, in
Bethlehem in the days of Ceasar Augustus the ruler. He had given a decree of the statistic
of his country. Yet someone may ask” why has the wise writer mentioned these things?”.
The answer is that it was necessary to specify the time in which the Savior was born. It
has been recorded “Gen 49:10” “ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the
people”. It was also to make us know that the children of Israel were not to carry this out,
at the time of the Redeemer, the king of the house of David. For Judah at this age was
subjected to the scepter of the Roman Rule.
“Luke 2:4” “ Because he was of the house and lineage of David”. The Holy Gospel
referred to the lineage of Joseph, so as to observe his descent from David the King, his
great forefather.
This revered reference also proves that the Virgin Mary was of Judah’s tribe, to whom
the house of David is attributed, because the godly law restrained the marriage of one tribe.
This means the wife and the husband are not contracted in marriage unless they were of one
tribe.
The interpreter of the heavenly facts is St Paul, the great apostle, who declared the rights
of this tradition, for he witnessed that the Lord (Heb 7:14) “For it is evident that our Lord
sprang out of Judah”.
“Luke 2:5” “To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child”
The holy evangelists say that Mary was engaged to Joseph, which is clearly evident that the
pregnancy occurred in the time of engagement and that Emmanuel was born by a miracle that
does not agree with acknowledged natural laws, for Mary did not conceive by means of
human seed. The reason for this is that Christ is the ‘Prime of everyone”. He is the second
Adam as mentioned in the holy books. He has been born by means of the Holy Spirit, so he
would convey to us through His spiritual birth, the grace and truth. For God wanted that we
be no more called “man’s children” but rather the children of God, our Savior, based on the
new spiritual birth in Christ first, because he is ahead of us in everything, as the wise St Paul
says in Colossians 1: 15
St Cyril the Great

+ Of what use is it to me, this matter mentioned concerning the “first decree” that the entire
world is to be taxed, in the reign of Caesar Augustus? This is, when St Joseph took St Mary
his pregnant espoused wife and went amidst the entire world to register in this special

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registration the decree to state Christ’s coming into the world. His coming pointed to a
mystery, for Christ’s name had to be registered in this decree of taxes. His name had to be
registered with everyone, so that all mankind be saved and sanctified bestowing on them to
live with Him one life! By this record He wished to register everyone’s name with Him in the
book of life “Phil 4: 3”. All those who believe in Him, their names would be written in
heaven “Luke 10: 20”with the saints.
The scholar Oreganos
+ What relation is there between the issuing of a certain matter by a human authority and that
of the birth of Jesus Christ, other than the manifestation of God’s provision? The human
matter had the source of God’s will. It had to be fulfilled in the name of the heavenly king
and not the earthly one.
Here lies the work of faith in subscribing the soul, for it is appropriate for every man to be
subscribed all the days of his life in Jesus Christ.
This order of decree does not spring up from Augustus but rather from Christ for the entire
universe “Psalm 24: 1” “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they
that dwell therein”. For Augustus did not reign over the Goethe tribes or the Armenian
people; but as for Christ he has dominions over everyone.

St Joseph together with St Mary traveled to Bethlehem, which means “the house of
bread”; so that the “Bread of Life” is born there. His name was subscribed with mankind in
the registration, so he shares with us everything, even in statistics and would be counted as
one of us. For it was said (Is 53: 12) “He was numbered with transgressors” and thus we
would be numbered in his Holy Book and counted as his friends.

In Bethlehem the Virgin gave birth, for it was said, (Luke 2:6,7) “ And so it was, that
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in Swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a
manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” What follows are some of the
fathers’ comments on the statement “her first born son” and on his birth in a manger.
+ Here at this point, we can say that every only child is the firstborn. But not every first born
is the only child. We understand that the word “firstborn” does not only mean that others
follow him, but it generally means he who has not been preceded by anyone in birth. For the
Lord tells Aaron (Numbers 18: 15) “Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which
they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man
you shall surely redeem and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem” God’s words
therefore, specifies the prime or firstborn is he who opens the womb. Otherwise if the word
only means he who has younger brothers than himself, then it will be difficult for the priest to
specify who is the firstborn until other brothers after him are born, lest no one follows him in
birth, and thus he would not be called the firstborn since he is the only one.

The book also says (Numbers 18:16,17) “ and those redeemed of the devoted things you
shall redeem when one month old, according to your valuation, for five shekels of silver,
according to the shekel of the sanctuary which is twenty gerahs. But the firstborn of a cow,
the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat you shall not redeem, that they are holy.
You shall sprinkle their blood on the alter…” In this way the commandment rules we sanctify
to God all that opens the womb if they are clean animals. As for the defiled animals these are
redeemed and their price is given to the priest.
So, how can we distinguish the firstborn animal? Or shall I tell the priest “How can you tell if
this is a firstborn? There could be others that would be born after, or there may be none to be
born. Wait till the second one follows, otherwise there is nothing that I could do” Isn’t this

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stupidity which is not accepted because it goes without saying that the firstborn is all that
opens the womb, whether there be will others or not.
St Gerone
+ The meaning of “Her firstborn” is, the first to be born, this does not mean that he is one
amongst several others but rather one amongst the firstborn. The gospel uses the word “first
born” or “first” in various places. The word was not meant except for one only. It was said
“Isaiah 44:6) “ I am the First and I am he last, besides Me there is no God”
The word “first” has been added to the newborn to show that the Virgin had no other son
except Jesus, the Son of God, as the inspiration says (Ps 89:27) “ also I will make Him My
Firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth”. Moreover, the wise St Paul says”Heb1: 6 “
And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith and let all the angels
of God worship Him” How did Christ the firstborn go into the world whereas he is far away
from the world by His own nature and is different than the human species in their nature?
He entered the world by God becoming man. Though He is the only begotten Son of God, yet
He is our Prime firstborn for we are all brothers to Him and thus we have become God’s
children.
Notice that Christ is called firstborn in regards to us and he is the only begotten Son of
God in regards to the Only One God. For Christ is the only Son of God because He is the
Father ‘s Word. He has no brothers to share Him His childhood because the Son is united
with the Father. He is one God and there is no other. But Christ is the firstborn to us because
this was His will that He comes down to the level of the natural creatures. This is why you
find the holy book referring to Jesus the Son of God by the words (John 1: 18) “The only
begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father” But if the Holy Book uses the word
“firstborn” then the holy inspiration interprets it in a way that shows its implication and thus
it is mentioned (Rom 8: 29) that He might be the firstborn among many brethren “ It was also
mentioned (Col 1: 18) “the firstborn from the dead”.
Christ is the first born from the dead because he shared us everything except for iniquity
because he raised the body from corruption of death.
Moreover Christ by His nature is the only begotten Son of God, God of God, the Only from
the Only, and Light of Light. But He is the firstborn with regards to us so that anyone who
resembles Him is saved by Him. He is the first born and we are His brethren.

St Cyril the Great

+ Give honor to the manger, even if you have lost the sensitivity, and man has become as an
animal, you will find in the manger the Word as food for you.

St Gregory the Nazinzi

+ God found man has been degraded to the animal level. Therefore He put Himself as food
in the manger so that if we got rid of the beastly nature we are uplifted to the level of
understanding and consciousness, befitting the human nature. By drawing closer to the
manger, to his special table, we do not find any material food but rather the heavenly bread
who is the living body.

St Cyril the Great

+ He was born in a manger to upright you to the altar. He came down to earth to upright you
to heaven. He could find no place for Himself except in the cow’s manger so He prepares for
you mansions in heaven (John 14:2) As the apostle says (2 Cor 8:9) “ that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich” For my
inheritance is the poverty of Christ and my strength is the weakness of Christ.

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St Ambrosios

+ You monks; the Lord was born on earth, and he did not even have a cell to be born in and
no place at the inn. The entire human race has a place, and the Lord, at His birth had no
place. He had no place to find among the people, neither in Plato nor in Aristotle, but He
found a place in the manager, among the meek and the innocent. For this reason the Lord said
in the gospel that the foxes have their holes, and the birds have their nests, but the son of Man
has nowhere to lay His head.

St Jerome
2 The Shepherd’s annunciation
The birth of the Lord Jesus took place far away from people’s sight. The kings and the
dignitaries had not heard of it, and neither did the chief priests or the scribes and the
Pharisees, the Sadducees nor any people of the old law. It was in such a way that the
earth received its Creator- in absolute silence. But heaven could not possibly be silent,
for the angels of the Lord came to some shepherds watching over their flock by night. It
may have been, in their heart simplicity, pre-occupied with their own salvation. The angel
came to stand by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them (Luke 2:9) and
they were greatly afraid (Luke 2: 10-12) “ and the angel said unto them “ Fear not for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to
you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manager.”
What follows are some comments of the fathers concerning the joyful annunciation:
+ So many prophets declared the birth of Christ in the flesh, and His taking the semblance
of man in the fullness of time. The heavenly hosts chanted, the joyful and awesome
heraldry of the savior, the Redeemer’s birth. The shepherds in Bethlehem were the first
to be heralded with this joyful news. These shepherds are a symbol of the spiritual
shepherds to whom the Lord Jesus Christ is manifested, and thus they preach in His name
everywhere, just as the shepherds of Bethlehem were heralded in this village of theirs,
when they heard the joyful annunciation said by the pure angels. As you see, it was the
angels who were the first to announce Christ’s birth to the world, and they glorified God,
the incarnate God born of a woman in an awesome fashion.
Someone may ask “ Christ was laying humbly in a manager wrapped in swaddling
clothes, so why did the heavenly hosts glorify Him as Lord and Master?
You man meditate in depth in understanding this great mystery. God has appeared first as
you have appeared. He took the form of a slave in bondage, yet His godliness has not
been divided from Him under any condition. Do you not understand that the only
begotten Son of God has become flesh and that he has accepted willingly to be born of a
woman? All this was due to His love for us, to cast away the curse that has befallen the
first Eve; for she was told (Gen 3: 16) “ in pain you shall bring forth children” With the
woman’s birth of Emanuel in the flesh the cursed knot has been loosened from her!
Furthermore the wise St Paul says (Rom 8:2,3) “ For the law of the spirit of life in Jesus
Christ hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in
that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.
What do the words “in the likeness of sinful flesh” signifies? It signifies that the law of
sin embedded in the body together with the vain tendencies and corrupt passions. But
when Christ became incarnate, and He took our semblance, His body became pure and

5
sacred. Therefore Christ has become like us, but he has none of our vain tendencies that
are so corrupt. He has been freed of all the covetousness and evil impulses that lead us to
commit the forbidden and rejected deeds and the despicable iniquity.

Therefore, whenever you see the Lord, the Christ Lord Jesus, wrapped in swaddling
clothes, do not see Him in the flesh, but rather look attentively and meditate on His divine
glory. Be uplifted in your mind, up to the heavens so as to behold His awesome glory
(Is.6: 1) “sitting on a throne, high and lifted up.” You will listen to the seraphim’s signing
of the glory, His worship and adoration, all to the Lord Jesus Christ who fills the earth
with His awesomeness and His divine glory.
Contemplate on Christ’s glory on earth, all in brilliant light shining on the shepherds, and
the heavenly hosts singing joyfully. For Moses did prophesy many centuries ago saying
“Be joyful ye people His nations”
There has been born many prophets, yet the angels have not rejoiced on any of their
births, as happened at Christ’s birth. This is because those prophets were human like us,
ministers to God, carrying the word. But this was not the case with Christ; for He is God
and Lord, the one who sent those prophets and saints. As the psalmist says (Ps 89:6) “For
who is in heaven can be compared into the Lord? Who among the sons of the Mighty can
be likened unto the Lord?”
For Christ was willing to bestow on us the grace of being his children, we who are
under the world yoke, and are bond some by means of our nature. As for Christ, He is the
real son, for He is by His nature, the son of the father, even after His incarnation. As I
said before, He remained as He was before, despite taking the form of man, which He did
not have before. What I am imparting to you now is thoroughly truthful for Isaiah
prophesy in assurance (Is 7:14, 15) “ Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and
shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey he shall eat, that He may know to refuse
the evil and choose the good.”
What does this entire mean? It signifies that Christ when still a nursing infant, has
eaten curds and honey. Because He is God incarnate, He only knew what is good, and
was stripped off from any of man’s sins. This quality is only attributed to God Almighty,
for it is written (Luke 18: 10) that there is no one righteous except one who is God.
Moreover, Isaiah prophesied (Is 8:3) Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived
and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “ Call his Maher-Shalal-Hash- Baz (that is, “be
quick and take bondsmen, and profit from the spoils) for before the child have knowledge
to cry “My father” and “My mother”, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria
will be taken away before the king of Assyria.” With Christ’s birth, Satan’s thorn was
broken, and his dominions got usurped, and he has to have many supporters worshipping
him in Damascus. But when the Virgin gave birth to Jesus Christ, Satan’s power
disappeared and the wisdom of the adversary faded away. For even the atheists
themselves knew of the morning sun appearance- the Lord Jesus. The wise men, the
magicians traveled from east to Jerusalem, having no guidance to lead them on except
that of the heavenly star. Therefore do not look upon the babe in the manger only as an
infant, but rather look upon Him as a rich and able God, a Redeemer and a great savior,
surpassing the heavenly hoists in power and magnitude. It is His tight that the angles
proclaim joyfully and reverently His birth, thus it is most beautiful indeed that the angels
sing in praises of His glory so sublime.
St Cyril the Great
+ Notice the roots of the birth of the church; Christ has been born while the shepherds
were watching over their flocks by night. These flocks came from all the nations and

6
from the gentile to the Lord’s fold so the beasts would not attack them. The shepherds are
able to keep watch just as the good Shepherd has taught them.
The flocks are the peoples, and the nighttime is the world, whereas the shepherds are the
priests.

St Ambrosios
+ The angel came down from heaven and declared His birth. We can see here the Lord’s
angel being called to herald Christ’s birth, but he did not go to Jerusalem, neither did he
search for the scribes or the Pharisees. He did not go either into the Jewish synagogue,
but he searched for those shepherds watching their flocks by night.
+ The Lord’s angel came to the shepherds and spoke to them. Listen you angels of the
churches; the Lord’s angel still comes down from heaven to declare to you that today a
savior who is Christ the Lord has been born to you. Indeed, if this savior had not come
down, the church shepherds would not have been able to take care of their flocks all by
themselves. Their case would have failed, had not Christ himself taken care of them
together with those church shepherds! We are able to read what was said by the apostles
“We are God’s harvest” The good Shepherd is he who follows His Master, the good
shepherd, and thus he works by means of God the father and by means of Christ.

The Scholar Oreganos

+ Look at how the angels sing in praises, and how the archangels sing in harmony and
concord. The cherubim constantly sing their joyful and happy praises, and the seraphim
keep glorifying Him incessantly.
All have united together to honor this glorious festival, looking upon God on earth, and
man up in heaven. He who is of above dwells here on earth for the sake of our salvation,
whereas man, who comes from earth is uplifted to the heavens above by means of the
divine mercy.
Bethlehem is now on equal level with the heaven; you can hear the voices of angles
praising God from the stars all around. Instead of the sun, the Sun of righteousness shines
from all sides.
St John Chrysostom
+ Today the shepherds rejoiced (Daniel 4:13) and there was a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven “who could sleep on the night like this, when all the world is
watchful?”
Adam brought sleep on all the world by means of his iniquity, but He who watched came
down to wake us up from the deep sleep of iniquity.
+Tonight, the heavenly hosts above have united with the watchful earthly shepherds, for
the watcher, the guard, to create guards and shepherds amidst the creation.
Look at this: the watchful shepherds have become colleagues to the heavenly guards.
Therefore sing praises with the seraphim!
Blessed is he who becomes a violin for your praises; for your grace and blessings will be
your reward!
+ The heavenly hosts have spoken of their peace to the watchful shepherds.
The heavenly guards have come to proclaim the good news to those who were watching
at night! The guards have blended together, and all have come to rejoice, for the world
has come to life!
St Abram the Syrinite
In this way the Lord has sent His angle to herald the watchful shepherds of the joyful
news” to all the people”. This angel was not a mere messenger of the good news, he was

7
rather a partner with humanity in their happiness, he and all the heavenly hosts. The
heavens have opened for a host of angles to come down so as to share us our spiritual
delight. The evangelists says (Luke2: 13, 14) “ And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host” praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and
on earth peace, good will toward men “ (that is, the good will power).
+ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will-power toward men” In
the heavens above, there is no sin, but rather there is constant praising and glorifying and
singing hymns incessantly. But as for on the earth, where disobedience, discord and
divisions occur and prevail, then has come to be the desperate need for peace together
with prayer. This does not fall on all people, but on those of good will power.

St Jerome
+ It has been mentioned the manifestation of the heavenly host who have followed the
chief of the hosts. To whom do the angles give this honor except to their Lord? As it was
said “Glorify the Lord from above”
St Ambrosias
+ If you wish to learn something of the cherubim or the seraphim, then listen to the hymn
of His mysterious sanctification, for both heaven and earth are full of His glory (Is 6:3)

St John Chrysostom
This angelic hymn of praise has drawn the attention of the church, and thus the church
was eager to use it in praise together with the heavenly host. This is why the church has
made use of it in the morning prayers, as mentioned in “the apostles codes”. We still use
it in the morning prayers, and thus we begin our day in joyful praise with the angles due
to His overwhelming deeds in His divine incarnation.
St Augustine often commented on the expression “good will towards men”: he assures us
of God’s sanctification to human freedom, so we might have the good will- power to act
freely and not as an obligation. On another occasion he says, “Righteousness pertains to
the good will-power”.

When the angles departed, the men said to one another” Luke (2: 16) “ Let us go even
unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass which the Lord hath made
known unto us”. They came to witness what they were imparted with, and thus they have
become preachers of it, for it is written (Luke 2: 18) “ and all they that heard it wondered
at those things which were told to them by the shepherds”
St Ambrosias says, “ The shepherds hastened to search for Christ unslothfully, because
the shepherds believed the angles’ words”
St Abram presents to us a delightful picture of the encounter between the shepherds
and the baby shepherd, for he says “ The shepherds came carrying the best gifts from
their flocks” delicious milk, and fresh meat, and appropriate praise. They gave the meat
to Joseph, the milk to Mary and the praise to the Son. They brought a small young lamb
and offered it to the Passover Lamb! They offered the first born to the first-born son, a
sacrifice to the sacrificed One, and a temporary earthly lamb to the true Lamb! What a
beautiful sight to see the Lamb given the gift of a lamb.
The shepherds drew near Him, and worshipped Him, having their canes in their
hands. They saluted Him in peace, saying “ Peace to the Prince of peace. Here is Moses’
cane praising Your cane, you shepherd to all, because Moses is praising you, even though
his sheep have become wolves, and His flock as if they have become like dragons!
You are He whom the shepherds praise for You have reconciled the wolves with the
lambs in the fold!

8
St Mary was greatly touched by this encounter for as the evangelist says, (Luke 2: 19)
“ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” St Ambrosias comments
on this saying” From the shepherds’ words, St Mary reaped her elements of faith” He also
says” If St Mary has learnt in the school of shepherds, then why do you reject to learn at
the school of priests? If St Mary has kept the secret hidden, then why do you want
education more than silence?

3 The Lord’s Circumcision

In our study of the book of Genesis, we have seen how every male of Abraham’s sons
was circumcised as a sign of the holy covenant with God, and entering the membership in
the sanctified assembly (Gen.15) Anyone who is uncircumcised his soul is stripped off
from the sanctified people. But when the Word of God came in the flesh, He was not in
need of any circumcision for His own good, but He accepted to bend willingly as a true
friend to us, in submission to the law, just like any of us (Gal4: 4) He raised us from
under the law, for he alone is the only One who did not break the law. Therefore, the
Lord’s circumcision is a new step the Lord takes on the path of the cross, and His
submission in giving up the old law for our sake, fulfilling every righteousness (Matt
3:15). What follows are some of the comments said by our fathers concerning the Lord’s
circumcision.
+ The child about whom Isaiah spoke have been circumcised (Is 9:6) “For unto us a Child
is born, unto us a Son is given” (1Cor 9:5) He has become under the law to release those
under the law.
St Ambrosias
+ Now you find him obedient to Moses’ law, in other words, you find God the creator,
carrying out the law. He himself has decreed! Or as St Paul the wise apostle says (Gal4:
3-5) “ Even so, we, when we were children were in bondage under the elements of the
world: but when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His son, made of a woman,
made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons”

Therefore Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, we who were once slaves
to the old law, and have proven absolute incapability in working according to its codes.
How did He redeem us? By His keeping the commandments of the law. In other words,
Christ the Redeemer has yielded instead of us, to the Father our God, in absolute
obedience. As is it written, (Room 5:19)” for as by one man’s disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous?”
Christ gave Himself up to the law in our place, for it befits Him to fulfill every
righteousness. He has taken the form of a slave and has become one of us, we who are by
nature under the yoke of the law. He has paid half the shekel, which is the amount
imposed by the Roman government on the people. Even though Christ is the Son of God
yet there was no other option than to pay that amount, because He has accepted to take
our semblance.
When you see Christ in obedience to the law, do not suffer in pain, and do not put
Christ the free One among the bondsmen and slaves, but rather meditate on the depth of
this tremendous mystery, the mystery of redemption and salvation!
You can see He was circumcised on the eighth day. This was the day appointed for the
physical circumcision according to the old law. Our Redeemer has been called “Jesus”,
which means “the Savoir” of the people!

St Cyril the Great

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 4 The Sacrifice Offering:

St Cyril the great says: “ After Christ’s circumcision St Mary awaited the day for her
Purification. On the fortieth day after His birth, Jerusalem carried the Lord Jesus, God the
Word. It is He who sits at the right hand of God the Father. There He was in the presence of
God in the form of man, as we are too. According to the law, He was considered the firstborn,
for He has confessed the law, even before the redeemer’s incarnation in the position of the
prime firstborn. He was regarded as sanctified and is consecrated to God, and offered as a
sacrifice to God’s honor and glory. Indeed, how great and how amazing is the mystery of
salvation and redemption! (Rom11: 33) “ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God” He who is the Father’s embrace, this Holy son who shares the Father in
the heavenly throne, and by whom all things were created, that He submits to what the human
nature requires. It is He who offers the sacrifice to His Father, the overwhelming God,
whereas it is He to whom the entire creation gives worship and glorifies with this heavenly
Father at all times.
And what was Christ’s offering? The law commanded every first born had to offer a
sacrifice of “ a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons”. What do the turtledoves or the
pigeons refer to? Let us study together this significance or reference:
The turtledoves are the most clamorous and noisiest birds of the field, whereas the pigeons
are quiet and modest. The Redeemer was as such: He has manifested Himself as being so
gentle and merciful. He was also as turtledove, going everywhere, filling every place with
tenderness, gentleness, blessing and solace. In the book of Songs of Solomon 2:12 it is
written, “the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” For Christ has made us hear the
Gospel word which is the word for salvation to the entire world.
Hence, the turtledove and the pigeons were offered, just as Christ, the Son has been offered
before God the Father in the temple. In the same place you can thus see the symbol and the
reality.

Christ offered Himself a lovely fragrant so as to present us to God the Father. In this way
He has wiped out the animosity that has reigned in chains over the relation between God and
man. This came as a result of Adam’s transgression over the covenant of the Great God.
Christ has ripped off the iniquity that has enslaved us all. We were the ones to cry out in the
old times, each one calling on God saying (Ps 25:16) “Turn thee unto me and have mercy
upon me” St Jacob El Serougy says” The covenant of the law was given to Moses on the
mount with His Father, and He came to fulfill the pre-plan that taught us His trigasion of the
trinity.
He came for circumcision so no one would disbelieve His incarnation, and He came with
the sacrifice to show He was not any different than us.
He came with the turtledoves to form His symbol! St Mary carried the Receiver of us all,
together with His offering, so as to come with the sacrifice to the holy temple according to
the Law. St Joseph carried the pigeons and he came for the child’s sake and went up to the
holy place to present what Moses was commanded to do.
St Ambrosias says,” This is the meaning to the words (Exodes13: 12) “ That you shall set
apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is every firstborn…” The words of the covenant
were a symbol to the true and sinless fruit of the holy Virgin’s womb. This is supported by
the angle’s words (Luke 1:35) “ That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God”: For the virgin did not conceive by human means, but rather from the Holy

10
Spirit that has come upon her and has sanctified her. The Lord Jesus is the only One entirely
sanctified and holy among those born of women.
But how can we call every firstborn made holy, whereas we notice many of them are
evil? Was Ahab holy? But this is the holy One in whom is fulfilled the mysteries the law has
referred to, which is the long awaited for savior, by whom alone the sanctified virgin church
can give birth to a congregation of God, by means of an open womb, and to an inheritance of
no sin. It is He alone who has come out of the virgin’s womb. Therefore, when the Virgin
offered her firstborn son as sanctified to the Lord, she has only presented Him, for whose
sake the law has made every male that opens the womb holy, as a symbol of Him.
5 Praise of Simon the Elder
The story of Simon the elder as mentioned in the church tradition is summarized as
follows: He was one of the seventy-two Jewish elders who were asked by Ptolemy to
translate the Greek Torah (Old Testament), which was called the “Seventieth
Translation”. It is said that as he was in the process of translation, he wished to replace
the word “virgin” as mentioned in Isaiah prophecy “A virgin shall conceive” for the word
“ a young maiden” because he suspected the issue. But the angel of Lord appeared to him
and assured him he would not die before he sees the babe born of this virgin. And indeed,
due to the Holy Spirit inspiration, he carried the baby Jesus in his arms, and his tongue
uttered praises, eager to be released from this world, after he had witnessed by means of
the Spirit the salvation of the entire nations and peoples.

The events of Jesus’ birth have, for real, presented to us a delightful picture of the
Lord’s friendship with everyone. For here was a poor virgin who conceived and gave
birth, and this was a symbol of the church that is blessed with the spiritual virginity in her
unity with the Groom virgin, and thus the church delivered children who were spiritual
virgins. The old and barren also gave birth, the silent priest gave praises, the embryo in
the womb leaped joyfully, Anna the widow praised God and Simon the elder and the
righteous one who was expecting the Israel solace, is led by the Spirit to carry his
heavenly Friend in his arms.
Simon’s name means “the listener” or “ the obedient” and this may signify the
obedient Jewish believers who have long waited for the fulfillment of the prophecies.
They wish to be blessed with the aspiration of all the nations, the one long awaited for.
When the Spirit led them to the temple, they carried the Lord in their arms and they truly
wished to depart from the world, after their hearts were relieved regarding the people’s
salvation, and the declaration of God’s glory among all the nations.
+ If the woman who touched the hem of his garment was healed on the spot, so how
much more did Simon get blessed with when he carried Him in his arms in great joy and
delight?
He has carried the babe who came to release those in bondage and save them from
the physical ties. Simon knew there was no one to get him out of the physical
imprisonment with the promise of eternal life, except this child in him arms. He
addressed Him by the words” Lord now latest Thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to Thy word” For it has been for a longtime I have not carried the Lord Jesus, I
have not embraced Him on my arms. I was imprisoned and unable to untie my bonds.
These words do not concern to Simon alone, but they rather concern all humanity that
awaits Him.
+ Simon did not haphazardly go into the temple, or by mere coincidence. He was rather
led by the Spirit of God. You too, if you wish to take Christ and embrace Him in your
arms, and be ready to get released from your imprisonment, then struggle for the spirit to

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lead you into God’s temple. There you will find Christ, inside the church in the temple
erected of living stones.

The scholar Oreganos

+ It is the best evidence and witness that God’s ministers have peace, freedom and quiet
rest. When you quit the world disturbance, you achieve the city harbor and eternal
security, and when we reach death, we achieve immortality.

The Martyr Cyprians

+ Simon has departed, and has been freed from the physical bondage. The ambush has
been broken, and the bird flew in freedom.
St Gregory, Bishop of Nisus
+ Now that Simon the priest has carried Him in his arms to present Him before God, he
realized it was not he who was offering Him, but rather Simon was presented to God
through Him. Because the Son is not presented by the slave to His Father, but rather it is
the Son who offers the slave to his Master. He who is released in peace to God is only
being offered as an obligation to God!

St Abram the Syrianite

+ Christ was therefore carried to the temple when still a babe that is embraced. As soon as
the joyful Simon set his eyes on baby Jesus, he took Him in his arms, blesses God and
said “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For
mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel”. The mystery of
redemption was since the very old times, and before the creation of the world. But it was
only declared at the end of times, and thus it was light to those dwelling in darkness.
These were the ones under Satan’s strong hand (Rom1: 25) “ and worshipped and served
the creature more than the Creator” They have worshipped the dragon, the source of evil
and iniquity, and have obeyed the defiled hosts of Satan, and knelt down to them just as
they would worship the one God. Despite all this, God called on all these people to the
light of His true Son, for the prophet says (Zak10:8) “ I will whistle for them and gather
them, for I will redeem them, and they shall increase as they once increased. Will sow
them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries” Indeed, those who
were lost in being misled, are so many; yet God has called them, accepted them and
redeemed them. They have obtained as an assurance for peace, the blessing of adoption
by means of Jesus Christ.
The pure apostles were sowed among the peoples, and what was the result of this?
All who were far away drew neared to the throne of God, to the extent that St Paul the
apostle sent them a letter saying (Eph2: 13) “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes
were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”. By the drawing close of those people
to Christ, they will be gloried by Him, as God the Father has promised them.
He says (Zeck10: 12) “ So I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and
down in His name”. The psalmist in his joy says concerning this (Ps89: 15, 16) “ They
shall walk O Lord, in the light of Thy Countenance. In Thy name they rejoice all the day,
and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” Jeremiah the prophet pleads to the Lord
saying (Jer 16: 19) “O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of
affliction, the gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say “ Surely our
fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness and unprofitable things.”

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 Thus Christ was light and glory to Israel. Even though some Jews have lost the way
and were ignorant of the books, and have denied Christ, yet some of them have become
saved and have become glorified by Jesus. Their leaders were the sanctified apostles who
with their light have let the Gospel lantern in the farthest spots of the earth.

Christ is moreover the glory of Israel, for He is attributed to them according to the
flesh even though (Rom9: 5) “ who is overall. God blessed forever.”
St Cyril the Great.
We notice in Simon’s praises the following points:
Firstly: He declares the generalization of the salvation, and the collective Catholic
Church. His people, Israel, of whom He has become flesh, and has come in their midst,
those Israelites have become glorified. Some of the Jews have accepted the faith in Him,
particularly the twelve apostles. But the new Israel has been opened in practical love on
the cross for the sake of all the Gentiles. He says (Luke2: 30, 31) “For mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation (the cross), which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a
light to lighten the Gentiles.”
The church in joy has adopted this spiritual outlook, for it is said:
+ He has been hung on the tree, He who combines everyone to Him.
+ Because we have lost Him by means of the tree, yet by means of the tree also, He has
been declared to all. He has manifested Himself as the height, the length, the breadth and
the depth. As one of our predecessors has said, He has brought back the unity between
the two peoples in God by means of opening His arms. There were two arms, for there
were two peoples spread out to the farthest ends of the earth. There has been found one
head, for there is found one God only.
St Arianus
+ The cross is the way to the universe bond.
St Gregory, Bishop of Niscus
+ The cross is Jacob’s ladder; this tree has the heavenly dimensions, and it has been
raised from the earth to the heavens, it has planted itself on eternal rooting between
heaven and earth, so the universe be uplifted. It compiles together different kinds of
human natures.
St Hypolitus.
Since the church in her joy of the angelic praise of “Glory to God in the highest…”
has been chanting it every morning, then in her joy of this praise of Simon the elder
“Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace”, it has begun chanting it in the midnight
praise, as well as vespers.
Secondly: When St Joseph and St Mary heard this hymn of praise they were amazed,
because what God had declared to them at the annunciation has become known to Simon
the priest and the elder, in an obvious way. When they became blessed with the blessings
of Simon the priest, this elderly person addressed his words to St Mary saying (Luke2:
34)
“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign
which shall be spoke against”.
If God the father has sent His son for the salvation of the world (John 3:16) through
the sign of cross, yet not everyone accepts this sign and responds to God’s overwhelming
love, rather some may reject the cross and find it offensive. On the other hand, the fall
and rise of many refers to the fall of evil in our life so that God’s kingdom rises in us.
The work of the Lord Jesus is to pull down the old man, and to build up the new one. He
pulls out the thorns to plant in us the tree of life.

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 This concept concerns the fall and rise of many in Israel; that is, the fall of the
ungrateful and the rise of the believers. It is the fall of evil in us, so God’s righteousness
is established inside us; this has been explicit in the fathers’ writings, for it has been
mentioned:
+(2Cor2: 15) “For we are unto God a sweet savior of Christ, in them that are saved and in
them that perish” Whether those who are saved, or those who perish, the Gospel does its
appropriate work. Just as the light, even if it is counted as blindness regarding the weak
one, yet it is still light… also; honey is bitter in the sick man’s mouth, though it is
naturally sweet. Likewise the gospel, that has sweet fragrance even if some perish due to
their disbelief in it. This is not the cause for their perish but rather it is due to their
corruption. By the savior many fall and rise, yet He remains the Savior even if mounds of
people perish. He still goes on offering the cure and the healing for so many people.
St John Chrysostom
+Here we have Simon the elder, prophesying in his turn that the Lord Jesus has come for
the fall and rise of many, so He rewards the deeds of the righteous and the evil. He will
give each one according to his deeds, as the real and a fair judge. He will either reward
by punishment or by life.
St Ambrosias
+ I think that the Lord is for the fall and the rise of many, not because some fall and the
others rise, but rather because he fails in us what is evil and builds in us what is better.
The coming of the Lord is destructive for the physical passions, and constructive for the
qualities of the good soul. As St Paul says (2Cor12: 10) “ for when I am weak, then am I
strong”. In the very same person, there is what is weak and what is strong, for he might be
weak physically and strong spiritually.
He who rises lets his sin fall and die, as he lives in righteousness. Rising is granted as
special blessings due to our faith in Christ.
Let any evil in us fall, so we would find a better chance to rise up, for unless adultery
falls from us chastity will not rise in us. Unless all kinds of distortion of the mind are
destroyed our minds will not be perfected. The words “for the fall and rise of many”
means what I have just said.
St Basilious the Great
Therefore the Lord Jesus is the choicest and most precious corner stone that the Father
has erected in Zion, so that all who believe in Him will not be disappointed (Rom2: 9).
(Luke 20:18) “Whosever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it
shall fall it will grind him to powder”. This precious stone will be manifested in our
inward Zion, and will destroy in us all corruption and will grind all kinds of evil, so that
God’s inner construction is built in correctness and righteousness. It is the rock that is
built on no wrong foundation and this is why “many will fall and rise” by its means.
When we speak of the Lord Jesus we only speak of Him as being “the Crucified” for
Simon the elder continues his words saying” and for a sign which shall be spoken
against” As St Basilious the great says” We wisely understand that the sign in the Holy
Book means “the cross” St Cyril the Great also says” As for the sign to be resisted, it is
meant to be the cross”. For St Paul wisely says (1Cor1: 18) “For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us who are saved it the power of God”.
So you can see that the sign of the cross to some people is foolishness whereas to others it
is mercy and life.
Once more St. Basilious the Great sees the sign resisted by the heretics is “ the reality
of Christ’s incarnation”. Some said it is heavenly incarnation thereby denying the reality
of incarnation such as the Agnostics. Other said it is a body that existed before all the

14
ages and some others believed Christ began his existence with St. Mary, that is, they deny
his divinity.

Thirdly: If the Lord Jesus who has come for the salvation of the world has become
something to be resisted, then the Virgin Mary shares her son in the cross for she presents
the church that carries the image of Her groom, the resisted groom. For the elder Simon
says, (Luke 2:35) “yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also that the thoughts
of many hearts may be revealed”. As St. Cyril the Great says “the sword signifies the
tremendous suffering St. Mary went through when she saw her son being crucified, where
as he did not know He was stronger than death and that for sure he had to rise from the
grave. It is not surprising the Virgin did not know this fact, for even the holy disciples
where ignorant of it. For unless Thomas had put his hand in Christ’s side after his
resurrection and felt the traces of the nails in Christ’s body, he would not had believed his
master had risen after his death. In one of the section in the ninth hour prayer there came
the words “ When the mother saw the lamb and the Shepherd, the savior of the world
hanging on the cross said weeping as for the world it rejoices for receiving the salvation,
but as for my interior it is ablaze when I see your crucifixion which you are enduring for
everyone’s sake my son and my God”.
St Ambrosias gives us another point of view for the sword that pierces the soul of St.
Mary; it is “the Word of God” that we appropriately have to accept in our depths as a
double-edged sword (Heb4: 12) it divides evil so it falls off, away from righteousness,
which rises up in its place. “ Neither the Holy book nor any historical document
mentions that the Virgin Mary was martyred. In addition to this, the material sword does
not pierce the spirit but rather the body (Heb 4:12). “For the Word of God is quick and
powerful, and sharper than two -edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit”

Fourthly: What is meant by his words (Luke2: 35) “that the thoughts of many hearts
may be revealed?” The sword- whether it be that of the suffering or the Word of God-
when it pierces the soul of St. Mary, this reveals the thoughts and hearts of many people,
such as, the scribes and the Pharisees. They pretend to know thoroughly the old law and
pretend to have the zeal for the covenant. Thus, before God’s work with St Mary, they
are uncovered in their inner reality, and their false hypocrisy is revealed.
6 The Praise of Anna, the daughter of Phanuel
It was essential for all the categories to be glad about the amazing Child. The evangelist
St Luke presents to us Anna the widow, a prophet to glorify Him. It is as if she is
performing the role of all the category of widows.

If Simon comes to the temple as a priest to minister in his shift, then this widow was
constantly and inseparably in the temple (Luke2: 37) “ which departed not from the
temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day,” for around eighty-four
years. On seeing the Child she “coming in that instant gave thanks.” Despite her old age,
for she was about a hundred years old, she began praising God and her mouth opened in a
prophetic spirit.
St Jerome wrote to the widow (Furies) and spoke of Anna as a living example, for he
says, “Do you wish to know how widows should be like? Let us read the gospel
according to St Luke for he says “ and there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of
Panuel of the tribe of Aser.” The word “Anna” means the grace of God’s kindness.

15
 Phanuel in our tongue means “God’s face”. “Aster” could be translated “rich” or
“blessed”. Since her youth she tolerated widowhood for eighty-four years, barely ever
leaving the temple. She worshipped in fasting and pleading day and night. Thus she
obtained the spiritual blessings and she was worthy of the title “ the daughter of God’s
face”. She also obtained the portion in “blessing and riches” for she is attributed to him”.

7 The Return to Nazareth

(Luke 2: 39,40) “ And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the Child grew, and became
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him”. The conception
with the Lord Jesus and His birth has made heaven and earth rejoice. The heavenly hosts in
gladness began to bless the earth. The simple people such as the shepherds and the wise-
men, the priests as Zechariahs and the elder Simon, the married spouses as Elizabeth and
virgins as St Mary, and the widow as Anna daughter of Phanuel, and children as John the
Baptist- all of those have rejoiced exceedingly at Christ’s birth. When he was forty days old,
He went into the temple and then returned to Nazareth in a peaceful atmosphere, to practice
the human life as one of us. As St. John Chrysostom says “ He did not wish to manifest any
miracles in His childhood or His youth, so He would begin His service in our life, declaring
the truth about His divinity. This is what the evangelist St John confirms when changing the
water into wine at the Canaan wedding, proclaiming His first miracle, which He has
performed. (John 3)

He has adopted our human nature and became like one of us, despite His being
undivided in any way from His godliness. Due to this humanization it was said (Luke 2: 40)
“ And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God
was upon Him”.
What follows are some of the remarks said by the fathers about this expression, as well as
on the words (Luke2: 52) “ And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with
God and man”.
+ The words “ and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man,
signify His human nature. Therefore I wish you to contemplate deeply the theory of
redemption. The word of God accepted to be born a man, though His divine nature has no
beginning and is timeless; for He is the perfect God who has accepted to submit to the law of
physical growth and to develop in wisdom whereas He is the God of wisdom. Therefore look
upon Christ now, when he has become like one of us. God has become man; the rich One has
become poor, and the Almighty has become humiliated. God the Word has emptied all of
what is in Himself, by accepting the human nature. God the Word had to take the body from
the woman, and would thus become as soon as His birth took place, a man developed in His
members of the body, fully interwoven in perfection. But if this had happened, it would have
been highly imaginative. Thus the Child followed and conformed the human natural laws,
and hence He grew in wisdom, in stature and in grace.

Yet do not be amazed because I have asked, “ How can God grow and develop? How
can God He who grants the angels and the people all the grace, Himself be granted wisdom
and grace?”
I wish you to contemplate on the expressions mentioned in the gospel, clarifying this
amazing mystery for the wise evangelist did not point to the word, which is the divine nature
with the two previous verses. He rather pointed without confusion or any dimming coverage,
to Christ and His being born a man of a woman, and His taking our likeness and becoming a
human child. Concerning this situation the evangelist speaks of Him as “ And Jesus

16
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” You can thus see that the
Child’s body grew according to the laws of nature, and that His mind grew in accordance
with His physical growth.
The body grew in stature, and the spirit grew in wisdom. But as for God, due to His
divine nature, He is perfect for He is the source of wisdom and perfection.
St Cyril the Great.

+ The gospel words describe clearly that our Lord grew regarding his humanity.
St Gregory, Bishop of Nisus
+ The nature of God has come down to dwell in the human body, and also in a human spirit.
“He grew” he has denied Himself and has taken the form of a slave (Phil2: 7). With the
Almightiness that He had, He denied and declined Himself and also grew in stature.
With the power with which he declined Himself, He also grew and developed. He appeared
as weak, for He managed in His childhood to take upon Himself a weak body, and He also
managed to grow and get stronger.
The Son of God denied and declined Himself, and in the same power He got filled with
wisdom, and the grace and favour of God was upon Him.
He was filled with grace in His youthful days, for He was teaching the multitudes when He
was only a youth. He was amazing and awesome in everything, overwhelming in His youth
and was filled with God’s wisdom.
The scholar Oreganos
+ The words are added (Luke2: 51) “ but His mother kept all these saying in her heart.” St
Mary knew well these are things that surpass the normal man, and thus she kept in her heart
all her son’s words. She saw him grow and get stronger in wisdom before the Lord and
people. Jesus grew in wisdom as years passed by.
The scholar Oreganos.

+ The growth here concerns the body, for when he grows the godliness is manifested to those
that see him. His godliness was proclaimed more and more, and thus His grace increased in
the eyes of all the people. As a child, he was carried to the temple. When He became a youth
He discussed the law with the priests. When his body grew, the Word manifested Himself in
Him. This is why St Peter confessed Him and the rest followed him (Matt16: 16; 27:54) “You
are the Son of God”
The growth of wisdom here does not mean the growth of “wisdom” itself, but rather the
growth of his humanity by the manifestation of His wisdom. This is why it was said (prov9:
1) “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars”

8 Jesus in the Temple

The holy gospel have not narrated to us the personality of the Lord Jesus since his return
from Egypt as a child, may be at the age of three, till the beginning of His service at the age
of thirty. Except for the story of His entering the temple at the age of twelve. This matchless
story reveals to us the youth of the Lord Jesus, and tells us of the first words uttered by Him
in the gospel: “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” also the mission and
goal of this youth was” I have to do what is for My Father”, and moreover, it reveals to us
His obedience and His submission to the Virgin St Mary, His mother.
We notice in this story the following:
Firstly: The law commanded all Jewish men to go to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the
Passover and the cake bread festival together. Those travelling used to be in two groups, one
for women in the front and the other for men in the rear, whereas the children walked with
either the men or the women. Thus when the first day passed in their return, both groups

17
drew closer; and Joseph saw St Mary and they asked each other about the Boy, for each
thought He was with the other. They kept asking about Him among the men and women.
When they could not find anywhere they returned to Jerusalem where they stayed for a third
day. This is why the evangelist says (Luke 2: 46) “ and it came to pass, that after three days
they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and
asking them questions.”
We do not know anything about the conversation between Christ at the age of twelve
with the teachers. But we do know that (Luke 2:47) “ All that heard him were astonished at
his understanding and answers” and we also know (Luke 2: 48) that St Mary and Joseph “
when they saw Him, they were amazed”. He may have been talking with them concerning the
real Passover, and thus would reveal to them the need of being released from the symbolic
Passover lamb to the true One. Or, He may have been discussing with them the crossing over
not from the land of Egypt to Canaan, but rather from hell to paradise. He may also have
been telling them of the need for the Messiah, and uncovering to them the prophecies. At any
rate, He was speaking in authority and thus the listeners were amazed. There is no doubt St
Mary saw He as amazing for the evangelist says (Luke2: 51) “ but His mother kept all these
sayings in her heart”.
The evangelist specified they found Him after three days in the temple, sitting amidst the
teachers (Luke2: 46). As we have previously seen when studying the book of Joshua, the
number 3 signifies the faith in the Holy Trinity, and it also refers to the resurrection of the
Messiah from the dead. It is quite impossible for the church to leave her groom in His holy
temple except it be by means of the faith in the Trinity, or the touch with the holy Trinity
work in her life, and also through the life experience established with Christ. In other words,
we cannot be able to encounter the Lord, and be blessed with His tremendous friendship in
His sanctification unless we are blessed by the faith in the Trinity and live through His life
that is established in us!
If we accept practically the faith in the trinity, and be blessed with the Father’s parental
hood and let our hearts be opened to the Son’s redemption and thus obtain the partnership of
His holy spirit…. and if we obtain the heavenly life established in Christ…then, in that case
we shall see the Lord Himself in our hearts just as He is in His temple. There, He leads all of
His inward discussions, teaching us and training us as a Teacher of authority. He leads the
heart with all the emotions it carried, and the thoughts with all their extensions, and the body
with all of its senses. Let us see him as his mother did, and be amazed with her at His deeds
in us.

Secondly: The scholar Oreganos comments on the search of St Mary and St Joseph for the
young Child Jesus, saying, “At the age of twelve He remained in Jerusalem. His parents did
not know of it, for they thought Him among their friends. They searched for Him among the
close ones and those they knew, but they could not find Him anywhere. His parent kept
searching for Him…Joseph who had taken Him to Egypt, could not find Him anywhere. We
do not find Jesus when we are among relatives or friends according to the body, we do not
find Him in the physical family… my Jesus will not be found among the multitudes.
Look where Jesus was found, so you take St Mary and St Joseph with you in your search,
and you will surely find Him. The gospel tells us that after three days they found Him only in
the temple and nowhere else. He was sitting among the teachers listening to them and asking
them questions: you too, search for Jesus in God’s temple. Search for Him in the church.
Search for Him among those teachers who do not leave the temple, and there you will surely
find Him. But if someone claims to have the gift of teaching, and yet he has not Jesus in him
then he is only a teacher by name and you will not find Christ in him. We find Christ among
the true teachers as the evangelist says.

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 The Lord Jesus was asking at times, and answering at other times. He was great in His
questions. We entreat Him, so we could hear him asking us and answering us.
Let us search for His diligently, even till suffering. . It is then that we will find Him. The
book says, “Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing”. Do not seek Jesus in
negligence and hesitation as some do, for these ones will not find him. The scholar also says,
“I do not think they were sorrowful for their assumption that the boy was lost or dead. It was
not possible for St Mary to think as such, for it was He who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, and it was He who was announced by the angel. It was He to whom the shepherds
knelt down, and was carried by Simon. It is quite impossible for St Joseph to assume this, for
it was to him that the angel gave the command to take the Child and flee to Egypt. It was St
Joseph who has heard the words (Matt.1: 20) “ Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” It is
impossible for St Joseph to fear something wrong happening to the child, for he was sure that
He was God the Word. Therefore, the parents’ worries and their question implied another
meaning the ordinary reader might be unable to comprehend.
They sought Jesus and were stunned at the thought of Him being away from them, or that
He has left them and gone somewhere else, or that He may have ascended up to heaven so as
He would descend at the right time.
You too, if one day you lose the Son of God search for Him first at the temple. Hasten to
the temple and there you will find Jesus the Word and the Wisdom, that is to say, the Son of
God.

Thirdly: St Augustine comments on St Mary’s words (Luke 2:48) that “Your father and I, by
declaring that though she obtained all this honor by means of the incarnation of God’s Word
in her womb, yet she behaved in spiritual modesty towards St Joseph, by presenting him first,
then herself to follow; “Your father and I”. She knew only too well He was not of St Joseph
seed, but by means of her spiritual love that filled up the holy family, she considered him His
father and thus she mentioned him first, before herself.

Fourthly: The first words said by the Lord, as came in the holy gospel, were (Luke2: 49)
“How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business? These
words reveal the true nature of the Lord Jesus and His mission, and they also specify the
features of the appropriate behavior.

(a) Regarding the Lord Jesus’ nature, He does not object to His being attributed to St
Mary and St Joseph, for His mother said to Him that they were seeking Him
sorrowfully. St Joseph was a father to Him according to the law, for the sake of
adoption, even though He was not of his seed. His mother St Mary was biologically
His own mother, but yet He was the Son of the Highest. He confirms His relationship
to God, declaring He is the Son of God the Father “ I must be about My Father’s
business”.

According to His human nature, He was attributed to St Mary because she carried Him in
her womb, and He took from her a body. But He is not attributed to St Joseph; yet for his
service to the Lord, and for his loving relation to St Mary, it was said of him:
+ The gospel mentioned the title of “His parents” referring to the Virgin because it was she
who conceived and bore Him, and it was St Joseph who served Him.
The scholar Oreganos.

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+ Just as St Mary was called a mother to John in love and not because that she conceived
him, likewise is St Joseph called a father to Christ, not because he begot Him, but it was
rather due to his upbringing and care to Christ.
St Cyril El Orshilimy
+ Due to the matrimonial integrity, both of them are worthy of being called “Jesus parents”,
for they were as such according to the mind and goal, and not according to the body. If one
of them was the father in the goal, yet the other, who is the mother, is his mother from the
physical point of view. Both were thus called His parents according to His modesty and not
due to His sublimity; according to His weakness in His humanization and not according to
His divinity.
St Augustine.
But His words to St Mary confirm His godliness, for He says, “I must be about My Father’s
business”.
+ At this point Christ is referring to His true Father, and He uncovers His godliness.
St Cyril the Great.
+ Christ has two prophecies: one is from the Father and the other is from St Mary. The first
is a godly one linked to His Father, and the second was fulfilled by being delivered of St
Mary, for He has condescended to come down to us.
St Ambrosias.
(b) The scholars in education and psychiatrists think the Lord’s words” How is it that ye
sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” as similar to a
new outbreak in the childhood world. For Jesus was obedient unto them, a sign of
perfect submission to His parents. As St Ambrosias says, “Was it possible that the
Teacher of all virtue would not fulfill His responsibilities to them? For He did not
yield to them out of weakness, but rather out of love”. In such a way did this unique
Youth offer us a living example of children’s obedience to their parents? As St
Jerome wrote to the nun called Ostichim “ Obey your parents following the model of
your Groom”. Moreover, the scholar Oreganos says “Let us learn my children, our
obedience to our parents… for Christ has submitted, and He became a model to all
children in their obedience to their parents or guardians if they are orphans. If Christ
the Son of God has submitted to St Mary and St Joseph, should we not be obedient to
the priest whom God has appointed to me as a father? Should I not be submissive to
the priest elected by God’s will?”
The Lord Jesus has offered us a live and practical lesson of submission and
obedience to the parents. He said, “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I
must be about My Father’s business?” It is therefore the youth’s right to conduct his
mission according to his gifts and potentials, and he should not be a device of
thoughtlessness in the hands of his parents. In other words, it is appropriate for the
parents to deal with their son, not as an extension of themselves, and shape him the
way they want and they wish him to be, but rather to guide and instruct him in
developing his gifts and potentials. They are to treat him as a person who has an
independent entity of his own, and not as a follower to them.
The civil rules and religious codes, even those of the Jewish, did not at that time
give children the right of life, in the human sense of freedom. Some codes even
allowed parents to kill their child, or offer him as a sacrifice to the gods, as the
worshipers of Mellow did. But the Lord came to grant the child his right to practice
life according to that which befits his personality, his talents and his abilities. I shall
detain this discussion to a study published in the book “The family Love” with God’s
will.

20
 Fifthly: The scholar Oreganos comments on the evangelist’s words (Luke2: 50, 51)
“ And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And He went down
with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them, saying “They could not
understand the significance of Jesus’ words, “I must be about My Father’s business”
that is that I have to be in the temple.
Jesus’ home is in the highest; therefore St Mary and St Joseph, as they had not yet
reached the perfect faith level, they could not yet soar with Him in the highest. This
is why the Book says” He went down with them”. Jesus often went down with His
disciples, and did not stay a long time on the mount”.
We conclude our discussion about the Lord Jesus by adopting the words recorded
by St Jerome to Laeta concerning her upbringing of her daughter Paula: “ I hope she
grows in wisdom and stature with her Groom before God and the people. Let her go
with her parents to the temple of her true Father and let her not leave the temple with
them. Let them seek her among the ways of the world and among the crowds and
relatives and not find her there. Let them rather find her in the holiest part of the
temple of the Holy Book. Let her ask the prophets and the apostles about the concept
of spiritual marriage to which she has consecrated her Life”

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 CHAPTER III

Declaring the Heavenly Friend

Before telling us of the work of this heavenly Friend, particularly with the rejected and
despised categories, He spoke to us of the nature of this Friend. This was declared by means
of His forerunner John the Baptist, and also by means of the witness from heaven itself: the
Baptism

1. The appearance of John the Baptist

2. The urge to repent
3. His witness to Christ
4. The Lord’s baptism
5. The Lord Jesus’ lineage attribution

1. The Appearance of John the Baptist:

Due to the important role of John the Baptist which was prophesized in the Old
Testament, the evangelist St. Luke tells us of the time appearance of St. John as an actual fact
which has been fulfilled. He also tells us of the nature of his work, and his witnessing of the
Lord Jesus

Concerning the time of His appearance, he said, “Now in the fifteenth year of the
reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of
Galilee, and His brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and
Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God
came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (Luke 3:1,2).

In the annunciation of conception the divine inspiration specified the date, by

proclaiming the name of the king of Judah, the time in which the event occurred (Luke 1:5).
In the beginning of his manifestation in his mission for service, the name of the Roman
emperor was mentioned, as well as the Roman ruler, and three other chefs, each of whom
ruled over one-fourth, for Judah was divided into four regions, and also the name of the chief-
priest. Among all of these earthly religions and temporary leaders, not one of them was well-
equipped to have the Word of God on Him except for John the Baptist, who was raised in the
wilderness.

He may have mentioned these names to show us to what extent Israel has been
humiliated. Israel was not only subject to the Roman empire, but the Israelite kingdom was
also divided into four regions governed by Roman governors. Even the chief priest was
appointed by the Roman governor! This abject humiliation is one of the signs of Christ’s
coming, for it was said, (Genesis 49:10)

In the midst of this dim atmosphere, John appeared preparing the way for the Lord
Jesus, as St. Ambrosios says, “the voice appeared preparing the way to the Word”

St. Ambrosios, comments on the words of St. Luke, the evangelist, “The Word of God
came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2) saying that the Word of
God, that is, the Lord Jesus, was working secretly in John when he was in the wilderness,
before working in His church, which was a barren wilderness, He planted it with sanctified
tress which He brought from among the nations; it was previously barren but has now got
children (Isaiah 54:1).
We can say the while the Romans were governing Judah even in the religious matters,
since the Roman governor removed the chief priest Annas and appointed Caiaphas instead,
during that time God was planning for them what was far greater. God did not only destroy
the Roman kingdom and raised Israel from abject scorn, But he prepared John in the midst of
the wilderness in a mysterious way to pave the way for Israel and also for the Romans. This
was to make them accept the membership in Christ’ sanctified body, bonded together by the
one Head on a far higher level, on the level of endless eternity.

Life may get darkened in your face, and you might think evil has prevailed and has
ruined the believers. But at all times God works in the midst of the barren wilderness to
establish from it a holy paradise that comprises trees from all nations, peoples, and tongues.

Regarding the site of his service, and the nature of his work, it is said, “And he went
into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins” (Luke 3:3)

The site of His work was the country surrounding Jordan. The word “country” may
have meant a particular area which surrounds Jordan, because the essence of his mission was
“the baptism”, preparing the way for the Lord Jesus’ baptism, not only for the forgiveness of
sins, but also for being blessed as God’s children, as well as the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in
us. This is to bless us with the friendship of the Lord, on a level of true unity and in the
sharing of His glories.

The job performed by John the Baptist has not been a haphazard one; it was rather a
part of God’s plan for salvation. The prophet could foresee it and spoke of it, for the
evangelist says, “as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘The
voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths
straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and
the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth, and all flesh
shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:4-6)

First: If Christ the Lord is the Word of God, then John is merely the voice that
prepares the way for the Word. If Christ the Lord is “the truth” in its essence, then John is the
voice resounding in the wilderness to accept the truth by means of “the ways” or “the straight
paths”. He is crying out calling to be filled with hope. He was also calling for the desperate
souls to the low valleys to be filled with hope. He was also calling the haughty souls as if
they are mountains or the accumulated hills to become humbled. In this way everyone would
be blessed with salvation.

By the “valleys” he may have meant “the Gentiles” that were destroyed by atheism,
and has made them lose all hope in the Lord. The mountain and accumulated sand tops could
mean “the people of Israel and Judah” who have become so haughty. The call is addressed to
everyone “ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”.
 Second: The call was directed towards the practical repentance and conduct, “And
the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth”. This is call to
depart from every crooked way or curved way; for no one will see salvation when he is shut
up in his evil and the crookedness in his life.

Third: The words “all flesh” here means in the Greek origin “body” as St.
Augustine says, “the holy book is used to describe the human nature by saying ‘everybody’ .
Also he does not mean a body with no soul or mind but rather ‘all flesh’ which means ‘every
person’”
Fourth: St. John’s call is still there for every soul our depths will not see God’s
salvation unless we hear St. John’s voice inside us filling our humbled hearts in hope, thereby
destroying all haughtiness and pride. Our inward feelings, moreover, will be changed from
crookedness, and make our rough ways smooth.

Fifth: Because St. Luke’s gospel is addressed to the Greeks he has adopted here the
words of Isaiah the prophet which open the door of hope to all the Gentiles, for he says, “and
all flesh shall see the salvation of God”. Moreover, St. Cyril the great comments on his
saying “every man has seen the salvation of God the father because He has sent His son a
Redeemer and Savior. This was not restrict to certain people and not to others, for the words
“all flesh” is said about all the peoples of the entire world. It does not refer only to the
children of Israel, but to all the peoples to the farthest end of the globe. For the mercy of our
savior is limitless, and not one nation will be saved on account of the other. Christ has
redeemed all the nations and has shown with His light on all those in darkness. This is what
the Psalmist meant when he said, “ all nations whom You have made shall come and worship
before You, oh Lord, and shall glorify Your name.” (see Psalm 86:9). At the same time the
remaining ones of the people of Israel will be saved as Moses declared, for he said, “Rejoice,
O Gentiles, with His people” (Deut. 32:43)

2-The Urge for Repentance:

“Then he said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him ‘o generation of
vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits
worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves ‘We have Abraham our father’,
for I say unto you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And
even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire” (Luke3:7-9)

In this excerpt we notice the following:

First: The coming of the multitudes in great numbers did not rejoice the heart of St. John
the Baptist, and he did not regard his as a success of mission, because his baptism has to be
linked to the practical repentance that springs up from true faith. In Christianity baptism is
bonded to the practical faith, if offered to the children, the god father or mother makes a
pledge (in most cases the parents are the god parents) of raising up the children in the active
Christian faith.
 In the articles of St. Cyril El Orshilimy, it was mentioned to those wishing for
baptism, “Have you come in because the guard has not forbidden you to enter? Or is it
because you are ignorant of the appropriate clothes by entering to the banquet? Go our now in
decency, and enter tomorrow when you are fully prepared. Indeed, the Groom invites
everyone without any discrimination because His grace to us is so rich, and the voice of the
apostles is loud, calling for all to be assembled. But it is the Groom Himself who selects
those who entered with Him in a symbolic matrimonial relationship, Oh! I wish no one to
hear the words recorded against them, “Friend how comest though in hither not having a
wedding garment?” (Matt 22:12)

Second: He called them “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the
wrath to come?” He adopted this analogy from the actual environment in which he lived,
since there were so many snakes in the wilderness.

He may have meant by “vipers” here their having three qualities: the first in their love
of harming others, for the serpent is venomous and fatal to man. This harmful behavior of the
serpents was even to the close ones. It is said that some of their kind, the little ones eat their
own mother. Moreover the serpent creeps on its belly which represents the earthly and dusty
thoughts.

Theses words mean the evil of the Jews that have got to be defiled by the poison of
their evil hearts. Theses people are they who love the crookedness of the vipers and their
hidden caves in the deep earth rather than their love to know the mysteries of knowing God.
Despite the words “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” signify God’s
mercy granted them the opportunity to repent from their sins, begging them and making it
clear in great integrity the fearful damnation awaiting them.

St. John meant by saying, “O generation of vipers” the Jews as a race and not as
persons. It has been said, “|Be ye as wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16), for they were
granted the natural wisdom, but they expected it thoughtlessly for themselves, disregarding
their departure from their iniquity.

St. Ambrosios
He was right in calling them brood of vipers; for it is said this particular kind of
animal, when being born, the little ones eat up their mothers womb and kill her and thus they
go out to light. This kind of people do the very same thing, for they are killers of fathers and
mothers (1 Tim 1:9). They destroy their teachers with their own hands.

St. John Chrysistom

Third: He asks them not to rely on their biological attribution to Abraham “Begin not to
say within yourselves, ‘we have Abraham our father’”. It is more appropriate for them to
carry on being children to Abraham through the practical conduct. As real children let them
follow his example of faith and behavior, otherwise God is able to raise up children to
Abraham from stones. He actually did raise up children to Abraham form stones and will
continue to do so forever. In the Old Testament, He raised from Sarah’s barren womb, which
is similar to stones, Isaac and his uncountable descendants, which are children to Abraham.
He still raises from the stony hearts, believing hearts, that are children to Abraham, the father
of all believers.

• He warned them not to be proud because of their noble origin, but rather on the
splendor of their deeds. The celebration gives no privilege unless recommended by
the inheritance of faith
• God as getting ready to soften the cruelty of our hearts, so as to make a believing
generation out of these rocks.

St. Ambrosios
• Of what use is the family attribution if the children do not walk in the righteous and
noble way as did their forefathers and ancestors? This is why the Savior says (Luke
8:39), that if you are Abraham’s children then do the deeds of Abraham. God wishes
the relationship to be based on behavior and deeds, since it is useless to be proud of
your good and holy parents, whereas you are immature in reaching their level of
goodness and righteousness.
• St. John, the Baptist, the devout man, uses the word “stone” referring to the Gentiles,
since they did not know Christ the Lord. They deviated from worshipping God and
knelt down to the creation instead of the Creator. But Christ called them and they
responded to His call and heeded His voice, and thus they became Abraham’s
children. They confesses their faith in Jesus Christ, and the fact that He is God the
Savior.

St. Cyril the Great

God can make stones to become Abraham’s sons; here He signifies the Gentiles for they were
stones due to their hard hearts. We read in (Ex 36:26), that God could take away the stony
heart in the flesh and give you a heart of flesh instead. Therefore the rocks are a symbol of
cruelty, and the flesh is a symbol of gentleness. He wished to show God’s power who is able
to make out pf the stony, hard rocks, a believing congregation.

St. Jerome

Fourth: He uses the threatening language of punishment, “And now also the eye is laid
unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn
down and cast into the fire” (Luke 3:9)
• Let us follow the example of the fruitful trees, and thus our virtues develop and
grow, supported by the roots of constant modesty. Let us be exalted above
anything worldly, and carry at the summit the deeds of fruitful repentance, and let
not the sowers’ axe come forth and cut off the wild branch that is unfruitful. For
St. Paul says, “Woe unto me if I do not preach” (1 Cor. 5:6), “But as for me I say
‘Woe unto me if I do not weep over my sins, woe unto me if I do not rise at
midnight to thank You for Your righteous judgment, woe unto me if I scandalize
my close ones, and woe unto me if I do not utter the truth” (Psalms 118:12)

Here you are the axe on the root of the tree, I wish it grows and brings forth fruits of
thanksgiving and fruits of repentance.
 Here the Lord stands reaping the fruits and granting life for the fruits; and He
discovers the
unfruitful tree that has born no fruits for three years (Luke 13:7). He found no fruits for the
Jews, and I hope He would find fruits in us, for His intent is to cut off those who are
unfruitful so they do not make useless usage of the earth. Let those who are unfruitful
struggle so as to bear future fruits, for the Sower of the good earth intercedes in us, we who
are fruitless and useless, so as to have opportunity. May God be forbearing and patient with
us, so that we may perhaps, be able to bear some good fruits.

St. Ambrosios
The axe signifies God’s wrath and dissatisfaction because the Jews have disobeyed
Christ and they committed great criminal acts against the Lord. Zacharias speaks of this, “In
that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Haded Rimnon”
(Zach. 12:11). Jeremiah too addresses Jerusalem and says, “The Lord called your name,
green olive tree, lovely of good fruit. With the noise of a great tumult. He has kindled fire on
it, and its branches are broken. For the Lord of hosts who planted you, has pronounced doom
against you for the evil of the home of Israel”. (Jer. 11:16). Moreover, you can add to these
words the fig tree parable in the Holy Gospel, for when the fig tree was unfruitful, God
wished its that its roots die and dry up.

Notice that John the Baptist does not say the axe has been put “inside” the tree but
rather on the root source. He wished to say the branches withered and collapsed, but as for
those who plant it has not been uprooted because there is a remaining part of the Israelites
who have repented to God and have thus been saved and have not perished eternally.

St. Cyril the Great

What is this axe which has been put on the tree source to cut and throw into the fire
other than as St. Jerome says, “the double-edged sword, the word of God, that cuts off all
what is unfruitful in us. The word of God is strong and active, able to destroy in us any
infertility and to establish in us with His precious blood live fruits.

Fifth: When he threatened to uproot the fruitless tree from the very roots and throw it away
into the fire, He made clear that these fruits are “the active love” or “the mercy” for He says,
“and the people asked Him saying, ‘What shall we do then? He answers and says unto them,
‘he that has two coats, let him give to him that has none, and he that has meat, let him do
likewise’” (Luke 3:10, 11)

He was asked by the tax collectors and officers, and His commandment to them
focused on mercy and practical love. He asked the tax collectors not to leave their job, but to
work honestly and not to exploit their position, by collecting more taxes than they should for
their own account. He did not ask the soldiers either to leave their job, but rather not to seize
the opportunity their job offers them and thus unjustly treat others, or cheat others. They have
to be satisfied with doing their job in honesty and to ask only for their wages.

John the Baptist gave only one answer that is appropriate for all human work: Mercy
is a general virtue, and is the essential principle to follow in every job site, practiced by all
ages; the Pharisee, the officer, or any farmer, there is no exception to it whatsoever. The rich
or the poor are no exception either, for all are invited to give to those who do not have, for
mercy is the perfection of all virtues.

St. Ambrosios
Indeed he did not forbid them from service as soldiers when He commanded them to be
sufficed with their wages according to their service done.

St. Augustine

3. His witnessing of Christ:

The Jewish people were strange, we see them rejecting the Lord Jesus, and they were
unable to accept Him as a Savior and Redeemer, whereas we see them assuming John as he
Christ. The evangelist says, “ and as the people were in expectation, all men mused in their
hearts of John whether he were the Christ or not” (Luke 3:15). The reason behind this may
have been because of what they saw in John such as the bare necessities in his food, his drink,
his clothes, and his violent reproaches for sinners. Thus, they thought him able to save them
from the Romans whenever he had the chance of taking a decisive leading role.

Man is truly incomprehensible; for He often rejects God’s un-surpassing love, and he
disregards God’s long forbearance, yet he is attracted to the creation and not the Creator
Himself. But John in his integrity did not accept to usurp Christ’s glory, for he rejected
strongly and kind of inappropriate honor for himself. He witnessed for the real Christ alone,
and he declared there was no comparison whatsoever between himself and the Lord Jesus,
and between the Lord’s baptism and his baptism, he answered, “I indeed baptize you with
water, but one mightier than I comes, the latch of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose;
He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and
He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the
chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:16, 17)

St. John Chrysistom says, “This is the role of an honest servant; he does not only
reject to attribute to himself the honor which belongs to his Lord, but he also hates it when
others offer it to himself”

The scholar Oreganus says, “All the people admired and loved him, John was
undoubtly an unusual person who was worthy of great admiration by everyone. His life was
totally different than that of all other people”. The peoples love to him had is justification;
they even went too far in this love of theirs, for they asked if he were the Christ. St. Paul the
apostle feared this kind of unspiritual love that is not in its right place, for he says to himself,
“but now I forbear lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be or that
he hears me to be, and lest I should be exalted above measure” ( 2 Cor. 12:6, 7). I myself
suffer painfully when I see this excessive love in our church; for most people love me more
than I am worthy of, and they over praise my teachings and discussions. Some others, though,
as a contrast, they criticize our preaching and attribute to me opinions that are basically not
mine. Those who exaggerate in their love to us, as well as those who dislike us, both do not
conform to the law of truth. Those lie in their overdone love, and the others in their hatred.
Therefore we have to set boundaries to love, and not to be fluctuated by it here and there. In
the book of Ecclesiastes it is said, ‘Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise; why
should you destroy yourself? Therefore do not love any person with all your heart, with all
your soul, or with all your strength. Do not love either an angel in this way, with all your
heart, with all your soul, or with all your strength. Rather follow the Lord’s words and learn
His commandments, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your strength, and with all thy mind” (Luke 10:27).

St. Ambrosios says, “By this comparison, St. John did not mean to prove that Christ is
greater than himself, for there could be no drawing of any comparison whatsoever between
the Son of God and man. St. John did not wish to compare himself to Christ, for he said, “I
am not worthy to loosen His shoe latchet”. St. John may have wished to reduce the number of
the Jewish people by saying, “He must increase, so that I must decrease.” (John 3:30).

St. Cyril the great says, “the people were amazed by the peaceful living of St. John
and the glory surrounding him. They saw the awesome conduct and sublime righteousness in
him. The Jewish people were so stunned at John’s sublimity and unique life as well as his
teachings that they thought him the Christ who was referred to in the old law by different
symbols, and the One described by many prophets and messengers. But St. John was quick to
realize then assumptions, and he decisively and insistently affirmed he was only the Lord’s
servant, and that all the glory, the honor, the worship and greatness are not befitting no other
than Christ whose name is above all other names.

St. John knew that Christ is honest to all those who serve Him. The servant has only
to declare the truth and what is righteous, since the difference is great between the servant
and his Master, that is, between St. John and Christ. This is why St. John says, “Ye
yourselves hear me witness that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him”
(John 3:28). Indeed St. John is wonderful in his mission and in his witnessing. He was so
magnificent that he was like the morning star that proclaims the rising of the sun from behind
the horizon.

St. John wished to openly prove to everyone that he was of a lesser value and standard
than his Master, he therefore said, ““I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier than I
comes, the latch of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose” (Luke 3:16).

Indeed there is a tremendous difference between Christ and St. John, and there should
not be a comparison in the first place. This is why St. John the Baptist, the devout one, was
right in saying, despite his sublime righteousness and honorable conduct, that he was not
worthy to unloose His shoe latchet. The heavenly hosts, the thrones, the holy seraphim, all
stand around the throne of Christ our God, offering Him the glory and praise, so who could
possibly, from all the inhabitants on earth, come close to God? It is true God loves man, for
He is kind and merciful to him, despite this we cannot deny under any condition, that we are
nothing compared to Him, for we are just weak and ignorant human beings.

St. John Chrysistome says, “He is way too exalted above me, and I am not worthy to
be counted the least of His servants; for to unloose the show latchet is the most modest of all
the chores”

Father Gregory the great offers us a symbolic interpretation for the words of St. John
the Baptist. He thinks the Lord’ shoes refer to the body that encompasses Him. The
unloosening of the shoe latchet only means the untying of the incarnation mysteries, since he
feels himself unable to realize this divine mystery and investigating it. St. Jerome on the other
hand offers us a different interpretation; this is that St. John the Baptist could not have the
boldness to stretch his hand to untie the shoe latchet of his Lord, for the Lord wishes His
bride, who is widowed, and He does not reject her. In the Old law, it is mentioned that the
master who rejects the widow as a wife to establish an issue from her for the dead one, he
takes off his shoes before the town elders and chiefs and he gives them to him who accepts to
marry her; just as Ruth’s Lord did (Ruth 4:7,8). Our Christ will not take off His shoes to give
to anyone, for He wishes to possess us a bride to Him, and He wishes to buy us with His love
and with the blood He shed for us.

St. John could find no comparison aspect whatsoever to draw between himself and his
Master, nor was there any comparison between his baptism and the baptism of the Lord, for
He said, “I indeed baptize you with water..He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with
fire” (Luke 3:16)
• Water purifies the body, and the Spirit purifies the heart of sin. We perform the
first job and pray so the second job be done, where the Spirit blows in the water
and the water is thus sanctified. Water alone is not evidence of purification, even
though both of them are undivided; the water and the Spirit. This is why the
baptism of repentance that is John’s, is different than the baptism of grace which
comprises the two elements, but as for the former one, it compromises one
element only.

Since the body and the Spirit both share in the sin, then he purification is essential to both of
them.

St. Ambrosios
The baptism is the great basin filled with fire in which people are transformed and molded to
become no more dead.

St. Yacoub El-Serougy

As mentioned in the Acts of the apostles, the Holy Spirit is fire, for He came down on
the believers in the form of tongues of fire. In this way, Christ’s word has been fulfilled, “I
came to send fire on the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49).
There is another interpretation as well; we are baptized at the present time with the
Spirit. Afterwards, on the Lord’s day, we shall be baptized with fire, as the apostle says, “for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by the fire; and the fire shall try every
mans work of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13)

St. Jerome
St. John says for a second time to confirm his weakness and his ignorance, “I indeed
baptize you with water, but one mightier than I comes…He shall baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16). This is a glorious evidence of Christ’s divinity; because it
is of Christ’s properties which surpass every power, that He gives the Holy Spirit, so that all
who accept Him are blessed with the divine godly nature. But notice that this power in Jesus
Christ is not granted or sent by anyone. It is His, in Him, and it belongs to Him; for it is
mentioned, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”, God the incarnate Word, is the fruit of
the father our God. No one could object that He who baptizes by the Holy Spirit is God the
Word, and not Him who came from the seed of David. Christ did not wish to divide the two
sons. The Holy Book has described those people as, “these be they who separate themselves,
sensual, having not the Spirit”

What does this mean? We have to confirm in total and absolute assurance, regardless
of any criticism or objection, that God the Word grants the Holy Spirit that is His, to all who
are worthy of this gift.

Even when God the Word because He is incarnate, He granted us the Holy Spirit
since He is the Only begotten Son of God who has become flesh. He and the Father are one,
in such a way that is quite indescribable and the mind could barely absorb it. St. John the
Baptist says, “whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose”. He then adds, “He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” It was evident there were two feet to put the shoes on;
and it is impossible for the sensible man to assume Christ put on shoes before His
incarnation. This only happened when He became flesh; and when He became incarnate He
never ceased to be God, and had to perform deeds appropriate to His divinity. He therefore
granted the Holy Spirit to all those who believed in Him because He is the One, and One
person, and at the same time He is God and also man.

St. Cyril the Great

When St. John had declared the Savior’s baptism, he spoke of Him as a judge, “His
winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and
gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” (Luke
3:17)

The reference to Christ’s fan shows His authority in discerning the deeds of everyone.
When he blows the wheat, He divides the chaff from the full ears, the fruitful from the
unfruitful due to the breeze of air. On the judgment day, He will discern the fruitful righteous
deeds and the empty deeds. The perfect ones He will call to the heavenly homeland, whereas
He loathes the chaff, and He does not like the wrongful deeds. This is why, “A fire goes
before Him, and burns up His enemies round about” (Psalm 97:3), but this is unharmful fire,
which burns the deeds of darkness and manifests the brilliance of the deeds of light.

St. Ambrosios
I wish to uncover the reason for which our Lord carries the Fan, and also the blowing
that uplifts the chaff to fly here and there, whereas the wheat which is heavier remains in its
place.I think the air signifies the ordeals which reveal if the believers are chaff or wheat. For
when some hardships befall you, it is not the temptation and the ordeals that make the
believers either of chaff or of wheat. But rather, if you are light chaff with no faith, then the
hardships reveal your hidden nature, as a contrast, if you face the ideal courageously, then it
is not the ordeal then it is not the ordeal itself, that makes you loyal and patient, it rather
uncovers the virtue of patience and strength in you even though it was covered up and
hidden.

When the tempest rages, it can not shake the building established on rocks. It rather
reveals the weakness of the rocks by which the building was built, which is founded on the
sand.

The Scholar Oreganos

St. John finds similarity between the wheat ears and the inhabitants of the earth. He
compares them to wheat in a field, for both of them grow as ears of corn. Our Lord when
speaking to the holy apostles showed this reality, for He told them, “the harvest truly is
great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He would send
forth laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). You will find that we who live on earth are
called the wheat ears, corn, and harvest. This harvest is controlled by God for He is Lord over
all. But contemplate on the words of the devout St. John, for he describes the harvest field as
belonging to Christ. It is he who cleans and prepares his garners, and gathers the wheat into
His house, and burns the chaff with unquenchable fire. The wheat is the symbol of the elect
who were firm in their faith and stable in their creed. As for the chaff it refers to those people
whose minds are weakened and their hearts are sick and they have become worried and
divided with the tempest blasts. It is not surprising therefore if the wheat is gathered in His
barn, for it is worth keeping in a safe place with God’s care, His mercy, and His love. But the
chaff is burnt with the unquenchable fire, for it is worth nothing.

The chaff does not destroy the Lord’s wheat, which are considered few when
compared to others, yet they are a great harvest.

St. Augustine
He evangelist, St. Luke showed clearly St. John the Baptist’s major role which is that
of witnessing to Christ the Lord, and the salvation mission, and His baptism by the Holy
Spirit. This witnessing came blended with the pricking words of repentance, and infusing the
spirit of hope, preaching to them God’s mercy. He says, “and many other things in his
exhortation preached he unto the people” (Luke 3:18)

His preaching and sermons did not concern the general public only, but it also got
extended to the chiefs with no favors or flattery. He said, “But Herod the tetrarch, being
reproved by him for Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife and for all the evils which Herod had
done. Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison” (Luke 3: 19, 20).

We have studied previously the story of St. John’s improvement by means of Herod,
who wished to suppress the breath of birth, and to tire up the Word, and order of
imprisonment, the bondage and the sword. The voice was louder during the hardship, and
this became a symbol of the Jews attempt to control the prophets word, of the prophet John
and preventing it from being spread in its declaration of the Messiah.

4. The Lord’s Baptism:

 St. John witnessed for the Lord and for His baptism. He received the multitude
coming forward to be baptized and the Lord Himself also came forward to be baptized, “Now
when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and
praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descendant in a bodily shape like a dove
upon Him and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘this is My beloved Son of whom I am
well pleased” (Luke 3:21, 22)

The following are some comments of the fathers regarding the Lord’s baptism:

He came the baptism whereas He had absolutely no Sin whatsoever, and also He was
not without the Holy Spirit. It has been written of the servant and forerunner St John himself
that when still in his mother’s womb, he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:15). If he
had been born from His father, that is to say of human seed and He received the Holy Spirit
when He was being formed in the womb, then what could we understand and believe
concerning Christ Himself who was conceived not biologically but rather by the Holy Spirit.

St. Augustine
The Holy Spirit did not descend on the Jewish multitudes but rather on Jesus alone. If
you,
Jews,wish to receive the Holy Spirit, then believe in the Lord Jesus for the Holy Spirit is in
Him.

St. Jerome
 Christ is born, and the Spirit is ahead of Him!
 He is baptized, and the Spirit witnesses to Him!
 He is tempted, and the Spirit leads Him on (Luke 4: 1, 18)!
 He makes miracles and the Spirit goes with Him!
 He ascends up to the heavens and the Spirit takes His place!

St. Gregory El Nazinzi

The Lord did not get baptized so the water be purified. He who is sinless has the
authority to purify. In this way, all who are buried in Christ’s tomb, leaves his sins in it. The
Lord himself explained the reason for His baptism, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is
fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Among His many mercies is His
building the church, for after the fathers and the prophets the only begotten Son came down
and went to be baptized. At this point the divine reality is manifested clearly which was
mentioned concerning the church, which is: If the Lord does not build the house, then the
laborers have toiled in vain, for man can not do the building and neither can he guard it.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the
city the watchmen stays awake in vain” (Psalms 127:1). I will be bold enough to say that
man cannot go a certain way unless the Lord be with him, leading him on. As it is written,
“You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him” (Deut. 13:4). Also, the Lord leads
mans steps. Now the church has been created. He says, “allow it now oh Lord” so the church
be built, for it is appropriate for us to fulfill all righteousness.
 Christ has been washed for our sake, or better still, we have been washed in His blood. It
is appropriate for us therefore to hurry up and wash our sins.

 He was buried all by Himself, but He raised everyone.

 He dressed all by Himself so as to uplift us all.
 He carried the sins of the entire world all by Himself, so as to cleanse everyone in His
person. As the people say, “Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts”
(James 4:6).

For Christ is in no need of purification, yet, He was purified for our sake.

St. Ambrosios
Was Christ in need of the sanctified baptism? In what way will He benefit if He goes
through this process? For Christ is the Word of God, holy from holy as described by the
seraphim in the various praises (Isaiah 3:6) and as the Old law describes Him in the various
places as well as the hosts of prophets together with Moses regarding this point.

What do we ourselves benefit from the holy baptism? Undoubtly it is the cancellation
of our sins, but yet Christ has nothing of this in Him. It was said, “Who committed no sin, nor
was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), “For such a High Priest was fitting for us,
who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the
heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

There maybe someone whose faith got weakened, that could ask the question, “Did
God baptize the Word, and was Christ in need of the gift of the Holy Spirit?” Never, by all
means. Christ was only baptized for no other reason than to teach us that man who is of
David’s seed, who is united with God the Son, was baptized and has received the Holy Spirit.
So how could you divide the indivisible to two sons and say He was baptized at the age of
thirty and has thus become sanctified.

Has Christ not been sanctified till the age of thirty? Who would agree to such words,
when you are trying to change the truth into falsehood, and forge the creed with suspicions
for there is, “One Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 8:6). Thus we declare untop of all witnesses,
He did not get separated from
His Spirit when He was baptized, because the Holy Spirit, even though He springs from God
the Father, yet He also pertains to God the Son, for, “and of His fullness we have all received
, and grace for grace” (John 1:16). Moreover, the Holy Spirit has often been called Christ’s
Spirit, even through it springs from God the Father. As St. Paul the apostle has said that those
in the body cannot please God, but we are not in the body but are rather in the spirit, but
God’s Spirit dwells in us. But if the Holy Spirit is for all the creation and is granted to all
those worthy of Him, for He said, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of
His Son into your hearts, crying out ‘ Abba Father’” (Gal. 4:6).

Even though the Holy Spirit emerges from God the Father, yet Christ the Word is the
Only begotten Son of God who shares with the Father in greatness and authority, for He is by
nature a real Son who sends the Holy Spirit to the creation and grants Him to all those worthy
of Him. He said, “ all things that the Father has are mine” (John 16:15).
 Therefore it was necessary that God the Word after He has modestly emptied Himself,
to take our resemblance and to be in our image. He is our firstborn in everything and our
example whom we follow in every matter. To teach us the value of baptism and the grace and
the power that it has, He began with Himself and got baptized. When He was baptized He
prayed so we learn that prayer is essential. Let all those worthy of the blessing of the holy
baptism pray at all times.
The evangelist describes heaven as being opened, as if it had been shut before. Christ
says, “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the Son of Man” (John 1:51). This is because the heavenly hosts of angels and mans
issue on earth are all overshadowed by one flag and are subject to one shepherd who is Christ
the Lord. The heavens opened, and man got closer to the holy angels. The Holy Spirit
descended for He felt He has found this creation a second time. He descended first on Christ
who had received the Holy Spirit not for His own sake but for our sake, we the humans. This
is because by Him and in Him we obtain grace upon grace.

You can thus see Christ due to His love for our salvation and redemption, He bore
our image. In this image, He departed as far as possible from His divine nature. How could
He be poor if He does not go down to our level of poverty and need? How could He have
denied and declined from Himself if He does not accept bearing the human nature?

And now, since we have taken Christ as our high example, let us draw closer to the
blessing of the sacred baptism. By this we dare pray fervently and lift up our blessed hands to
God the Father and hence, He would open to us the heavens.

St. Cyril the Great

These appeared as divided for our own understanding, but they are actually the indivisible
trinity.

St. Augustine
Let us meditate now on the trinity mystery. We say God is one but yet we confess the
Father and the Son….who declared that He was not alone by saying, “and yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32) and the Holy Spirit is present. The Holy trinity
will never be divisible.

St. Ambrosios

5.The lineage attribution to the Lord Jesus:

In our study of St. Matthew’s gospel, chapter one, we have previously drawn a
comparison between the lineage of the Lord Jesus as mentioned in St. Matthew’s gospel and
what was mentioned in St. Luke’s gospel. This is why we find it enough to present a
summary and some other aspects as well:

First: St. Matthew, being a Jew himself writes for his Jewish brethren, He showed Jesus
Christ as ‘David’s Son’, the Messiah, the expected king. He is also Abraham’s son by whom
the divine promises and covenants were fulfilled. As for St. Luke, he wrote to the Gentiles
and thus portrayed Him as Father to all humanity.

Second: We have said that the evangelist St. Matthew he presented to us the lineage
before the birth events since the Word of God has declared Himself by the incarnation.

The lineage came successfully from Abraham till Joseph, St. Mary’s spouse to be, but
as for St. Luke’s gospel, the lineage came after the Lord’s baptism, where He raised us as
God’s children. This is why the lineage came in upward succession from Joseph to Adam’s,
‘God’s son.
The scholar Oreganus says, “St. Matthew began by mentioning the lineage starting
with Abraham to reach the words “as for the birth of Jesus it was like this..for He cared and
rejoiced at Him who has come to the world. As for St. Luke, he goes up in the lineage and
does not descend with it. When He spoke of this baptism he raised us up to God Hmself.

St. Ambrosios says, “St. Luke did not mention the lineage at the beginning, but rather
after the baptism event. He wished to show that God is the Father of us all by the means of
baptism. He also confirmed that Christ came for God the Father according to this lineage. He
showed He was a Son to the Father by nature, by grace, and biologically, for He came from
Adam’s seed, the Son of God. He made clear the divine filiations by the Father’s declaration,
“this is My beloved Son of whom I am well pleased”.

For the same reason we find St. Matthew the evangelist separating word ‘begot’. He
said for instance Abraham begot Isaac. As for the evangelist St. Matthew he repeats the word
‘son’. The former declares the infiltration of sin to us through the human conception. The
Lord, who is sinless, came as carrying the sins of the entire generations. As for St. Luke, he
raises us to sonship so as to reach ‘the filtration to God’.

Third: The difference of names mentioned in both of the gospels is because one of them
has used the biological lineage according to the body, whereas the other gospel is according
to the old law. This is, for instance, attributing the child to his parents, who are of them, his
father is according to nature, and the other according to the law does he have his attribution.
In the old law, if a man having no children dies, his wife remarries her guardian. The
firstborn is attributed to the deceased person according to the old law.

As St. Ambrosios explained: the evangelist St. Matthew mentioned the lineage from
Solomon’s side. But as for the evangelist St. Luke, he mentioned it from Nathan’s side. The
former wished to affirm His royal lineage, whereas the latter wished to affirm his priesthood
lineage. He is the king of kings, and the Priest of priesthood, but this lineage is divine and
this priesthood is awesome. For this reason also, the bull is the symbol of the evangelist St.
Luke, since he spoke a great deal of priesthood.

Fourth: The scholar Oreganus thinks St. Matthew mentioned the names of sinful Gentiles
women in the lineage. This is because He came carrying our sins and He is not ashamed of
being attributed to anyone. As for St. Luke, he has mentioned the lineage after the baptism,
and thus we can not find the names of sinful women for he wishes to uplift all above the level
of weakness.
 We spoke earlier of how God wishes everyone, men and women, to be men, not from
the aspect of sex, but rather from the aspect of manliness, or spiritual maturity, without any
women pampering on the children weakness.

Fifth: The scholar Oreganus thinks the evangelist St. Luke’s words, “Now Jesus Himself
began His ministry at the age of thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) son of Joseph”
(Luke 3:23). He reminds us of Joseph, the son of Jacob, when he reached around thirty years
of age (Gen. 12:2). It was at this time that Joseph was released from jail, and became
Pharaoh’s foreseer over the wheat barns. He was in charge of its distribution during the
famine period. Likewise in Jesus Christ for it is He who caries the spiritual wheat barns from
the word of the law, and the words of the prophets too. Christ overflows over His hungry
disciples, to satisfy them spiritually with a new wheat without the old leaven.
 Section Two

Our Friend was Tempted just like Us

Chapter IV
Our Friend was Tempted just like Us

As the three previous chapters represented “the new book of genesis”, the incarnate word
of God came upon the virgin’s womb as an embryo then became a child, then a boy blessing the
childhood by being amidst the children, and granting a new creation for humanity in theirs. The
fourth chapter represents the new book of Exodus, in which he does not take the people into the
wilderness for forty years, but he goes there himself to be tempted granting the victory to his
people in him. In the older times the people were devastated in the wilderness due to the
successive falls, but as for now, he presented to us by his temptation strength and salvation.

1. The temptation in the wilderness 1-13

2. Jesus in Galilee 14-15
3. Jesus, the rejected by his own people 16-30
4. Jesus working with authority 31-37
5. The healing of St Peter’s mother in law 38-41
6. His preaching in the synagogues of Galilee 42-44

† † †

1. The temptation in the wilderness:

In the previous three chapters we saw our heavenly friend descending and sharing
everything with us, he became an embryo in the womb just like we did, obeyed the law, and
went with the multitudes for Baptism even though he is sinless and unblemished, he carried
us as a new creation blessed with affiliation to the father and carrying his holy spirit. What
was proclaimed gloriously in the Jordan River was done for our account and in our name. In
it we regained our first righteous nature and have now become worthy to enjoy paradise
which was previously lost and encounter the Father with the privilege of being his children.
Now by becoming like us, he confirmed this friendship in a practical way. The spirit led him
to the wilderness to be tempted for forty days…..Instead of the wilderness which the Israelis
went with the spirit of constant complaint and grudge; he carried us in his body to the
wilderness, in his victorious and triumphant nature.

† Let us praise the Lord and sing joyful hymns to God our savior. Let us trample upon Satan,
and rejoice in his humiliating and disgraceful downfall. Let us tell him Jeremiah the
prophet’s words”How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken...you
have been found and also caught, because you have striven against the Lord” (JER. 50:23,
24)

Since the older times, and before the coming of Christ the savior of the entire world, Satan,
our biggest adversary, keeps thinking viciously, maliciously spreading evil and iniquity and
arrogantly trying to prevail over the weakness of the human race. He cries out “And my hand
has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathers eggs that are left, have I
gathered all the earth, and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or
peeped” (Isaiah 10:14)

Indeed, no one dared to resist Satan except the son Jesus Christ who fought Satan in the cave,
and struggled severely against him, was he in our image and likeness. That is why the human
nature triumphed (as previously mentioned) in Jesus Christ and has obtained the crown of
glory and victory and since the older times the Son speaks through out his prophets to the
vicious enemy Satan by the famous words “Behold, I am against you, O destroying
mountain, which destroys all the earth” (JER. 51:25)

Now let us see how the beloved Evangelist describes Jesus Christ in his fighting in our behalf
the destroyer of all earth “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan”
(Luke 4:1)

Notice the human nature in Christ being anointed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and
crowned with reverence and honor. God had previously promised saying “I will pour out my
spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). This prophecy has been fulfilled for the first time in Jesus
Christ not prior to that because God didn’t want to grant his spirit while the people were
weak in mind and spirit as it was mentioned “And the LORD said, my spirit shall not strive
with man forever, for that he also is flesh” (Gen. 6:3) but in Christ there was found a new
creation, sanctified by water and the spirit so we became no more sons of flesh and blood,
but rather God the Father’ sons. Now with the grace of adoption and this fatherly tenderness
we have become partners in the divine nature.

It is not surprising therefore that our firstborn is to be the first to receive the Holy Spirit, even
though, he is himself who grants the Holy Spirit, so he may grant it to us, we his dear
brethren. St Paul the apostle referred to this by saying “For both he that sanctifies and they
who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying, I will declare my name unto my brethren” (Heb. 2:11-12).
That is why the evangelist describes Christ “And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned
from Jordan” (Luke 4:1). And I wish that you do not deviate from the serious truth and not to
feel bad that Christ the Word sanctified, but rather focus on the wisdom of redemption and
salvation. For Christ was incarnate and became man not because he wanted to avoid what
belongs to humans but rather to share with us our humanity so he would enrich us from his
richness and honor us with his glory and greatness as he shared everything with us except
the sin... St Cyril the Great

† The goal of our lord Jesus Christ in his fasting and solitude was the healing of attraction of
the lust, for the sake of all he accepted to be tempted by Satan so we would know how to
triumph in him.

† The Lord came to be baptized cause he became for everyone everything (1Cor. 9:20-22).
To them that are under the law, as under the law, so he was circumcised, that he might gain
them that are under the law; to them that are without law, he shared their eating, that he
might gain them that are without law; to them that are weak he became weak with the
anguish that he bared in his body to gain them (2Cor. 8:9). Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep (Rom. 12:15), he hungered with them that who are
hungry….he was generous with the rich and imprisoned with the poor (Isaiah 26:20), thirsty
with the Samaritan woman (John 4:7), and hungered in the wilderness (Mat. 4:2) to retrieve
with his fasting the first downfall of Adam and his lust of food. Adam was filled as to know
good and evil for our misery instead Jesus hungered to our own good….St Ambrosias

“Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when
they were ended, he afterward hungered” (Luke 4:1-2)

† Christ lived in the wilderness by the spirit, spiritually that is, and fasted so he didn’t feed
his body with the essential nurture and someone might ask “what harm would it be if Jesus
dwelt always in the cities? And how did Christ benefit from his living in the wilderness? And
Christ had no need of righteousness? And why Christ fasted while he had no need to fast?”
This was set for the purpose of killing the pleasure and lust and to force the sin in our body
and to control the different feelings in us which develop the defile lust of the flesh. Was
Christ in need of fasting? He, whom the Father with, killed the sin in the flesh. Therefore The
wise St Paul said “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4)

Christ therefore has condemned the sin in the flesh and wiped the iniquity which has ruled
over our human nature for long time. Christ practiced the fasting, being sacred and pure in
his nature, unblemished and blameless, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow
of turning! Why did Christ fast and rejected city’s life and preferred to dwell the wilderness
and tolerated the toil of fasting? This great work that Christ has done was to teach us, dear
brethren, for Christ has drawn for us the plan that we have to follow, and paved for us a
straight way that we have to walk in, this way that the sanctified monks walk in.
Otherwise how the people would love living in the wilderness, and benefit from the life of
loneliness and solitariness and see in this salvation for their souls and piece for their spirits?
The groups of monks desert the world, distant themselves from its rough waves and storms to
liberate themselves from chaos, instability, pride and lust or as St Joseph the joyful said:
“people take off what they have on so as to give back the world its belongings and
possessions. St Paul the apostle speaks of those who get used to living with Christ:”And they
that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal. 5:24) and he
also added saying that the life of asceticism is necessary and that the fruits of such life are
fasting, tolerance and disregarding of food, whether little or much, so by this we would
defeat Satan but notice that Christ was baptized first then has been full with the Holy Spirit
and then afterwards lived in the wilderness and used the fasting as a weapon for him to fight
Satan and his army, and all this to teach us, to weave in his tapestry and follow his model.
You have then, first of all, to put on the helmet of God and get gird with the shield of faith
and hold on the scepter of salvation. At the beginning, you have to be granted the power from
on high and that by mean of the holy baptism, it is then with this that you could conduct a
proper life with the great God then with spiritual courage depart from the people to dwell in
the wilderness, then you fast a holy fasting so you would suppress the lust of the body and
defeat Satan if he tried to tempt you. In Christ therefore, we find every weapon that
strengthen us.

Certainly, Christ manifests amongst the warriors and thus rewards the prize and crowns the
victorious with crowns of triumph and victory.

Now let us contemplate the struggles of Christ with the devil “Being forty days tempted of the
devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward
hungered”
How Christ hungered though he is the one who fills us with his richness of grace? Is it not
Christ, he the heavenly bread which came down from heaven so no one who feeds on him
hunger? Christ fasted and “hungered” because he has accepted to be like us, for that he had to
bear what any human being should bear….St Cyril the great.

† He draws to us a comparison between the temptation of Adam in paradise and the

temptation of the second Adam in the wilderness. Let us ponder how the first Adam was
expelled from paradise, and know how the second Adam returned from the wilderness to
paradise. Let us also ponder how the repair was done and the plan by which it was fulfilled.
Adam was born from the virgin earth, and Christ was born from the virgin. Adam was
created in the image of God but as for Christ he is the essential image of God.
The first had dominion over all animals and the second have dominion over everything. Eve
was characterized by hesitance; the virgin was characterized by wisdom.
The tree brought death, and the cross brought life.
The first was in paradise, while Christ was in the wilderness but came to scatter the fault of
the guilty and bring him back to paradise…
It was not possible that God retract his judgment and thus the sentence of death was fulfilled
in one instead of the other.

If Adam felt, was he in paradise, for not having a Shepard, then how could he have found the
way in the wilderness without a Shepard to lead him? For in the wilderness increases the
temptation….and it is easy to fell in the sin….

What Shepard could help us against the tricks of this life and the deceptions of Satan “For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph.
6:11)?! Would God send an angel though some Angels have fallen! ….Would he send one of
the seraphim, such as the one that descend on earth in the midst of a people of unclean lips
(Isaiah 6:5), he could not purge but the lips of one profit with the live coal? Therefore it was
necessary to search for another Shepard that we all would follow. Then who is he, that great
Shepard, that is able to prepare goodness for all, but the one who is above all? Who raise me
above this world except he who is above this world? Who is he, that great Shepard, that is
able with one command to Shepard the man and the woman “Where there is neither Greek
nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is
all, and in all.” (Col. 3-11)?
The traps are many wherever we go, traps of the flesh, and traps of the literal law, and traps
that are set by Satan on a pinnacle of the temple and on a high mountain, and the traps of
philosophies, and traps of desires, for the adulterous eye is the trap of the sinner (Pro. 7:22)
and the traps of loving the world, the traps of religious hypocrisy, the traps of the life of
chastity as despising the secret of marriage…but the best way to destroy this traps is to put a
bait for Satan to pounce on his prey so that the trap catches him, it is then that we can say:
“They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit
before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves”(Psalm 57:6). What is this bait
other than the body? For the Lord has taken the body of our weakness and humble to give the
devil the opportunity to struggle with him so he would defeat Satan…

Now Christ in the wilderness leading the man, teaching him, forming him, training him,
anointing him with the holy anointment, and when he sees him strong, he leads him to green
and fertile pastures….Finally leads him to the garden during the sufferings, as written:”
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron,
where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples” (John 18:1)….Finally the
return of man with the strength of God , assure us the truth that St Luke has mentioned
amongst all evangelists with these words that the Lord has spoken to the thief “Today you
shall be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:44)

† Christ being full of the Holy Spirit returned to the wilderness to challenge the devil. If he
was not tempted by the devil he would not have triumphed for my sake in a secretive way,
liberating Adam from the bondage………St Ambrosius

† “Jesus was led by the spirit to the wilderness”, the Holy spirit that is, neither obliged nor
captivated, but led eagerly to the battle in which he would struggle….St Jerome

† Jesus our leader allowed himself to be under temptation, to teach his children how to
struggle….St Augustine

A. The temptation of the bread

Because Christ went to the battle in our behalf, to win in our name and for our account, the
temptations started with the temptation of the bread, for Satan asked from Christ to command
the stone that it be made bread for him to eat in his hunger.
From one aspect, this temptation corresponds to Adam’s first temptation when he felt in
disobedience by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil…so the Lord came
fasting resisting the devil, and overcoming him, refusing to listen to him despite his
capability to make the stone bread as he did at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, where he
made the water wine. And from another aspect, God has permitted this temptation to declare
Satan’s deceptive fatherhood to the sinners, for a true father do not give stone if a son shall
ask bread as Christ saying in (Luke 11:11), but this adversary, gives stone instead of bread
for man to eat, and so carries in his intestine hard stone!
I wish we reject every stone offered by the devil to us so we would not eat it as bread and so
grow as hard-hearted without love and kindness!

The scholar Oreganos sees that the stone offered by the devil is the heresies that are offered
by the adversary as fake bread so we would think it is the filling word of God…
St Luke the evangelist says:” And the devil said unto him, if you are the Son of God,
command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, it is written,
that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God”…….. (Luke 4:3-4)

† Satan jumped to where Christ was and looked to the stone and addressed Christ saying: “if
you are the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:3) as you can
see, Satan approached Christ as a man, as one of the saints, although he is suspecting Christ.
But how did Satan seek to investigate the divinity of Christ?
He knew that he can not change the nature of material to other nature totally different in
essence unless it be by divine power. It is either that Christ changes the material so Satan
would become confused in his matter, or he would be unable to perform such act so Satan
would be pleased as he wouldn’t find in him other than a weak person that is possible to
resist.

Christ knew what went on in Satan’s mind so he did not change the stone and consequently
didn’t state his inability to change it. Christ rebuked the devil by saying:” man shall not live
by bread alone” (Luke 4:4) and this means that if God gives human the power, he would be
able to live without food and live just like Moses and Elijah lived for forty days in strength
without tasting a thing, so if Christ can live without food why would he make the stone
bread. But Christ never said “I can not do that” as he would be suspected to be human and
not God and he did not say “I can do that” as he would be left and his business by Satan as
Christ wanted to teach us other lessons as well.

Notice, dear brethrens, how that the nature of Christ rejected Adam’s greed and gluttony, so
by Adam’s eating we were defeated, and by Christ’s asceticism we became victorious

The body feeds on what the earth produce of goods but the nurture of the wise soul is the
eternal word of God. The bread, that the earth produces, nurtures a body with its elements as
those elements of the earthy bread, but as for the heavenly bread sent by God from above on
high nurtures the remaining soul. This is the same heavenly bread that the multitude of angels
nurtures with………St Cyril the great
† We discover from this temptation that the devil has three arrows; he is accustomed to use
them to hurt the heart of human: lust of food, the glory in vain and the greed!!
Begins from the devil’s victory, likewise my victory in Christ should begin from my defeat
by the devil in Adam….
He says:” if you are the Son of God”, the devil absolutely knew that the Son of God should
come, but he didn’t think that he would come in weakness, thus he wanted to make sure and
then tempted him….

Look at Christ’s weapons by which he triumphed for your sake and not for his own sake, for
he is able to transform the elements, as at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, but he is teaching
us neither to obey the devil in anything nor to show your strength.
We also knew from this temptation Satan’s deceiving cleverness as he tempts to be sure from
the truth in order to penetrate human and tempt him…..the Lord didn’t use his authority as
God or we couldn’t have benefited but he rather used the general ability which was the using
of God’s words………….St Ambrosius

† “Command this stone”, what stone was that? It was without a doubt, the stone that the
devil was showing him demanding to make bread. What is the temptation then?
Satan, the deceiving adversary, presents stone instead of bread (Luke 11:11).this what Satan
wants, that the stone be made bread, so the people would grow not on bread but on stone
showed by Satan as bread. And I believe that Satan still showing to us the stone, saying to
everyone: Command this stone that it be made bread....if you see the heretics eating their
false teachings as bread, then know that their arguments and teachings are the stone that
Satan is showing to us so we would eat it as bread….
Let us watch, therefore, and not to eat Satan’s stone thinking that we are growing with the
Lord’s bread……The scholar Oreganos

† The body yields to the temptation of hunger so as to give the devil the chance to tempt
him……St Jerome

† Be certain that the adversary attacks the heart by means of filling the stomach…Father
John of Cronstadet

B. The temptation of the No-Cross

In the previous temptation, the devil wanted to offer the Lord the stone as bread, but the Lord
refused to make the stone bread offering himself “the living bread from heaven” filling his
believers. Now the devil knew that the coming Messiah reigns forever through the cross and
the pain, He showed him the kingdoms of the world to reign but not through the cross but
through the easy way and the wide door which is “worshiping the devil himself”

With Christ strongly rejecting this easy wide way, he opened to us the door to also reign with
him through his suffering not through evil
† The son of God wants as the anti-Christ does which is to reign, but while the anti-Christ
wants to reign for our destruction, Christ reigns to save with the cross. He who is honest
amongst us, let Christ reigns over him with his words and wisdom and justice and truth; but
if we favored the lust than God, we let the sin reign over us, as the apostle says:” Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body” (Ro. 6:12)

Then two kings wanting to reign, reigning of the sin or Satan over the evil ones, and reigning
of justice or Christ over the righteous.

The devil knew that Christ came to take over his kingdom and make those who were
previously submissive to the deceiver, yield to his power and authority, “showed unto him
all the kingdoms of the world” and all the world’s inhabitants, showed him how he reigns
over one with lust and the other with miserliness and other with the love of the glory in vain
and he detained others by the attraction of beauty…. It is as if Satan is saying to him: Do you
want to reign all over the creation? And he showed him the countless multitudes that are
subjected to him; the truth is, if we accepted to know in simplicity our misery and realize our
disaster, we would discover that Satan do reign over the majority of the world, that’s why the
Lord call him “the prince of this world” (John 12:31, 16:11).
And when the devil told Jesus: do you see all this people subjecting to my authority? He was
showing him this “in a moment of time”, as the present time is counted as a moment
compared to eternity…then the devil said to the Lord: Did you come to fight against me, and
take over all those under my authority? No, don’t try to compare yourself with me, and do
not expose yourself to the hardships of such a battle. Look, all that I ask of you, “If you
worship before me, all shall be yours”
Without a doubt, our Lord and savior wants to reign but with justice and truth and every
virtue….He does not want to be crowned as king without toil (the cross)…..

The Lord answered and said unto him:” you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only
shall you serve” (Deut. 6:13). My will is that all would be mine, serving me and worshiping
no one but me. This is the royal wish of God. Do you want me to sin, me who came to wipe
the sin and free the people from it?
Let us rejoice and cheer, we who became his, and let us pray for him to kill the sin which
reigned in our bodies (Rom. 6:6) so he would reign alone over
us……………………………..The Scholar Oreganos

† “showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world” (Luke 4:5)
How dare you, you despicable Satan, to show the Lord the kingdoms of the world and speak
to him saying:” All this power will I give you and the glory of them……If you will worship
me” How would you promise something not yours? Who proclaim you as an heir to the
kingdom of God? You have usurped these kingdoms by fraud and deception. Return, what
you have robbed, back to the incarnated son, lord of the entire world, and listen to what profit
Isaiah said against the devil and his troops: “For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king
it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the
breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it” (Isaiah 30:33) so how you
approach, you devil, Christ with reigning while your portion in the deep hell where you
reign? And how the Lord worship you while the seraphims and all the angelic hosts do not
stop for a blink of an eye to praise his name cause it is written :” :” you shall worship the
Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Luke 4:8)?
Truly, this verse has fatally hit the devil, for before the coming of Christ, Satan was
deceiving all those under the blue sky, and every knee used to kneel before him, but now that
Christ has come, with his mercy, reclaim the people that are lost in their sin and give worship
and serving and reverence to him……………..St Cyril the great

† The fault not in the authority itself but rather in the greed in vain, for that the establishment
of authority comes from God, and who use it , become an ambassador of God as he is God’s
servant for goodness(Rom. 13:3,4). The work itself is not evil but the problem in who
execute such work…..we have to distinguish between the good work of authority and the bad
work…… ………………….St Ambrosius

† Showed him the glory of the world, from the top of an high mountain, that which perishes,
but the savior descended to the lowest places to defeat the devil with
modesty……………………………………………………………St Jerome

† The Lord has declared that Satan is a liar from the beginning, and there is no truth in him
(John 8:44), and being a liar and no truth in him, he does not speak the truth but a lie, when
he said:” All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me;
and to whomsoever I will I give it”……….St Irinaeus

† Satan lied in the beginning and kept his lying till the end, for he is not the one who
establishes the kingdoms of this world but God does “The king's heart is in the hand of the
Lord” (PROV. 21:1) and as the word says through Solomon “By me kings reign, and princes
decree justice, By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (PROV.
8:15-16) …………………………………St Irinaeus

† The Lord has exposed the devil and revealed his true identity, for he said:” Get thee behind
me, Satan” (Luke 4:8)……Showing this from calling him by his real name, as the word
“Satan” means “apostate” in Hebrew…………………St Irinaeus

C. The temptation in the Sanctuaries

First, the adversary of goodness, the devil, has tried to tempt Jesus to make the stone bread,
and failed, as Christ has offered himself as the true bread that refresh the soul, wiping its
stony nature, and in the previous temptation wanted to destroy Christ’s target by opening an
easy and short way to reign without the need to the cross but the Lord insisted of not
accepting other way than to enter the circle of the cross. As for the temptation, in our hand, it
affects the worshiping itself, as it happened in Jerusalem on a pinnacle of the temple, and
said unto him a verse from the bible:” He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep
thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against
a stone” (Luke 4:10-11) asking him to cast himself down from the pinnacle of the temple.
This temptation is mostly subjected to by pastors, servants and the religious people, for the
adversary of goodness fight them in Jerusalem in the temple of God, presenting words to
them from the Holy Bible that are either deviated in some words or its understanding trying
to transform their worships to pretences and shows and hypocrisy, asking from them instead
of this to elevate themselves to the heavenly matters and cast themselves down from the
pinnacle of the temple, as bring them down to pretence or hypocrisy instead of their true
purpose.

† Let us Notice the beginning of this gospel, which we heard today, and let us enlighten the
hidden matters in it: “he brought him to Jerusalem”, it seems unbelievable that the devil
leads the Son of God and as, he follows him, he is like the wrestler who goes to the
temptation and does not fear, and does not get scared by the unbearable traps of the very
deceiving adversary as if the Lord is saying to him: You will find me stronger than you.
He led him to the top of the temple and asked him to cast down himself from hence, and this
suggestion was under the cover of fulfilling the glory of God…

Satan speaks depending on the Holy Bible…..but hopefully he does not deceive me even if
he uses the Holy Bible…

Contemplate the sentence that the devil presented to the Lord:” For it is written, He shall
give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone”. Look, how he is so deceiving even in
choosing his words, as he trying to diminish the glory of the Lord, as if Jesus in need of the
angles’ help, as if he would be practicing something wrong unless he is supported by the
angels. By this, Satan adopts a sentence from the Bible which does not fit Christ and try to
apply it to him, for it could fit the saints in a general term…. Christ does not need the angels’
help as he is far greater than them and inherits a greater and more sublime name:” For unto
which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?”
(Heb. 1:5-7), (Psalm 2:7)…

After saying:” He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands
they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone”, Satan stopped
short from completing the sentence which was:” Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet” (Psalm 91:13).so why you did
cross this verse with silence, Satan? Because you are the adder and the king of all kind of
snakes. You know well, that you carry on your sides another hostile power called “the lion”
in which you are trample under the feet of righteous, that’s why you didn’t want to speak
about this matter.
You are the lion and the dragon, for it is written:” Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet”, hence you become silent and
state nothing against yourself, if we read the Bible uprightly; we totally realize that we have
the authority to tread upon you with our feet, that authority was not only granted to us in the
old testament as in this psalm when was hymned by, but also in the new testament also. Has
not the savior said:” Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19)
Let us depend on this power and take our armor, and tread with our behavior on the young
lion and the serpent……. ………………..The Scholar Oreganos

† “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence” (Luke 4:9)
As for the third temptation, its focus was on the pride and showiness:” cast thyself down
from hence” to prove your divinity to the public but Christ answered him:” You shall not
tempt the Lord your God” (Luke 4:12) for God does not help, he who dares to tempt him
.Christ has never given a sign to anyone who came to tempt him, as it has been mentioned:”
An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas”

It is not surprising then, that the devil retreats against Christ after three of these temptations,
for the victorious Christ presents to us the crown of victory and triumph as he truly said:”
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19)

” For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee” (Luke 4:10)
Look how the devil quotes from the divine chapters to help him using it to shoot his
deceiving arrow, cause this verse that was mentioned in the psalms does not refer to Christ,
because Christ is not in need of angels. As for the pinnacle of the temple, this referred to the
high building that was built next to the temple………St Cyril the Great

† This is the devil of the glory in vain, for when the human being thinks that he has soared
higher, he is more eager to do great deeds and so fall in hell.

He said to him:” If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence”. These
unspeakable words only spoken by Satan that is trying to cast the human soul down
Whenever it gets exalted by its virtues? Can anything be more appropriate to Satan other than
giving the advice of casting down?
Satan can not harm anyone except the person, who cast himself down, that is, he who leaves
heaven and choose the earth…………………..St Ambrosius

† These are always the words of the devil that wishes the downfall of all….St Jerome

The evangelist concluded his words about the temptation by saying:” And when the devil
had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke 4:13).

For Satan does not get tired of struggling even with his bitter defeat in every temptation, as it
was written:” he departed from him for a season”….so in the remaining of the chapter,
showed a constant struggle between Christ and the devil in every way, whether directly or
throughout his servants. It is appropriate for us then not to be deceived if the adversary has
departed from us, so if he did, he left us for a season and will return to struggle with us again.
 † When the devil heard the name of “God”, he departed for a season, for he came afterwards
not to tempt him but to fight him openly. And the Holy Bible let you know that you are at
war not with flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual
wickedness in high places ( Eph. 6:12)

Look, the supremacy of the Christian who fights the rulers, the devils of this world, for even
though he is living on earth, he extends his spiritual strength against the spiritual wickedness
in high places. And we don’t get rewarded with earthly matters in our war for him but our
reward is spiritual, it is the kingdom of heaven and the inheritance of Christ.

It is appropriate for us to strive with every resistance the devil, for the crown is prepared to
us, and we should accept to enter a war with him. No one will be crowned unless he
conquers, and he could not conquer unless he fights (2Tim. 2:5). And the crown gets greater
as much as the suffering grows, because for strait and hard is the way that leads to life and
few there be that find it, and for broad is the way, that leads to death (Math. 7:13)

It is appropriate for us not to fear the temptations of this life by any means, as it is a giving
opportunity to conquer and a matter of triumph…..
The deceiver increases wounding the striver, and yet, the striver in his courage does not let
his heart be troubled…..
If you are exposed to temptations, then know that the crowns are being prepared!
Joseph was put in prison as a fruit of his chastity, but he would not have shared the ruling of
Egypt if he had not been sold by his brothers……….St Ambrosius

2. Jesus in Galilee:
“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of
him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being
glorified of all”
The Lord, Christ, didn’t carry “the power of the spirit” as a new power wasn’t in him before,
but as he left the cities and was in solitude in the wilderness and fasted there and was tempted
by the devil and conquered him after he had been baptized, and so he returned to the cities of
Galilee offering all that he did in the name of humanity so it would carry through him “the
power of the spirit”. In other words, what the Lord Jesus did by being in the wilderness and
practicing of the fasting and conquering the devil is a credit for any one who wants to be his
disciple, it is not therefore appropriate that someone would start his service without this
credit of victory and triumph in the Lord.

The scholar Oreganos comments on this sentence:” he taught in their synagogues, being
glorified of all” by saying: “Beware of praising those who used to listen to the words of
Christ, and judge yourselves as if you are deprived from his teachings….for the Lord didn’t
only speak in the older days to the Jewish synagogues, but also up to this day speaks in our
assemblies, Not only amongst us but also in other assemblies all over the world. Jesus
teaches and demands tools that he can use, to transmit his teachings. Pray, that he finds me
ready for this and that I hymn to him….
 Today, Jesus is glorified by everybody, further more, because he is not only known in one
place namely the Jewish people………………The scholar oreganos

3. Jesus, the rejected by his own people:

St Luke the evangelist presented to us a live picture of the work of this amazing friend as he
came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, to serve. Even though that everybody
testified for him and were amazed from the graceful words coming from his mouth, yet they
were offended in him because they thought that he is Joseph’s son......and when he began
speaking to them about his open friendship towards all, even the gentiles, they decided to
cast him down from the brow of the hill but he passing through the midst of them went his
way.
This picture that was done in the beginning of his service represents the bigger picture. What
the people of Nazareth did, was in fact more severely done by the Jewish people as a whole,
for they have rejected the one who came unto his own and they have given him up to be
crucified in order to get rid of him. What the people of Nazareth did, was a part of the entire
plan of the crucifixion and the cross.
Christ has been brought up in Nazareth, he who has granted the salvation and life to the
world, whereas his own city has condemned itself with death and destruction.
Now, we mention some fathers’ comments on the biblical verse:
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he
went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (Luke 4:16)

† It was necessary for Christ to appear to the Israelis so they would know the reality of the
incarnation which they were oblivious. And since Christ was anointed by God the Father to
be the savior of the entire world, it was necessary for all of this, that Christ shows himself to
the Jewish nation and other nations as well, and reveals his work of redemption to all nations
but Christ has chosen to give the great privilege to the Jews of Nazareth of visiting them
where he had been brought up as human amongst them.
So when Christ came to the city of Nazareth, he went into the synagogue, and stood up for to
read a chapter pointing to the redemption and how Christ, the word, would be revealed to the
world as human in order to fill and save it. And we truly believe that there was no other way
by which Christ would be anointed the sacred anointment, other than to come to the world as
human and become the nature of human.

Christ is the incarnated God, as God he grants the Holy Spirit to the entire creation and as
human he receives the Holy Spirit from God his Father. Christ sanctified the whole creation
whether it be by his marvelous dawning from above on high, where God the Father is or by
granting the Holy spirit to the heavenly world by which he will judge with and the earthly
world that confesses his incarnation…………………..St Cyril the great
“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had
opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:17-18)

† This did not happen by chance but according to the divine grace, as Jesus opened the book
and found the chapter that prophesized about him…..He read the passage that concerns “the
secret of Christ” accurately :” The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor”. The passage speaks of Christ, and it did not come
accidentally, but according to the divine will and grace.
Notice these words and how Jesus has applied them on himself in the synagogue.

“He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor” truly, they were the ones to be poor
as they possessed nothing, neither God nor a profit nor the justice nor any virtue, and for that
reason, Jesus has been anointed for the sake of those poor………..The scholar oreganos

† The Lord himself assures us that he is the one who has spoken in the prophecies as he had
been anointed by the holy anointment and the heavenly power….to release the captivity of
the spirit and to enlighten the darkness of the thought and to preach the law of the Lord that
extends throughout endless ages and offers the human being the continuity of the harvest and
the eternal rest. As he has enriched and embraced all professions and did not despise a certain
profession but we the lowly race saw his flesh and rejected the faith of his divinity that has
been declared throughout his miracles………..St Ambrosius

† “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to
the poor” (Luke 4:18)

We deduce from theses words that Christ has abdicated himself from the heavenly glories
showing his love for our salvation, because the Holy Spirit within his nature in Christ, so
how it then would come down on the Lord from above? also in Jordan River the Holy Spirit
has come down to anoint Christ for no reason other than Christ has prepared himself on
fulfilling the grace of salvation for us and offering the Holy spirit to us, because we were in
lack of the grace of the Holy Spirit as the words of inspiration said:”My spirit shall not
always strive with man” (Gen. 6:3)

The incarnated Christ has spoken these words because he is true God of true God, and was
incarnate without being altered by any alteration and was anointed with the oil of joy and
happiness, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him. We know
that kings and priests were anointed in the older times to be sanctified partial sanctification,
but Christ was anointed with the oil of spiritual sanctification receiving this anointment not
for his own sake but for our sake because we were previously deprived from the Holy Spirit,
as the cloud of grief and sadness had covered the face of the earth……..……………St Cyril
the great

“He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19)
† We were captives in the devil’s captivity and imprisonment, and then Christ came to preach
deliverance to the captives, the sight to the blind, as his words and preaching makes the
blinds recover the sight....
The human was guilty and murderer and captive before obtaining the deliverance and Jesus
cured him……………………………..The Scholar oreganos

† Christ preaches deliverance to the captives by tying the feet of Satan by chains as Satan had
been a terrible oppressor and tyrant ruler that rules over the neck of the people and stole from
Christ his pasture and creation. Christ therefore has returned what the devil had stolen
unjustly and forcefully.

Christ was sent to guide hearts that have been lured by Satan, in which he pulled a curtain of
pitch-darkness, but as for Christ, he scattered the pitch-black cover and his pasture has been
able to walk in the bright light and shine as mentioned in St Paul the apostle’s first epistle to
the people of Thessalonians:” You are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1The. 5:5)

The blind has been able to see and the roads have been lightened and the hills have been
paved and that by the coming of Christ the savior and the redeemer:” I the LORD have called
thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a
covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:6)

Christ came and declared a new covenant to his brothers, the Israelis, but the Jews didn’t
monopolize this shining light, but the wonderful light of Christ has shine brightly on the
gentiles and so has delivered them that are captives and has set at liberty them that are
bruised, and all of that prove that Christ is God in his nature for he is true God of true God.

What is the meaning of the words:” to preach deliverance to the captives”? This verse refers
to the crowds of depressed miserable ones that the devil had made them fall in his traps

And what is the meaning of:” to preach the acceptable year of the Lord”?? This verse refers
to the joyful glorious news that announce the coming of the Christ, this is the acceptable year
which Christ had wanted to be crucified at in our behalf because by his crucifixion, we have
accepted God the Father as we were distant from him, as mentioned:” And I, if I be lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Indeed, Christ rose on the third day,
triumphant over the power of death, and so says:” All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth” (Mat. 28:18)

Is it not this year is an acceptable year as we have joined Christ’s family, and the flag of
Jesus has blown on top of us, and we have been sanctified by the sacred baptism, and have
participated in the divine nature of Christ by obtaining the Holy Spirit?

It is an acceptable year then, this that in which Christ has manifested his glory with
astonishing miracles, and we have joyfully and happily accepted the grace of salvation and
redemption as the wise St Paul’s saying:” behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is
the day of salvation” (2Cor. 6:2).
Indeed, he is acceptable, for in him the gentiles have won the treasure of the heavenly gospel
and have obtained the joyful message of heaven cause in the past they were distant from the
grace of salvation, had no hope of being salved and had no God to turn to in the world, but
now, we are members of the Christian kingdom, and partners of the righteous hosts of saints,
and the heirs of graces and blessings that no mind is able to comprehend and no tongue is
able to describe “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1Cor. 2:9)

And the phrase:” the brokenhearted” refers to the weak hearted people who are hesitant in
faith, those who can not resist the lure and the lust and so relax the knot on their defiled
emotions and by doing so, they face severer strangulation and harder imprisonment. But
Christ has promised those captives their deliverance and calls unto them saying: Come back
unto me, and I will heal you and forgive your sins and iniquity.

As for those who blinded their vision, Christ grants them the light and brightness. They are
blind because they have worshiped the created not the creator:” Saying to a stock, Thou art
my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth” (Jeremiah 2:27).
Those people were oblivious of Christ’s divine nature and so their minds were deprived from
the true spiritual light.

And there is no objection on referring these matters to the Israelites as they were poor,
brokenhearted and captives roaming about in the dark-pitch night :” They are all gone aside,
they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3)

Christ came and preached the Israelis first before any other nation, as for the gentiles they
were not less than the Israelis in their blindness and foolishness but Christ has enriched them
with his wisdom and has disciplined them with his knowledge, so they did not remain weak
minded and oblivious in thoughts but became correct in their faith and strong in their
principles……………..St Cyril the Great

“And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes
of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him and he began to say unto
them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:20-21)

The words of Christ came interpreting this attractive prophecy, because it was not abstract
but it was a divine work fulfilled by his coming and that’s why he is saying:” the eyes of all
them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him”

† When Christ spoke these proving verses, the listeners were amazed and they wondered
between themselves from where did he get all this profound wisdom while he didn’t study
the Jewish literature? Because the Jews were accustomed to interpret the prophecies
concerning Christ as it were fulfilled either in their kings or in their profits because they were
deviated from the right and correct way and they have adopted a crooked and scornful
conduct.

To avoid the mistake that the Jews have persistently fallen in and to prevent any confusion
they might turn to, Christ has said unto them in perfect frankness:” this day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21).

Christ has told them frankly that he is the one that the prophecy referred to, because Christ is
the one who has preached the word of salvation to the heathendom nations as they were poor
and dispossessed with no God, no law and no prophets and so he primarily preached people
who were deprived for a long time from the spiritual gifts and set at liberty the captives that
tolerated the bitterness of chains and degradations, and has enlightened the way of truth and
righteousness for the cloud of pitch darkness blocked the openings and the ways, that’s why
the Lord said:” I am come a light into the world” (John 12:46). Christ has destroyed the
chains of inequity, and has declared the judgment of justice and has finally preached with the
acceptable year which is the sign of his first coming and the flag of his salvation and the logo
of the whole human race.

“And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his
mouth” (Luke 4:22)

The Israelis didn’t realize the position of Christ’s status, and didn’t know that he is the Lord's
anointed, God of hosts and miracles, and so deviated from his teachings and spoke in vain
against him, and even though they valued the words of wisdom that Christ proceeded out of
his mouth, they tried with the spirit of skepticism and confusion and they said:” Is not this
Joseph's son?” (Luke 4:22). Did this question block the bright light of miracles? And why
didn’t Christ has been greeted with respect and dignity besides being Joseph’s son? Did not
the Israelis see the miracles?
And did not the sin buried in its grave and the devil got imprisoned in hell and his army got
defeated in a humiliating defeat?

The Jews praised the stream of grace that proceeded out from Christ’s mouth but they treated
him fully with hatred because he is related to Joseph. It is the ultimate ignorance as truly said
the inspiration words:” Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which
have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not” (Jeremiah 5:21)……………….St
Cyril the Great

† “And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him” (Luke 4:20)

Till the present time, this could happen, in our assemblies and meetings, our eyes may fasten
on the savior, directing deeper looks, pondering in the only Begotten Son of God, the wisdom
and the truth……How I wish for such assembly………where all listeners and believers, men
and women and children, have their eyes, of the soul that is not of the body, to be engaged
fastening on to Jesus because looking at him makes his light reflects so your faces become
brighter……..The Scholar Oreganos
“And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself:
whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country and he said,
Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:23-24)

As if they were saying to him: “You who have uplifted yourself in a foreign country through
making miracles, go ahead, and make miracles among your own people and relatives in your
own country”, as they thought that Christ was asking for present glory or honor from human
beings.

† “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself” (Luke 4:23)

This proverb was well-known among the Jews and was called on the physicians and the
scholars, so if a physician fell sick, they would tell him:” Physician, heal yourself”. Christ
made it clear to the Jews that they demanded from him to make various miracles before them
especially because his city where he has been brought up is more worthily than others with
these miracles and wonders. But Christ has explained to them that the accustomed is rejected,
evidently still after they heard the words of wisdom and grace that he has spoken, they
offended him saying:” Is not this Joseph's son?” so it is not surprising, therefore, that they
kept shutting their eyes from seeing his teachings:” Verily I say unto you, No prophet is
accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24)………………..St Cyril the Great

Christ did not refuse this proverb but he has explained that it is not applicable to him. It is
appropriate for every teacher then to affirm his teachings through his life before his words or
this proverb would permissively apply to him for he would be as a doctor who claims his
ability to cure the sick while he himself is suffering from the same sickness.

St John the Golden Tongue says:” With this, the Lord himself has set the rule that the work
should come before the teaching......He who is unable to teach himself and tries to correct the
others finds himself mocked by many, indeed, such a person lack the ability to teach
whatsoever, because his deeds show against his sayings”

This proverb then does not apply to the Lord Christ since his deeds were a stronger witness
of his words…….but the secret of their real offence in the Lord, came from their rejection of
him merely because he is from their own country and so the other proverb would apply to
them:” No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24)

† ”No prophet is accepted in his own country”

If Anathoth, Jeremiah’s homeland (Jer.11:21), did not accept him well, and also Isaiah and
the rest of prophets got rejected by their own, the circumcised people…..but as for us, who
were not attributed to the covenant but were aliens to the promise, have accepted Moses and
the prophets who proclaimed Christ, we have accepted them from all of our hearts more than
the Jews who rejected Christ and didn’t accept to be witnesses for
him…………………….The Scholar Oreganos
Christ has seized the opportunity of being rejected by his own people and has declared his
friendship on the level of humanity assuring that the unity of the divine work has its roots
even in the old testament, as he said:”

“But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the
heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the
land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a
woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the
prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian”
(Luke 4:25-27)

These words were hard for the Jewish ears to hear, as the Jew thought that he is God’s
preferred person, the possessor of the law, the covenants, the promises and the prophecies
and out from his race would come the Messiah…..but the Lord Christ has revealed the true
nature of his love for humans without discrimination, as in the days of Elias, the widow of
Sidon was blessed with what no many Jewish women did, and the gentile’s leper, Naaman
the Syrian, obtained what no Jewish leper did.
(1Kings 17, 2Kings 5)

† We can see that the prophet didn’t heal his brothers nor his citizens nor his own people but
rather a foreign nation who had no law and did not believe in his religion. Is not that a proof
that the medicine does depend on the will and not on the human race, and that we enjoy the
divine blessings according to our fervent hearts and are not offered to us according to our
birth, so let us learn how to pray diligently asking for whatever we are eager to have, for the
fruits of the divine blessings are not given to those who are lukewarm.

The widow to whom Elias was sent to was a symbol of the church; that church that has its
congregation from the gentiles those who were defiled before being baptized in the holy
river. They were cleansed from the defilements of the flesh and the spirit and they were no
more leprous but rather have become chaste and pure virgins without any sin or blame (Eph.
5:26). That is the reason why Naaman was honored in the eyes of the Lord for he revealed to
us the picture of salvation for the gentiles, as he was advised by a good maidservant that was
captured by the enemy after the defeat of her people in the war to ask for his salvation from
the prophet, and so Naaman was healed not by a royal command from an earthly king but by
the generosity of the divine mercy……..

Elisha refused the gift, for he had a faith which he learned in the school of base deeds. You
too, walk on what you have learned from the Lord’s principles following the footsteps of the
prophet:” freely you have received, freely give” (Math. 10:8).
Do not be delayed in serving but give it freely, as it is not admissible to you to evaluate the
blessings of God with money. And it is not appropriate for a priest when performing the
sacraments to think in getting rich but rather to think in serving….
Teach your slaves this and encourage them, so if you have been served by someone and you
caught him loving the money like Gehazi, kick him out like the prophet did, and let the
money that he had received from a wicked way be counted as a defilement to the soul and the
flesh, saying:” Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and
vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore
of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever” (2Kings 5:26-
27)…………………….……..St Ambrosius

Anyway, Christ introduced this widow to the Jews as being blessed with what not so many
other women did in the days of Elias. This widow has attracted the hearts of so many fathers,
as St John the Golden Tongue has spoke of her:” This woman had offered generosity more
than our father Abraham”. If Abraham prepared a meal for strangers and thereby entertained
the Lord and both of his angels, he was giving from the abundance of his wealth. But this
widow had given her penury to the prophet of God and endangered her life and the life of her
son to the death. We do not mean to devaluate the deed of our father Abraham but we do not
deny the sublime act of this gentile widow whom St Ambrosius has spoken elaborately of,
especially in his article about widows, as he saw in her a symbol of the church which was not
blessed with Elias’s gifts but with the blessings of the messiah who has opened the heaven to
rain with the abundance of his divine secrets.

† The famine was everywhere but yet this widow was not in need. What are those three years
then? Are they not these in which the Lord has come to earth and did not find the fruit on the
fig tree, as written: “Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find
none” (Luke 13:7)

Surely, this widow is the one whom was said about:” Sing, O barren, thou that didst not
bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more
are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD”
(Isaiah 54:1). She is the widow whom was said about:” For thou shalt forget the shame of thy
youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more for thy Maker is
thine husband” (Isaiah 54:4-5)

She may have been a “widow” because for real she lost her husband at his physical suffering,
but she accepted him in the judgment day the son of man whom it appeared that she had lost
him, he therefore says:” For a small moment have I forsaken thee”, He forsaken her so her
faith would become deeper in more glory…..

The church is a virgin, a wife and a widow, the three of them together in one body in Christ.
This widow then was the one who for her sake, there was a famine for the heavenly word on
earth, the matter that the prophets have referred to. She was a barren widow but she was
conserved to give birth in the right time….

Who had opened for her the heavens other than Christ who gets out food from the sinners for
the growth of the church? As it is not in the authority of man to say:” The barrel of meal
shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain
upon the earth” (1Kings 17:14)……it is the Lord, who always grants the heavenly secrets, it
is he who prepares with his grace the spiritual joy that never ends, preferring the basis of life
and the seals of faith and the gifts of virtues……………St Ambrosius
 The Jews were filled with wrath as they saw him breaking their pride, so they thrust him out
of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might
cast him down headlong, and as St Ambrosius says:” this is the inequity of the Jews that the
prophet has prophesied of…..While the Lord was spreading out his mercies on the
multitudes, they were throwing insults to him. It is not surprising therefore that they lost the
salvation and put out the Lord who was yielded to their wills giving himself to them……as
he has suffered willingly, for the Jews did not arrest him, but it was him rather who has given
himself up to them when he wanted to be arrested by them. When he wanted it, he felt under
the cross and was crucified and nothing stopped him from fulfilling the work.

He went up into the hill but he passing through the midst of them went his way, as his hour
was not yet come…..and also because he wanted them to be healed not to be destroyed so
that if they saw him in the midst of them and failed to cast him down, they would repent.
Christ passing through the midst of them with the power of his divinity, was it there any
possibility for anyone to be able to catch him, he whom the multitudes could not arrest?

St Cyril the Great says:” Christ passing through the midst of them went his way not because
he was afraid from the suffering but because his hour was not yet come. Christ was in the
beginning of his preaching of the gospel and it was not logic to leave the field of work before
spreading the word of salvation and truth”

St Augustine says:” When they came to arrest him after Judas the traitor sold him, for he
thought that he was able to betray his Lord and master, the Lord showed that he is suffering
willingly and not forcibly, as when the Jews came to arrest him Jesus said to them:” Whom
seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he…. As soon
then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground” (John
18:4-6)

4. Jesus, working with authority:

“And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.” (Luke 4:31-32)

The friend stretched out his hand to his people and relatives in the city of Nazareth, but
because it was built on high hills that of ego and selfishness didn’t accept his friendship and
their people led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might
cast him down headlong…….so the Lord came down to Capernaum which means:” the city
of rest”. As for the secret of its rest that it was under the sea level, holding the spirit of
modesty and so has accepted the friendship of her groom and his work of salvation in her.

† Christ addressed the people on the day of Sabbath and they were astonished at his doctrine
for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. The Jews were puzzled
and astonished because they saw before them a Master not only speaking as a prophet but
also as a great God to whom the spirit preceding the body worships him, the Lord of the law.
And so he spoke of principles that surpass the law according to the word of inspiration:” And
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have
given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people” (Isaiah 55:3-4,
Acts 13:34)………….St Cyril the Great

† Ponder the mercifulness of our savior’ Christ as he did not get angry because of the insult
nor was he affected by the injustice up to leave the Judaism but he forgot her inequity and did
not think about other than his mercy, therefore he was sometimes teaching and in other time
saving from the evil spirit and in some other time healing, as he was searching how to soften
those stiff hearted people………...St Ambrosius

The Scholar Tertelian presents to us many meanings to the evangelist’s description:” for his
word was with power” (Luke 4:32). As from one angle, it was not just words, but it contains
the power of work and its effectiveness, and that is why he says to the followers of Mercian:”
Pull, pull all the words of the Christian, as his deeds talk”…..and as Christ himself said:”
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very
works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall
he do also; and greater works than these shall he do;” (John 4:11-12). So his authority was
not a manifestation of his unity with the Father through performing miracles with authority
but through his work in us and the authority working in our lives.
From another angle, his word was with power for he has fulfilled the law and the prophets,
and as the Scholar Tertelian in the same excerpt says:” His divine speech has showed
authority and grace, indeed he was building the essence of the law and the prophets and not
tearing them down”
And from a third angle, his authority was so manifested in his speech that Satan was horrified
for Satan can not bear even his words:” He absolutely knew that Jesus is the Son of God who
would judge and revenge and hard on Satan and not only a righteous person”

The Lord Christ came as a practical friend to human not only teaching with authority, not as
the scribes and Pharisees did, but also working for his account with authority. For that reason
we found a man who had a spirit of an unclean devil in the synagogue, whose the spirit as
humans’ adversary could not bear the presence of this friend saying:” Let us alone; what
have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art; the Holy One of God” (Luke 4:34)

The evil spirit was horrified from the holy one and felt that he is working with power and
authority and was aware that the dark kingdom of evil is falling apart before him. But as for
the Lord Christ, he did not accept that Satan testified of him and rebuked him saying:” Hold
thy peace, and come out of him” (Luke 4:35). And so the attendance realized how he
commands even the unclean spirits, with authority and power and they come out!

† Christ has cast out the unclean spirits which felt the astonishing power of Christ, and did
not find a flee, as they suffered the failure and defeat, other than to ask cunningly and
deviously from the Lord to leave them alone for there is no relationship whatsoever between
the Lord and the unclean spirits and this was a deceitful and lying twist.

The unclean spirits acknowledged that Christ is the “Holy one of God” (Luke 4:34).
 They thought this would put out the flame of pride and arrogance, and so the Lord would be
fascinated with the greatness in vain and the false aspirations and stop rebuking and
disciplining them. Indeed, Satan is full of deceit and cunning but despite this he is
undoubtedly a prey of his own deceit for God can never be deceived and that is why Christ
has rebuked them and has commanded them not to speak a word.

It is not surprising therefore that the crowed of audience were amazed that Christ was
performing the miracles without asking with prayer power from above for he is God himself,
he is the Word of God the Father whom all things were made by him, and through him the
thorn of Satan was destroyed and the tongues of the unclean spirits were shut…………….St
Cyril the Great

† [His comments on fulfilling the first healing and casting out the devils on a Sabbath day]
The Lord began the miracles of healing on the Sabbath day to declare that the new creation
begins from where the old one ends and to point from the beginning that the Son of God does
not yield to the law but he is the Lord of the law, came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it.
The world was not made by the law but by the Word as written:” By the word of the LORD
were the heavens made” (Psalm 33:6).Christ then did not mean to destroy the law but to
fulfill it, to renew the fallen man, thereby the apostle says:” ye have put off the old man with
his deeds and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of
him that created him” (Col. 3:9-10).
The Lord began the work on the Sabbath to show that he is the creator linking between the
deeds and fulfilling the work that he started himself. This is like a worker who arranges to fix
a house so he starts with the broken parts, begins with the smaller piece to reach out for the
bigger one………………..St Ambrosius

† [His comments on the confession of Satan: I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of
God?]
It is appropriate that there would be a difference between our faith and the faith of Satan. For
our faith purify the heart but their faith makes them sin and commit evil, as they say to the
Lord:” What have we to do with thee?”…………..St Augustine

5. The healing of St Peter’s mother in law:

The healing of the man who had a spirit of an unclean devil in the synagogue was publicly
and now he heals St Peter’s mother in law in her house when St Peter invited him to
eat……he is an active friend working for our account wherever he may be and under any
circumstances, working in the public synagogue as well in the private house.

We have previously mentioned this healing in our study of St Mathew’s gospel (8:5) and St
Mark’s gospel (1:31)….and we saw how Simon Peter did not ask anything for himself as he
did not invite Christ to heal his mother in law but rather to eat so the Lord has given him
what he did not ask.
St Peter did not ask anything for himself or for his family but the surroundings of the Lord
“They besought him for her”. A living picture of the working unity of love and the
intercession of the members’ one to another before the one head our Lord Jesus!
† St Peter’s mother in law may represent our bodies that have been struck by the fever of
different inequities and have pushed him into many lusts. This fever is not any less than the
one that strikes the body, as it burns the heart while the other burns the body…….……St
Ambrosius

St Ambrosius commentates on this visit to St Peter’s mother in law by saying:” He was not
ashamed of visiting the widows and entering the small rooms in the poor houses”

Many heard of what the Lord Christ was doing but they did not dare to carry the sick to him
until the sunset (Luke 4:40) when the day of Sabbath ends and Sunday begins. They were
afraid not to break the Sabbath by doing so….….as if keeping the Sabbath in their eyes is
more important than the man and his healing!

Anyway he did not admonish them in anything but declared the authority of his love by
laying his hands [probably in the sign of the cross] on every one of them, and healed
them.(Luke 4:40)

† I also wish that you notice the power of his sacred body when touches anyone, this power
wipes different sicknesses and diseases, and defeats Satan and his hosts, and heals multitudes
of people in a moment of time. And even though Christ was capable to perform the miracles
with a word of him, just by a gesture of him, yet he laid his hands on the sick to teach us that
the sacred body which he took as his temple was the power of his divine word. May God the
Word link us to him and may we be engaged to him in partaking the mysterious body of
Christ, and by this the soul could be healed from its sicknesses and prevail against the attacks
of the devils and their enmities………..St Cyril the Great

When Simon Peter invited the Lord Christ into his house not only his mother in law was
healed but his whole house became a vivid center in which the sick and the weary of the
unclean spirits would come to, to be blessed with the work of the Lord Christ in
them……and so, as soon as the Lord enters our hearts many are blessed with us with his rest
and peace.

St Cyril the great sees that these multitudes which were blessed with his work symbolize the
human life with all of its energies and emotions and capabilities as being blessed with the
healings and the peace in him.

Anyway the devils were crying out, and saying:” Thou art Christ the Son of God” (Luke
4:41) and he rebuking them suffered them not to speak. St Cyril the Great says: [Christ did
not allow the devils to acknowledge him because it is inappropriate for them to usurp the
right of the apostolic occupation. It is not permissible also that they speak with unclean
tongues about Christ’s mystery of redemption. Indeed, these evil spirits must not be believed
even if they were saying true because the light can not be revealed with the pitch darkness’s
help, as the apostle of Christ mentioned to this by saying:” and what communion hath light
with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?” (2Cor. 6:14-15)
 And St Ambrosius says: [the nature of Satan acknowledges Christ but yet he denies him with
his deeds]

And St John the Golden Tongue sees in the forbiddance of the Lord to the devils from
speaking that while he was healing the bodies of the sick and those who had evil spirits, he
wanted to heal their soul so he was teaching them that he is not making this to show off or
asking for a timely glory…..and so it is not appropriate for them to ask for a timely glory.

6. His preaching in the synagogues of Galilee:

Christ has performed many healings at sunset, in the beginning of the day of Sunday, and we
do not know how many hours did Christ spend with the coming multitude asking for cure,
but the evangelist informs us that “When it was day” (Luke 4:42), the early morning that is,
went to a desert place, pulling the hearts of honest servants to the secretive meetings with the
Father so the goal would not be lost from them…..
Anyway, the multitude did not leave him alone so they sought him, and came to him and
stayed him, that he should not depart from them…..and in tremendous love, he declared:” I
must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also” (Luke 4:43). And we could say that
whenever the servant was all by himself with God, his heart would mostly burn with the
salvation of the world, as the true contemplating life is the one who opens mostly the heart
and burns him to wishing the salvation of everyone.

† † †
Revised by Isis Hafez
Section Three

Our Friend feels our Pain

Chapter V

Jesus Supports the Weary

The Lord Jesus began His mission in serving the weary; He filled up the nets of those
who kept toiling all night long without catching anything. He cleansed the man full of
leprosy, and corrected the Pharisees, as well as the teachers of the old doctrine inner
concepts. He attracted the tax collectors from their sites, and He declared the new life He
grants His flowers. He supports anyone who accepts Him, giving him fruits, chastity and
sanctification to the thoughts and conduct in his new life.
1 The fish Catch 1 - 11
2 Cleansing the Leper 12-16
3 Healing of the Paralytic 17- 26
4 Calling Levi the Tax Collector 27-32
5 Declaring the New Wine 33-39

1 The Fish Catch

In our study of the two evangelists (St Matthew 4:18) and (St Mark 1:16-20) we saw
how the Lord Jesus chose His disciples beginning with those four fishermen, all of whom
were Gentiles! Simon Peter represents faith and the rock of faith. St Andrew is the
symbol of manhood and seriousness, St James represents the constant struggle and
persistence and St John is the symbol of God’s love and His grace. The Lord selected
them to preach not by means of the world’s philosophy and wisdom of that time but
rather by God’s grace working in them. We have said that these four represent the horses
carrying the church as God’s speeding chariot ascending to heaven, which is the faith
with what is anew, and the struggle tied to God’s grace and His love.
It seemed those men at first followed the Lord but not on a constant basis. They
would return to their fishing, until the Lord commanded them to solely follow Him. They
therefore left everything behind and followed Him forever.
At any rate, our teacher the evangelist St Luke gives us the encounter between them
and the Lord, when they were emotionally and physically worn out. They have toiled all
night long and have caught nothing (Luke 5:5) It was as if some impelling command
made not one fish get into the nets of both boats all through the night until the sun of
righteousness dawned on them, namely our Lord Jesus Christ. He went into one of the
boats and commanded them to sail in the middle of the day into the depth, to cast one net,
which caught enough to fill the two boats.
If we follow carefully this event as mentioned in St Luke’s gospel, we notice the
following:
Firstly (Luke 5:2) “ And saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen were gone
out of them, and were washing their nets.” St Augustine says, “They were two boats from

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where the four disciples were called. They refer to the two peoples when they cast their
nets and brought a big catch, so much fish that the nets were almost torn. The two boats
refer to the one church and the two peoples who united together in Christ, even though
they were of two different origins. Regarding this point we find two wives who have one
man who is Jacob. They were (Gen29: 23-28) “Leah and Rachel” who were the two
symbols. For the very same reason there was found two blind men as two symbols, who
sat on the roadside, and Christ gave them their sight (Matt20: 30) if you meditate in the
Holy Book you would find the two churches are actually one church, these have been
symbolized in various places. The cornerstone has come to serve them and bind them
together thereby making them one.
Secondly: The men were washing their nets, since all night long has proved to be
fruitless. They would spend all the next day in bitterness and resume once more a new
night. Those fishermen did not realize that this failure of theirs was with God’s
permission for the sake of their eternal and earthy success. The fact that the boats had
been absolutely empty of any fish catching, this was mainly not to make the fishermen to
be preoccupied in collecting and selling the fish. It was rather that they would welcome
the Master in the boat so He uses it as a platform for His teaching; which means, He
would catch the fishermen as well as some of the multitudes. At that He would not
deprive them even of the fish catch for He asked them to throw their nets for fishing and
both boats got so much filled with fish that they began to sink.
When all doors seem to be locked in our faces, and we think we have bad luck- an
expression that is not appropriate for believers to use- then let us open our hearts to the
Lord, and offer him the boats of our life to provide us according to his good will. He
rewards us with the joy of our salvation, and He offers us spiritual fruits without
deprivation of the necessities of the earthly needs.
Thirdly: The disciples experienced the joy of good fishing, which is known to those who
love to go fishing. Now He is exalting them to a deeper pleasure, which is that of
catching the souls to pull them out of the sea of this world and thus live. This experience
would not have been felt if the Lord Himself had not caught them in His net and took
them into His boat, the sanctified Church. Concerning this St Cyril the Great says, “Let us
praise the way by which the disciples have become fishermen for the entire world. They
surrendered to Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth. Though the disciples were asked
to catch the other peoples, yet they were caught in the safe net of Christ, so that when
they in their turn cast their nets, they would catch crowds of believers to the real fold of
Christ. One of the saintly prophets has prophesied of this (Jer16: 16) ‘ Behold, I will send
for many fishermen says the Lord, and they shall fish them; and afterwards I will send for
many hunters and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the
holes of the rocks.”
In the above verse the “fishermen” means the church leaders and ministers.
St Ambrosias says, “ What are the apostle’s nets he was ordered to cast in the deep sea
other that the sermon and the power of conviction which allows no one to escape from the
hunting? It is pleasant to have the nets as the equipment used by the apostles and
disciples. These do not kill those who are hunted, but they rather keep them and bring
them out of the abyss to the light. These raise the ones in the deep sea to the top of the
mountains.
This experience was lived by St Paul the apostle who was hunted by the Lord’s merciful
net; he did not stop casting the net in his turn to fish with God’s grace. He says (2Cor4:
1) “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy we faint not”
Fourthly: The divine command was issued (Luke 5:4) “Launch out into the deep and let
down your nets for a draught”. If this order had come from an ordinary person, the

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fishermen would have considered it offensive to their self-respect, for they were
experienced fishing for a very long time. They knew fishing was much better at nighttime
and is almost non-existent at midday. They also knew that fishing is at shallow waters
and not in the deep.
Simon’s answer had two meaning: One of the old human experience implying a lot
of failure and despair, as well as a new meaning dividing it from the above by the word
“but!” He leaves the mere human experience to (Luke 5:5) the experience of faith in the
active Word of the Lord.
St Augustine noticed the Lord Jesus did not tell the fishermen to cast their nets on
the right side for the righteous one to enter alone, and neither did He say on the left side
for the unrighteous ones. He rather said to cast it in the deep sea to carry both of them
together. The invitation is for everybody to enter the church nets so they may be blessed
with the biblical life. He also noticed the fishermen did not bring the fish to the shore, the
actually emptied the nets in the two boats, for He wishes everyone to be blessed with the
new life inside the church, and not out of it.
Fifthly (Luke 5:5) “ And Simon answering said unto Him “ Master we have toiled all
the night and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down my net.”
The apostle St Peter thought what man did, such as struggling in the service with relying
on God, and holding on to God’s Word and His promises, is only toil and hard work in
the dark night and yet it is fruitless. But on listening to the Lord’s Word, man casts his
net and thus brings forth fruit. Concerning this St. Ambrosias says as if he were St Peter
“I too, Lord, know very well the night darkness envelopes me when You are not there as
my leader. I am thus surrounded by the dark when I saw the seeds of the false word
which springs from myself”
St Ambrosias goes on to declare that Simon Peter’s struggle all night long, and yet
fruitlessly, represents him who preaches eloquently in human power and mere
philosophy. It is therefore extremely urgent that preaching be at daylight, when Christ the
Sun of Righteousness shines, offering His active Word that fills up the nets of the church
with the live fish. He says, “They have caught nothing up till now, but yet, when they
obeyed God’s word they obtained a huge amount of fish. This is not the fruit of human
eloquence, but rather the work of heavenly seeds. Let us then leave the human conviction
and let us cling on to the work of faith by which the nations believe”.
Sixthly: (Luke5: 6,7) The tremendous catch:” And when they had done this, they
enclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net broke. And they beckoned unto their
partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they
came and filed both the ships so that they began to sink.
We are used to the Lord Jesus making miracles in compassion, such as with
someone who is sick, or with someone possessed by an evil spirit, or He raises a man for
the sake of a suffering widow, or feeding the hungry multitude. …But this miracle
happened not to satisfy some physical need or to declare compassion to a wreck soul. It
rather happened to declare the work of the Lord Jesus in His future church of Jews and
gentiles, so as to fill the church with the fish enjoying a blessed new life.
When studying the symbols, we saw “the fish” symbolizing the Lord Jesus Himself
as well as His believers. It is as if the church is filled with the elect. These are the fishes
that live constantly in the baptismal water, clinging to the Fish who grants life.

St Cyril the Great comments on this tremendously big catch saying, “Their nets
were filled with fish miraculously. This is to make the disciples confident that their
preaching mission will not to be in vain when casting their nets on the unbelievers and
lost people. But notice the inability of Simon and his colleagues in pulling the net. They

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 stood in fear and shock silently. They waved to their brethren on the shore asking them
for help. This means there were many who helped the saintly apostles in their field of
missionary work. They are still working hard and diligently, particularly in absorbing the
sublime verses of the gospel, whereas there are others, teachers and shepherds of the
people who have become remarkable in understanding the correct doctrine of Truth.
The net is still cast, and Christ is filling it up with those people who serve Him in the
deep sea of the world, so tempestuous and rough. In the psalm it is said (Psalm 69:14)
“Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink, let me be delivered from them that hate
me, and out of the deep waters.”
Seventhly St Peter’s Response to the Divine Work

Our teacher St Peter the apostle saw the huge and gigantic catch, he was not so much
concerned about the catch itself, but rather his deep enlightenment was attracted to the
personality of the Messiah, the One of authority over heaven and earth and the seas
(Ps8:8) He therefore knelt on his knees and felt grace overwhelming him from his very
depths. He discovered his inward sins before the Lord of heaven and earth. He therefore
cried out saying (Luke5:8)”Depart fro me; for I am a sinful man O Lord” He was not
strong enough to realize this extreme Light and he felt unable to draw closer to the Holy
One, and he confessed his sins
He cried out “Depart from me” because he felt an awesome reverence overwhelming
him. In his modesty and his self-realization of his weakness, St Peter was worthy of the
Lord ‘s entry to the depths of his heart and establishing His kingdom in him. As St John
Chrysostom says, “Nothing is as pleasing and as acceptable in God’s sight as when a man
regards himself to be last of all. This is the foremost basis for any active wisdom.
St Peter the apostle’s humility was not mere words or emotions. It as rather an interaction
with the positive and live work. It was said about him and his colleagues (Luke 5:11) “
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” They
left everything so as to devote all their hearts to the one they loved, in true worship and
missionary work. It is as if humility is not only a feeling of disability, but it is also to
throw yourself restfully in the heavenly groom’s embrace, so man could live with all his
heart and potentials for the account of the groom and his abilities.
St John Chrysostom comments on their leaving everything behind, saying “Tell me what
great thing did St Peter leave behind? It was only a broken net (Luke 5:6,11) and a rod
with bait. Despite this the Lord has opened to him the houses of the world, and He laid
before him the land and sea, and everyone invited him to his possessions. They even sold
all what they had and put it at his feet and not even in his hands.”
St Ambrosias comments on St Peter’s humility blended with his work leaving
everything behind “ St Peter was amazed at the divine gifts and blessings pouring on him.
The more he received, the more his humility and surrender increased.
You too say “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man O Lord” and Christ will answer you
“Fear not”. Confess to the Lord for it is He who forgives your sins. Do not hesitate to
give Him back what is yours. Leave everything behind, for He too, has given you what is
His. Contemplate on God’s love that has given man the authority to take life.”

2 The Cleansing of the Leper

The Lord Jesus came to us humans as a friend. We have toiled all night through
without fishing anything, yet with His word he granted us a gigantic amount of fish coming
from the deep sea, and filled up the two ships. The two ships are the body and soul. We thus
carry not the materialistic fish, but rather the multiplying spiritual fruits for the spirit and the

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body together. Now we can see Him stretching His hand, without any restraint to heal a
leprous man whom everyone fears to touch or even touch his clothes or belongings lest they
become defiled according to the law (Lev.13)
We have previously seen in our study of St Matthew’s gospel (ch.8) and St Mark’s
gospel (ch.1) that this leper represents a true picture of him who says a sincere prayer. He is
blessed with his Master’s hands that purify him. We have also seen the reason for which the
Lord sent him to the priest to offer the oblation according to the Law of Moses. In our study
of the book of Leviticus (Ch 14) we got to know the real concepts for the leprous purifying
rituals.
St Ambrosias thinks that the cleansing of the leprous is a symbol of the cleansing of the
believers whom the Lord was not disgusted to touch. The Lord did not cleanse one leper only
but all those to whom he said (Luke 15:2) “ You are now pure because of the words that I
told you” If the cleansing of the leper has been fulfilled by the word of the Lord, then the
scorning of God’s word is the leprosy that blights the spirit.
He comments on the Lord Jesus touching of the leper when he was healed, saying “ He
touched the leper not because He is unable to heal him without the touch, but to prove He
was not a prisoner of the law, and that He does not fear contagion, since He will never be
infected by it”.
At the time He touched the leper without fearing the defilement of the leprosy according
to the old law. He asks the leprous man to fulfill what was mentioned in the law after being
healed. The Lord wishes to declare He was not a breaker of the law.
The scholar Tritilian speaks of the Lord Jesus sending the leper to the priest in
obedience to the old law, saying “ Because the Lord hated any human glory, He commanded
the leper not to tell anyone about him being healed. But to honor the covenant, He asked him
to do according to the commandments. The Lord wishes the symbolic relationship to the
covenant to be fulfilled for the sake of the prophetic role. These symbols mean that the man
who was a sinner and has been purified of all defilement by God’s word, he has to perform
God’s obligation in the temple. This means prayer and thanksgiving at the church in the
name of Jesus Christ who is the Priest Father to the whole universe.
The Lord added the words “a testimony to them” By so doing, the Lord testified He was
not a breaker of the law but rather the One to fulfill it. Moreover, He testifies He is the One
about whom was prophesied that he carries our infirmities and weakness.
St Ambrosias says “ The old law commands that the leper comes forth to the priest not
to offer an outer sacrifice, but that he offers himself a spiritual sacrifice to God, and thus it
wipes out his previous iniquity. He thus becomes consecrated to the Lord as a pleasing
sacrifice. (Rom 12:1) “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God.”
The leper resorted to prayer and pleaded the Lord Jesus to obtain healing. The evangelist
St Luke wishes to take us from time to time to the life prayer as a source of a sanctified life.
He presents to us the Lord Jesus Himself, our representative and delegate, as praying. He
accepts all prayers, for the evangelist says (Luke 5:16) “ and He withdrew Himself unto the
wilderness and prayed.”
The multitude were eager to meet Him, and many were blessed with being healed by
means of touching Him or hearing a word from His mouth. Despite this, He used to
withdraw Himself to pray, so as to show us the need of a constant contemplative active life.
In love, our hearts are big enough to work for the account of our brethren. In the same love
we meet God in secrecy so as to be blessed with His work in us. In other words, there is no
division between work and contemplation, between preaching, service and worship.
St Cyprians comments on the prayer of the Lord Jesus saying, “ If He who is sinless
prayed, then how much more would it be for sinners to pray? The Lord prayed continually,

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staying up all night in incessant pleading, so how much more should it be for us to stay up
every night in constant and fervent prayer?
The Lord does not pray or ask anything for Himself, for what will he ask for, He who is
without sin? He only asks for our sins as when he said to St Peter (Luke 22:32) “ But I have
prayed for thee that thy faith fail not”.
If He has toiled and stayed up and prayed for our sake and for the sake of our sins, then
how much more should we constantly pray? Let us pray and entreat the Lord Himself, and by
his means, so that we please the Father.
We have the Lord Jesus Christ our God who is our defender and intercessor for our sins,
if only we repent for our past sins and confess realizing our iniquity by which we disobeyed
the Lord. Let us be preoccupied with our conduct in His path and in the fear of His
commandments.
3 The Healing of the Paralytic

Because the Lord Jesus was now in one house, being surrounded with the Pharisees and
the scribes of the old who came from all over Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem (Luke5: 17) the
Lord began to teach them. He saw a paralytic let down by four men from the rooftop. He
stopped His words to tell the paralytic that his sins were forgiven and He healed his body. It
is as if in his friendship to us He does not like teaching for its own sake, as happens with
many teachers, the Lord is only asking for human rest for the soul and the body together.
We discussed the paralytic miracle from the actual books of some of the fathers (St Matt 9,
St Mark 2). This is why I shall be brief in my explanation here:
This miracle was performed in the Lord’s city, that is, in Capernaum (Mark2: 1), which
means the “place of rest”. This is because wherever the Lord Jesus is; He grants the place
rest for the soul as well as for the body.
Some of the Pharisees gathered round Him. The word “Pharisees” is an Aramaic word,
means “the elect”. They have selected themselves from the public so as to live an aristocratic
and religious life, basically a life of pride and arrogance. This was their system which ruined
their life, and which prevented them from the true encounter with the Lord Jesus, even
though their creed was a correct one. As for the teachers of the old law, these were the
“Hakham” who focused their interest on the “Talmud” and who led a virtually fatal literal
life.
The Pharisees and the hakhams came in pride relying on their religious knowledge and
their human wisdom. But as for Jesus, He was in their midst teaching and healing in power
and authority.
There were crowds of people in the house; and so those carrying the paralytic went to the
stairs out of the house until they reached the rooftop. They uncovered it and let down the sick
one with his bed between the bricks till the middle part where Jesus was (Luke5: 19).
When they uncovered the roof by removing the bricks, they let down the sick paralytic in
the middle in front of the Lord Jesus. These represent the church with all its members and
ranks, such as bishops, priests, deacons and congregation. They removed the bricks, which
are the earthly thoughts and earthly confusion, so as to uncover the rooftop and thus see the
Lord sitting, just as in the evening, giving His boundless blessings.
The Pharisees could not stand seeing the picture; the church is represented by those men
bringing the paralytic to Jesus without them. They felt the collapse of their authority and the
loss of their honor. They therefore were ready to find some fault with the Lord. When He
said to the paralytic “Your sins are forgiven” they accused Him of blasphemy. The Lord
cared not only to disappoint them, but He also proclaimed Himself so as they might accept
Him and believe in Him.

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 We have spoken about this paralytic (Matt9, Mark2) by mentioning the father’s writings
about him. Therefore enough said, except for the following excerpts:
+ Christ saw the faith of those who carried the paralytic and that of the paralytic himself. It
so happens that someone could be healed due to the faith of others. It could also be that
Christ admired the faith of the paralytic himself and He thus healed him of his disease. It is
also possible that the spot from where the paralytic was let down was opened to fresh air, and
thus the paralytic’s friends found no difficulty in letting him down in the middle.
Christ said to the paralytic “Man, thy sins are forgiven”. Christ meant by this to address
the entire humanity, because all those who believe in Christ their souls are healed from
iniquity, and their sins are forgiven. In other words, Christ speaks to the paralytic saying “I
have to heal your spirit before healing your body. But if I do not do so, you will physically
be able to walk on your feet, and you will return to the life of iniquity and vice. Even if you
do not ask for the spiritual healing, then it is I, God and Lord, who is able to perceive the
soul’s sickness and disease, and how these have made you come to such a state of direness.
There were crowds of scribes and Pharisees, and there was a need of performing a miracle
so as to teach them, this was due to their scorn for the Lord, thus Christ performed an
overwhelming miracle.
Before Christ there lay a bed-ridden man, overcome by palsy, having no cure or
medication to relieve him. The physicians themselves admitted they were unable to heal a
man so much overcome by such a disease, to the extent that even his own family lost all
hope. But they suddenly saw a beam of hope shining from afar. They hastened to where
Christ, the physician, was. He was the One who came from above, from heaven. They
presented to Him their patient, and Christ accepted his faith. Thus faith scattered and
dispersed the cloud of sickness, for Christ addressed the paralytic by the well known words
“Man, thy sins are forgiven thee”
Someone may ask “The paralytic was in need of physical healing, then why does Christ
declare to him his sins were forgiven?” This is to teach us that God witnesses man’s silent
deeds and He sees the way he heads in his life, for it is written (Prov.5: 21) “For the ways of
man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth on all his goings.” Because God is so
good, and He wants everyone to be saved, and to come to know Him, therefore God often
heals the one who commits sin and evil by means of torturing his body with an overcoming
disease that makes him bedridden. As the inspiration says (Jer6:8) “Be instructed, O
Jerusalem…lest I make you desolate, and land not inhabited”.
In the book of Proverbs it is mentioned, “ My son, despise not the chastening of the
Lord, neither be weary of His correction. For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth, even as a
father the son in whom he delighteth,”(Prov3: 11,12) It is so good that Christ declares the
wiping of the sins and iniquity, for all of these are the sources of sickness and disease. When
the sins are wiped out, man is healed from the physical ailment that has swallowed him up.
(Luke 5:21) “ And the Scribes and the Pharisees began to reason saying “ Who is this who
speaketh blasphemies?
As we have mentioned previously, Christ declared the forgiveness of sins with His
divine power. But this declaration provoked the Pharisees, and they were a party of ignorant
and envious people. They argued among themselves “Who is this who speaketh
blasphemies?” You could not have asked this question; you Pharisees, if you had only
comprehended the holy books and read the prophecies of the Holy Book; and then you would
understand the mystery of the incarnation so immeasurably great and indescribable. Instead
of studying the prophecies, you have accused the Lord of the sin of blasphemy and judged
Him to die. This is because the covenant of Moses put to death anyone who blasphemed. It
was said (Lev 24:16) “ And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to
death.” Christ addressed the Pharisees saying (Like5: 22) “ What reason ye in your hearts?”

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The obvious meaning of these words is “You Pharisees confess there is no one to forgive sins
except God.” But know well, that no one but God knows what is on man’s mind. He alone
uncovers the depths of the heart. He knows its secrets and intentions, for the words of the
prophecy said (Jer 17:10) “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every
man according to his ways.” King David refers to this saying (Ps 33:15) “ He fashioned their
hearts alike, He considereth all their works”. Therefore God who fashions the hearts is the
same God who forgives the sins and iniquities.
(Luke 5:24) “ But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power.”
Christ wanted to disperse the doubt and suspicion that over shadowed the scribes and the
Pharisees. Christ did not only forgive the paralytic his sins, for man is unable to see the
forgiven sins with his materialistic eyes, but Christ also commanded the disease, and so it
departed from the paralytic’s body. The man got up to walk, whole and sound, pointing to
the greatest divine power that healed him of his infirmity. The words of Jesus were soon said
to the paralytic (Luke 5:24)” Arise and take up thy couch and go into thine house.” The man
stood up at once and went to his house healed and whole. Indeed the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins.
To who does this verse refer? Did Christ speak about Himself or about us? Actually this
verse speaks of Christ and of us because the Lord forgives sins since He is God the Incarnate,
the Lord of the old law and it is He who has put it. We have received this tremendous power
by means of enthroning man’s nature in great honor, for Christ has spoken to His saintly
apostles saying (Matt 18:18) “Verify I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven; and whatever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” At
another place it was mentioned (John 20: 23) “Whose so ever sins ye retain, they are
retained.”
St Cyril the Great
+ (Luke 5:20) “When He saw their faith.” Great is the Lord who forgives some for the sake
of others’ request; He accepts the pleadings of some for the sake of forgiving others’ sins.
God’s minister has the right to ask for your sake, and he has the link, so he is answered.
You sick patient, learn how to plead, and if you are not eager for the forgiveness of sins,
then go to him who intercedes for you. Go to the church that prays for your sake, and by its
means He will grant you the forgiveness.
St Ambrosias
+ Some say this man was forgiven merely for the sake of the faith of those who were carrying
him. But this is not true, because the words are “ When Christ saw their faith” this does not
refer to their faith alone, but also to the faith of the one they were carrying. Why? You may
ask “ Hasn’t he healed anyone for the sake of others’ faith?”
In my opinion, I do not think so; unless in the case of immature minors, or severe weakness
to such an extent that this person does not have the ability to believe.
Do not think carelessly of the phrase that says that they let him down from the rooftop.
Just contemplate on how a patient can have the persistence and strong will of being let down
from the rooftop. You know that patients are so weak hearted that they refuse the treatment
they receive when they are on their beds. They are unwilling to stand the pain of their
treatment, and instead they prefer to bear the pain of their sickness. But as for this man, he
had the persistence of getting out of the house, and be carried in the marketplace, to be
looked at in the amidst of the crowds, although usually the patients would rather die on their
deathbed than expose their personal misfortune. This sick one did not only do this, but also
when he saw the crowded place that obstructed his reaching Jesus he yielded to being let
down from the rooftop. He considered this as an honor for many to witness his healing.
We admire his faith. Moreover, when he was presented to the Lord, He told the sick man
to be assured his sins were forgiven. When he heard this word he was not infuriated or

8
complained nor did he tell the Physician “ What do You mean by these words? I have come
to be healed physically and now You are telling me something different.” The paralytic did
not think about this, nor did he utter it. He rather waited for the Physician to adopt the way of
healing that He wanted.
For this reason also the Lord Jesus did not go up to him, but He waited until the paralytic
came, so as to declare his faith before everyone.
St John Chrysostom
+Why hasn’t He offered the paralytic the healing, but said unto him to be assured his sins
were forgiven?
He did so in wisdom; because this is the usual case with the physician, to uproot the source of
the disease before doing away with the disease symptoms.
St Paul confirmed this to the Corinthians when blaming them for a particular sin saying:
(Cor11: 30) “ for this cause many are weak and sickly among you.”
Therefore the Lord Jesus has wiped away the cause of evil, and He said, “ Man, thy sins are
forgiven thee.” The Lord has uplifted the soul and raised the paralytic, because these words
of His were enough. Nothing creates joy and brings back confidence as much as being freed
from the inward torture. When there is the forgiveness of sins there is the filiations. Thus
we cannot call God the father unless it is after our sins are washed in the pool of the holy
water, that is, the baptism. Consequently we may say, “Our Father who art in heaven.”
St John Chrysostom.

4 The Call to Levi, the tax collector.

It is here that the evangelist St Luke presents a vivid side of the friendship, which Jesus
has for humanity. In His selection of His close ones He brought them from various
places. Some were from among the fishermen, simple as they are, whereas others were
from among the tax collectors who were scorned by the Jews and were accused of
disloyalty and working for the account of the Roman Empire.
The Lord Jesus invited and called upon Levi, who later became the evangelist St
Matthew. The call was brief indeed (Luke5: 27) “Follow Me.”, but it was strong and
effective, for (Luke 5:28) “ and left all, rose up and followed Him.” He also prepared a
great feast in his own house for the Lord, so the other publicans would enjoy the sweet
encounter with the Lord Jesus.
St Jerome says that some of those who resisted Christianity thought lightly of Jesus’
followers for they followed Him as soon as He called them for the first time. They thus
accepted Him naively, without much thinking. This is answered in two ways:
Firstly: These people may have heard or witnessed the many wonders and miracles the
Lord performed before calling them.
Secondly: The Lord possesses such a charisma being the Lord of all creation so as to
attract all those around Him.
St Jerome also noticed that St Matthew the evangelist is the only one who mentioned his
name when the Lord called him (Matt 9:9) As for the other two evangelists; they did not
mention his name. They thought it enough to mention his second name “Levi” in respect
to their colleague St Matthew the evangelist (Matt9: 9; Mark 2:13,14).
+ St Matthew followed Solomon’s principle: the just one begins by blaming himself;
and so he called himself “: tax-collector” to show the reader no one should lose hope in
saving himself as long as he returns to a better life, as he was changed from a tax
collector to an apostle.
St Jerome
+Levi was tax collector eager for money that showed his endless materialistic greed. He
would hide behind the law of justice and correctness, so as to posses what is not his.

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With these ugly qualities the tax collectors came to be known. But Christ took one of
them who were deeply soaked in the sea of sin and vice. He called him, rescued him,
and gave him salvation. It is mentioned, (Luke 5:27) “And He said unto him, “Follow
Me” and he left all, rose up, and followed Him.” Indeed St Paul, the devout one, was true
is describing Christ (1 Tim1: 15) Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. “Don’t
you see how the Word of God, the only begotten Son has taken a body so as to regain to
Himself Satan’s slaves and his possessions?”
St Cyril the Great
+ When Christ chose His personal apostles so as to preach His gospel, he chose them
from among the sinners who were worst of all, to show He has not come to call righteous
but sinners to repentance.
Father Barnabas
The scribes and the Pharisees could not bear to see Jesus meeting the tax collectors.
They therefore told his disciples, (Luke5: 30.32) “ Why do you eat and drink with
publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them “They that are whole need
not a physician, but they that are sick, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.”
+ Why do the Pharisees blame the Savior for eating food with the sinners? This was due
to the old Law of Moses, which differentiated between the sanctified and the permitted
things, and between the defiled and the chaste (Lev.10: 10)
The Pharisees believed it inappropriate to combine what is holy with what is defiled.
Thus they asked Christ to keep the convent of Moses. But their critical accusation of the
Lord was not based on the zeal for the covenant, but rather based on envy and malice.
They often flared up in Christ’s face to make Him fall in a trap they plotted. But Christ
escaped from them, returning evil with goodness. He informed them He did not come
now as a judge to condemn, but rather as a physician to heal. He was therefore obliged,
being the Physician, to draw closer to the patients so as to heal them of their infirmities.
St Cyril the Great.

The Scholar Tritilian has a pleasant comment on the words of the Lord Jesus (Luke5:
31,32) “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to
call the righteous, but sinner to repentance.” In the second century some heresy appeared
that defiled the body, and debased it, and it was considered an enemy that had to be
destroyed. The scholar Tritilian declared that the body, though corruptible, yet it is close
to us, and it shares the soul in its life. You have to love it as much as you love your
neighbor, particularly because the Lord Jesus carried our bodies, that are sinful, and has
thus become close to it. He has blessed His nature in the body. Even though our bodies
have become stained with the disease of iniquity, yet the Lord Jesus came not as a judge
but as a Physician healing the body and the soul together.

We can feel the sacred outlook of the first church regarding the body. Some of the
scholar Tritilian’s words are “Christ asks us to love our relative after our love to Him.
Here He is practicing what He commands us with, for He loves the body that is very
attached to Him. He is His relative, and He loves the body in spite of its frailties, for His
strength is fulfilled in weakness (2Cor.12: 9). He loves it despite the troubles on our
bodies, for the healthy ones do not need a physician, but rather those who are sick. Even
though our bodies may seem dishonorable, for we give more honor to the incomplete
members that have less honor (1Cor.12: 23). He honors the body though it is damaged,
for He says, (Luke19: 10) “ For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which
was lost.” He honors it though it is sinful, for He says that He wishes the sinner’s

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 salvation and not his death. Also He says that though he is under the judgment yet he
hurts and Heals (Deut.32: 39)

5 The Declaration about the New Wine:

The Pharisees could not resist the Lord’s friendship to humanity. When they objected to his
eating with the tax-collectors and sinners, whereas the old law discerned between the sacred
and the defiled, he assured them He did not break the law, but that He has rather fulfilled it at
its deep essence in His love to mankind, and His gentleness with the weak ones. He has
come as a physician to those who were sick, and not a judge to the sinners. Now they were
attacking Him through His disciples, saying (Luke5: 33) “ Why do the disciples of John fast
often and make prayers and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but Thine eat and drink?”
The Lord answer came not only as a response to the question but it revealed His mission as
well. This focuses on two points:
Firstly: He came as a groom getting betrothed to humanity His bride. Now the time is
inappropriate for fasting, but it is for the declaration of the Groom and rejoicing in Him. But
whenever He is uplifted to heaven, then they ask for Him by means of fasting and pleading.
It is as if the goal of worship is not that of fasting and asceticism, but rather in being blessed
with the heavenly Groom through these fasting and asceticism if offered in the spirit and the
truth.
Secondly: He has not come to put more load in worshipping. He came first to wipe out what
is old and establish what is new. He is crucifying the old man, and is granting a new and
spiritual one.
We have previously mentioned some comments of the fathers regarding the answer of the
Lord Jesus in our interpretation of St Matthew’s gospel (9:14) and St Mark (2:21)

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 Chapter VI
The Teacher Friend

The Greeks loved to hear perpetually analyzing new that satisfies the thoughts, yet it
was all in vain. But as for the heavenly Teacher, before offering the new teaching He offered
the new capabilities. He has uplifted man above the fatal literacy by declaring Himself that
He is Lord of the Sabbath. In it the believer does not bend to the wordiness of keeping the
Sabbath in a dry way, but rather by carrying the power of the Spirit. Moreover, He healed the
man with the withered right hand, so as to release it for spiritual work. He also chose the
twelve disciples for the missionary preaching work, at this point offered His sermons and
doctrine.

1- Christ is Lord of the Sabbath.

2- The healing of the Withered right hand.
3- The Call of the Disciples.
4- His Teachings:
a) a personal speech to the Weary.
b) a call of tremendous love.
c) The need of building on the Rock.

1-Christ is Lord of the Sabbath:

The three evangelists St. Mathew (12:1), St. Mark (2:43) and St. Luke, mentioned how
some of the Pharisees formed a party of opposition against the Lord. When they saw the
disciples in their hunger picking corn ears, and eating than after rubbing them in their hands,
they thought this as breaking the law. They considered them as if they did the process of
harvesting and grinding on a minor scale. This is why they objected saying 'Why are you
doing that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?'

We have previously spoken about this in our study of the gospels of St. Mathew and St.
Mark. We have noticed the following:

Firstly: The evangelist St. Luke mentions (Luke 6:1) "And it came to pass on the second
Sabbath after the first." What does he mean by saying this?

Scholars have interpreted this differently, but we may summarize their views in the
following:

a) By the first Sabbath he means the Jewish Passover. The Sabbath after means the feast
of Prime hood of the Passover, which falls on the sixth of the month of Siwan, which
is June.

b) This translation is derived form the Greek one 'the second Sabbath after the first'. This
is why some think he means the second Sabbath after the feast of bread or cake. This
is known as the Sabbath after the Plentitude.

c) By the 'first Sabbath' he may have meant the Saturday of the first month of the Jewish
year, whereas the second Saturday is the Saturday of the second month. Or, it could
mean the first Saturday that falls as the beginning of the civil year in the month of
October or in November, whereas the second Saturday is when the religious year
begins in April.

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d) Some think the second Sabbath means the first Sabbath that falls in the previous year
after the jubilee year.

e) It is most probable, to many Christians, that it is the second Sabbath directly after the
Passover.

f) Some of the fathers interested in the spiritual interpretation, think the first Sabbath
refers to the Moses' Sabbath in the Jewish literal understanding. The second Sabbath
here means the new, when the Lord took us from the physical literal rest to the real
rest in Him by means of His Gospel. Therefore, what the disciples did when they were
walking in the fields actually refers to taking them to the fields of the Old Testament
books, to pick the symbol ears and prophecies, and to rub them with His Holy Spirit.
In these symbols and prophecies, or ears of corn, they would find the spiritual food of
the Gospel that supplies us with the real satisfaction.

We can also say that what the disciples did was in the name of the entire Church, since it
enters by means of the Holy Spirit, to God's altar. It would receive there the corn ear of
the 'Eucharist' as a divine gift on which the church lives so as to reach perfection, and
thus be ready for the eternal Crown, Jesus Christ. St. Anebrosious thinks the Lord Jesus
led His disciples just as if it were the field of today's world, so as to enjoy the fruits of the
Church, which is the outcome of His Holy Spirit by means of the apostolic service. The
disciples have got hungry for mankind's salvation, and they wished to enjoy the Spirit's
harvest, a matter rejected by the Jews.

Secondly: the Phariseas asked (Luke 6:2) "Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on
the Sabbath days?" as we mentioned before, this was not due to their zeal for the
covenant, it was mentioned by their envy and disruption of the service of Christ the Lord.
The answer that the Lord Jesus gave them was not to put them to shame, but rather to
reveal the New Testament nujoteries, as they might realize the Truth and come to Him.
By His answer, the Lord wanted to raise them up to the new spiritual age. Instead of the
literacy of the Old law. As St. Paul the apostle says, (Heb. 8:8,13) "For finding fault with
them, He saith 'Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. In that He saith, ' A new covenant,
He hath made the first Old, new that which decayeth and waxeth old ready to vanish
away.

The apostle adopted this prophecy from the book of Jeremiah which was in their
hands(Jer. 31:31).

St Cyril the great says, "But we can see that the scribes and the Pharisees totally lacked
this new covenant, for they shut their eyes from seeing the holy books whereas they
glared at the divine teachings of Christ, as they may find a missing part or find fault with
Him. They therefore wished to pounce on the Savior's disciples, and thus they said to
Him, "Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath days?" The old law
prohibited people from working on the Sabbath, and they were supposed to rest on that
day. But they saw the Lord's disciples picking the corn ears, rubbing them with their
hands and eating them. But tell me, you who object to this, don't you break your bread to
eat on the Sabbath? Thus don't blame others for what you yourself are doing? They were
so ignorant of the holy books that the Lord answers them the following :

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 (Luke 6:3) " and Jesus answering them said, 'Have ye not read so much as this, what
David did, when himself was a hungered, and they which were with him?' " Even though
David acted contrary to the old Law, yet we honor and revere him mightily, for he is a
saint and a prophet. And since the law of Moses commands us to judge rightly between
one man and his brother, then why do you consider David a saint and a prophet whereas
you blame My disciples and whip them with your sharp tongues, even though they did
nothing worse?

We have to notice that the oblation offering mentioned in David's story, refers to the
bread coming down from heaven that which we see on he holy table at the church.
Moreover, all the table vessels we use in the service so mysteriously sanctified are only a
symbol of the divinely extreme treasures.

It was permissible for David to break the old covenant literacy, and he ate with his men
the showbread that is offered on the Sabbath, which was only eaten by the priests alone.
There was new showbread to replace it, which David and his men have eaten on the
Sabbath as mentioned in the Words of the Book (1 Sam21:6) "So the priest gave him
holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from
before the Lord, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away."
" How much more appropriate is it for David's Lord to allow His disciples to eat of the
new corn ears on the Sabbath? Indeed, King Saul was provoked against the priest
Aklimelek who had offered the showbread to David and his men, and he sent to kill him
as well as the priests. Here was the adversary provoking the Pharisees against the Lord
Jesus, David's Lord and His disciples because the Lord allowed His disciples to enjoy
new food.

Thirdly: (Luke 6:5) "And He said unto them 'That the Son of Man is Lord also of the
Sabbath."
As they were accusing Him of breaking the Sabbath, He declared 'the Son of Man is Lord
also of the Sabbath.' He, on one hand, called Himself 'the Son of Man' , because even
though He is the One who set the old covenant of the Sabbath and its law, yet it was for
man's sake that it was make, and not man for the sake of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). If the
'Word of God' has become the Son Of Man for man's sake whereas He is Lord, so how
much more is it befitting that the Sabbath be for man's service?

The Lord Jesus did not degrade the covenant, neither did He break it. He rather exalted it
by calling himself ' the Lord of the Sabbath'. For sure, He is the Lord of the Sabbath, the
One responsible for this covenant, or this weekly feast. He put it not to demolish it or
destroy it, but rather to take us into new and deeper concepts for this feast, by freeing us
from the fatal literacy of the Sabbath, to the happy Sunday feast for the soul. The Lord
has offered Himself a 'Sabbath' to us, since He is the secret behind our rest. He is our
feast in whom we are blessed in the resurrected life, and we are rejoicing in the
reconciliation with the Father.

2-The Healing of the Withered- Right- Hand:

On the new Sabbath the Lord Jesus went with His disciples amid the fields so as to grant
them the new corn ear, the nuptery of spiritual satisfaction to them. He gave them a new
concept for the Sabbath, as being the secret inward peace and deep satisfaction that fills the
soul in its encounter and unity with God. Now, on entering the synagogue on a different

3
Sabbath, He wished to reveal that the Sabbath is not a day for slothfulness, but it is rather a
day of rest through the true spiritual work. Thus He met the man with the right hand that was
withered, so as to give it back the life by which it could be active in the Lord.

St. Augustine thinks the left hand refers to the material work, whereas the right one refers to
the spiritual work. Therefore the man with the withered right hand refers to the Jewish
synagogue itself for having its right hand withered and performs no spiritual work, and just
observing the adamant literacy. The Lord therefore came to get rid of this withered hand,
granting the Sabbath a new spiritual concept.

In our interpretation of St. Mark's gospel (3:1-6) we have seen St. Anbrosious speaking of
this man as representing the first Adam. It was Adam who in disobedience to his Creator, has
stretched out his hand to the tree. Thus it has withered in iniquity, and it needed the Lord to
come and heal it, so that it stretches and practices the righteous life, through the love to the
close ones and the rescue of those who are wronged (1 Kings 13:4-6) "Jeroboam's hand
withered when he wished to make incense in worship to the idols, and he stretched it out
when he prayed. We have seen St. Cyril the great in his remarks about the miracle, how the
Lord Jesus was concerned not only to heal the withered hand, but also to argue with the
Pharisees concerning the Sabbath, for they might accept the healing of their literal withered
thinking.

The evangelist says "and looking round about them all, He said unto the man 'Stretch forth
thy hand.' " The Lord looked at them but He was sighing inside Himself for their hard
heartedness. Instead of being concerned about the healing of their brother's withered hand,
and enjoying an active life, they were concerned about being critical, waiting for the chance
to pounce on the Lord and accuse Him. Even when the man was healed, instead of sharing
him his joy (Luke 6:11) "they were filled with madness and communed one with another
what they might do to Jesus."

As St. Cyril the great says, "Wasn't the miracle enough to plant the spirit of faith? They could
see Christ working in divine authority, healing the sick in marvelous power, and despite this,
they faced His mercy mercilessly and harshly because of their envy and spite.

3- The Call of the Disciples:

The Lord Jesus came as a Friend to mankind. His friendship is not based on mere emotions,
but rather through His active love. We have seen Him taking us to the fields to offer us
Himself the new corn ear that has been shed on the cross. We eat it as the mystery of our
satisfaction in the real restful Sabbath. Moreover, we see Him taking us to His holy place 'the
synagogue', since He is Lord of the Sabbath He heals our withered right hand, transforming
our life from the hard literacy of the old law to the evangelical life working through Him and
in Him. Now, we can see Him, in our name and our account, going out to the mountain to
pray, spending the entire night in loving conversation with the Father. As a Friend to us, He
declares that 'prayer' is the road to friendship and a vent to the Lord of the heaven.

In the introduction to this book, we said it is the book of 'divine friendship' that is established
through prayer this is why the Lord Himself is manifested as a Teacher to us in prayer, and
not in the commandments concerning the practicing of constant prayer and eloquence, but
rather His appearing on more than one occasion when praying. We have seen the difference
between the prayer of Him who is sinless, and our own prayers we who are so sinful, for He

4
prays and intercedes by His blood for forgiveness of our sin (reverse interpretation of St.
Luke 5:16).

St. Cyril the great comments on the evangelist's words (Luke 6:12) "He went out into a
mountain to pray " saying "all what Christ did was for our construction for the benefit of the
believers in His name. Christ did everything to present to us a sublime model for the spiritual
life so that we worship Him in truth.

Now, let us study the real vivid model that Christ presented to us when pleading for
something from God Almighty. We have to pray secretly so no one sees us (Matt. 6:6)
"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy
Father who is in secret." The objective of prayer is not to ask for glory or ostentation, but
when we stand we have to lift up our pure hands (1 Tim 2:6) and ascend up to heaven to
God's dwelling place. Take a place that is quite, away form the hubbub of the world, it cares
and its worries. Let us do all of this in actuity and pleasure, not in worry and in weariness.
Let us do this eagerly, jealously and patiently worthy of praise and admiration. For you read
that Christ did not only pray , but He spent all night long in prayer. Though He is born of
God the Father, and he has been humbled till He denied Himself of so many issues, so He
would be a brother to us, similar to us in everything, except that of sin. Christ shared us our
human nature and was tender to us. He is not ashamed of us or of our nature. He rather took
our form so we follow His footsteps and are woven in His image.

St. Ambrosios comments saying, "Not every climber goes up the mountain in prayer, for
some prayers are considered sin (Ps. 108:7). He who learns how to pray is exalted above
earthly riches up to the heavenly riches. He keeps climbing until he reaches the summit of
heavenly solitude. But he who is concerned about the world riches, does not climb
mountains, and he rather covets what is his brother's, such as earthly possessions. He who
looks up to God's friendship, asks for God and so he keeps climbing. Likewise are the strong
souls that climb the mountains. The prophet advised no one to climb mountains, but he says(
Is.40:9) "O Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem,
you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid.
"Climbing the mountains is not on foot, but by the sublime acts. If you follow Christ, you
yourself become one of the mountains that surround you, (Ps. 124:2). St. Ambrosios goes on
to say, "The Lord prays not to ask anything for Himself, but it is for us that He prays. He is
our Intercessor. Do not think that Christ asks our of weakness, so as to take something He is
unable to achieve, for He is the Founder of every authority. He rather forms us by his
righteous leadership. We also have One Intercessor with the Father (1 John 2:1) He does not
ask our of weakness, but out of His love for us. He spent the entire night long in prayer,
showing us a model and a pattern in leadership for us to follow.

When the Lord Jesus spent the entire night in prayer, He called his disciples, twelve in
number, in the daylight. We notice in this selection the following points:

Firstly: St. Augustine says, "He chose the disciples of humble origin, illiterate, having no
prestige, so that when they become remarkable, practicing admirable works, that would be
due to His presence in them, and how He acts in them. "As St. Paul the apostle says,
(1Cor.27-29) "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and
base things of the world, and things which are mighty; and things which are despised, hath

5
God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh
should glory in His presence."

He not only chose them form the poorer category that have no earthly prestige, but also from
among the sinners so they would be patient and forbearing with their sinful brothers.

Secondly: The disciples felt the Lord's favour to them, and as He said unto them (John 15:16)
"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and
bring forth fruit, and that yorn fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father
in My name, He may give it you." They had no favour in being chosen, it is due to God's
grace that they were chosen. He was responsible for them; He supports them and brings forth
fruit in them by means of His Holy Spirit in them so as to fulfill his mission, but without any
passive attitude on their part.

They rather had to respond and interact with His graceful work in them, as well as to work by
His means and for His account. This is what St. Paul the apostle confirms; he was aware he
has been selected for work when he was still in his mother's womb(Gal.1:15). He is
committed to the divine work of God, for he says (2Cor. 6:1) "We then, as workers together
with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."

St. Cyril the great comments on the choosing of the disciples, saying, "They took power form
Jesus and thus they amazed the world with their deeds. But we have to notice the humility of
the evangelist, for he did not say 'The saintly apostles were elected'. He just went on
mentioning their names in extreme simplicity, so that no one would consider himself among
the selected apostles. St. Paul said regarding this point (Heb. 5:4) "And no man taken this
honour unto himself but he that is called of God." Even though the saintly apostles were
selected by God, each in his name for this sublime mission, yet there are some people who
from time to time they are mad enough and daring enough to push themselves in among the
apostles, and claim a name they were not given.
The saintly apostles referred to those usurpers saying (2 Cor. 11:13,14)"For such
are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And
no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness."

Thirdly: When mentioning the names of the twelve disciples, they were in two by two, so as
to stress the life of partnership shared among them. The mysterious power in the disciples is
the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, 'the true love' in their lives, being declared in their
inward personal life, just as in the live partnership life.

We have often mentioned that number two refers to love, which makes the two become one,
as if it is a mission of love that unites the hearts in the Lord. It combines all the souls together
through reconciliation with the Father in His Son by means of His holy spirit.

Fourthly: what follows gives the meaning of the disciples' names:

a) Simon which means 'the listener' or 'the obedient'. The Lord Jesus called him Peter
which means 'the rock' since he was the first to declare the faith in the Lord Jesus, the
Son of God.

b) Andrew, which means 'the serious' or 'the strong' or 'the brave'.

6
 c) James which means 'the persistent' or 'the struggler'.

d) John which means 'God is compassionate' or 'God blesses'.

e) Philip which means 'the horse lover' or 'the lantern mouth'.

f) Bartholomew which means 'the sewer's son'.

g) Mathew which means 'the gift' or 'a donation'.

h) Thomas which means 'the twin'.

i) Judas which means 'to thank' or 'to confess'.

We have mentioned some of the father's excerpts concerning this point when we were
studying the book of the evangelist St. Mark(3:15).

4) His Doctrine:

The Lord Jesus, in His friendship to us has taken us to the fields so as to satisfy us with
Himself and with his holy place which is the 'synagogue'. This is to heal us of our right hand
so as to work spiritually. He appointed the disciples so as to call for the heavenly
reconciliation. At this point the Lord Jesus comes forth to us as a teacher and a Friend
speaking of His heavenly doctrine by which we live.

a) A personal word to those who suffer:

He is a Friend, a Teacher, who descended in the midst of our suffering to speak to us
in an actual and practical way. He is in our midst supporting us in our toil, for the
evangelist says (Luke 6:17 -19)" And He came down with them, and stood in the
plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all
Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear
Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclear spirits,
and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for there went
out of Him virtue, and healed them all."

When the Lord prayed all night long, He was in solitude on the mountain, for no one
is able to realize the mystery in the unique unity between the Father and the Son. But
He came down to the plains so as to meat the disciples and the Jewish people as well
as the Gentile ones. They all came to hear Him and touch Him so as to obtain the
virtue coming out of Him! With this the Lord appointed His ministers. Even though it
was appropriate for them to ascend up the high mountain so as to enter into a
spiritually deep mysterious partnership with God, yet they are ministers and servants
to the people, and are labourer for mankind so as to make them restful.

Our Lord Jesus has come as a Friend and a Teacher so that all who came to touch Him
was granted power. He gave tremendous gifts to the tortured souls who remained in
the plains, unable to ascend up the mountain so as to meet Him. St. Ambrosios says,
"Mediate closely on every word said; how He descends to the multitude, for where
else can everybody see Him to the mountain heights, thus it was He who came down

7
to the weal since they are unable to go up. The sick ones obtained healing on the
plains, so as to develop in strength bit by bit, and thus would be able to climb
mountains. The Lord comes down to heal our wounds so He makes us share His
nature in being united with Him."

Now when He has given power to those who touch Him so as to raise them from the
plains to the righteous mountain tops, He began to speak to them personally about 'the
blessing of suffering' for the evangelist says, (Luke 6:20) "And He lifted up His eyes
on His disciples and said, 'Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."

To encounter the people so as to heal them, the Lord came down to the plains. But
when He speaks He lifts up His eyes to heaven so they too, would be uplifted towards
heaven. He blesses the poor not because He takes away from them the temporary
deprivation or the suffering, but rather to exalt them amidst the pain to His divine
kingdom.

Our Friend came in suffering, living amongst those who suffer to carry them in the
midst of suffering to share His glories.

He presents a personal blessing to His listeners by saying 'Blessed are yon….' He

describes them as poor and hungry, weeping and despised by people, and persecuted
wrongfully by them. Then He begins His 'woes' to those who have the contrary
qualities to the rich, the fully satisfied, those who laugh now, those who are praised by
everyone. We have previously spoken of these beatitudes in our study of the gospel of
our teacher St. Matthew (5:2-12). We notice the following in these beatitudes:

Firstly: He began with His blessing and not with the woes. When blessing, He
addressed the listeners, but with the woes He addressed those absentees. In this way
the Lord Jesus, the real Friend, the Teacher, presents to us a live picture of the
teaching process. It focuses on encouraging the listeners, and wiges them to hope in
Him. He expects His listeners to be obedient to Him and be blessed with His divine
blessing. When He warns them He assumes they do not commit any mistakes. He is
positive in His teachings.

Our teacher St. Paul the apostle embodies the same Spirit of his Master. In his epistles
he describes those he addressed as saints, elect, and invited to the kingdom….etc.
After the encouragement, he blames strictly without hurting their feelings.

Secondly: St. Cyril the great comments on the divine words (Luke 6:20) "Blessed be
ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God", saying, "These are the Savior's words the
day He opened the treasures of the new testament. He led them on the gospel way
when they were ready for the sacred missionary vocation. We wished to know who
are these poor ones Christ referred to in the above verse, and those to whom He
promised the kingdom of heaven? St. Matthew says regarding this point 'Blessed are
the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.5:3). This means that he
who is poor in the spirit is he who is humble and is not puffed up, and has a modest
tender heart, far away from any pride or showing off, releasing himself form any
arrogance and self admiration.

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A person of such qualities is praiseworthy indeed for he is a friend of God almighty.
He has been described by the prophet as someone to look up to, to the miserable and
the humble in spirit, and the one who fears God's words (Is.66:3). King David the
prophet (Ps.51:17) says "a broken and a contrite heart O God, thou wilt not despise."
Christ Himself says, (Matt. 11:29) "learn of Me for I am meek and lowly heart."

In the lesson before us, we see the verse promises the poor every heavenly blessing
without adding the word 'in spirit', as a description of the miserable one. But we have
to know that the evangelists do not contradict each other, they are just dividing the
story among them. Sometime they all mention the detailed narrative, and at other
times one mentions what the other missed out, so that the believers would not miss
anything Lord Jesus did that benefited the disciples and renewed them.

You therefore find in the above verse that Christ wished to say that the 'poor in spirit'
is the one worthy of the blessings and grace. It is he who does not care about the
riches, and the one who despises greed, covetousness, and scorns the despicable gifts,
and it is he who turns his back to the malicious love of money, and has exalted
himself in not being lived to the life appearance and the pride of money.

Indeed, the wise St. Paul guides us to the correct principled road in saying (Heb. 13:5)
"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as
ye have." He furthermore adds, (Tim. 6:8) "and having food and raiment, let us be
therewith content." "He who wishes for Christ's redemption and His salvation,
despises the fleeting money and girds himself with the lofty permanent deeds. By
saying to despise money, we do not mean to touch the rich ones whose income gains
have overflowed with capital money, but rather, our words are attributed to those
people who have tended whole heatedly to money making, and have eagerly desired
it. Who are those people? The Savior referred to them by the words (Matt.6:19)"Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth."

St. Ambrosios says, "The evangelists began their beatitudes by this phrase, for it is the
first according to the arrangement, and it is the mother that begets all other virtues. By
scorning the possessions of this life, you deserve the eternal possessions. But if you
are imprisoned to the passions of the world, then it is quite impossible to float on the
top." He also adds, "Not all the poor ones are blessed, for poverty is a negative
process, for these are righteous poor people and others are evil ones. Blessed is he
who is poor in iniquity and malice (John 14:3) "For the prince of the world cometh,
and hath nothing in Me." (2 Cor.8:9) "Blessed is he who follows his Master", "who
though He is rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye though His poverty
might be rich."

St. John El Tebeisy says, "If man does not primarily deprive himself, then he will not
be able to come close to sorrow and lamentation; because our life can never remain
for long in spiritual health if we possess in ourselves something obstructive. For man
cannot have God's love if the love of possession survives in him, as it is written (Mark
8:34) "Whosever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and
follow Me." Man cannot carry the cross unless he resigns the world. He has to be far
away from everything, for the outer sympathy hinders him from what he possesses.
The truth can never be firm in man unless he first amputates from his conscience the
source of the love of money. Also Christ's love cannot dwell in the conscience unless

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he first resigns the love of money. O you man, do not be regretful of sorrowful when
you are poor and needy for God's sake, because the hope for your comfort is in the
heavenly kingdom. Let not your spirit be belittled if you suffer form hunger or lack of
clothing. Do not be frustrated, but rather rejoice and be glade in the hope assigned for
you.

St. John Chryststom speaks of misery and poverty as being the humility and the head
of every righteousness. He says, "it is the golden altar, and it is the place of the
spiritual sacrifice, for the crushed spirit is God's sacrifice (Ps.61:17). Modesty is the
father of wisdom. If man has this virtue, then he ahs the rest of all other virtues."

Thirdly: (Luke 6:21) "Blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall he filled."

 It is mentioned (Matt.5:6) "Blessed are thy which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness, for they shall be filled." In St. Luke it is only mentioned
"Blessed are you who hunger for you shall be filled." It is definitely sure that
those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, those ones perform an
honorable and worthy chore, for they persist seriously after goodness, as well
as their search for food and drink.

By this verse, it is also meant the blessing of those who deserve the life of
poverty not obligingly or forcefully. This blessing nurtures their mind, and
promotes their will power, and thus they follow the instructive apostolic life,
and are not desirous of any false gains. They do not care about gold or silver,
and neither do they care about expensive clothes of luxury. They have nothing
except a little food, not enough to feed a stomach.

Such people who have resigned the worldly life with the replacement of the
eternal one, are comforted with the Lord Jesus' promise to them, and thus they
are not depressed or regretful, for Christ has declared openly that they are not
depressed or regretful, for Christ has declared openly that they will be filled by
the treasures of blessing spiritually and mentally.

St. Cyril the great

 When someone is blighted by some serious disease, he does not feel any
hunger, for pain has swallowed up hunger. But what is this hunger for
righteousness? What are those blessings the righteous one is hungry for? Are
they not these blessings spoken of (Ps. 37:25) "I have been young, and now
am old; yet have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

He who feels hungry wishes his strength to be nurtured, and righteousness to

be strengthened."
St. Ambrosios

Fourthly: (Luke 6:21) "Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh."
Because the Lord Jesus asks us to weep and to pour tears, the church has been
preoccupied from the very beginning to live a life of true repentance in incessant
tears. But this has to be in wisdom and discernment, without losing the inward joy
through the sublime hope and peace of the mind. It is not surprising to see St.

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Eklimedos El Sekendery, urging us to weep, saying 'It is a good thing to weep and be
sorrowful for the sake of justice. In doing so, you are carrying a testimony to the
strangest covenant."

He confirms it not to exaggerate in tears just as in laughter. In the same concept St.
Cyril the great speaks of the Lord Jesus blessing those who weep and promising them
a joyful life to come. But this is not for all those who weep; for there are unbelievers
who weep due to their worries and depression. Let us weep tearfully here, but in
wisdom and in hope for the sake of our salvation, and our brother's salvation. Let our
weeping be before the Lord Himself, so He fills us with the comfort of His holy
Spirit.

 It befits you to weep over the world, but to rejoice in the Lord. Be sorrowful
for repentance, and rejoice in the grace. This is why the Master of everyone
commands the perfection, when we cry with those who are sorrowful and
rejoice with the joyful ones.

 Who would possess this great joy except it be him who weeps a lot? It is as if
he has obtained the glory of grace that is to be, for the price of his tears.
St. Ambrosios

 "For weeping, there is a time; for laughing, there is another.The time for
weeping is the time of suffering, as the Lord says (John 16:20) "Verily, verily,
I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament." As for the laughter, this
concerns the resurrection for He says "but your sorrow be turned into joy."

Fr. Dionysius El Sekendary

 The present time is the valley of tears. This world is the place of sorrow and
not any joy. The world to come is the joyful world, but now it is the battlefield
for struggle and tolerance.

 In the present world there is no eternal joy, it is only a transient joy.

 He who does not weep in the present would, will pour tears in the life to come.
St. Jerome

 The persistent prayer and fervent tears attract God to be merciful.

 Weeping by itself leads to blessed laughter.

 Jesus wanted to manifest in Himself all the beatitudes, for He said, 'Blessed
are those who weep; He Himself wept so as to set firmly the basis for this
beatitudes.
The scholar Oreganus

 In the commemoration of St. Gregory, the bishop of Niscus.

When I recall the fervent tears He shed, I myself begin to weep, for I can never
cross the ocean of His tears with dry eyes. There was no day mor night, neither

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 was there a portion of the day or night, not even a very short moment where His
watchful eyes were not wet with tears. Sometimes He wept because of the general
misery and foolishness in which everyone falls. Sometimes He wept because of
certain vicious traits as He mentioned. You would find Him weeping and
lamenting not only when He spoke of repentance and conduct and life provision,
but also when He was praying in praise and thanksgiving.
St. Avraam the Syrian

 The soul is dead when in iniquity. It asks for sorrow, for tears and weeping,
and bitter sighing for the evil it made that promoted it to perdition.

Be sorrowful and weep, return the soul to God!

Observe the mother who suffers because she has lost her son, and who has been
buried in the grave. She weeps over her loved one. It is all the more urgent to
weep more for a man whose iniquity has separated him from God, and thus he
loses his loving image of righteousness. God is sorrowful when man loses this
image, because the soul to Him is more precious than all the other creation. With
sin, the soul dies; and you sinner, don't you ever think of this? You should all the
more be grievous over this God who grieves over you. Your soul is dead by its
malice, weep fervently so as to raise it, make God joyful with your own
resurrection.
St. Avraam the Syrian.

We wish to clarify that when we weep in this world over our sins, those tears do not
mean we lose our hope. As St. John Chrysostom says, that when we sincerely repent,
our sins are forgiven due to God's love to us. But let us remember those sins
continuously so as not to fall in them. They have been absolutely forgiven, yet we still
say with the psalmist, that our sin is before us at all times. Father Bevnotious, St.
Macoruis' disciple said that he often repeated the words of the elderly man 'when I
was little, I used to eat with the other kids. They were used to going and stealing some
figs. When running, one of the figs was dropped, and I picked it and ate it. Whenever
I remember this I would sit and weep."

This weeping is not for our sins only, but for others' sins as well. St. Basilious the
great answered the question asking if it were appropriate for man to laugh,
particularly when he sees many who have broken the law and have drawn closer to
death due to their sins. It is more appropriate for us to grieve and weep over those
ones." He also says in his sermon about the martyr Yolita.

"When you see your brother lamenting in repentance over his sins, weep with him. By
the mistakes of others you win yourself from making any sin. He who weeps fervently
for his neighbor's sins, he himself is cleared of his own sins for sharing the grief of his
brother. This follows the words (Ps.119:53) "Horror hath taken hold upon me because
of the wicked that forsake the law." St. John Chrysostom say, "Let us weep for them
not for one or two days, but for our entire life."

St. John El Tebeysy speaks of practical training that supports the believer in weeping
and being blessed with tears. Among these are: to remember the Savior's suffering,
the questioning in accountability of the soul, remembering the judgment to come, the
expectation of death and asking God for tears. Among his words are: "Our happy and

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blessed forefathers used to weep readily at time of pleading and prayer, because they
constantly grieved over the Lord's suffering and they meditated on it. Judge yourself,
how many nights have you been up for the sake of tears? Or, how much did you offer
God so He would be kind enough to make you grieve in tears? The amount of sad
tears is a gift from God that grants the fervent requests to the one praying.

Fifthly: (Luke 6:22) "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you."
As a true Friend, the Lord came into our life and He shared us our suffering. We
therefore do not see His words as bright words of philosophy, but as an experience in
life, offered to us in our hardship time. He came among us as a poor One, as a hungry
and thirsty One, and He wept so as to bless the miserable ones, the hungry and the
sorrowful. Now He accepts to be rejected by the people, so that the rejected and
despised ones may find a place in Him.

The poor in spirit, or the lowly and meek ones; these are the head of every
righteousness, and the beginning of every true beatitude. To tolerate the hatred of
people, their mocking and their ill treatment, to face these with a loving heart for the
sake of the kingdom, this is the end of the beatitudes, for in this the believer reaches
spiritual manhood or true maturity. In other words, what the Word of God aims for
from us in our joyful tolerance of others, which are the qualities of the Lord Jesus
who suffers for the sake of His enemies. In that case we are truly counted as mature
members of His body. For this reason St. Jerrome summarized the beatitudes in both
the old and the new Testaments in one sentence "Blessed be the man, not every man,
but he who reaches the perfect manhood in "Christ Jesus."

 (Luke 6:22) "Blessed are ye when men shall hate you."

The Lord showed the apostles clearly what was awaiting them such as persecution
and difficulties while teaching the people. The evangelist portrayed by means of
the prophecy, the dire hardships that afflict the apostles while preaching the
Redeemer's mission, and their advise to the Jews to depart from the worship of the
old law and the seeming robe of the perfect model life. The apostles also
attempted hard to light the right truthful way to the unbelievers, so they uproot
themselves form the vulgar and vile life.

But the adversary does not accept instruction or advice; he wages war against the
peaceful and careful ones. To make the apostles aware when preaching the gospel
word, and how they are not to be confused or disturbed, the Lord Jesus showed
them their spiritual portion, and blessed them with the heavenly clothes in case of
people persecuting them, and the vicious people's hatred to their guidance and
instruction. Christ told them all what the malicious sinners do to them such as
devastating them, exiling them, hating and persecuting them… all of this is to be
disregarded and not to worry about. By standing all these tortures and ordeals they
will be spiritually joyful and heartily blessed. The Lord moreover, taught His
disciples that their future persecution to come is not something new, for many
prophets and men of God have been persecuted before them. It has often happened
that prophets were killed and sawed, and some were stricken by the sword and
perished, it is not surprising that the fabric of the apostles is in the footsteps of

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 their good predecessors, those who have patiently borne the life of degradation
and humiliation for the sake of the true and just victory. This is triumph to them
and victory for they go ahead in the heavenly crown, sharing the glory of the
saints so bright.
St. Cyril the great

 He who wishes to resemble God let him be modest and peaceful as much as
possible. Let him accept patiently what encumbers him form others.

If you are exposed to severe humiliation, quite unbearable, and you are
thoroughly infuriated with it, just remember Christ's humility and meekness so
you and your enemy obtain great benefit, for by your modesty you will make
him righteous.
St. John Chrysostom

 Pray that I am not granted a bigger gift than of coming forward to God, as
long as the alter is still prepared. When assembled together in love, sing to
God a hymn of thanks to the Father in Christ Jesus

I ask of you not show me affection at the wrong time. But allow me to be food to
the fierce beasts, by means of which I am granted to reach up to God. Let me be
grinded by the teeth of beasts so they be a grave to me, and that they leave nothing
of my body, so that if I do not die, I would encumber no one. When the world no
longer sees my body, then I will truly be a disciple to Christ.

Entreat the Lord Jesus for my sake, that I be prepared in this way so as to be a
sacrifice to God.
The Martyr Igonatuis Elthiophorus

Sixthly: After the Lord had spoken of the four beatitudes, He mentioned the four
woes that concern the rich, the satisfied and those who laugh and those praised by
everyone. What does He mean by those categories?

Undoubtedly He means by the rich, those ones who rely on their money , and those
blinded by their capital from witnessing God and their brethren. The satisfied are
those ones who are filled, and thus they are not in need of God, and they do not ask
for God's work in them. By those who laugh , He means those who are kindled by the
passions of the world, away from the road of repentance. As for those praised by
everyone, He means those who seek false glory, not the inward hidden glory.

Concerning the rich, St. Ambrosios says "Excessive money may call for a lot of
things some of which are evil, but it could also call for virtue. It is true that virtue
does not need a lot of money. The little that is offered by the poor is better than the
great offered by the rich. But the Lord does not condemn he who has 'money', but He
condemns him who misuses it."
St. Ambrosios also thinks that the rich who have fallen under the curse are the Jews
and the philosophers. The Jews have been enriched by the symbols, the prophecies
and the promises. But in their wealth, they refused the simplicity in the faith. Also the
philosophers have become enriched by human philosophy and thus they rejected the
faith.

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 St. Clemendos the Alexandrian recorded in his book 'Who is the Rich who is Saved?'
the Christian concept of the rich. He made it clear how money represents a talent that
has to be kindled on account of God's kingdom. St. John Chrysostom thinks the same
way in many of his articles: that the rich one is his person is neither good nor bad. But
man can use it in righteousness or in vice. St. Cyril the great confirms that there are
some from among the rich folks who have compassion on the poor, and who have
mercy on the poor Lazarus, and thus they obtain the heavenly crown, for they fulfil
the divine commandment of God (Luke 16:9) "Make to yourselves friends of the
mammon of unrighteousness, that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting
habitation."

As for those satisfied, He means those, like the one to whom it was said (Rev.
3:17,18) "Because thou sayest 'I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowing not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor, and blind
and naked. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich,
and while raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear and anoint thy eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." It is as if
those satisfied ones have thought themselves rich, relying on themselves and their
personal abilities, not on God's Word that is like pure gold granting real riches, and
not on the Lord Jesus Himself who is fit for us to be clothed with. For by doing so, He
will cover our weakness and our shame with His own fresh righteousness, and neither
did they rely on the holy Spirit who opens the inward vision as the eye liner.

The ones who laugh are they who live in the world carelessly, who do not care about
their own salvation and their eternal inheritance. They live their days as if entertaining
themselves with laughter, instead of being diligent in practicing their repentance.

Finally, there are those who love people's praise; these are enslaved to themselves and
not to God. They wish to please others on account of the truth. They are happy to hear
temporary words of praise rather than the eternal glory.

b) An Invitation of Tremendous Love:

The Lord wished to exalt us as a Friend, so as to be blessed with the beatitudes, and
be cautious of the woes. He takes us to His quality 'the tremendous love', and thus
love becomes an inward exploding overflow in our depths. We therefore love event
the enemies, we love practically and not only in words. This is why His
commandments came as follows:

(Luke 6:27,28) "But I say unto you who hear: love your enemies, do good to them
which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray or them who despitefully use
you."

The Lord asks us to have an overflow of love springing from the inside, and
unconditional love, for He says 'love your enemies.'
We thus have to return love to enmity. This love is to be interpreted to lovable and
merciful deeds: 'do good to them that hate you,' and this is based by means of the
blessed and sanctified life that blesses others, and that curses no one. 'Blessed them
that curse you, which is blended with worship, and we are eager to obtain the

15
salvation of those who hurt us. We wished them to share us the glory by means of
praying instead of them so they repent. In other words, the commandment of love
came as being linked to all our being in the Lord. This love is so deep in the soul,
interpreted to conduct and deeds, blended with the sanctified life, and linked to our
worshiping.

(Luke 6:27) "Love your enemies."

The wise St. Paul wrote in sincerity (2 Cor.5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature, "because everything has been renewed in Christ and by means of
Christ. Observe how the life system of those apostles has been changed. These
apostles were entrusted with spreading the word of salvation to the entire world.
Observe how the Lord commands them to face the evil of their enemies to them. The
plots of their persecutors were so intense, and their malice was merciless and pitiless.

He asked the apostles not to take revenge on their enemies so as not to hinder the
word spreading. He advised them to control their minds in patience and peace. They
should not escape form their tolerance and sufferings, but they rather have to
surrender happily to any harm that afflicts them, and follow the example of Jesus
Christ in His patience and His forgiveness. For the Jews have scorned Him, whether
they were old or young, and despite this He prayed to God the Father saying (Luke
23:34) "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." The devout St. Stephen
knelt before God whereas the stones were falling around him. He asked God
Almighty to forgive those who were stoning him, and cried our in a loud voice (Acts
7:60)"Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." The wise ST. Paul says concerning this (1
Cor. 4:12) "being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it."

Christ's warning was therefore necessary to the saintly apostles, and useful to us, we
believers, so as to live in correctness and in propriety. In this warning there is a deep
philosophical meaning; for in us there are rebelling psychological tendencies which
makes the road difficult to walk in according to the Christ's warning to us. But Christ
has previously explained to us the necessity for battling our corrupt tendencies, and
drawing a division between the eager workers and those disobedient ones, for He said
(Luke 6:17) "But I tell you your listeners." St. Peter the apostle also adds to Christ's
endurance and His tremendous patience and long-suffering saying (1 Pet. 2:23) "Who,
when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but
committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously."

 But one of you may object to this saying, "Christ is God, but I am only a weak
person, pf a poor mind, and I also have emotional tendencies which stand
against putting out the covetous spirit and overcoming." Know well, man, that
God did not deprive you of His merciful Spirit and His love, for He is not only
near you, but He is inside you as well. He is in you by His holy Spirit, for we
are His dwelling place, and He dwells in the souls of His lovers and those who
want Him. He is the One to support you with His right hand, and thus you will
not be moved. He will hold you so you do not fall or stumble. Therefore
(Rom.12:21) "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
St. Cyril the great

 He forbade us to love the malice that is in animosity, and its be bonded in

natural love with Him.

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 St. Augustine

 If you can, do not make an enemy to yourself. If there is someone who hates
you, do not grieve, for you are not the only one to be despised, but you Lord
has been despised before you.

You can benefit form your enemy as much from your friend. You can make of
your enemy like someone useful to you, because due to him, your love to God is
made perfect. By your suffering for Him, your profit increases, because our Lord's
commandment is fulfilled by this in him. If your enemy has harmed you, and you
have been unable to benefit from him, then know yor own drawback, and search
for whatever cause you have not been able to benefit. For, how could your
sincerity to your Lord be known if there is nothing to contradict your restfulness.
You will then be as a person of no struggle.
St. John El Tebeysy

 Remember the meek Lamb, and how much His patience was. Though sinless,
yet He stood the curses, the strikes, and other suffering till death.
St. Barsnophius

 There is a way of answering evil for evil, not only through acts, but also by
means of words and inward intention. At times, man causes disturbance to his
brother through his inward tendencies, or his actions,

or his looks, voluntarily so as to answer evil for evil.

Father Dorothius

(Luke 6:29,30) "And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other;
and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid him not to take thy coat also. Give to every
man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again."

We have previously studied these commandments in the interpretation of St.

Mathew's gospel (Matt. 5:39-42)

These commandments declare the interpretation of the love potentials into a practical
one. If man is hurt in his temporary honor, such as, being slapped on the cheek, or is
harmed in his private possessions, he has to be willing to bear more and more for the
sake of winning his brother who is hostile to him. On theother hand, if he takes after
his Master's qualities, he has to love giving more than receiving. He gives him, who
asks of him, and he who horrors from him, should not be asked to return the debt. It is
as if the goal of these commandments are two things: to win others and to practice
giving, this is what the fathers have confirmed in their remarks.

 It is appropriate for the righteous man to be ready to tolerate patiently the

harm from those he wants to become good.

This is to increase the number of the righteous ones instead of himself being assed
to the vicious ones, for taking his revenge on the harm done to him.
St. Augustine

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  It is appropriate for us not struggle with others, and not to be eager to follow
the example of the wicked ones; for He urges us to lead people patiently and
to be gentle as to any shame and love of malice.
St. Justin
 Give anyone who asks of you, for you will know who is the good One to
reward the prize.
St. Clemendous the Alexandrian

At any rate, the essence of these commandments is the love with which you not only
disregard the cheek that was slapped, but also in the big heart he has that makes him
ready to offer the other one so as to win his brother for the account of the eternal
kingdom. He will not only give up his garment but also, quite willingly, the cloak he
has on. He loves to give, and he does not ask the debt be returned so his brother is not
embarrassed. As St. Augustine says, "The Lord forbids His followers of resorting to
the law in the worldly matters against others."

(Luke 6:31) "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them
likewise."
This is the actual love with which man is released form his ego, and thus loves his
brother as much as he does himself. He wishes eagerly for him what he wishes for
himself. He also offers him what he wishes for others, and he offers all of this to him.

St. Cyril the great remarks on this statement saying "It was probable these sanctified
apostles would think they did not have the ability in carrying out these
commandments from mere thoughts to a practical life. Christ knew their thoughts, and
He relied on the instinct of loving of one-self as a judgment among people together.
He thus commanded each one to do to others what he would like them to do to him.
For if we would like others to deal with us mercifully and compassionately ,then we
too, have to deal with them the same way. Jeremiah prophesied previously that a time
will come when believers will no longer be in need of written commandments,
because this doctrine will be engraved on the hearts; for it has been said (Jer.31:33) "I
will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts."

Though mature love, He asks us not to deal with our brothers in the same way, but
rather to give them what we desire for ourselves, regardless of what they do to us. We
love for God's sake, that is, for love itself, since love has become in our nature. We
thus offer love unconditionally towards others. He says, (Luke 6:32-34) "For if ye
love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love
them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For
sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive,
what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again."

It is as if He is telling them 'Do not think My commandments are too difficult; for I
offer you what is appropriate for you as children of the Kingdom. I am asking you for
a perfect life of human nature, for I work with you and in you." He goes on to say
(Luke 6:35) "and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the
Highest. "When the world asks for the wages, at least it will be of equal value, but as
for you, your great wages will be your filiation to the Almighty God, which obliges
you to follow the example of your heavenly Father.

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With the same concept the Lord Jesus says (Luke 6: 36) "Be ye therefore merciful, as
your Father also is merciful."

 Nothing makes us equal to God except when we do good and merciful deeds.

 Christ is the Teacher, and so is His Father.

 Let us bring ourselves and our children and all that we have to the school of
mercy. Let man learn this before anything else, for mercy is man.

Let us count ourselves as if not alive, if we still show no mercy.

St. John Chrysostom

 This is God's work: He has created heaven, earth and the sea. These are so
great and are befitting to His wisdom! But none of these has the authority to
attract human nature to Him, as His mercy and His love to mankind does.
St. John Chrysostom

 Merciful love is the most sublime kind of, as it were, manufacture, and is a
defense to them that practice it. It is dear to God, standing constantly next to
Him asking Him for the sake of those who want it, if we practice it in a way
that is not wrongful.

It intercedes even for those ones who hate. Its authority is so great, even with
regards those who make mistakes.

It unleashes the bonds, and scatters darkness, and puts out the fire. It kills the
worms, and snatches away the grinding of teeth.

Before mercy, the doors of the heavens are open in a great guarantee. As a
queen she goes in, and none of he guards dare ask her who she is, but
everyone welcomes her at once.

Likewise is the state of mercy. For real, she is a real queen that makes humans
like God. It has wings and is light; it has golden wings with which it flies and
makes the angels very joyful.
St. John Chrysostom

If mercy promotes us to be similar to God Himself; then, when we ask for mercy we
have to be merciful to our brethren and not to judge them (Luke 6:37) "Judge not, and
ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.

The fathers, particularly those of the wilderness, were concerned about not judging.
They thought nothing angers God as much as this does. It detaches His grace from
him who commits it, and His mercy is put aside from him until he is merciful to his
brother, and he obtains the divine grace of God and His mercies. Father Pomin and
Father Moses think that he who judges his brother gets preoccupied with others' sins
and not his own. He is like someone who cries over the dead one of others, and leaves
his own dead one. Father Doretheus says, "We lose the power of correcting ourselves,
and keep looking constantly towards our brother." 'Nothing angers God or dismantles

19
man, or pushes him towards his perdition such as judging and condemning his
brother, or scorning him. It is a serious thing to pass judgement on someone due to
one single sin he has committed. This is why Christ says, (Luke 6:42)
"Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see
clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. " He compares the
brother's sin to a mote, whereas your quick judgment is counted as a beam. The most
difficult sin to heal is to judge our brother, this is probably the most serious of sins.
Why don't we, rather, judge ourselves and condemn our evil that we know perfectly
well and accurately enough, and the one we are held accountable for before God?
Why do we usurp God's right in judgment? It is only God who judges; He is to justify
or to condemn. He knows the condition of each of us, our abilities, our deviation, our
talents, our situation, our willingness… He alone is to judge according to His unique
knowledge. He judges the bishop's deeds in a certain way and the master's in a
different way. He judges the father of the monastery or a disciple of his in a different
way. The old person who has his own experience and knowledge is different than the
one asking for monasticism, the sick one is different than he who is in good health.
Who could comprehend all of these judgments, except Him who has created
everything, who formed everything, and who knows everything?"
Father Dorethus goes on to say how not to judge, giving us a story he remembers of a
ship that was carrying salves on board. A saintly virgin came up to the ship owner,
and she bought a small girl that she carried with her to her room, and trained her to
live a righteous life, as if she were her own daughter. Soon after, a troupe of dances
came to buy this small girl's sister, so as to train her in entertainment and a corrupt
life. Father Dorethus stops in amazement; both girls were abducted from their father;
one was blessed with the fear of God under the leadership of a loving saint, and the
other quite unwillingly was abducted to lead a corrupt life. At this point, the father
asks: Is it not for God alone to judge the girls in a way hard for us to understand? We
are hasty in our judgment, but as for God He knows the secrets, He is forbearing and
patient, He alone is able to justify or to condemn.

St. Cyril the great comments on the Lord's words for not judging, saying, "We are
asked to look into ourselves deeply so our conduct would be according to God's
commandments and His teachings; but we find some who are preoccupied with
interfering in other people's affairs and their work. If they observe any mistake in
other's conduct, they insist on gossiping spitefully and maliciously against them. They
were not aware that in the same measure they measure others, they would be
measured themselves. For they have drawbacks not any less than those others in
shame and degradation. This is why the wise St. Paul says (Rom.2:1) "Therefore thou
art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgment; for wherein thou judgment
another, thou condemnest thyself: for thou that judgest doest the same things." It is
our duty therefore in such a situation to have compassion on the weak one who has
fallen a prey to his own vain lust, and he has no other way to get rid of the evil and
sinful entrappings. Let us pray for those who have fallen so miserably, and let us give
them a helping hand. Let us seek not to fall as they did (James 4:11) "He that speaketh
evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the
law." This is nothing more than that the One who put the law, and the Judge of the
law in One.
It is supposed that the judge of he evil soul is much more superior than this soul. But
we were unable to assume for ourselves this judging quality due to our sins, so it is
our duty to resign form performing this job. For, how could we, being sinners, judge

20
others and condemn them? Therefore, no one should judge his brother. If you are told
with in yourself, to judge others, then know well that the law did not appoint you a
judge and a ruler. Therefore, your claiming such a job makes you fall under the
verdict of the law, for you are usurping its reverence.

It is not for everyone's whims to capture the drawbacks of other, and he should not
think busily with their frailties and offenses. He just has to meditate deeply about his
own frailties and drawbacks. This was the case with the devout psalmist, describing
himself with the wise words(Ps. 130:3) "If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark inquities, O
Lord, who shall stand?" at another place the psalmist reveals the weakness of man and
asks for forgiveness, for he said (Ps.103:14) "for He remembers that we are dust."

(Luke 6:41) "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
perceivent not the beam that is in thy eye?"

The Lord has previously shown the danger that results from boiling others in sharp
tongues, saying 'Do not judge so as not to be judged.' And now the Lord has
mentioned many examples and motivating evidence urging us to avoid judging others
and condemning them according to our own pleasure. It is far more important to us to
inspect our hearts, and void them of the disruptions kindled between our ribs, asking
our God to cleanse us of our iniquities and mistakes. The Lord cautions us of a
familiar bitter truth, telling us 'How could you criticize others, revealing their flaws
and vice, and inspecting their infirmities and sickness whereas you yourself are
vicious, sinful, sick and infirm? And how could you see the mote in others' eye,
whereas your own eye has a beam preventing your eye form seeing anything? You are
daring indeed if you are able to do so. It is more appropriate for you to take away your
infirmities, and quench the roots of your frailties, and then afterwards, you will be
able to judge others. You will see they are less guilty than your own crimes.

Do you wish to shout out all by yourself, announcing evil in the absence of others?
The Lord was going about, working in the healthy fields, and His devout disciples
picked some corn ears, rubbing them in their hands, ate its fruits so sweet. But the
Pharisees were quick to notice the disciples, and thus they drew near to Jesus saying
'look how your disciples work on the Sabbath what is not lawful to do.' The Pharisees
said this whereas they were the ones to dishonor the holies, and have disregarded His
commandments and orders, as Isaiah said of them (Is. 1:21) "How the faithful city has
become a harlit! It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.
Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are
rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after
rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come
before them."

Despite these adversities so shameful, committed by these people, they extended their
shameful and malicious behavior, and accused the blessed disciples of the Lord with
desecrating the holy Sabbath. But Christ answered their wickedness, saying
(Matt.23:23,24) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of
mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice
and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others
undone. Blind guides, who strain out a guat and swallow a camel."

21
The Pharisee, as you can see, was a deceptive hypocrite, accusing people of vain
accusations, whereas he allows himself to commit the most shameful despicable
deeds, and the worst of crimes. It is not surprising that the Savior called them
(Matt.23:27) "whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." This is the same case with
the hypocrite when he condemns others with the most despicable malice and
infirmities, whereas he himself is blind, for he cannot see anything because of the
beam in his eye which obstructs the light form him.

We therefore have to carefully inspect ourselves before we sit on the judgment pulpit
to judge others, particularly if we occupy the job of a teacher or an instructor. If the
teacher has a good report and respectable history, and knows not only the lofty
virtues, but he also behaves accordingly, then such a person has the right to be a good
model to be followed. In that case he has the right to judge others if they are deviated
from the serious truth and correct path. But if the instructor is negligent and careless,
he should not judge others since he has the same downfalls and weakness that he sees
in others. The devout apostles, likewise, advise us saying (James 3:1) "My brethren,
be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." Christ
says when crowning the righteous with the holy crowns, and punishing the sinners in
various ways of discipline, (Matt.5:19) "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called
great in the kingdom of heaven."

Furthermore, Father Isaac El Syriany says, "When the soul is full of the fruits of the
Spirit, it is absolutely strengthened against any depression or hardship. Those fruits of
the Spirit open in its heart the door of love to all people. They expel any thoughts that
make it believe this is good or bas, this is righteous or wrong. The inner sense are
arranged, and reconciled to the heart and the conscience lest any of these move in
wrath or jealousy against any member of the creations. As for the barren soul that has
no fruits of the Spirit, then this one is clothed in envy continuously; in addition to
fury, depression, grudges, confusion, and constantly condemns others whether they're
good or bad."

Also, some of the indelible words regarding not to judge others are:

 Beware of blaming anyone lest God hates your prayers.

St. Anba Anthony the great.

 He who judges, has demolished his fence by the lessening of his knowledge.
St. Anba Moses the Black.

 The man who unleashes his tongue with whatever is good or bad, is not
worthy of God's grace.
Father Mar Isaac El Seriany.

 Do not judge anyone, and do not disgrace any man, and God will reward yu
with peace and serenity in your cell.
Anba Beeman.

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  It was said one brother sinned and was thus expelled and Fr. Bisarioun as a
result of this went out with him saying, "I, too, am a sinner."
St. Palladuis.

 If you disregard your sins, then you fall into your brothers' sins.
Anba Isaiah

 In the story of the adultren woman, Jesus judged iniquity and not man.
St. Augustine

(Luke 6:37) The Lord Jesus, our heavenly Friend, spoke to us of love carried out in
practical life by means of giving and covering up the frailties of others. By this He
presents to us the keys of entering in God's presence so as to be blessed with His love.
It is as if the Lord Jesus is offering us the keys of His divine treasury, for He says
(Luke 6:37) "forgive and ye shall be forgiven."
St. Augustine called these two acts: the covering up for others, and the givings are the
two wings of prayer which carry it up to God's throne without any obstruction.
Among his words "The first righteousness is practiced in the heart, when you forgive
your brother his sins. The other is prachsed when you give the poor one bread. Offer
both righteous acts together, for without one of these wings, your prayers will be
motionless. If you wish to be answered when you ask for forgiveness; forgive and you
will be forgiven, give and it shall be given unto you."

Finally, the Lord Jesus confirmed that when presenting His commandments about
love, He asks for the changing of the heart form the inside. He asks of the believer to
be a righteous tree producing righteous fruit. He says, (Luke 6:43-45) "For a good tree
bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For
every tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a
bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth for that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speakeht."

The followers of Valentiers depend on these words and similar ones, so as to declare
the difference of the souls' nature. In their opinion there are naturally good souls that
cannot be corruptible, whereas there are naturally evil souls that cannot be corrected.
The former is the righteous tree that produces forth righteous fruits, whereas t he latter
is the corrupt tree that produces maliciously.

Many fathers exerted a great effort contradicting this concept, confirming the freedom
of man's will power and his capabilities in the Lord Jesus in correcting their lives. If it
were a corrupt tree it keeps producing bad fruits until it tunes to a good tree in the
Lord. This is what St. Augustine confirmed in his selected sermons on the new
Testament.

In the second century B.C, the scholar Tritilian says, "It is impossible these excerpts
from the Holy Book do not agree with the Truth. The bad tree will not produce forth
good fruit unless it is purred with the righteous nature. Neither will the good tree
produce forth bad fruit unless it gets corrupted. For even the very stones could
become children to Abraham, if they become disciplined in Abraham's faith. The
blood of vipers could present fruits of repentance if the reject their deceitful nature.

23
 This is the power of God's grace that is in truth way more effective than the nature
itself.

If the human nature is led into doing what is good or what is bad involuntarily, and
that there is no hope of any change, the Lord Jesus would not urge us 'to make the tree
good', and the entire discussion would have been of no avail. The Lord speaks to us so
as to accept His work in us; and thus to carry out His commandments is not only by
means of our outer behavior alone but by the change in our old nature as well. For He
says that the good and righteous man out of the treasure of his righteous heart he gets
out what is good.

c)The Need for Building on the Rock:

The Lord resumes once more to assure us of the goal of His commandments: which is
a natural outcome of the new heart on which it is built. The Lord compared our life to
a construction fit to be established on the Lord Jesus 'the Rock of Ages' , and thus no
tempests of whatever circumstances could demolish it.

Our faith in Christ is the inward rock, by means of which we accept the Lord Jesus
Himself as the mystery of our strength. He works in us by His holy Spirit so as to
raise us to His Father's embrace.

But he who is not built on the 'real Rock', and his construction is tossed back and forth
by the fluctuating adversary currents, then he will not rest till the construction is
entirely demolished.
+ + +

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 Chapter VII
The friend to All

In the previous chapter, the evangelist showed clearly the Lord Jesus as an instructive
Friend. He wishes to uplift us with Him to His heavens, so as to live by the heavenly law.
Lest some may think that He has come for a certain category, as many Agnostics believed,
(For they used to disregard scornfully the simple and the commoners so as to establish
aristocratic thinkers around themselves) the evangelist reveals this heavenly Friend, and how
concerned He was to attract strangers with His love, such as the centurion. Moreover, the
Lord was much concerned about the widows, such as the raising up of the Nain widow’s son,
and His patient gentleness with sinners, as in the case of the sinful woman. The Lord wishes
to offer His friendship to everyone, regardless of his race, or his possibilities or his present
conduct. He wants to uplift everyone with His Holy Spirit to the true membership in His holy
body.

1- The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant 4- 10

2- The Raising of the Nain widow’s son 11- 17
3- John Sending Messengers to Christ 18- 23
4- His Testimony of John 24- 35
5- The Story of the Sinful woman 36- 50
+ + +

1- The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant:

In our study of St. Matthew’s gospel (Ch.8) we saw the centurion sending messengers
to the Lord, begging Him, since he was of a foreign race, to come and heal his servant. In this
situation, the centurion represents the Gentiles who were suffering through this servant who
was bonded to the adversary. The Gentiles have manifested greater faith than what the Jews
had, even though the Lord did not appear physically among them as He did among the Jews.
The Lord has come among them as one of them by His incarnation from St. Mary. In faith
full of humility, this stranger was worthy of hearing praise from the Lord’s mouth which the
owners of the law and of the prophecies and of the promises did not hear.
At any rate, if the Lord Jesus has declared His friendship by His incarnation from the
Jewish St. Mary, He has also declared to the Gentiles His praise of the centurion, of the
strange race. He opens His arms to the entire world, to enclose everyone in His loving
embrace.
Some may ask why has the evangelist St. Matthew mentions that the centurion
encountered the Lord on the road, and spoke of his unworthiness for the Lord to enter his
house? He showed his faith in how the Lord’s word is able to, in authority, to heal without
the need of the Lord’s entering into his house. But the evangelist St. Luke mentions that some
of the Jewish elders went to ask the Lord to heal the centurion’s servant; and that other
messengers have came before the centurion did, speaking in his name announcing his
unworthiness for the Lord to enter his house, and that the centurion for faith in the authority
of the Lord’s word in healing his servant.
St. John Chrysostom explains that the three encounters happened the Jewish elders,
the centurion’s messengers, and that of the evangelist St. Matthew when he thought it
sufficient to mention the third encounter. As for St. Luke, he thought it sufficient to mention
the first and the second encounters. He explains this in that the centurion has the faith in the
Lord Jesus, and therefore he wished to go to Him asking for his servant to be healed. But the
Jewish elders came in with the urge of envy, lest the centurion declare his faith before the
multitudes. They therefore went to Him themselves to bring Him to the centurion’s home,
under the cover of doing mercy. They said (Luke 7: 5) “For he loveth our nation, and he
bath built us a synagogue.” But the Lord who knows the heart’s innermost secrets waited
until the messengers came, and the centurion himself came, so as to praise him because of his
faith!
We notice in this encounter between the Lord and the centurion, or those who came to
represent him, we notice the following:

Firstly: Even if we assume the good intention of those Jewish elders, and their speaking on
behalf of the centurion, this reveals their concern about their “ego”, for ‘he loves our nation’.
They focused on the visual affairs ‘he built us a synagogue’. But as for the Lord Jesus, He
praised the centurion for his heart’s faith, hidden and full of humility.

Secondly: The centurion refers to the Gentiles coming to the Lord Jesus in faith so as to heal
the servant. That is to say, it was their souls that have been enslaved to the adversary for a
very long time, till they were almost eternally dead.
As St. Ambrosios says. “The centurion’s acceptance refers to the acceptance of all the
categories to the faith, for the Roman rulers and officers were known for their extreme
violence and despotic conduct; some even questioned if the Christians of the first century
would keep a ruler or officer in his position after being converted into Christianity. They
doubted if such a person may live as a Christian when still maintaining his position.
Therefore the Lord’s acceptance of the centurion’s pleading, and His praising him before the
people, declaring He has not found in Israel such faith as this...... this reveals the possibility
of life in partnership with the Lord, whatever the believer’s job or position may be like. The
scholar Tritilian says, “Some officers came to John and accepted of him some provision for
their septem (Luke 3: 12, 13), and the centurion came to be a believer... therefore, even if
anyone is seemingly unlawful among us, as long as man does not do something unlawful.”

Thirdly: St. Ambrosios comments on the concern of the Lord Jesus about healing the
centurion’s servant, and His going to the house to grant him the gift of health, saying
“Contemplate with me how the Lord of heaven had such humility. He was not disgusted or
disregarded visiting the centurion’s servant, but He rather expressed His divine, merciful
deeds and His compassion. His going to the centurion’s house was not because of His
inability to heal the servant form afar, but to show you a model of humility to follow, and to
teach you how to respect the poor as much as you do the honorable ones.”

Fourthly: St. Ambrosios pointed out the role 9f the centurion towards his servant. He has
believed and struggled through this faith by sending messengers to the Lord, as well as his
going himself, “The servant was healed by means of the centurion’s faith, which interceded
for the servant not only by faith alone, but through the struggle as well.” In this way we are
put to shame by the Gentile’s faith in the Lord, in addition to his struggle for the sake of his
sick servant.

Fifthly: St Cyril the great compares between the faith of the Jewish elders who came on
behalf of the centurion, and the centurion himself, saying, “You can therefore see the Jewish
elders begging the Lord Jesus to visit the centurion at his home just as he wished. They
thought the servant could not be healed except in this way, whereas you can see from another
angle a man declaring openly before everybody that Christ could heal his servant from afar!
If He only says a word, the boy would be healed. The centurion asked for nothing more than
that the Lord would only utter a word. He wished the Lord would only accept his wish, to
utter the words so sublime, to manifest His wish and His hope. This is why this centurion is
worthy of Christ’s praising words to him by the remarkable words that He has not found, not
even in Israel, such faith as this. The man’s behavior is an evidence of his good faith and the
strength of his creed. The Lord has rewarded him bountifully and healed his servant instantly,
and has saved him from the grip of death; after death had taken a firm grip of him, almost
getting his soul out of his ribs.

2- The Raising of the widow’s son in Nain:

The Lord has opened His heart to strangers and so the Roman centurion came forth
for his servant’s sake, so that due to his faith, he became of foremost importance in the
Lord’s eyes. He is thus counted as a closer friend to God than the children of Israel
themselves. Now we see Him having compassion on the widow who has lost her only son. It
is as if the Lord in His friendship to us, has met the widows and the poor ones, as much as He
did to strangers. His friendship is all inclusive, combining all humans.
On the other hand, the centurion refers to the church that comes from among the
Gentiles, as many of our fathers say such as the saints Cyril the great, St. Augustine and St.
Ambrosios. These Gentiles have obtained a great deal of temporal and earthly matters, but yet
they were absolutely helpless infront of the sickness of this boy servant. They are unable to
heal their inner souls, captured by the adversary as a poor slave, destroyed by sin as a disease
pushing it towards death. But as for the widow, she refers to the humanity in general. She was
a widow, and here she was again losing her only son being carried in his coffin on the way by
men. It is humanity that has become as a widow by losing God Himself her real Man. as for
her dead son; this refers to every soul that has lost its life because of sin. The soul has died,
carried by the body which sin has corrupted. The body is like the men carrying the coffin. It
has gone out on the road for there is no place for the soul anymore in the Lord’s house, or in
paradise, the first home for man.
In the raising of this young man, we notice the following:

Firstly: In the days of the Lord Jesus, there were undoubtedly many who have died, such as
the children of Bethlehem, St. John the Baptist who was martyred, and hundreds if not
thousands of men, women, elderly and children. We do not know if the Lord has raised many,
or if He found it enough to raise those three mentioned by the evangelists: Lazarus, the
widow’s son of Nain; and Jaruis daughter. For the Lord did not come to take away form us
the physical death, but He came to destroy the souls death, and to raise us above the power of
death. We then cross over with Him overcoming victoriously, so as to encounter Him
eternally face to face.
The Lord did not promise us to kick away death from us, for He rather has died with
us and instead of us. He has transformed death to a crossing bridge for us to crossover to
paradise awaiting for the great day of the Lord. This is why we hear of St Gregory El
Nezinzi’s mother, that she got dressed in the feast’s clothes when she attended her son’s
burial caesarius by name.
The church is concerned primarily by the resurrection of the soul. The body will
surely rise; and if the soul is blessed with the resurrection then it is glorified in the eternal
glory. This is why St. Augustine says, “It is more of a miracle that someone rises to live
forever, than that he rises to die again.” He moreover, says, “The widow mother rejoiced
when the youth was raised; and here we find people who rise everyday by the Spirit, and the
church, being a mother, rejoices with them. This one was indeed dead physically, but these
are dead in the spirit. His apparent death begot apparent weeping; and their invisible death
was not a point for others’ questions, and neither was it something for them to be concerned
about. The one who knew they were dead sought them. It is only He who knows them as
such, and He is able to grant them life. If the Lord had not come to raise them, the apostle
would not have said (Eph.5: 14) “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give these light”. No one could wake up someone else from his bed easily, as
much as Christ raises he who is in the grave.

Secondly: if the church focuses on the soul’s resurrection in the first place, in an invisible
manner, yet the church does not disregard the raising of the body as well. This issue was
denied by some heretics in their scorn of the flesh. The Lord has raised those three so as to
declare He is the One to grant the resurrections for the soul as well as for the body. St. Cyril
the great says, “Those dead ones who were raised by Christ are the biggest witness of the
resurrection from the dead.
The saintly prophets have referred to this truth, for it was said (Is.26: 19) “Your dead
shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in
dust.” The rising up is the life of Christ that He gives with the power of the Holy Spirit. The
psalmist also referred to this in words that God addressed to the Savior of the world (Ps. 104:
29) “Thou hidest they face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and
return to their dust.” Adam’s disobedience was the cause of hiding our face form God’s sight,
and sticking it to the dust, because God judged the human nature by the words (Gen3: 19)
“for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” But at the end of the world, the surface of the
earth will be renewed, because God the Father grants with His Son, life to everyone in the
universe. Death has bought about on people the old age and corruption. But as for Christ He
is the life-Giver and the One to renew, because He is the life.
Therefore, the raising of Christ to those dead ones, this was a declaration of His
present work by the rising of our souls by means of being united with Him, for He is the Life.
The raising of our bodies in the great day of the Lord will be one in essence, appropriate to
the eternal heavenly life.

Thirdly: In our study of the raising of Jaruis’ daughter (Matt. 9: 18-26), we saw how He
raised those three Lazarus, these are symbol of the work of the Lord Jesus to the souls, in the
stages of committing the various sins. Or as St. Augustine says, “These three kinds of dead
people are actually three kinds of sinners that Christ still raises up to this day.” The young
girl is a symbol to him who sins inwardly in the heart. The youth is the symbol of him who
commits evil openly and in a practical way. Lazarus means the one in whose life sin has
become habitual, and Christ has thus come to raise everybody!

Fourthly: The evangelist showed a major point in the raising of this young man, for he says
(Luke7: 13) “And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her.” It is as if the Lord
did not raise the youth so as to show off His power over death, and His ability as a life-Giver,
but He rather came forth because of His compassion. God deals with us on the level of
authority and dominion, even thou He is the Creator and Lord of all. But He deals, despite all
of this, with man on the level of love and mercy, since He is the Father, the Bridegroom, the
Friend and the Beloved to every man who receives Him.
St. Ambrosios says. “We believe the divine feelings of God were touched by the
mother’s tears of this widow, more out by the pain and sorrowful death of her only child. The
people’s sharing of her sorrow did not compensate the void made by her son’s death, and her
deprivation of motherhood. But yet, with her tears she obtained the resurrection of her young
son, the only one she had.”
I wish we could be like this widow for we lose or man that we chose, due to our
disobedience, that is to say Satan who has pushed our only son, that is to say, ourselves to
death; she has become carried in the body as if in a coffin, outside of the divine home, in a
lifeless state. Then we meet the Giver of life; for it is He alone who has compassion on us. He
takes away the death weight and gives us back our souls, all alive in Him; and our sanctified
bodies by means of His Holy Spirit.

Fifthly: St. Ambrosios remarks on the evangelist’s words, (Luke7: 14) “And He came and
touched the bier, and they that bare him stood still.” And he looked upon the wooden bier
or coffin as the tree by the means of which we were carried to the grave. The Lord touched it
by His being up high on the wooden cross, so we have the mystery of life. It is as if the wood
that has been a coffin to us and that has carried us to the abyss, has now become by Christ
Jesus our Lord ‘God’s power (1Cor.1: 18).

Sixthly: St. Ambrosios sees in this picture a vivid image of the church that has not stopped
weeping for our sake, pleading to her Christ to give her back her only One to speak the word
of life. It has been said (Luke7: 15) “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.
And He delivered him to his mother.”
St. Ambrosios says, “If you commit a fatal sin which you are unable to wash away
with your tears, then let your mother weep for you, that is, the church. The church interceds
for every son of hers, just as the widow wept for her son’s sake. The church shares in the
suffering spiritually. This is a normal thing for her when she sees her children driven by death
in deadly matters, for we are her very entrails begging for mercy. Indeed there are spiritual
entrails, just as those of St. Paul the apostle. Had, who said (Phil.20) “Ye, brother, let me
have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord.” We are the bowels of the
church, for we are members of her body of flesh and blood. Let this compassionate mother
weep, then and let all the people share her her sorrow. At this point you will be raised from
the dead and get out of the grave. The carrier of death in you will stop, and you will speak the
words of life. As a result, everyone will fear this awesome thing, and will bless the Lord who
has offered us such a remedy that saves us from the pangs of death.”

Seventhly: St. Cyril the great poses the question about the touching of Christ Jesus to the
bier, even though He was able to raise him with a word. He answers it saying ‘It was, dear
brethren, so as to tell you that Christ’s body had a special impact for man’s salvation; because
the Word body, the marvelous Christ, is the life body clothed in power and dominion. Just as
when iron touches fire, it is clear you see the fire effect on it and is transformed to the fire
properties likewise is the body of Christ the Word, where life was glorified, and He had the
authority to eliminate death and corruption’.
In this way the Lord showed the abilities His body had to give life, by means of the
eternal unity of godliness and humanity. By this He has uplifted the body of man that used to
be scorned previously, and He blessed our nature in Him.

3- The Messengers of John Sent to Christ:

St. John the Baptist has leapt in his mother’s womb joyfully welcoming the coming of
the Savior incarnate in the Virgin’s womb, and has declared His mission as the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world (John1: 29). He saw the Holy Spirit descending on Him,
and the Father testifying of Him at the baptismal moment. Now we see John sending
messengers to the Lord Jesus saying (Luke7: 20) “Art thou He that should come? Or look
we for another?”
 John did not doubt the person of Christ the Lord, but he wished to give the Lord Jesus
the opportunity for Him to bring disciples for Himself. For St. John did not wish to have
disciples for himself wording for his account. He only wished in his discipleship to others to
send them to his Savior, motivating them to the ‘divine friendship of God’. He thought not to
begin a discussion with them concerning the Savior, but rather to send Him messengers, so
that the Lord would Himself attract them to Him, and thus they would in their turn bring the
other disciples to follow.
How successful the shepherd in who urges God’s congregation to encounter the Lord
Jesus Himself to attract them to Himself, and be blessed with the divine friendship. In this
way the shepherd’s job is merely to bring the people of God to the Savior Himself. Such a
shepherd does not work for his own honor or his popularity, but he rather works for the
account of God’s kingdom.
St. Cyril the great speaks elaborately the reason for these messengers “Do not think
therefore that the devout Baptist was unable to know the Word of God, Christ the incarnate.
He was actually very sure of Christ and Him personality. His question about Christ was given
to him by the Spirit of wisdom and smartness, so as to make out of the question, a useful
lesson to his disciples. Those disciples did not know about Christ, and they were not aware of
His glory and His dominion. They even became jealous when they heard of His surpassing
miracles, more powerful than those ones performed by their master John. Their bad intention
was obvious when they drew close to John the Baptist asking him about Christ, saying,
(John.3: 28-30) “Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond’ Jordan, to whom thou barest witness,
behold, the Same baptizes, and all men come to Him.” John answered and said, ‘A man can
receive nothing except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I
said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that bath the bride is the
bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stand and hears him, rejoices greatly
because of the Bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I
must decrease.”
We do not say that John the Baptist has decreased in his importance, whereas Christ
has increased in His glory, for being surrounded by so many people. By John’s decrease and
Christ’s increase, we wish to say that John was only human, and he had to reach a certain
point that no more increase could be added. But as for Christ, He is God incarnate, who has
no end to His growth or His greatness. This is why the Baptist says, ‘ He must increase, but I
must decrease’. He who stands on the same level, decreases. This is to him who has no
obstruction in growth and development. The Baptist to show that he was right in speaking of
Christ thus, he referred to Christ’s godliness and he proved to them that He should surpass all
others, for he said (John3: 31) “He that cometh from above is above all; he that is of the earth
is earthly, and speaketh of the earth.”
Who is He who has come form above? Who is He who surpasses all people? It is
clear He is God’s incarnate Word, just as the Father is, and in essence with Him. Due to His
love, He descended and humbled Himself to become like us. Christ therefore, surpasses
everyone on earth. The Baptist, being one of the world inhabitants, and was like them in his
humanity, he had to be surpassed by Christ our God.
We do not deny St. John was wonderful in his qualities, unequalled in righteousness
and nobility. He has reached a wonderful status in righteousness and goodness, praiseworthy
in every way. The Lord described him by the well known words, (Matt.3: 1) “For none of
women born is greater than John the Baptist.” Yet, despite all of this, the Baptist was not
from above, but he was of the earth, just like us.
The disciple of John, therefore, as their hearts have not yet been purified from the
drastic Jewish diseases, they described to John what they saw in Christ and His divine power.
But they actually meant ill for Christ. But as for john, he was aware of Christ’s sublime
status, and was over happy to refer to the great glory of the Lord. So as to cleanse the hearts
of his disciples of any suspicious or doubts, and to draw them close to the sun of
Righteousness, the Lord of glory Jesus Christ, St. John accepted to be disguised under the
cover of ignorance and naivety. He sent his messengers to Christ so as to ask Him “Are you
the one, or should we wait for another?”
Now we are asking; Why did the evangelist St. Luke mention these messengers, he
had mentioned the healing of the centurion’s servant, and the raising of the widow’s son of
Nain?
The centurion represents the strangers embraced by the heavenly Friend in His love,
separating them from the sinful death. The widow represents the acceptance of the Lord Jesus
to the widows and the needy ones, and how He gives them back their joy of salvation. Now,
because the Lord has met John’s disciples, He embraced them in the met of His love, and He
declares His eagerness to embrace the Jewish people to become His disciples. John represents
the old law, and his disciples, or the messengers refer to the follower of the law, or those
under the law. St. John sent his disciples to declare that (Rom.10: 4) “For Christ is the end of
the law.” He sent two disciples of his, because the number 2 refers to ‘love’, for we will not
meet our Christ through the law without love.
St. Ambrosios says “John represents the old law. It was normal that this old law that
speaks of Christ, and that has become imprisoned in the believers’ hearts, and was enclosed
for so long, that it would be in need of the light. It has suffered behind the bars from lack of
understanding. This is why it could go till the end as a witness to the divine plan of God
unless it is supported by the Gospel’s good news. For this reason St. John sent two of his
disciples so as to increase in knowledge, because Christ is the perfect fulfillment of the law.
The two disciples were symbols to two nations; the first one believed because they were of
the Jews, and the other one believed when they heard of it because they were of the
Gentiles.”
The Lord Jesus’ attitude towards these messengers was focused on revealing the
deeds of His tremendous love, and He left His deeds to answer every question. St. John
Chrysostom says, “Because Jesus knew St. John’s aim, He did not say ‘It is I’, but He left
them to learn of it through His works. Naturally, they counted the testimony of His deeds as
of more assurance. And above all doubts than any other testimony of words. St. Ambrosios
says, “Man believes most faith fully by the manifestation of deeds, way more than any
claiming words.”
St. John, being the representative of the old law and the prophecies, has sent the two
disciples. But as for Jesus Christ, He took them to the essence of God’s work, so they may
say, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.”
The Lord presented to them the deeds the have for so long been prophesied of by the
prophets. He told them (luke7: 22, 23) “How that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers
are cleansed the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And
blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” As St. Ambrosios says, “This is the
full testimony by which the Lord cam be known due to the prophecy concerning His person
and to no one else (Ps.146: 7,8) “Who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord loosens the
prisoners. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind, the Lord raiseth them that are bowed
down.” He who does this reigns forever. The divine authority, then, is not by the oral good
news. It makes the night darkness which never ends, be despised from the light is poured on
the wounds of their empty eyes. He also makes the deaf to hear, and the withered hands and
shaky. Knees rise, and the dead are attracted to the light and the power of life is evoked in
them.”
The Lord warned them ‘Blessed is he who is not offended in Me’, because the cross
cometh forth. It is this cross in which so many are offended, as St. Paul the apostle says
(1Cor.1: 18) “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God.” If the Lord has come to open the eyes of the blind to
see His mysteries, and the ears to hear His divine voice, and to release the souls from the
bondage of sin, and cleanse it from the inward filth, and to raise the souls from death, then,
the price for all of this is ‘the cross’ which is ‘for the Jews an offense, and for the Greeks
foolishness,’ (1Cor.1: 23).

4- His Testimony of John:

Because St. John rejoiced he was decreasing whereas the Lord Jesus was increasing
(John3: 30) he sent his messengers so as to withdraw all his disciples to become disciples at
the hands of the Savior Himself. This work did not lessen in any way the fob of St. John the
Baptist, but rather, the Lord Jesus Himself praised him and spoke of him to all the people in
this way (Luke7: 24- 26) “What went ye out to see into the wilderness? A reed shaker
with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold,
they who are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what
went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a
prophet.”
In our study of the gospel of our teacher St. Matthew (11: 7-14) we presented a lot of
comments said by our fathers in this divine praise. This why I think it enough to mention
some of the other comments, completing what was written before:

Firstly: We have seen that the Lord Jesus did not praise St. John in the presence of his
disciples, but rather after their departure so He would not seem hypocritical. I wish we,
likewise, not be concerned about praising others in their face as much as praising them in
their absence. This will indeed show us to be loving to them, without any hypocrisy or
temporal aim to obtain some social or monetary reward.

Secondly: St. Cyril the great explains to us why the Lord Jesus praised St. John the Baptist,
and concludes by saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. He says
that the Lord Jesus has selected this saint for being the greatest to obtain the righteousness of
the law. St. John is the best born of any woman from among the Jews. He is a prophet that
has surpassed all other prophets, and was prophesied of by Malachai the prophet (Mal.3: 1),
that he is the Lord’s angel. Inspite of all of this, if this greatness in the Old Testament is
compared to the good news of the gospel, then it is counted as nothing. In the old law,
however much man struggles he is still ‘of woman born’. As for the gift of the New
Testament, it raises us above flesh and blood to obtain the filiation to God.
What follows are some excerpts from the words of St. Cyril El Sekendery regarding
this point:
The purpose of Christ the Savior of the world’s words was, therefore to show what
privileges and favours there were in the old law. But despite those privileges and properties,
there was nothing of spiritual construction to draw it close to Him. But as for the blessing of
the faith in Christ, this is the assurance of blessings and good. In it there is the strength that
crowns endless beauty and attraction.
This is what we learn from studying the words of the devout St. Paul. He declared that
he has been released concerning the righteousness is the law, and was thus blameless. Inspite
of this, be cries out saying (Phil.3: 7) “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss
for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but dung, that I may win Christ.” St. Paul regarded the Israelites blameworthy by saying,
(Rom10: 3) “For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, “On another
occasion he says (Gal.2: 15) “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and
not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Accordingly, all who believe in Christ will obtain glories that surpass the glories of
righteousness granted by the old law. For this reason the Baptist was regarded as in a place of
lawful righteousness no one else has come close to. But on the other hand he was considered
much less than the least of men in the kingdom of heaven. What is meant by the kingdom of
heaven, as we mentioned before, is the grace of the faith in Christ. By this we are worthy of
all spiritual blessing coming from God above, our Father. It is this that liberates us of all
blame, and gives us the right of becoming God’s children, and makes us share in the gifts of
the Holy Spirit, and heirs to the heavenly treasure.
The Lord describes St. John that from among all those born of women there is no
prophet greater than John the Baptist. But yet, the least in God’s kingdom is greater than he
is. How can this be? The answer is this: John was like all others who preceded him, his birth
being attributed to a woman. But those who have accepted the faith in Jesus Christ, are not
sons of women, but are rather sons of God as said by the wise evangelist (John1: 11, 12) “But
as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on His name; which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God.” We have become the sons of God Almighty (1Pet.1: 23) “Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, that liveth and
abideth forever.” Therefore, all those born not of corruptible seed, but rather of the abiding
word of God surpasses those born of a woman.
There is, moreover, another reason that makes those born of God’s Word superior to
those born of women: this is because these ones have earthly fathers, but the other ones have
a heavenly Father, for Christ is a brother to them. They have thus become, by the grace of
brotherhood, children to God, for Christ has declared openly (Matt.23: 9) “And call no man
your father upon earth; for One is your Father, who is in heaven.” The wise St. Paul says in
assurance of the above theory (Gal.4: 6) “And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the
Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying ‘Abba, Father’. “This is because when Christ rose to
destroy hell, He granted the filiation grace to all who believed in His name. On the head of
the list were His saintly disciples (John 20: 23) “He breathed on them and saith unto them
‘Receive ye the Holy Spirit, whose soever sin ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and
whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained’. “And since those disciples have becom
partners in the divine nature for being granted the great gift of the powerful Spirit, so
awesome, they had to have godly power. This is by means of forgiving sins to some people,
and retaining them to some others.

Thirdly: When we concentrate on the words of the Lord Jesus in His praise of St. John, we
find Him beginning like this (Luke7: 24) “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A
reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for the see? A man clothed in soft
raiment?
The Lord looks upon the world as if it has become a barren wilderness without any
fruitful trees, because sin has destroyed the creation and has transformed it from a fruitful and
glorious paradise to a fearful barren wilderness. This wilderness became filled with reeds
shaken by the wind, bending back and forth.
 As for St. John the Baptist, even though he was raised in the wilderness of the world
as a reed, but in his belief in of the Messaiah the Savior, he was not a reed shaken by the
winds of heresy, and has was not destroyed either by the tempests of earthly lust. He is
indeed this reed the Lord Jesus held to make out of which a skilful pencil. This was the
custom with scripters in the old days in using a reed in writing after preparing it in such a
way fit for scribing. likewise was St. John in the hand of the Savior- the pencil with which He
writes in calling all to be blessed with His salvation.
Concerning this St. Ambrosios says, “The Lord draws the similarity between this life
with the wilderness, uncultivable and unproductive and has no sign of any fruit.
The Lord warns us of copying those who are puffed up, and whose thoughts are tied
to all what is earthly. These are they who have no hidden virtue, but they rather show off the
glory of this temporal word. These ones are exposed to the winds of this life and are confused
with its fluctuations. This is why the analogy is drawn to the reed because they are fruitless in
doing no real righteousness, yet they have the worldly ornaments.
But if you uproot the reed from the earth, and clean it thoroughly; that is, if you
uproot the old man and his deeds (Col.3: 9) and you hand it to a skilful scriber’s hand to write
with it smartly, if you do so, this pencil will freshen up the Lord’s commandments in your
heart to the very depths, on flesh boards of the heart (2Cor.3: 2).
It was said about this pencil (Ps.41: 2) “My tongue is a skilful pen writer.”
If we are rooted in the wilderness as bruised reed shaken back and forth by the wind,
then let us hand over our life to the hand about whom it is said (Is.42: 3) “A bruised reed He
will not break.” He will uproot us from the earth of this life, so as to plant us in Him as
members of His body. He changes our life to a skilful pencil in His hand. He soaks us in His
pure blood, and sanctifies our spirits, our souls and our bodies. We became in truth, the
written message of Christ, not in ink, but by God’s living Spirit (2Cor.3: 2, 3).
For a second time He says, “But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft
raiment?”
St. Ambrosios says, “The Lord does not speak here of clothes even though many copy
women in being adorned in soft raiment. But it seems that the Lord here is referring to other
clothes, if I am not mistaken, which are the human bodies put on by the spirit. This is why
Joseph’s gown was stained with blood (Gen.27: 31) as the body of Christ was.”
The soft raiment are the deeds of passion and its habits. This is why the apostle urges
us to get rid of the old man so as to put on the new one (Co.3: 9).
St. John did not put on the soft raiment as those who live in castles. That is, he did not
give over his body to passions, pleasures, and abject habits as those enclosed in Satan’s
palace. His body became sanctified, as well as his spirit for the account of God’s kingdom.
The Lord Jesus goes on in His praise saying, “But what went ye out to see? A
prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written
‘Behold I send My messenger before. Thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”
In this way the Lord Jesus confirms that St. John is not only a prophet, but that he is
among the greatest of all the other prophets. As St. Cyril the great says, on behalf of the Lord,
“Yes, because he is a saint and a prophet. He is even way ahead of the other prophet in status
and nobility, because he not only proclaimed My coming but he referred to Me as well and
cried out (John1: 29) “Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world”.
St. Ambrosios says. “Yes, and greater than a prophet; for with him ends the age of the
prophets. He is greater than a prophet for many have desired to see (Matt. 13: 7) the One
about whom St. John has prophesied, seen and baptized.
He is greater than those whom he equaled in birth, but as for the Lord’s nature, this is
unique, and cannot be compared to any human birth. There is no comparison to be drawn
whatsoever between man and God.”
 When the Lord Jesus praised His angel St. John the Baptist, He showed the power of
the Gospel preaching. Even though St. John has reached such a marvelous status, for he was
called ‘the greatest of all born of women’, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he is.’ St. John represented the age of the old law, but the Gospel message offered the
‘filiation to God’ by means of which the believer is blessed with what is greater than what the
men of the old Testament have ever obtained.
At any rate, St. John the Baptist came as representing the old law, extremely severe,
so as to lead mankind to the Lamb of God. The Messaiah, the Lamb Himself has come as a
Friend, gentle to all people. The Jews then rejected this and that. This is why the Lord
rebuked them saying (Luke7: 31-35) “Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this
generation? And to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the
marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, ‘We have piped unto you, and ye
have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept’. For John the Baptist
came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say ‘He bath a devil’. The Son of
man is come eating and drinking; and ye say ‘Behold a gluttonous man, and wine-
bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of all her children”.
What follows are some remarks said by our fathers concerning these divine words.
+ The Lord here does not speak of dancing the accompanies entertainment and pleasure. It is
rather the spiritual dancing, in which man is exalted above the passionate body, and does not
permit its members to enjoy the earthly pleasures.
St. Paul danced spiritually; for it is for our sake that he looked forward, forgetting all
the past, seeking what is ahead of him, all for Christ’s sake (Phil.2: 13, 14).
This is the mystery, then: that we piped for you the song of the New Testament and
yet you did not dance, that is, you did not hear with your souls by means of the divine grace
of God.
‘We mourned for you but you did not weep, that is to say, you did not repent, when
St. John came to you calling for repentance by the grace of the Lord Jesus. It is the Lord who
gives the grace, and St. John spoke of it being a servant to Him. As for the church it deeps
both of them, so you realize the grace without separating repentance from it. Grace is the gift
from God; He alone can grant it, and repentance is the remedy for the sinner.
St. Ambrosios
+ The Jews did not believe either in the prophets’ praises or in their inheritance.
+ ‘We piped for you but you did not dance’; Moses sang hymns when he crossed the sea and
the waters divided (Ex.15). Isaiah also sang hymns by the song of the Beloved Vine (Is.5: 1).
He points to the Jewish people that have previously produced many virtues but it would
become a block of malice.
The three youths sang praises when their feet got soothed, for the fire was
transformed to dew drops. For, whereas everything inside and outside kept burning, the fire
was gentle to them, it neither harmed not burnt them (Dan.3: 24).
Habakkuk proclaimed a hymn of praise prophesying about Christ’s suffering, as a
source of comfort to believers (Hab.3), This relieved the people of their sorrow.
In this way the prophets sang spiritual hymns, that was exalted to the preaching of
salvation to all. Furthermore, the prophets wept so as to win over the Jewish stubborn hearts
by their sad singing.
The Holy book teaches us to sing hymns to the Lord (Ps.46: 8), and to dance in
wisdom, as the Lord said to Ezekiel to clap with his hand and stomp with his feet (Ez.6: 11).
God does not ask for funny gestures performed by a rebelling person, and neither does He ask
for women’s clapping. But there is the discreet dancing, when the spirit dances by the body’s
exaltation in doing the good deeds, when we hang our trumpets on the willow trees.
 The Lord commands the prophet to beat with the hand and the foot, and to sing;
because He could see the Groom’s wedding in which the church would be the bride and
Christ would be the Beloved. It is a beautiful wedding in which the Spirit unites with the
Word, and the body with the Spirit.
This is the wedding that David the prophet attempted to fulfil, and to which we are
invited. He is urging us to hasten towards this happy sight (Ps.81: 2, 3) “Take a psalm, and
bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.” Can you imagine the prophet
dancing? Can’t you hear the sound of those beating the timbrel, and the stomping of the
dancers’ feet? It is the wedding! You too take a timbrel so that if you are blessed with the
touch of the Spirit, your inner chords would respond with the echo of the good deeds. Hold
on to the timbrel so the harmony could be fulfilled between your words and your works. Take
the harp so the Spirit would give you the gift of chanting by means of your physical inner
instrument.
St. Ambrosios
It seems that the Jewish children had fun of that sort, so they formed two teams. They
confused those around them, saying the two teams were contrary to each other. Some of them
played on the harmonious devices whereas the other team cried out in pain and misery. Those
sorrowful ones did not share their happy friends their pleasure and entertainment. Those of
fun and entertainment were confused about the sorrow of their friends. Their misery and
broken hearts intensified, and this is shown when some blamed the others saying that they
played music for them and yet they did not dance, whereas the other group answered in their
turn that they lamented for them and yet they did not weep. Christ declares openly that the
Jewish people and their leaders represent this role. They appear on the stage as the street kids
do. For John the Baptist did not come to eat bread or the drink wine and yet they said he had
a devil in him. The Son of man came to eat and drink and then you would say ‘Here is a
gluttonous man and a wine bibber, a man who loves publicans and sinners.
What could make y9ou believe, you ignorant Pharisees, in the true faith in Christ?
What means could be used to attract you to the Lord? You look upon all issues through dark
glasses. There is nothing you have that is praiseworthy. As St. John the Baptist said, to repent
for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand (Matt.3: 2). His verdict on them was true indeed,
for according to their own words, he was a model of nobility and courage, of great intellect
and sublime virtues. Has he not lived in the desert, slept in the open and was covered by the
sky, eating honey and locusts, and wore rough and cheap clothing? How can you say he has a
devil in him, when it was he who by his asceticism and abstinence form any food, has killed
the law of sin that is embedded in our flesh and entrails? He fought the miles of the intellect,
and was an awesome champion and captivating warrior! Is there anything greater than the life
of asceticism and renunciation? It is this by which we suppress the sinful pleasures and bridle
malice and evil. The Baptist was most loyal to Christ; in him there was us tendency for any
physical passions. He deserted all the pleasures of the world, and departed from the world
and its enticings so he would reach the goal he aimed for, which is t hat of paving the way to
the Redeemer Lord.
Tell me, you people, if you think such a person could have a devil in him? Whereas it
was he who never bent his back to any sin or vice?
We do not deny the Baptist did not reach this lofty level except through Christ;
because it is the Lord who debases Satan’s status, and broke his teeth so the position of saints
be raised.
Are you not ashamed, then, you people, when you attack the Baptist so fiercely,
whereas he is the messenger who was distinguished by his patience, courage and crown of
glory? So why are you so envious of him, and attribute all evil and malice to him? You deny
him the healthy mind and clear intellect, and accuse him falsely he is a madman who is
unaware and thoughtless of anything?
Now let us study another personality the Jews saw, quite contrary to that of the
Baptist’s. Christ did not live in the desert, but it was in the city that he lived, accompanied by
His saintly apostles. He did not eat any locusts or wild honey, and was not clothed with
camel’s hair, nor did he have a leather girdle round his waist.
As you see, Christ lived a city life unlike the life St. John led. So do you Pharisees
blame Christ for leading such a life? Do you despise His easy friendship with others, and His
loving care to people, and disregarding this or that kind of food? No, it was not for any of
these reasons; but you rather attacked the Lord by stabbing words, saying He is a gluttonous
person, a wine bibber, a lover of publicans and sinners. You said so because you sometimes
saw Christ eating freely at ease, and you thus accused Him of greed and drinking too much
wine. And how do you prove your accusations? Hasn’t Mary with her sister Martha once
invited Christ in Bethany, and when the Lord saw one of them overdoing in His service, He
stopped her and commanded her to do only what is necessary. The Redeemer addressed her
saying (Luke10: 41) “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needful.” This was the way of Christ, He knew what He came to, and
where He was going.
Do you accuse Christ of gluttony and greed, because He went with the publicans and
sinners? Is this all what you can accuse Him of? But tell me what harm happened to Christ
when He blended with the sinners? Was Christ not above the level of humans? So what harm
could touch Him, whether it be vicious or malicious? The Lord spoke and His words are
truthful (John14: 30) “For the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me.” In such a
case, nothing sinful could be attached to the Lord Jesus.
But someone may ask (Ex23: 32) “You shall make no covenant with them, nor with
their gods.” Let us study, then, the purpose of the Jewish law, and come to know the purpose
for which the law forbade the Israelites of talking to evil people, and getting in touch with the
deceitful ones. The purpose was not showing of before sinners; but the purpose was that you
have a weak mind, and that you can easily fall into iniquity. So, lest you are attracted towards
the corrupt pleasures, you were forbidden to mix with those who are corrupt so you would be
safely harbored against any vice. (1Cor.15: 33) “Be not deceived: evil communications
corrupt good manners.” The law was thus set to keep you from any downfall due to your
weakness or disability. But if you are well-equipped with the lofty virtues, and are firm in the
fear of God, then the law will not stand in your way between you and the weak sinners. Your
closeness to them will be something good to them, and a motivation for them to copy you.
They will then walk in big steps towards the desired perfection and the attainable truth. So do
not be puffed up against the miserable weak one, and depend on the Law of Moses mentioned
above; so no one should blame Christ for mixing with the publicans and sinners.
St. Cyril the great

5- The Story of the Sinful Woman:

We said that the Lord Jesus, being a heavenly Friend, He opens His heart to strangers,
such as His concern over the centurion, and His concern over the widows such as the raising
of the widow’s son in Nain. He attracted the disciples of St. John the Baptist, as being
representatives of the Old Testament, so they get in touch with His loving and awesome
deeds. Now we can see a sinful woman, who, in the eyes of the Jewish people was worthy of
being stoned; she barges into this friendship, and meets our Lord Jesus Christ as a heavenly
Groom for her in the house of Simon the Pharisee without any proper invitation given her.
The encounter of this sinful woman has attracted many souls to repentance. God’s true
friendship to sinners has been manifested, as well as His love to every soul, and His
eagerness to save everyone. Many fathers have expressed themselves concerning this
encounter, among whom is St. Avraam the Syrian. He recounted this meeting in a beautiful
narrative style that I have translated and published before, having the name ‘Love and Tears’
in the series ‘The Christian Story’.
With the fatherly spirit we can mention the following comments about the story of the
sinful woman:

Firstly: St. Augustine says, “The sinful woman went to the banquet without being invited,
because the Physician was at the table. In sanctified courage she asked Him for health. She
came to know only too well the cruelty of the disease she was suffering form. She also
realised the One she was coming to is able to grant her this health. This is why she began the
way in all keenness and strength. She drew near to His feet and not to His head. It was she
who had led an evil life for so long, now she was at His feet in steps of righteousness.”
It is as if this woman, who represents the wiecked and filthy soul, has found in the
feet of her Savior the mystery of going the righteous way, in being released by Him and in
Him to the Father’s embrace, and be blessed with the divine friendship forever.

Secondly: One of the Pharisees asked the Lord Jesus to dine with him The Lord entered his
house, but not his heart. The man had prepared a banquet, which probably cost him a lot, and
many envied him for having the Master at his house. But the woman barged into the house,
urged on by her love, and met the Lord as a Groom to herself. The Pharisee represents the
soul that hides behind outer appearances without any depth. This soul hosts the Lord in the
house but not in the heart. As for the woman, she symbolizes the serious soul seeking
salvation. She is careful to meet the heavenly Groom secretly.
St. Ambrosios says in one of his writings about the Pharisee and the sinful woman,
saying:
A) The Pharisee did not offer water so as to wash the Lord’s feet. But the woman offered
tears to wash them. The former represents the Jews or the unbelievers who have no water to
wash the Lord’s feet, He who wishes to dwell in their conscience. How can anyone wash his
conscience if he does not accept Christ’s water? As for the church, it has this water, the
baptism, and it also has these tears of repentance.”
St. Ambrosios comments on this washing at another place saying, “She washed away
her sins by washing the Savior’s feet with her tears. Dear Lord Jesus, allow me to wash Your
feet with what has stuck on to them by Your walking in me, even though they have never got
to be filthy or defiled. But how can I bring to You the water of life by which I may wash
Your feet? Because I have no such water. I offer my tears. When I wash Your feet I shall be
sure of my own washing, because you have loved a lot.’”
On a third occasion he says, “Confess your sins in tears so the divine justice of God
tells you, ‘She washed My feet with her tears and she rubbed them with her hair. The tears of
our love can not only wash away our sins, but they can also wash the steps of the divine
Word of God so they be fruitful in us! These are useful tears that assure the rising of sinner as
well as being food for the righteous. Righteous is the one who says (Ps.41: 4) “My tears have
become bread to me.” If you are unable to draw close to Christ’s head, then touch His feet
with your head.”
b) The Pharisee had no hair by which he could wipe the Lord’s feet, for he was not vowed to
be given to the Lord. But as for the church, she has her hair, and she asks for the vow. St.
Ambrosios sees this hair that the woman has wiped the Savior’s feet with, as referring to
wealth that is of no value unless it is offered to the poor, the Savior’s feet that is, that washes
their wounds and suffering.
 On another occasion he says, “Loosen your hair, and at all your physical gifts yield to
it.” For our physical abilities, our gifts, our potentials and our emotions, all remain as the hair
that is of no value unless it is sanctified by being used in rubbing the, Savior’s feet, that is to
say, in serving His little brothers.
c) Concerning the sinful woman’s kissing, this was not done by the Pharisee. St. Ambrosios
says, ‘The kiss is the sign of love. This is why the Jew, the unbeliever, could not kiss, for he
does not know Christ’s peace and he does not accept it. It was said of him (John14: 7) “My
peace I give unto you.” This is why the Jewish synagogue has no kisses, but it is the church
that has been expecting Christ and has loved Him, that has those kisses, saying (Song of
Sol.1: 2) “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” The church wished to put out the
blaze of her long eagerness in expectation of the Lord’s coming, with His kisses, and to
quench her thirst with this gift.” The saint goes on to say in the same letter “The church alone
is the one to have the kisses, since the kiss is the earnest of marriage, and is a special
privilege to the wedding.”
The church kisses are sincere and truthful, for they are the bridegroom’s eager kisses
of love towards her groom. This was not experienced by Judas when he offered his deceitful
in giving his Master over. This is why St. Ambrosios addresses him saying, “You who do not
know the secret mystery of a kiss, you have offered a kiss. What is desired is the hearty kiss
of the soul and not just the lips. Where there is no love or faith or emotion, how can there be
any sweetness in the kisses?”

Thirdly: St. Ambrosios, when he compares between the woman who poured fragrant oil on
the Savior’s head when she was at the house of Simon the leper in the village of Bethany
(Matt.26), and between the woman mentioned here, he sees they were two different cases
though both of them offered fragrance. The former one represents the soul that enters into the
divine friendship, and is sublimed in the perfect life in the Lord, and she thus pours the
fragrance on the Savior’s head, and she reaches a lot of God’s divine mysteries. As for us, we
follow the latter case, for we feel our sins, and come to Him form behind, and we weep
fervently, eager to reach His feet. But we are not deprived of offering the fragrant oil, for the
saint says, “Even though she was a sinner, yet she had the fragrance.”
If we are sinners, let us go the way of repentance. I wish we go into the house of
Simon and meet our Lord wherever He may be, and offer Him fragrant oil on His feet. This is
the fragrance of repentance, so true and full of hope through His holy blood that is coming
out of His wounded side.
Once again in his interpretation of St. Luke’s gospel, St. Ambrosios thinks this oil
poured on the Savior’s feet, concerns the church alone. He says, “Blessed is the man who is
able to rub the feet of Christ with fragrant oil, something that Simon did not do! Fragrance is
the essence oil of many flowers, and so there comes out of it various beautiful scents. Perhaps
no one could pour this fragrant oil except the church alone, since it owns so many flower
fields of variable fragrance. It is here that the image of the sinful woman is blended with
Christ who carried the image of a slave, and was carrying a similar sinful body.

Fourthly: The Pharisee did not profit anything by his meeting the Savior, due to his
insistence on pride; but as for the sinful woman, she gained a lot because she has loved much
through her humble spirit. With pride, man loses every spiritual blessing, whereas with love
full of meekness man is blessed with the Savior’s love, and the forgiveness of sins.
+ The Lord of humility sat in the haughty Pharisee’s house, called Simon. Inspite of being in
Simon’s house, yet the Son of man had no where to lay His head in Simon’s heart (Luke9:
51)
 St. Augustine
+ Love a lot, so you be forgiven a lot.
St. Paul committed a great deal of mistakes, and persecuted the church. Despite this,
he loved a lot, and persisted till he faced his martyrdom, and his many sins were forgiven;
because he did not spare his blood for the sake of Christ’s name.
St. Ambrosios
+ The woman did not get lost in the straight way; whereas the foolish Pharisee got lost, for he
said within himself ‘If he were a prophet, he would know who this woman who touched Him
was, that she was a sinful woman’. The Pharisee was therefore proud of himself, and admired
his own sect, weak in his mental abilities, and could not realise the real situation. He had to
tame his life, and ornament it with what is more sublime; he did not have to judge the sick
and the infirm, and condemn him of what he was innocent of. The Pharisee left all of this,
and clung to the margin of the adamant old law; he asked the Lord Jesus to obey the covenant
of Moses. This covenant commanded the saintly people to avoid the defiled and wicked ones.
God blamed all who were chosen as rulers of the Jewish synagogue, and who squandered his
rights by drawing close to the debased evil and despicable little things. It was mentioned by
one of the prophets that they do not distinguish between what is holy and what is despicable.
But Christ came not to subject us under the curse of the law, but rather to redeem the sinners
by His mercy that has surpassed the law; because the law (Gal.3: 19) “Was added because of
transgressions.” This is to make the entire world under God’s rule, because by the deeds of
the law every body is not justified before Him (Rom.3: 19) “that every mouth may be
stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Christ came to pay the debtor his debt, whether it be big or small. He came to have
mercy to all people, big or small; so that no one be deprived, however he may be, of sharing
in the correction Christ gives. The Lord gave us a clear example of His mercy in releasing
this sinful woman of her evil by telling her ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ These words can never
be said unless by God’s mouth alone; for it implies authority above any other authority. This
is because when the old law judged the sinner, then who could uplift himself above the level
of the law except it be Him who set it and commanded it? The Lord instantly released the
woman, and drew the attention of the Pharisee and those around the table to more lofty
matters. They learnt that Christ the Word is God, and therefore He is not one of the prophets.
He is above everyone, even though He has become flesh and of mankind.
Do not worry and despair if you feel the weight of your previous sins, because
Christ’s mercy is boundless. Even if your sin is great, yet Christ’s mercy is even greater.
With His grace the sinner is justified, and the bondsman is released. But know for sure that
the faith in Christ is what equips us for these redeeming blessings, because faith is the way of
life and grace. In it we go to the heavenly dwelling place where we inherit the kingdom of the
righteous saints, and become members in Christ’s kingdom.’
St. Cyril the great

We finally conclude our words about the sinful woman, that she has revealed the
depths of God’s tremendous love to mankind. As St. Irianus says, “As the physician is
recommended and spoken of by his patients, likewise is God declared by means of people.”
+ + +
 Chapter VIII
The Incessantly Active Friend

In the previous chapter we saw the Lord Jesus opening His heart to everyone to
embrace into His friendship the aliens and sinners. Now we can see Him being escorted by
many women who served Him with their own money, and He was not reluctant to accept this
(Luke8: 1-3). He has not only accepted the sinful woman and praised her before the Pharisee,
but He also sanctified the women’s gifts and capabilities as a live member in His holy body.
We can see Him in His friendship making no distinction between the men or women. He is
also not partial to biological relations according to the blood (Luke8: 19-21). He is asking for
everyone’s friendship, and working incessantly for the sake of the disturbed ones (Luke8: 22-
25), for the sake of the exiled and even the lunatics (Luke8: 26-39), cleansing the defiled
(Luke8: 43-48) and the raising of the dead.

1- His concern about the Women’s ministering 1- 3

2- His work as a Sower, the Parable of the Sower 4- 15
3- Granting the light 16- 18
4- Asking for everyone’s relation to Him 19- 21
5- The Calming Down of the Waves 22- 25
6- Healing the madman of the Gadarene 26- 39
7- The Healing of the Bleeding woman 43- 48
8- The Raising of Jaruis’ daughter 49- 56
+ + +

1- His Concern about the Women’s Ministering:

the evangelist says, (Luke8: 1,2) “And it came to pass afterward, that He went
throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the
kingdom of God: and the twelve were with Him, and certain women.”
The banquet of Simon the Pharisee pointed to the manifestation of the Lord Jesus
amidst His Jewish people, in the house of Simon, whereas His own people due to their
haughtiness, they rejected His friendship. The gentiles, represented by the sinful woman,
accepted this friendship, due to her love springing from a humble heart. The Lord then left
Capernaum to preach in the city and village with the twelve, as well as with some women. It
is as of He left the gentiles and went ahead to the entire world through His church, declaring
His kingdom.
At this point we have to stop a little to see that previously St. John the Baptist had
preached the drawing near of God’s kingdom. But the Lord Jesus has come into our midst
“The kingdom of heaven is inside you” (Luke17: 21).
He began His mission, and the twelve were with Him as well as some of the women.
St. Luke the evangelist stressed on this point saying (luke8: 2,3) “And certain women, who
had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went
seven devils. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steuord, and Susanna, and many others
who ministered unto Him of their substance.”
St. Luke the evangelist was writing to the Greeks, and he stressed on the Lord’s
concern about women. We notice the following regarding the above except:
Firstly: Those women escorting the Lord Jesus, was based on their working experience of
salvation. Mary Magdalene was saved from seven devils, and the others became blessed with
the sweetness of God’s Word. This company lasted for long, for these women kept following
the Lord till the moments of the cross. Some of them were ahead of the disciples at the burial
time, and their visiting to the Lord’s tomb. They have thus become preaches of the
resurrection. Those women were with the disciples in their worship, and were blessed with
the Pentecost as mentioned in the book of Acts.
At any rate, even though the Old Testament did not totally disregard the role of
woman, yet the New Testament exalted her status. It was said of this age (Joel2: 28) “And it
shall come to pass afterward that will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy.” The church looks upon girls and women as members in Christ’s
body, sharing men in their membership. Their hearts are an altar to the Lord, and a temple to
the Holy Spirit.
Secondly: Their service to all Lord was not temporal; the expression came as ‘were
ministering unto Him’ which means the work went on for sometime.
Thirdly: The Lord, the Creator, became impoverished for our sake so as to enrich us. He was
not mindful of being taken care of by the money of those women. This is tremendous love, to
accept being ministered to by human weak hands, whereas it was He who satisfied the souls
and the bodies.

2- His Work as a Sower; the Parable of the Sower:

As a real Friend, He compares Himself to the Sower, who never ceases to sow His
loving seeds in every soil for it may accept Him. It may sprout, grow and be fruitful with no
obstructions in yielding fruits of love that never stop. We have previously spoken of this
parable with some comments of a number of fathers in our study of St. Matthew’s gospel
(Matt13: 10) and (Mark 2: 4), I wish you revise it.
I find it enough at this point to stress the following points:
Firstly: Father Theophlectius says (the Bulgarian Patriarch 765- 840) that the Lord Jesus
spoke in parables so as to allure the listeners. People were used to being interested in
mysterious matters, and at the same time to keep the mystery going on to those unworthy
ones, that is, those disinterested in saving their souls.
Secondly: Our heavenly Friend did not come to condemn the people, but He came to sow
their hearts with excellent seeds. He is the sower who sows the seeds Himself. He Himself is
moreover the seeds that are sowed in the heart. He is not miserly in giving us Himself. He
does not offer us outer seeds as did the men of the Old Testament; He rather offered us
Himself even if we are a way filled with stones and thistles, for He loves everybody! Father
Theophlectius says, “The Son of God does not cease to sow the Word of God in our souls.
This is not only because He teaches us, but also because He creates the good seeds that are
sown in us.”
St. Gregory El Nazenzi assures us that the different kinds of soil mentioned in this
parable does not mean there are different natures among people that are not to be changed as
some heretics said, thinking that man is led according to his nature. This came as an
expression to what the Lord said “was given to you” (Luke8: 10) to declare the parable was
said to those who have will-power, and who are able to be blessed with the change in the
Lord.

3- He Grants the Light:

The Lord Jesus throws Himself in us as seeds working inside our heart, so as to show
the fruits of the Spirit in us. It is then that we shall be as light to others. He says (Luke8: 16,
17) “No man, when he hath lighted a candle covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a
bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they who enter in may see the light. For nothing is
secret that shall not be made manifest; niether any thing hid, that shall not be known and
come abroad.”
We have previously commented on these divine words in our interpretation (Matt. 5:
15) (Mark4: 21) and we find it enough here to point out the following:
Firstly: What is the fighted lantern other than the heart ablaze with the fire of the Holy
Spirit? It is this that we have obtained in the mysteries of baptism and the ‘mairoon’, the holy
ointment of the fiery Holy Spirit, that is able to make out of us servants to God, all kindled in
fire. The Lord has assured us “I have come to set fire”, and He has actually set fire to our
inner life. This will be ablaze in us if we respond to the Holy Spirit of God working in us. We
will be counted as bright and lighted lanterns. But if we are covered with a vessel, or put
under the bed instead of being set up on a candlestick, then we shall lose this light. This is
why the apostle says (1Thes.5: 19) “Quench not the Spirit.”
If the apostle has called the body a vessel carrying God’s power in it as an invaluable
treasure (2Cor.4: 7), then to hide the lantern inside the vessel means to isolate the Spirit’s
work through the physical lust, instead of sanctifying the body by the fire of the Spirit! In
other words, I wish we do not delete the work of the Spirit in us through the physical deeds.
Let us accept the sanctification of the body in all its potentials and senses by the fire of the
Spirit.
If the vessel represents the body, then the bed represent the life of dormancy and
sleep. There is nothing to ruin our spiritual life more than slothfulness and carelessness. In
other words, I wish we do not destroy the sanctified fire in us, by means of the bed of our
carelessness and slothfulness. Let us rather respond to it by means of watchfulness and
struggle.
As for the candlestick, this refers to the life of preaching and testimony to the Truth.
The Light in us is more ablaze during the spiritual ministering and witnessing to the Lord
crucified.
Secondly: What is this hidden that will be manifested, and the suppressed that will be
declared and be known, other than the life of Christ Himself that He offers as seeds in
ourselves, when it sprouts and grows as a tree of life that fills the heart with spiritual
heavenly fruits that cannot be hidden. The Lord Jesus is declared in us by means of our inner
life, such as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance (Gal.5: 22). These will be manifested in our apparent behavior and action. What
we accept and receive in our secret life and our personal worshiping, this is declared through
our conduct.
Thirdly: The Lord Jesus presents to us a basic principle in our spiritual life (Luke8: 18) “For
whosoever hath , to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be
taken even that which he seemeth to have.” We can call this principle ‘the dynamic
partnership with God in His Son’. This means if we are honest, we receive ‘the life of Christ
in us’ in honesty. For this life is not stagnant or slothful, it rather grows constantly in us.
When we have ‘the life in Christ’, He gives us the constant growth, for we might reach the
full stature of Christ’s. Christ grants us what is His, so we possess Him as Ours; as live seeds
that yield in us, and increase the fruits continuously. But he who has not, that is, he who does
not accept God’s work in him, then what he assumes to be his, such as natural talents and
hereditary blessings, even these things will be taken away from him!
In other words, our life in Christ is an incessant motion. Also evil is an incessant
motion. He who responds to the Lord, grows non-stop, and he who accepts evil, slopes down
in it boundlessly.

4- He Asks Everyone to draw closer to Him:

 The Lord Jesus, as a true Fiend, works constantly in us. The evangelist wished to
show the level of His friendship, and how it is not partial to any physical relation. He wants
everyone to be related to Him, members in the heavenly family. This why when His mother
and His brothers (His cousins) came to ask for Him, and could not reach Him because of the
crowds, He answered saying (Luke8: 21) “My mother and My brethren are those who
hear the Word of God and do it.”
The Lord Jesus did not mean to scorn family relations, but He loved His mother and
was concerned about her even till the last moments in His crucifixion. The Lord Jesus wants
to raise us to the level of being united with Him, not only through hearing the Word, but also
through carrying it out, (revise Interpretation of Matt. 12: 46, Mark3: 31).
+ He did not say this like someone who scorns his mother; but rather to declare her honor that
is based not only on her conception of Christ, but also for her being blessed with every virtue.
Father Theophlactius the Bulgarian Pope.
+ Cannot you see that on every occasion He never denied the biological relation? But He
added to it what is by means of the virtue.
St. John Chrysostom
+ It is appropriate for Him, being a Teacher, to present the Lord Himself as a model for
others. He commands, and carries out what he has commanded. He commands unless a man
leaves his father and his mother, then he is not worthy of having the Son of God (Matt. 10:
37, Luke14: 26). He wanted to be the first to submit to this commandment, and not to resist
the befitting honor given to a mother. He has previously said that he who does not honor
father or mother, he should die (Ex.20: 2, Deut.27: 6). He knew well He had to do to His
Father more than His feelings towards His mother. For the ties of the Spirit are of more
sanctification than any physical ties.
Those asking for Jesus should not have stood outside; because the Word is close to
you, in your mouth and in your heart (Deut.30:14; Rom.11: 8). You can hear the Word from
the inside, and the Light is also inside. This is why it is said (Ps.33: 8) “Let all the inhabitants
of the world stand in awe of Him.” If He does not know His family when they stand outside,
their how can He know us if we stand outside?
Christ was not too lofty for His mother here, for He knew her when He was on the
cross (John19: 26). He just wanted to discern the divine commandments from the physical
relations.
Christ refers to His family, that He will prefer the church that believed in Him more
than the Jews from whom Christ came according to the body.
St. Ambrosios

5- The Calming down of the Tempest:

Now that Christ has shown clearly His friendship that works non-stop, so that He
makes everyone enter into a family relation with Him through the listening and practicing of
His commandments, He began to show His power to work in us so as to fulfil His purpose in
us. In manifesting His authority over nature, He orders the tempest and the waters, so they
obey Him. He therefore declares His power in wording in us even if nature seems to resist
Him. He is of authority, coming into our hearts just as into the boat, so as to command the
inner winds to calm down, and the tempest to cease. He establishes His superb peace to the
mind inside our hearts, (revise Interpretation to Matt8: 23, Mark4: 35).
The evangelist says, (Luke8: 22) “Now it came to pass on a certain day that He
went into a ship will His disciples; and He said unto them ‘Let us go over unto the other
side of the lake’. And they launched forth.”
 When His relatives stood outside, He left the place and launched with His disciples in
a ship towards the other side of the lake. This is a symbolic picture of His divine work as
God, when the Jews insisted on not believing in Him. He launched with His disciples through
His church, or His cross which is the ship, to the Gentiles on the other side of the world lake.
Up till now the Lord Jesus is launching constantly through His minister in his church, in a
non-stop action, eager to renew the life of everyone.
(Luke8: 23) “But as they sailed He fell asleep; and there came down a storm of
wind on the lake.” This is the only time in which it is said that Christ fell asleep. This may
be because the evangelist wished to confirm His incarnation: that He ate, He drank, He fell
asleep, He suffered....etc. This word ‘slept’ could also refer to ‘rest’, because the Lord, when
He enters with His disciples into a ship, and He launches with them to the service, He finds
rest in them. It is not the sleep of laziness, but it is rather the rest concerning them. The word
‘slept’ here seems to be a symbol of the tempests waging against us so that the ship of our life
gets filled, whereas the Lord seems to be sleeping, and does not care about our perishing. He
is in control of everything, though, and all that happens is with His permission. His sleeping
means the delay of His appearance so as to suppress the ordeals. He leaves us to struggle with
His grace, until we cry out to Him, and with Him we overcome and are triumphant.
St. John Chrysostom thinks the Lord slept so as to give the opportunity to His
disciples to discover their fear, and His coming to their rescue. As for St. Augustine, he
thinks the Lord’s sleeping is a symbol of our sleep in faith inside us. It is with faith that the
Lord Jesus dwells in our hearts (Eph.3: 17). If this faith sleeps and cools, the waves rage
against us, and it is extremely urgent we cry out to wake Him up. That is, we recall His words
that have their impact on our life. As for St. Ambrosios, he comments on the Lord’s sleep
during the crossing over of the lake, saying, “No one could cross over this world without
Christ. Those people who have Christ with them, probably go through a lot of ordeals in
facing life’s troubles. Christ has dealt in this way with His disciples only to draw your
attention so you are aware that no one is able to launch from this world without being
obstructed by hardships, and thus he is exalted in his faith.
If we believe God has a purpose for these tempests, then let us wake up the pilot! If
even the commanders of the ship are exposed to danger, then to whom do we resort other
than to Him who is not controlled by the storms. It is rather He who commands them, it is He
about whom it is written He rose and rebuked the winds!
He was asleep physically, yet in His divinity He was taking care of them.
Everyone was afraid, and it was only He who was sleeping undisturbingly. He not
only shares us our nature, but He is also with us amid the danger, even if He is sleeping
physically, for He works by His divine and godly nature.
They were blameworthy, for He told them (Matt.8: 26; 14: 31) “O you of little faith,
because thy were sore afraid though Jesus was with them. They were not aware that he who is
firm in Him will never perish.
The Lord made firm their faith, and brought back their peace by ordering the tempest
to cease. This is the wind to which the Archangel Michael said “The Lord rebuke thee”
(Jude9).
May the Lord rebuke in us these roaring tempests; so do not fear any drowning, and
may our confused life be calmed down!
If the Lord is not sleeping now, yet I wish we be watchful lest we see Him sleeping in
us, when our bodies fall into the sudden sleep.

6- The Healing of the Gadarene Lunatic:

 We have spoken of the comments said by the church fathers about the healing of the
Gadarene lunatic (interpretation Matt.8: 28; Mark5: 1). We wish to confirm at this point how
the evangelist St. Luke portrays the character of the Savior as a Friend who works
continuously. He works for the sake of one or two people, even though they might be
lunatics, rejected, and living in the tombs. Also, even if His work with them destroys
thousands of swine, or would cause Him to be driven out of the city. It is in this way that the
Lord Jesus evaluates the human soul, and gives it great esteem. He works in the soul,
however much this cost might be! He is ready to regain it on account of His creation, and on
account of many favours done to Him.
Who is this madman who has been naked, with no clothing at all, for such a long
time? Who is he who has no home to live in, but rather lives in the graves? Who is he who is
chained, and is unable to work or think? He represents the humanity that has stayed such a
long time subdued and enslaved to the adversary. It has been chained with the bonds of sin
and evil, and is unable to work for the account of God’s kingdom for its construction, and
neither can it think of what is heavenly! It has been out of the city, out of the paradise
established for its sake, homeless, since it has deprived itself of dwelling with God in His real
holy place. This soul has unclothed itself of the divine grace, harming itself with its own
hands, running towards the wilderness, since it cannot stand love and partnership with God
and people.
St. Ambrosios comments on this man, saying:
“The naked one is he who has lost his first nature and his goodness.”
The man who has the devil refers to the Gentiles who are covered with their vice and
are naked by means of their ignorance, and whose clothes have been taken off due to their
sins.
St. Matthew made sure it is mentioned that he lived among the graves, because these
souls seem as if they dwell in the graves. For the unbelievers’ bodies are only a kind of grave
where the dead souls are buried, because the word of God does not dwell these.
He rushed to the deserted places, that is, to the places which lack the righteousness of
the Spirit. These souls have avoided the law and got separated from the prophets, and thus
they got rejected by grace.
If was not only one devil that tortured him, but rather legions of them that attacked
him.
It is in such a way that humanity has become not only a toy in Satan’s hand, but in
the hands of many devils as well. These devils play with the soul, trade in it so as to degrade
it. The Lord went out to release it from this adversary. He wanted to give it back the royal
robe, and the divine house, and grant it mentality and wisdom, and bless it with the
partnership of the Lord.
What is amazing is that the enemy once he realises man’s salvation at the Lord’s
hands, he counts this salvation as perdition to him. The enemy finds his pleasure in our
misery, and his torture in our salvation. Satan has said, (Luke8: 28) “I beseech Thee,
torment me not.” He might have realised that on the fulfillment of the salvation work, he
falls under the condemnation, since his cup would be filled.
At any rate, Satan’s apparent cruel violence on that man was very obvious before his
being healed, and also on the herd of swine that perished on the spot. But before the Lord, he
was weak indee, unable to go into even one of the swines. As St. John Chrysostom says,
‘unless the Lord allows him to.’
I wish we would not be like swine in our spiritual life, wallowing in the filth of sin,
lest the adversary drift us and slides with us into the abyss, and all of us drown and perish.
Finally, when the man asked the Lord to accompany Him to be anudst the multitudes,
He told him (Luke8: 39) “Return to thine own house, and show how great things god
hath done unto thee.” As St. John Chrysostom says “Let us withdraw from all worldly
matters, and devote ourselves to Christ. Then we shall be counted as equal to the apostles
according to His words, and thus enjoy the eternal life”. In other words, I wish we are not
attracted with outwardly appearances, but would rather withdraw to our new home, which is
‘our life in Christ’. We shall exercise our right in worship and witness, and thus Christ will be
glorified in us, and His deeds will be manifested as light shining in this world.

7- The Healing of the Bleeding Woman:

We have previously mentioned this woman (Interpret of Matt.9: 18; Mark5: 22). But
we wish to make clear here that the healing of this infirm woman came on the way between
Jaruis’ meeting with the Lord, and the raising of Jaruis’ daughter, as the Lord was on His way
to Jaruis’ house. This was fulfilled for a certain purpose; this is for the fact that Jaruis, though
he was a ruler of the synagogue, yet his faith was weaker than that of the centurion. The
former asked the Lord to come to his house so as to heal his daughter who was on the verge
of death. As for the latter, he believed the Lord was able to heal his boy with only a word,
and that there was no need for the Lord’s coming up to his house. He also thought he was not
worthy the Lord enters his house.
Jaruis’ heart was very disturbed, and the moments fleeted by as long years. He was
eager the Lord hastens so as to save his daughter lest she dies. He did not yet believe the Lord
was able to raise her from the dead. Who can express the emotions of Jaruis when the Lord
Jesus stopped the whole procession and say, “Who touched Me?” whereas Jaruis was trying
to be as quick as possible? At any sat, the Lord gave this ruler a lesson in faith; how this
unknown woman usurped power by means of her touching the hem of His cloak. She
obtained what none of the crowds was able to obtain. The Lord showed Jaruis the possibility
of being blessed with the Messaiah’s work and His power.
The Lord may have wished to offer Jaruis as well as the multitudes, on His way to
Jaruis’ house, the ruler of the synagogue, a lesson in ‘His active and working friendship’.
This lesson is, that though He is concerned about the ruler of the synagogue, yet He does not
forget the unknown women, defiled according to the law. The Lord works for the account,
and for the sake of everyone.
We said He is the real Friend who works continuously. He works for the account of
the ruler of the synagogue who came entreating Him for his daughter’s sake. He also works
for the sake of and unknown woman. He works openly by going to Jaruis’ house, and He
works secretly, for He say that power has gone out of Him! On the other hand, He wished to
assure us there is no specific time for work, but that rather all of His time is for work. He
heals and grants health and power on the way to raise a daughter.
This woman has lost all her hope in human effort. She has spent all that she had on
physicians. But she did not lose her faith in the savior. She touched Him and she thus
obtained what none of the crowds has been able to obtain. This is why the Lord wished to be
glorified in her, and He declared of the power that went out of Him. But as for the woman,
she came in hear (Luke8: 47) carrying her fear of God in her. She worshiped Him, because
she knelt in her fear, and testified of the truth; for she made known before everyone the cause
for her touching Him, and how she was healed instantly.
The Lord did not want to question her; He rather praised her, and thus she has come to
represent the church that embodies the fear of God, and the one to worship in truth, the
witness to the fear of God, and the one to worship in truth, the witness to the deeds of her
Christ.
Before this scene that touched everyone, the greatest Friend overpowered her with His
love, for He said to her (luke8: 48) “Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made
thee whole, go in peace.” She believed; and He increased her faith all the more by His words
‘be of good comfort’. Faith is the gift of God for whoever asks for it, and the growth in faith
is a gift to whoever practices the faith. He grants us the faith if we ask Him, and He increases
our faith if we kindle what He has given us.
He granted her the growth in faith, and He declared the gift of filiation by His word
‘Daughter’. This is the gift that surpasses all others, or any other talent.
She believed and she obtained, and so she praised Him with her faith. He, too, praised
her by saying ‘Your faith bath made thee whole’.
Finally, He gave her, the gift of peace, spiritually and emotionally ‘Go in peace’.
How amazing! As a Friend, He was concerned about her body, and so He healed her.
He was also concerned about her soul, and so He gave her peace; for her spirit as well, for He
made her a daughter to Him, that shares Him His heavenly glories.

8- The Raising of Jaruis’ Daughter:

Jaruis saw this sight; he might have become filled with faith after he had been
confused at the beginning for he feared the Lord’s delay. The woman with the infirmity has
thus become a teacher to the synagogue ruler in his path of faith.
The Lord, moreover, wished to increase Jaruis’ faith all the more, and He allowed a
more bitter ordeal to happen to him; for one of his household came to say, (luke8: 49) “Thy
daughter is dead, trouble not the Master’. Before Jaruis had time to say anything, he heard the
Master say (Luke8: 50) “Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
We have previously discussed the raising of Jaruis daughter (Interpretation of Matt.9;
Mark5).
+ + +
 Page 301
Chapter 9
Our Heavenly Friend and
The Disciples

We have seen our Lord Jesus the loving Friend to all mankind,
working unceasingly so we receive His friendship to us and in us.
This chapter offers us the purpose of this friendship, which is His
manifestation in His believers and in His ministers so as to
declare His heavenly nature in our life.
He has become impoverished for our sake, and has experienced
the suffering of ours so as to carry us to His riches and heavenly
glory.
The Lord didn’t offer His manifestation all at once, but when
He chose the twelve disciples, He was manifested in their life bit
by bit; this is to declare the dominion of His kingdom by means
of sending them without any temporal provision, but yet they
were carrying His authority in the healing of souls and bodies.
He granted them to touch His manifestation and His heavenly
capabilities by means of seeing Herods fear of Him from afar, He
fed the hungry multitudes, and the Father’s declaration of His
personality to Sunion Peter, Finally after speaking to them of the
cross, He look with Him three of His disciples who witnessed
with their own eyes His transfiguration on Mount Tabor. After
this visible transfiguration, He feared their pride, and so He told
them of the commitment to the cross, and to conduct themselves
in a modest spirit, together with the serving of others throughout
the narrow road.

1- The Sending of the Disciples 1-6

2- Herod’s Confusion 7-9
3- The Disciples and the feeding of the multitudes 10-
18
4- The Disciples knowing His personality 19-
21
5- The Disciples and the Cross 22-
27
6- The Disciples and the Transfiguration Glory 28-
36
7- The Disciples and their Casting out of Evil Sprits 37-
43
8- The Disciples and the Heavenly over of the Son of Man 44-
45
9- The Disciples and humility 46-
48
10-The Disciples and Serving others 49-
50
11-The Disciples and the fire from above 51-
56
12-The Conditions for being a Disciple to the Lord 57-62

1- The sending of the Disciples

We have previously discussed this mission in the
interpretation of St. Mathew’s gospel (10:1), Mark’s gospel (6:7).
We find it enough here to point out the Lord Jesus as a heavenly
Friend who cause down to our earth and dwelt among us. He
chose His disciples from among the illiterate people, and He was
transfigured and glorified in them, declaring himself through His
capabilities, which He offered them, these capabilities are:
Firstly: “them He called His twelve disciples”: This call an
invitation is divine for disciples. It doesn’t imply any obligator to
be accepted forcibly.
It is merely an offer of love from God towards His loved ones.
But in the eyes of those who accepted it, it represents an agent
who works in the name of his Master, for His account and using
His capabilities, by means of this call, the disciples accepted a
new position, which is the agency, and works as agents to God’s
mysteries.
Secondly: (Luke 9:1) “and gave them power and authority
over all devils, and to cure diseases”. Since He appointed them as
agents to His mysteries, He wasn’t miserly in granting them His
power and authority over all devils, as well as curing diseases.
Many have authority by means of their positions, such as kings or
governors or prestigious people pr judges. Yet they possess no
power visible them, as a result they disrepute their positions as
well as degrade themselves, but as for the Lord Jesus, He gave
them authority together with power. This power is not based on
apparent temporal means, but it is “His Holy Spirit “ who dwells
in their and works by their means.
Satan has claimed power for himself, supported in this by the
human weakness that bent before him so he reigns over it.
Satan was thus called “the ruler of this world”. He also
claimed to have strength, and thus was called ‘the strong one”.
But his authority was based on his deception to people, and his
strength was by means misleading and deviation. It was necessary
for the disciples to cope with this enemy, to possess the authority
supported by God’s power.
Thirdly: (Luke 9:2) “and He sent them to preach the kingdom
of God, and to heal the sick”.
This ability is “the power of preaching the kingdom”. This is
not philosophical discussion, neither is it a virtuous conduct only;
it is the gratification of the kingdom inside the soul. In other
words, the apostolic preaching is a gift offered by the Holy Spirit
when He transfers the soul from darkness to the kingdom of light,
so as to be blessed by means of the baptism water by the filiations
to God, and the changing of the inner site to a sanctified heaven
to the Lord.
Fourthly: (Luke 9:3) “and He said unto them, “Take nothing
for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither
money, neither have two coals apiece”. He is asking His disciples
to leave and to give up yet not to live in deprivation, but to wake
the Lord Himself all in all. What is amazing is that He offered
them the power and the authority, and He granted them the power
of preaching, and healing before asking them to give up anything.
They were to take Him with all His dominion and power, and thus
reject the earthly matters with all its trifles.
He asked them not to carry anything, neither staves, not scrip,
not bread, not money, and not to have two coals apiece, this is a
commandment appropriate to him who enters the sepulcher or a
holy place of God’s. He is not carries anything with him of this
world, so he would not be confused or preoccupied with anything
other than God. This is appropriate to the disciple to have their
enters life as if it is to be existent with God in His holy place.
They are to feel constantly, whenever they may be, as if they are
in God’s holy place.
May God grant us this feeling that fills the heart with the fear
of God, and raised the soul so as to live as if dwelling in heaven?
The soul should not be disturbed in carrying life problems, and
wouldn’t be in need of a stave, or food, or money, and wouldn’t
ask for two cloaks.
Fifthly: (Luke 9:4) “and whatsoever house ye enter into, there
abide, and thence depart”. The Lord also granted them the gift of
membership with each other in one body. When the apostle finds
the believers’ homes open to him as they were his own, he then
stays at any of their homes without any hospitality favours. He is
to live as one of the family members, sharing them their normal
daily food, and he is to stay there till he leaves the town.
This commandment is also offered to the minister or servant
to be committed to his job seriously. He is not to make use of
people’s love to him in Christ, and thus change it to favours. In
that cose his life would be changed to banquets in instead of
concentrating on spreading God’s word and preaching His gospel.
 When you don’t keep moving from house to house, this
takes away from families the spirit of rivalry in hospitality. This
is a well-known trait in the East p till this day.
Finally, the Lord may have wished this hoe the seed for
establishing a church in the town, when the believers would be
used to meeting the apostles there. There, they practice
worshiping the mystery of partnership, or the Eucharist or the first
day of the week. In this way, if the first house is opened for
apostle, that house will obtain the blessing, as a combast, (Luke
9:5) “And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that
city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against
them”.
It is in this way that barnabas(page 04) and soul did when
they left Antioch (Acts 12:51). The Lord may have meant by this
that the earthly temporal matters, however lofty they may be, yet
they are like dust that has no place except the feet. When the
people reject the spiritual word from him, the servant
kbewise(page #305) rejects from them even the most trivial
temporal matters. The church doesn’t ask for money, it rather
sweeps it away as dust from her feet. The church only asks for the
souls! The church has come to be strict with the bishops and
priests not to accept gifts from the unrepentant wicked ones. It is
as if the church sweeps away the dust from their doorstep as a
testimony against them so they would repent!
St. Ambrosius thimbles this dust refers to the drawbacks that
are appropriate for the shepherded to carry for God’s people, as
the apostle say (2 Cor 11:9) “For that which was lacking to
me…the brethren supplied”. He should not allow the weakness to
cling to him, but should rather throw them under his feet, for he
say “It is the duty of him who preaches the gospel to take upon
himself the physical weakness of the believers, and he has to
carry them for away, and crush them under his feet. These are idle
deeds that are similar to the dust”.
 2- Herod’s Disturbance and Confusion
If the Lord has grouted His disciples the heavenly
capabilities to work for the amount of their heavenly Friend, it is
because He wished to reveal to them step by step His dominion
and power. Here the evangelist St. Luke narrates to us how
Herod got disturbed on hearing the news about the Lord Jews and
His deeds. This did not end with his disturbance only his thoughts
and outlooks also changed, because he was a Sadducee who
didn’t believe in the resurrection from the dead. But due to the
current events he said (Luke 9:9) “John have I beheaded; but who
is this of whom I hear such things?”. He began to doubt the
matter, and think what people might say: is it John, or Elijah, or
one of the old prophets that has risen? His conscience was roused
in him. He didn’t attribute John’s death to Herodias” deception,
or to her daughter, or to the swordsman, but it was to himself that
the responsibility of John’s killing was attributed. He said: “I
have beheaded him”, and he was eager to see Jesus.
This has been fulfilled when Herod heard of the deeds of the Lord
Jesus without anyone speaking to Herod blaming him with a
single word.
Neither did anyone herald him with the joyful news.
We can also say that St. John the Baptists’ voice, the
forerunner of the Lord preparing the way before Him, this voice
has not suppressed even after his death. It actually kept terrifying
Herod’s heart, so how much more would the word of Christ
Himself, and its being preaching by Him through His disciples? It
is only a word that is unbounded- as St. Paul the apostle say.

3- The Disciples and the Feeding of the Multitudes

The disciples obtained the incitation and were blessed by
strength and authority, they saw with their own eyes, and heard
with their own ears that Herod was experiencing great
disturbance.
Now the Lord was declaring to that He is the one to feed the
hungry multitudes for a long time.
We have previously spoken of the feeding of the multitudes (Matt
14, Mark 6), thus we think it enough to point our the following:
Firstly: The Lord wished to be all by Himself with the disciples
in the cit of Sidon. But when the multitudes heard of it, they
followed Him. He therefore, accepted them, this word originally
meant He welcomed them warmly. The disciples were in need of
the Lord being alone with them. But even this meeting of
singleness, was for the people’s sake, because the Lord came to
meet them, warmly and happily. His rest as well as the disciples
rest was in making the weary restful, and the feeding of the
hungry souls.
Secondly: This miracle happened after the selection of the
disciples and their mission, so as to declare the purpose of the
mission, which was to feed the hungry humanity.
St. Ambrosios commits on the site of this miracle among the
events happening at that time, saying “What is the reason for the
evangelist to meation the death of St. John the Baptist? Because
Herod points to his death (Luke 9:9)? This may be because of the
gospel that deeds the hungry multitudes began with the end of the
old law. He has offered the food after the healing of the woman
bleeding with the infirmity, as the church symbol, and after
sending the apostles for preaching God’s kingdom.
Contemplate on who were the ones to be blessed with the
banquet? The slothful, on those living in the city, as the ones in
the synagogue or those asking for the world dignitaries, those
blessed with it are they who seek Christ in the wilderness. These
are accepted by Christ, and the Word of God speaks to them, not
about the world, but rather about the kingdom of heaven. If some
of them are covered by physical bruises, then the Lord Jesus gives
them the medicine.
God has provided to save from these ones He has healed of
their painful wounds. He gives them the spiritual food, since no
one could be blessed with the heavenly banquet have been healed
first. He who was crippled obtained the strength to walk so as to
come to the Lord, and he who was deprived of his eyesight didn’t
enter the Lord’s house, except after he has regceined his vision. In
this way the Lord works us a sanctified good provision at all
times, for He gives first the forgiveness of sins, and the medicine
for the wounds, then the preparation for the heavenly banquet.
The hungry hearts for the firm faith is not satisfied except it is
by the body and blood of Christ.
Thirdly: The evangelist says, (Luke 9:11) “and healed them
that had need of healing”, for not all those who were sick were
healed.
It is only those who felt they were in need of healing, and thus
asked for the physician so as to be healed. Our physician is
generous and is able to heal, but He doesn’t grant His gift except
it be to those who asked Him. These ones feel their need of Him,
so they don’t take lightly the gift given them, and scow it.
You might ask, “I don’t feel my own sickness, so what should I
do?” Do what the multitudes did by following Him so as to hear
Him. You will then hunger for Him, and you feel the need of
being fed, it is at this point that even if you don’t ask if Him, the
disciples will do so.
The Lord Himself will be responsible for satisfying their needs.
We are in need of sitting with them, and hearing His voice by
mans of His gospel, and thus we will feel the need of being
healed and satisfied. St. Ambrosios say, “When man begins to
listen, he feels hungry, the disciples see his hunger, and though
they don’t fulfill his needs, but it is Christ who satisfies him.
 Fourthly: out of human emotion, the disciples asked the Lord
(Luke 9:12) “Send the multitude away that they many go into the
towns and country round about, and lodge and get victuals: for we
are here in a desert place”. The disciples’ feelings were merely
human, and their calculation was also human, for they thought the
situation needed a lot of money to purchase food for the
multitude. As St. Ambrosios said “They have not yet understood
that the food for believers is not sold. But as for Christ, He know
He has to fulfill the redemption for as, and that banquet is a free
one”.
Fifthly: St. Ambrosios comments on the food the Lord
offers us so we don’t faint on the way, and don’t reach the Father.
He declares that the Lord’s food is strong and is of support to
those on the way. If few faint, then the cause is because of us. In
our carelessness we squander the strength that He has given us.
Elijah was able to walk for forty day, supported by the on meal
given him by the angle. He didn’t faint as happened previously,
and how he fainted on the way. As for Christ’s meal, this supports
us all the deep of our life.
Finally: we have previously studied the symbolic concepts of
men who were satisfied. These were 5000 men, and the few
loanes and two fishes … etc. But what we wish to make clear
here, is hat the disciples when they received the blessing from the
hands of the Savior, this didn’t only feed everyone, but what
remained were twelve baskets full of fragments. To each of them
then is a basket, as a practical evidence of God’s deed to them.
When the believers offer others, they get satisfied, and their hands
are filled with the Lord’s blessings. This means that the giving
increases the Lord’s blessings in our life.

4- The Disciples and their coming to know Him

 (Luke 9:18) “And it came to pass, as He was alone praying His
disciples were with Him; and He asked them saying, “whom say
the people that I am?”
When the multitudes met Him and He talked with them, and
healed their wounds, and after He had offered them food to
satisfy them, He went with His disciples in solitude. They might
realize His unique relation with His Father when they saw Him
pray.
He prayed and they were with Him, so as to teach them that
prayer is the way to be blessed with the mysteries of the Father
and the Son. This is why the question followed next “Whom say
the people that I am? “So He would ask them “and you, whom do
you say that I am?”
With the multitudes we are blessed His amazing deeds, and
are satisfied and quenched. He also wishes us to encounter Him in
solitude so as to be blessed with His godly mysteries, because He
wants to introduce Himself personally to us. We could then say
with St. Peter the apostle “Christ the God” as St. Ambrosios say
“This name implies everything, and express His nature, and
contains all righteousness”.
We have previously spoken of these words in details
(interpretation of St. Matt 16:13, St. Mark 8:27) in addition to the
fathers’ comments on them.

5-The Disciples and the Cross

On St. Peter the apostle’s declaration of his faith in the Lord
Jesus, He rebuked them and commanded them not to tell this to
anyone (Luke 9:21), (Luke 9:22) “Saying, ‘the Son of man
must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief
priests and Serileis, and be slain, and be raised to third day”.
It is clear that the purpose of this commandment to His
disciples is to delay the proclamation of His identity until the
events of the cross and the resurrection take place, because (1
Cor 2:8) “for had they known it, they would not have crucified
the Lord of glory. “He didn’t want to hinder at the time He
wanted to declare Himself to His disciples so they wouldn’t be
offered by His crucifixion, He still wished them to be silent
about it and not to declare His identity until the crucifixion is
fulfilled.
Actually, the revelation of Himself has been blended with
the Cross. There is no value for the Cross sacrifice unless the
crucified one is declared as being the Son of God, the only
Begotten, and His sanctified Christ. We can never be blessed
with the Messiah as being the Son of God, and be graced with
Him, away from the Cross.
It the Lord Jesus is the heavenly Friend, then He has come
to carry us in His love to His Cross. It is there that we will all
the more come to know Him, receive Him, be firm in Him as
members of His body, and go with Him into His Father’s
embrace.
In addition to this, we can’t recognize His cross unless we
carry it with Him as a daily test of righteousness. This is why
His words about His crucifixion blended with His words about
our own daily crucifixion with Him, or caring His Cross, and
being blessed in sharing His suffering.
The evangelist goes or to say (Luke 9:32) “And He said to
them all ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me’”.
He reveals Himself so we are not offended in His Cross.
He attracts us to His Cross so we bend with Him in sharing His
suffering joyfully every day, and thus be considered worthy of
sharing His glories. This is the heart’s aspiration of every
apostle and every believer (Phil 3:10) “That I may know Him,
and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
suffering, being made conformable unto His death”.
 St. Jerome says, “His Cross the column of humanity.
When I say the ‘Cross’ I don’t think of he wooden tree, but of
the pain and suffering. This cross is found in Britain, in India,
and in all the universes. And you, if you are not willing to carry
the Cross-as the case is with Christ, them you can never be His
disciple. Blessed is the man who carries in his heart the cross
and the resurrection, and thus he will be the site of Christ’s
birth and His resurrection! Blessed is he who has Bethlehem in
his heart, and thus Christ will be born in Him everyday. Christ
is crucified in us everyday, and we are crucified for the world.
Blessed is he in whom Christ rises everyday, for He rises if the
sinner repeats of his sins, even the most trivial ones”.
The Cross doesn’t wreck our life so long as we carry it
with Christ, the One who overcomes death, in other words, as
long as Christ who dwells in us carries it. Away form Christ,
the Cross-is a wreck to the soul; but in Christ it is the way of
salvation and the resurrection. This is why the Lord Jesus say
(Luke 9:24) “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but
whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save
it”. This means that he who wants to save his life, that is, to
glorify it by its eternal resurrection, then he has to make it
perish by its carrying the Cross with its Savior. For through the
Cross-carries the image of perdition from the outside, yet it is if
heat grants the salvation.
This divine expression has withdrawn the thoughts of many
people of modern education, in their researches in child-
upbringing. It revealed to them the concept of the true parental
love.
For no one could save his children unless or their ego in their
own children. They wish to from their children according to
their own whims and tendencies and aspirations, and not
according to their children’s thoughts, their gifts and potentials.
Actually, they are imprisoning their children in the ‘ego’ jail
that is quite difficult for the parents to release them from it. But
we are able to say that when we are crucified with Christ, we
deny and renounce ourselves. This is to live as living members
in Christ’s body. It is here that we don’t put in jail our own
children in the ‘ego’ but we rather feel them as persons and
members with us in the same body.
They have their independent personalities, their talents, their
abilities, their potentials, all kindled by the Holy Spirit of God
Himself. But as for us, we serve them; instruct them in true
love with us selfishness whatsoever.
Therefore, the cross is he mystery in the life if every
member in his personal life, and in his family relations, in the
church and social relations as well. He lives a life of giving in
the Lord, asking nothing for himself, and yet he receives
everything. As much as he denounces himself, his soul grows
in love for heaven as well as for earth; this is why St.
Augestine confirms we have to let ourselves perish so as to
gain ourselves.
For another time he speaks to us of the Cross-in a different
manner, saying (Luke 9:25) “For what is a man advantaged, if
he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”
here he doesn’t mean by ‘the world’ its inhabitants, but rather
the issues of this world materialistically and emotionally. As
St. Augentine says when man lives in a selfish spirit and
focuses on himself alone, he seizes the world opportunities for
his own account. He wants the entire world to submit to his
own pleasures, and work for his wealth account or his honor or
his physical pleasure. He then loses his love for himself,
because he destroys it. But he who accepts the crucifixion with
Christ because he denounces himself, and he goes out of the
ego circle so as to die in love for the sake of others, his heart
accepts to tolerate and serve everyone, then he gains everything
for himself! Let us die so as to live! Let us be buried with the
seeds, and then we shall yield thirty, sixty and hundred fold!
The errors in gain and not as a loss, as long as it represents a
partnership with the crucified.
In this way the Lord Jesus speaks of own crucifixion with
Him, a matter that is difficult for the ordinary man to accept.
This is why he says (Luke 9:26) “For whosoever shall be
ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of Man
be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and His
Father’s, and of the holy angels”. As the scholar Tritilian say,
“I shall be in safety if I’m not ashamed of my Lord. The Son of
God has been crucified: I’m not ashamed even if people are
ashamed of Him. The Son of God has died, and I believe in this
in every way”. To be ashamed of the Lord Jesus and His Cross,
could be with words as well as with deeds. He who doesn’t
carry the qualities of the Lord Jesus and conducts himself in
His Spirit, and accepts His suffering, this one would be
ashamed of Him and of His Cross.
In this way we are urged to accept the Lord Jesus, the
crucified, in our daily life so we experience His glories, and be
counted with Him as God’s heirs, honored before the heavenly
host. This experience of the glories which we reach through the
Cross, is not an eternal experience or a final one that we taste
of only in the world to come, but it is a live experience that we
are blessed with as an earnest now. For this reason the Lord
concludes His words about the sufferings that grant the glories,
saying (Luke 9:27) “But I tell you of a truth, there is some
standing here, who will not taste of death, till they see the
kingdom of God”.
The Lord may have meant, by saying these words, the
three disciples He took to mount Tabor to witness His glory in
the moments of His transfiguration, because the discussion
about the transfiguration come after saying these words
directly. He also may have meant the disciples who saw the
kingdom of God declared among the Gentile people.
St. Ambrosios, though, thinks those people are the believers,
some of whom witnessed the heavens, such as our teacher St.
Paul the apostle. We even moreover say this divine promise of
God touches the life of each and every one of us when God’s
kingdom is transfigured inside the soul, sweeping away its
death and its corruption, and giving it heavenly beauty in the
Lord.
Some Christians, of Jewish origin, think these words refer
to the Jews who remain loft in this would till the kingdom of
God is declared to them at the end of the ages, by their return
from their rejection of Christ.
(Revise also interpolation of St. Matthew 16:18, St. Mark 9:1).

6- The Disciples and the glory of the Transfiguration:

We can say, with no exaggeration, that the aim of the
gospel is our being blessed with the Lord’s transfiguration in
His church, and in every church member, that is, in the depths
of our souls. This is to make us prepared in declaring His
perfect glory in the great days of the Lord. If the Cross, the
resurrection and the ascension refer to one perfect work that
centralize on our faith, then the Lord Jesus in His crucifixion
and His ascension, He wishes to give us the spiritual vision to
witness Him transfigured in us. We shall thereby experience
Him amidst our suffering, as crucified in our place. He offers
us the overwhelming joy of His resurrection and the glory of
His heavens in our innermost depths.
In other words, when we struggle, it is only to declare
through faith, Jesus Christ being transfigured in us, so we see
Him face to face transfigured in fully perfect glory in the great
day of the Lord.
 We have previously discussed the transfiguration
(interpret. St. Matt 17, St. Mark 9) quit elaborately, in addition
to our fathers’ comments on this topic. We think it enough to
mention at this point the comment of St. Ambrosios, who say,
“St. Peter and those with him saw this awesome blessing ever
through they were so sleepy, because the immeasurable glory
of God crushes us. If the sunbeams are impossible for the
human eye to be looked at in focus, then how can the physical
body be able to see the glory of God? This is why in the
resurrection; the body puts on a more pure and delicate form,
getting free from its drawbacks.
This is why St. Peter wished to be blessed with the resurrection
picture after this rest of heavy sleep. When they woke up, they
saw His awesome glory. It is appropriate for us, lebarise(Page
#314 line#29) , to get up and see the awesomeness of Christ,
St. Peter was overwhelmed because for all the attraction of that
age, it could not divert him from the magic of the resurrection.
This is why he said, “It is good for us, Lord, to be here”, (Phil
1:23) “Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which
is for better”.
In the transfiguration, we notice the following:
Firstly: Due to the unimportance of the transfiguration, the
three evangelists St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke spoke
elaborately of it. But as for St. John, he spoke of it very briefly
but is assurance and strength, for he says (John 1:14) “We
beheld His glory”. The transfiguration may not have left St.
Peter’s mind and heart all his preaching days, thinking that the
transfiguration is an honest and truthful landmark in the
Messiah’s message. He liked the transfiguration with the
powerful glory of Christ and His coming, for he says (2 Pet
1:26-18), “For we haven’t followed cunningly devised fables,
when we made known unto you the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For
He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there
comes such a voice to Him from the excellent glory. This is my
beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased. And this voice which
came from heave we heard, when we were with Him in the
holy mount”.
Secondly: The transfiguration happened on the eighth day after
the Lord spoke with His disciple about to crucifixion, but until
the moments of the transfiguration Moses and Elijah were
speaking with Him about (Luke 9:31) “His decease which he
should accomplish at Jerusalem”. It is as if the Lord’s
transfiguration in us, or our being blessed with the partnership
of His overwhelming glory in us, is the fruit of own accepting
His Cross in our life. The subject of the Cross-, then, remains
our concern even in the midst of His transfiguration glories. In
other words, we shall not be blessed with the Lord’s
transfiguration in us in this world, and neither the manifestation
of His glory to us on the last day, unless we accept the
commandment of being crucified with Him. And when we are
blessed with His transfiguration hue and there, then the Cross
remains our joyful subject, and our everlasting praise. Thus the
Cross-is blended with the glory, and the glory manifests and
declares the power of the Cross-and His godly mystery.
Thirdly: The church lays a lot of stress on the transfiguration,
and so if celebrates it as a major feast for the Lord, since it is a
true witness to His unseen godliness under the cover of the
body. The lord has declared it to some of His disciples as much
as they could stand. This is to make them realize how much the
church will be blessed in eternity in an unutterable and
tremendous way.
In this transfiguration, we can see what the Lord gives us
as a gift when He changes our bodies of dust to a spiritual
body. He raises us from our corruption to incorruption by
means of our unity with Him, and our being blessed in His
eternal inheritance.
As the apostle says “He will change our humble bodies to be in
the uniage of His glorified body”. But the Lord’s
transfiguration is a declaration of His reality that is hidden
from us due to our weakness. He offers this to us as much as
we could stand. As for our own glory, this is a free gift that He
gives.
Fourthly: the evangelist says (Luke 9:29) “And as He prayed,
the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment
was white and glistering”. As we mentioned earlier, St. Luke’s
gospel is the gospel of prayer. But the prayer of the Lord Jesus
is the speaking in partnership with the Father, the One with
Him in godliness, and it is not the words of Him whom God
has adopted as a gift. At any rate, our Lord Jesus carries us
with Him on the mount. In our place, He also prayed. Even if
wish to change our form, and he blessed with the Lord’s
transfiguration in our depths, we have to go up the mount with
Him to pray; since then is no other way for the transfiguration
except by prayer.

7-The Disciples and the Casting Our of the Evil Spirit:

The Lord Jesus took with Him three of His disciples to
the holy mount to proclaim to their His nature as a heavenly
Friend, witnessed and testified of by the Father Himself that He
is the Only Son in whom He is well pleased. In Him the
prophecies are fulfilled and the old law has come true. This is
why Moses and Elijah were overwhelmed at His coming, and
spoke of His, and spoke of His crucifixion or His going out.
Those who struggle rejoice, and ask to stay with Him on the
mount forever; and those who have departed rejoice, such as
Moses. It is a matter of peace on earth and in heaven, and their
being reconciled together by His blood.
For He has come down to the plains to be transfigured in a
different way, through His divine work of casting out the evil
spirits that have ruined man’s life. He has come down to carry
mankind to His transfiguration and in being blessed by His
glories; but this will not be fulfilled unless it is freed from
Satan’s bondage and his hosts. This is why the Lord come
down to the plains, so He sees a son being overcome by the
devil, tearing him and striking him (Luke 9:42). This son has
become a bitter burden on his father, relatives and all those
around. He has come to save him, he and all those around.
We can say that our heavenly Friend, the only begotten
Son, by His being high on the mount, and by His
transfiguration, He declares in some way or other humanity and
how it has blended with Him so as to be blessed in sharmy His
glories. As result the Father rejoice, and also the heavenly hosts
in it the Word of God is fulfilled and the prophecies have come
true. As for the son in the plains, Satan has imprisoned him,
and thus he stands for the state of mankind that has gravid the
Father’s heart. It has also lost its partnership with the heavenly
hosts due to its disobedience.
The father complained of he bitterness he lives in because of
his son, saying (Luke 9:38) “Master, I beseech thee, look upon
my son, for he is mine only child”. These words were strong
words and full of wisdom. On one hand, he asked for nothing
from the Savior other than to ‘look’. This request implies faith
in the Savior’s love that can’t bear to see anyone suffering, or
any father tortured because of his only son. On the other hand
he declares his tender fatherhood, but it is so helpless, for ‘he is
mine only child’. In his words he showed some blame, saying
(Luke 9:40) “and I besought thy disciples to cast him out; but
they could not”. In addition to his asking the inability of the
disciples.
Now what did the Lord Jesus do?
Firstly: He rebuked the disciples saying (Luke 9:41) “O
faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you,
and suffer you?” the Lord was eager to have a believing
generation that has the authority that scares devils.
Secondly: He offered a call to the father (Luke 9:41) “Bring
thy son hither”. He wishes every believer to look upon the
booken (page #318 line# 7)- hearted souls and those souls that
are imprisoned as His own children. He offers these to the Lord
as His own sons by means of prayer so as to obtain the
salvation.
Thirdly: He rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy and
handed him to his father (Luke 9:42), that is, He kicked out the
usurping every from the place of his occupation so the young
boy goes back to his father. It is not enough to get rid of the
every, but it is necessary to give back the site to its owner. In
other words, the aim of own Christ is not only to release us of
Satan, but also to bring us back to our Father’s embrace so as
to be with Him, and be blessed with His divine love.
This is the aim of our heavenly Friend to bring us back to
our Father in the absolute and true freedom.

8- The Disciples and the Handing Over of the Son of

Man:
For the second time the Lord Jesus speaks with His disciples
about His crucifixion, saying (Luke 9:44) “For the Son of man
shall be delivered into the hands of men”, after Moses and
Elijah have spoken to Him concerning this topic. For, whereas
the multitudes got amazed at the Lord’s power and His
authority, for He has saved the boy of he evil spirit, He wished
the disciples hearts not be withdrawn to temporal glories, but
rather to the Cross as a proclamation of His dominion in saving
mankind.
 Even though the Lord’s words about the Cross-were
clear, yet they were unable to understand these words. In a
divine way of providing things, He hid from these the mystery
of the Cross-till it be fulfilled.

9- The Disciples and Humility:

The disciples could not understand the Lord’s words
concerning being delivered to the crucifixion as the way for
His heavenly kingdom. On the contrary, they began to think
who is the greatest among them. Then the Lord look a boy
(Luke 9:48) “He took a child, and set him by Him. And said
unto them, whosever shall receive Me, receiveth Him who sent
Me, for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great”.
As a heavenly Friend, He rules not through the temporal
greatness, and the self-esteem, but rather by means of love that
is filled with humility. Thus He wanted His disciples to take
after His qualities so as to reign with Him in the Spirit of
humility.
Father Ogris warns us of pride, in his discussion about
‘Against the concepts of the Eight Passions’ saying, “The spirit
of vain pride is the most malicious of all thoughts, and it is
ready to grow in the virtuous souls and those who seek virtue.
This bad spirit bads them to show off their struggle so as to
gain praise from people. They believe within themselves they
could heal women, and that they scare devils, and that crowds
of people come just to touch their clothes. The devil of pride is
the pretext for wrecking the soul altogether.
Father Dorothens urges us to be meek and humble saying,
“Let us too be humbled, and thus be saved. If we are unable to
tolerate the many hardships because we are so weak, then let us
be humbled. I am assured that the little work when done in
humility, makes us, with God’s mercy, be in the same spot
attained by the saints after so much toil as true servants to God.
Indeed, we are weak and unable to practice many deeds, but
cannot we be humble? Yes my dear brothers, blessed are the
man who has true humility”. (Revise the bathers’ words also in
the interpretation to St. Matt 18:1, St. Mark 9:35).

10- The Disciples and Serving Others:

(Luke 9:49, 50) “And John answered and said, ‘Master,
we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him,
because he followeth not with us’ and Jesus said unto him,
‘Forbid him not; for he that is not against us, is for us”. As we
mentioned (in the Interpretation of St. Mark’s gospel 9:38) that
the evangelist St. John did not stop this person out of jealousy
or envy of him, but he wished him to be with them in
following the Lord Jesus. It is clear from the Lord’s answer
that this man was not against Christ by his mouth or by his
heart, and neither did he do any individual thing of his own; but
maybe his circumstances was not appropriate for him to be a
follower with the disciples in an apparent way. But he was with
them in the faith.
At any rate, our heavenly Friend by saying these words,
He presents to us a new concept of the sanctified people, it is
not a mere physical meeting, and it is actually a unity of life
and faith. The Lord wished His disciples to have a big and
loving heart, and hat each one practices his talents, and so all
world work together for the account of God’s kingdom without
any fanaticism, but rather in a unity of faith, and a unity of
thought that is spiritual and conect.

11- The Disciples and the Fire from Heaven:

(Luke 9:51 – 56) “And it came to pass, when the time was
come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face
to go to Jerusalem. And He sent messengers before His face.
And they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to
make ready for Him, and they did not receive Him, because His
face was as though He would go to Jerusalem. And when His
disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, wilt Thou
that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume
them, even as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them,
and said, ‘ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the
Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save
them, and they went to another village”.
Firstly: The evangelist says, (Luke 9:51) “When the time was
come that He should be receive up”, using the same expression
‘received up’ that was used when Elijah was received up (2
Sam. 2:9-11).
Also this expression was used when glorifying the suffering
slave (Is 42:1), and at the assumion of the Lord Jesus (Acts
1:2). It is as if because the days of the Lord Jesus drew near to
be glorified by entering the sufferings as a slave, so as to cross
to His glories, ascending to the heavens, He looked ahead
going decidedly towards Jerusalem, the center of the judgment
place and the plotting for His crucifixion! For the Lord has
come for this particular how to suffer in our place, and thus He
glories us with Him, by Him and in Him.
He went ahead to Jerusalem, as it hastening the events all
the generations have been waiting for, since it is the salvation
work of God, by which the believers are glorified.
Secondly: One of the Samaritan villages rejected Him. The
Samaritans as we know, are strangers that have swept from
Babylon so as to dwell instead of the abused Israelites in 721
B. C. Their worshiping was a blend of Jewish and atheist
worship. They did not accept from the Old Testament, any
books other than the books of Moses, the Jews could not stand
the Samaritans and neither did the Samaritans the Jews.
The village rejected to accept the Savior, and so James
and John asked the Lord Jesus if they would ask for fire from
heaven, as did Elijah (2 Sam 1:10, 11) and thus they would be
consumed.
The Lord could have called them ‘Boanerges’ which means
‘the sons of thunder’ (Mark 3:17) due to this reason. But the
Lord refused this, and He rebuked them, for he did not come to
condemner, but to save. He is so patient and tolerant, awaiting
the repentance of everyone; and in fact, Samaria accepted the
faith later on (Acts 8:5- 25).
The Lord Jesus did not come to capture the souls for afally
(Page # 321). It was rather in love and long suffering that He
did so; because he, who accepts the faith in fear, quickly
departs from it. But he who accepts it through love, he stays
firm in it. St. John Chrysostom says, “It is appropriate for us to
be gentle in eradicating the disease. For he who corrects a
situation due to fear of another one, he quickly falls into evil”.
The two disciples asked that fire falls because so as to
consume. But the Lord offers Himself as a heavenly Friend, so
mild, He offers His fiery Holy Spirit that kindles the heart in
love and not in vengeance.

12- The Condition for being a Disciple to the Lord:

Our heavenly Friend opens His embrace in love and
eagerness to bring everyone to Himself, so as to be blessed
with the partnership of His glories. He does not send fire to
consume those who reject Him. At the same time, not everyone
is fit to be His disciple; it is only those who respond to Him
that carry His thoughts and His traits. St. Luke the evangelist
mentioned three examples of people who met Him having the
aim of becoming His disciples. In the study of St. Matthew’s
gospel I8:19) some of the father’s comments were mentioned
concerning the first two persons; the scribe who asked t follow
Christ, but it was an insincere offer. The Lord answered him,
‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have their nests, but the
Son of man has nowhere to lay His head’. It is as if the Son of
man did not find a place for Himself to dwell in. as for the
second example, it is that of a sincere man of good inattention,
easyer for disciples. But there was one family responsibility,
necessary in people’s eyes; this was to be concerned about his
father’s burial. At any rate, the evangelist St. Luke added a
third person who was keen on becoming the Lord’s disciple
and His follower, but he was not absolutely serious or mature
enough for it. He wanted first to bid farewell to those in his
home. The Lord’s answer was thus (Luke 9:62) “No man
having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for
the kingdom of God”.
In those three examples we notice the following:
Firstly: Our heavenly Friend knows the inner heart. The first
and the third asked to become His disciples, but He could
perceive their hearts: the first was not pure in his depth and in
his aim, and the third was negligent and not serious as for the
second one, he did not ask with his own lips; it was the lord
who heard his heart’s request, and so called Him for His
discipleship. But when he told the Lord raised him above the
temporal duties for the sake of the eternal preaching job. The
first and the third thought they were zealous and fir the Lord
called him for it. In other words, I wish we ask to become
disciples to the Lord, not with our lips but with the purity of
our hearts and its inner fire. It is then that the Lord calls us
Himself, and bandage the wounds of our weakness, and prepare
our life as testifiers for Him.
Secondly: St. Augustine comments on the first man, saying,
“When this man wished to follow Christ, the Lord was sure
that he was only asking what was for himself, and not what was
for the Lord Jesus (Phil. 2:21) for He says (Matt. 7:21) “Not
everyone that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven”. Likewise did this man not know himself,
and realized he was full of hypocrisy and wiles, he would know
who he was speaking to. This is why He said to him (Luke
9:58) “Foxed have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the
Son of man hath nowhere to lay His head”, which means He
has no place in your faith. For in your heart you will find foxes
that have holes, since you are full of cunningness. In your
heart, too, the birds of the air have nets because they are
sowing high in pride. You are filled with cunningness and
pride, and therefore do not follow Me. For how can the cunning
one follow the simple one?
We can also say that this man was tied to the love of the
world. He has asked to be the Lord’s disciple, not for the
Lord’s sake alone, but for the purpose of earthly honor or
temporal benefit. This is way the Lord declared to Him the
nature of the Teacher; for the foxed that live in the
wilderness(page # 323, last line) have holes to which they are
linked, and in which they rest.
The birds soaring in the air have nests to which they return
from time to time. But as for the Son of man, He is heavenly
and so He finds no rest in what is temporal, and finds not
settlement on earth. Therefore, you are not fit to be His disciple
unless you absolutely free yourself from what is earthly, and let
your soul fly up towards the heavens.
Our Friend is of heaven; He wishes His disciples to have
the qualities of heavenly thinking, and to live the life of
tremendous sublimation.
Thirdly: St. Ambrosios offers us an explanation close enough
to that of St. Augustine’s concerning the first man. He say,
“Despite his continuous obedience and service yet he did not
gain God’s pleasure. For the Lord does not care about the
apparent service, but He cares far more for the purity of the
heart. This is why He said previously ‘Whoever accepts this
child in My name …..’ declaring to us that simplicity should
not be for a certain purpose love, too, should not be envious;
and giving should be without any wrath. The Lord refers here
to the adults who should have the hearts of children. It is
appropriate for you to be blessed with true simplicity, that is, to
possess this nature through much struggling. Thus the Lord
said, “Whoever accepts this child in My name, has accepted
Me; and he who accepts Me, accepts Him who sent Me”.
Indeed he who accepts a follower of Christ, accepts Christ
Himself’ and he who accepts God’s image, accepts God
Himself. But because we are unable to see God’s image, the
Word came to dwell among us be means of incarnation, so as
to bring godliness closer to us, even though He is way higher
than us.
‘Foxes have holes’; Satan is as deceitful as the fox. He sets
traps and lives in cunningness. He searches for a prey inside
the house of man himself.
The Lord also compares the heretics to foxes, and for this
reason He keeps them away from His harvest. (Song of Sol.
2:15) “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines”,
for they are able to harm the tender vines, not the big ones.
The birds of the air often refer to the evil spirits that build its
nests in the wicked hearts. Thus the Son of God cannot find
among those hearts, a place to rest His head.
Cunningness leaves no place for simplicity, and not any site
for divinity in these hearts. But when the Lord sees a pure
heart, them He rests in it His great deeds, that is, the
overwhelming sublime gift that is powred(page # 325, line #7)
in the righteous hearts.
Fourthly: St. Augustine speaks about the second person who
did not ask to be a disciple with his lips as the first one did. He
rather spoke in the purity of his heart, and was therefore ready
for discipleship. But because of a family commitment towards
his father, he asked for some postponement, for St. Augustine
say “The faith in this man’s heart declared itself before the
Lord. But his feelings and his family duty made him to
postpone it. But Christ the Lord, because He was preparing
mankind for the gospel, He wanted no excuse due to any
temporary physical emotion. Indeed, the divine law has
commanded these commitments, and the Lord Himself rebuked
the Jesus because they broke this divine commandment (Matt.
15:5). St. Paul the apostle wrote in his epistle (Eph. 6:2)
“Honor thy father and mother, which is he first commandment
with promise”. So, this young man wished to obey God and
bury his father. Indeed, it is necessary to honor the father, but
God has to be obeyed first. It is necessary to love those who
gave us birth, but they are not to be preferred to He who has
created us. It is as if the Lord is letting him, “I have called you
to My gospel; I need you to perform another job, greater than
the one you wish to perform. Let the dead bury their deed ones.
The drawback for the first one was his human enthusiasm
when he said ‘ I will follow you wherever you go’, whereas his
heart was elsewhere with the world. The second one’s
drawback was his words ‘let me go first bury my father,
thereby making the burial of his father come in the first place,
whereas it is God who has to come first. St. Augustine
moreover say, “In the book of the Song of Solomon we have a
lesson set for s, for the church says ‘He prepared love for me,
(the seventieth translation). This means let love be in the
appropriate plan, offered to everyone as befitting each one. So,
don not place the love that should come in the first place, at the
very end. Love your parents, but put God in the foremost
preference. Notice the mother of the Macabeans, for she says,
(2 Macc. 7:22). In this way she commanded them, and they
followed her commandment”.
St. Abrosios says, “But how could this man be forbidden of
burying his father, even though this is one of the virtuous deeds
to be done? The Lord teaches us that He comes first, then man
comes next. This work is good, but inappropriate, lest the
student divides his concern about his love of preaching, and so
his growth is delayed. It is appropriate for us to go first for the
preaching mission, so we are not obstructed. This is why when
the Lord sent His disciples, He commanded them not to greet
anyone on the way, not because love brothers him, but rather
due to the concern about the growth in the service, which
pleases God all they more.
St. Ambrosios continues his words saying, “But how can
the dead bury their dead? Here He is referring to the dual death
of the physical nd the death of sin. There is also a third death
by which we die of iniquity and live to God, just as Christ died
from sin (Rom. 6:10) “The death He died, He died to sin, one
for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God”. There is death
that divides the body from the spirit; this death is not to be
feared or scared of, for this is the beginning of the release, and
it is not a punishment. The strong ones are not scared of it, and
the wise ones desire it, and the unfortunate ones aspire it, for it
is written (Rev. 9:6) “And in those days people will seek death
but will not find it”. There is furthermore, another kind of death
that puts an end to the world pleasures where the borty does not
die, but it is seen that dies, we experience this death when we
re buried with Christ and die with Him in the baptism (Rom.
6:4), Col. 2:22). We die of he issues of this world, and forger
our former life. This death was desired by Balaam so he would
live to God, when he prophesied (Numb. 23:11) “Let me died
he death of the upright, and let my end be like his”. The third
death is carried by Christ by means of the Cross-for our life, for
we know that He is the eternal life (John 17:3). The righteous
ones see it now as if it were a puzzle, but they finally see Him
face to face because (Lament. 4:20) “The Lord’s anointed, the
breath of one life, was taken in their pits ….. the one of whom
we said ‘Under His shadow we shall live among the nations’”.
David’s hope was living under the shadow of His wrings (Ps.
56:2). The church desired eagerly His shadow so as to set
under it (Song 2:3). If your shadow Lord Jesus has as much
benefit as this, then hidden with Christ in God. When Christ
who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with
Him in glory”. This is an amazing life that knows of no death!
The Lord does not forbid us from crying and burying our dead
one, but He places the religious righteousness in the first place,
then the family ties follow it. Let the spiritually dead bury their
own dead ones, but as for the elect let them follow Him”.
Fifthly: As for the third person, he was not so serious in
following the Lord. He was of a divided heart; he wished to
follow Christ, and at the same time he tends towards the world.
Such a one would make a start and not carry on. This is why he
was told “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God”.
God wants all of the heart, and it would be His without
looking behind, so he would not become a pillar of salt as Lot’s
wife died. She was saved by getting our of Sadom with Lot and
her girls; but she did not continue all the way, for she regressed
with her heart and thus she perished. Due to this, the
commandments were strict in that we should not only begin,
but to patiently go on till the end so we be saved. Among the
words for our Lord Jesus (Matt. 24:17-18) “The one on the
house top must not go down to take what is in the house; the
one in the field must not turn back to get a coat”. Likewise, he
who is exalted in the Lord to the rooftop would see the
heavenly mysteries, and he would not go down to the bottom
where what is temporary dwells there. He who starts the field
of preaching does not return form the service.
St. Jerome wrote to Paula asking her not to overact in
sorrow due to Blaesilla’s death. He say, “Indeed, now that we
believe in Christ, and carry Him inside us, because of the
ointment oil that we have received (1 John 2:27) it is therefore
appropriate for us not to depart from His tahermace(Page #
328), that is our Christian work. We should not get disturbed as
the unbelieving Gentiles. We rather have to remain constantly
inside, as obedient servants to the Lord’s will”. It is as if He is
asking her, since she has devoted her life to God’s service and
the gospel work of worship, that she does not regress due to her
sorrow, and leave her work because of someone’s death. She
rather has to continue in her way of struggle till the end.
St. John Casian says, “it is evil indeed that whereas you
have to embody the foremost principles and initiatives so as to
launch forward towards perfection, you begin to fall into what
is much worse matters. The lesson is not about those who begin
these matters, but it rather concerns him who is patient till the
end and thus gets saved (Matt. 24:13) “He also urges us to go
on in our spiritual struggle unceasingly, and without any
regression. He says, “There is an accusation addressed in a
hidden way in the book of Deuteronomy to those who say they
have rejected this world whereas they are defeated in their
faithlessness for fear of losing their property on earth. It has
been said (Deut. 20:8) “Is anyone afraid or disheartened? He
should go back to his house, or he might cause the heart of his
comrades to melt like his own”. What testimony is more clear
than this one? Is it not evident that the Holy Book affects us in
not advancing in this covenant at its first stages, or carry its
name, lest they become a bad model(Page #329) to follow, that
attracts others to get deviated and not to fulfill the holy gospel.
 Page 330
Chapter 10
The Second Mission

If the first mission that concerns the twelve disciples represents

the Jewish service, then the second mission that concerns the
seventy apostles represents the Gentile service. Our Lord Jesus
Christ sends to the Jews just as to the Gentiles and asks for
their friendship without any discrimination. For this reason, we
can see the Lord Jesus rejoicing in the Spirit for the sake of the
meek being blessed with the grace of knowledge, whatever the
race may be for those simple folks. He also presents to us the
parable of the Good Samaritan, so as to declare the concept of
brotherhood to the entire humanity. We are also offered the
story of Martha and Mary so as to reveal to us His acceptance
of all kinds of service and worship.

1- Appointing the seventy apostles, and their preaching. 1-

20
2- The Lord Jesus rejoicing in the Spirit. 21-
24
3- The Parable of the Good Samaritan. 25-
37
4- Martha the worker, and Mary the Sufferer. 38-
43

1- Appointing the seventy apostles, and their

preaching:
In the first mission, the commandment of the Lord Jesus
to the twelve was (Matt. 10:5) “Go nowhere among the
Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. But to the seventy the
commandment was not preaching to a certain people, or a
certain nation; for He said (Luke 10:8) “Whenever you enter a
town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you;
cure the sick who are there and say to them ‘The kingdom of
God has come near to you’”. The words ‘eat what is set before
you’ means not to reject the food set to you but the Gentiles,
and not to fear being defiled according to Moses’ law. They
were to eat what was offered then by those Gentiles so they
may be able to, due to their broad mindedness, to tell them the
preaching word of the kingdom of heaven without any
hindrance. This was not the time for lawful or unlawful food to
eat, but rather, to withdraw the souls from everlasting
perdition.
The second mission probably meant the preaching to the
Gentiles. It is known that the inhabitants of the wilderness to
which Jesus went, after the Galilee, these were of the Gentiles.
The evangelist St. Luke himself could have been one of these
seventy apostles.
At any rate, when St. Matthew the evangelist, one of the
twelve wrote to the Jews, he did not mention this mission
whereas St. Luke the evangelist when writing to the Gentiles,
he referred to it.
If the twelve represent the twelve sources, then the
seventy represent the seventy palm trees in the new Elim (Ex.
15:27). If the twelve stand as foil to the twelve tribes, then the
seventy stand as foil to the seventy elders chosen by Moses
(Numbers 11:16-25) or the seventy members in the Synhedrim
assemby.
He might have chosen the seventy apostles before the
‘Coverage Feast’ in which the Jews offered seventy sacrifices.
It is as if He wished to offer the world a new feast, in which the
apostles are offered as a sanctified and living sacrifice pleasing
to God (Rom. 12:1) on the altar of love through the preaching
to the entire world.
We notice the following in this mission:
Firstly: (Luke 10:1) “After this the Lord appointed seventy
others and sent them on ahead of Him in pairs to every town
and place where He Himself intended to go”.
Some of the fathers such as St. Ambrosios think the apostles’
number was seventy-two, and that the evangelist mentioned the
round figure. He sent them two by two as He did before when
sending the twelve (Mar 6:7) for “two are better than one”,
because they will receive good wages for their toil. For, if one
of them falls, the other colleague raises him. But woe to him
who is by himself, for if he falls there is no other one to raise
him (Ecc. 4:9-10). As St. Amrosios also said, tat member two
refers to the love to god and to people. It is as if His mission
was not verbal preaching only, but the preaching of love and
partnership with God and man.
He sent them before His face, so they pave the way for Him,
and so they work before He does. Hence, they would be under
His care while they would be taking care of others.
Secondly: He assured them that the preaching was essential
work of His. It was He who has appointed them, and it is He
who supports them by sending laborers to work with Him for
the account of His harvest. For He says, (Luke 10:2) “The
harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the
Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest”. As
St. Augustine says, “It is the Lord Himself who sows, for He
dwells in the apostles. It is He who also harvests, and without
Him they are counted as nothing. For the Lord says (John 15:5)
“Without Me you can do nothing”.
Thirdly: He commandment to them was as follows: (Luke
10:3) “See, I’m sending you out like lambs into the midst of
wolves”. These words reveal Him as the Sender ‘I am sending
you’. This is to show He is the One working in them, and is
responsible for them. His mission for them is not as easy one, a
path full of flowers, but it is rather a small mission of lambs
thrown amongst wolves. As St. Augustine says, these wolves
devour up the lambs and so the wolves are transformed into
lambs. It is a mission not to devour His apostles, but to convert
the wolves into lams by means of the meekness of His lams,
that is His apostles. As St. John chysostom says, “He is above
all the one who knows the nature of things: that ferocity is not
put out by other ferocity, but by gentleness”.
St. Ambrosios comments on this commandment saying “The
Good Shepherd is not concerned about His flock from the
wolves, therefore He did not send His disciples to be the prey,
but to preach the grace. The care of the Good Shepherd does
not allow the wolves to harm His flock. But He sends the lambs
amongst the wolves so these words are fulfilled (Is. 65:25)
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together”.
The Word of God has become a lamb for our sake. He was
spoken of by John the Baptism (John 1:29) “Here is the lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world”. He was
described, moreover, by St. John the godly (Rev. 7:17) “for the
lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and He
will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will
wipe away every tear form their eyes”. It is no surprise He
makes out of His church a small flock that the Father is glad to
give the kingdom (Luke 12:32). If the Lamb of God has
appointed us to be lambs to embody His qualities in us, then He
is the Sender of lams, and the Father is happy to grant them His
eternal kingdom.
Fourthly: (Luke 10:4) “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals”.
Prior to this, He has given this commandment to the twelve
disciples, and we mentioned some comments said by the
Fathers (Luke 9:3, Matt. 10:9, Mark 6:8). We made it clear
they are not deprived of anything, for He has offered Himself
as the source of satisfaction to them before asking them to
resource these temporal issues. We add some more of these
comments: St. Ambrosios says, “To avoid the wolves, the Lord
commands us ‘Do not carry any purse, nor bag, nor sandals’”.
By ‘purse’ He means not to carry any silver or money (Matt.
10:9). If the Lord forbids you to carry gold, them what does it
mean for you to steal Him and rip Him? If He has commanded
you to give your money, them how can you store up what is not
yours? You are the one who is teaching not to steal, do you
steal? You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit it?
You who scorn idols, do you rob the altar? You who is proud
the law, do y trespass against the law by scorning God?
Because the name of God is blasphemed against because of
you (Rom. 2:21-23). St. Peter was the first to carry out the
Lord’s commandment, making clear that the Lord’s
commandment was not given in vain. For when the poor man
asking for alms, he said (Acts 3:6) “Silver or gold have none”.
He is proud to say he has no silver or gold; and are you
ashamed of not possessing what you desire? It is as if he is
telling the poor one, ‘You can see me, a disciple of the Lord,
and are you asking of me gold?’ He has granted me other
things of far greater value than gold, and this I give unto you:
‘In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk”.
The saint goes on to say, “No pusses and no bag”. Usually
those two are made of dead animal skin, and the Lord does not
want for us anything that dead. This is why He tells Moses
“Take off your sandals for the place where you are is holy”
(Ex. 3:5). He commanded him to take off the sandals of death
and earthly matters at the moment He sent him to save the
people. The servant who is responsible for this job should not
fear anything …… whether it is death or any other earthly
matters. He is not to regress in his mission that has been given
him due to his fear of death. Previously, Moses ran away from
his mission due to his fear of death, and he escaped to the
Median land. The Lord knew of his intention and realized his
weakness, therefore He saw first to release his spirit and his
soul from the dead links”.
St. Augustine says, “What does it mean not to carry a
purse?” It means not to think yourself wise enough, but to
accept and receive the Holy Spirit; thus there will be a spring
of water in you, and nor a purse by the means of which you
spend money on others, without it running out. The same thing
applies to the bag. But what are the sandals? We use shoes,
made of the skin of dead animals, so as to cover our feet. In
this was he tells us to reject the dead deeds. This was what the
Lord (Ex. 3:5) “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the
place on which you are standing is holy ground”. What is the
holy ground other than God’s church; reject our dead deeds”.
The scholar Oreganus(Page # 334, last line) thinks the taking
off shoes, refers to the dead leather of which shoes and drums
are made. We, thus, should not ask for the dead issues, and not
be concerned about the outer appearance as the drums that are
so noisy, and do no work.
St. Clemendouds the Alexandrian thinks the shoes here
refer to the confusion due to the horses and slaves carrying the
loads of weather in their constant joinery. In his opinion these
are lake shoes carrying his body and his belongings.
Fifthly: (Luke 10:4) “And greet no one on the road; by this He
means the preacher is not to be disturbed by too many favors
that have no spiritual goal.
St. Augustine says “This is not to be understood in the physical
sense; and thus He does not mean purse, or sandals or bag.
Above all of this, if we practice in simplicity and with no
investigation that we say greeting to others on the way, then we
fall into pride. We can simply understand this as to fulfill what
we were commanded with in haste. It is as if He is telling us
‘Leave everything else till you fulfill what you have been
commanded to do”.
St. Augustine thinks the word ‘Salutation’ as derived from
the word ‘Salvation’. It is as if it is appropriate for us not to
offer the salvation on the road, that is , in a haphazard way, but
to offer it by means of loving deeds.
St. Ambrosios comments on this commandment saying
the Lord does not forbid us from greeting peacefully, but not to
offer it on the road. This means it should not delay us in doing
the job, as Elisha the prophet ordered his servant (2 Kings
4:29) so as to hurry and get the job done. “What is meant
concerning this matter is not to forbid the greeting but rather to
avoid the obstacles? Greeting is a pleasant habit; but to fulfill
the divine deeds is even more pleasant. This requires the haste,
and its delay most probably begets discontentment.
Sixthly: (Luke 10:5-7) “Do not move about from house to
house”. The Lord wished them to get rid of the appearances of
the scribes and the Pharisees at that time. They used to spend
most of their time in honorable feast. On the other hand He
wanted them to feel themselves as members of that household
where they budged. (Revise interpret. Of St. Luke 9:4)
Seventhly: The rest of these words were previously discussed,
and you can refer to it. Concerning their getting rid of the dust
clinging to their feet regarding those who rejected them, this
refers the rejection of all what clung to them as the dust that
deserves only to be got rid of under their feet (Revise the
interpret. Of St. Mark 6:11). Also, regarding Sodom, it will not
be punished in the same bitter way, under which Corzin falls,
and Bethesda. Because the strangers are not punished as the
close ones. For those who know little, their judgment will be
less.
 St. Augustine comments on the Lord’s words here,
“Whoever listens to you listens to Me, and whoever rejects you
rejects Me, and whoever rejects Me rejects the one who sent
Me”. He says, “the Lord came in the personalities of the
disciples, and He speaks to us through them. He is present in
them. By means of this church, He will come: and by her
means He speaks to the nations.
We refer here to the words He referred (Matt. 10:40) “He who
receives you receive Me”. St. Paul the apostle also say (2Cor
13:3): “since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me”.
Eighthly: (Luke 10: 17-20) “The seventy returned with joy,
saying, ‘Lord’ in your name even the demons submit to us, He
said to them ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of
lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, so not rejoice at this, that
the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven’.
The apostles rejoiced when they saw Satan fall before man
through the preaching of he kingdom. The Lord Jesus
confirmed the downfall of Satan, that has fallen by mean of the
Cross-from heaven as a flash of lightning. The Lord moreover
confirmed the authority man has through the Cross. But what
rejoices us is not the downfall of Satan, neither is it the power
to perform miracles, but rather our being blessed with the
heavenly kingdom through the righteous life we obtain by
God’s grace. As St. Anthony says, “We rejoice for our names
have been written in the kingdom of heaven, which refers to
the righteous like in the Lord. As for casting out devils, this is a
gift from the Lord, which the devious person can obtain but he
will perish as a result of it.
 Now my beloved, Satan has been slaughtered, this despot
who is against the entire would. Death will reign no more,
 and instead like will reign over death; for the Lord says “I
am the life” (John 14:6). Everything is now filled with joy
and gladness, as it is written, “The Lord reigns, let the
earth rejoice”. Now that death is obsolete, and Satan’s
kingdom is destroyed, everyone is filled with joy and
gladness.
St. Athnasois the
Apostolic
 Satan has reigned over man in authority during man’s
regression. This authority is lost once man returns a gain
to God.
 During His suffering, the Lord ascended to the heaven,
and gave man gifts (Ps. 68:18, Eph. 4:8). He granted those
who believe in Him power to tread on serpents and
scorpions and every power of the enemy, that is, authority
over the ruler of regression.
St.
Irianus
 What debasement is there more than Satan’s getting so
puffed up? And what loftiness is there more than when
man is humbled? The father has come to crawl on the
earth under our feet, whereas the latter has soared up with
the angels in the highest.
St. John Chrysostom
 We have to rejoice for being members in the kingdom of
heaven, or for being members in the body, and not
because we have come to obtain authority over the devils.
It is better if you are a finger in the body than to be an eye
out the body!
St. Augustine
 Christ’s coming has poured on the greatest gift of parental
grace.
  When it was necessary to destroy the dragon’s heads, the
Lord came down in the water and tied the powerful one
(Matt. 12:29), so He might provide us with the authority
by which we tread on serpents and scorpions (Luke
10:19).
It is not a small beast, his sight is enough to scare
anyone. No fishing boat can sustain one whip of his tail, and
before him there is terror, and he crushes all who draw close
to him (Job 41:13).
Like has shone on us so as to choke death, so we who
are saved would be able to say (1 Cor. 5:15) (Page # 338)
“Where , O death, is your sting? Where O death, is your
victory? “For by baptism the sting of death has been crushed.
St. Cyril El
Orshimy
 The Lord warned them of their joy for their having authority
over Satan, and their making wonders. He told them rather to
rejoice for obtaining the kingdom of heaven.
It is the Lord himself who has granted them their
authority for making wonders and miracles and lest they be
puffed up, He warned them against this overrejoicing.
We should not ask that the devils yield to us, but rather
that we have the boring features that the apostle described.
 This is not fulfilled by their own power, but by the name
they use. This is why Lord warned them not to ascribe to
themselves any glory concerning this matter, for this is
fulfilled only by God’s authority and power. As for the
inward purity that concerns their life and heart, it is due to
this that their names are written in heaven.
Father
Nastosious

2- The Lord Jesus rejoicing in the Spirit:

 In the wards similar to the ones we are dealing with
(Matt. 11:25-30), we saw the Lord Jesus eager to offer the real
knowledge to every soul. It is only the simple-hearted ones,
like children, who enjoy this heavenly knowledge through our
Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son, who is simple-hearted
as well. He wishes no one to be deprived of this knowledge.
But those who thought themselves they were knowledgeable
enough (the aepnosties) and wise enough these cannot
encounter Him so as to know the divine mysteries.
 Finally, the Son of God reveals the heavenly mystery,
declaring His grace to children and not to the wise ones of
this age (Matt. 11:25). The apostle St. Paul mentions this in
details (1Cor. 1:21) “For since, in the wisdom of God, the
world did not know God through wisdom, God decides,
through the foolishness of our proclamation to save those
who believe”.
He who knows how to be puffed up, say clamoring
words o f wisdom, then he is wise according to this age.
But as for the child, he says, (Ps. 13:1) “O Lord, my heart is
not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not
occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for
me”. This manifests a small one, not in age or in thoughts,
but rather in his modesty, by being away from any praise.
This is why he adds, “But I have calmed and quietened my
soul, like a weaned child with its mother”. Contemplate on
the greatness of such a one in the apostle’s words (1Cor.
3:18) “If you think you are wise in this age, you should
become fools so that you may become wise. For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness with God”.
St.
Ambrosios
 (Luke 10:22) “All things have been handed over to Me by
My Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the
 Father, or who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to
whom the Son chooses to reveal Him”.
The words ‘all things’ shows us His greatness, and
how He is not any different than His Father. The words
‘handed over’ do not mean ‘obtained as a gift or grace’ but it
is taken naturally through the unity in the essence.
St.
Ambrosios
 He speaks here of a certain kind of knowledge, through the
knowledge of the unity in essence, that is owned by no one
else but Him.
St. John
Chrysostom
 He did not say ‘proclaim’ regarding the future only, but the
Son has begun to proclaim the Father since He was born of
the Virgin Mary. He was also declared in various ways
across the ages. The Son is present, and is declaring the
Father to everyone, to whoever wants Him and whenever he
wants Him, and just as the Father wants to.
St.
Irianus
 St. Paul did not learn the faith by the knowledge of only, but
he was also blessed with the wealth of the Spirit; so the
proclamation is shone in all of himself, and Christ speaks in
him.
St. John
Chrysostom
 The new minds became wise with a new wisdom. These
minds came to be through the new covenant in which the old
ignorance was wiped out.
St. Clemendos El
Sekanderi
 We therefore realise the new wisdom that Christ
rejoiced for, is granted us in Christ Jesus by getting rid of the
old man and being blessed with the new man, who is in the
image of our creator, the image of Christ. Through this new
man, that is, our unity with God in Christ Jesus, we become
God’s children or His Sons who would know His divine
mysteries. For this reason St. Cleamendos El Sakenderi
comments on the children being blessed with wisdom, saying,
“In truth, are we children of God, did we leave behind the old
man? And have we taken off the wicked robe, and did we put
our Christ’s immortality? And so become a new and sanctified
people by means of the new birth? Are we keeping ourselves
undefiled? And as God’s children, are we washed of all
adultery?”
Then, let us be as true children by taken off the robe of
wickedness in conduct, as befitting God’s children; and thus
Christ would reveal to us His mysteries, and be rejoiced for the
sake of the wisdom that He has granted us.

3-The Parable of the Good Samaritan:

God is so loving that He is eager to bring every soul to Him.
We have seen the Lord Jesus rejoicing in the Spirit for the sake
of the simple-hearted being blessed in the grace of spiritual
knowledge. Lest the Jesus think that this grace is solely to their
race alone, the Lord said to us this parable of the God
Samaritan. He wished to declare the concept of general
brotherhood for the kind-hearted person. How much more so
would it be with God who loves all of mankind, of His own
creation, indiscriminately among race or tongue?
The evangelist St. Luke says, (Luke 10:25-29) “Jesus then
a lawyer stood up to test Jesus: ‘Teacher’ he said, ‘what must I
do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘what is written in he
law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your
neighbour as yourself? And He said to him ‘you have given
right answer; do this and you will live’. But wanting to justify
himself, he asked Jesus, ‘and who is my neighbour’?
There is no doubt the parable of the Good Samaritan is
one of the important landmarks in St. Luke’s gospel, since it
contains so many spiritual concepts, of deep dwinity(Page
#314, line #22). But our teacher St. Luke did not wish to
mention them unless through the circumstances that were fit
enough to speak of it. The circumstances increase the splendor
of the parable and make it even more beautiful still. For we are
unable to aware of the value of light unless we feel the
darkness; also, no one realises the value of health unless he
who has tasted the sickness.
We may summarize the circumstances of this parable in
the following g points:
Firstly: The evangelist says, “a lawyer stood up to test Jesus”,
the lawyer may have stood up in every of the Lord, for he saw
Him as one having authority in His deeds and words. This
amazed the people, and thus they gathered around Him, though
He was not one of the traditional school graduates. He
infiltrated the lines of teachers without any permission, and He
surpassed them al. He even endangered them in His spiritual
teachings and unsurpassing concepts. It is amazing that this
lawyer, even though he was a teacher of law or the old Jewish
law in social respectfulness yet he ‘stood up’ asking the Lord.
But in his heart he was only testing Him; and this expression
has been mentioned by Satan (Luke 4:22). The lawyer seemed
to be righteous and yet had Satan’s heart inside! But the Lord
gets out food from the eater, and from the barren, sweetness.
Secondly: The lawyer asked (Luke 10:25) “What must I do to
inherit eternal life?” He reveals what in his depths has stricken
the Jewish nation, even though they possessed the holy books
that included the old law and the prophesies. But the teachers
themselves felt incapable of practically reaching the inner
restfulness, or of enjoying life. This is why he did not say,
‘What do I learn?’ or ‘what do I teach others?’ he just said
‘What do I learn?’ The Jews are careful to observe a great deal
of rituals in worshiping, including sacrificial offerings and
prayers. But due to their thirst the question remained, ‘What
must I do?’ In this way, no one will obtain the joy of
satisfaction unless he receives the Lord Jesus Himself since He
is ‘the life eternal’, He is the secret behind the satisfaction.
The lawyer in questioning the Lord wished he might be
able to make the Lord fall in a trap, for he thought He would
present them with new commandments thereby disregarding
Moses’ law and the teer commandments, and thus He would be
accused of carelessly scorning the covenant, or breaking the
old law.
Thirdly: The Lord Jesus did not give the lawyer the
opportunity to accuse him of breaking the law, for He asked the
lawyer what was mentioned in the law. He stressed the
importance of the commandments, and gave them a new and
deeper understanding.
The Lord Jesus knew the lawyer had come to test Him; and
despite this, He did not face him bluntly, but in gentleness He
praised him saying, “you have given the right answer”. He does
not face evil with evil, but He overcomes it with goodness,
using gentleness so as to win him.
Fourthly: The church fathers offered us a great number of
interpretations for this parable of the Good Samaritan. From
the behavioral point of view, the Lord wished to stress the
importance of having a kind heart, to accept all mankind of
every race, just as if they were relatives of ours. St. Jerome
says, “We are relatives, all of humanity are related to one
another, for we have only one Father”. The scholar Oreganus
thinks that relations do not stop with the blood links, nor in the
work field; rather, by carrying out the commandment of love
and mercy. He says, “Jesus teaches that this man who was
coming from Jerusalem was no relative except to him who
wishes to keep the commandments, and the one who is ready to
offer help. He briefly said, (Luke 10:36) “Which of these three
do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fells into the
hands of the robbers?” Neither the Priest, nor Levite was a
neighbor to him. But according to the lawyer’s answer himself,
“The one who showed him mercy” he is the neighbor to him”.
Jesus therefore said to him “Go and do likewise”. St. Sveris the
Antiochian says, “you might often think, out of ignorance, that
the one who shares you your religion or nationality is your
neighbor or relative. But as for myself, I tell you it is he who
has the same human nature, is your relative. As you have seen,
the one who was looking up in pride of his priestly clothes, and
he who was proud of being called of Levite.... Both did not
think of him who was our of their folks, who was naked and
covered by his wounds that seemed incurable, thrown or the
ground, on the verge of death at any moment; he was a human
person, after all! But they scorned him as stone or a piece of
rejected wood. As for the Samaritan, who did not know the
commandments of the law, and who was known among the
Jews as being stupid and ignorant, for the wise one said ‘those
sitting in the mountains of Samaria, the Philistines, and the
ignorant people dwelling Shekim”. This Samaritan knew
human nature and understood who it is who are a relative and
neighbor.
In your opinion, you judges, he who was far way has come to
be very close indeed to him who was in need of treatment. So,
do not make known the relative or neighbour, according to the
Jewish incorrectness, as restricted narrowly within close
relations only’
Every person overpowered by the Spirit of love, is a neighbor.
In St. Ambrosios discussion about ‘repentance’ he answers
the followers of Novatios, who rejected accepting those who
returned after they had denied the faith. He says, “The good
Samaritan did not walk away, leaving the man who was
attacked by robbers in a fatal condition. He actually bandaged
his wounds with oil and wire. He first poured oil to soothe his
pain, and made the wounded man lean on the Samarian’s chest;
that is he bore all his sins. Likewise Christ the Shepherd did not
reject His lost sheep. You have made of yourself a stranger to
him due to your pride. You have vainly puffed yourself up due
to your physical mind, and your not clinging firmly(Page #344)
to Christ the Head (Col 2:18-19). If you had held on to the
Head, you would not have left him that Christ died for. If you
had held on to the Head, you would have been concerned about
the whole body. You would also have been concerned about
the link between the members without any division, and would
have grown in Christ (Col. 2:19) with the bond of love and the
sinners’ salvation. When you reject the acceptance of
repentance, you are only saying, ‘No wounded person will
come into our hotel, and no one will be healed in our church.
We do not pay enough attention to our patients, for we are all
healthy, and are not in need of a physician, for He Himself has
said ‘The healthy are not in need of a physician but rather the
seek ones’.
This is the behavioral explanation. But as for the spiritual
interpretation and the symbolic one the fathers have elaborately
spoken of. This is why I shall be as brief as possible:
The evangelist says (Luke 10:30) “A man was going down
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers
who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half
dead”
a) A man: St. Sveris says, “Our Savior did not say
‘Men were going down, but He said ‘A man was
going down’. This is an issue that concerns all of
humanity. In truth, due to Adam’s disobedience
to the commandment, humanity fell from the
paradise dwelling on high, that was so beautifully
peaceful, which was really called ‘Jerusalem’.
This means ‘God’s peace’. He was going to
Jericho, a city in a lowland choked by the heat”.
The story of the man who fell among robbers
from paradise during Adam, the first man’s time.
He lost God’s peace and seeing Him, for it is said
that ‘Jerusalem’ also means ‘the sight of peace’.
b) “Going down from Jerusalem to Jericho”; the
scholar Oreganus says, “According tot eh
interpretation of one of the prior fathers ‘Man, going
down, represents Adam. Jerusalem represents
paradise and Jericho is the world. The robbers are the
hostile powers, and the priest is the law; the Levite is
the prophets and the Samaritan is Christ; the wounds
are the disobedience; and the animal is the body of
Christ. The inn that is open is for all who wish to go
in, which is the church. The two denarius represent
the Father and the Son. The owner of the inn is the
church head who provides for it; and the Samaritan’s
promise of return is the expectation of Christ’s
second coming.
These symbols were suggested by the scholar
Oreganus in the second century. He declared he
derived them from one of the old scholar, who could
be his spiritual teacher St. Clemendos El Sekendery
 or his predecessor St. Bentinos. This reveals the
awareness of the first church to the parable in general
and the concept of Jerusalem from where we started,
going towards Jericho.
St. Ambrosios accepted this interpretation, and
spoke elaborately. Of Jericho, to which humanity
came sliding from Jerusalem, that is from paradise
and going towards the ‘world’. For Jericho is the
world; it was a city surrounded by fences and
barricades that no one could escape from except
those that Rahab the prostitute has embraced. It was
she who accepted the live spies in faith and tried to
hide them or her house roof among the flax stalks.
C) “He fell among robbers”: these robbers
represented Satan with his wicked army of angels, or
with his allures, for he keeps waiting for every soul
that goes out of Jerusalem, even if it were in thoughts
for a few moments. He wants to seize those souls for
his account, and he attacks them with his wicked
angels, and sets all kinds of traps that are fit to
destroy them adequately.
 The man who comes down from Jerusalem to Jericho is
bound to fall into the hands of robbers, for it is of his own
free will that he came down. The Savior says (John 10:8)
“All who came before Me are thieves and bandits”.
What are these injuries that have stricken man? These
are the disasters of sin.
The Scholar
Oreganus
 The circumstances of ma’s nature is not due to the change of
the site, but it is due to the change of the conduct. When he
slides into the world iniquity, he meets rubbers, and as soon
 s he deviates from the heavenly commandments, he is
exposed to meeting those robbers.
Thieves are the angels of darkness and of night who
sometimes change their likeness to angels of light (2 Cor.
11:14). But they cannot stay and firmly maintain being in the
likeness of angels of light. They begin to rip us of the clothes
of the spiritual grace that we have obtained and in this way
they afflict us with wounds. This is because if we had kept the
garment we have received undefiled, then we would never have
felt the blows of thieves.
Beware let you get stripped off from the garment of faith,
for this was the violent knock out that could have caused the
entire human race to perish, had the Samaritan not gone down
to heal the bad wounds.
St.
Ambrosios
 He is teaching us that the life of worldly pleasures separates
us from God. This life pulls us downward, and chokes us
with the heat of shameful lust. It also causes worry, and
drives man s low as death, which he eventually faces.
If humanity falls down in this way, and flips over and is
pulled down, then bit by bit it is led to the abyss below. There,
humanity is attacked by hosts of devils that strip it of the
garment of perfection the same way a gang of robbers would
do. They left humanity no power or any trace of purity, or
righteousness or wisdom or anything that depicts the divine
gortly(Page #347) image. In this way those devils have
inflicted blows on the repeated various sins, and thus left
humanity half dead.
This shows clearly what this proverb actually meant when
we think of it is depth. It is customary with thieves that they
first inflict injuries and wounds so they strip off the victim’s
garments, and they are not interested in inflecting more injuries
after that. But as for the devils, who as similar to thieves, they
cannot do so unless they first take off his garments of
righteousness. After this they injure him mercilessly till death,
because they do not want our clothes from us. What they really
want is our loss and our death. This is why the Lord said in
wisdom “they stripped off his garments and wounded him”.
St. Sveris the
Antiochian
d)The Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan: The
priest represents the covenant, and the Levite
represents the prophecies; whereas the old law of
Moses or the covenant or the prophecies could not
possibly bandage our hidden wounds and bring us
back to the nature in which God has created us. But
it is only the God Samaritan who represents the
Lord Jesus alone, who came to us and carried us in
His body that is able to bless our nature in Him. He
offers us every real healing that louches the renewal
of our life.
 The Priest, I think, is the law, and the Levite as well
represents the prophets. Both look upon the wounded person
and leave him there. The divine care left this man half-dead
so he would be under the care of Him who is stronger than
the law and the prophets: he is the ‘Samaritan’, whose name
means ‘the guard’. The guard of Israel does not sleep at all
(Ps. 12:4). To help this half dead person, the Samaritan came
down the road. But he did not come down from Jerusalem to
Jericho as the priest and the Levite did: he came down to this
half dead man, so as to save him and take care of him. The
Jews told him (John 8:48) “You are a Samaritan and you
have a devil in you”. When the Lord assured them He has no
devil in Him, He did not deny He was the Samaritan for He
is the guard.
 The Scholar
Oreganus
 The Samaritan was not the first to come. What the priest and
the Levite got disgusted with the Samaritan in his turn did
not get disgusted at. Do not scorn him due to his race. For if
you know the meaning of His name, you will wonder at
Him. His name means ‘guard’, about whom was said (Ps.
140:6) “The Lord keeps the children”. (John 3:13) “No one
has ascended into heaven except the one who has seen the
half-dead man, and none of his mates could save him. So He
draw near to him, by accepting willingly to suffer with us,
and His drawing closer to us, and poured His mercy on us,
and thus He become our neighbor.
St.
Ambrosios
 When humanity was known on the ground, and it was only
for a few more moments that it was to fall unconscious and
die, the lawyer of Moses, and by the mans of Moses, saw
her. This is actually what is referred to afterwards by the
priest and also by the Levite, because the lawyer is the
Levite priest physician. He saw humanity but he lacked the
eagerness and the strength, and so he could not heal her full,
and he did not raise humanity that was thrown on the
ground. St. Paul the apostle says (Heb. 9:9) “This is a
symbol of the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices
are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the
worshiper. (Heb. 9:12) “He entered once for all into the Holy
Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His
own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption”. This is our
Lord did not say, that the Priest and the Levite after they had
seen the man half dead, thrown on the ground, they passed
him. But He said (Luke 10:31-32) “Now by chance a Priest
was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed
 by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to
the place and saw him, passed by on the other side”.
Both of them did not pass the man and left him on the
side without their seeing him. But they both stood before him,
saw him, and thought about his treatment and touched him. But
when they saw they were unable to heal him, and that he was
overcome by his wounds, that is, their pleasures, it is them that
they retreated quickly. This is what is understood by he phrase
“passed by on the other side”.
Finally He says (Luke 10:33-34) “But a Samaritan while
traveling cane near him; and when he saw him he was moved
with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having
poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him his own animal,
bought him to an inner, and took care of him”.
At this point Jesus calls Himself in truth, a Samaritan, when
He was speaking to a lawyer who held great esteem for himself
and the law. Christ was concerned in showing He is not the
Priest or the Levite, and in general, not like those who believed
they were luring according to Moses’ commandments, and
actually they had no power. But it was He Himself who has
come to fulfill the will of the law, showing facts ‘love your
neighbor as yourself’ He is the One to whom the Jesus
insultingly (John 8:48) “Are we not right in saying that your
are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus defended Himself
concerning the accusation that He had a devil, but He did not
depend the words that He is a Samaritan
St.
Jerome
 ‘Samaritan’ means ‘guard’ He knows He is or guard, for (Ps.
121:4) “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber not sleep”.
Also (Ps. 127:1) “Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard
keeps watch in vain”. Our guard is our Creator.
St. Augustine
 I wish no one be afraid of perdition, however bad his
downfall may be. The Good Samaritan, who is Guard for the
souls, I assure you, will not pass by but will tenderly take
care of him and heal him.
St.
Ambrosios
e) (Luke 10:34) “He went to him, and bandage his
wounds, having poured oil and wine on them”.
When a man faces his downfall under the weight
of sin, and his soul is afflicted with deep wounds, this
person is not to be blamed harshly, even though he is
responsible for these wounds. Yet, he needs someone to
bandage his wounds, that is, to cover up his weakness
before others, and not to expose him to others. He also
needs the oil to relieve him of the severe pain, and is not
in need of things that flare up the wounds. As for the
wine, it could refer to the discipline. The oil and the wine
are blended, that is, the gentleness and the discipline
together, the tenderness and the strictness. The wine
could also refer to joy; for if the soul has come to be
broker by sin, and has lost its peace, and man’s life has
been transformed to tears, then our physician wishes to
give us back joy of our salvation’ all anew.
 The Good Samaritan did not leave the man half-dead,
because he saw he still had some breath of life in him, and so
he was eager to save him.
How about it with someone fallen into sin, almost half-
dead in it? Faith is able to find some breath of life in him.
The man half-dead was relieved by the powering of oil and
wine on him; therefore do not pour only wine, with no oil, lest
he suffers more with the purifying. Let him lean on your chest,
and introduce him to the owner of the inn, and pay the two
denarius for his treatment, and be his neighbor.
 St.
Ambrosios
 This physician has many medications by which He heals
people He bandaged the wounds by severe commandments,
and brings warmth when He forgives sins. He also pricks the
heart as the wine does, when He declares His judgment.
The Samaritan made him get on his animal; contemplate
on how He needs you ride in Him, for He has carried our sins,
and suffered for our sake (Is. 53:4). The Shepherd also carried
the lost sheep on His shoulders (Luke 15:5).
St.
Ambrosios
 He also poured the wine, that is, the word that teaches and
bandages the wounds. He actually did give us to drink the
wine of repentance, as the prophet says in the Psalms (Ps.
100:3) “You have made your people suffer hard things; you
have given us wine to drink that made us reel”. In fact, we
could never have borne this pain, because of the mischievous
wounds and how bad they were are incurable, and we could
never have tolerated this extreme stinching and so He mixed
it with oil.
He also ate with the tax collectors and sinners; and He
used to tell the Pharisees who accused Him and criticized Him
wickedly, (Matt. 9:13) “Why does your Teacher eat with tax
collectors and sinners?” but when He heard this He said
“Those who are well have not need of a physician, but those
who are sick. Go and learn what this mean ‘I desire mercy, no
sacrifice’ for I have come to call not righteous but sinners to
repentance”.
He has thus carried on His animal he who was taken care
of.
St. Sveris the
Antiochian
 We can call Christ’s body as His animal, on which He set
him whom the robbers wounded.
St.
Augustine
 The soul that fell in robbers’ hands is carried on Christ’s
shoulders.
St. Jerome
f) “He brought him to an inn, and took car of him”.
 The inn is the church that welcome all people, and does not
reject supporting anyone, since Christ calls everyone (Matt.
11:28) “Come to Me, all you hat are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”.
The Scholar
Oreganus
 He is the church that has come to welcome and shelter all
people.
For we no longer hear according to the old law in its
narrow margin and the symbolic worshiping (Deut. 23:3) “No
Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the
Lord” or (Neh. 13:1) “On hat day they read from the look of
Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written
that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly
of God”. We rather hear (Matt. 28:19) “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Also, we hear
(Acts 10:35) “But in every nation anyone who fears Him and
does what is right is acceptable to Him”.
After He had brought him to the inn, he ‘took care of
him’ (Luke 10:34). That is to say, after the church has been
established based on the assembly of the Gentiles hast used to
love the worshiping of so many idols, Christ Himself has come
to live in the church and walk in her, as is written, and thus He
grants every spiritual grace.
(2Cor. 6:16) “For we are the temple of he living God; as
God said, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will
be their God, and they shall be My people”.
St. Sveris the
Antiochian
Leaving the two denarii for the wounded man with the
Innkeeper.
The Good Samaritan, after getting us into His church,
since it is his inn where we could rest, it was appropriate for
Him to leave us there, physically, and so He ascends up to the
heavens to prepare us a place there. But He never leaves us is
need, and so He left two denarii. What are those two denarii?
In our previous study of the Old and the New Testament
we found that ‘number 2’ according to St. Augustine refers to
love; since it was mentioned in two of His commandments: the
love of God and he love of people, and because He makes the
two, one.
It is as if he Lord Jesus has left us in His church the treasure of
‘the divine love’ with which we love God and the people.
Some fathers think the two denarii left by the Samaritan to
the innkeeper; these are a symbol of the disciples and the
apostles working in the church for the account of the Lord
Jesus, or for the Holy Book in both of the Testaments.
 After taking the wounded man to the inn, He did not leave
him on the spot; He rather stayed with him for a whole day,
bandaging his wounds, not only by day but also by night. He
dedicated for him His will and His abilities. On the nonow,
when he was ready to leave, he offered his money, that is,
‘from the depth of his heart’ two denarii, and gave them to
the innkeeper, who is definitely the church angel who guards
us. As for the two denarii, these stand for the knowledge of
 the Father, and the Son, as far as I know. He offered the man
the mystery of the Father in the Son, and the Son in the
Father.
The Scholar
Oreganus
 He gave two denarii to the innkeeper (Luke 10:35) “The next
day he took our two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper”.
We understand from this that it symbolizes the apostles, the
shepherds, and the ministers that followed; this is when He
ascended to heaven after telling them to be concerned about
this particular patient. He added saying, (Luke 10:35) “Take
care of him, and when I come back, I will repay you,
whatever more you spend”.
The Old and the New Testaments are called the two
denarii. The first one is given by means of the law of Moses and
the prophets. The second one is by means of the Gospels and the
teachings of he apostles. Both of them belong to the one God. As
the denarii they both have one image of this alnightyking. They
have engraved in our hearts the royal picture and have made firm
the holy words there. The one altering words are actually one
Spirit also.
St. Sveris the
Antiochain
 What are two denarii? They may be the two Testaments that
are sealed by the eternal Father’s seal, and their price we are
healed of our wounds, for we were bought for a price (1 Pet.
1:19)
The innkeeper is the one who said that Christ has sent him
to preach (1 Cor. 1:17)
The owners of the inn are those ones about who was said,
(Mark 16:15-16) “And he said to them ‘Go into all the world
and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one
who believers and is baptized will be saved; but the one who
does not believe will be condemned”.
St. Ambrosios
Finally, St. Irianus thinks the two denarii point to the
Holy Spirit that has been granted to the church, so they are
engraved on the soul that has previously been wounded by the
thieves. The words; the Father and the Son are to be engraved
since they are God’s currency and His denarii.

4- Martha, the Worker; and Mary the Sufferer

The Lord Jesus carries the injured ones on His shoulders
every day just as the Good Samaritan did, so He takes them
into His church, which is he heavenly inn. He offers them the
Holy Spirit, that is, the two denarii, supports them and takes
care of them till He comes His final coming. So what do those
people entering the church do? This is what the story of Martha
and Mary answers, and their encounter of the Lord Jesus in
Bethany.
We said that Bethany means ‘the house of obedience’ or
‘the house of toil and suffering’. It is as if it is the church,
where the members are obedient to God, and bearing all the
suffering, as sharing the pain of the Savior. They all work as
Martha, all struggling hard. They also sit with Him and hear
His voice, contemplating on His mysteries, as did Mary. What
we wish to confirm here is that Martha represented the workers
in the church particularly the ministers; and Mary represented
those members who meditate. The Christian embodies in his
heart Martha’s thoughts blended with that of Mary’s. there is
no real struggle away from the life of contemplation, and there
is no true life of contemplation without any work!
Indeed, for every member there is a talent. Some members
have a strong potential for work, able to move constantly in the
Lord. Some others love to be silent and peaceful so as to live a
life of worshiping and contemplation. But the former ones, in
the midst of their struggle, they have to share in the daily life of
meditation, they would not be deviated in their struggle. The
latter group has to practice their love practically by struggling,
if not by apparent service, and then let it be by prayer on behalf
of the entire church and for the sake of the entire world.
I wish to speak more elaborately about the practical life and
the contemplative life in a special book. I think it enough at this
point to mention some excerpts of the fathers regarding this
issue.
 Martha did well in serving the saints; but Mary her sister did
better by sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to His words.
St.
Augustine
 Martha and Mary were two sisters, very close to one anther
not only biologigfly but also in righteousness. They were
close to the Lord, serving Him when He was present in the
flesh.
Mary welcomed Him as she did to strangers, as a maid
welcoming her Master, and as a patient receiving her Savior,
and as a creature towards her Creator. She offered Him food,
and she was nurtured in the spirit. The Lord was pleased to take
the form of a slave (Phil. 2:7) and this is why the servants gave
His food, and in great condescension He allowed Himself to be
fed by others. He has come to have a body that hungered and
thirsted for real; but do you know that when He came to the
wilderness there were angels ministering to Him (Matt. 4:11)?
Thus He was happy to be fed by offers, and He showed
kindness to those who fed Him. How wondrous it is, when He
showed the same kindness to the widow who dealt with the
saint Elijah, who has previously been helped by God by means
of the raven’s service! (1 Kings 17:6). Was the Lord unable to
support Elijah when he was sent by the Lord to the widow?
Never; He was not unable to have the authority to sustain him
when He sent him to the widow. But the Lord wanted to bless
the righteous widow through her good service to His servant. In
this way also, the Lord was welcomed as a guest; it is He who
(John 1:11-12) “He came to what was His own, and His own
people did not accept Him. But to all who receive Him, who
believed in His name, He gave power to become children of
God”. He adopted the servants so He would make of them His
brethren. He also released those in bondage, to make of them
parents in the inheritance. Despite this, I wish He would never
tell any of you, “You are the accursed, depart form Me into
eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”. (Matt. 25:41)
Blessed are those who have attained the blessing of welcoming
Christ in their home. Do not grieve or complain that you were
not born at this time to see the Lord in the flesh, because He
does not deprive you of this blessing, for He says, “Truly I tell
you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are
members of My family, you did it to Me”.
 As Master was busy preparing the food for the Lord, her
sister Mary close the Lord rather give her the food. In a way,
she left her sister confused and busy in the work, whereas
she sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to His words attentively.
She heard the words ringing in her ears (Ps. 46:10) “Be still,
and know that I am God”.
Martha was confused and disturbed, whereas Mary was
enjoying the blessing. One was providing many things,
whereas the other focused her eyes on the only one.
St.
Augustine
 It is good to do service to the poor; particularly those
necessary service and the respectful deeds done to God’s
saints. But what is better is what Mary has chosen to do. The
 first deeds have a lot of trouble due to the nature of them
being so essential.
As for the second deeds, these have their sweetness done in
love.
If Martha had become satisfied in doing these deeds, she
would not have asked for her sister’s help. These chores are
numerous and variable, since they are all of a manual and
temporary nature. They are actually good chores, but yet
they are transient. But what did the Lord tell Martha? ‘Mary
has chosen the good part’ …… not that you are bad, but that
she has chosen the better part. Why is she any better?
Because this will not be taken away from her. In some time
or other, the heavy weight of these necessary chores will be
taken from you, but for the sweetness of the Truth, this is
forever, and it even increases. In this life she is increased,
and in the other life she is more fulfilled, and it is not taken
away from her.
St. Augustine
 Martha was concerned about feeding the Lord, but as for
Mary she was concerned that the Lord deeds her. By means
of Martha the Lord’s banquet was prepared. It was in this
banquet that Mary rejoiced.
St. Augustine
 I say that in those two women the tow lives heave been
represented: the current life, and the life to come; The life of
struggle and the life of rest; the life of grief and the blessed
life; the temporary life and the eternal one.
What does this life embody? I do not speak of a
malicious life, a deceitful ugly one, an adamant and ungrateful
life; but rather a life of struggle filled with suffering, fears,
where ordeals deprive it of any peace. Both lives are
unharmful, and are even praiseworthy; but one of which is full
of weariness whereas the other is an easy one.
 In Martha, we see a picture of the current issues of today,
whereas in Mary they are the issues to come.
What Martha did, we are doing now; whereas what Mary
did, we hope to do well as our first step, and so obtain the
second step in perfection.
St.
Augustine
 Be like Mary, and prefer the food for the soul to the food for
the body.
Leave others to run here and there providing for Christ’s
hospitable welcome. But as for yourself, when you leave the
weighty things of the world, sit at the Lord’s feet, and tell Him
(Song of Sol. 3:4) “When I found Him whom my soul loves, I
held Him and would not let Him go”.
St. Jerome
 The Lord orders man to depart from his life which is so
disturbed, and to cling to the only one; he is to get closer to
Him who offers the eternal life.
St. Clemendos El
Sekenderi
 The greatest righteous deed in its essence, however great this
may be, yet when meditating in the Lord, this is even far
greater since He is the Only One.
As for His words ‘this is not taken from her’ this has
revealed that the portion of the other one could be taken from
her.
This is because the physical service cannot remain with
man forever, but as for Mary’s eagerness this has no end.
Father
Moses
 He former struggled in the practical service, whereas the
other one was concerned about the spiritual endeavonr in
God’s word.
 Mary chose the good portion that will not be taken from
her. I wish we too, struggle hard so e have what the enemy
cannot take from us. Let us have the listening ear that is not
distorted, because the seeds of the divine Word are subjected to
theft if they fall on the way (Luke 8:5, 13).
Let us follow Mary’s model, she who was keen on being
filled with the wisdom. Thus is a greater and more perfect job
appropriate for us hem to be hindered by the daily worries and
overlooking the heavenly Word.
The Lord does not blame Martha for he good deeds; but
He prefers Mary to her because she chose the better share.
With Jesus you find the treasures of riches, and He is so
generous in His bountiful gifts. This why she chose the basic
wisdom. In this way the apostles did not leave God’s Word and
serve tables (Acts 6:2).
The basis of the operation is ‘wisdom’ St. Stephen was full
of wisdom, and he was chosen for the service. The church body
is one, even though the members are different; yet each one is
in need of the (1 Cor. 12:21) “The eye cannot say to the hand,
‘I have no need of you’ nor again the head to the feet”. The ear
cannot deny it is of the body for it the basic members are these,
yet the others still have their importance. The wisdom is the
head, and the chores are done by the hands, because the eyes of
the wise are in his head (Eccl. 2:14). The real wise one is he
who has Christ’s thinking, and he looks up in his spiritual
vision to the Highest. This is why the eyes of he wise one are in
his head, and he foolish one has them in his hand.
St. Ambrosios
 The Spiritual Worship

Because He in the heavenly spiritual friend we are unable to receive him in us or be

blessed wilt his friendship in any often way than that of the true spiritual worship.
1-the Lord's Prayer 1-4
2-the fervent prayer 5-13
3-the unity of the spirit (leiuy accused of Beelzebub) 14-26
4-friendship and the word of god 27-28
5-friendship and the miracle of Jonah the proplier 29-32
6-the healthy eye 33-36
7-the inner puriuialwin and the worship by the spirit 37-54

1-the Lord's Prayer

The evangelist told us of the lord jesus everything the house of Mary and the mtta,
and how each of them expressed her love for hair in sozue.we or other.matta son to serve him
whereas Mary remained at his feet listening to his word (Luke 10:39).we are easy to sit with
Mary at his feet, meet him and pray. this is why the following conversation was focused on
"prayer". The evangelist sap, (Luke 11:1) "he was praying in certain place and often he had
finished, one of his disciples said to him "lord, leach us to pray as john taught his disciples"
There is no doubt the disciples leant a lot of prayers from the old testament or fur the
Jewish tradition. But the disciples question "lord leach us to pray" reveals what the disciples
saw in the lord Jesus when he was playing. the released a new picture they had not tasted
before in their worship, and so they were easer to have the same one spirit and thought
For another time we say, if we wish the lord to enter our house and that we serve him
as mailto or meditate on their, then there is no other way to be blessed with the church life
and its perfect level of work and meditation, except it be by prayer.
St.gyril the great says, " if the lord is so excess Ely good, then why does he pray when
he is so perfect and does not need anything?. we answer what it is appropriate for their
aeeodiyng to the planning of his incaution that he practices human work at the oppiopmate
time. if he has eaten and drank, than in truth he is aeeustoued to praying teaching us not to be
careless in this duty, but rather to be struggling and kindled in our prayer. in addition to this,
he cause as head to the church, carryies us in him as newbie's of his bozly.when ha prays, he
only does so representing us and for our account. he car lied us by his prayers to his father's
exuberance.ow prayers have thus become emeepllable to the father through his son his
beloved. in other words, by his prayer, he sanctified our own and has opened to us the doors
for encounteicing the father in heir
When the disciples? hearts were kindled with love of prayer on seeing him as the lord
in prayer, he then began to tell them of the lord's prays have prevcovisly spoken of it and
testified of it in many of our flatus words. I think it enough to speak briefly of it here, and
mention segue excepts of ego fathers, not mentioned pzeezoiesly.
(Luke 11:2) "he said to them, when you pray, say:our father who in heaven"
We cannot pray as should be if we do not first realize our position when coopered to
his. he has chosen us as sons of lord, and thus we speak to him from the basic fact that we are
his sons and filiations we obtained freely as a gift from the baptize waters, even though we
feel we are unworthy to be his slaves.
What follows are some remarks of the fathers regarding this please:
+how wonderful is god's love to mankind! He has endowed those who have gone
astray from him and have fallen into the alleys of evil, he has endowed them with the
frogwomen of sinus, and a bountiful share of grace, to the extent they can call his "father":
our father who at in heaven. the heavens are also those who are carrying the heavenly world,
in whom the lord dwells and lives.
St.gyril el orshalimy
+when you begin praying, forest every creation is visible or invisible.begin the prayer
by praising god, the creation of all. this is why he said, when you pray say "our father who at
in heaven"
St.baselious the great
+look that king of preparation you need so you can say in love "our father". if your
eyes are focused or earthly matteis, and you desire the peoples glory , and you as enslaved to
you passions in corruption, then call corruption a father to your self. you are defiling with
your feeling tips the name that is not to be defiled .he has commanded you to call him father
and so do not matter it is falsehood.
Father Gregory el neissy
+the prayer begins by testifying about god, as a falter to us, as if it is a reward for the
faith. This was set for those who received him and so he gave them the power to become
gods children (john 1:12).anyway, the lord often declare god the father as a father to us. He
also gave us a commandment not to call anyone on earth as father, but only the father who is
in heaven (matt 23:9)
But this prayer, therefore, we obey the commandment.
Blessed are they who know their father! This blame was directed towards assail when
the spirit makes heaven and earth testify saying (as 1:2)."Hear oheavens, and listen, oeaith
;for the lord has spoken: I reader children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against
me."
When we mentis the father up also call on the son, for the says (john 10:30)
"I and the father are one".ploreover.we should not disirlord the church our mother, for
the mother is known through the father and the son, and through her the name of the father
and the son is manifested.
In a word, we honor the father with his son. We also remember the commandment,
and we put a mark for those who have forgotten their falter the schooner stallions.
+when we pray to god our father, it is appropriate for us not to be preoccupied by
anyone elese, not by any earthly reature, or any evil spirit or even the angels.
There was one saint living in solitude in the riflemen. he was attacked by the devils,
and was surrounded by them for two weeks. they threw him up in the air and caught him
down in a straw rug; yet they vainly tried to pull him away from his kindled prayer.
Two angels came to another lover of god who devoted his life to prayer. when he was
walking in the wilderness, they accompanied him in his trip, one on the right and other on the
left, but he was not distracted him then lest he loosen what is belt, putting in mind st.paul the
apostle's advice (rom 8:38)
"non angels, on rules, on things present, on things to come, on power, on height, on
depth, on anything else in all creation, will be able to sqarate us from the love of god in
Christ jesus our lord"
by means of true prayer the monk become another angel, since he is eager to see god's
face in the heaven, in zealous and kindled eaganen.
+he who loves god lives with him, and coastally prays for him as a father, putting any
though or whims.
Father ogris
(Luke 11:2)"hallowed be thy name"
the father oreganos thinks atheist blaspheme god's name when they attsilrite his name
to idols. the prayer here is like the cry of the church to god to take away the atheists worship
from the world, so his name be known as holy to entire humanity. in the some concept st.gyril
the great says "when god's name is served among chose who have not yet believed, the beaus
of truth shine in item and so they confess the holy one of the saints"
at any rates, if Christ's name glories the faultier, when we poison his name in truth in
us, the father's name is stratified in our life and is glorified in us.cimong the words of the
father regarding this issue.
+just as when a man looks upon the beauty of heavens, he said "glory be to you lord",
likewise is it when someone sees the deeds of a righteous man, he sees his righteousness
glorifying god even more than the heavens.
St.john cherrystone
+the name of god is holy in its nature;whetta we say it or not, but, since the name of
god accrued by sinless as it written (rom 2:24;as 52:5)
"the name of god is blasphemed among the quells because of you", therefore we ask
that god's name be sanctified in us, not to become holy, as if it were not holy in us, we who
seek to sanctify ourselves, and practices the appropriate deeds by our sanctification.
St.guril el orshalimy
The selector tsiliaur thinks the work of angels is to praise in hymns three
sanctification "holy, holy, holy" (as 4:3, rev 4:8).we too, when we bless his name we are
raised to god so as to practice the partnership in the glory to come, few share the heavenly
lots in their praises .if the father's name is gloried (john 17:6), if we are ferine in him, and
practice his life, then the father by his son who devils in us in gloried
"Thy kingdom comes" (Luke 11:2)
+it is befitting the devout soul to say confrdeulty "thy kingdom come". because he
who hears st.paul sayings (rom 10:12)."therefore do not let sis excises domino in your mortal
bodies, " he well clause himself in deed thoughts and words; then he would be able to say,
"thy kingdom come"
st.gyriel el orshalimy
+we also ask the lord to save us from conniption, to keep us from death, or as it is
written "thy kingdom come". this means may the holy spirit come down on us and purity us.
St.gegory el neessi
+those who say this, seems to wish for the savior of the world to shine once moue
st.gyrial the great
+our wish and desire is that our king hastens in his coming, and so our bondage would
not be extended in this world.
The scholar tritilian
He martyrs fasten the lord's coming to put an end to evil, saying, (rev
6:10)."Sovereign lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our
blood on the einhalrtatus of the earth?"
Likewise the believes do, for the doors of heaven have been opened before them, and
they have realized their share in the inhumane earnable; thus they too hasten his last coming
to obtain the eteval glory.
(Luke 11:2)"thy will be done on each as it is in heaven"
+god's devout ausels, the devise ones, do cools will just as David sang his hymns
saying (ps 103:20)"bless the lord you his angels you mighty one who do his bridding,
obedieut to his spoken word"
when you pray fervently you wish to say "just as you will is fulfilled in your angels,
let it likewise be fulfilled in us, we who ore on earth lord"
st.gyril el orshalimy
+if is as it he is saying "lord, anable us to follow the heavenly life, and that we wish
for what you want"
st.john chuposlom
 +because he said that Mau's life often the resanection will be as ma angels life, this is
why we have to provide for our life in this world every decency and property, so that
whereby we are still in the holy, yet we do not conduct ourselves according to it. at this point
the physician of the souls breaks down the nature of the disease, if those who are sick trod to
escape from the godly will. this is why they are headed from it by their link to this devise
will. the health of the soul is the fulfillment of god's appropriate will.
St.gegouuy el neissi
+we pray that his will be fuebilled in everyone. from the semiotic aspect, we explain
"as in the spirit, also in the body". as we ourselves being heaven and earth.
The scholar trilian
(Luke 11:3)"give us this day our daily bread"
the lord commands us to aisle even for the matters concerning the feeding of the body
from god, since he is our father who takes care of our sons as well as our bodies. but he asks
us not to pamper the body but just to suffers it, so that he body supports us until we finished
our mission.
St.gyriel the great says, " some may I think it is not suitable that the saint ask the
earthly things of god. this is why they attribute spiritual concepts to their words. even though
it is appiopuate for the saints to givethier major concern the spiritualities, yet they ask with no
shame their general food as the lord commands , in fact, he asks them to for bread, that is ,
daily food. this is proof enough they own nothing, and they are repeclbeally poor, for he does
not ask for bread from him who has it, but relit from him who is in need of it"
St basilious thinks this prayer floodlit us by the lord means our commitment to resort
to god to tell him everyday of the needs of our daily nature.
Many of the fathers think this daily bread is "Christ" our lord with whom we are
blessed as the daily heavenly bread without which the soul becomes badly in need of it. the
slier trisection soup "Christ is our bread because he is the life and the bread is the life. the
lord says "iam the bread of the life" (john 6:35).prior to this his word were (john 6:33)."for
the bread of god is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." god's
bread is the living word of god, and his body also is counted as bread.
St.augustine thinks this daily bread is to be blessed with the resurrection of the lord
Jesus so we experience every day the power of his resurrection working in us.
(Luke 11:4)"and forgive us our trepans as we forgive those who trepan against us"
+the hurt done to us is simple and small and we can easily forgive it. but as for our
hurting to god this is big and we have no other way out when it is by means it is by means of
his love to maintained. Therefore, be cautions best you forbid god, due to what's small harm
you suffered from, to forgive you sins you have committed toward him.
St.gyril el orshalimy
+the request for forgiveness is full of confession for he who ask for forgive is only
confesiry his own sins.
The scholar tritlian
+even josep, when he sent away his brothers so as to bring their father, he told them
(qen 14:24)."do not quenelle on the way"
in this way he caution us not to be angry on the way when we go to our father in
prayer, as this is inappropriate.
+what sickliness in this that you spend one day with no prayer when you refuse to be
seconceled with your brother or keep your wrath and so those your prayer
+every revengeful act you consiut against your brother who has rearmed you, will be
a stone of offense when you pray
Father ogris
+every blinds the mind of him who prays and wraps up his prayer in a dark cloud.
 +no one loves real prayer, and yet gives himself a chance to be wrathful or envious,
for he will be as a man who wants to be peaceable and yet pulls out his eyes.
Father origin
(Luke 11:4)"and lead us not into temptation"
+it could mean: do not let temptation overpower us and drift us, since temptation is
considered a torrent overflow that is hard to overcome. Those not overpowered by temptation
could pass through the lorreut, like swimming champs who do not allow the current to sweep
them away.
St.gyril el orshalimy
+anyway, it is inappropriate we ask for the physical aralias in our prayer; for the lord
jesus commands people in general to pray so as not to be led into temptation. But if someone
does fall into temptation, . He has to ask the lord for tolerance, so the words be fulfilled in us
(matt 10:22)
"But the one who endues till the end will be saved"
st.basilious
The scholar tritilian distinguishes between the ordeal that god allows, which does not
mean "temptation in the general sense, but it means "a test" for our promotion. but as for
theadversay, he tempts us so as to deceive us. it is as it we pray not to enter temptation
meaning that he supports us against Satan's traps and his deception.
(Luke 11:4)."But deliver us from the evil one"
+if the phrase "lead us not temptation means not to be tempted at all, the lord would
not have added "but deliver us from the evil one. the evil is our enemy. the devil, and we ask
to saved from him.
St.gyril el orshalimy
Finally, the scholar tritilain confirms the fact that the Lord's Prayer in the foundation
the lord jesus laid for our prayer it open the door. For prayer for each one to ask what is
appropriate for him but within the same thoughts that ore for this prayer.moreover, the lord's
prayer, though snort in length, yet it contains a lot such as.
God's glorifying by saying "our father"
Testifying of the faith by saying "hallowed be thy name"
Offering obedience in "thy will be done"
Remembering the hope "give us this day our daily bread". the full knowledge of own
sears, our debts, in the prayer so as obtain the absolution.
The great fear of temptation in asking to be protected.
How amazing!. it is only god alone who is able to each us himself what he wishes us
to pray for.
2-the fervent prayer.
The lord has offered us a living motel for prayer, so he asks us to be kindled in our
worship by the spirit. he therefore asks us to pray fervently, not because he answers due to a
lot of words, but rather to kindle our depths towards constant praying.
God is eager to give, an knows our needs and our inner longing. but ha asks as for
faience so as to learn how to stand before him, and how to begin a real relation with him.
Father Isaac says"god, in his eagerness to endow us with what is heavenly and eternal, he
verges us to pressure him with our fervent prayer. he does not reason this fervency and does
not think lightly of it, but he is actually pleased with it and praises it."st.ougustine says". our
lord jesus Christ who is in our midst, would not have asked us to ask of god as a giver, and
jesus would not have wringed us to ask so strongly if he had not wanted to give us. he puts to
shame our negligence, for he wishes to give more than our desire to takes. he wishes to show
mercy more than our own desire of getting rid of misery. This wronging that he offers us only
for our own sake. Father origin says, " if you have not a jet received the gift of prayer or
praise giving, then be fervent and you will obtain. The gyril the great says, " the savior taught
us before, in his answering the disciples as how to pray. but some may practice the teaching
of prayer, the same way jesus taught it but in carelessness and negligent, and if they are
unheard in the first or second prayer, they then quit praying. this may be own situation. this is
why the lord presents to us this parable to declare to us that fear in prayer in harmful, but as
for patience it is useful indeed"
The lord gave us this payable:
(Luke 11:5-8)"and he said to them, "sappore one of you has a friend and you go to
him at midnight and say to him friend, lend me three lovers of bread, for a fine of mine has
answered and I have nothing to set before him". and he answer from within "do not brother
me to doer has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and
give you anything: I tell you even though he will not get up and give him anything because he
is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he
needs"
We notice the following in the above passable:
Firstly: the foremost purpose of his parable is to urge us in persistence on prayer until
you obtain you request. we notice here, furthermore, that the lord jesus presents the fathers as
a friend to humanity, for he says "suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at
midnight". Father the ophlactis says "god in thus friend who loves all humanity, and he
wishes all to be saved".st.ambrozios says" what greater friend can we have than he who has
asked his body for our sake? From him, king David has asked at midnight bread, and obtain
it, so ha says, (ps 11:62) "at midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous
ordinances". David obtained those loves that have become food to him/her asked of him at
night (ps 6:6) "every night I flood my bed with tears". He does not fear to be woken up for he
knows that his dourine friend in constantly wakeful and at work. we too, let us recall what
came in the lookes, and he careful about our prayer day and night, pleading for the forgiven
of sais.if such a saint who the respousilritly of a whole kingdom on his shoulders, use to
praise the lord even times a day.(ps 17:64), and is consistently offering to the lord day and
night. how much more so, should we do, we who have to ask for so much due to our
incessant downfallen because of our frail bodies and souls, so we are not shortened in our
building up any piece of bread that supports anyone's heart (ps 103:15).we have become
weary of the way and have toiled greatly in the ways of the world, and at the crossroads of
this life"
It is as if the lord is asking us to resort to him as a dewier friend in truth and at all
times, even at midnight. We entreat him to supply us with the heavenly bread, so fulfilling to
the soul and the borty.
Secondly: if god offers himself a friend to us whom we are able to ask at midnight to
grant us heavenly bread for others “sake, coming for us also at the midnight of this world,
being so hungry; then the lord according to there is a friend to us as well. we ask of the divide
friend for the sake of you alts human friends.st Augustine thinks his friend coming from the
street that is from the world is coming to us as if from the eveil way, eafer to obtain the truth.
We cannot host him and feed him unless we asle god first and thus be equipped for being
who has arrived from a journey, was it not enough to ask for three loaves?
a)because we meet our groom the savior amidst this world in its evil temptation, as if
we were at midnight , we ask for ourselves as well as for others three loaves for our soul to be
fed, and our souls and bodies too. God alone is the feeder of man’s entire being. as father
theophlaetius the patriarch of Bulgaria says, " we ask of god these piece of bread that is
feeding the needs of man’s body, his soul and his spirit, and thus no danger would harm us in
our temptation”
we realize the gospel's concept of the sanctified life and chastity. at this point
 A chaste or sanctified person in the lord does not live in deprivation. He receives from
god's hands what satisfies his life fully, and what quenches its thirst. Thus his soul rgories
and his spirit in thrilled an sestiful too; and his body, even through he might be suffering from
many ills for the lord's sake this income to be peaceful. for this reason, those newly baptized
in the first church, used to sing straight after their baptism, this psalm 23 "the lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want he makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the
still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteous for his names sake"
b) St.augistine thinks these there loaves of bread refer to our faith in the trinity. Our
souls, our spirit and our bodies will not be inwardly fed unless by means of the holy trinity:
the holy trinity of love that fills the reward being and overflows with its blessing on us. He
says, " who is he, who, amidst the toil, has to ask god so obtain the understanding of the
trinity? By so doing he will find rest of the current world. His hardship is the midnight that
promotes him to ask for the trinity. Let us understands the bread of the trinity that is of one
essence. Whenever you obtain the three loaves of bread, that is the foal of knowing the
trinity, then you will have the source of life and food. Then do not fear, or stop, as this food is
endless, it rather puts an end to you need. Learn and teach live and feed.
At another accession, he says, " what are these three loaves of bread other than the
mipterwis heavenly food?"
In more details, he also says, "now, there is no need of any fear of some strange
coming to you from his way. But by being hospitable to him unwieldy, you can make out of
him a citiyeur, and son to the house. Do not fear, for the bread will not run out. The bread us
god the father, the son and Holy Spirit. Learn and teach, live and feed others. it is god who
gives you, he does not give you what is any letter than himself. You greedy one, what more
de you ask for?"
c) St.augustine also thinks those three loaves of bread are excessive gifts from god to
mankind----they are. Faith hope and love. he says, " it is necessary for you to receive love,
faith and hope .what he gives you, will be sweet to you. These things:faith, hope and love---
are three. They are god's gifts you receive faith from god, for it is said (rom 12:3)."Each
according to the measure of faith that god has assigned". Also 'hope' which we receive from
the who was told (ps 119:49)"in which you have made me hope". From him we receive love,
for it was said (rom 5:5)"because god's love has been poured into our hearts through the holy
spirit that has been given to us"
fourlthy:the lord says, (Luke 11:7) and he answers from within, ' do not bother me;
the door has already Benn locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and
give you anything"
the lord jesus gives us the image of this friend answering from within. he does not go
out to him, even though the time was pressing. it was knocking. in his answer he dedares this
perilous action was pretty disturling and that the door was locked and his children were in
bed and that he is unable to get up and give him anything despite this friend in his persistence
was able to take from him what be wanted how much more so would god give those who ask
him insistently a sign of their honest request particularly because god is not like this friend
who answers from wiltin.he rather came out to us through his incarnation and the word of
god came to dwell in our midnight speaking to us in his own mouth. he ripped off the barrier
dividing heaven from earth thus the door is no longer shut but it is open to all. he wishes all
to be saved and to come to know the truth. his children are not with him in bed, for he never
sleeps and his angels and saints also watch and work constantly by their prayers and
pleadings for the sake of the lost and needy souls! the lord does not say "I am unable to get
up and give you anything because the lord has risen from the dead and gave us his secretion
that is active in us"
 In such a way the lord gave us a pueatyfull image of the friend from whom we obtain
our need through persistence in spite of the resisting cercustances.how much more are we
going to obtain from the lord himself.
St.augustine says, " if the sleeping person had to give unwillingly often being
disturbed from his sleep, to this one who asked of him so how much more would me going in
more gealthenes and compassion by their who does not sleep.
He even wakes us up from our sleep so that we ask him to give us?!
His words "the door is shut now". May refer to the shutting of the door of our
understanding and so we do not realize him. god does not want a slut door that obstruct our
depth of encounteriey him.but it is we who order the shutting of the door is our and our
iquorance of his salvation deeds.st ougustine says, " the time referred to here is the famine
time for the word when the understanding is slut and those who distribute the gospels wisdom
as bread by means of preaching in the world now they are in the restful place with the lord.
The world has shut the door due to its disobedience but the job of the church is to ask
the lord to open this door to the preaches so that they launch out with the souls where the rest
and satisfaction are in the lord.
St.amprious says "put aside the sleep of slothfmlaies and knock on Christ door.st paul
asked this door be opened to him so he speaks of Christ miystense (col.4:3).this may be the
door st john saw opened (rev 4:1)."often this I looked and there in heaven a door stood open
and the first voice which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, " come up here and i
will show you what must take place often this." the door was opened to st.john and also to st
Paul so as to obtain for our sake leaves for our nourisliment.this is due to their persistence in
knocking at a convent and an inconvenient teaie (2tim4:2) so as to restore life to the equities
that have wearied and toiled on the worlds way by an abundance of heavenly food"
Fifithy:our lord jesus Christ wages us to pray fervently for he concludes the payable
saying (Luke 11:8, 9)."I tell you even though he will not get up and give him anything
because he is his friend at beast because of his persistence he will get up and give him
whatever he needs. so I say to you, ask and it will be given you;seek, and you will
find;knock, and the door will be opened for you."
St augustine says, " what does he mean by his words "because of his persistence"?
because he did not stop knocking and neither did he relies when his request was syected, god
may be sometimes slow in giving us some things so that he makes us know the value of the
good things and not because he refuses to give them to us. the things we are so eager for, we
receive in great joy but those given us quickly these are counted cheap. There for ask and
plead and insist. by the request itself and persistence you yourself will grow and these you
will obtain more. he also say "by the prayer we say through the pleadings we wish for we
obtain what he is ready to grant. his gifts are excess Ely mawelous but are too small and have
too narrow means to obtain them.
St.basilious says "god may delay your request voluntarily so your zeal and your
approach to him may be doubled. also so that you may know what gods gift is and take care
afit very protectively when you obtain it. What man obtain after so much struggle he takes
care in protecting it test he loves his toils as well.
Whay does he say ask seek knock?
a) This may be for emphasis sake. he insist on our asking seeking and knocking
because he wants to give us. as st.augustine says "he would not have encowered to ask him us
in this way if he had not wished to give us. Let us get rid of the laziness pertaining to all
menus, for he wishes to give us more than we ask for"
st.basilious says, " it is appropriate to us to ask the dwrine help of god not in a
distorted or careless way distracted here and there. such a person would not only be rejected
what he is asking for, but he also angers god, if a man stands before a ruler his eyes would be
fixed inwardly and outwardly so he would not be punished. How much more so, is it
appropriate for us to stand before god in fear and caution? but if you are provoked by a
certain sin, and you are unable to pray cousisteulty with all you strength have second through
so that whenever you stand before god you may conceutrale you through on him .god will
forgive you because it is not due to carelessness but rather due to weakness for being unable
to appear before him as should be. if you commit yourself to this you will not leave him until
you obtain what you want. if you do not obtain what you are asking for this will be because
your request is inappropriate or because you have no faith or because you have said it in a
vegligcut way or because you ask for things not for your own goody or because you have left
praying. Some may often ask "why do we pray?" does god not know what we are in need of?
There is no doubt that he knows and what we are in need of? there is no doubt that he knows
and gives us abundaulty all temporal matters even before we ask him. But we first have to ask
for what is good and the heavenly kingdom. it is then that we obtain what we desire. Let us
ask in faith and patience and ask for what is beneficial to us and we should not hinder prayer
by the chisobedience to usand we should not himde prayer by the chisoledience of our
conseience.
b)the three times repetition may mean "ask, seek, knock" that we do not ask him only
with our thoughts or inward intentmis, but also with our lips and deeds it is appropriate our
prayer be uplifted through the thoughts harmony togeeta with the lips and conduct and thus it
goes. Out as holy incuse fragrance from deep sanctified souls in blessed words and pleasing
behavior to god. in the same outlook st.soeris the autiochain says "the word "knock" may
mean ask in an active way. may knocks with the lord and the hand is the sign of good work.
The distinction between the three could be in a different way. at the beginning of virtue we
ask to know the truth. as for the second step it is to ask how to conduct ourselves on this rood.
The third step is when man reaches virtue he knocks the door to enter the wide field of
knowledge.
These three matters, all of which are asked by man in prayer. To "ask" could mean to
"pray", and "seek" means to pray by means of the good deeds we practice in a way consistent
with our prayer prayer. To "knock" means "to continue praying incessantly". In other words,
" the asking, the seeking and the kncking"mean the prayer unity with the practical life in the
lord. We ask him to begin with us and we seek. He continues the way and we knock so that
he completes our struggle by giving us the eternal glory. For he is the beginning and the end
as well as the escort to us on the way as more accuralety;he is our way. With him we begin
with him we go on, and with him we are perfected and fulfilled.
To encourage us to ask and knock the lord Jesus revealed our right as his children in
asking. It is our right as his children to ask of our father receive for he says (Luke 11:11-
13)."Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of
a fish? Or if the child asks for are egg, will give a scorpion. if you them, who are evil know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly father give the
holy spirit to those who ask him?
We notice the following in the words above:
a)just as he asked us to ask to seek to knock that is three times likewise he gave us
three examples in the request: to ask for bread for a fish and for an egg. it is surprising they
are three kinds of food and it is as if our request for the lord is to feed us spiritually and
physically.
St.augustine thinks the bread is "love" and the fish is the faith and the egg is the hope.
We thus ask of our heavenly father to love to believe and to hope.
He says "by bread he means love since this is the greatest of what we desire. it is
essential and without which everything else is counted as nothing as a table without any
bread. as for the opposite of love. It is the heart cruelty which is similar to stones. As for the
fish. this refers to else faith in inirsible matters; it is this that we receive in the water of
baptisiu without it being seen visually.
From another aspeet faith is like a fish attacked by the world waves and yet does not
perish.contrary to it is the snake that due to its poisonous deception. The first by throwing its
need sin him. the egg is understood to be hope because the egg is still small and the birdis not
yet formed in it, yet we wish and hope for this.contiary to the egg is the scorpion that has a
deadly sting and scares man dreadfully by going backwords.this is contiary to hope that
promotes us forward overcoming the matters before us.in other words bread refers to love
whereas the stone refers to the heart erulty.the fish refers to faith whereas the snake refers to
the blasphemy of faith when the respect. deceived eve ceinningly and covupted her through
away from what is pure (2 lor 11:2, 3).the egg refers to hope since out of what seems to be a
hard solid burly a bird full of life comes out whereas the scorpion destroip maus life.
God wants to feed us and so let us ask for him since he is the one to fill our life with
love faith and hope. our depths will be filled and we will not be in need of anything. as for the
adversary he is the attacker who wants to offer stones instead of bread for he said to the lord
jesus command these stones to become bread for he is used to giving the qruelty of the hearts
as food instead of the bread of life. it is the devil who suet the serpeut instead of the fish and
his deeds are similar to that of the scorpions.
Let us ask god himself to fill our life and give us of what bounties he has. this is why
st.ougustine says "you covetous man what are you asking for? if you are asking for
something else to satiety you often than god then you will never be satisfied "he also says"
give yourself your food so you would not die of hunger. give it its bread.youwill ask "what is
this bread?" the lord has spoken to you so if you wish to listen understand and believe in him
then he wishes to tell you himself I am the living bread that comes down from heaven (john
6:41)
St.cyril the great comments on asking for the bread from the lord saying. if your son
asks you for bread you give it to him happily because he is asking for good food but if he
asks of you due to his guoriance stones to eat you will not give it to him and you will rather
forbid him from fulfilicy his harmful wish. this is meaning. the scholar oreganos thinks the
fish you are asking for is the love of learning's Augustine comments on the egg as the symbol
of hope saying". let us put our egg under the hens wring of the gospel that cries out due to the
destroyed and devastated city saying "o Jerusalem, Jerusalem….. (Matt 23:37)."how often
have I devised to gather your children together as a him gather her brood under her wrings
and you were not willing he also says we notice how the hen tears the scorpion into little
prices the hen of the gospel also tears up those who blaspheme and destroys them. these ones
creep out of their caves and holes and sting the children fatally.
Finally the lord confirm the wish of his heart towards us saying, " how much more
will the heavenly father give the holy spirit to those who ask him? if you earthly fathers are
couriered about offering us bread fish and an egg so we be able to live on earth then the faith
who is in heaven quire us the holy spirit who alone is the spirit of partneiship?he makes us
firm in the son the only forgotten one releasiey us by the holy spirit to the heavenly fathers
eubrace.his work is to grant us the new life. three embodies the heavenly qualities so we
return to the fathers embrace ealt anew.st.clemandous el sekendri says, if we who are evil
know how to give good gifts then how much more will the fathers merciful nature be like? he
is the father of every comfort the good one very tender and in great long suffering merey he
waits those coming back for him. This return is actually to cease from sinning and not to look
back words another time.
3-the unity of the spirit being accused of beelzebul.if our friendship with god is based
on praying fervently then this prayer has to be supported by the unity of the spirit. god in his
friendship to us. Wishes us to conduct ourselves logeeter in the one spirit. this is by means of
the holy spirit work the giver of partueishy and unity.this is why the evanfelest st.luke speaks
to us of the healing of he who had a mute devil. the lord cast him out and so he was accused
of being beelzuful the chief of the devil.the lord found this accusation to be the appoitunilg to
confirm the need for the unity of the spirit with no division.by means of the work of his spirit
the giver of the paitneship we have previously spoken of this issue in our study of
st.matthews gospel (12:22-37) also of st.mark (3:22-30) in full details.therefore I think it
enough here to mention the following points.
Fusstly:the miracle of casting out the mute deeril amazed the people and aroused their
adaiuation which piovoked same people who were mostly of the Pharisees they were filled
with eavy and jealousy and could not deny the miracle but they accused the lord of having the
ruler of the devils beelzebul and that with the devil he was able to cast out devil.
Beelzebul is the aramite derivation of the word beelzebeul that is. the god of the flies
of the ebronotice (kings 1:3).these believed he was able to kick out the flies from the houses.
some doulted him and so asked for a sing from heaven. They wanted to be sure if what he
does is by heavenly power or by some devilish way. They expected for instance the makes
fire come down from heaven as did elyayh.they did not realize that the one amongst them
was the heavenly one who in condescension he came to dwell in their midst as one of them.
Secondly: he did not answer their request in sending fire from heaven to destroy them
when they asked for a miracle from heaven. he rather rebuked his disciples jams and john
when they asked him if they would ask for fire to consume the village of Samaria that refused
him. in great toberance he answered them not to put them to shame but rather to bring them
to the truth. he did not keep back his love even from those who resisted him.gustiad.he gave
his life a redemption for all.this is why st.john choysoton said, " he bore all these things so we
follow his footsteps and be loleraut in bearing the shameful scores that disture more than any
rebuke"
Thirdly: the answer the lord Jesus gave to those who rgected him was as usaual not a
self defense as much as it was for their souls countruction and their life correction. the answer
implied two aspects:
a) the negative aspect which is that the adversary is not divided against himself other
wise his kingdom would be destroyed. Here he is asking us not to be duded amongst
ourselves be it on the kingdom level or the family one for he says (Luke 11:17, 19)
"Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert and rouse falls on house. If
Satan also is divided against himself how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out
the demons by beelzebul.
b)the positive aspect in it he declare the holy spirit inipact who is one with him in
godleness for he works by his holy spirit and his strength and calls him gods kinger.regarding
this the lord calls us not only not to have a dividing spirit against ourselves or family wise or
church wise but rather to accept gods spirit who is the spirit of partnership working in us
powerfully for building up gods kingdom. he says (Luke 11:19, 20) "now if I cast out the
demons by beelzbul by whom do you exorceists cast them out? therefore they will be you
judges but it is by finger of gort that I cast out the demons then the kingdom of god has come
to you"
it is not enough to reject the spirit of division so we do not perish but it is appropriate
for us to accept his spirit to work in us so his kingdom would come powerfully inside us"
fourthly: the lord jesus calls the holy spirit gods finger. this could be because man
who has authouty points his finger to fulfil all what he wants it is as if the father and the son
work by their holy spirit as by the finger.st gyril says "the holy spirit is called gods finger for
this season. it is said about the son that he is gods hand and his arms (ps 98:1)by whom god
the father does everything since the finger is insparable to the hand and is naturally pait of ct
likewise (though much differently) the holy spirit is radically united with the son and through
him the son does everything". in addition to this the fingers though diffrenut in their sizes
placement and length they all work together inseparably.the points to the vaviety of gifts and
the one spirit. as st paul the apozthier said (1 cor 12:4-7)."now there are varities of gifts but
the same spirit and there are varetigs of services but the same lord and there are vaiveties of
activities but it is the same god who activates all of them in everyone. to each is given the
manifestation of the spirit for the conimon good."st.augustine says, "the holy spirit is called
the finger of god due to the varieties of gifts each obtaining his own gift.whema it be to
humans or to angels since them is no suitable division in our members more then that of our
fingers.st.ambrosios also says "the name finger points to the unity and not to the difference in
authliuty".
Fithly:who are their children who cast out devils and will be judges to them other than
the simple group of student of the jewish nation.bring noclestly among them? they are
gentiles also who are exrcests casting out the devils in outliving and power and so they judge
accordenly every accusation launched by the sircles and phasisees against the authouty of
jesus Christ.st gyril the great says, "the blessed disclipes were Jews and of jews
biologically.they have obtained authouty from Christ by calling these words "in the name of
jesus Christ".st.paul also command the evil spirit by the aposloie authouty (act 16:18).i order
you in the name of jesus Christ to come out of her"
So, if your children as he says in my name trample by their feet over beelzbul by
rebulang devilish follows and casting out those dwelling in them, is it not then clear that in
great ignorance you blaspheme and accuse me of having the authority of beelzebul?now you
are accused through the faith of your children. the lord jesus now nioves on from showing
that he east's out devil by his holy spirit that is by gods finger to me authority he has
graduated his dis aples who are actually children of the jews.this is to atteact their attention
and thoughts from the foolish discussion they arouse through their envy and jealerusy to
looking forward to the new authority gaven to the disciples through him also to the
capalrlities that have come to be for the people by means of jesus Christ.what the lord jesus
does is not showing off his power so duirine but it is a dispot for his kingdom account in our
hearts. this means it is us for the account of his church. that is in our hearts. this is why he
says "the kingdom of god has come to you". in other words he wished to tell than:" instead of
accusing of working with beelzbuls power be blessed with my authority that I grout to people
so as to destroy bellzbul and cast out his evil spirits of the wrecked souls and
bodie.concerning this st gyril the great says "he says if as a man I have become like one of
you and cast out devils by gods spirit then the Hyman nature has obtained in me first the
kingdom of god. this has become gloried by shattering the devils power and by reparing the
defiled spirits. this is the meaning of the words "the kingdom of god has come to you but the
Jews did not understand how the only forgotten son has provided in the body. they rather had
to meditate on the only begolten son gods word. he has become in carnate without being
changed from what he is.he glorified mans nature for he was not unwilling to take its fith so
he adds to it his own richness"
Svxithly:because humanity has obtained in Christ jesus outhouty by his holy spirit
and because he has declared powerfully gods kingdom in it then there was no other
opportunity for the dark kingdom that has prevailed for so long to go on ruling. this dark
kingdom that has pozessed violently and fiercely aand in great authouty in our weakness. the
strong one has come to conquer he who thought himself to be strong and to whom we gave
the opportunity for a long time to reign over us for the lord jesus sayd(luke 11:21, 22)"when a
strong man fully armed guards his castle his property is safe but when one stronger than he
attacks him and overpowers him ha takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his
plunder."
 In this way he presents to us the work of the messaiah in our life as a strong man
armored and in his house. the evil one has ruled over the heart and ther entire world as if it
were his our house. his weapons are malice and vice.but the stronger one cause the messiah
whose weapon is love and sacrifice and in truth he destroys the covrupt and in love he
destroys malice in light he destroyes darkness.he kicks out he who has invaded the heart and
reigned the world and he look from the evil one all his plunder.in this way the lord makes
clear there is no conceswin between light and darkness and there is no concord between
Christ and beelzbul.
St.john chrysoston says "Satan has been called strong not because he is naturally as
such.this is only in reference to his old authoutly that has become his due to our own
wakness."st.gyril the great says". this is the destiny of our general enemy the mabeoius devil
who has mumerous heads the origin of evil for before the saviors coming he was in great
power driving the flock that is not his own to his own barn ans shuts them in these flocks
belonged to god and so he was as a ferocious thief vicious indeed but when gods word
attacked him the word who is above everyone the giver strength the lord of hosts by
becoming man he grabbed from Satan his possessions and distributed his wealth. those ones
who were previously imprisoned by satans means in unrighteousness and ingratitude were
called by the devout apostles to knowing the truth and drawing close to god the father
through the faith in the son"
Sevenlthy often the lord jesus had given this paible he said the following principle
(Luke 11:23) "whoever is not with me against me and whoever does not gather with me
scatter here the lord jesus slows clearly the danger of the negative life where man thinks he is
half way on the road for the lord jesus offers two ways without a third one added the them:
either the light or darkness gos kingdom or satans.he who works in the spirit of beelzbul does
not cast out devils for the account of gods kingdom. he rather worship the dark kingdom. like
wise in he who is bestowed with gods spirit. he does not accept except him who works for the
account of gods kingdom. it is as if he is asking them to reconsideu them selves so as to know
in truth where they are located: are they on his side gathering for his account or are they
against him working to seal ten the souls?
It is as if he is telling them he has come to gather gods children in him "these are the
ones the adversary Satan has scattered; for satn dois not work with me for he rather wishes to
sealter those ones I have gathered. so do you ask for me gather or do you ask for him so you
scatter?"
As st.gyril the great says, a says "I have come to deliver every person from satan hand
so as to save them from thw wiles he has trapped them in and to release those in bondage and
shine brightly on those in the dark I also deliver those who have fallen and heal the broken
hearted and gather gods scattered children. as for satan he is not on my side; he is rather
against me. he is bold enough to sealten those I gather and save. how then can he whoo resists
me and spouts his evil against my gools how can be give me authouty against him?is it not
foolish of you to accuse this?"
St.john chusostom comments on the lords words saying on his behalf." if he who does
not work with me is an adversary to me how much more would someone who resists me be
like?at any rate it seems to me he refused by this paiable to the Jews who were provoked
against him by means of satan since they were working against him and seattering those he
was gathering"
Eightly:often he had given the first parable of the stronger one who casts out the
strong one and how he distribute his spoils giving us the hope of hiding in him so that by him
we are able the fight the enemy and cast him out of our innermost being; he then gives us
another parable to warn us:(Luke 11:24-26)"when the unclean spirit has gone out of a person
it wanders through waterless region looking for a resting place but not finding anyit says "I
will return to my house from which I came. when it comes it find it swept and put in order.
then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and they enter and live there
and last stale of that person os worse than the first"
By those two parables the lord jesus made clear the difference between the work of
the lord jesus and that of the phariseess.in the first payable the lord jesus showed us how he is
the stringer one who frees us of him who ruled us and bonded us in his traps. in the second
porable he showed the Pharisees work and that of the Jewish leaders who roam the land and
sea to catch a man and when he accept the faith they makes him more than themselves since
he is offended in them.in this way he is drifted towards evil more than he used to be before
accepting the faith.as the lord has said (matt 23:15)."woe to you screlie and phaisees
hypocrites for you cross sea and land to makes a single convert and you make the new
convert twice as much a child of hell as your selves". by this barable he warns us best we
begin the way and not complete it. for when we begin we cast out the devils from our hearts
as from his home but he does not find his rest except in returning to the place from where he
was cast out. thus he keeps awaiting the chance to pounce on us in a moment of carelessness
and he return more unciously and more strongly so as to divell all anew.this is the cast with
so many Christians begin with the spirit and infortuantely they end with the body (gal 3:3).so
satan returns to find their hearts a dwelling place to him all swept and clean to welcome him.
this is the situation of the Jews who came ahead of the gentiles in knowing god.it is as if they
were blessed in casting out Satan from their hearts but because they denied the lord they
became more wicked then they were puor to the faith and even more evil that the gentiles this
is what st.ambrosious says "by one man all the jewish nation is sepulolezed.the evil spirit was
cast out by the old law and could find no place of rest among the gentiles since they have
accepted the Christian daith that bwrins the evil spirit. the barren and dry hearts of the
gentiles were quenched with the dew of the holy spirit and the flaming arrows of the enemy
were extinguished (eph 6:16).the evil spirit returned to the Jewish nation and with him even
more evil spirit. Here the number seven refer to the completion of the count. in the same
concept st.gyril the great says "when they where under the bondage in Egypt they lived
according to the Egyptian customs and laws that were defiled indeed. they thus had an
unriputeaours life and the evil spirit dwelt in them since he lives in the evil hearts. but when
they were saved by means of mores though gods mercy and have accepted the law as from a
teach at a school and when they have been called to gods true knowledge the defiled caisupt
spirit was cast out of them but because they did not believe in Christ and they denied the
savior the defiled spirit attacked them all anew and found their hearts vacant having no fear
of god whatsoever as if their hearts have been swept and so the evil spirit dwelt in them. just
as the holy spirit when he finds a heart undefiled pure, he then comes to dwell in it and rest
there. Likewise in the evil spirit he got used to dwelling in evil hearts because as I have said
before they are hacking in every unite and are god fearless. in this way the last issaility have
become more wicked than the first ones"
4-friendship and thw word of god
(Luke 11:27, 28) "While he was saying this a women in the crowd raised her voice
and said to him" blessed in the womb that bore you and the breast that mussed you but he
said "blessed rather are those who hear the word of god and obey it"
when the women heared the lord she blessed her who bore him and mussed him. there
is no doubt the virgin mary.is woithly of every blessing the lord did not take away the
blessing from her but he rather wrged us to obtain the blessing as well saying "blessed are
they who hear the word of god and keep it" also st john chyrostom says the virgin mary has
been all the more exalted by these words since the concewed with her soul as well with her
body.st Augustine says "her closeness as a mother is not benefiual to st mary if she had not
carried him in the heart in a devout and blessed way more than her carrying him in her body.
the lord has opened the door for us to meet his and be blessed with his friendship. at the
opening of the chapter he asked us tp pray fervently then he urged us for the unity of the
spirit without any diversion and to be blessed with the work of the holy spirit in us. now he
urges us to cling to the word of gad and keep it safe in our heart and behavior if we have not
been blessed by carrying the lord jesus physically or by meeting him as those who were with
him in this days but yet gospel in between our hands if we only hear him and study the gospel
then we shall witness his trausgurred glouries unwardly in us.st Augustine thinks this godly
dis cussion touches the entire church life that experience the unified life as one body to the
lord for the says "I wish no one to rejoice for the sake of his earthly children but rather by the
hily spirit that times them to god
5-friendship and the miracle of john the prophet (Luke 11:29-33)"when the crods
were increasing he being to say this generation is as evil generation it asks for a sign but no
sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. for just as Jonah became a sign to the people
of Nineveh so the son of man will be to this generation. the queen of the south will rise at the
judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them because she came from the
end of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon's and see something greater than
Solomon is here!. the people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and
wndemn it because they resented at the proclamation of Jonah and see something greater than
jonah in here!"
some of them asked him for a miracle from heaven but as for him he offered himself a
miracle to them pioclamming jonah the prophet as a simpol to himself. for Jonah has been
thrown out of the whales helly just as out of the grave reswrrecked from the dead (matt
12:40).by jonah preaching he managed to save the people of Nineveh those gentile people
and also the wise Solomon who has attracted the gentile queen of the south from the end of
the earth she represuted the gentile church coming not only yo hear his wisdom but to put
them into as well----to encounter gods wisdom himself.in both sipulots the gentile. church
appeared clear in clinging to hear head the real Jonah risen just as from the inward belly and
the wise Solomon the donor of peace and wisdom's gyril the great makes it clear in his
comment on st lukes gospel that the miracle is not a show off deed as the Jews through. for
when mozes in the olden time presented to them some of the miracles they had a purpose
particulary in revealing their sins for the sake of redemption. when mores threw the came on
the ground it turned again into a came by the came he refused to the jews who were seattred
among the Egyptians so they became as serpents for following their customs their
unrighteousness and their getting for away from god.it is as if they fell from his hands just as
the came fell from the hands of Moses. but our gods holding them just as mosses held the
serpeuts tail they returned to their first state for the serpeut livrned once more to become a
cane rooted in oaradise they have been called to the true knowledge of god and eariched with
the convernat as the way to a rightness life. the case was when he put his hand in his vest
robe and so it become leprous as know. he then put it back in his vest robe to remove the
leprosy. this misache was not performed for no purpose it rather refers to Israel that used to
be under gods protection when its people held you strictly to their fathers traditions and led a
righteous life befitting them as did alsiakan Isaac and Jacob.they were as if in the lords
embrace as in mazes chest vest.but when they quit this as mozes hand did that is when they
left their righteous fathers life they wereinflicted with leprosy that is defilement when they
accepted to return to the lords embrace and came to be under the godly care the egyption
unchality was taken away from them.it was appropriate for the jews as st gyril the great says
too realise their error yet they were procceipied with asking cunningly for a miracle from
heaven.he says "their request sprunig from the malice so they were not answered.as the book
says "the wicked seek me and do not find me" (wise hosea 5:6).he told them they will not be
given any other miracle than that of jonah which means the passion of the cross and the
resenrection from the dead.for he says (matt 12:40) "for just as Jonah was three days and
three might in the belly of the sea mouster so for three days and three might the son of man
will be in the heart of the earth" there will be no miracle given to the jews but these suffering
are necessary for the salvation of the world."Christ did not want to die by the body and si it is
was given to the unbelievers for their own judgment.in his words to them he said (john
2:19)."destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.his being destroyed to die and
his correction comption by his reswrrection from the dead this is a great sign of the power of
the world inearnate and his godly authourity.it is sufficient evidence as I think of servious
peoples judgment.but they bribed pilates soldiers with great sums of money and told them to
say (matt 28:13)"his disclipes came by night and stole him away while we were asleep." his
resurrection is not a simple sign but it is enough to convrince the entire world population that
Christ is god. he has suffered physically out of his own will and he rose again. he
commanded the chairs of death to depart and covription to be cast away. but the Jews did not
believe even in this; this is why it was truly said of them "the queen of the south will rise in
the judgment with this generation and condemn it". this woman though she was with those
justified yet sshe eagily asked to listen to Solomon. she traveled a very long way with this
aim in mind so she could hear his wisdom concerning the nature of the visible issues the
animals and plants as for you among you is "the wisdom" himself who has come to you to tell
you of the invisible heavenly matters.he confirmed what he spoke of by his deeds and
miracles and yet you left the word and arosed over carelessly the nature of his amazing
teachings".st ambrosis says "after he had confemmend the jewish people the mystery of the
church was manifested clearly. the people of Nineveh repent (Jonah 3:5) an the queen of the
south seek to learns wisdom (1king 10:1), and thus she came from the ends of the earth so as
to learn Solomon's wisdom the peaceful one.she is queen to an indivisible kingdom
consesting of various nations from far away as one body as Christ and the church (eph
5:32).this has now been fulfilled not through a sipmbol but it has actually become fulfilled.in
the old teaiers Solomon was a sembol but here we find chrisy has come incarnate and the
church appears from two sides:departing from sin and wrecking it by means of repentance
such as the people of nineweh and also asking for wisdom such as the queen of the south"
6-the healthy eye:
(Luke 11:33-36) "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar but on the lamp stand
so that those who eater may see the light. your eye in the lamp of your body.if your eye is
healthy your whole body is full of light but if it is not healthy your body is full of darkness.
Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. if then your whole body is full of
light with no part of it in darkness it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light
with its says"
these dirine words I think reveal the foundation of the divire friendship".if god is light
then it is appropriate for us to become the loutern that causies the light that gods shining light
is not kept away from it but that the lamp rather has to carry it and be a testibia to the lights to
the lights snipact in our friendship we encounter the light not under artaiat a bushed or by
human ertiwahons but to be carried on the truth that exalts us above.we thus should not
submit to time or place but we rather have to live as gods heavenly angels soaring up in the
highest.our friends ship in "partnesship in the divine light" or "an angelic life of the highest"
if we might ask how can we be a lighted latein and carry a truthful testimomy on the
pulpit of the heavenly life?!.the lord answers the eye in the lateien of the body.it is as if he is
stressing our complitment to having a healthy eye so we may be able to see the healthy lord.
let us have the pire vision that emplied no complexities but in its simplicity it embodies one
aim only which is that of writnessing the lord.in this way the heart can see which is the souls
eye and its vision god trausfugured brightly in everythingthus the soul is enlightened and the
body is sanctified and man becomes entirely sanctified to the lord and a lantern embodying
the godly light.we have perviuosly spoken of this sanctified healthy eye in god the healthy
one in our study of st mattews gospel (6:22, 23)
st.ambrosios speaks to us of the shining lanten as being our faith in evanjeslisin or our
faith in gods word this is the light that reveals the way to us.with it we may search for the lost
coin.for he says "the lantern is the faith as is written.your words are a lantern to my feet and
light to my way.the word of god is the subjest matter of our faith and it is the light.for the
lantern in the faith since it is the true light that shines to every man coming into the world
(john 1:9).the lantern can never be lit unless we takes its light from another source who is
god.the lantern we light up is the power of our souls and feelings.with it we can find the lost
coin (luke 15:8).it is not appropriate that man puts this faith or lantern under the bushel of the
law because the law is limited but as for grace it is boundless.the old law offers a shadow but
as for grace it lighteus and shines.i wish no one to shut up his faith writhfin the law
limitations but rather that he comes to the church and he ornamented with the lords grace.let
the chief priest focus the light on the greatness of the royal godliness and thus it would not be
choked by the old law shadows.in the olden times the chief priest used to lighten the lanterns
according to the jewish rituals is such a symstematic way morning and night.but it has blown
out because they were put under the bushel of the old law also the earthly Jerusalem has
disappeared after killing so many prightets (matt 23:37).but as for the heavenly jeursalem this
has accepted our faith and has placed it on the mountaine tops that is on Christ.this is why I
say it is impossible that the church he hidden by the darkness or the shadows of this world.the
church rather shines with the splendor of the eternal sun and light on us by the beams of the
spirit of grace"
7-the inward purification and the worship in the spirit the wangelist has presented to
us the nuptery of our friendship with the heavenly god that is the worship with the spirit and
the truth.this is fulfilled by means of fervent prayer and the unit of the indivisible spirit as
well as the clinging to the word of god and keeping it practically and the repentance with the
faith in the real jonah and he ealighment of the inward eye.the lord concludes his words by
declaring the need for "the inward cleansing so that our worship would be in the spirit and the
truth and that it should not on outer appearance of no depth.these words came as a result of
the criticens said by one of the Pharisees to the lord jesus because he did not wash first.we
have previously spoken of the wasing rituals with the jews and how important this was to
them in our study of st.marks gospel (7:1-23).we moreover spoke of the words the lord jesus
said against the action of the phaisees and the lawyers wheteher in appearance or in actual
worship in our study of the evangelist st.mattew (ehapa 23).we therefore offers the following
comments here:
firstly:this Pharisee who has invited the lord jesus to eat at his home was present
listening to his words.he has also writnesed the woman who blessed her who conceived him
and nursed him.he may have been one of the Pharisees who asked of him for a miracles from
heaven.anyway his invitation to the lord jesus probably did not spring from pure love but
rather so as to set a trap for him.the Pharisee probably wished to see if the lord would follow
the Pharisee tradition in his eating and drinking or not.the lord jesus accepted the invitation
and purpasfully did not wash.this was not because the washing before eating was wrong but it
was because the concepts of the Pharisees for washing were wrong.they wished by this action
of his to correct their concepts and show them the appropriate worship done by the spirit and
in the truth.the lord spoke to them of the healthy eye and the shining lantern.if the eyes of him
pharises had been healthy and his inivard lantern was shining his heart would have been
preoccupied with the messaiah and he would have realized his real identity and that he was
the aspiration of all the nations.in him the prophecies are fulfilled and with his death
Abraham rejoiced.but because of the evil eye the phasisee was preoccupied with the outer
washing and so he was critiedl of the savior of the world.
 Secondly:because the Pharisee was surpused at the lord jesus not washing first before
eating the lord told him (luke 11:39-40)"now you pharises clean the outside of the cup and of
the dish but inside you are full of qreed and wickdness.you fools!did not the one who made
the outside make the inside also?.st ombrosios thinks the cup the lord mentions only refer to
the body for the cup is easily broken it craches once it falls.like wise is the body that dies in a
moment and gets corrupted.the cup also refers to the suffering of the body that man endues if
his hearts longing is inwardly kindeled.therefore I wish we do not concentrate on the outa
appearance of the cup but that we drink it and endure the body passion and suffering if the
heart is kindled in love.this is why the lord says "as for the spirit it is strong but the body is
weak " (luke 11:41).it is thus appropriate for us to begin with the inward spirit so it becomes
strong and endures the physical weaknesses.st gyril the great says "the used to wash before
eating as if pirifying themselves of any unrighteousaeis.but this was foolish indeed ; for the
washing with water is good for the cleaning of the body only for how is it possible to clean
the thoughts and hearts of people from any defilement?.tell us you foolish phaisee where did
mores mention this commandment?what commandment can you point to saying the lord has
asked the people th wash before eating.indeed the spraying water was given by mores
commandment for the sake of physical cleankness.it is a sipubot to the baptisom which in the
truth holy and pure in Christ.those called to priesthood were wasked in the water for it was in
this way that mores did to aorson as well as to the levrites with him.in this way the law about
the baptisen was declared through the symbol and the shadow manifesting that his priesthood
does not have what is enough for sanctify I cation or the contrary.it was in need of the
sanctified and the divire baptisom for the sake of real pirifiction.then convertout has shown
us by this and in a beautiful way that the savior of all is able to sanctify and purify us of any
defilment through the precious and sanctified baptsin regarding us the generations that has
become sanctified to god and has become chosen to him.
What has the savior said?
The lord often sayed the opportuiny to rebuke then saying "now you Pharisees clean
the outside of the cup and of the desh but inside you are full of greed and wickness "because
it was the time for eating and sitting round the table the lord drew a comparison between the
cup and the dish showing that it is appioprate for those who served god loyally to be pure and
clean not only of any physical unrighteouseness but also of the hidden unrightousnes of the
mind.this is like those who serve in the kitchen and prepare the table for they have to eash the
defment that is outside as well as washing well the inside.but as for the lords words (luke
11:40)
"did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?"
he means to say he who has treated the body has also created the soul as well.but the
scriles and Pharisees did not do so for the savior has said (matt 23:27)."for your are like white
washed towls which on the outside look beautiful but inside they are full of the bones of the
dead and of all kinds of filth.christ does not want us to be like these but rather to be spiritual
worshipers holy blameless in the soul and the body.one of those in our parlnesiship says
(james 4:8) "cleause your hands you sennies and purify your hearts you double minded"."the
prophet being david sings (ps 51:10)."create in me a clean heart o god and put a new and
right spirit with in me".for another time jsaiah the prophet speaks on behalf of god saying (js
1:16)."wash yourselves make yourselves clean remove the evil of you doings from before my
eyes ceose to do evil.notice the accecacy of the description "remove the evil of you doings
from before my eyes, for sometiaies evil escapes from before the eyes of people but it can
never escape from befre the eyes of the lord as long as god sees the hidden matters therefore
it is our duty to remove evil from before his eyes.st Augustine says, he manifested that the
baptism given cleauses by faith because faith is an enward and not an outward matter.the
Pharisees second the faith and have used the washing from the outside whaeos the inside
remained full of uncleanlines"
thirdly:lest we think the enward spiritual life implies some disregard of the outer
actions particulaily thet of being compassiconate to our needy fellow brethreu the lord said
(luke 11:41)"so give for alms those things that oare writhin and see everything will be clean
for you"
the true spiritual worship is based on departing from the "I" or "ego", that is put into
action by means of the charitable deeds which are full of love.many of the fathers spoke of
charity and its impact on the spiritual building up of our construction.
+charity is greater than any sacrifia for it opens the heavens it was said (act
10:4)"your prayers and your alms have aseended as a memorial before god"his is of more
importance than iriginity for some virgins were cast out of the wedding for not giving charity
or alms whereas other virgins went inside.
St.john chuposton
+do real charity.what is charity?.it is mercy.listen to what the book says (sirach
30:23)."indulge yourself and take comfort in god.yourself is a beggar before you.go back to
your conscience even though you live in evil or ingratitude.you will find yourself begging for
you are in need and poverty stricken your soul is sowful therefore give it bread.if the Pharisee
asks, what bread can I offer my soul?the lord answers "hive it alms".in other words love
yourself as much as you love others and give alms to your self by giving it to others.
St.augustine
+charity is not an easy treatment for it is put on every wound.it is better than
abstinence or fasting or even laying on the floor.since these matters are panifeul and ardous
but as for charity it is way more profitable
st.john chrysotom
+look at this great collection of dedication!.for gods mercy purifies us and his word
cleanses us.as it is wrotteu:(john 15:3)"you have abready been cleansed by the word that I
have spoken to you.morever you find the beautiful hymn saying (tobit 12:9)"for almisgiving
saves from death and purges away every sin"also (sirach 29:12)."store up abmsgiving in your
treasury and it will resure you from every disaster"
st.ambrosios
+despite this we assure you there are various other ways of good conduct such as
meeknens lowliness and other vritous qualities so why did the lord omit these and command
them to be merciful?what answer can we give?the Pharisees were convetous people easlaved
to incorrect gain and collecting money greedily and storing wealth in their treasuries.the lord
of all spoke of them saying (jr 1:21-23)."how the faithful city has become a whore!.she that
was full of Justire righteousness lodged in her------but now murders!your selver has become
dross your wine is mixed with water your princes are rebels and companious of
thieves.everyone loves a bribe and turns after gifts.they do not defend the orphaur and the
windows cause does not come before them".he voluntarily looked upon their disears that
overruled them and he has uprooted their bait from the very roots so as to get rid of its
wickdnes.thus they would obtain the parety of mind and heart and become true
worshipers.the savior has thus performed what is appropriate to the salvation plan.when he
was invited to a feast, he offered spiritual food not only to his hosts but to all those with here
at the feast as well.
St.gyril the great
+the merciful one commanded us to show mercy.because he asks to saw those whom
he has bought for a great price he commanded those who became defiled after obtaining the
baptisual grace to be cleansed well all anew.
St.kaprianos
 Fourlthly:lest we do charity in an impure way that is with a crooked conseince he
made it clear them that when he asks for alms he is only askes for the truth and the love of
god in them.he does not ask for the apparent forms and halrits for he says (luke 11:42)"but
evoe to you Pharisees!for you little mint and true and heibs of all kinds and neglect justice
and the love of god it is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.they
pay attention to the trwial things for the sakes of human glory and so they offer the one truth
for the mint and the rue and herbis grouwn in their homes or gardeus.this is only to show
people how meticulous they were in carrying out the law whereas they neglect the truth and
the love of god which are the live actions of faith.they did not carry his love inside yet they
were clothed in a robe of aiewacy in carrying out the law.they actually had to do this and not
to leave the other.
The "rue" is a tree of the "star" origin which grows in plastine and Is used for medical
purpose.st.ambrosios says "they observe matters of no use and neglect those ones that grant
hope"
St.gyril the great thinks the phairisees were meticulous in observing the
commandments that conceru earthly temporal matters such as oraying the tiles so they have a
postion in it.but as for the matters that concern the heart and eteruity these were of no
importance ot them.the concern about the commandment of the lithes was not based on their
zeal in fulfilling ithe convenant but rather because of their covetosunes.
Fifthly:the not dangerous enemy that ruis the spiritual life could be the love of
leadership and temporal honor.this is why the lord warns us by his words to the phairesses
(luke 11:43, 44)
"woe to you Pharisees!for you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogers and to
be greeted with respect in the market places.woe to you!for you are like unmarked graves and
people walk over them without realizing it".st.john chypston says "this is miserable indeed
for whereas we are counted worthly to be temples yet we suddenly become graves filled with
comption.
St.gyril the great says "if people admine us unknowing without investigating our real
situation yet this will not make us chosen ones in gods eyes for he knows everything.this is
why the savior advises us woe to you!.for you are like unmarked graves and people walk over
them without realizing it.i wish you to notice the gravity of the parable very clearly.those
ones who wish to be greeted by people in the market places and those who think it is great to
have the foremost seats in assemblies those ones are not any different than the hidden graves
that outwardly seem to be well decorated even trough they are filled with filth.i wish to know
you how blameworthly hypociesy is for it is a , alignant diseare that god and people hate.i
wish we could be true worship who do not ask peoples pleasure lest we get lost from our
position as servants to Christ.the devout st.paul says, (gal 1:10)"am I now seeking human
appioval or gods approval?or am I trying to please people?if I were still pleasing people I
would not be a servant of Christ.just as the forged gold currency is rejected likewise is the
hypocrest for he is rejected by god amd by people.
Sixthly:when the lord showed the danja of hypocries the love of money and the love
of temporal dignitaries on the inward spiritual life.he addressed his words to a lawyer
warning him of the blind and titeral following of the law that is spiritless.the wangelist says
(luke 11:45-47)."one of the lawyers answered him teacher when you say these things you
insult us too and he said woe also to you lawyers for you jood people with burdens hard to
hear and you yourselve do not lift a finger to ease them.st gyril the great thinks it was
appporiate for this lawyer when he heard the savior words and when he left they touched his
life drawbacks and weakness he should have come humbly offering his repentance as a sick
person asking for the cure from his doctor.he should have said "heal me lord and I shall be
healed save me and I shall be saved"(jer 17:14).but this lawyer came up to the savior
accusing him by these words about the Pharisees that he was insulting the lawyers as well.it
is as if he was provoked in his dignity instead of asking for the salvation of his frailtries and
weakeness.the Pharisees together with the lawyers shared a a lot of mistakes in common for
the Pharisees set themselves apart from the rest of the people as on asistocratic religion
categoey whereas the lawyers cousidered themselves teachers of the law who answered
certain questions concerning the law and the covenant both parties were haughty and puffed
up and seemed to be pious regardlen of any spiritualties.the lord jesus uncovered the wounds
of the lawyers by his words (luke 11:46)"woe also to you lawyers!for you bood people with
bwdues hard to hear and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them "
St.gyril the Alexandria says "the law to the israeltes was as they confessed miserable
indeed.the religious sercubes knew this well enough for they rebuked those seeking to return
those who believed in the rituals of the old law saying (acts 15:10)"now therefore why are
you putting god to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our
ancestors nor we have been able to hear?"the savior has thought us this for he eried out
saying (matt 11:28, 29)"come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens
and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for iam gentle and humble
in heart and you will find rest for your souls.thus he says that those under the law are weary
and heavy laden whereas he calls himself gentle and humble since there is nothing in him of
the law.as st paul says (heb 10:28) "anyone who has violated the law of mores dies without
mercy on the testemoney of two or three writenesses.therefore woe unto you lawyers as he
says because you burden with load those under the law?.they are heavy burdens whereas you
do not touce this lood.for they command keeping the moses commandment without any
breaking of it and they judge to death he who is careless about it.despite this they do not
observe fulfilling the least of these easy commandment as this was a customary habit the wise
st.paul rebrulied them saying (rom 2:17-23)."but if you call yourself a jew and rely on the law
and boost of your relation to god and know his will and determine what is best because you
are instructed in the law and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind a light to those
who are in darkness a corrector of the foolish a teacher of children having in the law the
embodiment of knowledge and truth you then that teach others will you not teach
yourself?while you preach against stealing do you steal?you that forbid adultery do you
commit adultery?you that obhor idols do you rob temples?you that boast in the law do you
dishonor god by breaking the law?"for the teacher is recorned and his reputation is disgraced
when his conduct is not in accordance with his words".father theophlactims comments on the
lords words against the lawyers saying"it is truly said they do not wish to touch the bwders of
the law with one of their fingers.this means they do not fulfil the least of points in the law
whereas they pretend they keep it and hand it over well studied and kept to others.they
actually behave countrary to their fathers without any faith and without gods grace.st gregury
the bishop of ninus say "they are areul judges of sinners though they are weak st.rugglers
letting them carry the burdues of the law whereas they neglect carrying it themselves.they do
not wish to draw near to it or even touch it through the serious life"
Sevently:the lawyers did not only cling to the literal fotal law without the spirit of
commandement they also made the law a burder under which people groan.they found
justification for themselves to escape from eaten touching the least of these
commandments.they did not stop at claiming their knowledge and education even though
they did not proetice the vritous life.they went on to do what was britterly cruel:they brulf the
graves for the prophets ornamented them so as to obtain peoples praise whereas they did not
know that by doing so they were witnesses against themselves as being killers of the prophets
fulfilling the work of their fathus….by killing the their himselfor the messaiah the savior
what happened in the past is linked to the present and the future since the cross was present in
the eyes of the lord and he could see their hands stretch out to shed his innocent blood.in this
way those bring at the time of chrisy shared in their fathers vrime concerning the killing of all
the prophets from the blood of abel to the blood of zochasias who was killed between the
altar and the house.st gyril the graet says their fathers have killed the prophets and when they
came to believe they were holy prophets they because judge against those who killed
them.they have unsested to honor those eoho were condemmed to death and by their doing so
they condemmed those ones who committed the error.but those who condemmed their fathers
for their cruel auimes were themselves on the same way to commit similar enimes and even
worse ones for they have killed the ruler of life the savior of everyone.they thus added to their
crime of killing him other crimes.for st Stephen was led to death not because he was accused
of anything wrong but because he adised them and spoke to them of what was mentioned in
the books of inspiration.other enimes were commited by them against every saint who
preached the gospel the message of salvation.in this way the lawyers and the Pharisees
proved in every way how they hated god and how faughtly they were lovers of pleasures
more than their love for god.they hated their own salvation by all means and this is why the
lord added the word "woe" to them contiusally".st.john chrysonts says "the condition of the
jews was not corrected through their past mistakes.but rather when they saw others err and
get punished they were not corrected to what is better but on the eoutrary they committed the
same mistakes themselves.not with standing this man is not punished for others sins.in other
words they cannot offer a pretext of not being responsible for what their fathers did because
even though they are not condemned for this yet they do commit the very same evil deeds of
their fathers lohat does he means by the words (luke 11:51)."from the blood of abel to the
blood of zechariah who perished between the altar and the sanctuary".we said that in the age
of st.jerome there was found three opinions concerning this zechaiah:he is either zacharia the
prophet one of the minor prophet or zechariah st john the babhist father or zechariah the son
of yehmya da (1chron 14:21) and st Jerome thinks the third opinion in the most probable
one.as for st Gregory the bishop of nisus he believes it is Zachariah john the babtirits
father.so if we follow st Jerome point of view which is supported by many fathers then abel
was killed in the field whereas zacharias was killed in the temple hall.it is as if the martyrs
blood that was injusted shed has filled the public places as well as in the lords holy places.we
also consider akel not being a priest whereas zacharias was a priest.thus added to the list of
martyrs there is one of the people and also one of the priests.
Eightly:the lord jesus concludes his "woes" to the lawyers by saying (luke 11:52)
"woe to you lawyers for you have taken away the key of knowledge you did not enter
yourselves and you hindered those who were entering.
St.ambrosios says "the lord rebukes the jews and declares they deserve the judgment
to come for whereas they were responsible for teaching others the godly knowledge yet they
hindered them because they themselves do not acknowledge what they teach".
St gyril the great says "those ones who search the holy books and know gods will if
them are rightoeurs and are zealous in concerting others and are stiful in leading others
correctly in all matters these people are blessed abundarily if they 3lolously fulfil their
jobs.this is what the savior confirms by his words (matt 24:45-47)"who then is the faithful
and wise slave whom his master has put in charge of his housshold to give the other slaves
their allowance of food at the prayer time? blessed is that slave whom his master will find at
work when he arrives truly I tell you he will put that one in charge of all his posesseous" but
if he is careless or neglect or is a hindrance to those he is in charge of and they thus go astray
such a one becomes miserable and falls in the danger of punishment without any hope at
all.for another time the lord jesus himself says (matt 18:6) "if any of you put a stumbling
block before one of these little ones who believe in me it would be better for you if a great
millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.in
this way Christ proved to those who considered themselves skiful in the law that they commit
grave mistakes such as these.i mean to say the seribes and the Pharisees for he told them woe
to you lawyers for you have taken the key to knowledge. we understand by the key to
knowledge that it is the law itself and the justication of jesus which in the belief in him.even
though the law is a shadow and a symbol yet these shadows from to us the truth and these
symbols show us christs mystevy in various ways. for every word in the holy book that is of
inspiration points to him and looks upon hi.it was therefore the duty of those who were called
lawyers sina they were the ones studying the law of mores and who knew the words of the
saintly prophets to open the doors of knowledge to the jewish multrudes.this is because the
law leads humanity to Christ and the devort sings of the prophets leadto his knowledge.but
those who were called lawyers did not do so.on the contrary they look the key of knowledge
by which the law is understood and the true faith is Christ is achieved because with faith we
come to the truth.as Isaiah says (js 7:9)"if you do not stand firm in faith you shall not stand at
all "they have taken the key of knowledge as they did not allow people to belive in Christ the
savior of all"
Finally when the lord incovered the wounds of the secrets and the Pharisees they
begin (luke 11:53, 54)"to be very hostile toward him and to cross examine him about many
things bying in wait for him to catch him in something he might say. He wished them to be
healid of the inward wounds of the soul. but in foolishness they increased in their sesitance of
him through malicious hearts for they were excesvely envrous of him.thorugh their corrupt
will they were buying in wait for him to catch him.also they were mentally deranged for they
observed him with all their thoughts so as to catch some fault coming out of his mouth. they
declared their inward eourption all the more emotionally, weilling and thoughtly.
 Mat. 409: 463
Chapter XII
The Heavenly Friend and the small Flock

In the previous chapter the Lord revealed the frailties of some religions leaders, as
they had worshiping shows of no depth. They also understood the law and the
commandments in a literate and spirit less way. They were bitterly tied to the love of the
world and temporal honors. But now, the friend came to establish for Himself a new fold that
will become His one body. The Lord showed clearly the qualities of this new and small fold
so they be in harmony with its Shepherd in heaven, who is the Groom, and its Savior, and its
Head working in the body.

1- The New Flock and the Leaven of the Pharisees. 1- 3

2- The New Flock and the Fear. 4- 5
3- The New Flock and the Reliance on God. 6- 7
4- The New Flock and the Testimony. 8- 12
5- The New Flock and covetousness. 13- 21
6- The New Flock and what is Temporal. 22- 23
7- The New Flock and what is Heavenly. 24- 31
8- The New Flock and the Father’s Pleasure. 32
9- The New Flock and Charity. 33- 34
10- The New Flock and the Friend’s Coming. 35- 40
11- The New Flock and the honesty in the Job. 41- 48
12- The New Flock and the Fire of the Spirit. 49
13- The New Flock and the Suffering. 50- 53
14- The New Flock and the Spirit of discernment. 54- 56
15- The New Flock and the love of forgiveness. 57- 59
+ + +

1- The Small Flock and the leaven of the Pharisees:

Because our heavenly Friend wished to establish His believers as a new fold
embodying His heavenly qualities, He therefore gave the first commandment to His church
through His disciples. This was to put away “the old leaven” that is to say, the leaven of the
Pharisees which is hypocrisy, so that the church would not be founded on wrong foundation.
He wished to destroy the corrupted old leaven so that we are offered as the new Passover
bread. As St. Paul the apostle says, (1Cor.5: 6-8) “Do you not know that a little yeast leavens
the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you
really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us
celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
(Luck12: 1) The evangelical words are: ”Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the
thousands, so that they trampled on one another, He began to speak first to His disciples,
Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.”
With hypocrisy the Pharisees wished to catch the Lord Jesus with a word from His
mouth so they could prevent people from reaching Him, and thus their popularity would not
be lessened, and their honor and authority would not be lost. But their behavior brought about
a contrary result, for tens of thousands came in big crourts eager to meet him. In this way,
before the Lord Jesus warned His Flock of hypocrisy that is embedded in the Pharisees, the
evangelist St. Luke made it clear in a practical lesson how hypocrisy fails to fulfil the aimof
those who adopt it. As father Theophlactius says “In this way truth is strong whereas every
deceit is weak.”
By hypocrisy man wishes to attract all those around him, and he wishes to deprive
them of the truth. But hypocrisy is revealed, and people try to avoid hypocritical men and
cleave to the truth. This is on one hand, on the other hand the Lord Jesus was likened to a
yeast that works despite its small size in the whole batch of dough. The Lord says this could
corrupt man entirely. This could make him lose every purity and spiritual virtue in the heart,
the thoughts, the feelings, even if he is clothed with a garment of apparent righteousness, and
an ability to teach, and zeal for all that is holy.
+ Hypocrisy is an issue that God hates, and is loathed by man. It does not beget any reward,
and is absolutely useless in the soul’s salvation. Rather, it could be the offense for its
perdition.
If hypocrisy is not revealed at times, yet it is only for a while, for it will not last
forever. Everything will be disclosed, and it will inflict its owner with disasters. This will be
similar to an ugly woman, who, when the outer artificial cosmetics are ripped off, she appears
as she really is.
+ Hypocrisy is foreign to the saintly qualities, since it is impossible that anything we do or
say escapes from the eyes of God. (Luke12: 2) “Nothing is covered up that will not be
uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” All of our words and actions will
be disclosed on the judgment day. Therefore hy0pocrisy is wearisome and useless. It is
appropriate for us to be exalted as true slaves and work for God in candid and open features.
St. Cyril the great.
+ The yeast is praiseworthy since it is linked to the bread of life, and it is blameworthy when
it means the constant deceit so bitter.
St. Gregory El Nazinzi
+ Hypocrisy is called yeast, for it deceives the intention of him who practices it and misleads
it. Nothing destroys man’s personality such as hypocrisy does!
Father Theophlactius
Bishop of Bulgaria
+ He addressed the Pharisees, as if telling them, “You Pharisees, what you speak of in the
dark, that is, all your effort to test Me in the hiding places of your hearts, is heard in the light,
because I am the light. By my light, the deceit of your darkness is uncovered. What you speak
of in the ears and bedrooms, that is, what you whisper in each other’s ears will be declared on
the rooftops, for it is heard by me as someone crying out loud on the rooftop.
Here too, light could mean ‘the gospel’, and the rooftop could mean the ‘gospel’. The
rooftop means the high spirits of the disciples. What the Pharisees have plotted together, will
be called and would be revealed through the light of the gospel, by means of the great
preacher the Holy Spirit that reigns over the high souls of the disciples.
Father Theophactius

2- The New Flock and the Fear:

When the Lord asked in his church of the new flock not to carry the yeast of the saints
which is hypocrisy, and not to be from the outside other than the inside, the Lord then asks
the church to be conducted in God’s fear alone, without fearing people. He who fears God
does not pay much concern to peoples judgment, which avoids any hypocrisy on his part,
because he would not ask for their praise, and would not ask for any reward, and neither does
he fear their despotism.
 (Luke12: 4,5) “I tell you my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that
can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after he has killed, has
authority to cost into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
+ We have to fear the perdition of the soul, and not the killing of the body. For death is a
normal ending to the physical pain, but it is not the termination to the punishment. It puts an
end to the suffering of the body, the temporal one, but as for the souls punishment this is an
eternal one. We have to fear God alone.
St. Ambrosios
+ This commandment concerns those who love him. But are those ones who love him? We
answer, it is those ones who have similar concepts as he does and are zealous in following his
footsteps. This is what the apostle urges us to do in the words (1Pet.4: 1) “Since therefore
Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention”, (Ps.88: 5) “Like
those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave. “Death did not attack him
due to sin, as with us, for he always was and still is with no sin whatsoever. He is unable to
do any evil, for he endured all suffering willingly for our sake, due to his boundless love for
us. Let us listen to him, for he said openly (John15: 13) “No one has greater love than this, to
lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Is it not bitten ingratitude not to repay Christ the debt
so necessary that we have borrowed from Him?
In other words, we say that, as lovers to him, we should not fear death, but that we
rather should follow the example of our righteous. For when Abraham our father was asked
to offer his only son Isaac, this was because he knew God is able to raise him from the dead
(Heb.1: 19). What fear could attack us when ‘life’ has deleted death, because Christ is the
resurrection and the life (John11: 25).
Let us bear in mind that crowns are obtained by struggling, for the strong wrestlers in
the rings obtain perfection by violent struggle and experience. Courage and mental
forwardness serve those skilful people in the battlefield. But he who throws his armour down
is scorued by the enemy, if the runaway lives, then he lives in disrespect. But he who stands
firm in battlefield, in fortitude and courage with all of his strength against the enemy, then he
will be held honorable by achieving victory. If he falls wounded, then he will be held in
admiration. In such a way it is appropriate for us to behave, enduring patiently and firmly in
the fight with courage, and thus we obtain the great reward. We shall be held in admiration,
and gain for ourselves God’s blessings. As for refusing the vulnerability of the physical death
for the sake of Christ’s love, then this will bring upon us incessant everlasting punishment.
This is because man’s wrath reaches its climax at the boundaries of the body. And the
physical death would be the end of their fight against us. But if God punishes, then the loss
does not only touch the body alone, but it also touches the miserable soul, and so it falls
under a lot of perdition.
I wish our share would be an honouable death which raises us to the beginning of
eternal life. It necessarily cleaves to the blessings that spring from the divine love of God. Let
us run away from the shameful life, and let us disregard it scornfully, the ugly life so
temporal, that leads to eternal and bitter punishment.
St. Cyril the great.
+ Look how the Lord made his disciples above everyone; for he urged them to think lightly
of death which scares everyone! At the same time he offered assurance for the soul’s
immortality.
St. John Chrysostom
+ One of the saints said, “The body fears any tribulations, so it would not lose its life or
suffer. Therefore it becomes a friend to sin; so the Holy Spirit obliges it to die because if it
does not die, it will not overcome sin. If anyone wants to become a dwelling place to the
Lord, he has to overcome his body, and serve the Lord, and follow the Spirit’s
commandments. He also has to keep himself safe from the physical deeds about which the
apostle wrote. The body blended with sin is restful with the physical deeds. But as for its
fruits, these do not make God’s Spirit restful.
Let me die at this point so as not to see the real death of the soul, that is, the
separation from God. I would rather die here for the sake of chastity than live a wicked life. I
have chosen this death willingly, for the sake of my sins.
Father Mar Isaac the Syrian.

3- The New Flock and the Reliance on God:

Because the Lord Jesus wished to encourage us in our spiritual struggle so as not to
fear the physical death, he assured us of his care even to our very bodies, and even to our
very own hairs that appear to us at times as of no worth at all. He is Lord of the soul and the
body together. He is concerned about our entire being and life, for he says, (Luke12: 6,7)
“One not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.
But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Bo not be afraid; you are of more value than
many sparrows.”
+ Mediate on his great concern about those who love him. If the Provider of the universe
takes so much care of even the valueless things, and he condescends to speak about the little
sparrows, then how much more so will He not remember those who love Him, and those who
cleave to Him? For He knows every minute of their life, even the very hairs on their heads.
Let us not doubt His enriched hand that grants His grace to those who love Him. For
He either does not allow us to fall into tribulation, or if, with His wisdom, He allows us to fall
into the trap, and it is only that He may be glorified through the sufferance. He thereby grants
us more assuredly, the strength in our tolerance.
Our righteous St. Paul is our testifier in this, for he says (1Cor.10: 13) “God is
faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will
also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
St. Cyril the great.
+ If God does not forget about the birds, then how can He forget man? If they are so great in
such a way, and are eternal, to the extent that the sparrow and the court of hairs on our heads
are not hidden to His knowledge, then how much more ignorant and foolish is he who
assumes that the Lord does not know about the honest hearts, and that He disregards them?
I think the five sparrows are the five physical senses: that of touch, smell, taste, vision
and hearing. Birds are like physical beings, pecking the dirt of the ground, searching for food
in the barren land of nauseating smell. They err and so fall in traps, thereby are unable to rise
towards the high fruits and the spiritual banquet. The attraction of the traps implies in its
folds the action of our spirit, as well as the kindling of our nature, our activity and our purity.
All of these are dispersed by means of our concern about all that is earthly and materialistic,
and our possessing the luxury of this world. And now, after our bondage, we have before us
two of the pleasures: either being enslaved to sin, or the release from it. For it is Christ who
liberates us, and it is the enemy who sells us. He exposes us to be sold, so we would die,
whereas Christ redeems us so He might save us. St. Matthew has mentioned two sparrows
(Luke10: 29) referring to the body and the spirit.
We were granted by grace to fly, but it is pleasure that bonds us, and thus the spirit
becomes heavy with the evil entrapings, and it slides to the level of the heavy physical nature.
If is said that not one of them falls down without God’s permission. The fallen one
slides towards the ground, but he who flies is carried up by the divine grace. Therefore do not
fear the devil’s overruling, but fear the wrath of God.
 The soul, too is symbolized by the sparrow, for it is said, (Ps.124:7) “We have
escaped like a bird from the share of the fowlers.” At another place (Ps.11: 1) “In the Lord I
take refuge; how can you say to me ;Flee like a bird to the mountains.” Man was also
compared to a bird (Ps.102: 7) “I am a lonely bird on the housetop, “For man is composed of
two birds in one, as the unity of the two wings that cooperate in agility so it rises, and thus the
spiritual nature overcomes the materialistic one.
There is found the good bird, that, with his spiritual nature he could fly, and another
wicked bird that is unable to fly due to the earthly wickedness. This last one is sold for two
pennies. How cheap the price of sin is! For death includes everyone, but as for virtue it is
valuable! The enemy exposes us so as to be sold as slaves that are in bondage and he
evaluates us at a cheap price. But as for the Lord, He treats us as good slaves, whom He has
created in His image and likeness, and He evaluates us at a great price. For the apostle says,
(1Cor.6: 2) “You were bought for a price “ Indeed, it is as expensive price that cannot be
counted in silver, but by the precious blood, because Christ has died for our sakes, and has
freed us by His precious blood. As St Peter mentions in his epistle (1Pet.1: 18) “You Know
that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with
perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb
without defect or blemish.” Yes indeed , it is precious blood because it is the blood of the
sinless body the blood of the Son of God who redeemed us not only from the curse of the law
(Gal.3: 13) but also from the death of eternal sin.
St. Amberosios
+ The five birds are understood in a mysterious way as the five senses that have awareness
from above for the heavenly matters: You can see God, and hear the divine voice of God,
taste the bread of life, smell the fragrance of Christ’s ointment, and hold on to the word of
life.
These senses are sold for two pennies, since they are considered cheap by means of
those who perish what is spiritual, and they are not forgotten before God.
The scholar Oreganus
+ These senses are sold for two pennies, that is, by the Old and the New Testament. Thus
they are not forgotten by God.
Father Theophlactius
+ Man’s head is, secretly speaking, his mouth. His hair is his revealed thoughts in God’s
eyes.
St. Cyril the great.

4- The New Flock and the Testeniony

(Luke12: 8-12) “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before others, the
Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies Me before
others, will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the
Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies Me before
others, will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the
Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers and the authorities, do not
worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will
teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.”
Sin has corrupted the five sparrows, that is, our inner sense; for instead of being
released with the Holy Spirit towards the heavenly things, so they might see, hear, taste,
touch and smell what is eternal and godly, they suddenly fall in the pleasurable traps, and
they get tied by the chords of the world. They thus become. Unable to fly, and are preys to
the enemy’s traps under his authority, so despotic and destructive. This is why man, even
when being religions, was unable to rise above, and has become in his worship and
preaching, a prisoner to the vain glory and hypocrisy, and sometimes to materialistic gains,
and matters that have given him the Pharisees’ thoughts of the old law. Man is oulet
concerned about the literal fatal words instead of the deep spirit that is constructive. The Lord
has redeemed us so as to free us of these traps, so as to live in this world as true witnesses to
the savior through our heavenly life. And our new concepts, and our spiritual being which is
of our Lord’s making. We testify of Him here and thus the Son of man testifies of us in the
heavenly holy places themselves.
He has paid the price of His blood to pull us out of the hypocrisy ambush. He assures
us that what we speak of in the dark will be declared in the light. What we whisper in the ear,
will be declared on the housetops. Now here He is assuring us, that what we do here, just as
in the darkness or in the ear, will be declared by our Lord Jesus Himself before His angels
and His saints in the great day of the Lord.
Those hypocritical ones, do wickedness secretively and so they are scandalized. The
Church apparent and hidden knowledge is to confess the savior so He be glorified in truth.
+ Therefore the Lord is not convinced of the inward faith alone; He also asles us confess Him
outwardly, and He urges us to have confidence and great love. Since this is useful to all of us,
He says “all those who confess Me....”
St. John Chryestom
(Rom.10: 9) “Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Christ’s mystery has been made clear by these words in a terrific manner.
First and foremost it is our duty to confess that the Son. Born of God the Father, the
only begotten Son in His essence, God the word, is the Father of everyone. He is not like
someone who has obtained the lordship from outside, but this is attributed to Him for being
the Lord in truth and by nature, just as with the Father. Secondly, it is appropriate for us to
believe that God has raised Him up from the dead, that is because He has become man, He
suffered physically for our sakes and rose from the dead. This is why, as I have said, the Son
is the Lord. He alone is the Lord by nature, for He is God the word above all other creation.
This is what the wise St. Paul teaches us saying (1Cor.8: 5,6) “Indeed, even though there may
be so-called gods in heaven or on earth- as in fact there are many gods and may lords- yet for
us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one
Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
He who confesses Christ before people, that He is God the Lord will be confessed
before God’s angels. But where? And how? It is clear that this will be when He comes down
from heaven in His Father’s glory, with the saintly angels at the end of this world, when those
who confessed Him in truth will be crowned, those ones who have the real unhesitating faith.
There, the groups of saintly martyrs shine, the ones who have endured the struggle till they
have shed their life-blood. Those ones have honored Christ by their patience, and have not
denied the Savior. His glory was not unknown to them; they rather offered their allegiance to
Him. Such people are praised by the saintly angels who glorify Christ the Savior of everyone,
for the honor granted to His saints, and that are worthy of it. This is what the psalmist
proclaims (Ps.50: 6) “The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.” This
is the portion for those who confess Him.
As for the rest, those who disowned Him, and scorned Him, these will be denied,
when He will tell them as previously said by one of the prophets in the olden times
(Ohadiah1: 15) “As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your
own head.” And He denies them with the following words (Luke13: 27) “K do not know
where you come from; go away from Me, all you evildoers!”
 Who are those ones who will be disowned?
Firstly: they are the ones who, when they fall under the pressure of persecution, and
some hardship befalls them, they deny the faith. They lose the entire faith from its very roots.
There are no human words that could possibly express this, for they obtain the wrath and
condemnation and fire that is never extinguished.
In the same fashion are those ones who follow heresy, and those who teach it. This
heresy denies Him; such as those ones who dare say that God the Word the only begotten
Son, is not God by nature and truth.
St. Cyril the great

+ ‘Denying Christ through the corrupt life that is not befitting us.’
There are other means of denial described by St. Paul, saying (Titus1: 16) “They
profess to know God, but they deny Him by their actions. “Also (1Tim5: 8) “And whoever
does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is
worse than an unbeliever.” Also (Col.3: 5) “Put to death... evil desire and greed which is
idolatry.”
Just as there are various ways of denial, it is also obvious there are various kinds of
confessing Him. Notice the concerned warning about the deeds.
In the Greek He says ‘He who confesses in me’ which shows that the confession of
Christ is not fulfilled by man’s personal strength, but rather by the heavenly grace from
above; for man confesses Christ. As for the denial. He says ‘he denies Me’; for if he is
deprived of the grace, then he is disowned’. Despite this, he is condemned, for the
deprivation has come to be by his means, for he has rejected the grace, and so the error is
attributed to him.
St. John Chrysostom

I wish, therefore, to testify to the Lord, and confess Him with our mouth, our heart,
our true faith, our appropriate conduct through the work of His grace that grants the power of
testimony and work. Thus our Christ, the Resurrected from the dead, will appear transfigured
in our depth, obvious in our daily life through the new life that we have in Him. By this
testimony, and this daily confession, we are equipped that our Lord Himself will confess us
before His angels; for He counts us heirs to God, and heirs with Christ, and partners in the
eternal glory, where we have a place in the Father’s embrace.
The confession of the Lord Jesus has its eternal and declared reward of no return. The
denial, too, has its irretrievable punishment; and this is why He feared lest anyone collapses
in despair if he fails once, and falls into disowning Him. He then thinks he is unable to
repent, and so falls under eternal perdition. This is why He assures us (Luke12: 10) “And
everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven” thereby the Lord
opened widely the doors of hope through repentance. The rest of His words confirmed this by
His saying (Luke12: 10) “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven.” This means that he who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of
repentance and forgiveness, loses his forgiveness. We have previously spoken elaborately of
‘the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,’ and we assured that the unforgivable blasphemy is
the insistence on no repentance.
Some have misunderstood this dwine phrase, assuming that he who says a word
against the Son of Man will be forgiven, whereas he who says a word against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven. This means that he who transgresses against the Lord Jesus, being
incarnate and hidden, will be forgiven when he discovers the truth and thus he repents;
whereas he who transgresses against the Holy Spirit, this one has no repentance. This
interpretation is unacceptable since the Holy Book confirmed that every sin we repent of, is
forgiven. Moreover, this was declared by the church fathers, thereby opening the doors of
hope, even before the heretics that have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, and their
followers as well, if they repent over their transgression. The church has actually accepted
them on their repentance.
St. Abrosios confirms the distinction here is based on the distinctive work of the Holy
Trinity, and that the denial of the Holy Spirit, or the blasphemy against Him only means
rejecting His work altogether. This means rejecting the work of repentance urged by the
Spirit in us. This is made clear in the same discussion by the Lord, for He continues saying
(Luke12: 12) “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.” He
who rejects His mysterious work in the heart, will not obtain any forgiveness till he returns
and accepts Him all anew.
When the disciples of the Lord Jesus testified of Him before the synagogues, the
rulers and diquitaries, the Lord Jesus granted them the ability for this job, for He entrusted
them in the hands of His Holy Spirit saying (Luke12: 12) “for the Holy Spirit will teach you
at that very hour what you ought to say.”
+ The Lord says what we utter and answer with at the time of tribulation, is granted us at this
very hour from heaven that provides for us. It is not us who speak, by God’s Spirit does, He
who does not depart from those who confess Him, and is not separated from them. He rather
speaks in them and is crowned in them.
+ The work of the Holy Spirit is that we overcome, and obtain victory by making the enemy
submit in the great conflict.
St. Kaprianos
+ At the time when discord and fights occur among friends, the L9ord commands us to think
well about the situation. But when the threat and fear of courts of justice come to be, the
apprehension rises from all sides. It is at this point that He gives us His power that grants
courage, and what we speak, and not to get discouraged.
St. John Chrysostom
5- The New Flock and Covetousness:

The Lord’s previous words were absolutely urging us to testify of the Lord, and
confess Him by heart and tongue, even in the most sordid cases and extreme hardship. Now,
the Lord is asking us to testify of Him during the life’ of righteous practicability. He warns us
of the most dangerous enemy that could harm the believer, which is that of greed and the love
of the world. This could disturb even the ministers of the word in the temporal matters to
withdraw their hearts from carrying the qualities of their heavenly Groom.
When two brothers quarreled about the inheritance, one of their came to ask the Lord
to stand by him on his side. The Lord thus answered, (Luke12: 14,15) “Friend, who set Me to
be a judge or arbitrator over you? And He said to them ‘take care! Be on your guard against
all kinds of greed.” The Lord’s answer may have had the following aim:
Firstly: To raise the mission of preaching the word above any materialistic problems, so that
the ministers of the word would be free to give their utmost concern to take every soul to the
salvation mission, and be concerned about eternity.
Secondly: Not to take advantage of the faith on the account of the temporal rights, but to
focus the concern on the everlasting joy.
Thirdly: The Lord warns His new flock of the greed that corrupts the social life as much as it
does the heart.
+ The previous words were entirely given to us so as to endure the pain for the sake of
testifying to the Lord. This is also to count death as something light, and to hope for the
reward or not to fall under the penalty awaiting them who do not obtain the forgiveness.
Since greed generally corrupts righteousness, therefore a special commandment was added to
it with the parable, ‘Friend, who set Me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’
Indeed, He has avoided the earthly issues; He who has come down for the sake of the
divine issues. He did not accept to be a judge for the disputes, and rule in the laws that
concern the wealth of this world, but He is the Judge of the luring and the dead, who rewards
each one according to his deeds. When you ask of Him, contemplate on the Giver and not on
the gift. Do not think that the thoughts concerning the lofty matters can be disturbed at the
worldly ones. This is why the Lord dismissed this friend who was more concerned about the
vain gains rather than the heavenly ones.
The Lord saw He should not interfere between brothers as a Judge, but that love and
not judgment should be their mediator in understanding and the dividing of the eternal
inheritance, and not in the inheritance of silver. For it is useless to accumulate money if man
does not know how to use it.
St. Ambrosios
+ Indeed, the Son has appeared in our form and likeness. The Father has set Him as the Head
and the King of Zion, the mount of His holiness, as the psalmist said (Ps.2: 6). He has shown
the nature of His work clearly, for He says, ‘I came to preach the Lord’s commandment.
What does this mean? Our Lord, the Lover of righteousness wishes us to depart from the
earthly and temporal matters, and to run away from the physical love, and from the vain
worry over work, and from the base passion, and not to rose about the storage. We rather
have to scour wealth and the love of ugly gain. We have to be righteous, and love one
another, and not to collect treasures on the earth, but to rather be exalted above fights and
envy. We should not quarrel with our brothers, but we rather have to welcome then even if
they wish to exploit us, for He says (Luke6: 30) “And if anyone takes away your good, do not
ask for them again.” Let us rather fight and struggle for the sake of constructive and
necessary matters that save the soul.
The Lord did not leave us without education; He found the good opportunity to offer
us a useful conversation for the salvation, and He proclaimed ‘Be watchful, and be careful of
any greed.’ The Lord showed that covetousness is the pitfall set up by Satan, which is so
hateful to God. This was called by the wise St. Paul as the worshiping of idols (Col.3: 5).
This may be because it only befits those who do not know God, or because this equals the
malice done by those who worship idols and stones.
Covetousness is the trap of the evil spirits by means of which they pull man’s soul to
the abyss entrappings. In real justice to ensure their safety the Lord says, ‘Be careful and
watchful of any greed or covetousness that is be it little or much greed, and from man’s deceit
one to the other, whoever this man may be like. As I have said before, greed is hated by god
and by people.
We learn this of God Himself, who says on behalf of His saintly prophets (Amos5:
11,12) “Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you
have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant
vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions,
and how great are your sins, you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside
the ready in the gate.” Also (Is.5: 8-10) “Ah, you who join house to house, who add field to
field, until there is room for no one but you, and you are left to live alone in the midst of the
land! The Lord of hosts has sworn in my hearing: Surely many houses shall be desolate,
large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant. For ten acres of vineyards shall yield but one
bath, and a homer of seed shall yield a mere ephah. “Even though by being unjust to others
they possess houses and field, yet they are deserted with no inhabitants inside. They are
useless to those evil doers because God’s wrath falls on them rightly. Therefore there is no
profit whatsoever for greed by any means.
 From another point of view, greed does not profit anyone, because man’s life as the
Lord says is not based on His possessions, for He is overflowing in abundance. This is a real
fact, for man’s life is not extended according to his riches, and neither is the totality of his life
in accordance with his ugly earnings.
St. Cyril the Great
+ (Luke12: 15) “for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
The Lord says these words to rebuke the urgings of the covetous ones who collect
wealth as if they were to live for a long time. But, does this wealth make you live a longer
time? So why do you show wickedness for the sake of uncertain restfulness?
Father Theophactius

When the Lord Jesus proclaimed man’s life is not linked to his wealth, He wished to
assure us of this by using a parable; for the evangelist says, (Luke12: 16-21) Then He told
them a parable. ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself”
What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops? Then he said ‘I will do this: I will
pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my goods. And I will say
to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry’
But God said to him,. ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the
things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for
themselves but are not rich toward God.”
We notice the following in this parable:
Firstly: St. John Chipostom thinks this rich man has erred for he calls his wealth ‘goods’, for
wealth is not ‘goods’ in itself, and neither is it considered evil. Goodness is the richness, such
as chastity, modesty and such like qualities. If man chooses them, he becomes righteous. Evil
is malice, and he who chooses it is counted evil. As for the other matters, these are naturally
not good and neither are they evil. They could be directed towards righteousness as much as
towards evil. If we use wealth in givings, then it becomes righteousness, and if it implies
greed, then it becomes evil.
The saint has clarified this concept on more than one occasion, particularly in the
article that said, “No one can harm a person unless this person harms himself.” He showed
clearly that wealth, as much as poverty does, both of them do not harm man. What harms him
is the evil of his inward heart, and the misuse of riches or poverty.
Wealth in its essence is not goodness; this is confirmed by St. Clemendous the
Alexandrian in his book “Who is the rich one who is saved?” Wealth is not wickedness, it is
rather beneficial if well used. There are many wealthy people who are blessed with the
kingdom due to their love of giving.
Secondly: The heart of this rich man mentioned by the Lord Jesus was attracted to earthly
riches. His heart was sealed with the love of temporal issues, and the stuffing of the barns of
his greedy soul. He thought himself able to erect more new barns for himself; but all of a
sudden his soul was required of him, and the barns were absolutely destroyed.
St. Basibolious the great said, “He did not remember his brethren of the creation,
neither did he think of giving of his surplus to the needy. His barns were exploding with the
surplus storage, but yet the greed of his mind was not to be satisfied in any way. He says ‘I
will do so, I will pull down my barns....’ you will do well; for your evil storage deserve to be
pulled down. Pull down your barns that offer no peace to anyone.”
Thirdly: This rich man did not realise that God is the mystery of the human soul’s life. He
who possesses God inside him, possesses life on an eternal standard. He will not be overcome
by death, but he will rather soar above by the truth above any time boundaries.
He made a mistake when he thought his life was estimated according to his riches.
When he had a surplus of wealth, he thought he had long years of welfare to enjoy. He was
not aware that his soul would be asked of him this very night. St. Clemendous the
Alexandrian says, “Man’s life is not based on the overflow of his possessions.” Cyril the
Alexandrian says, “Indeed, man’s life is not based on hiss possession of surplus welfare. But
he who is counted as blessed is the one who has glorified hope and is rich in God.”
Fourthly: St. Johe Kasian thinks the deviation of this rich man is his concerned about the
morrow, for he says, “I wish we are not concerned about the morrow; we should not allow
ourselves at all to be deviated from the basis of renouncing all kinds of luxury, and leading a
frugal life.” St. Augustine thinks his concern about obtaining an affluent life is the secret
behind his deviation, for he says, “Do you not think that greed, which is when we ask for
more than what is necessary, makes us err? Let us beware of any kind of greed, if we wish to
be blessed with the eternal wisdom.
Fifthly: In the beginning of this book we said it is ‘the joyful gospel.’ Our heavenly Friend
has come to grant us through His friendship, an eternal joy that can never be taken away from
us. We have seen in this gospel that it opens with joy and praise, and it was also concluded in
joy. The Lord wished to differentiate between the friendly joy and the worldly joy. He
therefore offered this parable in which the rich man tells himself ‘Rejoice.’ But it was only
for maybe a few hours when his soul lost the source of its temporal joy. It even lost his entire
life because it made out of this rich man of the world, an offense to its joy.
The physical man rejoices when he obtains temporal things, whatever their value may
be. But soon afterwards, he is grieved when he loses even a little bit of what he has gained.
Thus he loses his joy and his peace. This might be what St. Jerome wished to confirm when
he said, “When we gain a penny we are filled with joy, and when we lose half a penny we are
drowned in grief.”
Sixthly: Father Gregory the great comments on the Lord’s words ‘tonight your soul will be
required of you’ saying, ‘The soul is required at nighttime, since it walked in the darkness of
its heart; for it did not wish we walk in the light of hope.’
St. John Chrysostom comments on the Lord’s words ‘These things you have prepared,
whose are they?’ saying “You will leave everything here; you will not only go out empty
handed, but you will also go out heavily burdened with the sins on your shoulders. What you
have collected here will probably fall into the enemies’ hands, and at the same time you will
be asked about it.”

6: The New Flock and the Temporal things:

(Luke12: 22) “He said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food,
and the body more than clothing.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, our heavenly Friend, wishes to exalt with His new flock, so
they gradually carry the new qualities befitting Him when being uplifted. The Lord first
urged him to confess the faith, then He warned him of greed as a dangerous enemy that
makes man lose his contact with God and people. It also shatters his personal inward life.
Then He told him the parable of the foolish rich man who set his heart on earthly barns. The
Lord urges us not to be concerned about luxurious things. Now He is exalting us to a higher
level, which is that of not worrying about even the necessities such as food and clothing. He
assures us He is our maker, and the Giver of our life; so will He not be concerned about our
feeding us? Since He has made for us the physical body He therefore also takes care of our
clothing. He wishes His flock not to be neglectful or careless, but to be well balanced
mentally, without any fear or worry. The flock has to lean on the Shepherd’s good chest with
no disturbance whatsoever.
+ The words ‘Do not fear’ do not mean ‘do not work’. They mean do not let your thoughts be
tied to what is earthly, since man can work without being concerned.
St. John Chrysotom.
+ He did not only say ‘Do not be concerned about’, but He added ‘to your lives’. This means
do not focus your concern about these matters, but let your eagerness be focused on greater
things. For indeed, life is better than food, and the body is better than clothing. If there is any
danger for our life and bodies, then those leading an evil life will fall under the suffering and
the penalty. Therefore it is necessary to avoid the concern about clothing and food.
In addition to this, it is despicable indeed for those who love righteousness and its
serious followers in great zeal, so they are counted as perfect and praiseworthy before God, to
be disturbed about new clothes, as little children do, or run after banquets that are costly and
vain. What follows these things is a whole lot of violent passions, and the result is regressing
away from God. For it is said, (1John2: 15) “Do not love the world nor the things of the
world.” Also, (James4: 4) “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with
God.
You might ask: “Then who will give us the necessities of life?” We shall answer the
following. “Let the Lord be entrusted; He has promised you clearly about these things and
told you of minor matters, such as His concern about the sparrows and the lilies of the field,
to assure us He is sincere about the greater matters.
St. Cyril the great.
St. Ambrosios thinks God has created the soul and the body together in unity. For the
body is the soul’s garment, and the soul is the life of the body. It is as it He wishes us not to
be concerned about the food and the clothing, and be rather concerned about the soul and the
body together so we achieve the constant everlasting life.
He wishes us to be exalted even above the necessities; not to neglect them, but so they
do not absorb our thoughts and destroy our inward peace. He wishes us to practice it in sacred
thoughts, and see with the apostle that if we eat or drink, we only do this for the glory of God.
Even our very entertainment and amusement, it has to be in Christ Jesus our Lord. In this way
man lives in this world with no worries, and so succeeds here, and obtains a hundred fold
through his inward peace. This is counted to him as a deposit of an eternal level.
The life with no worries is the secret behind the believer’s success, his peace and his
joy in this world, and his glory in the eternal world.

7- The New Flock and the Heavenly Matters:

God does not wish to deprive His sensible flock of anything. He has created
everything for man’s sake. But when He saw man clinging to the world and how his heart
was corrupted by greed, and how his soul was burdened with worry, and his life got further
away from his Creator, the Lord commanded him to depart from the temporal things so he be
blessed with what is heavenly. The Lord wished man to leave the gift with all his heart, and
to cleave to the Giver, and hence he would have an overflow of gifts. This is why the Lord
Jesus went on with His words to us confirming to us three points:
Firstly: that God is not hard towards us, and that He is in fact the Lover of mankind. For our
sake he is concerned about His insensible creation. He heeds the fowls of the air, and clothes
the lilies of the field in wondrous beauty, so would He not be rather more concerned about
man for whose sake He has created the birds and the lilies?
Secondly: Worry does not make things any better, for we cannot add to our stature one cubic.
So why do we live in worry, and lose all our inward peace, and our relation with God with
any fleeting profit either?
Thirdly: The Lord does not wish deprivation for its own sake, but He wishes to grant what is
way greater (Luke12: 31) “Instead, strive for His kingdom, and these things will be given to
you as well.” In other words, let our hearts be vacant of any temporal things, and thus the
Lord enters, and establishes His kingdom without depriving us even of what we have left
behind.
If we refer to the gospel words, we find them as follows: (Luke12: 24-31) “Consider
the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God
feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And can any of you by
worrying add a single hour to your spair of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing
as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they neither toil
nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if
God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, how much more will He clothe you – you of little faith. And do not keep striving for
what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations
of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, strive for His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
We have previously mentioned excerpts from some of the church fathers concerning
these evangelical verses. I add the following words to them:
+ If the birds of the sky do not sow or reap the plentiful harvest, and the divine care
constantly provide for them, then it is all the more appropriate for us to see in our greed a
sign of our poverty.
The sources of provision for the birds are plentiful and manifold, and none of them
are of the bird’s doings, for they know no possession of their own. The fruits given to them
are shared by everyone. But as for ourselves, we have lost the commonly shared goods, and
we ask for personal properties.
Do not look upon those goods as personal properties of yours, for the Lord wants to
make food shared commonly between you and the birds and beasts.
The birds of the sky do not ask for any property of its own. This is why they are never
in aced of food, and they have no envy for others.
‘Consider the lilies how they grow’: by these words the Lord asks us to have trust in
Him, for He grants us His mercy. The literal meaning to these words mean we are unable to
add anything to our physical stature. As for the spiritual meaning, it means we are unable to
trespass our boundaries without God’s help.
The Lord put the lily on a higher level than that of man himself. He gave it more glory
than the people represented by Solomon, who was distinguished by building the Lord’s
temple in its appearance, represented by Christ’s church symbolically.
The bright colors of the lilies refer to the glory of the angels of heaven who are the
flowers of this world, for they have lit up the world in their brightness, and have spread about
the sweet aroma of Christ. Because we are supported by their pleadings and help, we can say
(2Cor.2: 15) “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved.”
Thus we are not hindered by any feelings, and we are not confused with any urgent job, but
we rather keep for ourselves the divine freedom blessings, and the gifts of the divine nature.
Indeed, it is very appropriate that the Lord refers to Solomon in all his glory, since he
was able to cover up his physical nature with the strength of the Spirit, and to clothe it with
the beauty of the Spirit’s deeds.
St. Ambrousios
+ This is true, because the lilies and other flowers that grow in the fields embody amazing
beauty in their harmonious colors, whether in variety or splendor, all in natural clothing. This
is all copied by man by his art in drawing skillfully or in embroidery; but still, it is so far
from reality. However successful this work of art may be, yet it could never reach the actual
truth itself. Therefore however much we try to achieve this apparent beauty, yet our effort is
in vain.
St. Cyril the great.
+ I wish we would not ask for such food that is not so essential, and rather ask for the food
that concerns the soul’s salvation. We do not have to ask for the expensive clothes, but rather
ask how to save our bodies from fire and perdition. Let us do this, and ask for His kingdom,
and all that supports us so we be sharers in Christ’s kingdom.
St. Cyril the great.
+ To be confused about the visible matters, is the share of hopelessness in the life to come,
and those who are fearless regarding the coming judgment.
St. Gregory, bishop of Nisus
In this way the Lord Jesus wishes to exalt us, we His new flock, so we live as the
soaring birds of the sky towards the heavens. We do not care about any private property or
any earthly storehouses. We rather hover as if in eternity in an atmosphere of perfect love.
We also live as the lilies of the field, embodying the angelic bright beauty, which is not of the
making of our hands, but the making of His absolute grace. We see in God that He is our
Father, who is concerned about our sharing in His kingdom, He offers us the temporal
matters as secondary and cheap when compared to His immoral fatherly gifts.

8- The New Flock and the Father’s Pleasure:

(Luke12: 32) “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.”
What a comforting phrase, for He calls God ‘our Father’, and so we are relieved
regarding His care and provision for our account. Indeed, the church will constantly remain
the little flock’, for many are called but few are chosen. These few ones disappear in the
world, yet they are well-counted in God’s eyes, for the Lord tells Elyah, who has believed the
flock to have been absolutely eradicated, (1Kings19: 18) “Yet I will leave seven thousand in
Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
It is a flock not only in number but regarding the human possibilities as well. They are
unable and helpless to do any strong temporal job, yet they are held as pleasing to God the
Father, and are heirs to the eternal kingdom. It is the small flock in the world’s eyes, but they
are in God’s heart, being blessed with His divine grace, and they usurp lovingly the heavenly
kingdom.
+ This is actually a spiritual comfort, and the rood that leads us to the assured faith. By
saying ‘Do not be afraid’ He means they have to believe in this issue, so confirmed, that
carries no doubt whatsoever, which is that their heavenly Father grants the way of life to
those who love Him. He will not disregard His own; He will rather open His hand that
satisfies the universe with goodness.
He who grants these precious great matters, and He who grants the heavenly
kingdom, is He going to deprive us of His mercy? Or, will He not supply us with food and
clothing? What earthly welfare is equal to the heavenly kingdom? What could possibly be
compared to what God will grant such as these indescribable and unimaginative matters?
(1Cor.2: 9) “What no eye has seen nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God
has prepared for those who love Him.” When you praise the earthly rich person, and admire
his temporal authority, this is not to be compared to what has been prepared, for it is said
(1Pet.1: 24) “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.” So if you are
speaking of richness and luxury and banquets, it is said, (1John2: 17) “And the world and its
desire are passing away.” The divine matters are not to be compared with the world’s. if God
grants His kingdom to His loved ones, will He not all the more so, offer them food and
clothing?
He has called them ‘little flock’, because we are fewer than the innumerable hosts of
angels, and who surpass in their ability our deadly matters immeasurably. This is what our
Savior Himself taught us in the parable mentioned in the gospels, for He says (Luke15: 4 etc)
“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has
found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.” Notice that if the number of sensible
creatures is extended to ten times ten, then the flock on the ground is only one in a hundredth.
Though it is small from the natural aspect, and number, and honor when compared to
the hosts of higher spirits that are innumerable, yet it is blessed with the Father’s goodness
that surpasses any description; and it is granted a portion with the loftier spirits, I mean, the
heavenly kingdom.
St. Cyril the great
+ The Lord means by the small flock those ones who wish to become His disciples, (who are
few in number). Or, the Lord may have wished to show that the saints in the world seem to be
small due to their voluntary place of settlement, or because they are joined to the heavenly
angelic hosts who surpass us in all that we cherish, in an incomparable way.
The little was given by our Lord to His elect ones, when compared to the huge
numbers of evil people, or maybe because of there revered modesty.
Father Theophlactius
+ Be careful to belong to the chosen few; and do not be cold by following the negligent
behaviour of others. Live like those few ones so you become equipped to enjoying God.
(Matt.20: 16) “For many are called but few are chosen.”
St. John Casian
+ For each one of us there is a flock that leads him on to the green pastures.
St. John Chrysostom

9- The New Flock and Charity:

if the Lord Jesus has called His flock ‘little’ so they be counted as pleasing to the
Father who has given them the kingdom, then it is appropriate for this flock to declare their
eagerness for this free kingdom, by renouncing the world treasures, and offering them to the
poor. Those poor ones are like keeping them safe in the new home, that is to say, in heaven.
In this way the Lord Jesus offers us a new concept for giving or charity, which is the
emptying of the heart of any temporal love with the aim of heavenly satisfaction.
(Luke 12: 33,34) “Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves
that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where not htief comes near and no moth
destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
St. Augustine says, “I wish his deeds reveals his voice” which means if the believer
speaks of the kingdom, let him proclaim his words practically by giving alms.

+ Let our eagerness be firm for the matters to come. Let us store our hope in the imminent
matters as a treasure to us. Let us collect before us, for ourselves, all these matters by means
of which we are well equipped for God’s gifts.
St. Cyril the great.
+ Charity is a medication to every wound. But charity is not practiced by monetary giving
alone, it is rather practiced by all that man masters to relieve others. The physician, for
instance cures and the wise one gives advice.
 St. John Clrysostom
+ Someone may ask ‘On what basis are we to sell our possession? Is it because these matters
are harmful in their nature? Or, is it because they represent a tribulation to our souls?
We answer this question, firstly; if all that is in the world, is evil in its essence then
this would not be counted as God’s creation; for all of God’s creation is good (1Tim.4: 4).
Secondly; our Lord’s commandment teaches us to wipe out the evil in us, and not to offer it
to others, saying ‘Give alms’.
St. Basilious the great.

10- The New Flock and the Friend’s Coming:

when the Lord uplifts the heart of His little flock towards heaven, and He asks them to
offer all of their treasures to the heavenly storehouses where no moth or thief could drow
near, the heart is then kindled with the heavenly Groom, the Shepherd of the new flock. The
body thus remains clothed, like someone ready to take off with Him; and the soul like a
lantern brightly lit with the love for the coming Christ the Groom. All that is in man’s being
is in a state of watchfulness and wakefulness, so all would depart to where the Groom is.
(Luke12: 35, 36) “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are
waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that they open the door for
Him as soon as He comes and knocks”.
What is it to ‘be dressed’ other than the chaste body that leads a life of restraint and
discipline? What are the brightly lit lanterns other them the souls kindled by God’s Spirit, the
Giver of enlightenment? Who are those people awaiting their Master other than man’s
potentials and his motivation in all his feelings, emotions and talents?
Everyone works as if in watchfulness for the sake of the coming Groom who will
reign.
+ Being dressed and well girdled, having a dead leather belt on, only means man practices
deadening these members that include the passionate seeds of corruption. Man thus will know
perpetually the gospel’s commandment ‘Be dressed for action’, and applying this to the
apostle’s interpretation (Col.3: 5) “Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly:
fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed”. We find in the Holy Book that those
who are dressed for action are the only ones who destroy the seeds of physical passion. They
sing loudly the words of the devout king David (Ps.119: 83) “For I have become like a
wineskin in the smoke”.
St. John Casian
+ What does it mean ‘Be dressed for action’? ‘Depart from evil (Ps.34: 14). What does it
mean ‘your lanterns be brightly lit’? Do good.
St. Augustine
+ To be dressed for action means virginity or chastity. The lit lanterns are the good deeds.
St. Augustine
+ What does it mean to be dressed and ready for action? It means to control our passions,
which is the work of chastity. As for lighting our lanterns, this means to light them brightly
with the good deeds, that is by righteous work.
St. Augustine
+ ‘Be dressed for action’, this means to be constantly ready to practice God’s work. ‘Your
lanterns lit’ means not to lead a life in the darkness, for you will have the light of common
sense that reveals what you should or should not do. For this world is night, and those who
are dressed for action lead a life of practical activity. For this is the case with those servants
who have to have their lanterns lit, that is, the gift of discernment. The active servant has to
have the ability not only of discerning what he has to do, but also how to practice it so he
would not fall headlong into the abyss of pride.
Let us struggle in practicing righteousness, and thus have two lit lanterns which are
the mental understanding that shines in the soul and so lighten it up, and the leaching by
means of which we enlighten others.
Father Theophlactius
+ It is appropriate for the apostles to be girdled and dressed for action so as to carry the
gospel lantern.
St. Jerome
+ No one should say that the Lord wishes us to be physically dressed, and hold a lantern in
our hands, literally speaking, since this interpretation befits the stupidity of the jews alone.
But as for us, to be dressed for action means to be mentally ready to work strongly in all
praiseworthy things. The lantern represents the mental watchfulness, and the mental joy.
St. Cyril the great.
In addition to this, we can say these two points refer to the partnership of the body
with the soul in the Holy life. The area of the waist refers to the body subdued by the apostle
and enslaved it to him, not to destroy it but rather to discipline it by the Holy Spirit and thus
live sanctified to the Lord. The lit lantern is the soul with all its potentials that lights inside
the body so that man lives in unity and harmony under the leadership of the Spirit, for the
account of the kingdom of light.
If these two chores are practiced by man through the spiritual work, then the Lord’s
commandment has come to announce the commitment to work through watchfulness and
constant wakefulness until the Lord comes, and dwells in the midst as a Groom to the soul.
For He says, (Luke12: 36) “Be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the
wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for Him as soon as He comes and knocks”.
+ It is appropriate for us to look forward to Christ’s second coming from heaven; for He will
come in the Father’s glory with the saintly angels.
Christ will come as if from a banquet; it will be clearly manifested that God dwells as
if in feasts and weddings- a befitting thing for Him. There is no sorrow whatsoever in heaven
above; since there is nothing at all to grieve for in the nature above the fantasies, and that is
not affected by anything.
St. Cyril the great.
+ When our Lord ascended up to the heavens, to the wedding, He was as the Groom who is
attached to the heavenly hosts of angels.
Father Gregory the great.
He comes as form a wedding, as groom asking for His human bride. He knocks and so
they immediately open to Him (Luke12: 36). What does His knocking on the door mean other
than His issuing the order of the resurrection! The immediate opening of the door is their
quick readiness to meet Him, for they have slept in this hope, awaiting the eternal wedding
day.
The true believers open the door so the Groom enters as if in His own kingdom. He
would open the door for them so they be blessed with the Father’s embrace. But as for the
wicked ones, they will rise but to eternal death having no joyful resurrection, and they will
never be blessed with seeing the divine glories. In this way their doors will remain locked,
and the Groom will not enter there, and the Groom’s ageless doors will be locked and they
could not cross it.
The Lord Jesus continues His words, saying, (Luke12: 37) “Truly I tell you, He will
fasten His belt and have them sit down to eat, and He will come and serve them”. This is
amazing indeed, that the groom fastens His belt, and honors His bride, will let her sit down to
eat and He Himself comes to serve her. He serves those before Him, have fastened their belts
in the world, and have served others for the heavenly Groom’s account. They are thus well
prepared for Him to serve them.
This sight kindles the heart of St. John Chryostom, and so he says, (Joh.6: 10) “So
then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for
those of the family of faith”. “If you see someone in trouble, do not be curious and ask too
many questions; for as long as he is in trouble consider it enough he be blessed with your
help. He is God’s man, be he an atheist or a Jew, and even if he is an unbeliever, he still
needs your help.”
+ We obtain a similar reward, for He Himself fastens His belt concerning those who have
fastened their belts as well.
St. Cyril the great
+ He fastens His belt with righteousness.
The scholar Oregances
+ He fastens His belt which means He is ready for the judgement.
Pope Gregorious the great
(Luke12: 37) “He will fasten His belt, and have them sit down to eat, and He will
come and serve them.”
+ He would have them sit down as if relieving them of their toil, and offering them the
spiritual pleasures, and prepare them His table of exquisite gifts.
St. Cyril the great
+ The sitting down here means the relief from many troubles, and the life of no worry. There
is the change also for those who live in the light; their nature will be enriched in holy
feelings, and will be overflowed with all the gifts, and thus they will be overjoyed. Jesus
makes them sit down to grant them everlasting relief, and will distribute for them countless
blessings.
St. Dionysius Arioagki
When the Lord had revealed the condition of the little flock that awaits the coming of
his unique Friend, and the only Shepherd, and the heavenly groom, He began to stress the
commitment to watchfulness and expectation of this coming. He said, (luke12: 38-40) “If He
comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those
slave. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming
he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is
coming at an unexpected hour.”
Father Methodios thinks the Lord Jesus could come in the beginning of the night
when man is in his childhood. He could wait for us till the middle of the night, that is, when
we mature to manhood. It could also be late at night, that is, in old age. Let us therefore be
ready to meet Him whether we be children, adults or seniors. St. Cyril the great has also
offered us the same interpretation.

11- The New Flock and the honesty in the job:

The Lord drew the flock’s heart towards Him in the expectation of His last coming, so
they be blessed with God’s kingdom. Now the Lord Jesus declares to His flock the
commitment to honesty so they have a share in this kingdom.
(Luke12: 41, 42) “Peter said, ‘Lord are you telling this parable for us or for
everyone?’ And the Lord said ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his
master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper
time?”
When St. Peter heard the parable concerning the Lord’s coming in which the Lord
declares His coming all of a sudden at an unexpected time, and how we should be watchful
awaiting this coming, St. Peter asked His Master if this parable concerned the disciples alone
or if it concerned everyone else.
St. Peter might have asked within, himself “What did the Lord mean by saying ‘these
slaves?’” Did He mean the disciples entrusted with ‘the house of God’ as servants and as
shepherds until the master of the house comes? Or did He mean every believer entrusted with
his life as God’s house, as a servant and a shepherd to the body, the soul, the potentials, the
talents and all the possibilities to work together for the account of the house Master, the Lord
Jesus Himself?
The Lord’s answer came as follows (Luke12: 42) “Who then is the faithful and
prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their
allowance of food at the proper time?” As St. John Chrysostom says, “The Lord did not pose
this question because He did not know who the believers and wise entrusters were, but rather
He wished to reveal the scarcity of finding them, particularly to be entrusted with the church
service.
+ He who is found to be honest and a wise agent, let him receive the providing of the
Master’s house so he would give the allowance, their portion of food at the right time. He is
the word of nutritional education for their souls, or the practical example that forms their life.
Father Theophlactius
+The Savior has exalted the apostles as agents for serving Him; that is, over those who were
gained by faith for knowing His glory- people who are honest and of deep concept, will
educated in the sanctified edification.
The Lord exalted them, and commanded them to offer the food allowed to them, not
indiscriminately, but at its due time. I mean the spiritual food appropriate for every
individual, and that which suffices him. For it is inappropriate to offer instructions in every
point in one consistent way to all those who believe in Jesus, for it is written. (Prov.27: 23)
“Know the condition of your flocks.” For when we offer the true ways to any person, he
would become a new student to whom we apply the simple education that does not include
anything too difficult to understand or be aware of. This is an absolutely different thing than
the way we use to discipline those who are firmer in the concepts, and those who are able to
realise the height, the depth, the length and width of the divine concepts that are so sublime.
As we have previously said (Heb.5: 14) “But solid food is for the mature.”
St. Cyril the great
The Lord’s coming will differentiate between the honest and wise agents, and those
who are careless and violent, working for the account of their heroism, and not for the
account of their landlord. For He says, (Luke12: 43-46) “Blessed is that slave whom his
master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all
his possessions. But if that slave says to himself ‘My master is delayed in coming’ and he
begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the
master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect hem and at an hour that he
does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful.”
+ He who gives the servants his friends their share of food, wisely and in due time according
to their needs, he will be blessed immensely as the Savior said. He will be counted worthy for
greater matters, and will receive a reward worthy of his honesty. This is what the Savior
taught us on another occasion, when He praised the active hard working and honest slave,
saying (Matt.25: 21) “Well done, then good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy
in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
But if he was negligent in his work, and if he was neither hardworking nor honest, and
thought lightly of being watchful over these matters as they are light things, and left himself
over occupied with earthly concerns, and left his mind to be corrupted by inappropriate
things, and uses violence and cruelty with those inferior to him, offering none of their due
share, then this individual will be in abject misery. This is the meaning of being ‘cut off’, as I
assume, ‘and be among those who are betrayers.’ For he who harms the glory of Christ, or
dares to scorn the entrusted flock, he is no different than those who do not know Christ. They
will be counted with those who do not love Him. Christ has thus said to the devout St. Peter
(John.21: 15, 16) “’Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him
‘Yes Lord, you know that I love You. Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.” He who loves his
sheep, takes care of them. He who neglects them, and leaves the flock-shepherding assigned
to him, this means he hates them. If he hates them he will be punished and counted with the
unbelievers.
St. Cyril the great
(Luke12: 44) “Truly I tell you, He will put that one in charge of all His possessions.”
This will not only be over His own home, but over the earthly matters as well as the heavenly
ones, and so obey Him. This is similar to what happened to Joshua son of Nun, and Elyah;
one commanded the sun, and the other commanded the clouds. All the saints, being as friends
to God, used what is God’s.
he who crosses his life in a righteous way, and makes his servants submit in an
appropriate way, such as wrath and lust, and supplies them with food in due time. As for the
wrath he uses it against those who hate God so they may repent. As for the lust, he uses this
when strictly necessary for the body, making it submit to God. Such a person, I assure you,
God will make him mange all His property, for he will be counted worthy to enjoy all the
divine issues of God through the light of meditation.
Father Theophactius
I wish we could be, therefore, honest agents not only as servants who offer the
spiritual appropriate food to every soul in its due time, but also even for us, let us tbe honest
with the servants under our authority. This is just as the body with all its members, its
feelings, the thoughts in all their potentials, and the heart with all its emotions and urges- let
all that is in our hands be a trust handed over to us by the Lord. We have to serve it with the
Holy Spirit, and give it the satisfaction, not with matters of this vain world but by the Spirit’s
food, the Word of God that satisfies all of our being. It is then, at this point, that God will
make us manage all of wealth, for heaven and earth will yield to our eagerness for the Lord,
and everything will work for our development. Each of us will then be like a king of authority
in the Lord, the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.
It does not befit us to beat up ‘the young boys and the maids. The young boys refer to
the soul’s potentials, and the maids refer to the physical potentials. In our previous study we
have seen that the soul is symbolized by the male, and the body by the female. For the young
boys are the sons of the soul and the maids are the daughters of the body. We are asked not to
destroy these two, but rather to feed them and raise them so that all would be sanctified in the
Lord, working in a harmonious Spirit for the account of God’s kingdom.
The Lord offers us an important principle in the reward or the prize; it is this: that
whenever knowledge increases, the responsibility becomes greater, and consequently the
reward or the prize is greater too. For He says (Luke12: 47, 48) “That slave who knew what
his Master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe
beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light
beating. From everyone to whom much has been given much will be required; and from the
one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”
+ He who knows the will of his Master and is slothful about it, and does not do what is
appropriate as his duty should be, this crime is not discussed, for he is counted as in explicit
shame and he deserves many beatings.
 But why should the one who does not know his Master’s will, and does not do it, why
should he endure beatings even if they are few? This is because he did not wish to know,
even though he was able to know.
It is a very severe condemnation for the ones who know, to fall under its judgment.
This is manifested by Christ’s disciple who says (James3: 1) “Not many of you should
become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged
with greater strictness”. For the gift spiritual of talents is abundant to the leaders of the
people. The wise St. Paul writes to the devout Timothy (2Tim.2: 7) “For the Lord will give
you understanding in all things”. (1ti8m.1: 6) “For this reason I remind you to rekindle the
gift of God that is within you through the baying on of my hands.” It is manifested from this
that the Savior of everyone, because He gives them more, He asks for more. What are the
virtues He asks them for? To be firm in the faith, the correct edification, the good foundation
in the hope, the unhesitant patience the spiritual strength that is not overcome, the joy and the
courage in every forward step: in this way we become a model for others in the evangelical
life. It we live as such, Christ will grant us the crown, by whose means and with whose
means we praise and have the authority to the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
Amen.
St Cyril the great
+ Notice how He reveals openly that it is serious indeed for man to sin knowingly, than to sin
in ignorance. Despite this, we are not to take refuge under the shadow of ignorance; Because
there is a difference between being ignorant, and between not ready to receive any
knowledge. The person about whom was said (Ps.36: 3) “They have ceased to act wisely and
do good.” His will is a wrong one, and he has no right to apologize by being ignorant.
Despite this, ignorance does not justify anyone or exempts him from the punishment of
eternal fire. It could lessen the punishment for it was not in vain that he said (2Thes.1: 8) in
flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
St. Augustine
+ What excuse do we have, we who have entered the palace, and were counted worthy of
entering the sepulchre, and we who have become partners in obtaining the mysteries for the
forgiveness of sins, and yet, we behave more wickedly than the Greeks, and the Gentiles who
did not partake of anything of the sort?
St. John Chrysostom

12- The New Flock and the Fire of the Spirit:

Since the Lord has asked us to live as honest and wise workers, then from where can
we obtain honesty and wisdom? These are the gifts of the fiery Holy Spirit that the Lord
Jesus has sent to His church so He changes her members to what is like ‘a cherubim throne
kindled in fire.’ We are thus equipped for the Lord to reign over us, sitting inside us as if on
His throne.
This divine fire is the Lord’s gift to us, for He says, (Luke12: 49) “I came to bring fire
to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
+ By this, He wanted to present to us a disciple full of blaze and fire, ready to endure every
risk.
St. John chrysostom
+ For this reason the Spirit appeared in fire, but we increase in the cold more than the dust,
and in liflessness more than the dead; whereas we can see St. Paul soaring high in the
heavens, and the highest of the heavens. He is more zealous than the blaze, overcoming
everything, and surpassing all matters: the lower and the higher ones, the present and the
future ones, the existing and non-existing ones.
Apart from St. Paul, let us remember the first believers who left all their property and
possessions, and all earthly concerns, and the temporal restfulness, and so devoted
themselves entirely to Go9d. they offered all their concern to the edification of the word, by
day and by night. This is the fire of the Spirit that does not allow us to have in us any desire
for matters of this life. We are rather transferred to another kind of love.
St. John Chrysostom
+ He said this to declare the fiery love He asks to be in us. Just as he has loved us so much,
likewise does He desire us to love Him also.
St. John Chrysostom
+ The God of all is (Ps.104: 4) “You make the winds your messengers fire and lame your
ministers.” When the righteous St. Paul wished the Spirits grace given to us be not cooled, he
warned us, saying, (1Thes.5: 19) “Do not quench the Spirit,” so that we stay partners with
Christ if we hold on till the end to the Spirit that we have been granted. For he says ‘do not
quench’ not because the Spirit is put under the authority of man, or because he endures
sufferance from the Spirit, but it is due to man’s ingratitude which quenches the Spirit
openly. Thus man becomes as the evil ones that disturb the Spirit by unsanctified deeds.
Such fire got hold of Jeremiah the prophet when the word was as fire in him, for he
said he was unable to endure this fire (Jer.20: 9). Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lover of
mankind has come to throw this, fire on earth, saying ‘What do I need if it is kindled?’
St. Pope Athanasios
+ May the correct understanding kindle our minds and purify them with he who has come to
send fire on earth to scatter the evil habits, quick to kindle it.
St. Gregory El Nazinzi
+ When the Holy Spirit came down, it was said (Acts2: 3) “Divided tongues, as of fire,
appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.” Thus the apostle also said
(Rom.12: 11) “be ardent in Spirit,” for from Him the zeal of love comes (Rom.5: 5) “because
God’s love has been poured in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
As a contrast to this zeal, is what the Lord said (Matt.24: 12) “The love of many will grow
cold”. For the perfect love is the perfect gift of the Holy Spirit.
St. Augustine
+This is the fire that was kindled in the disciples’ hearts and obligated them to say (Luke 24:
32) “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the rood, while He
was opening the scriptures to us?
St. Jerome
+ He does not mean the fire that burns goodness, but the fire that urges the good deeds, which
makes the golden vessels in the house of the Lord, in a better state, by burning the hay and
the straw (1Cor.3: 12), and also burning every temporal place, filled with physical pleasures
that are temporal and doomed for perdition.
This divine fire kindled the bones of the prophets, as Jeremiah said (Jer.20: 9) “then
within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with
holding it in, and I cannot.”
There is fire for the Lord about which is said (Ps.97: 3) “Fire goes before Him”.
The Lord Himself is fire, for He says of Himself (Ps.3: 2; 24: 17; Deut.4: 42; Heb.12:
29) that He is consuming fire.
The Lord’s fire is the everlasting light. With this fire the lanterns are let up, about
which was previously said (Luke 24: 32) “Fasten your belts for action and let your lanterns be
kindled”. Cleopas and his friend testified that the Lord has put in them this fire by their words
‘were not our hearts burning within us?” They proclaimed the work of this fire that enlightens
the depth of the heart. Maybe due to this, the Lord will come in fire (Is. 46: 15, 16) so He
burns all the malice in the resurrection, and by His presence He fills the eagerness of every
believer, and shines with His light on the deeds and the hearts.
St. Ambrosios
+ We confirm that this fire sent by Christ is for human salvation and for their own good, God
grants all our hearts to be filled with it. Fire here, as I have mentioned, is the gospel’s
message of salvation and the power of His commandments. For all of us on earth are cold and
dead due to sin, and in ignorance too. Let us be kindled by the righteous life and become hot
in the Spirit (Rom.12: 11), as the righteous St. Paul has expressed.
In addition to this, we become partners in the Holy Spirit that is like firee inside us.
This is the custom of the divine Holy Book of inspiration, that it names the holy
divine words sometimes with ‘fire’. This is to show the impact of the Holy Spirit and His
strength by which we become eager and hot in the Spirit.
One of the saintly prophets spoke of the personality of God about Christ the Savior of
everyone, (Mal.3: 1-3) “and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple. The
messenger of the covenant in whom you delight – indeed, He is coming, says the Lord of
hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears? For
He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
and He will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they
present offering to the Lord in righteousness.
By the temple He means the body that is sanctified indeed, that is sinless, born of the
Virgin Saint by the Holy Spirit by the Father’s power. It was said to the devout Virgin
(Luke1: 35) “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you.” Christ has come to reveal to us the Father’s good will, and to serve us. He
himself says that He has made us know all what He heard of His Father (John 15: 15).
Furthermore, those who know how to purify gold and silver, use fire. In this way the Savior
of everyone purifies the thoughts of all those who believe in the gospel’s teaching by the
power of the Spirit.
How do we explain the coal of fire that touched the prophet’s lips (Is.6: 6, 7) and that
has purified him of all sin? It is the message of salvation, and the confession in faith of
Christ, and he who accepts this, will be purified from his mouth. This is what St. Paul
confirms to us (Rom.10: 9) “Because if you confers with your lips that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”.
We therefore say that the power of the divine message is similar to live burning coal
and fire. The God of everyone tells Jeremiah the prophet (Jer.23: 29) and (Jer.5: 14) “Is not
my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” “I am now
making My words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour
them.”
St. Cyril the great
13- The New Flock and the Passion of Suffering:

Because the Lord grants His new flock His fiery Holy Spirit, and because He offers
them His fiery words, and grants them the fiery love, this is only to make His flock leve on a
fiery heavenly level where no world events could ever hinder them from reaching the
heavenly matters. Indeed, the Lord’s coming kindles the hearts in love, yet the unbelievers
are provoked by even the close ones to disturb them. The believers therefore endure every
hardship and suffering with a long forbearing heart, as their Master did.
The Lord Jesus says (Luke12: 50-53) “I have a baptism with which to be baptized,
and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace
to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, five in one household will be
divided, three against two, and two against three; they will be divided; father against son and
son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law
against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
What is this baptism the Lord was baptized with, other than His endurance of the
passion until death, shedding His blood for our sake. We therefore find it appropriate for us to
carry on in bearing His qualities for His sake, in the spiritual struggle even till the blood is
shed, that is, till death. As the apostle says (Rom.8: 36) “For Your sake we are being killed all
day long.”
The baptism has been called dye, for by it we carry the qualities of the Lord Jesus; by
being buried with Him to rise also with Him, carrying the power of His resurrection in us.
This dye as the scholar Tritilian says, is to be in the waters of baptism or during martyrdom.
These two baptisms, in his opinion, the Lord has got them out of His kruised side, for out of it
came blood and water (John: 19: 34)
+ By His baptism He means the ‘dye’, which is the physical death. By His stress, He means
His grief and His endurance till they are fulfilled. What happened when everything was
fulfilled? The Gospel message of salvation has become declared, not only in Judea but in the
entire world. Before the precious cross and His resurrection from the dead, His
commandments and the glory of His divine miracles were in Judea alone. But when Israel
sinned against Him, and they killed the Head of life, He gave the commandment to His
disciples in this way (Matt. 28: 19, 20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” Now you can see the divine and
sanctified fire has spread by means of the devout preachers.
St. Cyril the great
Now that the Lord has sprinkled His blood as a sanctified dye by which we are dyed,
and by the means of which our hearts are kindled by the fire of His Holy Spirit, we have to,
just as He went through all this stress till the redemption job has been fulfilled, to be stressed
ourselves by means of the passion, then, at this point, we shall declare the perfection of our
love for Him, enduring the hardship even by the closest ones to us, of our own household.
+ Do you think He commands the loosening of the bonds among His beloved children? How
can this be when He Himself is our peace who made the two into one? (Eph.2: 14). He said
(John14: 27) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.”
If He has come to divide the fathers from the sons, and the sons against their fathers,
then how does He condemn he who does not honor his father? (Deut.27: 16).
God wants to be in the first position, then after this the filial love to the parents comes
next. We have to prefer what is God’s to what is human’s, because if the parents have their
due rights then we have to be thankful to Him who has granted us those parents. I add to this
His words in another gospel (Matt.10: 37) “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is
not worthy of Me. God does not forbid you to love your parents, but rather if you prefer them
to God. For the natural relations is one of God’s blessings, and so it is inappropriate that man
loves the gift more than the Giver of the gift and its keeper.
St. Ambrosios
+ When you disown an earthly father for the sake of your righteousness towards Christ, then
you will own Him who is in heaven as a Father to you. If you reject a brother because He
dishonors God and does not serve Him, then Christ will accept you as a brother to Himself.
Leave your mother according to the body and own the heavenly mother, that is the heavenly
Jerusalem, that is our mother’ (Gal.4 : 26). In this way you find a relationship, glorious and
strong in the family of the saints. With them you will become a heir to God’s gifts that are
inconceivable and no tongue could express them well enough.
 St. Cyril the great
St. Ambrosios asks the reason why the Lord Jesus says (Luke12: 52) “From now on
five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three” even though
He mentioned six persons: the father, the son, the mother, the daughter, the mother-in-law
and the daughter-in-law.
The response is as follows:
Firstly: There lies the possibility that the mother and the mother-in-law are one and the same
person since the son’s mother is the mother-in-law of his wife.
Secondly: He offers us a symbolic interpretation; for the house is man as whole, as St. Peter
the apostle says (1Pet.2: 5) “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,
to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
In this house there are two: the body and the soul. If they agree together in the name of
Christ, then the Lord is in their midst (Matt.18: 19). It is He who makes the two into one
(Eph.2: 14). Through this unity, the body is enslaved to serve the soul (1Cor.9: 27). These
two stand against the three others: the deviated thought, the lust and the wrathful nature.
Thirdly: He can also see that this house contains five senses: that of smell, touch, taste,
vision, and hearing. If we, through the hearing and the vision, isolate those two senses
together so they be sanctified, and resist the wrongful physical pleasures by means of the
greed of taste, the touch and the smell, then two have been divided against three.
Some think the house refers to the entire world; and that the two refer to the Jews and
the Gentiles who resist the Christians who believe in the Holy Trinity.
The father who rises against his son is the devil who has set himself as a father to the
unbelievers, He thus found his son deserting him through the Christian faith so as to accept a
heavenly Father.
The mother who is against her daughter refers to the Jewish synagogue that attacked
the first church, particularly that of the apostles and the disciples who have left their mother
by accepting the faith in the crucified Messaiah.
The mother-in-law who rose against her daughter-in-law is also the Jewish synagogue
that attacked the Gentile church that accepted being united with the heavenly Groom, the
Lord Jesus who came as a Son to the Jews, biologically speaking. It is as if the Jewish
synagogue attacked its daughter as well as its daughter-in-law; that is, it rose against the
church of Jewish origin as well as the Gentile church.
The daughter and the daughter-in-law rebeled against this synagogue, that is to say,
the mother and the mother-in-law, because the church rejected the literal deeds of the old law,
such as the circermciseon, the washings, and the physical purification.

14- New Flock and the Spirit of Discernment:

when the new flock faces the suffering with his Groom in His passion, it is
appropriate for the flock to behave wisely, and to have the Spirit of discernment as well.
(Luke12: 54-56) “He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the
west, you immediately say’ It is going to rain, and so it happens. And when you see the south
wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat, and it happens. You hypocrites! You
know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, byt why do you not know how to
interpret the present time?’.”
+ The Lord rebukes those who know how to discern the face of the sky, and yet they do not
know how to discover the time of the faith, for the kingdom of heaven has drown near.
St. Augustine
+ Humans focus their concentration on such things. Through their observation and long
experience they know ahead of time when rainfall is to happen, or when the tempestuous
winds are to blow; particularly the mariners, they are very smart in this field. The Lord says
those who are able to estimate the accounts o these matters, and prophecy by predicting them
such as the occurrence of tempests etc... all this is good and it would be much better if they
focus their thoughts deeply on more important matters. What are these important matters?
The old law has previously prophesied about Christ’s mystery, and showed He would shine at
the end of ages on the people of the earth, and offer Himself a sacrifice for the salvation of
everyone. If the old law has commanded the offering of a lamb as a symbol for Christ, in the
evening when the lantern is lit, this is only to make us understand that when the world tends
to end as the daylight does, then the great and precious sufferings of salvation will be truly
fulfilled. At this point the door of salvation will be wide open to all who believe in Him, and
thus they will have an abundantly joyful share.
In the Song of Songs we find Christ calling the bride described in the book, and the
one who symbolizes the church, saying (Song.2: 10-12) “Arise, My love, My fair one, and
come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the
earth; the time of singing has come.” As I have said there is a kind of spring peacefulness that
falls on those who believe in Him.
The blessed prophets prophesied in many ways, prophesying and preaching of
Christ’s mysteries, a matter no one could ever doubt.
The Lord says it is their duty indeed, since they have the understanding, and are able
to discern the face of heaven and of earth, to test the coming matters, and the forthcoming
tempests would not go unnoticed, in this world, of their attention. For the south winds would
blow and the rains would fall, that is, the fiery punishment of torture would befall them,
because the southern winds are warm. In this way the penalty will be adamant, and no one
should escape it, just as the rainfall that will definitely fall on them. It was therefore
appropriate for them not to pass through the time of salvation without them noticing it, that is,
the time of the Savior’s coming when He will offer mankind an absolute knowledge of the
truth, and when graces will shine so as to purify the wicked.
St. Cyril the great
St. Cyril the great saw this as a warning from the Lord Jesus towards the Jews who
were concerned about prophecies, about forecasts without being concerned about the
prophecies of His coming, and so they fell under the rainfall of the divine wrath of God and
the fire of punishment due to their ingratitude. Thus we can also look upon the words of the
Lord Jesus from another angle which is that He wishes His flock to embody the spirit of
discernment, not to keep away from the weather forecast but to enjoy the spiritual and
heavenly weather. As we have previously studied, rainfall symbolized the gift of the Holy
Spirit in many of the prophetic books. Early rainfall is the Spirit’s gift in the old Testament
before the Lord Jesus coming; whereas late rainfall, which ripens the fields this is the gift of
the spirit in the New Testament when the Lord sent Him on His church at the Pentecost, as an
endless deposit to be enjoyed by every member through the baptismal water. It is this rainfall
that quenches the soul, and that transforms it from wilderness to a fruitful paradise for the
Lord’s account, that has fallen on us through the clouds coming from the west. That is to say,
through the Lord Jesus who has come to us in the human nature. As for the ‘heat’, this refers
to the fiery Spirit that kindles the heart as we have seen in the same chapter verse 49. We are
in need of both the rainfall and the fire, or the water and the fire . both refer to the gift of the
Spirit, particularly through the baptismal water.

15- The New Flock and the Forgiving Love:

The ‘Spirit of discernment’ may have the purpose for this, flock to embody the spirit
of forgiving love to others mistakes, so they be equipped to have the quality of their heavenly
Friend, the Lover of mankind. This is why He says (Luke12: 57-59) “And why do you not
judge for yourselves what is right? Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate,
on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the
judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. I tell you, you will
never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
+ Let us see who is this adversary with whom we have to agree so he would not hand us over
to the magistrate: if you err, then God’s word is your adversary. He is the adversary to your
will, so He becomes a source of your salvation. What a good and useful adversary! He is our
adversary since we are adversaries to ourselves, that is, since you are an enemy to yourself;
and thus God’s Word will be and enemy to you. Be a friend to yourself, and thus you will be
in accord with the Word of God. As for the way, it is this life!
If you have a righteous will with your adversary, and you agree with Him, then you
will find, instead of a magistrate,. A Father; instead of a cruel officer you will find an angel
who carries your to Abraham’s embrace; and instead of jail you will find paradise. Look how
things change so quickly on the way, all because you have agreed with the adversary!
St. Augustine
+ + +
 Chapter XIII
The active Repentance

Our righteous God wishes us to be blessed with His divine friendship. He thus
established us as a new flock that He Himself cares about. He grants us the heavenly qualities
and enters with us through the partaking of His suffering to the power of His resurrection.
Now, He reveals to us the door of His fold that He has prepared for us under His shelter,
which is the ‘active repentance’. This is the door by which we enter to His kingdom, so that
every soul lives under His care, and be blessed with His divine deeds in its behavior and
worship.

1- A call for repentance 1- 5

2- God asks for fruits 6- 9
3- God loosens the weak ties 10- 17
4- The Parable of the mustard seed 18- 19
5- The Parable of the yeast and the dough 20- 21
6- Repentance and the narrow gate 22- 30
7- Declaring His death 31- 35

+ + +

1- A Call for Repentance:

The Lord Jesus has come asking for our friendship, and offering His life a price to this
friendship, intiaiting His love. But we cannot encounter Him and accept His love in us in any
other way than that of repentance. This is what the Lord Himself confirms saying (luke13:
3,5) “unless you repent, you will ass perish as they did”, this was when some told Him
about the Galileans that Pilate mixed their blood with their sacrifices. (Luke13:2, 3) “He
asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were
worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you: but unless you repent, you will all
perish as they did”.
Who are these Galileans?
Neither St. Cyril the great nor St. Ambrosios offered any comment on this part of the
chapter. But in an excerpt of St. Cyril the great, it was mentioned in Catena Aurea that those
Galileans were followers to Judas the Galilean (Acts5:7) referred to by St. Luke in Acts. Of
the Apostles. It was he who said that no one should be called master or lord. He was
surrounded by many who refused to call Caesar lord to them, and so Pilate punished them.
They also claimed no sacrifice should be offered to God that is not mentioned in the Mosaic
low they forbade the people from offering sacrifices to God for the sake of the emperor’s
peace and the roman empire’s peace. This provoked Pilate, and so he asked they be killed
when offering their sacrifices in the temple according to the covenant; thus their blood was
mixed with the sacrifice they offered. In the same excerpt it was stated their was a belief
those Galileans were punished justly because they sowed discord among the people and
motivated them to rebel against their rulers. Those who mentioned this case to the Lord,
wished to know the opinion of the Lord Jesus concerning it.
In addition to this, some scholars think when the Lord Jesus spoke of the compromise
with the adversary so he would not be handed over to the magistrate, and so be put in jail
until he pays the last penny, those people wished to complain to the king of the Jews who was
long awaited for, the despotism of the roman occupation to the Jewish nation. Or, they might
have wished to tell Him of ‘the problem of pain sufferance’ to which the Jews found no
solution across the ages.
The Jews may have expected the Lord Jesus to rebel against Pontuis Pilate who
disrupted the reverence of the temple when he sent his officers chasing those Galileans who
have come in with their sacrifices to the sepulchre. They wished to hold the altar horns, and
so the officers did not cease chasing them until they killed them when offering their
sacrifices. Some historians think what Pilate did to them was only a pretext for the enmity
between him and Herod, (Luke222: 12) because they were of his subjects. Some others think
that Barabas was arrested due to this betrayal (luke23: 19).
At any rate, the Lord Jesus seized this news as an opportunity not to speak of outer
matters, but to enter to the souls of His listeners to the life of repentance so they be blessed in
relief not because of the fear of Pilate, but due to their fear of sin, which is the source of
perdition. His response revealed the following:
Firstly: The Lord manifested the outer disasters and hardships are not necessarily the ailment
of particular sins. The killing of those people does not necessarily mean they were more evil
than other Galileans. For He says (Luke13: 2) “Do you think that because these Galileans
suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you.”
This is because the Jews thought every tribulation man was exposed to, was a sign of God’s
wrath to them.
Secondly: When God permits ordeals and tribulation to happen sometimes, this is only for
the sake of repentance; not only the repentance of the fallen ones under sufferance, but also
for others’ repentance as well. For the Lord Jesus goes on to say “But unless you repent, you
will all perish as they did.” If those ones have died, and their blood was mixed with their
sacrifices, they are not necessarily more evil than those not killed. Let their killing be an
opportunity for every person to reconsider himself in repentance so he would not perish
forever.
+God punishes sinners by cutting off their wickedness, such as them being killed, so their
punishment be lessened. Or, it could be so they do not fall under an eternal punishment later
on. At the same time, when those living in sin see these things, they would learn how to
correct themselves.
Once more, others are not punished so that when they reconsider and repent, they
escape the present and forth-coming punishment. But if they continue to sin, they will fall
under more severe punishment.
This shows at this point, that He allows them to endure this pain, so He warns strictly
the heirs of the kingdom of these tribulations when they are living, and so that repent.
You might say “Is someone punished so my own situation be corrected?” never, he is
punished due to his crimes, and this gives an opportunity for onlookers to be saved.
St. John Chrysostom
The Lord Jesus goes on to say (Luke13: 4, 5) “or, those eighteen who were killed
when the tower of Siloam fell on them .. do you think that they were worse offenders
than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
perish just as they did.”
They mentioned the Galileans’ case committed by Pilate’s officers, but the Lord Jesus
mentioned the case that happened in Siloam next to the holy temple. This was not by any
human hand, but by God’s permission in the city, as a warning to all the Jews.
Both instances imply a symbolic meaning urging people for repentance. Pontuis
Pilate’s killing of some Galileans refers to Satan’s war against humanity even at the
worshiping moments when in the holy sites, offering their sacrifices. ‘Pilate’. Means ‘the
mouth of he who has a cudgel’. It is as if he is Satan who does not cease hitting as if with a
hammer. Or a cudgel, by using sweetly coated words to make us lose our purity even at
moments of worship. As for the second case, the number eighteen on whom the tower fell, in
Greek it is like this ‘1H’. these are the first two letters to the name Jesus, and Siloam means
‘the messenger’. Form this we understand this accident refers to the Jews’, perdition inside
their tower; that is, within their ‘law’ itself. This is due to their rejection of Jesus as a Savior,
sent from God the Father to save the entire world. We can say that the Lord is urging us to
repent, by rejecting the sweet and deceptive words of Satan. He warns us lest we are offended
in the Lord Jesus Himself who has come asking for our salvation.

2- God asks for fruits:

When the Lord offered us the invitation to accept His friendship to us by means of
repentance, He assured us of the necessity of grafting repentance with the spiritual fruits,
joyful to the heart of God. He compared humanity to a fig tree planted in His vineyard. It
remained for three long years not bearing any fruits. These three years are: the stage of
downfall inside paradise, the stage prior to the Mosaic Law, and the stage of the law. The tree
was exposed to being cut down, since it bore leaves by which Adam and Eve covered their
nakedness, without treating their nature. The real vinedresser intervened, our Lord Jesus, and
asked it be left for another year, which is the ‘age of grace’ so He would upturn the soil and
put fertilizer roved it. He takes care of it, for it is His divine plant, so it could bring forth the
appropriate real fruit. The shepherds, too, were granted to carry the Spirit of their Lord, and
thus they interceded for every tree for it might bring forth-spiritual fruit.
Now, the vinedresser that intercedes for it, is every saint who prays in the church for
the sake of those outside of it. What does he pray for? “Lord, leave it this year as well, that is,
leave it in the age of grace. Leave the sinners, leave the unbelievers, leave those barren
people who are unfruitful, (Luke13: 8,9) “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig
around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you
can cut it down.”
What is the digging round it other than the teaching of modesty and repentance? For
the pit is a lowland.
The manure is the defilement that in its reaction produces forth good fruit. The
defilement of the planter is the sighing of the sinful repentant ones, having filthy clothes on.
If repentance is done in understanding and truth, then to such a tree it is said (Matt.3: 2)
“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
St. Augustine
+ (On some commentary about the putting of manure round the tree.)
I wish we put manure to this field that is ours, following the example of those
struggling planters who are not ashamed to satisfy the land with manure, and to throw the
dirty dust on the field, so they harvest a better crop.
St. Paul the apostle taught us how to fertilize our field by his words (Phil.3: 8) “I
regard everything as loss... in order that I may gain Christ.” In a good or bad reputation, I am
aware of pleasing the Lord Jesus.
St. Paul read about Abraham that he had confessed he was nothing more than dust and
ashes (Gen.18: 27). He also read about Job that he had sat on the ashes (Job2: 8) and in this
way he regained all what he had lost (Job.42: 10). He also heard from David’s mouth that
God (Ps.113: 7) “He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap.” I
therefore wish we are not to be ashamed any longer o confessing our sins.
It is actually shameful and embarrassing for man to confess his sins. But this shame is
likened to the process of digging the earth, and removing the weeds from it, and cleaning it
of the thistles. In this way we shall make blossom the fruits that were not thus before.
 Let us follow the example, therefore, of he who has turned up the soil of his field
diligently in search of the eternal fruit (1Cor.4: 12, 13) “When reviled, we bless; when
persecuted we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of
the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day”.
St. Ambrosios
+ The parable of the fig tree applies to the synagogue; for the tree has been covered with
many leaves, and it has deceived its owner, who has waited in vain for the expected fruit.
Similarly, in the synagogue the teachers of the law show off their words as the ornamental
leaves that have no job to do.
Accurately speaking, we find this kind of tree as being different in its fruits than those
of other trees. In other trees, the blossom precedes the fruit, for it announces the forthcoming
fruit. But as for the fig tree, it bears the fruit from the very beginning without the appearance
of any blossoms. The blossoms fall off from the other trees once the fruit appears in its place.
But with this tree the first fruit falls, to be replaced by another one. The first fruit falls and the
stem dries up and weakens, and leaves a place for another stem to make more use of the
squeezed juice. But there are some very few ones of the first fruits that do not fall off, since
they are on short stems between the branches. These fruits are kept and nourished as if in
nature’s embrace, and its food supply is more plentiful.
The Jews are like the first fruits in the synagogue; weak fruits that fall off to leave a
place for fruits of our nature that remain forever. The people of the first synagogue had no
depth for its deeds were dry, and they could not drink enough of the juice of the natural
fruitful wisdom. Thus they fell of like useless fruits, and consequently the new church
congregation fruit appeared on the same branches through the juice of the old righteousness.
But as for the best Israelites that have been carried by the trunk of the law reaching up to the
cross, these have been dyed in their entrails by the two juices, and thus they have ripened. To
them it was said (Matt.19: 28) “Judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” This is not new to know,
since Adam and Eve, the source of our being and the source of our downfall, these have been
clothed with the leaves of this tree, and were deserving of being expelled from paradise when
they became aware of their nakedness, they hid from the Lord’s face when they heard Him
walking in paradise. This reveals the Jew at the end of times when the Lord and Savior
comes; for then He came to call him, the Jew realised Satan’s temptations have unclothed
him of every righteousness. In his fear of the pricking of his conscience he loses his strength
and is ashamed of his dishonesty, and he knows well enough he has strayed away from the
Lord. He attempted t cover up his debased deeds by too many words. this is why those who
have taken the fig leaves without any fruits, were expelled from God’s kingdom, since they
were ‘a living being.’
The second Adam came to ask for the fruits and not for the leaves, because he was
(1Cor.15: 45) “A life-giving spirit.” For with the spirit we obtain the fruits of righteousness
by which we worship the Lord.
The Lord asks for the fruits, not because He does not know that the fig tree has no
fruits, but to refer by this symbol that He has come at the time of harvesting the fruits, and
that He has not come before His due time. He has come for three years (Luke13: 7) “See
here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none.
Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He has come to Abraham, when He
asked for the circumcision; He has come to Moses offering him the law; He has come to
Mary, incarnate in her womb to grant us grace. In other words, He has come as a Seal to the
covenant, with Abraham through the circumcision, and in the law and in the body. We His
lovers, know His blessings on us; sometimes He purifies, at other times He sanctifies or
justifies. The circumcision purifies, the law sanctifies, and grace justifies. Despite this, the
Jewish people could not be purified because they have taken the physical circumcision, not
 the spiritual one. They could not be sanctified because they were ignorant of the value of the
law by cleaving on to the physical, not to what is spiritual, even though the law is spiritual
(Rom.7: 14). They could not be justified either, since they did not repent of their sins, and so
they were ignorant of any grace. This is why the command was given it be cut down, but the
good gardener came to intervene, He who has come to the Gentiles and not to the people of
circumcision so the tree be not cut down; for He was sure that the Jewish people, if they
accept the Messaiah, the Savior, then they will be saved. This is why He said, “Sir, let it
alone for one mere year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.” He digs with the
apostolic spade and searches around it, destroying the cruelty of their hearts. He digs, with
the double-edged sword, deep in their shut hearts because of their negligence this long time.
He opens their hearts and so their feelings are enlivened, breathing in the air, and so they be
not choked in their rooted wisdom, and they would not be buried under the soil weight. He
says ‘I put manure’, by which the barren earth becomes fruitful, and the wilderness becomes
planted. On the manure sat Job in his tribulation and so he was not defeated. St. Paul the
apostle, too, considered himself like trash or manure so as to gain Christ (Phil.3: 8). For the
earth that is dug well, and in which manure is put, this brings forth fruit; the Lord thus uplifts
the miserable one sitting in the dust, and up lifts the poor one from the rubbish (Ps.112: 27).
I wish what is said about the Jews, generally speaking, is to be focused on in our life,
so we do not occupy the church land that is fruitful, and keep it as a fruitless tree.
St. Ambrosios
In this way St. Ambrosios offers us in this parable a live image of the Jewish people
that remained unfruitful for three years. They did not profit by the circumcision before the
law, from Abraham to Moses. Neither did they benefit from the law, form Moses to the
coming of Christ; or from the grace offered us by the Lord Jesus. Despite this, God does not
cease to work for the salvation of the entire world, even those who resist Him. He is eager to
hit with the evangelical and apostolic writings round the tree, so the earth opens up, and our
deep roots would smell the breeze of spiritual life. He would then put the manure of modesty
so He raises it up and brings forth heavenly and spiritual fruits.
We can also see in these three years, concerning humanity at large, the following
points:
1st) When man was in paradise, he left it with the weight of sin and the seeds of death and
corruption.
2nd) Man, prior to the law, remained in his corruption and in worshiping idols.
3rd) Man , when under the law, could only misuse it, and could not understand it spiritual
nor could he fulfil it. He rather fell under the curse for breaking its commandments.
Finally, the good Gardener came forth, our Lord Jesus, in the fullness of time, giving
us one more bonus year which is the year of divine grace, in the hope that we accept His
work in us. At this point we shall carry the fruit of His Holy Spirit, the mystery of the
Father’s pleasure, the landlord of the vineyard.

+ Our nature was called for three times, and yet it never offered any fruit. Once was when
this nature of ours disobeyed the commandment when in paradise. Another time was when it
made a bull under the law. A third time was when this nature rejected the Savior.
These three years could also be understood as standing for the three life-stages:
Youth, manhood and old age.
+ The Lord came up to the fig tree times: He searched for man’s nature before the old law,
when under the law, and when under the grace. He was awaiting, giving advice and calling
on us; and yet He found no fruit as there were wicked ones whose hearts were not corrected
by the natural law in them. Neither were they disciplined by the command.(not found p.474)
 As for the three years in which He asked for fruits, and could find none, they are, as I
think, the three stages in which the Jewish synagogue did not offer any fruits. The first year
cold be interpreted as the year in which Moses and Aaron and his children who served God
by means of their priestly duties according to the covenant. The second is the stages of
Joshua son of Nun and the judges who followed him. The third stage is the one in which the
devout prophets appeared until St. John the Baptist. During these phases Israel offered no
fruits. This is why He says, (Luke13: 7) “For three years I have come looking for fruit on
this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” It is
as if He is saying “Keep this old tree’s place vacant so that you may plant another tree in its
place.” This is what happened; since He called the Gentiles in Israel’s place, and they have
obtained its inheritance. The Gentiles have become God’s people, the paradise was planted, a
good and honorable seed, that knows how to offer fruits. This is not through shadows and
symbols, but rather through perfect and pure and blameless service, practiced by the spirit
and truth, offered to the living and non-materialistic God.
If anyone says the vinedresser is the Son, then this opinion has its acceptable evidence
that is quite appropriate, for He is (1John2: 1) “We have an advocate with the Father.” He is
our Redeemer, and the Vinedresser of our souls; who cuts off from us all that is harmful, and
He fills us with sanctified and sensible seeds, so we carry His fruits in us. As He Himself said
(luke8: 5) “A sower went out to sow”. The Son said to the saintly apostles (revise John15: 1)
“I am the vine and you are the branches, and My Father is the Vinedresser.”
Let Him therefore intercede for us, saying “Sir, let it alone for one more year until I
dig around it and put manure on it.” What does this year stand for? It is this is why I say that
the fig tree mentioned in the parable, is the Jewish synagogue, that is, the Israelites.(not
found p.476)
This is a live example of the real Physician who heals the soul of its wounds. It is He
who grants the repentance and it is He who gives the healing!
The evangelist says (Luke13: 11) “Now He was teaching in one fo the synagogues
on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled
her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to standup straight.”
St. John Chrysostom says that He was teaching in the synagogues peacefully, so as to
declare He did not come to resist the law, but rather to fulfil it. As for His teachings on the
Sabbath, this was because the Jews were preoccupied with their listening to His words about
the law.
This woman who had an infirm spirit, as St. Augustine says, is the exact one as the
barren fig tree that remained for three years bearing no fruits. This refers to Jewish nation that
bore no fruits during the three stages. The eighteen years refers, pointing to the work of God
in the creation until the sixth day. It is as if this nation has rejected in each stage God’s work
with it. God wishes to renew His creation, but it is man who rejects God’s divine work. In
this way the three stages have gone by, so that the Lord of glory comes as if on the seventh
day, the day of His rest. He declares the completion of His rest by the renewal of our
creation, and the straightening up of our backs that were bent down in sin across the entire
history.
Once more we repeat with St. Augustine, “This woman in understood to be as a
symbol t the church that has become straightened up, and whole, by means of the Lord, after
it had been bent with infirmity through Satan’s ties to it. Here are the words of the psalm
speaking of the hidden enemies (Ps.57: 6) “My soul was bowed down.” (Not found p.478)
+ It could be said that this bending woman was suffering of this due to Satan’s cruelty.
Because this is the condition so all mankind, therefore God who is good in His nature, has not
left us like this in our suffering of the punishment of long sickness, and that is impossible to
cure. He has rather freed us of our bonds, and He has declared His presence and Himself in
the world, as a glorified cure for mankind’s pain. He has come to renew our situation and
bringing it back to its origin. He also wrote “God did not create death, neither is He pleased
by the perdition of those alive ones. For He has created all so go to remain, and that those
born in the world are safe, and have no deadly poison in them. Also “Death has entered the
world due to Satan’s envy.”
Now the Word has become incarnate, and has embodied the human nature so as to
destroy death and devastation, and to get rid of the envy embedded by the old serpent against
us. This was the primary iniquity of wickedness. This is evident to us from the actual facts;
for He has freed Abraham’s daughter (16) from her long time sickness and He told her (Luke
13: 12) “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” This is a very appropriate
discussion by God that embodies immense natural power. With His royal will He took away
the disease. he also put His hand on her, and on the spot it is said she stood up straight. We
can also easily see at this point His sanctified body that embodies the divine authority and the
divine power.
St. Cyril the great.
+ Because she had an infirmity due to a spirit, she was quite unable to lift up her head. In
such a way does sin bend our necks, and at the same time it binds our feet.
+ Any person who is sick due to a spirit, he bends and looks (Not found p.480)
But the Lord answered him and said “Your hypocrites! Does not each of you on the
Sabbath untie his ox or his donlsey form the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And
ought not this woman, a daughter Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years be set
free from this bondage on the Sabbath day? “When He said this, all His opponents were put
to shame, and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that He was doing.”
+ The Lord mad this deed on the Sabbath to signify what is to be fulfilled, which is that man
fulfils the law by being blessed with grace (Luke13: 8,10). With Christ’s mercy we could be
freed from the toils of this weak body, so we enter the Sabbath which is the rest.
He gave the sanctification in the image of Moses, through the restful Sabbath, because
the forthcoming sanctification and the work by the Spirit, have the basis of departing form the
temporal deeds. This is why the Lord rested on the seventh day from the works of the age,
and not from all of His works. For His work is continuous, incessant, as the words of the Son
(John5: 17) “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” We likewise are following
God’s model, we stop doing the deeds of the world, but not stopping from doing God’s
deeds.
The leader of the synagogue did not understand this fact, and thus he did not approve
of the healing process on the Sabbath, even though the Sabbath referred to the forthcoming
rest, and so we do not cease from doing the good deeds, but rather the evil ones. He
commands us not to carry the yoke of sin, but to go on doing the righteous deeds so we
achieve the forthcoming Sabbath after our sleep. This is why the Lord answered him referring
to the spiritual meaning (Luke13: 15) “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the
Sabbath, untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?”
Why hasn’t the Lord mentioned any other beast? Is it not to point to the Jewish nation, as
well (not found p.482)

Rest, also your ox, your horse, and all your cattle. If He has given rest to mankind by
releasing them from their diseases, and you were to forbid this; then it is you who is breaking
the Sabbath, law, for you do not allow restfulness to those in pain of the diseases and
sufferings, those ones who are bounded by Satan.
When the malicious ruler of the synagogue saw the woman crippled with her bent
body to the ground, and how she accepted Christ’s mercy and became entirely straightened
up as soon as He touched her, and could walk along with Him who has become human in
straight pace, praising God for her salvation, the ruler became furious and resisted the Lord’s
glory. He was confused in his envy, and so indignant at this wonderful miracle that he tried to
defame it.
Tell me, you who are enslaved to envy, what kind of work does the law forbid when
you forbid every manual work on the Sabbath? Do you forbid the work of the mouth and of
words? Then you too, should stop food and drink, and should stop discussion and praise
singing on the Sabbath. If you cease doing these things, and so not read even the covenant,
then of what use is the Sabbath? But if you specify the forbidding of manual work, then do
you consider the woman’s healing with a word, as manual work? If you consider it work
because the woman was actually healed, then you too are working, by blaming her healing,
because you have spoken just as Christ has spoken.
He has said (Luke13: 12) “Woman, you are set free from your ailment,” and she
has become freed of it. This is good! Do you also not untie your girdle on the Sabbath? Do
you not untie your shoes, prepare your bed, wash your hands before eating when they are
dirty? Then why are you angry at one word that the Lord has said ‘you are set free’?
What kind of work did the woman make after He has said (erased) God commanded
the people to cease from working on the Sabbath? It is to make your servants take a this
word? Has she gone to work for a sculptor, a carpenter, or a builder? Has she begun on the
same day to weave or to sew?
Merely to be healed is counted as work, but no, you are not really angry because of
the Sabbath, but it is because you have seen Jesus honored, worshiped for He is God. Thus
you were furious and bit with envy. You have hidden in your heart one thing and showed
quite another one.
(Luke13: 15) “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox
or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?”
He says, “You are amazed that I have untied Abraham’s daughter, whereas you give
some rest to your ox or your donkey, and relieve it of its weariness, and you lead it to drink.
At the same time you can see a woman suffering from a disease, and healed miraculously,
and God showed mercy on her, and yet you blame them both as being disobedient; One for
healing, and the other because she was cured of her disease.
I am asking now the leader of the synagogue: is man, in his opinion, of a lesser degree
than a beast? His ox or his donkey deserved care on the Sabbath, and yet in his envy, he did
not wish Christ to save the woman of her infirmity for she was bent. He did not wish her to
return to her normal shape.
The leader of the synagogue preferred the woman who was straightened up to have
remained bent as the four legged beast rather than be healed, and return to man’s proper
nature. He did not wish Christ to be glorified nor to be declared that He is God through the
wonders that He made.
(Luke13: 17) “When He said this, all His opponents were put to shame; and the
entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that He was doing.”
Those who uttered these infamous words were put to shame. They are the ones who
were offended in the main corner- stone and so they were destroyed. They have resisted the
physician, and had a conflict with the skilful potter who was busy fixing the shattered vessels;
and so they had no answer to give. They had to be convinced and could offer no answer. But
as for the crowds who enjoyed the benefits of the miracles, these were over rejoiced.
St. Cyril the great
+ The leader of the synagogue was justly called a hypocrite; for he had the semblance of a
law keeper and observer, but his heart was deceitful and envious. What frustrated him was
not the breaking of the Sabbath, but rather the glory of Christ.
 St. John Chrysostom
+ In a probing way, the barren fig tree means the bending woman, because the human nature
willingly drove itself towards iniquity. It did not bear the fruit of obedience, and so it lost its
straightened up position. The fig tree also means the woman who has become erect and could
stand up straight.
Father Gregory the great

4- The Parable of the Mustard Seed:

Even though the work of the Lord Jesus with His people was amazing indeed, since
He lifted them up from the constant bending towards the dust, so their inner vision be raised
up towards heaven, yet He found resistance from the leader of the synagogue. This resistance
is similar to the soil surrounding the little and live mustard seed. It cannot destroy the seed,
but it rather becomes an obstruction to the soil, and so it becomes a big tree where the birds
of heaven take shelter in its branches, and under its shade the wild beasts rest.
We have previously spoken at length of the mustard seed in our study of the gospel of
our teacher the evangelist St. Matthew (13: 31). We have mentioned the beliefs of some of
the fathers such as Father Gregory the great, and the saints Chrysostom, Ambrosios, Jerome,
Augustine and Hillary, we have also mentioned the opinion of St. Gregory the great in our
study of the gospel of St. Mark the evangelist (4: 30).
+ Anyone who accepts the mustard seed, that is, the gospel word, that is sowed in his heart’s
garden, becomes a great tree bearing branches. There, the birds of the air take rest, that is
those who give praise on the earth, between its branches that is those who are sublimely
meditating. St. Paul accepted the teaching of Hananiah (Acts9: 17) as a little seed sowed in
his paradise; thus it produced many useful teachings in which many of those who have
sublime meditations dwelt, such as Dionysius.
Father Theophlactius

5- The Parable of the leaven and the dough:

One more time, the Lord compares His divine work in the life of His new flock as a
little leaven that is able to transform the nature of the whole dough. He said (Luke13: 20,21)
“To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and
mixed it with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” We have previously
mentioned the opinion of some church fathers about this parable in our study of St.
Matthew’s gospel (13: 33).
+What is the woman other than the Lord’s body?
What is the yeast other than the gospel?
What are the three measures other than all the Gentiles that have issued from Noah’s three
children?
St. Augustine
+ The three measures of flour spoken of by the Lord is the human race. Remember the flood,
since there remained only three from whom all humanity came. Noah had three sons from
whom the human race was renewed.
The woman who hid the yeast is wisdom.
You can see all the world crying out in God’s Church (Ps.135: 5) “For I know that the
Lord is great.” But undoubtedly, those who are saved are few. Struggle hard to enter the
narrow gate (Luke13: 24). Through it, few will be able to go in.
St. Augustine
+ it is appropriate for us to understand that the woman is the soul. As for the three measure,
they are its three sides: the mind, the emotions and the desires. If man hides God’s word in
these three sides, everything in him becomes spiritual. He begins no discussion by his mind
or his wrath or his desire; for everything is changed immeasurably and is formed according to
God’s word.
Father Theophlactius
St. Ambrosios mentions in his comments on St. Luke’s gospel several interpretations
to this parable that were spread at his time. Among which are:
(a) Some think the Lord Jesus Himself is the ‘Yeast’ offered by the church, that is, the
woman here, so He leavens us the flour by His righteousness and thus we bear His qualities
in us. The Word of God became incarnate, bearing our human nature but by the power of His
divinity He works in us, not to change our mere outer appearance but rather our inward
nature. For he says. “The yeast changes the nature of the flour and not only its appearance. In
this way Christ works in us.”
If this woman refers to the holy church, then we are the flour of the church. The Lord
Jesus has to hide in the depth of our hearts so we accept the heavenly wisdom inside us.
(b) Some think the three measures of flour that have accepted the yeast, refer to the law, the
prophets and the gospel; where Christ was hiding by means of the symbols of the law and the
prophetic prophecies, and was manifested through the gospel. In this way the believer
appropriately bears in his heart these three measures, so he discovers his Christ inside
himself. Or, as St. Ambrosios says ‘we have to search diligently and accurately in the law, the
prophets and the gospel for Christ to be declared to us.
(C) St. Ambrosios mentions elaborately, the interpretation of the ‘Yeast’, being ‘the church
edification’ (Matt.16: 6) which is different than the yeast of the scribes and the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy. St. Paul the apostle says (1Cor.5: 8) “Therefore, let us celebrate the
festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth.”
By means of the church yeast, which is the gospel edification, the three measures of
flour are leavened. Which is man’s body and his spirit and his soul. Thus he is blessed with
the sanctification of life in every aspect of his life. The work of the church is man’s life
extends up to his whole being, so the body lives in submission to the soul and the spirit under
the leadership of the Holy Spirit. This is supported by St. Paul’s words (1Thes.5: 23) “May
the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be
kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The church offers her yeast which is the Lord Jesus’ teachings, which grants us
internal unity; and thus the body no longer lusts against the soul, and neither the soul lusts
against the body (Gal.5: 17). This unity is enjoyed by its earnest or pledge in this world when
we conduct ourselves when still in the body, not according to the body but according to the
soul as the apostle said. We shall be blessed with its fulfillment in the resurrection. St.
Ambrosios says, “In this way we can keep safe the partnership of the body, the soul and the
spirit together in the resurrection, without any corruption.”
Let us live here with this earnest as the Lord Jesus Himself has said (Matt.18: 19)
“Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you
by My Father in heaven.” For, some think that the two are the body and the soul when they
agree together under the leadership of the Lord’s Spirit. Thus the enmity will be taken away
whereas true love will dwell in the soul as well as in the body, and Christ will be glorified in
man as a whole.
In addition to this, the Lord confirms that if two or three are gathered in His name, He
will be there in their midst. This gathering is the sign of man’s unity and his perfection
physically, spiritually and emotionally in the Lord.
 As for St. Cyril the great, he comments on this analogy saying “The yeast is small in
size yet it affects the entire dough, and soon enough it gives the dough its impact. In the same
way does God’s word work in us when it dwells in us. It makes us saintly and blameless. It
pierces our minds, hearts and makes us spiritual. As St. Paul says, (1Thes.5: 23) “may your
spirit and soul and body be dept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Moreover, the God of everyone manifests that the divine Word is poured into the depths of
our understanding; for through Him one of His saintly prophets says (Jerusalem.31: 31-33)
“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house
of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their
ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt- a covenant
that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them,
and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” In
this way we receive in our mind and understanding the divine and sensible yeast, so that with
this precious, pure and sanctified yeast we be found as spiritual bread, that bears no evil yeast
of the world inside us. The power of the gospel preaching that grants life, comes into our
minds and thus changes the soul, the body and the spirit so they bear the gospel qualities, so
we become pure and saintly and partners to Christ.

6- Repentance and the Narrow Gate:

When the evangelist St. Luke presented us with ‘repentance’ as the way to be blessed
with salvation from perdition (Luke13: 1-5), he then revealed God’s long forbearance to us,
for He stands as if to intercede for us. He gives us new opportunities, for repentance, just like
a good gardener who is patient with the unfruitful fig tree (Luke13: 6-9). He takes care of it
Himself by digging round it, and adding fertilizer to it so it blossoms. He declared that He in
truth, He alone, is the mystery for our healing and salvation. He commands the bent soul that
is under the physical passions so it becomes straightened up, (Luke13: 10-17). He offers His
gospel to our hearts, just as it were a small mustard seed that becomes a huge tree where the
birds of the sky take shelter in its branches. Also as a yeast in our minds that sanctifies the
body together with the soul and the spirit. Now, lest we assume that our role in salvation is a
passive one, He assures us of our commitment in struggling, so we enter with His grace
through the narrow gate. For the evangelist says,
(Luke13: 22-24) “Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching
as He made His way to Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be
saved?” He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you ,
will try to enter and will not be able to.”
The door of the kingdom is narrow, and the way is arduous, and few are they who will
be able to find it; for it is the way of the cross that will not be truly found and entered into
except by him who has disappeared in the Crucified.
We have previously spoken of this way in our comment on St. Matthew’s gospel
(Matt.7: 13, 14) and we mentioned some quotes by St. John Chrysostom, Caprianos and
Jerome.
We notice here the evangelist St. Luke mentions the Lord’s words about the ‘narrow
door’ after he had declared that Jesus ‘went through one town and village after another
teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem.’ It is as if the goal of His preaching was to
everyone: to the city dwellers who cared about the foremost positions, wealth and showing
off, and also to the modest village inhabitants. He wanted to carry everyone in Him and with
Him to His cross, so they be blessed with His kingdom through the narrow door. He would
then release them not to the earthly Jerusalem, but to the heavenly one, so they witness His
real peace and live it.
+ “Strive to enter through the narrow door” (Luke13: 24).
The straight way is a narrow one; any deviation from it is risky, whether it be on the
left or the right. It is like a bridge that he who deviates from it, will surely fall in the river.
St. Basilious
+ When He wanted to speak of entering the narrow door, He began by saying ‘Strive...’,
because unless the mind strives strongly the waves of the world will not be overcome. It is
these waves that pull the soul down to the bottom.
Father Gregory the great
+ I think it appropriate that I mention the narrow door through which man enters into life.
He who wishes to enter it, necessarily has to have, firstly, the straight faith that is
uncorrupted. Secondly, his conduct has to be undefiled and blameless according to the
standard of human righteousness. It is in this way that David the prophet pleaded to God
(Ps.7: 8) “Judge me O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that
is in me.” This is because the purity of the saintly angels and their righteousness is way
farther than the purity and righteousness of the earth dwellers. What concerns others is of a
lesser and lower kind from every aspect; their nature, too, is baser than the angels’ nature.
Inspite of this, he who wishes to live in sanctity, will not be able to without striving. Because
the way that leads to righteousness is arduous at all times and sloping, too difficult for most
people to go through. A lot of toil shows up, and so we need persistence, patience, a noble
conduct, and indeed we need an undefeatable mind that does not participate in the base
pleasures, and is not moved by the physical lust or bohemic feelings. He who has this mind
and spiritual persistence goes easily through the narrow door, and he even runs through the
narrow way. It is said (Prov.16: 26) “The appetite of workers works for them... and leads
them in a way that is not good.” Here you can hear the prophet speaking dearly that man
owns victory over his perdition, by means of violence. The Lord also says, (Matt.11: 12) “the
kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”
St. Cyril the great
+ What then do the Lord’s words mean at another place (Matt.11: 30) “For My yoke is easy,
and My burden is light.”
Actually there is no contradiction between both quotes. One speaks of the nature of
tribulation, as the narrow door, and the other speaks of the feelings of those who overcome
them. What causes hardship to our nature could be counted as easy if we accept it willingly.
Moreover, the way of salvation is narrow in its entrance, but once you get in you will find a
spacious place of rest, contrary to the way leading to perdition.
St. John Chrysostom
The Lord Jesus continue speaking about the ‘narrow door’ saying, (Luke13: 25-27)
“When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to
stand outside and to knock at the door, saying ‘Lord open to us’, then in reply He will
say to you ‘I do not know where you come from’. Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate
and drank with You, and You taught in our streets’. But He will say, ‘I do not know
where you come from; go away from Me’, you evil-doers’.”
Those who are careless enough are unable to find the narrow path, not due to their
ignorance in thinking, but rather due to their ignorance in their actual live experience.
They read about Him, or hear of Him, yet they do not experience Him. This is why
they ask for Him with their thoughts but not with their hearts; with their tongue and not with
their life. These are deprived of knowing the ‘narrow door’ or ‘the way to the kingdom’.
Their reward, therefore, will be of the same kind as their work. They do not know the Lord’s
way in their life, and hence the Lord will not know them at His final coming. This does not
mean He will not know them personally, but He will count them unworthy of knowing them,
for they are out of the light of His glory and splendor. They have rejected going in through
His door when they were still in the world; thus He shuts the door when He comes and finds
them unworthy of entering, even if they have practiced the form of worshiping, or bore His
name yet His life was not in them.
+ The Lord knows His own, which means He accepts them in a strong relation due to their
works.
St. Basilious the great
+ The Lord does not know the sinner, but He knows the righteous one.
St. Jerome
+ He says to those who are proud of their miracles, without their leading a virtuous life. ‘I do
not know you’ (Matt.7: 23) for the Lord does not know the way of the evil ones.
Pope Athanasios the apostolic
+ (Luke13: 27) “Go away from Me, you evil-doers”; for there is no partnership between
light and darkness. It is im9possible for him who has touched the corruption of sin and did
not wash in His blood, to draw near to God who is so entirely pure.
It is also appropriate for us to ask “What does it signify when those who tell Christ
‘We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets.” Those are surely the Israelites, to
whom Christ has said (Luke13: 28) “There will be weeping and gnashing or teeth when
you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and
you yourselves thrown out”. How were they eating and drinking before God? The answer
is: by their carrying out the ministry and the service according to: the covenant; for, when
they were offering the sacrifices to God in shedding blood, they used to eat and be happy.
Moreover, they have listened to Moses’ writings in their temples, and interpretations to God’s
messages, for they always introduced His words saying “In this way the Lord said.” But to
worship God by shedding the animal blood is not enough for any justification. Man’s
iniquities are not washed merely by his hearing the divine commandments, unless he
practices what he has been commanded to do.
In other words, we may say, because they have rejected accepting the faith that
justifies the vagabonds, and because they did not follow the gospel commandments by which
they practice the sublime and selective life, then how could they possibly enter God’s
kingdom?
Once more, who are they who say, ‘We have eaten before You...”? Many have
believed in Jesus Christ, and have honored the sanctified feasts to glorify Him, and often go
to the churches so as to hear the gospel edification, and yet, despite this, they do not keep in
mind anything at all of the facts of the Holy Book. To practice righteousness to them is
difficult, whereas they void their hearts entirely of the spiritual fruit. Those too, will cry
bitterly and gnash their teeth because the Lord rejects them.
St. Cyril the great

7- Declaring His death:

When He spoke of ‘the narrow door’, and showed that the Gentiles will come from
the east, west, north and south and rest in God’s kingdom (Luke13: 29) through this door,
whereas the children of this kingdom will be cast out because they reject this door, in this
way the last shall be first and the first shall be last (Luke13: 30). St. Luke began to reveal to
us how our Christ lived in this (incomplete p. 494)
‘ narrowness’, and that He rather came to enter through the narrow door, and how He endured
death for our sakes, so He carries us with Him to His resurrection.
 The evangelist says, (St. Luke31- 33) “at that very hour some Pharisees came and
said to Him ‘Get away form here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and
tell that fox for Me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and
tomorrow, and on the third day I finish My work. Yet today, tomorrow and the next
day I must be on My way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of
Jerusalem’.”
Many fathers think that the Pharisees here stand for wolves that came in the
semblance of lambs. They pretend to be loving towards the Lord Jesus, whereas their motive
for their action was their envy, because He attracts the crowds away from them, and hence
they lost their honor and their gains. They therefore wished to cast Him out of the area
subject to the rule of Antipas Herod, and so they advised the Lord of go away lest He be
killed by Herod. As St. Cyril the great says, “their hearts were on fire with envy. They did not
wish Him to live in Jerusalem so He would not benefit the people, who were absolutely
thrilled by His divine miracles on one hand, and on the other hand He shone on them with the
accurate light of seeing God through His teachings of the real facts that surpass what was
mentioned in the old law.
They resisted the Lord in various ways: once by their scorn of His authority in
performing miracles, and their audacity in accusing Him, that what He did was only by
means of Beelzebol. At another time they pushed Him to be taken by Caesar’s followers,
with the accusation of His forbidding the Israelites from paying the taxes to Caesar (Luke20:
22).
Then, why did they draw close to Him, saying, (Luke13: 31) “Get away from here,
for Herod wants to kill you.” What is their purpose for doing so? The evangelist answers by
telling us “At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Him...” what does he mean by
‘that very hour’ when the Pharisees came and said these words to Jesus? As He was busy
teaching the Jewish multitudes, one asked Him if there were many to be saved. The Lord
expressed His response to answer appropriately what they should b e informed with. It is the
way in which humans should go so they become heirs to the heavenly kingdom. For He said,
“Strive to enter the narrow door.” He told them if they rejected this, they will see Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, and all the other prophets in God’s kingdom whereas they themselves would
be cast out (Luke13: 28). He also added (Luke13: 30) “Indeed, some are last who will be
first, and some are first who will be last,” meaning, the call for the unbelievers to come to
the faith. These signs provoked the Pharisees to anger. They saw the multitudes repent and
adopt the faith in Him eagerly. They only needed a few more things to realise His glory and
the mystery of His great incarnation that is worthy of all worship. In this way, the Pharisees
almost lost their authority as leaders of the people, and also lost then monetary gains, for they
were avid and greedy in their love of covetousness and luxury. They pretended as if to love
Him and so drew close to Him saying “Go away from here for Herod wants to kill you.”
They thought they would be able to deceive Him who said (Job.38: 2) “Who is this that
darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ...I will question you, and you shall declare to
Me... Tell Me if you have understanding...” (The seventieth translation)
The Pharisees believed they were able to deceive the Lord. But he answered them as a
Perceiver of the hearts and innermost being, the One who knows every secret and all the
future, in peace and amazing wisdom. It was a conclusive strong response for the
construction of the listeners, for He manifested the following in His answer:
Firstly: He proved His courage by sending them to Herod, calling him the ‘fox’. He wished,
on one hand, to declare to them He would not withdraw from serving the multitudes however
dangerous this might be, but that they themselves would rather withdraw if they wished to
and get busy with what does not hinder the salvation of their brethren; on the other hand, He
called Herod ‘fox’, for He knew the ferocity of his heart and his love for shedding innocent
blood in great malice.
Some think Herod here refer to the heretics who wish to kill the faith in Christ, and
snatch it away from God’s children, and this is why he is called ‘fox’. Since they use malice
and deceit.
Others think Herod refers to the love of temporal honor, or being linked to what is
earthly. This matter kills our faith in Christ, and runs our partnership with Him, and this is
why he was called ‘a fox’, for he digs in the earth and lives in holes. As St. Clemendos the
Alexandrian says, “He calls the malicious and earthly ones who are preoccupied with wealth,
for they dig in the earth as foxes do.”
Secondly: He also manifested His mission, that He was not a rival to Herod in his earthly
kingdom; but that rather, He was a heavenly King working for the construction of the souls,
and casts at the devils and He heals offering up Himself willingly to death (Luke13: 32, 33).
He has come to destroy the work of Satan, and heal humanity form its deadly wounds, and
appoint His church as a spiritual kingdom. As St. Augustine says, “understand these things
He uttered in a mystical sense, referring to His body that is the church. For the devils are cast
out when the nations depart from superstition and come to cleave to Him. The absolute
healing is fulfilled by means of His commandments, after the devil is denied as well as all the
world in the resurrection. At this point the church becomes perfect in the fullness of the
angelic life, by the immortality of the body as well.”
This is His kingdom that is fulfilled by His work, as His words are ‘Today and
tomorrow, and on the third day it is fulfilled.’ He means by the third day, our resurrection
with Him as on the third day, what Satan will be absolutely destroyed and no trace of his
injuries will be in us.
The Lord wished to stress that His kingdom was a spiritual one, not based on any
political foundation, by comparing His care to His congregation to a hen that embraces her
little chicks under it wings (Luke13: 34). This stands in contrast to the Roman eagle that used
to be set up in the Roman empire in great haughtiness and arrogance, as a sign of dominance,
pride and violence.
Thirdly: The Lord manifested His knowledge of the future by His words “I am casting out
demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish My work.”
This is a Hebrew symbolic expression that means His days on earth are almost done and are
to be counted (Hos.6: 2).
By saying ‘I finish My work’ He revealed His passion was the mystery of His glory,
for by it His work of salvation for His people will be fulfilled.
Fourthly: He uncovered His mission; that He has come to shed His blood for His own that is
Jerusalem, for He said, (luke13: 33) “Yet today, tomorrow and the next day I must be on
My way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.” As St.
Cyril the great says, “The Pharisees thought herod’s authority would threaten Him, and He
would thus fear him. But He is the Lord of hosts who begets in us the spiritual courage by His
words (Matt10: 28) Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; rather fear
Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” He paid no concern to human violence; He
rather says that He has to work today, tomorrow and what follows (Luke13: 33). When He
says ‘I have to’, this does not mean He is obliged to, but He ‘has to’ so willingly, out of His
own self-will. Without any danger, He can go anywhere throughout Judea, without anyone
resisting Him, or plan against Him; so that He accepts the suffering by His own will through
the precious cross. With His own self will He accepted the passion so that by His body’s
death, He would delete death and rise. When He rises from the dead, He resurrects the entire
human nature with Him. He renews it, and grants it the incorruptible life.
Fifthly: He manifested His super care to His people, yet it is not obligatory, for He sanctifies
our freedom. We could either accept it and react with it, or reject it. For He says (Luke13: 34,
35) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent
to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her
brood under her wings, and you were not willing. See, your house is left to you. And I
tell you, you will not see Me until the time come when you say ‘Blessed is the One who
comes in the name of the Lord’.” We have previously explained this phrase (Matt.23: 37-
39) in our interpretation.
+ he does not only not surpass us, but He also does not want to leave us unless we want this.
He showed we are the ones who begin in deserting Him. We have thus become the
pretext of our perdition. But as for God, He does not wish to desert us or even punish us. If
He punishes us, He does so as if He is forced to. He says, (Ezek.18: 32) “I do not wish the
sinner’s death, but I rather wish him to come back and live.”
Christ grieves over Jerusalem’s perdition, Just as we grieve the perdition of our
friends.
St. John Chrysostom

( I don’t know if it completed or not )

+ + +
 Chapter XIV
(Page 500- 531)
The Basics of the Divine Fellowship

Since we have spoken of repentance as the way without which we shall not encounter
our heavenly friend, therefore this repentance has to be interpreted practically in the
following ways:

1- Sublimity which is above any literacy 1- 6

2- Not to desire the foremost places 7- 11
3- Opening your heart to the needy 12- 14
4- Being concerned about the banquet invitation 15- 24
5- The Carrying of the cross 25- 35

+ + +

1- Sublimity which is above any literacy:

(Luke14: 1-6) “On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the
Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching Him closely. Just then, in front of
Him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, ‘Is it
lawful to cure people on the Sabbath or not?” But they were silent. So Jesus took him, and
healed him and sent him away. Then He said to them, “If any of you has a child or an ox that
has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath day?” And they could
not reply to this.”
This was not the first time in which, the Lord Jesus accepted the invitatin to dine at a
Pharisees house, or at one of the Pharisees’ leaders house. His acceptance of the invitation
was one of the features of His preaching that is founded primarily on the relations of
friendship and love. For the Lord did not come to compete with them for positions, but He
rather came to open His heart in love to them and to others so that He gains them in His
kingdom as lovers and friends on an eternal standard.
The evangelist St. Luke narrates to us His acceptance to Simon the Pharisee’s
invitation (Luke7: 36- 50) where He met the sinful woman who in tars and in love offered a
tremendous banquet, and so she obtained the forgiveness of her many sins. The Lord revealed
to him the concept of inward purification, and the purity of the heart instead of the concern
about the physical washing alone (Luke11: 37 etc) Now, for the third time, He accepts the
invitation to eat bread at one of the Pharisee leaders’ homes, so He reveals to him the true
concept of the Sabbath. In the first invitation the Lord Jesus calls the Pharisees for repentance
by means of love. In the second one He asks for their inward purity. In the third, He asks for
the spiritual worshiping.
The Pharisee invited Him, and he and his friends were watching Jesus, wishing to
catch Him making any mistake instead of benefiting from His fellowship.
St. Cyril the great says, “A Pharisee of some high rank invited Jesus to a banquet.
Even though the Lord knew the malice of the Pharisees, yet He went along with him, and ate
in their company. He condescended and accepted this, not to honor the host, but to benefit
those ones in his company, by His words and miraculous deeds so as to guide them to the
knowledge of real service, and to teach us as well all about this in His gospel. He knew He
would make of them eye witnesses, though without their own will, of His tremendous
authority and awesome glory that surpasses that of humanity. This might make them to
become believers that He is God, and the son of God who has indeed taken our image without
His being transformed or changed from what he is. He became a guest to those who invited
Him, so as to fulfil an urgent mission, as I have said. But as for them, they kept observing
Him to see if He disregards the appropriate honor due to the law, and would thus do some
other work forbidden on the Sabbath.
You Jew who has lost your feelings, understand well that the old law was a shadow
and a symbol awaiting the truth, and that the truth is Christ and His commandments. So why
are you armored with the symbol against the truth? Why do you set the shadow as contrary to
the spiritual interpretation? Keep your Sabbath within reason; and if you are not convinced of
doing so, then you are taking away from the Sabbath the matters that are pleasing to God.
You will be unaware of the true Sabbath restfulness that God asks of us, and of which He
spoke in the olden times in the law of Moses. Let us cease committing any sin, and rest by
departing from any errors, and let us be washed from any defilement, and let us depart from
the physical love of lust. Let us run away from greed and covetousness, and from any ugly
gain and the love of incorrect money. Let us collect first a supply for our souls to support us
on the way; the food sufficient in the world to come, and let us resort to the sanctified deeds,
and so keep the Sabbath in a sensible way.
Those who practice the service among you, they are used to offering God certain
sacrifices on the Sabbath, and slaughter the sacrifices in the temple, and fulfil the service
chores they are assigned to do. Despite all of this, no one rebuked them, and even the law
itself was silent! Therefore the law did not forbid people to serve on the Sabbath.
This was a symbol to us; and as I have said, it is our duty to observe keeping the
Sabbath in a sensible way, and please God by the sweet spiritual fragrance. As I have
previously mentioned, we fulfill this when we cease committing any sin, and offer God a
sanctified offering, a sanctified life worthy of admiration, and develop steadfastly in every
righteousness. This is the spiritual sacrifice that pleases God.
If you do not bear this in mind, then you are cleaving to the heart stubbornness
mentioned in the Holy Book, and you have left the truth as a matter you cannot adopt. You
are thus listening to the words of God spoken by the voice of Isaiah the prophet (Is.6: 10)
“Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes so that they may
not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn
and be healed.”
What was the miracle they were observing?
Before Him there was a man who had dropsy. The Lord therefore asked the lawyers
and the Pharisees if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not. They remained silent.
Why are you silent, you lawyer? Adopt something from the Holy Book to show that
the law of Moses forbids the doing of any good on the Sabbath. Prove to us that He wants us
to be hard hearted and merciless for the sake of resting our bodies, and that He forbids
gentleness for the sake of honoring the Sabbath. This is what you cannot prove in any part of
the Holy Book.
Because they remained silent due to their deceit, the Lord challenged their same that
is unabsolved, and He offered them the evidence.
He says (Luke14: 5) “If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will
you not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath day?” if the law forbids showing mercy on the
Sabbath, then why do you practice pity on him that has fallen in the well? Do not be
disturbed by the danger that surrounds your child on the Sabbath, but rather rebuke the
natural feeling that urges you in fatherly love! Push your son on to his grave, and be joyful
for honoring the Giver of the law, as if He is unmerciful and cruel! Leave your friend in
danger, and do not be concerned about him, and if you even hear the weeping of a little child
asking for help, tell him ‘Go die; for this the will of the law!”’
 You do not approve of this; you rather open your arms to him who is in distress, and
give him more care than your honor to the law, or to the restful Sabbath that has no emotions,
even if you do not yet know that the Sabbath is to be kept in a spiritual way.
The God of everyone does not cease to have compassion, for He is good and the
Lover of mankind. He did not establish the law of Moses to fulfil cruelty, nor did He set it as
an instructor to mercilessness, but rather to lead you to love your neighbor.
Because He paid no attention to the envy of the Jews, He saved the man from his
disease that is, the dropsy.
St. Cyril the great
At any rate even the Jew in his literacy to the law, if he sees his ox or his donkey
fallen in the pit, he cannot stand immovable. He rather overrides the doctrine so as to save the
animal from danger. How much more so would it be with God, the One so full of love and
mercy, when He saw humanity has become two nations: the Jews burdened with the fatal
yoke of literacy and have thus become as an ox in the pitfall of perdition, and the Gentiles
who have become filled with foolishness in the atheist worshiping, and have thus become as
the incomprehensible donkey. Will God not be concerned about their salvation to grant them
a true Sabbath, and restfulness of an eternal standard?
Furthermore, St. Augustine thinks the patient sick with dropsy, whenever he drinks
water he gets more thirsty. This is because the water is separated from the blood. Likewise is
the money-lover; the more earthly blessings he receives, the more thirsty he becomes for it,
and he never gets satisfied. For he says, “Indeed, the patient sick with dropsy is compared to
the wealthy and greedy man. The former one; the more he obtains unnatural humidity, the
more thirsty he gets. Likewise is the greedy rich one; the more affluence in riches the more he
misuses it, and thus increases in his eagerness for more wealth.
The evangelist mentions the healing of this man sick with dropsy saying (Luke 14: 4)
“So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away.” These are the three stages man goes
through to be blessed with the Lord Jesus’ salvation work. They are:
(One) Jesus took him: if the disease has taken hold of our life, then we are in need of the
Word of God, the real Physician who has come down to us, so He might take us. Thus we
shall be in His grasp, and accept cleaving to Him and go into partnership with Him. The
Lord takes hold of us by revealing the mysteries of His love through the cross; and so He
encompasses our life, and absorbs all our feelings and senses for His account, in addition
to His love for us. Hence we can say (Son2: 16) “My beloved is mine and I am His.”
(Two) He healed him: when the Lord takes us and we take Him, we are blessed with His
salvation and are healed of our sins. In other words, our encounter with Him is based on
absolute openness. We confess to Him our sins so as to obtain forgiveness, and be blessed
with the deeds of His saving love that are non-intermittent.
(Three)He sent him away: The purpose of encountering the Savior is to be blessed with the
release of freedom as God’s children, so we be found perpetually firm in Him. We are
thus counted as God’s heirs, for He is our Father, and heirs with Christ (Rom.8: 7).

This is the work of the Lord Jesus in us. We encounter Him and hold on to His love,
be healed of our sins, and be freed as God’s children so as to be found in Him eternally.

2- Not Coveting the Foremost positions:

When the Lord Jesus wished us to accept His fellowship to us, He asked us to rise
above any literacy. We are not to keep the Sabbath in a materialistic and dry way, but rather
in a spiritual way so as to be blessed with the everlasting rest. We shall be healed not of the
dropsy disease, but of every sin. We shall be released to be found with Him eternally. This is
what we have seen in the above phrases. But now, being a Friend to us, He wishes us to
embody His qualities in us, so we be able to encounter Him. The most important of these
qualities is probably lowliness, and to depart from the love of having the foremost positions.
He does not tell us not to covet these positions so He may humiliate us, or lessen our
sense of honor; but because He humbled Himself and occupied the last seat as a slave, He
therefore wished us not to covet this position so as to be with Him through the spirit of
lowliness that is full of love.
In other words, our seeking the last position is not based on a feeling of inferiority,
neither of obligation, but rather it is based on true love to carry Christ the One who has the
last seat. It is at this point that He is transfigured in us, and His qualities are strongly
manifested shining on those around us. This then becomes the mystery of the inward glory in
the Lord.
The evangelist St. Luke says (Luke14: 7-9) “When He noticed how the guests chose
the places of honor, He told them a parable. ‘when you are invited by someone to a wedding
banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you
has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you
‘Give this person your place’, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place”.
+These things may seem to some as being trivial and is not worthy of any attention. But
when someone focuses his mind on it, he will learn what defect man has been able to get rid
of, and what good provision is found in him. For, to run after honors in an inappropriate way
that does not befit us or is appropriate to us, for it shows us as being foolish, violent and
haughty, asking for what is inappropriate to us, and actually it is appropriate to those who are
greater than us and are more prestigious.
He who does this becomes despised, and at most times he is made fun of when he is
obliged most probably, quite unwillingly to return for others the honor which is not his. He
has to return what took unworthily.
The modest and praise worthy person, who is not afraid of any blame deserves to sit
among the dignitaries, but he does not ask this for himself. He rather leaves to others what he
is worthy of; and he is counted most probably worthy of vain glory, and he will receive this
honor that befits him, for he hears someone who tells him (Luke14: 10) “Friend, move up
higher”.
The modest mind, therefore, is great and excessively good. The mind saves its owner
from and blame or rebuke, and from asking for any vain glory.
If you ask for this vanishing human glory, you will lose the right way by which you
can indeed be famous, and also obtain unrivaled honor! For it is written, (1Pet.1: 24) “For all
flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass”. Moreover, the prophet king David
blames those who seek temporal dignitaries and said to them (Ps.129: 6) “Let them be like
the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up”. Just as the grass that springs on
the housetops, that has no deep root, and so it withers quickly, likewise’ is he who is
concerned about the worldly dignitaries. For, after he has become prominent in so short a
time, just as the flower blossom, he falls to his downfall and becomes as nothing.
If anyone wants to win others, let him obtain this by the law of heaven. Let him be
crowned by the honors granted him by God. Let him be above many others by the
manifestation of the good virtues in him.
But, actually, the law of righteousness is the lowly mind that asks for no arrogance
but rather asks for humility. This is what the devout St. Paul considered better than anything
else, for he wrote to those who are eager to lead a conduct of holiness “Love humility”
(Col.3: 12). Christ’s disciple praised this as well, for he wrote (James1: 9, 10) “Let the
believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the
rich will disappear like a flower in the field”. The mind that is lowly and controlled is exalted
by God, for (Ps.51: 17) “a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise”.
He who thinks within himself he is highly esteemed, and so becomes arrogant in his
thoughts, is gets puffed up in vain loftiness, this one becomes rejected and falls under the
curse. He behaves contrary to Christ’s words, (Matt.11: 29) “Learn of Me for I an meek and
lowly in heart”. It was moreover said (1Pet.5:5) “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to
the humble”. The wise Solomon showed on many occasions the security that dwells in the
lowly mind, for he says (Sirach1: 30) “Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall”. The same
thing is declared in an analogy (Prov.17: 19) “One who builds a high threshold invites broken
bones”. Such a one is justly despised by God, for he wrongs against himself, and he wishes to
over go what is beyond his nature, quite unawaringly.
I ask you; on what basis does man assume within himself he is a great one?
I wish everyone to regard himself with wise eyes, and so he becomes as Abraham
who did not err in realising his nature, and he rather called himself dust and ashes (Gen.18:
27).
St. Cyril the great
+ Do you refuse to be modest, whereas you are actually a fallen one? There is a huge
difference between him who is trying to be modest and him who is actually fallen on the
ground. You are thrown on the ground, and do you not want to be modest?
St. Augustine
+ The one asking for honor does not obtain what he aims at, but he rather suffers from
disillusion. For, he is preoccupied as to how he could be loaded with honors, and he suddenly
finds dishonor instead. Since there is nothing any better than modesty, this is why the Lord
leads the listening to Him to reject the foremost positions, and He rather commands then to
seek the modest ones.
St. John Chrysostom
+ No one should think these commandments of Christ make him a trivial person, unworthy of
the sublime and glorious word of God.
Father Theophlactius
Furthermore, St. Basilious warns us of misunderstanding these words of Christ. He
has asked of us not to covet the foremost positions, but rather seek the last ones. But we ask
of Him in peace and in modesty and discipline, not through violence or any ostentation. If we
ask the host to have the foremost position we also accept it quietly, and do not disrupt his
disciplinary system. In other words, the Lord’s words touch the innermost heart so that man
does not covet the vain glory, whether we sit here or there. God asks for the heart and not for
any outer appearance. This is why the Lord concluded the parable by saying (Luke14: 11)
“For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be
exalted”.
We may say that the wedding, or the banquet host is the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ
Himself. He has invited us all to come to His church, the joyful banquet to the soul. He walks
in its midst without any stopping, because the church is sanctified. He wants to see the lowly
hearts, and thus He richly overflows them with the fruits of His Holy Spirit. He exalts them in
the eyes of the heavenly and earthly ones. Just as the saint Mary said when she accepted the
banquet Owner in her womb (Luke1: 52) “He has brought down the powerful from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly.”

3- Having an Open heart for the Needy Ones:

Because the Lord offered us His lowliness as a foundation upon which we accept His
fellowship, and to carry His thoughts in us, and so conduct ourselves in the spirit of
lowliness, and asking for the last position, and are eager to depart from the foremost positions
to give them to our brethren, presenting each other in preference of honor (Rom.12: 10), the
Lord therefore asks us as well to follow His example. He is our heavenly friend; and so we
have to carry a big heart for those who are in need, the deprived ones and the disabled ones.
The Lord in His incarnation has come for the lost man, and has left His heavenly creation,
that is, the ninety nine sheep, so as to search for the lost one. In love He endured the suffering
of the cross, so He may carry the lost sheep on His shoulders, and lift him up to the glory of
His heavens. Likewise we should appropriately search for every needy and suffering person.
(Luke14: 12- 14) He said also to the one who had invited Him ‘When you give a
lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich
neighbors, lest they invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a
banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed,
because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous”.
+ If we are ashamed of those whom Christ is not ashamed of, them we are ashamed of Christ
Himself by being ashamed of His friends.
Fill your table with crippled and deformed ones, and thus Christ will come to you
through them not through the rich.
St. John Chrysostom
+ If you invite a friend, he keeps thanking you till evening time. But friendship remains for a
while and soon ends, and so it is not worth the expenses you spent. But if you invite a poor or
deformed one, then the gratitude is not corrupted, because God remembers it for you
everlastingly. He will not forget it, since He Himself will be indebted to you.
St. John Chrysostom
+ Let us follow the friendship according to the Spirit, for it is strong and is hard to untie; and
not the friendship that is round the table.
St. John Chrysostom
+ The more modest our brother is, the more Christ comes through him and visits us. Because
when you host and important person, this is probably done due to vainglory. Let us not ask
the able ones to reward us, but rather follow the saying ‘you will, be blessed since they have
nothing to reward you with’.
Let us not be disturbed when we are not rewarded gentleness for gentleness. Because
if we accept it of people, we do not obtain what is more. But if we are not repaid by humans
then it is God who will reward us.
+ It is appropriate that you receive the poor ones in the best room you have. If you reject this,
then at least accept Christ in the lesser rooms where those who perform the base chores and
the servants are.
Let the poor one at least keep your door safe; because where charity is, Satan cannot
barge in and enter.
If you do not sit with them, then at least send them the plates from your table.
St. John Chrysostom
St. Cyril the great mentions his remarks on this parable, saying that those concerned
in presenting beautiful pictures, do not find it enough to use one color. Likewise is the God of
everyone, the Giver of spiritual beauty and its Teacher. He decorates our souls by various
virtues so as to lead a sanctified life of various angles, so we be perfected in His image. This
is why the Lord Jesus commanded the lawyers and the Pharisees and the scribes to lead a
modest conduct, and be released of the love of vain glory. Also, they should not ask for the
foremost positions. Now he is asking of them to love the poor, and not to host in their
banquets the rich, and to ask for praise and the love of showing off; but rather to invite the
needy, the unpaired, those in suffering by all kinds of physical diseases, so as to obtain the
hope in the heavenlies from God Himself. St. Cyril the great concludes his words about this
virtue that ornaments the soul saying. “The lesson He teaches us is to love the poor, this very
precious matter in the eyes of God”.
Are you pleased when you hear words of praise said by your friends and relatives that
you host at a banquet? I shall tell you what is even better: the angels praise your generosity,
and the sensible heavenly hosts and the saints likewise do so, and even God accepts him who
exalts everyone and loves mercy and is compassionate. Lend Him and do not fear, for He will
repay you with an interest, for it is said (Prov.19: 17) “He who has mercy on the poor, lends
the Lord”. He knows the loan and He promises to be faithful to it (Matt. 25: 31).
Bring to your possession the grace springing from God. Have the Lord of heaven and
earth a Friend to yourself, for indeed, man possesses the friendship of people usually by
means of much gold. If those dignitaries befriend us, we are overjoyed, and try to offer gifts
more than we can afford because we have obtained honor in being close to them. Despite this,
these matters are transient and quickly pass away as an shadow in a dream.
Is it not appropriate to count our membership in God’s house as worthy of
possession? Do we not consider it a valuable issue? Surely we shall stand in Christ’s presence
after the resurrection from the dead, and the reward will be given to the compassionate and
the merciful. The condemnation will be harsh indeed on the violent who had no natural love.
For it is said (James2: 13) “For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no
mercy”.
But as for the scholar Oreganus, due to his symbolic interpretation, he sees the
banquet as the spiritual table that is appropriate for us. For we cast away from us the vain
glory, and so we welcome the poor and needy, that is, those who are ignorant and are in need
of wisdom, so they find on our table the Lord Jesus who enriches everyone. We also host the
weak ones who resist the inward conscience so they be inwardly healed. Also those who are
crippled, who have got lost in their conduct of truth, so they find the straight paths in the
Lord. We also host the blind who have no spiritual vision to realise the truth, and thus enjoy
the true light. Those do not have what they could reward us with, for they do not find any
answer as to the preaching so overpowering in its love.

4- Being Concerned about the Banquet Invitation:

The Lord Jesus, as a skilful artist, wished to color in our minds the variable virtues, as
St. Cyril the great said, so as to form a beautiful icon as His model that has His image. He
commanded us to open our hearts in love to the poor, the needy, the physically and spiritually
deformed so as to be satisfied for the Lord’s account, awaiting the above reward from God
alone. But we will not be able to open our hearts in love as a banquet where we welcome our
little brethren unless we first are blessed as little children by entering the divine banquet. This
is why the Lord’s words were addressed to us so we accept being blessed by His banquet and
do no refuse His invitation to us. We enter His spiritual banquet and hence our hearts
themselves become a banquet of love to our brothers in the Lord of glory.
The evangelist says (Luke14: 15-17) “One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said
to Him ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to
him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his
slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now’.”
When those sitting around heard the previous words of the Lord Jesus, one of them
wished to be rewarded with what the Lord had promised when inviting the poor in his
banquets. He thought the reward is to obtain materialistic banquet in the kingdom of heaven,
for the Lord had said ‘Blessed is he who eats bread in God’s kingdom’. In such a way were
the Jewish doctrine leaders so materialistic in their concepts even when concerning God’s
kingdom. But as for God’s sons, these find their satisfaction not in materialistic food, but
rather in God Himself ‘the true love’. This is why St. Clemendous the Alexandrian says, “The
philosophers are wiser then the rich ones, for they do not bury their minds in food, and are
not deceived by its pleasure.
The shared love (aghabi) is the heavenly food, the table of the mind.
(1Cor.13: 7,8) “Love bears all things, believes all things hopes all things, endures all
things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies they will come to an end”.
St. Cyril the great says, “This man may not have become yet spiritual, but he was
rather physical and was unable to understand fully what Christ said, as he was not one of the
believers, and neither was he baptized. He assumed the reward for the saints due to their
loving deeds shared in common, concerned physical matters.
This man was probably one of the Pharisees invited to one of their leaders’ home. He
represented the materialistic Jewish concepts even in the heavenly matters. This is why the
Lord Jesus presented to them the following parable to reveal to them the secret behind the
rejection of so many to the heavenly invitation. This was the concept slope towards the
materialistic affairs, and the soul’s soaking into temporal matters, and being enslaved by the
vain passions; for the Lord said: (Luke14: 16-21) “Someone gave a great dinner and invited
many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited,
‘Come, for everything is ready now’. But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said
to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.
Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept
my regrets’. Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come’. So the
slave returned and reported this to his master, then the owner of the house became angry and
said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor,
the crippled, the blind and the lame’.”
We understand here that the master refers to God the Father. It is he who created the
universe, and is Father of the glory. He has prepared a great banquet, that is, a feast for the
entire world in honor of Christ. In the last days of the world, that is, in these our days, the Son
has risen for our sakes. In these days too, He endured death for our sakes and offered His
body as food, for it is the bread that comes down from heaven, and that gives life to the
world.
When almost evening, too, in the light of the lantern, the offal was offered as a
sacrifice according to the covenant of Moses. This is why the invitation offered by Christ was
called supper.
Who is he who was sent, and about whom was said he was slave? This could mean
Christ Himself; for He is by nature God the Word, the Son of God the Father. But He yielded
Himself and took the form of a slave. By being god of God, He is the Lord of all, but could
be called a slave with regards to His humanity’. Even though He took the form of the slave,
as I have said, yet He is Lord for He is God.
When was He sent? At even tide. For the Son of God the Father, the only Begotten,
He did not come down from heaven and become like us in our image at the beginning of this
world; but rather when the Almighty Himself wished for it in the end of times as I have
previously mentioned.
What is the nature of the invitation? ‘Come, for everything has been prepared’; this is
because God the Father is preparing for the inhabitants of the earth in Christ, the talents given
to the world through Him. These are the forgiveness of sins, the washing away of every
iniquity, the partnership of the Holy Spirit, the glorious adoption as being His children and
the heavenly kingdom. Christ called Israel for these blessings by the gospel commandments
before calling anyone else. On one occasion the psalmist says (Ps.2: 6, 7) “I have set my king
on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree of the Lord”. On another occasion it was said
(Matt.15: 24) “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.
 Was this persistence for their own good? Did they admire Him who has commanded
them, and who has worked, and has come to serve them by the vocation? Never! For one by
one they all began to apologize. This means they did not postpone it, they just rejected the
invitation. Here you can realise how they were unable to be aware of the spiritual matters by
submitting themselves to the temporal matters. Thus they have become insensitive, for they
were overcome with the love of the body, and have become far away from any holiness. They
were greedy and eager for wealth. They asked for the worldly affairs, and paid no concern to
the hope of what god above kept in store for them. To possess the joy of paradise is way more
wonderful than the earthly fields. To harvest the fruits of righteousness is way better than the
temporal fruits we wish for from the yoke of the oxen. For it is written (Hosea10: 12) “Sow
for yourselves righteousness, reap stead fast love... that He may come and rain righteousness
upon you”. Was it not their duty, instead of begetting physical children, to have the spiritual
fruitfulness? Because the first are subject to death and corruption, but the others will live
eternally as saints.
St. Cyril the great
Let us go back to the parable to find the banquet owner sending just before dinner
inviting everyone. This was the cu7stom in the East; that the host sends his slaves first so as
to invite his friends, and just before eating he sends a second time to make them hurry in
coming. Likewise did God send to us the prophets first. Even before the banquet of the cross,
He sent His only begotten Son, who yielded Himself as a slave, and kept calling us to the
banquet of the divine love, to His sacrifice that car satisfy everyone. As St. John Chrysostom
says, “Indeed, the sacrifice has been offered to the entire humanity. It is sufficient to save
everyone; yet no one would be blessed by it except the believers alone”.
Who are those who apologized? St. Augustine says, “They are of three kinds”:
Firstly: The man who bought a field represents he who has authority on a particular spot, and
this refers to pride.
Secondly: He who has purchased five pairs of oxen refers to the one confused about the
physical senses, for every one has five physical senses (vision, hearing, touch, smell and
taste). These have an influence on the soul, like someone carrying five hidden senses. He who
gets disturbed by these senses in earthly matters, which preoccupy his body as well as his
soul, will not be able to obtain and enjoy God’s kingdom.
Thirdly: The one who apologized for getting married refers to him who has changed even the
holy matters to physical pleasure that hinder his spiritual ones.
St. Augustine summarizes these regrets saying “I wish we leave behind those vain and
evil regrets, and that we come to the dinner of fully inward satisfaction. I wish we be not
puffed up with pride that offends us and hinders us. I wish we be not inquisitive, and be not
disturbed and get far away from God. I wish the physical pleasures not to hinder the hearts
pleasure. Let us come and be satisfied”.
St. Ambrosios in his remarks on St. Luke’s gospel, thinks those three who have
apologized for not coming these three represent the variable ways in loving the world. The
first one is preoccupied with earthly affairs, and has come to own for himself an earthly
house that drifts him away from God’s kingdom. This is why the Lord’s commandment came
as follows (Matt.19: 21) “Sell all what you have... and come follow Me”. Also the bying of
the cattle refers to getting disturbed by the world deeds and actions. This is why Elyah
slaughtered on acre of cattle and cooked the meat with cattle utensils and gave the people to
eat (1Kings19: 21). The third one who had married refers to him who is concerned with what
is worldly so as to please his wife (1Cor.7: 34).
We can say that the drawback is not with the field, which is the earthly dwelling;
neither is it with the cattle, which is the work; nor with the wife, which is the family relations,
for it is possible for man to sanctify his body as well as his soul, when his house, his work,
his family are sanctified in the Lord. But the real drawback is to be disturbed by these matters
away from the circle of God’s love and the concern about the eternal inheritance.
St. Ambrosios says some provide a different interpretation: it is that those to be
avoided from the banquet are three; the unbelieving Gentiles, the ungrateful Jews, and the
heretics. The Gentiles represent the love of money and greed. This is why the apostle advises
us to flee covetousness (To.1: 29) lest we be deprived of the banquet like the Gentiles. He
moreover says (Eph.5: 5) “Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is
greedy (that is, an idolator) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God”.
The Jews, as the five pairs of cattle. Carry the yoke of the law in fatal literacy. They
are five pairs, that is to say ten in number as a symbol of the ten commandments. It was said
to the Samaritan woman. “You have five husbands” (John5: 18). But as for ourselves, we
have taken Christ, who has set on us the light yoke of His love (Matt.11: 30). The heretics
may be similar to the one confused and busy with his wife; since they reject the church, the
true bride of the Lord Jesus Himself. They wish to assign for themselves a wife that offends
in corrupt teachings the heavenly wedding.
Pope Gregory the great thinks the one preoccupied with the field refers to him who is
preoccupied with the outward affairs of his life, and not concerned about his inward spiritual
life. The one preoccupied with the five pairs of cattle refers to him who is concerned with the
sensual physical matters and not with the deep spiritual life. The one preoccupied with his
wife refers to him who ruins marriage, and instead of accepting to bring forth children, he
changes to the physical lust and pleasures.
The scholar Oreganus thinks that he who owns the field, and thinks lightly of the
banquet is he who accepts godly teachings that are adverse, and he rejects the word of truth.
He who purchases five pairs of cattle is he who is careless about his spiritual and sensible
nature, and thus yields to the physical senses and so he is unaware of the spiritualities. As for
he who marries, this refers to him who is tied to the body ans is concerned about the physical
pleasures more that being concerned about God.
Finally, many fathers have spoken about the one who rejected the invitation due to his
marriage. They confirm that family ties, particularly the matrimonial boly tie, if in the Lord is
for the construction of the soul.
+ I do not reject the matrimonial tie. I rather yield to it in greater love; for with this I confess
to my wife appointed by the Lord to me, and I honor her. I do not reject being tied to her in
this love of Christ that is never untied.
Father Theonas
+ The God of peace, who urges us to love our enemies, does not insert in us the hatred and
undiscipline to those dear to us. If we love our enemies, let us then all the more be exalted so
as to love the ones close to us.
If there is a wicked father, son or brother who obstructs anyone in the faith and
confronts him in his offense to the higher life, and so let him not befriend him, and be
released from the physical ti8es regarding this matter.
St. Clemandos the Alexandrian
Now that we have revealed how the Lord Jesus has shown His parable the kinds of
people who have rejected His evangelical banquet due to their temporal link and their
physical passions, the Lord continued His words in this way: (Luke 14: 21) “Go out at once
into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the
lame”.
Those who rejected the banquet in the first place, represent the Jews who disbelieve
the evangelical message. The household here refers to the opening of the faith door to all the
nations and the Gentiles who have lived for so long in atheist worship and its corruption. This
was like the miserable ones who have no treasures of God commandments and prophecies.
They are like the lame and crippled ones who are paralyzed in their spiritual action, as the
blind who have no inward vision. They are like those ones in the streets and alleys, who have
no house of God in which they could rest.
Now, the doors of the heavenly city are open to them, so they be blessed with God’s
banquet, and be present in God’s presence as members of Christ’s body, the sons of the living
God.
+ The Gentiles came from the streets and the lames. I wish the heretics be rid of the barriers,
and the thorns”.
St. Augustine
+ Those defeated by the disasters of this world, and have been forced to return by God’s love
have returned and entered.
The following phrase is a terrifying one (Luke 14: 24) “For I tell you, none of those
who were invited will taste My dinner”. I wish no one to think scornfully of the invitation,
lest if he is called he apologizes, and when he wishes to enter, he is unable to.
Pope Gregory the great
+ He sends His slaves to call the poor, the crippled the lame and the blind (Prov.1: 20)
“Wisdom ones out in the street”.
He sent so as to call sinners to come from the wide roads to the narrow ones (Matt.7:
13).
He sew his slave to the village streets and its alleys, because those qualified for God’s
kingdom have to depart from the existing current matters and hasten to the promised goods,
that are besieged, and are not in the streets and the alleys. Those fences separate the
cultivable land from the streets, so they prevent the beasts from entering the fields and
destroying the plants. In this way with the shield of faith, which is like the fence, we can
discern the good from the bad and thus be able to resist the evil spirits. Therefore when the
Lord wished to manifest His protection for His vineyard He said (Matt.21: 33) “He put a
fence around it”.
St. Ambrosios
+ Those prestigious people from among the populace, did not submit to Jesus. He told them
(Matt.11: 29) “For My yoke is easy”, but the rejected the call and did not accept the faith, and
were far away from the banquet. They scorned the great dinner through their arrogant
disobedience. The lack of faith among the scribes and the Pharisees was manifested in the
Lord’s words (Luke11: 52) “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of
knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering”.
Instead of them, the call was offered to those in the streets and they alleys, who were
also attributed to the common Jewish people; these were weak, impaired and mentally sick.
They are regarded as being blind and crippled, yet in Christ they have become strong and
whole. They have learnt how to walk uprightly, and have accepted the divine light in their
minds.
Notice also the call to the Gentiles after those simple Jaws have adopted the faith.
Those Gentiles in the old times were miserable ones in their thinking, having no spiritual
culture regarding their understanding. They resided out of the city, and abided by no law.
They were more of a herd of cattle than humans, for they barely used their mental ability. For
this reason he sent the slaves to invite them to dinner, to those were in the streets out of town,
as if he was obliging them to enter in. Despite this, the call to all humanity to come to the
faith is an optional matter, which they accept in perfect freedom. Thus they become
acceptable to God and are blessed with an overflow of His blessings.
St. Cyril the great
How does he oblige them to enjoy the banquet even though the invitation to the faith
is optional? St. Cyril the great answers saying that the nations have become as id in the
bondage of Satan, and are unable to move. These nations need someone to pull them out of
this bondage, as the Lord said (John6: 44) “No one can come to Me unless drawn by the
Father who sent Me”. This drawing occurs by God’s strength that works in the Gentiles so
they receive the Lord Jesus. The obligation here does not mean that man loses his voluntary
wish, but that he is rather God’s help so as to urge him on to the faith.
Man, in his faith, asks god freely to seize him to His kingdom as if man is obliging
God to do so. This means than with man’s will he yields his life in the Lord’s hands, so God
may work in him according to His divine will.
The obligation here may also not mean the obligation to individuals to accept the call,
but it rather obliges the nations of Gentiles after the rejection of the Jews. Thus the Gentile
nations have adopted the Christian faith.

5- The Carrying of the Cross:

The divine fellowship requires us to bear the qualities of our greatest Friend, and
accept His invitation to His evangelical banquet. This friendship is based inside the circle of
the cross. Our Friend has carried the cross instead of us, for our sake. Let us therefore carry it
also for His sake! This is the account the Lord asked us to consider so as to construct the
tower of friendship.
The evangelist tells us of carrying the cross, saying (Luke14: 25, 26) “Now large
crowds were traveling with Him; and He turned and said to them. ‘Whoever comes to Me and
does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life
itself, cannot be My disciple’”.
Because the multitudes surrounded Him, and followed Him, the Lord declared to
them the concept of “His fellowship’, and their surrounding Him and following Him. He does
not ask for the mere outward appearance, but He rather asks for the hearts’ encounter to come
in the first place; when the heart rejects anyone’s entrance neither the father nor the mother
nor the son—unless it be through the greatest Friend Jesus Christ. Even our very souls, we do
not have to love them away from God. This is the concept of true love, which is to accept the
cross, interpreted practically by hating every relation out of God’s love. In other words, if I
hate my father and mother, my children and my brothers or sisters, even myself, this is only
to accept them in a deeper and wider circle of love, for I love them in the Lord. I love even
the enemies, and those who resist me in the Lord who has loved me when I was an enemy
and a rebel so as to forcefully take me to His kingdom, as a friend and a loved one to Him.
+ Some may say ‘What is this O Lord? Do you scorn the law of natural emotions?’
do you command us to hate one another, and to think lightly of the parents’ love
towards their children, and that of the husbands towards their wives, and the brothers towards
each other?
Do we count the house members as enemies to us, even though it is appropriate that
we should love them? Shall we make them enemies so we are drawn closer to You, and be
able to follow You?
This is not what the Savior means. This is wrong and inappropriate thinking, because
He has commanded us to be gentle even with the tough enemies, and to forgive those who
hurt us. He said to love our enemies, and to pray for those who offend us. How does He wish
us to hate those born of the same family, and to scorn the honor due to parents, and to scorn
our brothers? Even our children and ourselves? What He wishes to teach us by these
commandments is explicit to him who understands what He said on another occasion about
the same subject (Matt.10: 37) “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy
of Me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me”. By His saying
‘more than Me’, He manifested He allows us to love, but not more than He. He asks for
himself our main emotions. This is right and true, because God’s love in those of perfect
mind, has its sublimity more than honoring the parents, and more than the natural emotions
for the children.
St. Cyril the great
+ It is clear that man hates his neighbor when he loves him, as himself. We truly hate
ourselves when we are not engrossed in our physical pleasures, but rather suppress them and
resist their urge. By hatred we are better off, as if we love ourselves by hatred, for thus we
hate its evil malice.
Pope Gregory the great
+ God does not want us to be ignorant of nature, and the natural family love. He does not
want us either to be enslaved to it; but rather to submit nature, and give honor to the Creator
of nature. Thus we should not give up God due to our love to our parents.
St. Ambrosios
He has pointed out clearly here, what the Lord meant by His commandment saying
(Luke14: 27) “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple”. He
does not ask us to have the hateful nature to others, but to accept the daily death to everything
for God’s sake. Thus, we have to carry the cross with Him incessantly, not through our hatred
to others, or even to ourselves, but through our tremendous love to God, who absorbs every
emotion and love.
St. John Chrysostom says that the Lord does not ask us to put a cross of weed to carry
every day, but to put death before our eyes, and thus do as St. Paul who scorned death.
+ We carry our Lord’s cross in two ways: either by declining what concerns our bodies, or by
our kindness to our close ones and so consider their needs as our own. Some physically give
up everything not for God’s sake, but rather for vain glory. They show tenderness not in a
spiritual way but rather physically. This is why He truly said ‘Come, follow Me’. The
carrying of the cross, and following the Lord means using the physical renunciation and
being kind to our close ones for the sake of eternal benefit.
Pope Gregory the great
The carrying of the cross is the price of our true fellowship with the Lord Jesus. He
also asks us to calculate the cost account and He offered us two parables: the first one is he
who builds a tower has to calculate the cost first, before digging the foundation. The other
example is that of the king who fights another king, and how he has to reconsider his
potentials before waging the war. Our fellowship with Christ has to have those two aspects:
the building of a very high tower by means of which we shall encounter the heavenly king, so
as to live with Him in the heavenly embrace. The second is the waging of war with Satan
who resists Christ’s friends, and does not cease wrestling with them so as to withdraw them
to the dark kingdom instead of the kingdom of light.
First: The parable of building the tower:
(Luke14: 28-30) “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down
and estimate the cost, to see whether he enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a
foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This
fellow bean to build and was not able to finish’”.
+ Let us calculate the cost of the very high spiritual tower, and let us meditate carefully ahead
of time. Let us take into consideration first the errors in a clear way. Let us put aside the
physical corruption and passions, so we be able to set the basics of simplicity and modesty,
which are so strong that they are above the solid soil of our live chest. In other words, the
foundation is laid on the gospel rock (Luke6: 48). In this way the tower of spiritual virtues is
heightened; and is able to stand firm and gets higher to the highest heavens, in perfect safety,
and is immovable.
 Father Isaac.
+ Those who have chosen to lead a blameless and glorious life, they first have to store in their
minds sufficient zeal. They should remember Him who said (Sirach2: 1) “My child, when
you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be
steadfast”. But those who have no such zeal, how could they reach the sign ahead of them?
St. Cyril the great
+ Because He has given us such high commandments that are so sublime, He mentioned to us
the parable of building the tower.
If we wish to build the tower of modesty, we first have to prepare ourselves against
the troubles of this world.
Pope Gregory the great
+ The tower is that one of high observation and supervision for guarding the city, and
discovering the approach of the enemy. In such a way, our minds have to keep righteousness
and beware of any evil.
St. Basilious the great
+ We have to struggle continuously to achieve the goal of every hard job, by more and more
concern for God’s commandments. In this way we shall complete the divine work. It is not
enough to have one stone to make the tower. Likewise, it is not enough to follow one
commandment to perfect the soul. We rather have to dig the foundation. As the apostle says
to put stones of gold and silver and precious stones (1Cor. 3: 12).
St. Gregory, bishop of Nicus
Therefore, if we wish to have ourselves a gigantic tower high up towards heaven, or a
tower sanctified to the Lord, then let us consider the cost to be paid, which is ‘the live faith
working in love’. This manifested love makes us carry the Lord’s cross. He begins with us
this work, since we are carrying His own cross. He Himself accompanies us the difficult way
of the cross, for He has walked through it all by Himself. No one could cross it unless he is
hidden in Him. It is He who completes the way, and He lefts us up to the thrill and joy of His
resurrection.
Unless we accept the cross, we carry Christ’s name without His life in us. We will
then have the appearance of the cross, yet without its power. In this case the evil powers look
scornfully on us, saying, (Luke14: 30) ‘This man has begun to build but is unable to complete
the building’. As St. Cyril the great says ‘We have many enemies who are been on mocking
us, whether they be evil spirits or the law of sin and the physical lust...etc.
Secondly: The parable of the fighting king:
(Luke14: 31-35) “Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not
sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes
with twenty thousand against him? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he
sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become My
disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste,
how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they
throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen”.
In the parable of the tower, He spoke of the building expenses, that is, about the
positive aspect. We have been called to the divine fellowship so as to build up ourselves as a
tower, soaring up high to the heavens themselves. Therefore this, the vision is blessed with
matters that are unseen, and enters solely with God so as to contemplate on the mysteries of
His overwhelming love, and comes to know His glories inside herself. The building of the
tower, as we have seen, means that through our fellowship with our Lord Jesus, we become
by Him a fortified tower which the enemy cannot invade into our sanctified inner self. The
enemy will find no place of rest for Him in us, and we shall say with the Lord Jesus ‘The
ruler of the world comes and finds nothing for him in us’.
 But as for the parable of the king, this refers to the conflict of the enemy against us.
For when he sees the tower of our inward life being built by the Holy Spirit, so the Lord of
glory is glorified in us, and our souls are exalted to the Father’s embrace, the enemy is
kindled in envy and jealousy. He does not cease to fight us in every deceitful way so as to
destroy our depths.
The adversary wrestles since he is king, and he wishes to devour everyone to his dark
kingdom. But we, as believers, are bonded to the king of kings, and have become ‘kings’
(Rev.1: 6) and we have spiritual authority. We have the ability to work with the Holy Spirit,
so as to overcome with Christ who (Rev.6: 2) ‘has come out victorious and to overcome.
Our call to Christ’s fellowship, the Overcomer, is a call to overcome by Him, and to
be blessed with the heavenly crown, and to share His glories. This is why St. Cyril the great
says:
“What does this mean? Our struggle is not with flesh and blood (Eph.6: 12) “But
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”.
We too have a crown just as the overcoming of the other enemies, such as the
physical thoughts, the rebelling law in our members, the variable passions as the passion of
pleasure, the physical pleasure, the wealth pleasure and so forth. We wrestle with these as if
they were a violent troop of enemies.
How do we overcome? By faith, (Ps.60: 12) “With God we shall do valiantly; it is He
who will tread down our foes”. One of our saintly prophets speaks to us of this confidence,
saying, (Is.50: 9) “It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?” The devout
king David chants, saying, (Ps.27: 1) “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? The lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” He is our strength, and
by Him we achieve victory, for He gives us the authority to tread on life and scorpions, and
every power of the enemy.
+ (Rom.6: 17, 25) The king is the sin that reigns over our members. But our spiritual
understanding was created a king. If he wishes to fight against sin, let him work with all his
mind.
Father Theophlactius
The true Christian, when he faces spiritual war, he meets with ten thousand him who
comes with twenty thousand. He represents the ‘small flock’ (Luke12: 32) That the Father
was pleased to give the heavenly kingdom. He apparently seems lesser and weaker when
facing the adversary. But as much as he leaves ‘all of his wealth’ (luke14: 33) that is, he does
not rely on himself or his self righteousness, nor his potentials; this one becomes salt good to
salt others so they would not go bad.
The Christian carries ‘Ten thousand’ because the number 10 refers to the
commandments, and the number 1000 refers to the spiritual thinking of heaven. He fights
Christ Jesus, and abides by the commandment in heavenly thinking. But as for the adversary,
he comes as a king of ‘twenty thousand’, for he fights him in spiritual wars (1000) through
the northern strike (10) and the right strike (10). Sometimes he urges the lust as a northern
strike, and at other times he urges in him the self-righteousness, as a right hand strike.
As for the secret behind victory, it is the departure from everything (Luke14: 33) so
that God becomes the all in all, and also to be armored by the good salt, that is, the divine
commandments. As St. Cyril the great says ‘This is for our salvation. If we scorn God’s word
and His commandments our life will be transformed to corruption, and we will be fit for
nothing’. We have previously spoken elaborately of the good salt.
+ + +
 Chapter XV
(Page 532: 565)
His Friendship to Sinners

The evangelist has spoken to us of the basics of the divine friendship. Now he is
telling us of our amazing Friend who is asking for sinners, and is searching for those who are
lost, and is opening His arms to the lost ones coming back to Him. By means of parables, He
offers us His tender fatherhood and His divine eagerness for man, and His search for every
soul.

1- The parable of the lost sheep 1- 7

2- The parable of the missing coin 8- 10
3- The parable of the prodigal son 11- 32

+ + +

1-The Parable of the lost sheep:

The evangelist St. Luke reveals to us to what extent God’s eagerness and His search
for man is. He also reveals the joy of the heavenly hosts for his salvation, and his return to
them in partnership by means of this parable. He says (Luke 15: 1-7) “Now all the tax
collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes
were grumbling and saying ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’. So He told
them this parable; ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does
not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he
calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found
my sheep that was lost’. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance”.
St. Ambrosios links those three parables given by the Lord of glory, Jesus, concerning
the care given to the salvation of sinners. He says, “The good physician advises us with the
medication needed for the cure of the lost ones, for the forgiving Judge does not reject
granting forgiveness. St. Luke will fully mentioned those three consecutive parables: the lost
sheep that is found, the missing coin that is found, and the lost son who was dead and has
lived. The evangelist wished to motivate us with this triple medication to obtain the healing
of our wounds, for the braided triple cord is not cut easily.
Who are these three? The father, the shepherd, and the woman? The father is God the
Father, the shepherd is Jesus Christ, and the woman is the church.
Christ the S0hepherd carries you in His body, for He carries your sins in His body,
and the church is searching for you. The Father accepts you, the Redeemer helps, and the
church is concerned, and the Father reconciles. What great mercy is God’s divine work!
The wearisome sheep is returned by the shepherd, and the lost coin is found by the
church, and the son returns to the Father’s way, full of repentance for the lost life he has led”.
St. Ambrosios continues commenting on the parable of the lost sheep, saying, “Let us
rejoice, therefore, for the sake of the sheep that was lost in Adam, and is risen in Christ.
Christ’s shoulders are the arms of the cross, where my sins were put on this life giving
wood, and so I rested.
(Luke19: 10) “For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost”. He came to
save us all (1cor. 15: 22) “For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ”.
 The Shepherd is rich, we all put together represent one percent of His inheritance. He
has a tremendous fold of angels, archangels, principalities and dominions (Col.1: 16): He has
folds in the heavens. Because the are wise, they rejoice at human redemption, a thing that
urges us all the more to righteousness.
“We have to know that our renewal over-rejoices the heavenly hosts. Let us ask for
their intercession and their support, and let us not anger them. May you bring joy to the
angels when they rejoice at your return.”
This parable has attracted the heart of the church since the first apostolic age; for in it
we can see the good Shepherd who seems as Someone leaving the ninety-nine sheep, that is,
the heavenly hosts, so as to seek man for being the lost sheep. The Word of God has Come
incarnate, carrying all sins till the cross; He went to the grave to snatch away the fallen man
from the depths of hell. He destroyed all the powers of darkness to bring us back to the joy of
His salvation. This parable has moreover, pointed out clearly our relation with the heavenly
hosts who rejoice at our return and at our sharing them the heavenly praises, and our being
blessed by the eternal glories.
The shepherds found in this parable a live source of shepherdly love that is so true.
Sinners too, found incessant hope of every soul’s acceptance however corrupt it may be.
I find it enough mentioning a few of the fathers’ comments on this parable:
+ I do not want the salvation of many, but rather of everyone. If one remains in perdition, I,
too, perish. We have to follow the example of the good Shepherd who has ninety-nine sheep,
yet he hurried after the one lost sheep.
St. John Chrysostom
+ The sheep that got separated from the ninety-nine, and them returned once more, only
means to us the believer who fell and then returned. He is related to the rest, and he was the
concern of the same Shepherd. He has lost the partnership, and has strayed on the mountains
and valleys on a long journey away from the way of the truth.
St. John Chrysostom
+ The number 100 is a complete number. God had a hundred sheep when He created the
angels and humans. But one sheep got lost, for man has sinned, and has left the pastures of
life. But their Shepherd left the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and He left all the angelic
heavenly hosts above.
How was heaven called ‘the wilderness’? (Luke15: 4) It was as if it has become
deserted! Man has deserted it when he sinned. But the ninety-nine remained in the
wilderness, whereas God went in search of the lost sheep on earth.
The number of the rational creation has decreased, that is, the angels and humans.
These were created to see God; but man has fallen. The number in heaven had to be
complete; this is why God came down to the human race on earth.
What St. Luke calls ‘the wilderness’ is mentioned by St. Matthew on the same topic
as ‘the mountains’ (Matt.18: 12). This is to point out that the ninety-nine were not lost, but
they rather remained in the highest heavens.
Once He found him, He put him on His shoulders joyfully. He carried the sheep on
His shoulders because He adopted our human nature, and carried our sins.
Once He returns home, He calls His friends and His neighbors letting them (Luke15:
6) “Rejoice with Me, for I have found My lost sheep”. When He found the lost sheep, He
returned home; since our Shepherd returned to heaven when He has saved man. There He
found His friends and His neighbors, the hosts of heaven who are His real friends. They are
the ones who are not shaken, and carry out His will continuously. They are His neighbors,
since they are blessed by seeing Him clearly while listening to Him with no interruption.
 It is appropriate for us to notice He did not say ‘Rejoice with the returning sheep’, but
rather ‘Rejoice with Me’ because His joy is our life, and when we return to heaven His joy is
fulfilled.
(Luke 15: 7) “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Brothers, we have to
contemplate why our Lord says there will be joy in heaven with sinners who repent more than
with the righteous ones. In our general experience we find many who are not burdened in
their conscience with sin who are on the righteous way, strangers to the forbidden things,
these do not have strong eagerness to reach the heavenly home. We find them rather careless
in practicing the most important virtues, since they know they have not committed grievious
sins. On the other hand, they sometimes feel they have committed sin, and so they are pricked
by their conscience and are kindled by God’s love, and thus they attempt to do greater
virtuous deeds. They face all difficulties with more sanctified courage. They depart from all
worldly matters, and from all honors, joyful over the scorn springing from others against
them. They are kindled by the heavenly desires and eagerness towards reaching the eternal
home. They realise they have strayed away from God, and thus their old sins are an urge to
the final gains. For this reason there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over a
righteous person who goes on in his righteousness. This is just as in the battlefield, when the
officer sees the soldier who has previously escaped, return to fight the enemy more
courageous than he who has not escaped, yet he did not fight zealously. It is also similar to
the laborer who appreciates the land that previously produced thorns and thistles, and how it
has now come to produce plentiful harvest, more than his appreciation of the land that had no
thorns, yet it did not province any fertile crop.
Despite all of this, we cannot deny that some of the righteous lives cause such
uncountable joy less than the joy of the sinners return.
But there are some people who lead a life of death as if they have committed every
kind of sin in the world, even though they have not committed a particular crime. These reject
every rest even if lawful, and welcome others scorn to themselves. They do not allow
themselves the least of pleasures, they rather denounce even the pleasures allowed to them.
They scorn all materialism and their eagerness is kindled to what is invisible.
They find their pleasure in suffering, and modesty in everything; and if some weep
over their sinful deeds, these lament the sins of the mind.
Pope Gregory the great
+ the fold is one hundred, and only one of them got lost. This is the family that is on earth.
This is what the Shepherd is asking for, and thus He left the ninety-nine in the wilderness. Is
it because He does not care about so many that He has shown His mercy to only one?
Never... but it is because many are in safety, protected by His able hand. Therefore indeed,
mercy has to be shown to the one who is lost, which th e remaining group are in need of. By
the return of this one, the beauty returns to the one hundred.
The search for the lost one does not mean the disregard of those who have not sinned.
It is rather appropriate to manifest grace, mercy and love to humanity, as a matter befitting
the above sublime nature granted to the befallen creation.
St. Cyril the great
+ If the good Shepherd does not put me on His arms and brings me back to the fold once
more, then my steps will remain hesitant, and whenever struggle to get up, I find my feet
failing more and more.
St. Jerome
+ He who has laid down His life for the sake of His sheep, He searched for the lost one on the
mountains and hills. When He has found him, He carried him on His shoulders that have
carried the wooden cross.
 St. Gregory El Nazinzi
+ The Lord manifested His great zeal for the weak and the small, by leaving those who have
been saved, and paying all of His concern for the single one so as to rejoice for him.
St. John Chrysostom
+ When the Shepherd found the sheep, He did not punish him, nor did He drag him to the
fold. He rather put him on His shoulders, and carried him gently and included him to the fold.
St. Gregory El Nysy

2- The Missing Coin:

The above parable reveals the Shepherd’s love; He has given up Himself, and came
down to earth, in search of the haughty person, not to rebuke him or to hurt his feelings, but
in love He embraced him, and carried him on His shoulders, and brought him back to the
heavenly host. In the following parable, He offers us a picture of how the church should be
like, the bride of the good Shepherd. The church has the same qualities towards the fallen
ones, and searches for them lovingly and is tender to them, and rejoices for their coming
back, He says, (Luke15: 8-10) “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of
them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? When
she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I
have found the coin that I had lost! Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence4 of the
angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The above parable shows the lost sheep as to refer to the family on earth; for we know
we belong to God, the God of everyone, who creates all existing things out of nothing. As it
is written (Ps.100: 3) “It is He that made us, and we are His”. Also (Ps95:7) “For He is our
God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand”. With this second
parable in which He compares the lost one to a coin, and that he is one of ten, that is, of a
perfect number... it is clear we have a royal semblance, and the royal picture of the God of
everyone. This is because the coin, as I think, is sealed with the kingly semblance. If we have
fallen and have become lost, Christ has found us and shaped us in sanctification and
righteousness in His own image. No one doubts this, for the devout St. Paul wrote (2Cor.3:
18) “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a
mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for
this comes from the Lord, the Spirit”. He also sent to the Galatians these words (Gal.4: 19)
“My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth, until Christ is formed in
you”.
The search has been done about what has fallen. The woman lit the lantern, and as I
have said, we have been found by means of the wisdom of God the Father, who is the Son,
when He shone in His light, so godly and divine on us. The sun has shone, and daylight
opened up, and the morning star has risen (2Pet.1: 19) as the Book says. God moreover said
on another occasion by means of one of the devout prophets about Christ our Saviour of us
all (Is.62: 1) “for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the
dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch”. The Lord also said about Himself (John8: 12)
“I am the Light of t he world”. Also He said (John12: 46) “I have come as light into the
world, so that everyone who believes in Me should not remain in the darkness”. Therefore, by
Light, what was perished has been saved, and there has been joy in the powers above.
St. Cyril the great
+ The joy of this woman who found the lost coin is not to be overlooked, because the coin
has the King’s image. We own this image in the church.
 I admit, I wish, as sheep, entreat God to lead us to the restful waters (Ps.22:2), and
that we ask for the pastures, and as coins, we keep its value in carrying the King’s image in
us, and as chi8ldren, we come back to our Father.
St. Ambrosios
The woman and the shepherd here have the same meaning, for they stand for God and
God’s wisdom.
The coin is a currency carrying an image; likewise is the woman who loses the coin;
she stands for man, who has been created in the image of God and how he goes astray when
he loses his semblance to his Creator, because of iniquity.
The woman lights her lantern (Luke15: 8) since God’s wisdom has been manifested to
mankind. The lantern is simply light put on a stand. But the light here is God taking the form
of man and has become human. He who is wisdom speaks of the light of His body in the
words of the psalm (Ps.22: 15) “My mouth is dried up like a potsherd”. Just as the soil gets
heavier with fire likewise His strength has dried up as the clay. This means that by enduring
His suffering, the body has become strengthened in carrying the glory of the resurrection. He
lit the lantern once, and searched the house. For as soon as His godliness has been manifested
in the body, man’s conscience became terrified at the reality of his great sin, just as the house
that has been searched from top to bottom.
The word ‘evertere’ means the ‘upturning of something’. It is not any different than
the word mentioned in other documents as ‘emundre’ which means ‘the sweeping of’. For,
cleaned or swept of its old ugly habits.
When the house is searched, the coin is found. When man’s conscience is disturbed
over his sins, then man discovers the image of his Creator.
(Luke15: 9) “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors
saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost’. Who are these friends and
neighbors other than the heavenly powers about whom we previously spoke? These are
constantly close to the divine wisdom, because grace gives them light by its constant
presence.
But, let us think about these matters: we should not forget why it was said about this
woman, she who represents the divine wisdom, that she is the ten coins. She lost one of them,
but after the search, she found it. God has created the angels and humans so they would know
Him. Because He granted them eternal life, He formed them, undoubtedly, in His image. The
woman had ten coins, because the angels are of nine ranks. It was necessary to fulfil the
number of the elect by creating man. He was not lost even after the disobedience; for the
eternal wisdom of God shone on everyone, and was manifested by the miracles fulfilled on
earth. This corrected what sin has corrupted by the light of His physical presence, as a lantern
on a lighthouse.
Pope Gregory the great
+ Who is the woman? She is Christ’s body.
What is the lantern? (Ps.132: 17) “I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one”. This is why
He was searching for us until we were found, and when found, we speak.
I wish we be not proud, because previously, we did not exist, and would have
remained as lost if the search was not made for us.
St. Augustine
+ The lantern was let, that is, His body. The house was swept by purifying the world of sin.
The currency was asked for, and the kingly image too, which was no more bright due to the
air exposure. He calls His friends, that is, the heavenly powers when He finds His coin, so
they share Him His joy, for He has previously made them share in praises for the mystery of
His incarnation.
 St. Gregory El Nazinzi
+ This is God’s purpose in us; for He has become man for our sake, and has become poor
(2Cor.8: 9) so He raises our bodies (Rom.8: 11) and give back His image in us (Luke15: 9;
1Cor.15: 49) and thus man is renewed and all of us become one in Him.
St. Gregory El Nazinzi
+ It is said that there is great joy and a festive feast in the heavens, at the Father with His
angels, when one sinner returns and repents.
St. Clemendos the Alexandrian
+ The heavens and the angels therein, rejoice at man’s repentance. Oh! You sinner, be in
good joy!
Look how there is joy on your return and repentance!
The scholar Tritilian

3- The Parable of the Prodigal Son:

This is called ‘the parable of the lost son’ or ‘the parable of the loving father’. As
much as this reveals the unfeeling son’s heart, who has fled away from the face of his loving
father, as much as the father is eager for his son’s return. He welcomes him with kisses,
without blaming him or hurting his feelings, whereas his brother stood outside grumbling
because of the father’s love to him.
Let us return to this parable in more details.
(Luke15: 11-13) “Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger
of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me’.
So he divided his property between them. A few days later, the younger son gathered all he
had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute
living”.
In both of the above parables, the Lord Jesus did not find it sufficient to reveal God’s
relation with man; for God searches for him, as does the shepherd to his lost sheep, or as the
woman who lights up the lantern and searches the house for the sake of the lost coin. The
Lord also reveals the heavenly hosts’ relation with us. In the first parable, they appeared as
the ninety-nine sheep, whose number is not completed unless we return; for heaven rejoices
at the repentance of one sinner, and as nine coins that are completed by us, we the lost coin.
But as for this parable we are speaking of now, the Lord mentions a bitter and grievous
picture of man’s relationship to his brother. It manifests the elder brother, though he seemed
to be sensible and integral at his work, yet he is unable to easily accept the return of his
brother to the father’s house. He rather criticizes his father for being so kind to his brother’s
return.
Anyway, the appearance of two brothers in the parable reveals many matters among
which we mention:
Firstly: No judgment could possibly be passed on anyone as long as he is still struggling on
the road. The younger one appeared at the beginning of his life to be a pleasure-lover, and
violent in his actions, for he asks his father for the inheritance, whereas the father is still
alive. He thus squanders the talents, and is dishonest in what he has. But he returns in
repentance to his father’s embrace, and appears as dressed in new clothes, with the ring of
sonship, and shoes on his feet, and enjoying the feast at his father’s house. But the elder
brother began his life as being gentle in his attitude, serving his father and not asking for any
money. He remains in his father’s house, but he ends his life by standing outside, criticizing
his father for his love, and shuts his heart towards his brother. He thus loses his inward peace
and joy, and so lives with a controversial heart to that of his father’s.
Secondly: Some people seemed to think the two sons referred to the heavenly hosts and the
human race. The elder son refers to the saintly angels who live sensibly, whereas the younger
son refers to the human race that left the father’s house by being disobedient, and have
returned once more by repentance. St. John Chrysostom rejected this interpretation, and said,
“The elder son got frustrated at his brother’s return and his peace, whereas the Lord says
‘there will be joy in heaven at one sinner’s repentance’. “ St. Cyril the great says, ‘ If we
point to the correctful son as being the saintly angels, we find the conversation as being
inappropriate. This does not imply their feelings towards the repentant sinners, who turn from
the sinful life to the admirable behaviour. For the Savior, the Lord of everyone says, (revise
Luke15: 7) that there will be joy in heaven before the saintly angels at the repentance of one
sinner. But as for the elder son mentioned in the parable before us, even though he is
accepted by his father, and though he leads a blameless life, yet he appears as being angry,
and overriding his love, and seems as having no feelings, considering his father wrongful in
showing loving feelings so natural towards him who has been saved. This is contradictory to
the feelings of the saintly angels, who rejoice and praise God when they see the inhabitants of
the earth being saved. For when the Son yielded to be born of woman according to the body,
in Bethlehem, the joyful news was brought to the shepherds, saying (Luke2: 11) “Do not be
afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this
day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah the Lord”. When they crowned with
praise and joy He who is born, they said ‘Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth,
goodwill towards men.
As for interpretation accepted by most of the fathers, it is that the two sons refer to the
relationship between humanity with God. This has been divided in two: the Jews and the
Gentiles. The elder son represents the Jewish people that are considered eldest and prime in
knowing God, for they have accepted the divine promises, the law and the prophecies before
all the other nations. The younger son represents the nations that had no true relation with
God. They rather squandered God’s gifts such as the natural law. They lived a life of
wastefulness through their indulgence in idol worshiping and the atheist defilement. But
those Gentiles have come back to God so that the last came to be first, whereas the Jews were
too late through their envy of the Gentiles. They stood out of the house of faith denying God
and criticizing His love for the Gentiles.
St. Cyril the great thinks the elder son does not apply to the Jews; because these Jews
did not lead a correct life. They rather diverged to the unbelieving faith and indulged in its
unchastity. In (Jeremiah2: 5) “What wrong did your ancestors find in Me that they went far
from Me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?” In (Jsaiah29:
13) “The Lord said, ‘These people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from Me, and their worship of Me is a human commandment
learned by rote”. This is why St. Cyril the great thinks the elder son applies more so to the
Pharisees who pride themselves on leading a righteous life according to the law. But they
proudly reject the Savior’s love to the sinners and the lawyers, instead of rejoicing over their
salvation.
Thirdly: The younger son was bold enough to ask for his share in the inheritance while his
father was still living. He wished to enjoy his share by going out of his father’s house. He
thought being tied to his father’s house is humiliation and bondage which he wanted to get rid
of, to live according to his personal whims. But he soon squandered his money in waste.
It is surprising indeed that God the heavenly Father has granted man the gift of free
will, as the greatest gift, yet man uses it against God Himself. Man believes this freedom will
not be realised unless by disobedience and getting away from the circle of God’s obedience
and love, and following His will.
 The portion that the Gentile squandered in wasteful living is the natural law that he
misused; for St. Paul the apostle speaks of the Gentiles saying (Rom.1: 21, 22) “for they they
knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in
their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became
fools”. But as for the Jew, he obtained a bigger portion that he squandered; for he did not
only misuse the natural law, but he also misused the law of Moses. For, instead of being led
to repentance and keenness towards the Savior to obtain the eternal salvation, he fell into
pride. He considered himself better than others, and thus he did not enter the kingdom, and
neither did he let others enter in. but as for the Christian who has fallen into personal
righteousness, he is worse than those two, because though he is blessed with new blessings
and tremendous divine gifts, yet he uses them in evil-doings. As St. Ambrosios says, “We
have squandered the inheritance of our spiritual honor that we obtained, in earthly pleasures”.
However the Lord Jesus opens by means of this parable the doors of hope for everyone. If we
have squandered the natural gifts, or have sinned in the due commandment or the free
blessing, yet, despite all of this, God is still waiting for us with open arms, accepting us as
His children coming back to their Father’s house.
In a more explanatory note, we say that man, prior to the law, also obtained some
motivation and natural instincts such as love, fear, anger, fatherhood or motherhood. All this
was for man’s construction in the Lord; thus he would be able to love God, and fear evil and
wrath against iniquity, and also to practice parenthood to raise up our children spiritually,
socially and emotionally. So when man diverts, instead of loving God he loves his physical
pleasures, and so love is transformed to physical passion, even when loving others, he is
enclosed in his egoism. He asks for what is physical, or for himself, under the cover of love,
just as Photiphar’s wife who believed she loved Joseph so much that she led him to bondage
when he refused to offer her physical pleasure. Also, what Ammon did, when he loved his
sister to the extent that he fell sick for his love to her. When he fell with her, he humiliated
her and he hated her so much that he sent her away. What we say of love, applies to all other
natural motives, such as our fear from evil is changed to the fear of people and cowardice
from things to come, in addition to worry and confusion etc.
When we, too, accept the faith, and have obtained great divine gifts, and our
potentials have become more extensive.... yet, if we neglect them the fall will be far worse!
Thus the fall of the believer in sin, is probably way more serious than the unbeliever’s fall,
for he misuses the gifts for construction, and transforms them to being destructive.
Let us go back to this son, and see him as running away from his father’s house, in the
belief that he will enjoy life all the more. As St. Ambrosios says “He who is far away from
the church, squanders his inheritance”. The martyr Kaprianos says, “He who stays out of the
church is out of Christ’s camp”, also “He who does not have the church as his mother, God
cannot be his Father”.
Fourthly: It is said, (Luke15: 13) “and traveled to a distant country”. What is this distant
country to which man escapes other than the ego, the ‘I’. Man releases himself in absolute
freedom, so foolishly, away from the heavenly life, which is “love”, to selfishness where he
encloses himself. He becomes as if in a distant country, not only away form God, but also
away form people, and away form his love to his own salvation. By means of the “I” man
loses his inward clinging to everyone, even if he appears to others as a sociable, gentle and
generous person in his givings. The “I” is a shut up inward lock where man imprisons himself
and his freedom, and thus he loses his humanity, and lives in absolute isolation even from his
very own children and members of his household.
St. John Chrysostom says, “The younger son did not travel to a distant country so as
to be away from God in distance, because God is present at every place; he rather traveled
away from god with his heart, for the sinner flees from God to be far away from Him”. St.
Augustine also says, “This departure is man’s reliance on himself, his personal strength, and
thus he loses God’s work in him. On the other hand, drawing close to God means to rely on
Him, so He works in us and thus we follow His example.
St. Ambrosios comments on the traveling to a distant country, saying, “The greatest
departure is when man is separated not in far away distances, but rather by means of the
habits. He does not go to different countries, but he adopts different diversions.
He who is separated from Christ is foreign to his mother-country, and this world
becomes his mother-country. But as for us, we are no more strangers and sojourners, but are
rather sheep with the saints and the people of God’s house, (Eph.2: 19) because (Eph.2: 13)
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ”. I wish we be not too hard on those coming from a distant country, because we too,
were far away in a distant country as well. These are the shadows of death... and we have
been brought to life in the shadow of Christ. This is why the church says (Songs of Sol.2: 3)
“With great delight I sat in His shadow”.
Fifthly: (Luke15: 14) “When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout
that country, and he began to be in need”.
When the soul flees from God, the source of satisfaction and the treasure of wisdom,
it finds itself entering in inward emptiness and so we become as if in ‘famine’.
The human soul was created in the image of God and in His likeness. We shall have
no satisfaction unless it be by Him, for He is the source of all the world. All the physical
pleasures and passions and the temporal life with all its occurrences, will not fill up the
emptiness within the soul which asks for the endless One to fill it up.
St. Ambrosios says, “The famine that overswept this country was not a famine of
food; it was rather a famine for the good and righteous deeds and irrtues. Is there anything
more pitiful than this? He who is far away from God’s word becomes hungry, for (Luke4: 4)
“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God”.
By being far away from the spring, we are thirsty. By being away from the treasure, we are
impoverished. By being far away from wisdom, we become foolish, and by being away form
righteousness, we die. Therefore it was normal for this son to be in need for he has departed
from God, He who is the treasure of wisdom and knowledge (Col.2: 3). He has left the depths
of heavenly blessings and so he was a hungered; for there is no satisfaction for the lost man.
Man becomes is constant hunger when he does not realise that the eternal food is the source
of satisfaction”.
Sixthly: (Luke15: 15,16) “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that
country, who sent him to his field to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with
the ports that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything”.
St. Ambrosios says, “It seems this man refers to the ruler of this world. This son was
sent to his fields, that the buyer apologizes for not going to the kingdom banquet (Luke14:
18). There, he takes care of the swine which the devils asked to enter in. as a result, the swine
rushed to the edge of this world (Matt.8: 32). These pigs live on trash and rottenness.
He was eager to fill his tummy with the pods the swine were eating, and no one gave
him anything. It was said their gods are their bellies”. (Phil.3: 19) The suitable food for them
is the pods, empty from the inside and soft from the outside. This has no nutritional value but
it fills up the belly. Its weight is more than its usefulness.
Some think the pods refer to the evil hosts, or the weakness of human righteousness,
just as those prestigious preacher that are saying vain sermons, and are attracted by futile
philosophy. Their outer appearance is brilliant but still useless. This outer ornament is not to
survive for long. ‘No one gave him anything because no one except God is able to grant life.
St. Augustine offers the same interpretation; for he sees this man as ‘the ruler of the
air’ that takes the soul which is far away from God into his fields, that is, he subdues the soul
under his authority. He serves the defiled souls, which are the swine, since he works for the
account of various sins. As for the food he offers, it is the pods, that is, the hollow human
doctrine that delights the devils, and fills up the sinners’ minds, yet it does not satisfy the
soul. Thus the sinner lives a life void of any happiness, and he feels as if he cannot find
anyone to give him something of any satisfaction.
Seventhly: (Luke15: 17,18) “But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my
father’s hired hands have bread enough and spare, but here I am dying of hunger’> I will get
up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you’”.
This is the beginning of the repentance road; ‘he came to himself’; What does this
mean?
We said that the prodigal son, when he left his father and traveled to a distant country,
he has only left the road of love, and became enclosed in his egoism, and in his human self.
He has come to live in his selfishness, and made himself a god. He focused on his honor, and
his physical satisfaction or his pleasures. By so doing he has justly released himself even
from his own personality. If he is enclosed round his ego, then he is destroying himself and
devastating his life.
In other words, I wish we could differentiate between ‘self’ and the love of man to
himself, that is to say, his love to save himself. This is what the Lord Jesus affirmed when He
declared he who destroys himself saves himself. This means he who destructs his ego ‘I’ that
is in himself, he will live in the road of love, not only to God, to people and to the angels, but
he also loves himself away from the selfish cycle. This is what the old law declared when we
were asked to love our neighbors as ourselves. St. Augustine says he who does not love
himself, that is to say, his eternal salvation, how could he possibly love his neighbor?
Sin is the perishing of the soul by man’s entering ‘a distant country’, which is the
selfish ‘I’. Repentance means man’s return to himself to declare his love to save himself. By
this he returns to his heavenly Father who is able to renew the soul and to satisfy if inwardly.
By this, when man returns to himself, he returns to his father’s country. There he would
practice love as a divine gift, and will be found in truth a live member in God’s house. He
opens his heart to God and His angels and to all His creation, even to those who resist Him.
+If he has come back to himself, it is because he has departed from himself.
Because he has departed from himself, therefore he comes back first to himself, so he
comes once more to his first situation from which he has fallen.
+ When he left himself, he left his father.
When he departed from himself, he released himself to outer matters.
Now he comes back to himself, and thus he returns to his Father where his soul would
be in absolute and perfect safety.
St. Augustine
+ He returned to himself after he had departed from it, because to return to the Lord means to
return to the soul. He who resists Christ, resists himself.
St. Ambrosios
Man’s return to himself needs God’s divine work to enlighten man’s inner vision, so
he discovers his absolute poverty and even his own death. At the same time, he realises God’s
work of salvation and His love to man, and consequently man is filled with hope. St. Peter
came back to himself when the Lord looked at him. He therefore went out and wept bitterly
but not hopelessly. As for Judas, he repented and realised his evil, but because he did not took
to Jesus, the Savior of the world, he went away and hanged himself.
We are badly in need of sitting with our inner self under the care of our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself, who shines on us with His Holy Spirit and thus He pricks our conscience
over our sins. At the same time He comforts us with His free grace. He grants us the sighs of
the heart together with His overwhelming peace. He pours on us the spring of tears, so the
regretful feelings are blended with the joy of His divine work. Thus we come back in truth to
ourselves, and are safely thrown in our Father’s embrace that are so full of love, and He folds
us in His arms.
When the stray son came to himself, he realised the truth; that though he is a son, yet
he was eager to eat of the pods with the swine, whereas the hired ones at his father’s house,
eat bread and not pods. He lived far away from his father’s house in severe hunger whereas
the hired ones are close to his father and are satisfied.
+ After suffering in a far distant country the same way wicked people do suffer, he fell under
the ordeals that attacked him. He hungered and was badly in need. He felt he was perishing,
and he realised that it was out of his own free will that he threw himself in the hands of
strangers, away form his father. He has thus become in exile instead of being in his own
house; in need instead of wealth; in famine instead of welfare and luxury. This is what he
meant by saying (Luke15: 17) “And here I am dying of hunger”. It is as if he is saying: ‘I am
not a stranger, but am rather a son to a good father, and a brother to an obedient brother. I am
a free and noble person, and have now become more miserable than the hired slaves. I have
fallen from the high and sublime position to the basest level.
St. John Chrysostom
+ O Lord Jesus! I wish You would put away the pods, and give us the blessings, because You
are the One responsible in Your Father’s house!
I wish You would accept us as slaves, even though we have come late, because You
accept those who come at the eleventh hour, and You pay them the same wages. You grant
them the same life, but not the same glory. For the crown of righteousness is not kept for
everyone, but to him who could say (2Tim.4: 7) “I have fought the good fight”.
Some think to postpone their baptism or their repentance until when close to death.
But how do you know your soul will not be required this same night? (Luke12: 20)
St. Ambrosios
In this same way St. Ambrosios urges us to quickly return to our Father’s house, so
we the sons are not deprived of being blessed with what the hired ones obtain. Those are the
ones who serve the heavenly Father for the sake of the wages. Let us hasten to Him, urged on
by many factors, the first of which is that we do not know when our souls would be asked for.
It could be right now. Secondly, so that we struggle in truth. For if God’s gift to all those who
enter His kingdom is “the eternal life”, but (1Cor.15: 41) “indeed, star differs from star in
glory”. Also as the Lord of glory Himself says (John14: 2) “In My Father’s house are many
mansions”.
Let us hasten now to our heavenly Father’s house, struggling every moment in our
estranged life. Let us say in truth (2Tim4: 7,8) “I have the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith. From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day”.
Eighthly: (Luke15: 18) “I will get up and go to my father”; this is the experience of the
resurrected life.
The impact of repentance begins with man’s return to himself by means of the Holy
Spirit, to discover he is in a state of hunger. He realises the ego, the ‘I’, has knocked him
down to the ground due to the void situation in himself. He realises he has absolutely fallen to
the ground, and has come to be under the judgment of eternal death. But the Holy Spirit
uncovers his vision so that he sees in his Savior Jesus Christ, the risen from the dead “the,
mystery of the resurrection”. He rants the dead ‘resurrection so they live ‘in the experience of
His resurrected life’. Repentance is not a passive work by which means man discovers his
drawbacks and even his absolute devastation; it is rather a positive job in which the Christian
believer accepts his Christ as the mystery of his resurrection and his life, so that he lives all
his estranged days experiencing the new life. He goes on from strength to strength, enjoying
one glory after the next, and one grace in addition to the other. He is eager to reach the full
measure of Christ (Eph.4: 13). Repentance is the practical blessing of the permanent
resurrection.
+ Our way, likewise, is to entreat God, so He strips us off of the old man, and clothes us with
the heavenly Christ. This is because the Lord when He wished to fill us with the satisfaction
in tasting His kingdom He said “Without Me you can do nothing” (John15: 5).
Everyone of us has to oblige himself in entreating God to be counted worthy of
obtaining and possessing the treasure of the heavenly Spirit, so he might be able without
much difficulty and toil to fulfil of the Lord’s commandments in purity and flawlessly.
St. Macarius the great
+ The Holy Spirit is the power that resurrects life. By His means man has been accepted for
adoption, and has transformed death to no death.
St. Basilious the great
+ The Renewal that we experience in this life, and our transfer from the physical earthly life
to the heavenly and spiritual one, is made in us by means of the impact of the Holy Spirit.
St. Basilious the great
Ninthly: (Luke15: 18, 19) Confessing the wrong: “I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one
of your hired hands’.”
The Holy Spirit who works in us for repentance, opens our hearts with the hope on
God, the Giver of resurrection from the dead; but with the Spirit of modesty, He grants us to
confess our sins. The prodigal son is confidence says ‘my father’ . in modesty he declares he
has sinned and is unworthy of sonship, asking to be accepted as a hired hand.
+ When the soul yields itself totally to the Lord, with all its strength, the grool Lord manifests
these drawbacks and sufferings one after the other so the soul deviates from them.
St. Anba Antonious the great
+ Let us learn how to entreat the Lord. He said ‘My Father!’ How great God’s mercy and
gentleness is! Even though He was dealt with wrongfully, yet He does not reject being called
‘My Father’ ‘I have sinned against heaven and before you;’ this is the first confession before
the Lord of mercy, before the Judge of iniquity.
God knows everything, but He waits for us to admit our sins (Tom.10: 10) “one
confesses with the mouth and so is saved”.
When a person blames himself, he alleviates the weight of his loss, and cuts off the
sharp accusation. You lose nothing when you confess what is already known to Him.
Admit your sins, and Christ will have mercy on you, for He is our intercessor to the
Father (1John2: 21).
Let the church also pray for you sake, and let the people weep over you, and do not
get disturbed or doubt, because you will receive. The intercessor promises you forgiveness,
and the landlord of the vineyard promises you grace, and the Defendant confirms your
reconciliation with the fatherly kindness.
Rest assured this is a fact, and be comfortable for God is power! He is careful to
intercede for you so He would not have died for your sake in vain. The Father also is careful
to forgive you, for (Gal.2: 21) “for of justification comes through the law, then Christ died for
nothing”.
‘My father, I have sinned against heaven and before you’; Sin harms the gifts of the
heavenly Spirit. It was important for man not to deviate from the intestines of this mother
‘Jerusalem’, which is heaven.
He says ‘I am not worthy to be called your son’; it is appropriate for the fallen one not
to be proud, but rather to return in lowliness.
 St. Ambrosios
+ These words concerns him who confesses his sins, but he has not used them yet.
He is not speaking now to His Father, but He promises what He would utter when He
comes to His Father.
Let us understand ‘the coming to the Lord’ means to stay in the church, in faith. In the
church we practice the confession of sins in an active methodical lawful way.
St. Augustine
+ He was addressing the speech to Himself; but the speech was insufficient unless He comes
to the Father.
Where is he to be searched for? Where is he to be found?
Rise up and hasten to the church so as to find the Father there, the Son and the Holy
Spirit too.
The Father listens to you when you talk to yourself, and He quickly comes to meet
you.
St. Ambrosios
Tenthly: (Luke15: 20) “So he set off, and came to his father”, this is the first step to begin
work.
If the stray son has traveled to a distant country assuming it is his personal freedom,
and squandered his father’s money as he pleased, then once he came to his mind and decided
to come back to his father’s house, he realised the distance between him and his father
however long it may be, this was no obstacle at all. He was attracted by his father’s
fatherhood, and drew his mind to find the way of return is not too long or impossible. He rose
to work as well, walking to his father, as if he was listening to the voice of Zachariah
(Zach.1: 3) “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Return to Me’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will
return to you’, says the Lord of hosts”.
+ Let us work as well even if we are out of the boundaries. Let us be exalted to our Father’s
house, and let us not linger on the journey. If we want, the return will be quick and very easy.
We just have to leave the strange country which is sin. Let us depart from it, so we return
hastily to our Father house.
Someone may ask, ‘How do I return?’
Just begin working, and everything else will be accomplished.
St. John Chrysostom
Eleventhly: (Luke15: 20-22) the encounter with the kind father: “But while he was still far
off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him
and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before
you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son! But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly
bring out a robe- the best one.....”
This parable reveals God’s loving fatherhood. Even though He does not oblige man to
return to Him, yet, when He sees him from afar coming towards him, he quickly runs to him
not to blame him or rebuke him, but rather to embrace him and to kiss him. He listens to His
son’s confession of the wrong he did, but God does not allow him to be humiliated. He does
not let the sinner say ‘make me as one of Your hired servants! God rather asks for the son’s
robe and his ring, honoring him in His house!
+ The Father listens to your when you are talking within yourself, and He hastens to meet
you. When you are still far away, He sees you and runs to you.
He sees what is within your heart, and He hastens so no one would delay you. He
even embraces you.
His encounter with you shows He has previously known you. His embrace to you is a
manifestation of His mercy, and is an expression of His fatherly love.
 He bends on your neck so He raises you, the one who has fallen under the weight of
transgression. He wants you to return to heaven, for you have headed to the earth, and thus
you ask for your Creator.
Christ falls lovingly on your neck, so He delivers you from the bondage yoke, and He
makes you carry the easy and bearable yoke (Matt.11: 20).
He falls on your neck, saying (Matt.11: 28) “Come to Me, all you that are weary and
are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you”.
In this way the Lord embraces you when you repent.
St. Ambrosios
+ What do the words ‘he ran’ means? Due to our obstructive sins we ourselves cannot reach
up to God through our righteousness. But it is God Himself who is able to come to the weak,
and thus He falls on his neck.
He kisses the mouth; this means the Father accepts joyfully the one who confesses
with his mouth, and is repentant with all his heart.
St. John Chrysostom
+ When He runs, He then falls on his neck; this is because the father does not leave His only
begotten Son, who constantly runs towards us, we who have gone astray for so long (2Cor.5:
18) “All this is from ‘God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation”.
He put his arms around him, bending to embrace with his arms, that is, with the Lord
Jesus Christ.
The repentant one is comforted with the graceful Word of God, that grants the
forgiveness of sins; this is fulfilled with the loving kiss springing from the Father when
coming back to Him on a long journey.
He did not say ‘Make me as one of your hired servants’, because when he was in need
of bread, he was eager to be as even one of the hired slaves. But when he nobly received his
father’s kiss, he stopped from saying so.
St. Augustine
Twelfth: The fatherly gifts: (Luke15: 22-24) “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring
out a robe- the best one- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead
and is alive again, he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate”.
St. John Chrysostom says the father does not address his son who has just returned,
but he rather addresses his slaves, or his agents. The repentant one has come entreating, but
he receives the answer not through words addressed to himself, but rather through the
merciful deeds offered to him.
Father Theophlactius sees those slaves as the ministering souls, or the priests who
perform the baptism, and offer the word of edification, so the soul is clothed will Christ
Himself.
+ He brings you the robe the ring and the sandals.
The robe is the robe of wisdom, by which the apostles covered the nakedness of their
bodies, and with which every person is clothed.
They took the robe so as to cover up their physical infirmities with the spiritual power
of wisdom. It was said about wisdom (Gen.49: 11) “he washes his garments in wine”. The
rob is the spiritual clothing and the wedding garment.
The ring is nothing else but the true seal of faith, and the seal of truth.
The sandals refer to the gospel preaching.
St. Ambrosios
+ The first robe is that of the honor that Adam has lost. As for the slaves who offered it, these
are they who preach the reconciliation.
 The ring on the finger is the deposit of the Holy Spirit due to the partnership of grace,
since the Spirit is adequately referred to by the finger.
The sandals on the feet are the preparation for the gospel preaching so we do not
touch what is earthly.
St. Augustine.
These three items: the robe, the ring and the sandals, have been offered by the Lord
Jesus to the sinful humanity, so as to raise from them sons to the living God. These sons wear
the appropriate wedding garment for the heavenly banquet, and they also wear the ring for
sonship, and cover their feet and protect them from the dust of this world and its
transgression when crossing through the preaching word.
We can moreover say these matters were offered to the humanity returning to Him, so
He may make it a wedding and a queen to Him, after His humanity has lived its life as a
spiritual prostitute, running after another groom. At first, He offered humanity the garment
ornamented with gold, as the psalmist says (Ps.45) “The princess is decked in her chamber
with gold-woven robes”.
St. John Chrysostom also says, “Here he does not mean a real robe, but rather
righteousness. The robe decked in gold, has in its texture variable elements”. The saint goes
on saying and explaining that the church embraces people of variable distinctive talents, but
yet all integrated, and thus one robe for the heavenly wedding is woven. As for the ring, it is
the deposit or the earnest of the Spirit; for St. Paul the apostle says, (2Cor.1: 21, 22) “But it is
God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting His seal on us and
giving us His Spirit in our hearts as a first installment”. This is the money deposit offered by
the heavenly Groom to His bride, the church, so it lives by Him and enters the perfect
wedding. The sandals refer to the preaching mission, so as to embrace every soul to the
spiritual membership of the church, and he would thus have a share in the eternal wedding.
What is the fatted calf offered in the banquet, so everyone eats, be filled, and rejoices?
St. John Chrysostom says, “He is the Lord Jesus Christ who is called like this, for He
offered His spotless body a sacrifice. He is called ‘fatted’ because of His siches and
costteness, for He was able to save the entire world”. St Augustine, too, gives the same
interpretation, saying “He was slaughtered for every man who believes in Him being
slaughtered”. St. Ambrosios commented as follows: “By the partaking of the holy
Sacraments, man can live by the rich body of the Lord, by means of the spiritual strength. He
is the priestly sacrifice that was offered for our sins”.
The Son has given up His body a sacrifice for the sake of humanity’s salvation. The
Father rejoiced for the sake of this joyful work, and He asked the heavenly hosts to come and
see, and rejoice at man who has risen to the heavenly life after his death. But the elder son,
who refers to the haughty Jews stood outside, unwilling to enter and rejoice with everyone
else. The Lord Jesus says therefore (Luke15: 25-32) “Now his elder son was in the field; and
when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the
slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come and your father has
killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound. Then he became angry and
refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father
‘Listen’. For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never
disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me ever a young goat so that I might
celebrate with my friends, but when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your
property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him’! Then the father said to him,
‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and
rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, he was lost and has been
found’”.
 St. Ambrosios comments on the elder son’s attitude, saying, “The elder son’s
condemnation is because he came from the field. The field here refers to the concern given
tot he toil in the land, the ignorance with the deeds of God’s Spirit. (1Cor.2: 11).
He complained for not being given a goat to kill, even though the Lamb of God was
slaughtered for the forgiveness of sins, and not for any physical pleasure.
The envious one asks for a goat to kill, whereas the righteous one is eager to be
slaughtered for the sake of God’s Lamb!
Due to envy, the elder one got stricken with spiritual old age at an early time, and he
kept outside due to his lack of love. The evil jealousy overflowed his heart, and this expelled
him outside.
He is one of those who do not see the panel in their eyes whereas they criticize the
speck in other’s eyes.
He is frustrated because others obtain forgiveness and grace.
The spiritually evil hosts are unable to hear the joyful hymns and the Psalm reading!
The two sons refer to two nations: the younger one stands for the Gentiles, whereas
the elder one stands for Israel, that envies the other one for being blessed with eternal
blessings. The Jews objected to Christ’s eating with the Gentiles, so they asked for a goat as a
loathsome sinful sacrifice.
The Jew asks for the goat, that is, for Barabas; whereas the Christian asks for a lamb,
who is Christ. This is why Barabas was released to the Jews, and Christ was offered a
sacrifice to us. Since that time the corruption of sin has befallen them whereas we have
obtained the forgiveness of sins.
The elder son refers to the Pharisee who justified himself in his prayer that was so full
of pride. He considered himself not breaking any of God’s commandments by practicing the
literacy of the law (Luke18: 11). He cruelly accused his brother of squandering his father’s
inheritance with prostitutes, even though he had to be more cautions in his words because the
Lord Jesus came for the sake of the tax collectors and the prostitutes.
The elder son was not expelled out, but he stood at the door, and did not wish to go in
since he did not accept God’s will which called the Gentiles to the faith. In this way the son
became a slave (John10: 14) “Because the slave does not know the wish of his master”. And
when he knew it, he became jealous, and was tortured due to the happiness of the church, and
he remained outside. Despite this, the loving father wanted to save him, for he told him ‘You
are with me at all times!, I wish you would stop your envy ‘All what I have is yours, when
you have the mysteries of the Old testament as a Jew, and you obtain the mysteries of the
New Testament if you are also baptized.
+ Now because his elder brother was in the field, and then he came to the house, he heard
music and dancing. He then called one of the slaves and asked what this could be. The elder
son is understood to be the Jewish nation that was in the field, working for God so he would
enjoy the earthly possessions. In the Old Testament in Particular. The earthly happiness was a
promise to him who worships God.
He came to the house and heard the music, the harmonious tunes together is called
music, because when all those who serve God in love are in harmony, they fulfil the apostle’s
words, (1Cor.1: 10) “that all of you be in agreement and that there be no division among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose”. When Christians become as
such, they give out music, that is, one harmonious sound that pleases God; in them is fulfilled
the words written (in Acts4: 32) “they had one heart and one soul”.
He asked one of the slaves, that is, he read one of the prophets; Isaiah or Jeremiah or
Daniel, for all have preached the coming of Christ joyfully, for the sake of the nation-
reconciliation.
 The slave said to him that his brother has cone back, and that his father has killed the
fatted calf (Luke15: 28). He therefore became angry and did not wish to enter. His wrath
means the resistance of the Jewish people for the nations’ salvation. Indeed, up to this day
they are Jealous of the church, and resist it.
The following fact is that the father went out to him (Luke15: 28) This might mean
that at the end of times all the Jews will accept the faith through God’s mercy. As the apostle
St. Paul said (Rom.11: 25) “a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of
the Gentiles has come in. and so all Israel will be saved.
By his words ‘And I have never disobeyed your command’ he meant the Jews seemed
as if they worshiped the one God; and when he complained ‘And you did not give me even a
goat’, this is understood to be Christ. For Christ is the Lamb of God, and was condemned as a
goat by means of the Jews, that is, He was condemned as a sinner.
Therefore Christ for us is the Lamb, and for them He is a goat. Those who believed
Him to be a sinner, and not a righteous One, did not deserve the blessing of the banquet of a
slaughtered goat or a lamb as a sacrifice.
When the father said, (Luke15: 31) ‘You are with me at all times, and all that I have is
yours’, he means by this the worshiping of the one God, and the writings of the old
Testament and the prophets. These matters surely concern God, and these remained with the
Jews forever.
Father Caeserius, bishop of Aries
+ This is the fatherly work of love, so tender and good. He does not only raise man from the
dead, but He also gives him back His tremendous grace by means of the Spirit. Instead of
corruption, He clothes man with an incorruptible robe. Instead of hunger, He kills the fatted
calf, and instead of the long distance he journeyed, the father who has been awaiting his
return to him, offers him sandals for his feet. What is even more amazing than this, is that he
gives him and engagement ring of divinity to put on his finger. All of this put together, makes
him in the image of Christ’s glory.
St. Pope Athanasous
+ + +
 Chapter XVI
(Page 566-608)
The Violent-Taking of the Divine Fellowship

In the previous chapter the Lord Jesus showed clearly by means of three parables,
God’s great eagerness for our friendship with Him. He declared His love and shedding
Himself for our sakes, we the sinners, to carry us to His holy place as sons to God’s house,
and the place of the heavenly joy. But this awesome love has to be met with love and wisdom
so as to seize it, in other words, in God’s love to man, He did not make him a dumb machine
that reacts with God’s love involuntarily. He actually created him a master who has a perfect
free will of his own. He could accept this fellowship or reject it. Now, the Lord offers us two
parables that urge us to take by force His friendship of our own free will. These are the
parables of the dishonest manager, and the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.

1- The parable of the dishonest manager 1- 3

2- The divine fellowship and the love of money 14- 15
3- The divine fellowship and the difficult commandment 16- 18
4- The parable of Lazarus and the rich man
+ + +

1- The Parable Of The Dishonest Manager:

When the Lord of glory, Jesus, spoke in Parables of the extent of His eagerness to
attract sinners from going astray, and how to make them enter His holy place, He then
addressed His disciples in the presence of the Pharisees, who were known for their love of
money (Luke16: 14), as well as their vain glory. He presented to them the parable of the
dishonest manager who squandered his master’s money. When the landlord asked him to give
the account of his agency to take it away from him, he attempted to win to his side dishonest
friend, so that whenever he is fired from his work his friends would then accept him in their
houses. The Lord commended this manager, not in his squandering of money, nor in his
dishonesty, but rather for his wisdom in winning friends on his side, and being concerned
about the forth coming life. He thus offered the pleasures of the present time for the sake of
future rest.
Before mentioning the father’s words concerning this parable, we would like to
summarize the aim of this parable in the following points:
Firstly: If the previous parables declare the divine fatherly love towards sinners, then it is the
duty of sinners, in their repentance and their return to their Father’s house to be well-
equipped with wisdom. Just as this manager disregarded the present for the sake of his future
rest, likewise it is appropriate for us in our repentance to live with the Spirit of wisdom that
surpasses the temporal needs, and makes us cross over so as to ask for the forthcoming rest in
heaven.
Secondly: The previous parable of the ‘Prodigal Son’ showed clearly the sinner’s return to
his father’s house, in great repentance and regret. In this chapter he speaks to us of charity
and the love of giving, not as of our money but what we have been made in charge of by God
Himself. Thus we make friends from our owner’s money by being accepted with them in
heaven.
Now we come back to the same parable, for the evangelist St. Luke says (Luke16: 1-
9) “Then Jesus said to the disciples ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges
were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and
said to him, ‘what is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management,
because you cannot be my manager any longer! Then the manager said to himself ‘What will
I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig,
and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager,
people may welcome me into their homes. So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one,
he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of
olive oil’. He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty! Then he asked
another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat’. He said to
him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty! And his master commended the dishonest manager
because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with
their own generation then are the children of light. And I tell you make friends for yourselves
by means of dishonest wealth, so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal
homes!’
In this parable we notice the following:
Firstly: Some think this parable was not new to the Jewish ears at that time. The rich man
who owned the property refers to the Roman empire that left the tax issues in the hands of the
tax collectors that collect money for its account, even though the Roman empire as an
imperialist was greedy, yet it praised the tax-collectors who dealt calmly with people when
collecting taxes. The sensible tax collector, in the long run could collect more for the country,
as well as taking a bigger share, and yet not tire the payers. But as for the violent one, he
destroys the payers, and he loses his own peace, as well as the country’s unease regarding his
actions in the long run. The manager mentioned here, when he declined what was written in
the documents, acted wisely. He alleviated the Jewish load of the taxes, and at the same time,
the Roman empire was able to collect these taxes even if they were less, yet in an easier way.
Secondly: St. Cyril the great confirms in his comment on this parable as well as in many
other places, that the Lord Jesus when He presents a parable, He does not mean for us to
apply it from all aspects, but rather from the aspect that God wanted and meant. Likewise, it
is not appropriate for us to follow the example of this manager in his squandering of the
property money not in his cheating of the documents; we rather have to follow his example in
keeping our wisdom and our vision of eternity.

+ The manager who was fired by his master from his job was praised because he protected
himself from the future bad times.
We do not have to follow his example in everything, for it is not appropriate for us
that we deceive our Lord, and offer charity through deception.
From another point, this parable was said so we realise that if this manager who acted
deceitfully, has been able to achieve praise; so how much more will it be with those that
please God in carrying out His commandments in their actions.
St. Augustine
Thirdly: The Lord Jesus says (Luke16: 8) “for the children of this age are more shrewd in
dealing with their own generation than are the children of light”. A person who works for his
temporal life is counted as a son of this age; whereas if he works for the account of the
eternal kingdom of light, he is then counted as a son of light.
God wants the children of light to be working wisely for the purpose of this goal: the
blessing of the kingdom of light. But unfortunately, they fall short of this by being careless
and so they lose the heavenly wisdom. Thus, those who live in this world have become more
sensible concerning their goal achievement.
+ The children of this age are meant to be those who focus their thoughts on the goods of the
world. The children of light are those concerned about the spiritual treasures through the
divine love.
 In providing for human matters we sometimes behave sensibly, and are busy about it,
so that when we depart we may find a shelter for our life; whereas when we address the
divine matters, we do not think of our portion there.
Father Theophlactius
Fourthly: The landlord handed the manager the property in his hands. Likewise we, too, live
as agents to God. All what we have in our hands is the work of His hands, or is a donation
from Him, whether it be our talents our abilities our motives, our emotions or our possessions
and even our bodies and our time. We, as His agents, will be held accountable for every word
we say. God’s purpose for this agency is not a materialistic one that is touchable; but it is to
train us in ‘honesty’. By being honest we are prepared to obtain the greatest portion in
heaven. God is not concerned about the world except it be to see us children to Himself,
having His qualities in us, that is focused on ‘honesty’. God has been ‘the honest one’
(1Cor.1: 9; 10: 13; Thes.5: 24; 2Tes.3: 3; 2Tim2: 13; Heb.2: 17; 3:2; 1John1: 9; Rev.3: 14;
19: 11) God wishes His children to be honest like Himself. He commands us (Rev.2: 10) “Be
faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”.
As St. Ambrosios says, “If we are in charge of what is not ours, then we have to
behave honestly, and carry the Spirit and quality of our Lord”.
+ When we do not manage our treasure according to the pleasure of our Father, then we
corrupt our honesty for the account of our pleasure, and are therefore counted as guilty.
Father Theophlactius
Fifthly: The Lord Jesus called what we possess, such as money potentials and capabilities as
‘the dishonest money’, why so?
This is because the distribution of these things among humanity is dominated by the
law of injustice. There’s a child who is born and he hinds out his parents are dedicating to
him millions, whereas another is born and he hinds out they have left him as an inheritance
endless problems and debts.
There’s a man who has been gifted with intelligence, or health, or capabilities or
talents, whereas another has been deprived of this. So, what we own, even though we have
not unjustly usurped, yet we have been handed it in a world in which the law of injustice
prevails. It is therefore appropriate to use it for our own construction in the other world where
there is no ‘injustice’, so we possess our eternity.
Many of our fathers have lived wisely, being careful in carrying out this godly
commandment; (Luke16: 9) “make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth, so
that when it is gone (physically die) they may welcome you into the eternal homes”. They
urge us to practice it in some way or other. Among their words are:
+ How can we make friends of money, if we love money and cannot bean to lose it? By
doing so we shall perish in addition to losing the money as well.
The scholar Tritilian
+ The temporal matters are called outward matters, since they are away from us. Let us
change them to inward matters. If we are unable to carry its riches with us when we depart
from here, yet we are able to carry our love. It is therefore more appropriate to send it before
us, and so it prepares a place for us in the everlasting dwelling.
St. John Chrysostom
+ If you serve the saints, that is, the poor, then you will share them their reward.
St. John Chrysostom
+ By giving to the poor, we obtain the pleasure of the angels and all the other saints.
St. Ambrosios
+ Charity is the most skilful of all other arts. It does not build for us houses of clay, but it
rather stores for us eternal life.
 We need someone’s help in all of the arts; but to manifest mercy we need nothing
other than the will power alone.
St. John Chrysostom
+ Mere friendship does not protect us unless it is followed by good deeds, unless we spend
our money in charity, this money that was collected in an unjust way.
St. John Chrysostom
+ He showed that all of man’s possessions that are naturally under His authority are not really
his own. He allows man to perform the absolutely good deeds through this money of
dishonesty, for he shelters them who have an eternal dwelling place with the Father.
St. Clemendous El Sekenderi
+ It is quite often that wealth is for our own good, as the apostle said when he asked the
wealthy people to be generous in their donations, and generous in their distribution (1Tim.6:
18,19) “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may
take hold of the life that really is life”. As the gospel says, this wealth will be for the good to
someone who makes friends by means of the dishonest money.
Wealth could also be directed to evil when we store it up, or when we live a life of
luxury, and when we disregard the needs of the poor.
Father Tadros
+ Give your welfare not to those whom the laborers feed, that is, the landowners, but rather to
those who have only bread to live on. Be concerned about the poor and the needy.
+ He speaks of the importance the church has to give to the poor, and not to the splendid
church buildings.
Our Lord sanctified by His poverty, the poverty of His house. Therefore let us think
of His cross, and count wealth as trash.
Why are we to be surprised at the Lord’s words ‘the dishonest money’? Why do we
ask for and love what St. Peter was proud of not having (Act.3: 6)?
+ (In speaking of Lady Proba)
She sold her possessions and made friends for herself with the dishonest money. She
will receive this in the eternal dwelling place.
With the church servants, whatever their rank may be, and the monks that are only
monks by name who shamefully own possessions, whereas this chaste lady sells her
possessions?
St. Jerome
In this way the Lord Jesus declares charity as a change to our possessions from this
transient world, to an eternal deposit in the heavenly place above. He called the heavens
‘eternal dwelling place’ because the Jews were very much concerned about the feast of
dwelling place. They regarded it a joyful feast indeed, in which they dwelt in a sheltering
place of tree branches for a week. In this way, charity provides for us a portion for an eternal
joyful feast, and so we live in heaven with the other saints.
Sixthly: The Lord Jesus comments also on this parable saying (Luke16: 10-12) “Whoever is
faithful in very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in very little is
dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will
entrust to you the true riches?”
+ The little is the dishonest money, that is, the temporal money that has most probably been
collected through covetousness and embezzlement. But those who know how to lead a
righteous life, and are thirsty for the hope in what is sorrowful, ad do not think on what is
earthly, and rather think on what is heavenly, these ones absolutely disregard the temporal
wealth. It offers nothing but the indulgence in luxury and sinful physical passions, and the
glamour that is so vain and is short-lived. This is why on eof the saintly apostles teaches us
saying (1John2: 16) “for all that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes,
the pride in riches- comes not from the Father but from the world”. But these matters
absolutely mean nothing to those who live a righteous and sensible life, for they are trivial
matters, temporal and full of iniquity, and it provokes fire and condemnation. In lots of cases
it destroys the body completely. This is why Christ’s disciple rebuked the rich, saying
(James5: 1-3) “Come now, you rich people, wap and wail for the miseries that are coming to
you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have
rusted, ant their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire”. How do
gold and silver rust? By storing them up in big quantities. This will be evidence against them
before the divine Judgment seat of God that they were unmerciful. They have hoarded in their
treasuries unnecessarily huge quantities, disregarding the needy ones, even though they were
able, if they wanted to, to easily grant welfare, to so many, but they were ‘dishonest in the
little things’.
But how can people become honest? This is what Christ teaches us, and I shall
explain this.
One Pharisee asked Him to eat with him bread on a Sabbath day, Christ agreed to this.
When He went there, He sat to eat, and many others came to eat with them as well. But there
was none among them to represent the needy ones, rather, they were prestigious people, well-
known and lovers of the foremost seats. They were thirsty for the vain glory, as if they were
being clothed with the pride of riches. What did Christ tell His host? (Luke14: 12-14) “When
you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives
or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when
you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. And you will be
blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the
righteous”.
This is, as I think, is the honesty in what is little; that man is kind-hearted to the needy
ones, and that he supports those in trouble as much as he can.
If we are not honest with what is little, by not being formed according to God’s will,
giving all our capabilities to our pleasures and our pride, then how can we accept from God
what is right and true? What is this truth? He has granted us the divine blessings most
plentifully, that ornament the soul and where there is formed godly beauty. This is the
spiritual beauty, not that which fattens the body that will be corrupted by death. It is that
which saves the soul, and makes it worthy of pride and honor before God, and it would thus
win for itself the real praise.
Therefore, it is our duty to be honest to God, pure of heart, merciful, gentle, righteous,
sanctified. These things imprint in us the lines of similarity with God, and makes us perfect
for being heirs to the eternal life. This is therefore what the truth is!
This is the aim of the Savior’s words and its purpose. This makes man able to learn it
from what follows, for He said (Luke16: 12) “And if you have not been faithful with what
belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?”
For another time we say that what belongs to others is the wealth that we own; for we
are not born with our riches. On the contrary, we were born naked, and we can truthfully
confirm the words of the Holy Book (1Tim6: 7) “for we brought nothing into the world, so
that we can take nothing out of it”. Job, the patient one, uttered similar words (Job.1: 21)
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there”.
Thus, by nature, there is no one who is basically rich on his own, and lives in
abundant wealth. This has been added to him from outside as an opportunity that crossed his
way.
So, if the wealth passes, this does not harm his human nature. For we are not sensible
creatures, skilful in every good deed due to riches, but our nature is able to do so, to live a
good life. Human nature is ours, and is equipped to do every good deed, as St. Paul the
righteous one wrote (Eph.2: 10) “For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life”.
Therefore when we are not honest with what belongs to others, I mean, in matters that
are added to us from outside, then how can we receive what is ours? How can they become
partners in the good deeds that God grants, that ornament the soul, and imprint beauty of God
on it, and from in it in a spiritual way righteousness, sanctity, correct deeds that are practiced
in the fear of God?
I wish those of us who possess earthly wealth, to open their hearts to those in need,
and thus we appear honest and obedient to God’s laws, and followers to the Lord’s will in
matters that are outside, and which is not our money. Then we will accept what is ours, that
is, the amazing sanctified beauty that God forms in people’s souls. Thus He will make them
in His image, as we were in our original state.
St. Cyril the great
+ What belongs to others: an amount of gold or silver. But what is yours is the spiritual
inheritance. It was said on another occasion (Prov.13: 8) “Wealth is a ransom for a person’s
life”.
St. Jerome
+ If we do not care about the visual matters, and if we disregard giving, then how can God
manifest to us what is invisible?
St. John Chrysostom
Seventhly: The Lord Jesus puts a divisional line between accepting His fellowship, and being
disturbed with the love of money, saying (Luke16: 13) “No slave can serve two masters; for a
slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and wealth”.
+ an absolute servant of Christ has nothing at all besides Christ. If he has something else
besides Christ, then he is not perfect.
St. Jerome
+ ‘A slave cannot serve two masters; not because he has two masters, but just one master,
since wealth has no right of authority. It is only man that burdens himself with the yoke of
bondage, which is that of money.
Money has no just authority, but rather unjust bondage. This is why He said ‘Make
friends to yourself with the dishonest wealth’.
Do not be a slave to money or the outer pleasures; for it is not appropriate that you
confers any other master than Christ.
St. Ambrosios
+ It is impossible that man, all by himself, is divided between controversies, and lives
blamelessly. This is manifested by His words ‘No man can serve two masters’.
You can never serve God and love wealth.
I wish every one of us to set aside from his mind completely, to be a slave to money.
Let us bend our necks fully to Christ our Savior, in all freedom and with no barrier.
St. Cyril the great
+ The agent who mismanages his master’s affairs, and wastes his property, is afraid of facing
his master. As a contrast, the agent who well provides and manages his master’s property, he
is always happy to see his master.
St. Jerome
+ Show in what is little, what you wish to do when you have a lot.
Present some proof, just as the widow who had two pennies and how she offered
them, she offered all that she had.
 St. John Chrysostom

2- The Divine Fellowship and the love of Money:

When the Lord Jesus touched the god of the Pharisees, and when He put His hand on
their real wound ‘the love of money’, they could no longer listen to Him. They began to
mock Him, for the evangelist says (Luke16: 14,15) “The Pharisees, who were lovers of
money, heard all this, and they ridiculed Him. So He said to them, ‘You are those who justify
themselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human
beings is an abomination in the sight of God”.
This was the habit of the Pharisees ‘the love of money’ that dominated the heart like a
god, clothed in pride, in arrogance and haughtiness. Instead of confessing their malice, they
pretended to be zealous for the law, and being accurate in carrying out the covenant in fatal
literacy.
+ Because the Lord revealed their hidden cunningness, they confirmed their righteous
pretence.
Father Theophlactius
+ The Lord told them It was their duty to sell their possessions and distribute them to the
poor, and thus they would possess treasures in heaven that would never be robbed, and a
treasure that would never be ruptured, and riches that would never be squandered. So why did
they ridicule Him? Because the teaching was prudent, a way of hope for the future matters. It
is a door that leads to the incorruptible life, because He taught them the way of true riches,
and the way to obtain the crown of the heavenly call, and how they could become partners
with the saints and the sons of the heavenly city above, Jerusalem which is in the heavens,
our mother that is free indeed (Gal.4: 26).
Why did they ridicule Him? Because the wave of covetousness has prevailed in their
hearts, and its dominance controlled their minds. Thus they were in humiliation even though
involuntarily. They had fallen under the evil authority, and were chained by ties that could
never be unknotted. The writer of the book of Proverbs says (Prov.5: 22) “and they are caught
in the toils of their sin”.
Just as the horse that is difficult to bridle and to train, the rebellious one that does not
obey the rider’s spur, likewise is the fallen man’s mind that follows his whims and absolutely
drifts towards evil. He is disobedient and cannot be directed, and rejects any cure to his
hatred.
+ When the Savior told them so much, and He could see they wanted no change to their
deceitful goals and tendencies, and how they preferred remaining in their crude ignorance,
the Lord then began to rebuke them strongly. He proved how hypocritical and deceitful they
were, eager to achieve the appropriate glory of the righteous, but without being as such. They
ask for none of God’s pleasures; but on the contrary, they desired eagerly the human
dignitaries. This is why He said (Luke16: 15) “You are those who justify yourselves in the
sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an
abomination in the sight of God”. On another occasion the Lord said to them (John5: 44)
“How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seed the glory that
comes from the One who alone is God? For the God of everyone is crowned with the honor
of the righteous people who are truly good. As for the hypocritical ones that do not love
righteousness, these steal through their deceitful words, merely the name as honorable ones.
“God knows your hearts”; the Judge can never be deceived for He knows the depth of
your minds. He knows the real struggler and the robber of honor that others deserve by means
of deception, whereas the real righteous ones are honored by God (Ps.53: 5) “For God will
scatter the bones of the ungodly, they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them”.
 St. John Chrysostom
+ It is not only adultery and prostitution that defiles those who practice them, but pride, too,
defiles man more than they do.
St. John Chrysostom

3- The Divine Fellowship and the difficult commandment:

the Pharisees believed, due to their love of money, that they could steal the kingdom
by deceptive means. They would appear to people in a different way than their reality. They
were clothed in the robe of hypocrisy. Therefore the Lord assured them that the kingdom is
taken by force through the depth of the commandment.
The Pharisees have opened a wide gate contrary to the spirit of the commandment. An
example of this is when they permitted divorce even for the sake of food; that is, if the
husband does not like the food cooked by his wife, he would divorce her. This is a matter
destructive to the matrimonial life and shatters its concept.
Why did the Lord choose the example of marriage from among all the laws or the
written commandments?
The Lord Jesus may have wished to link the divine fellowship and the matrimonial
life. Our relationship with God is not based on fulfilling the commandment or the fulfilling of
the law in an apparent way. It is based on the tie of fellowship, or you may say on the
spiritual unity of marriage that cannot be untied. If we are honest in our relation with each
other, particularly in the family relation, and be committed to the commandment in all its
depth, the commandment of matrimonial love and unity that cannot be loosened, then in this
way we are honest in what is little, and He will then give us a lot, such as love and the unity
with God Himself.
This is the objective of the law, and this is the goal of the commandment: to take by
violence the kingdom, by practically the commandment in its spiritual depth. Thus, not one of
its letters falls in our practical life. In this way we shall taste the matrimonial life that detests
divorce.
The Lord Jesus says (Luke16: 16-18) “The law and the prophets were in effect until
John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone
tries to enter it by force. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, then for one stroke
of a letter in the law to be dropped. Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits
adultery”.
+ The Lord did not say the Mosaic law has ceased, but that it has become a beginning to the
gospel preaching. It is as if what is the least, stops with the advent of what is better. Therefore
let us take by force the kingdom of God.
Let us take Jesus by force and strong zeal, and not coldly. For taking by violence in
the faith is righteousness, and being cold is a sin.
St. Ambrosios
+ He is preparing them to have faith in Him, because when the time of John has come, all
matters have been fulfilled. I am He who has come.
St. John Chrysostom
+ The old law that has not been perfected through the requests in literacy, this has been
fulfilled in the freedom of grace.
St. Augustine
+ “He who divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery with her”.
Some think that every marriage is from God, for it was written (Matt.19: 6) “So they
are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one
separate”. If every marriage is from God, He would not have allowed any separation, for it is
said (1Cor.7: 15) “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so”.
Not every marriage is from God; for God has commanded the Christian not to marry a
Gentile, as mentioned in the old law. The unity takes place when everything is in accordance,
and the strings of the instrument is in harmony all together, and thus it gives out the beautiful
music. By this we realise that the harmony cannot be fulfilled in this marriage where the
groom is a Christian and the woman is a Gentile. The marriage and the harmony are fulfilled
when the Lord unites them.
Do not divorce your wife, for if you do so, you confess that God has not united you.
If you tolerate others, and offer them an excuse for their behavior, then do this with your wife
as well.
Fear God, and listen to the Lord’s law ‘What God has joined let no man put asunder’.
By means of divorce you not only pull down a heavenly commandment but you also destroy
God’s work.
The Lord has spoken earlier about God’s kingdom, that not one bit will fall off from
the law. Then He added that he who divorces his wife and marries another, he commits
adultery. He who marries a divorcee, also commits adultery. The apostle commands us an
identical commandment to this one (Eph.5: 32) “This is a great mystery, and I am applying it
to Christ and the church”. Here you are in touch with a marriage where no man can doubt that
it has been united by God, for He said (John6: 44) “No one can come to Me unless drawn by
the Father who sent Me”. He is the only One able to unite this marriage. This is why Solomon
said pointing to this mystery (Prov. 19: 14) “ a prudent wife is from the Lord”. Christ is the
Bridegroom, and the church is the bride, the virgin with her love and chastity.
I wish no one to deviate from Christ because of any difficulty or iniquity, for the
Father has brought him to Him.
I wish philosophy not to corrupt our faith, also the heresies! For this is divorce!
I wish the Bridegroom finds every bride weaving the threads of precious virtue, and
lifts up her hands at night in prayer (Ps.133: 2), providing for her work, weighing her habits,
and awaiting her groom’s coming in great eagerness. She says, “the groom is slow in His
coming; I shall hasten up to Him so I can see Him face to face when he begins His coming in
all glory. Come Lord Jesus, and find your bride undefiled and blameless, she did not defile
your place, and neither did she neglect Your commandments”. She will moreover say (Song
of Sol.3: 4) “I found Him whom my soul loves”. You will go to the wine-house, and will
drink with the spirit, and you will reveal to her the mystery, and teach her the mysteries.
St. Ambrosios

4- The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man:

When the Lord Jesus has spoken about usurping the kingdom by yielding to the
Groom, the One and only, and by rejecting the love of money, and by being tied to the Lord’s
law and His commandment, the Lord then presents to us a parable in which He reveals how
the rich man lost the kingdom through the allures of wealth, whereas poor Lazarus usurped
the eternal kingdom.
What follows are some of the comments said by our fathers regarding this parable:
Firstly: Some fathers think this parable is a real and actual, story. St. Ambrosios proves this
by the poor man’s name ‘Lazarus’ as being mentioned. But some others think, this name is
only a symbolical one, because the word ‘lazarus’ means ‘My God is a Support’. It is as if the
secret of strength is this poor man’s life, is not poverty in itself, but rather the acceptance of
the poverty sufferance in thanks through ‘God the Supporter’.
Secondly: St. Ambrosios comments on this parable saying “Not all poverty is necessarily
sanctified, and not all wealth is detested”. In other words, poverty is not an end in itself, and
wealth is not a sin in itself. It is man’s life that corrupts this or that. A life of luxury and being
spoilt, unmerciful to the needy ones, this ruins wealth; and the sanctified and grateful life
ornaments poverty.
This is also assured by St. John Chrysostom in more than one article, particularly his
article “No one could harm man, unless man harms himself”. He showed clearly that what
harms man is man’s behavior and his life, but not his wealth or his poverty.
St. John Chrysostom also says that poverty cannot harm man and make him
grudgingly utter blasphemous words against God. It is the base soul that shatters man. He
says, “It is not poverty that makes man as such; it is rather the base spirit, because Lazarus
was poor, yes, he was poor indeed. In addition to his poverty he was stricken with physical
weakness, far worse than his poverty in every way, which made his poverty harsh and cruel
to the lost degree. Furthermore, he was absolutely deprived of anyone’s help in this very hard
condition of finding anyone to fulfil his basic needs. This increased the bitterness of his
poverty and his weak condition. Finding no one’s support, increased his pain and his bitter
catastrophe.
There is a fourth hardship in addition to the three previous ones, which is the rich
man’s absolute disregard of him, despite the luxury in which he lived.
If you wish, moreover, there is a fifth factor which kindles the fire all the more: it is
that the rich man not only lives in luxury, but that he also sees the poor man twice or thrice,
and maybe more times, every day, thrown at his gate. This was a deplorable sight for a
deplorable catastrophe. To look upon him was enough to soften the hardest heart. Despite
this, the sight did not motivate the hard-hearted man to help the poor one. The rich man
rather, had his luxurious table set, with cups decorated with flowers, and the pure wine
poured out plentifully. He had crews of cooks and courtly people working since early
morning, and bands of singers and cup bearers and jugglers. He indulged all his time in
pleasures and drunkenness, and eating greedily, in fine clothes and food and drink and other
passions.
Even though he saw the poor man stricken with extreme hunger, bitter physical
weakness, sore wounds, deprivation, sickness due to this condition, yet he did not think of
him. The hypocrites and courtiers hart their superfluous needs filled, but this poor one, who
was deplorably poverty-stricken and yoked with many sufferings- he did not give him even
the crumbs that feel from his table, even though Lazarus was very eager to have just some of
it.
Despite all of this, none of these things hurt Lazarus, and he did not utter a cruel word
of reproach. He was as a piece of gold that glitters more brightly whenever it got purified
with the increasing fire.
Despite these hardships surrounding him, Lazarus over-ruled them and became more
sublime, even though such things are very provocative.
Generally speaking, the poor are provoked in envy, and suffer with the thoughts of
envy when they see the rich, and think a life stricken with poverty is not fit to live, after all.
The poor who find the basic necessities think this way, when they have someone
supplying them with their needs. But how much more so is it with Lazarus! Was he not truly
wise indeed, kind-hearted, since he saw himself poorer than all the others. Moreover, he was
stricken with an infirmity, and had no one to supply his basic needs or be kind to him. He was
thrown in the center of the town as if in the middle of a far away desert, suffering bitterly
from the hunger pangs. He could see all the goods pouring on the rich man, as if from a
fountain of wealth. He had no human comfort, but was lying there as constant food for the
dogs to lick. He was so weak and wrecked that he could not even kick them away.
 Do you not therefore realise that he who does not harm himself, nothing can possibly
harm him? What harm has stricken him, whether it be his physical weakness, or having no
one to defend him, or the dogs surrounding him, or the evil of being so close to the rich man,
and his seeing all his luxury and puffed up pride? Have these matters weakened him so he
opposes righteousness? Has he changed his goal?
Nothing at all has harmed him; rather, the more he suffered due to the rich man’s
cruelty, the more he got strengthened. He was more solid to obtain the crown of victory; these
were as means by which his rewards increased, and a motivation to obtain his blessings. He
bore his hardship courageously and with great stability.
Thirdly: St. Ambrosios thinks from the symbolical point of view, this wealthy man refers to
the arrogant teachers particularly the heretics. As for poor Lazarus, he refers to the shepherds
who preach through a contrite spirit.
The rich used to wear beautiful clothes very gorgeous indeed. In such a way the
heretics hide behind the glamorous. Words and the deceitful phrases, as a gorgeous outfit,
behind which the deviation of faith hides. This wealthy man had five brothers, biologically
speaking. They were as the five senses that were stained by the heretics. They appeared as
worshiping people, of intellectual knowledge, but their inward life was a corrupt one through
the passionate physical senses, that were unsanctified to the Lord.
As for the poor one, he was called ‘Lazarus’, that is, ‘My God is a Support’. The real
minister is the one who does not rely on himself, but he relies on God his support.
God overflows on his inner life with tremendous blessings. He also works by man’s
means in his preaching and his service. He says with St. Paul the apostle (2Cor.4: 7; 3: 5)
“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary
power belongs to God and does not come from us”, and “Not that we are competent of
ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God”.
Fourthly: The Lord Jesus says (Luke16: 19,20) “There was a rich man who was dressed in
purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man
named Lazarus, covered with sores”.
I wish you notice accurately the Savior’s words. he called him ‘rich’, but He spoke of
the poor one by name. What do you conclude of this? It is that the rich man was unmerciful,
and he had no name in God’s presence. On another occasion, the psalmist says about those
who do not fear God (Ps.16: 4) “or take their names upon My lips”. But as for the poor one,
as I have said, his name was mentioned by God’s tongue.
St. Cyril
+ Our Lord referred to the poor man’s name, but He did not mention the rich man’s, because
He knows the humble one and He praises him, but not so with the proud.
Pope Gregory the great
+ About His concern for the outer clothes of fine purple linen is the following: the dust and
the earth have been covered with the fine purple linen and silk, or, the dust and the earth have
carried on them the fine purple linen and silk. Just as his clothes were as such, his food was
also likewise; his earthly dusty body ate the luxurious food.
St. John Chrysostom
+ Let us look at the rich man’s pride, who was arrogant because of matters of no real value.
He was dressed in very fine clothes, this was his only concern, very expensive clothes. He
lived in constant banquets, every day was a day of luxury and sumptuousness. He was also a
spendthrift and couldn’t care less for spending as much as he wanted. But what was the
result? He differed very little from the shapes in pictures or statues, for he was indeed the
center of admiration for those indulging in passions. As for his heart, it was soaring up in
haughtiness and pride. He believed himself to be above the rest, even though his mentality
was not of any distinction or superiority; he was just an arrogant and vain person. His
pleasure was in the priceless food offered him, food and entertainment. He had many cooks
working to arouse greed and offered him delicious delicacies. The cup bearers were dressed
in beautiful outfits; he had singers and he loved the flattering voices of people around him.
This was how the rich man lived. This is why Christ’s disciple warns us, saying, (1Jhon2: 16)
“For all that is in the world- the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches-
comes not from the Father but from the world”.
On the other hand, Lazarus was stricken with disease and poverty cast out at the rich
man’s gate. The rich one lived in the elegant halls and huge mansions, but as for the poor
one, he was thrown out, ignored and an outcast. He was deprived of any sympathy or care,
having nothing to eat and satisfy his hunger. He used to eat of the crumbs that fell off from
the rich man’s table. He moreover suffered from an incurable disease, indeed, even the dogs
did not harm him, they were simply sympathizing with him. With their tongues they soothed
his sore pain.
But the rich one was more hard hearted than the beasts, for he had no pity whatsoever
on Lazarus, he was rather cruel and violent towards him.
St. Cyril the great
+ There is nothing more dangerous than luxury. Listen to what Moses says about is (Deut.32:
15) “Jacob ate his fill; Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked”. Moses did not say that Jacob walked,
but that the beloved kicked, showing how he has become haughty and out of control.
On another occasion Moses says that whenever you eat or drink (Deut.8: 11) “Take
care that you do not forget the Lord your God”, for with satisfaction you will forget.
Therefore dear brethren, whenever you sit at the table remember to leave the table and go to
pray. Fill your belly sensibly, so you would not be too heavy, and be unable to bend your
knees and entreat God. I wish that after supper you would not go to bed but to prayer, lest we
become more stupid than the unreasonable beasts.
I know will enough that many are critical of what I am saying, thinking I am
introducing a new and strange habit in our life.
+ We have not been born or live so as to eat and drink, we rather eat so as to live.
At the beginning life was not for the sake of food, but it was food for the sake of life.
But as for us, it is as if we have come into the world specifically for this purpose, to offer
everything so as to eat.
St. John Chrysostom
Fifthly: Some fathers think this parable portrays a symbolic picture of the Jews and the
Gentiles. The arrogant wealth represented the Jews that God has blessed them with great
wealth, for He has presented to them the covenants, the law, the prophecies etc. it was more
appropriate for them to offer the world some of this wealth in a spiritual way. They should
have been the ones to preach the truth and the gospel of salvation. But they cherished the
wealth in all its literacy, and they made use of God’s gifts for their own account and their
temporal honor. They wished to cast out the Gentiles as a poor one out of the gate of faith,
though he was all covered with sore wounds.
The Jews disdained the poor one, that is, the Gentile world. The ungrateful Jews were
therefore deprived of the blessings of the faith, and being blessed with the kingdom of God,
whereas the gate has been opened to the Gentiles so that God wipes away their tears, satisfy
their hunger, and cure them of their apparent and hidden sores and pain.
The Jews were similar to the wealthy man, who was disgusted at the wounds of poor
Lazarus, and could not bear to smell his wounds in his splendid banquets, so he would be
among his guests, for the wealthy man was tired even of the natural air, as St. Ambrosios
says. The Jews found pleasure in seeing the misery of the poor ones. They scorned the
unfortunate souls, and so God sent the Gentiles help so He carries them to His kingdom.
+ This wealthy man refers to the Jews who prided themselves on their personal merits. They
(Rom.10: 3) “For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes form God, and seeking to
establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness”.
The fine purple linen are the honor of the kingdom, for it was written in the gospel,
concerning the Jews (Matt.21: 43) “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken
away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom”.
The splendid banquet is the vacant usage of the sinner to the law, for the sake of their
personal self-praise. They have misused it, and they counted the law as a means of fulfilling
their vain pride instead of making use of it for their own salvation.
The beggar who was called Lazarus, which means ‘the one in need of support’, means
the Gentiles who were blessed with greater support, since they were not as rich as the others.
Actually, the Gentiles, or Lazarus, hungered for the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s
table. They were eager to obtain the knowledge of the spiritual law as a heavenly blessing.
The falling crumbs from the table are the words of the law that fell to the ground due to the
Jews’ pride, when they used to speak arrogantly to the people. As for the sores that covered
the body of Lazarus, this is the confession of transgressions that were apparent on the surface,
as if they gushed out from the inside, as unclean blood.
+ It is appropriate for us, dear brothers, to differentiate between the wounds and the lesions.
The wounds are from the outside but the lesions are from the inside. Therefore the lesions
mean the confession of sins, for they cover the skin on the outside, and this shows the
regaining of health from the inside. Therefore when man confesses his sins in humility, he
seems as if he has been covered with lesions from the outside, and that he has become in
good health inwardly. But if he is like that rich man who ornamented his body, and has
disregarded the confession of sins, then he is gaudy from the outside whereas inwardly he is
full of sores. Likewise was this rich one who was dressed in fine clothes, whereas his soul
was diseased with leprosy. This is why the rich man’s soul was in the angels’ eyes as the poor
man’s body in the human eyes. But as for the poor man’s soul, this was as the rich man’s
body.
After death the situation was reversed: Lazarus has become beautified with the
precious gems of righteousness after his wounds and sores and has been carried by the angels
to Abraham’s embrace. As for the rich one, after his fine purple clothes, he was stricken with
the leprosy of sin and descended into the bottomless abyss.
However, the rich one was not tortured in the abyss due to his wealth, but due to his
cruelty and arrogance.
In addition to this, we may assume that the dogs licking his wounds as worse than the
people who indulge in their sins, since they do not cease to praise their actions with their long
and evil tongues.
+ ‘Abraham’s bosom’ means the comfort granted to the blessed ones who belong to the
heavenly kingdom, for they are welcomed there after this life. As for being buried in the
abyss, this is the deep end of the punishment that befalls the arrogant and the cruel ones after
this life.
Indeed, he was in need of cooling his tongue when it was absolutely burning hot. This
means that “death and life are in the authority of the tongue” (Prov.18: 21) and (Rom.10: 10)
“One confesses with the mouth and so is saved”. This is why the tongue fell under more
burning, not only because it refused to confess giving the poor one something, but also
because it uttered very cruel words. the tip of the tongue is meant to be the grace of the Holy
Spirit as the Lord Himself said (Luke11: 20) “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out
the demons”. In fact, the tip of the tongue is meant to be the least of the merciful acts by
which help is given to the people through the Holy Spirit.
 Father Caesarius, bishop of Arles
+ Who are these represented by the rich man wearing beautiful robes, and indulging in daily
banquets? Is it not the Jewish people who offered their worship by means of outer matters,
and by using the joy of the old law that has been handed to them, for vain motives and not for
real benefit?
Who is Lazarus covered with sore wounds, other than the Gentile people? These are
the ones who have converted to God, and were not ashamed to confers their sins. They had
been inflicted with many inward wounds that were apparent in sore lesions and bruises. This
is just like the inward infection in the body that affects the skin, and thus the infection
appears on the surface with such skin wounds and bruises, when we confess our sins and our
wounds are apparent on the surface. In the confession, we confess in a useful way the sin
virus which hides its poison inside the soul. The apparent bruises come to the surface show
the infections wounds inside. Likewise is the situation when we confess our sins and reveal
our hidden wounds.
Poor Lazarus was hungry for the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, but no
one gave him anything, because they were an arrogant people who rejected the Gentiles
coming to join their knowledge of the law. The Jews knew the knowledge of the truth, but
they grew in arrogance and not in love. They soured in their corruption and wealth which was
given them.
The Jewish people accepted these words of knowledge in abundance, therefore they
fell from their tables as crumbs of bread. As a contrast, the dogs came to lick the poor man’s
bruises who lay on the floor.
The Holy Book sometimes means by the word ‘dog’ as ‘the preacher’, because when
the dogs lick the wounds, they are healed. Likewise the devout teachers when they teach us to
confess our sins. We say that they lick up our mental bruises with their tongues; when they
urge us they save us from sin, as if they are bringing us back to good health.
+ God Himself tells us through the psalmist that the preacher’s tongue means ‘the dog’ when
He says (Ps.68: 23) “so that you may bathe your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your
dogs may have their share from the foe”.
From among the unbelieving Jews, the devout preachers were chosen, who, if I may
say, they bark so as to confirm the truth. These are God’s guarding dogs that bark at thieves
and robbers. As a contrast we read when He speaks of the rejection of some (Is.56: 10) “they
are silent dogs that cannot bark”.
The devout and saintly preachers condemn sin, and urge us to confess them, saying
(James5: 16) “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that
you may be healed”.
The dogs lick up Lazarus wounds, and in this similar way the saintly teachers accept
the confessions of the Gentiles, and thus they heal the wounds of their souls. The name
‘Lazarus’ applies to thus interpretation, since it means ‘the one supported’; he is supported so
he be healed by correction and preaching.
It could also be understood that the licking of the dogs as being the smooth flattering
tongues. This occurs when they praise us in servile flattering words about deeds that our own
conscience pricks us about as being malicious deeds.
Pope Gregory the great
Though some fathers think poor Lazarus as being a symbol for the Gentiles, and that
God has offered them the preachers, if we speak correctly in saying they are as similar as the
guarding dogs, these declare to the Gentiles the healing of their inner and outer bruises by
accepting the missionary word and the confession of sin. Despite this, St. Ambrosios has a
different interpretation. He stood the whipping, and his body has become like stricken with
wounds and bruises. The Gentiles came up to accept his teachings of the faith through this
beaten and trodden down body. The Gentiles were similar to the hungry dogs for the
children’s bread (Matt.5: 26) they were filled by means of the apostle’s wounds in his gospel
teaching. In other words, the children have refused the living bread, for they have not
accepted the fulfillment of the prophecies in the Messaiah. The Gentiles came, counting
themselves even as dogs, asking for the crumbs falling from the prophet’s table, so they be
felled everlastingly. In this way the children hungered, whereas the dogs were filled- for this
was how the Jews mockingly called them.
St. Ambrosios goes on with his words saying, “Oh you blessed bruises that heal of the
eternal torment! Oh, you marvelous crumbs that cast out hunger forever (Matt.27: 15) You
satisfy’ the miserable one that accepts you with eternal food.
He moreover says, “wealth has become poverty, and poverty has become wealth.
Wealth has come to be tormented for it has become deprived of every pleasure after it had
been living in indulgence. He wishes, when being in hellfire, that the poor man wets the tip of
his finger with some water to cool his tongue. He needs water, the food of the spirit at the
time of disaster”.
Sixthly: When the Lord Jesus had given a picture of Lazarus and the wealthy man in the
world, He presented the other picture at the time of their death, for He says (Luke16: 22)
“The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man
also died and was buried”.
The temporary short-lived picture passed in which the rich man lived in his
indulgences at that time, and Lazarus being thrown on the ground, eager to eat of the crumbs
that fell at the table. Intead of this picture, an everlasting and contrasting picture replaced it,
in which the rich man is deprived of his father Abraham, for he can see him far away from
him. Previously, he prided himself on being Abraham’s son, though without any of the
practical faith, whereas the poor Genti8le was placed in eternity, for he has come to be in
Abraham’s bosom, enjoying with him the heavenly kingdom.
In an excerpt attributed to St. John Chrysostom, the following words came, “All of a
sudden, the great torment has been changed to a blessing. The miserable one was carried,
after all his ordeals, for he was unable to walk, and this is why the angels carried him. One
angel was not enough to carry him, but many have come to do so. They formed a joyful host
of angels, each angel rejoicing to touch this great weight. They were thrilled to do so,
carrying this body, so they offer humans to the heavenly kingdom. He was carried to
Abraham’s embrace so Abraham would hold him and comfort him. Abraham’s bosom is
paradise itself”.
+ Notice carefully the Savior’s words: regarding the poor one, it is said he was carried by
means of the angels to Abraham’s bosom, whereas nothing was said about the rich man,
except for the words ‘he died and was buried’. Those who put their hope in Christ, find in
their departure from the world, salvation form the torment and suffering. Solomon taught us
something of a similar nature (Wisdom of Sol.3: 2,3) “In the eyes of the foolish they seemed
to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be
their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality. “They are given a measurement of solace appropriate to their
hard work, and it even surpasses their work much more, for the Lord says on another
occasion (Luke6: 38) “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be
put into your lap.
Just as the sailing ships face high waves and strive with the strong and fierce winds,
jet, when they reach the ports they settle and are not rocked by the waves any more. Likewise
in the same way, I think people’s souls when they are released from the toil of this world and
dwell in the above places they are just as in the harbor and ports.
 Concerning the rich man who led a life of cruelty, and knew no mercy, when the body
separated from him, it was death to him, for he leaves the pleasure to go to the torment. He
goes out of glory to torture, out of light to darkness. The rich man had to suffer from these
things because he lived in indulgence and yet with shut hands, not ready to practice any
mercy. To increase his torment even more than being in hell fire, was the fact that he could
see Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom.
St. Cyril the great
+ I know will how frightful it is the punishment that befell the arrogant rich man’s thoughts,
he who used to dress in fine purple liven, and did not wish to help Lazarus.
The poor one that we scorn, and could hardly help looking at, because if we do we
feel like throwing up, he is only a person like us. He is made of the same dust as we are, and
was formed of the same metal as ours. What he suffers from now could happen to us. Let us
look at his blisters and wounds as if they are ours.
St. Jerome
+ Here He is offering misery instead of satisfaction, and is offering satisfaction instead of
misery.
St. Jerome
+ He speaks of the death of the rich man’s soul prior to that of his body, for He says, “Let us
put the rich man in the story of Lazarus before us, and let us know what the soul’s death is,
for he had a dead soul, as his actions prove.
He did not practice and of the soul’s acts; he only ate and drank and merely led a life
of luxury and affluence. This is the case with the cruel people who are merciless up till this
day, for they have a dead soul, as in the rich man’s case. The warmth springing from the love
of our neighbors, fled from him, and thus his soul was more dead than the death of his own
body. But as for the poor man, the situation was a different one; he was standing on the peak
of the glowing heavenly wisdom. Even though he struggled with hunger continuously, and he
had none of the mere basic necessities, yet he said not one word of blasphemy against God.
He rather bore everything nobly. This is not an easy task for the soul; it rather reveals a
strong healthy soul.
St. John Chrysostom
+ Jesus said that the poor man died and that the angels carried him. I wish at this point to
wipe out an evil disease that has spread in your souls: there are many simple minded people
who believe the souls of those who have died a violent death, such as those being murdered,
that they become devils. This is absolutely impossible. It is not the souls of those who die by
violent means that become devils, but rather the souls of those people who live in sin. It does
not mean that their human nature changes, but that their conduct in their life followed the
model of the devils. This is what Christ made clear enough to the Jews when He said (John8:
44) “You are the sons of Satan”. He called them Satan’s children not because they have
changed into Satan’s nature, but because they practice his deeds. This is why He adds “and
you choose to do your father’s desires”. In the same way, John says (Matt.3: 7-9) “You brood
of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Do not presume to say to yourselves ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’.
+You can see here that it is said ‘the angel carried him’.
One was led as a prisoner, and the other was carried on the shoulders as a victorious
one!
As in the arena, when the fighter is injured in many- wounds and blood gushes out of
him, and a crown of victory is put on him, and the by standers clear him loudly, and carry
him to his home in great admiration, likewise did the angels lead Lazarus. But as for the other
one, some of the evil hosts came to ask for him, they may have been sent for this purpose, so
as to prick his conscience for his deeds.
 St. John Chrysostom thinks the evil man at his death, his soul is led by his sins, so
they be the secret behind the constant pricking of his conscience.
+ The rich man died and was buried. He has prior to that buried his soul in his body just as in
a grave. He had worm the body as a grave for his soul, though the physical pleasures.
St. John Chrysostom
Seventhly: the Lord Jesus speaks to us of the rich man, cruel at heart, and the torment in
which he suffered, whereas Lazarus was happily blessed in Abraham’s bosom, saying
(Luke16: 23) “In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far
away with Lazarus by his side”.
+ The painful yoke of the poor man was all the more severe by being thrown at the rich
man’s gate. He could see the rich one inside living in extreme affluence and entertainment.
Thus when the rich man died, his torment increased, because as he was in Hades, he could
see Lazarus’ happiness. The situation did not did not stop with his own personal suffering,
but comparing himself to the honor given to Lazarus, the torment was way more unbearable.
The rich man looked up to see Lazarus, but not to scorn him. Lazarus has now come
to be at the top, and he at the bottom. Many angels came to carry Lazarus, whereas he was
caught in a maze of endless torment.
All of himself was in anguish and pain; nothing was free except his eyes so they look
at others’ joy. It was allowed that his eyes could see, so his torment increases when he sees
himself not being blessed like those other ones.
The rich man saw Lazarus in the embrace and bosom of Abraham, because Abraham
was so full of love. As for himself he was condemned with the cruelty murder. Abraham was
sitting nest to his house, looking at the passers by, so he takes them into his house. But as for
him, he used to cast out even those at his gate.
St. John Chrysostom
Though the Holy Book speaks of Abraham as being very wealthy, yet he was a
charitable man, accepting in his embrace the poor and the needy just as much as he would to
those who donate charity, those similar to himself. As for the indulgent and spoilt ones, who
did not care about their brethren, these had no place in his heart.
The Lord Jesus continues the parable, saying, (Luke16: 24) “He called out, ‘Father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue, for I am in agony in these flames’”.
+One was asking for the crumbs that fell from rich man’s table, and the other asks for a drop
of water from the poor man’s finger. But the poor man got the crumbs much more easily that
the rich one in his eagerness for a drop of water. The answer came to him (Luke16: 25)
“Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, and Lazarus in like
manner evil things”.
Father Caesarius, Bishop of Arles
+ The burning flames in which the rich man was tormented, and the drop of water he asks
for, are not materialistic. They are rather like a vision to those asleep, and the hovering
persons; these could visualize unmaterialistic matters as if in relief and real. Even though this
person, when he was in this state of no body, that is, a mere spirit, yet he saw himself as if he
were in his physical state, for he could never distinguish his state, and express himself in a
different way.
St. Augustine
+ His tongue that once spoke in great arrogance, now he wishes to cool it, because wherever
there is sin, there is punishment. His tongue transgressed more and so his agony is more.
+ He wished to cool his tongue whereas his whole body was in the flames. This expresses
what was written (Prov.18: 21) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”. Also in
(Rom.10:10) “One confesses with the mouth and so is saved”. Through pride, he did not
confess Christ for his own salvation. As for the finger tip, this means the very least of the
deeds man makes by the Holy Spirit.
St. John Chrysostom
+ Oh! How wonderful God’s wisdom is, that could not be justly uttered! How just His
rewards are that He offers to the good and the evil deeds!
He mentioned before that when the rich man was on earth, the poor one was eager to
have the crumbs that feel from his table, and that no one gave him anything. Now he tells us
that the rich man in his agony was eager that Lazarus wets his tongue with water, for may be
a drop of water could cool his mouth. From this we learn, dear brethren, God’s severe
decisiveness. The rich man who did not want to give the poor beggar the crumbs that fell
from his table, was now in Hades begging for something so trivial. He was crying out for a
drop of water, the same person who refused to offer some bread crumbs!
We have to know the reason why the rich man asked for a drop of water to cool his
tongue. This is because he who entertains and makes many banquets is usually a talkative
person. This man was of this kind of people. He made his banquets and celebrations to go
with the life of luxury. He was condemned with flames, and his tongue became burnt more
than any other member of his body. His first mistake is that he ate too much, together with a
lot of talking. His second mistake is his cruelty.
Pop Gregory the great
+ Finally the rich man became a beggar, and asked of the poor man. he asked of his table, he
who was hungry and cast out for the mouths of dogs.
The situation was reversed; each one knew who is the real rich man and who is the
truly poor one. Lazarus was revealed as the richest of all, and the other one as the poorest of
all.
Just as in the theatres, the actors wear the masks of kings, leaders, physicians,
teachers, professors and soldiers, but in reality they are not like that. Likewise is the richness
and the poverty, these are mere masks. If you are in a theatre, and you see a man wearing a
king’s mask, do not revere him, or think he has become a king, and do not desire to be like
him. Likewise is the rich one here too, he is probably very poor at the bottom of his heart. If
you take away his mask, and reveal his conscience and go into his thoughts, you will most
probably find in his the poverty of righteousness, and you will find him belonging to the
lowest of categories.
St. John Chrysostom
(Luke16: 25, 26) “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you
received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted
here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed,
so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross
from there to us’”.
We notice in this answer the following:
(One) Abraham calls the rich man ‘Child’, this may mean he does not deny his sonship
to himself, biologically speaking. This sonship was of no use to the rich man, it rather
condemned him, because he did not conduct himself in the spirit and faith of his father.
What we say of the rich man at this point, could be applied to every believer who was
privileged with the possibility of his salvation, and yet has not made use of it. Such a one
is he who has accepted the faith, and has been baptized, and has had access to the new
covenant ... etc. These gifts that qualify him to practice the practical life of partnership,
condemn him in the last day. If he has obtained God’s sonship through the baptismal
water by the Holy Spirit, this sonship will keep pricking his conscience, and will become
all the more the secret behind his torment.
+ Notice the kindness of the patriarch father in calling him ‘Child’, yet he offers him no help,
since the rich man deprived himself of any healing.
He tells him ‘Remember’, that is, meditate on the past. Do not forget you have
rejoiced in your wealth, and have indulged in your riches, for you though this was good to
you. You were unable to triumph when you were on earth, and so you will not triumph here.
He says that Lazarus had his misfortunes and misery, not because Lazarus considered
poverty, hunger and severe disease as evil inflicted on him, but this was what the rich man
considered regarding Lazarus.
When we fall under the heavy yoke of sickness, we think of Lazarus; we then accept
these hardships joyfully in this life.
He says that the rich man has lived an indulgent and affluent life. It is as if Abraham
is telling him if you have done anything good, you have taken the reward you deserved. You
have been rewarded in this world because you have lived in all this wealth. You have enjoyed
many pleasures of affluence and splendor; and if Lazarus has done anything evil, he bore the
poverty and hunger and very abject misery. Both of you came naked: Lazarus came naked of
his sins and receives comfort, whereas you came naked of any righteousness, and so you
receive uncomforting punishment. This is why he is being comforted now, whereas you are in
agony and torment.
You might say ‘Is it not possible to obtain forgiveness here and there? That is, is it
possible for man to live physically comfortable here and eternal comfort as well? Indeed, this
is a difficult matter and is quite impossible. When there is no poverty covetousness springs
up, and unless we are approached by ordeals, we shall be over come with corrupt thoughts.
We need to struggle fervently so as to bridle wrath, and suppress the malicious instincts, and
make yield the vain and haughty glory. We have to snatch away the arrogance and loftiness
and live a serious life. He who does not live these things will not be able to save himself.
St. John Chrysostom
+ “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things”
your good things were given to your passions and to the flattering tongues. You have
not remembered for once the sick and suffering one. You had no pity on Lazarus when you
saw him cast out at your gate. You have seen the man in unbearable abject misery, a prey to
intolerable sorrow; for he was suffering from two things, both of which were too terrible to
bear: his severe bruises and his basic needs of life. The animals soothed Lazarus’ wounds, for
he was in great pain, they came to lick his gashes, but you were more hard-hearted than the
beasts. The Holy Book says (James2: 13) “For judgment will be without mercy to anyone
who has shown no mercy”. You could have shared Lazarus, and you would have had a share
with him in his comfort; God would have given you his share as well if you had only made
him share your money. But because you have not done so, you alone are in agony. This is
appropriate to the cruel-hearted one who does not share the sick one his pain, and does not
have any concern for him.
St. Cyril the great
Now, what does He mean by the words “Besides all this, between you and us a great
chasm has been fixed”, in some translations you have it as ‘a firm chasm’?
He might have meant that the time is over and past, and that there is no opportunity
for any repentance or falling, for what man has obtained, he will live it eternally. No wicked
one can leave Hades and go to paradise, and no chance for the kingdom’s children after they
depart, to fall again. As father Theophlactius says these words reveal the mistake Oreganus’
followers say that everyone will be renewed on Christ’s last coming, and that no one will
perish.
The repentance time is over, and as St. John Chrysostom says “There will be no more
any time for repentance. There are many things the rich man grieved over, but his grief
served him nothing”. St. Ambrosios says “Between the rich and the poor man there is a great
chasm, for it is not possible that the reward be changed after death”. St. Augustine says that
the divine judgment of God will not change, and the righteous will never be able to have their
intercession to anyone even if they wish to. This is assured by St. John Chrysostom in his
words “It is as if he is saying ‘We are able to see, but we are unable to cross over. We can see
what we have escaped from, and you can see what you have missed. Our joy increases, for
we can see your agony from which we have escaped, and your agony increase by your seeing
our joy”. (Luke16: 27-31) “He said, ‘Then father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house-
for I have five brothers- that he may warn, them, so that they will not also come into this
place of torment, Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to
them’. He said, ‘No father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will
repent’. He said to him, ‘if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
convinced even if someone rises from the dead’.”
We notice in this discussion between Abraham, the father of all believers and the rich
man, the following:
Firstly: The rich man was a difficult man who offered none of his possessions to help the
poor, but he had a loving feeling to his five brothers. This feeling remained even after he
died, but it was an impotent feeling, an inactive one, because time has been wasted and gone’.
He wishes to save his brothers, but it was after he lost his own salvation, and he has no
acceptance with God by praying! In other words, how can someone who has lost his own
salvation ask for the sake of others salvation.
+ It was too late for the rich man to take the role of a teacher, for there no longer any time for
teaching or learning.
St. Ambrosios
+ Sometimes the hearts of evil people learn how to practice love through their fall under
punishment, but this is futile. Because they cling to their sin, they do not love themselves.
Father Gregory the great
Secondly: The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers because he saw
himself not fit for this job. As St. Augustine says, “He felt himself unworthy to confess the
truth. If he is unable to obtain a drop of water to cool his tongue, then he does not expect to
be allowed to leave Hades so as to preach the truth”.
Thirdly: Abraham refused to send Lazarus and thought it enough to have the Mosaic law and
the books of the prophets. This is to confirm the fact that the Lord Jesus by saying this
parable, shows that the Old Testament is the basis of the Christian faith. What the gospel
declares, has been set as basis by the law and the prophets. He, moreover, shuts up the
heretics’ mouths, such as the Agnosties who reject the Old Testament and think lightly of it.
This is on one hand, and on the other hand, He wished to confirm that he who scorns the
word of God will not profit from anyone even if he is risen from the dead.
The Jews have scorned the law, and have not listened to the prophets. This is why
when, not only Lazarus risen from the dead, but Christ Himself, the Resurrected, and He who
raises from the dead by giving life, they still did not listen to Him.
St. John Chrysostom says, “Indeed, he who does not listen to the Holy books, would
not care about the dead risen from the dead. This is what the Jews witness; for they once
wanted to kill Lazarus, whom the Lord has risen from the dead. On another occasion, they
laid their hands on the apostles, disregarding the fact that many have risen from the dead at
the time of the crucifixion. Notice, too, that any dead person is only a slave; but what the
Holy Book says is said by the Lord Himself. Therefore, if a dead person rises, or an angel
from heaven comes down the Holy Book is more true than everyone. For the Lord of the
angels, the Lord of the living and the dead, is the One who set the Book. If God knows that
 the resurrection of a dead one will profit those alive, He would not have restrained from
doing so, for He offers everything for our own good”.
Fourthly: From this discussion we can also see a positive side: the rich man, who has been
deprived of the eternal kingdom, and has lost every hope even in obtaining a drop of water to
cool his tongue for just a moment, he is concerned with his heart for his biological brothers is
the world. Would not the preachers and the saints, who have been trained in the world for
being very kind and eager to save the entire world, pray for the fulfillment of this mission,
eager that God be glorified in every soul?
If it is to that extent with the preachers and the evangelists, bow much more will it be
with the Lord Jesus whose spring of love is so incessant? St. Augustine says, “God forbid we
would say that He whom death could not destroy, that death would end His love. The rich
man, though so haughty and wicked, manifested his love to his five brothers even after his
death. Can we ever doubt that Christ’s love ceases at His death? God forbid, dear brothers”.
Fifthly: Who are these five brothers who need Moses and the prophets to be saved? St.
Augustine think they are the Jews who are symbolized by the number five, because they are
under the law recorded in the five books of Moses. They do not accept the Lord Jesus the
Resurrected from the dead unless they accept the law and the prophets spiritually.
St. John Chrysostom thinks they refer to the five senses that have not been sanctified
as long as you live in this world in a state of luxury and affluence. If these senses die with
Jesus Christ, they will be sanctified by Him! The rich man represents man who lives
indulgently in his passions and his pleasures. Then he loses the closest ones to himself, the
sanctification of his senses, as if they were five brothers.
Sixthly: Irianus the saint thinks in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, the following
points:
(One) When the soul leaves the body it is not enrobed in another body, as those people who
claim the cloning of the spirits. Otherwise the rich man would have come down to earth
in another body instead of the eternal anguish.
(Two) The spirits know each other even before being clothed glorifyingly in the last day.
(Three) Even though the spirits have a beginning, yet they remain immortal, either in the
kingdom or in hellfire.
 Chapter XVII
Page (608: 639)
Faith and the Divine Fellowship

The Lord Jesus Christ came to search for us as a Shepherd looking for the lost sheep
to embrace him and to uplift him to heaven. As a Father, He asks for His prodigal son to
make him a joyful banquet, and He also asks His bride, the church to search diligently for us
as a lost co9in, until she finds us and washes us with His blood, and thus carry His divine
image (Luke17: 15). As we have seen in the previous chapter, to receive this friendship, we
are committed to leading a life of wisdom, asking what is for our own construction in the
eternal life, and not for the temporal pleasure (such as the dishonest manager). Let us bear the
suffering thankfully as poor Lazarus, and not follow the example of the rich man who
indulged passionately in his pleasures, and was cruel hearted to his brother. Now He is
offering us the basic factor for this fellowship, which is the faith. This has to be interpreted
actively in our life through our actual behavioral life, and the inward facts in the soul, in the
expectation of the Lord’s coming.

1- Avoiding obstructions in our conduct 1- 2

2- Having a forgiving heart for those who have wronged us 3- 4
3- Increase our faith 5- 10
4- Gratitude and the faith- the ten lepers 11- 19
5- Faith in the inward kingdom 20- 21
6- The inward kingdom and the eternal one 22- 37
+ + +

1- Avoiding obstructions in our conduct:

Our fellowship with the Lord Jesus is based on a hidden partnership inside the heart,
through which we are blessed with the new life by means of His Holy Spirit. This partnership
is best manifested practically in our actual conduct; particularly in avoiding offenses by
having a lovable heart specially to those who have unjustly treated us. We therefore have to
declare our Christ, the Lover of mankind, who has loved us even though we were still
enemies. He has reconciled us with His Father (Rom.5: 10) “For if while we were enemies
we were reconciled to God though the death of His Son”.
As for avoiding offenses, the evangelist says (Luke17: 1, 2) “Jesus said to His
disciples, ‘Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they
come. It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were
thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble”.
The Lord Jesus confirms that the obstruction is present. But His assurance does not
excuse, those who cause others to stumble, from the judgment or responsibility, for no one is
obliged to act as a stumbling obstruction. He is a physician diagnosing the disease, and He
sees in humanity some who have absolutely rejected the food, by rejecting the faith in Him,
and so they slide to perdition and become an offense to others.
These words followed how the Lord Jesus revealed the money obstacle, that was
worshiped by the Pharisees in their innermost hearts, and have cherished a god other than
God. They have become a stumbling block in the salvation way. It is as if the Lord Jesus
when He tackled in the previous chapter the subject of ‘the love of money’, He asked His
disciples to beware this stumbling god to the soul. Otherwise thy will become like the
Pharisees. An offense to the people.
+ What are these offenses or obstructions the Lord Jesus says have to happen? There are two
kinds of obstruction: the ones against the glory of the greatest Being, resisting the Jewel who
is above all, or the other offenses that occur every now and then against ourselves. All what
it brings the harming of our brethren, our partners in the faith.
The heresies and the new concepts that resist the truth, are in fact offenses that resist
the glory of the most sublime godliness. It with draws those caught to god, and thus corrupts
their correct and accurately sanctified edification. Concerning these offenses the Savior
Himself says (Matt.18: 7) “Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks!” Those offenses
have to come, but woe to this person by whom they come. Such obstructions that the evil
heretics urge are not addressed to o9ne particular person, but rather to the whole world, that
is, to all the earth inhabitants. The devout St. Paul rebukes those ones who provoke these
stumbling blocks, saying (1Cor.8: 12) “But when you thus sin against members of your
family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ”. These stumbling
blocks should not overcome believers, and therefore God says to the ministers of the correct
Word of Truth and those skilful in its teaching (Is.62: 10) “Go through, go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones”. The Savior
has set a bitter punishment for those who put such stumbling blocks in people’s way.
St. Cyril the great
The Lord Jesus assures us (Luke17: 1) “Occasions for stumbling blocks are bound to
come” as a real fact at every age, since the adversary does not cease to attack the believers
through the heretics, as well as through the errors of some priests, servant and believers from
among the congregation so as to9 destroy the weak souls. The Lord Jesus warns us of two
aspects: that we be not stumbling blocks to others, and that, we are not hindered as little ones
in the faith through others mistakes.
When discussing these evangelical expressions (Matt.18: 6,7; Mark.9: 42) we have
seen that it was a Jewish custom when they have lost all hope in someone, and when they
wish him to be set as an example to others, they would tie his neck to a rock, and throw him
in the sea, and he would never appear again. This is how Pope Gregory the great sees the
servant or the priest who acts as a stumbling block to his congregation, he has to leave his job
as a shepherd and flee so as to save his soul and disappear. This is better than being
condemned for the souls he has obstructed in his service instead of being the means of saving
them by the cross.
We emphasize with St. John Chrysostom his words, if this is the punishment for him
who obstructs the little ones, then what is the reward for him who saves the weak and
obstructed souls? “If the salvation of one single soul had not been so very great to Christ, He
would not have threatened with such a punishment for him who acts as a stumbling block to
someone”.

2- Having a Forgiving Heart for those who have Wronged Us:

If we wish to have a well-based and deep fellowship with the heavenly Savior, then
we have to embody His work in us. We have to be concerned about the salvation of every
soul, and should not allow ourselves to be a stumbling block to those ones weak in the faith,
neither should we ourselves be obstructed in our salvation way due to others’ drawbacks. The
first drawback for an offense is to be intolerable at heart, and not to have enough love
towards others particularly to those who have unjustly treated us. This is why He says
(Luke17: 3,4) “Be on your guard! If another disciple sins,. You must rebuke the offender, and
if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times
a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent’, you must forgive”.
 In a loving heart, if a brother wrongs us, rebuke him. This is not to justify ourselves or
to throw the blame on him, but so as to win him over in love, and win the salvation of his
soul. This is why the Lord Jesus says on another occasion (Matt.18: 15) “go and point out the
fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that
one”. It is as if the purpose of this rebuke that is full of love is ‘to own himself’ as a gain to
us, and thus we do not lose him as a member in the sanctified body.
The Lord Jesus did not put a limit to love. He rather asked us to forgive those who
have wronged us, and come back to us repentently seven times in one day. This means he
repents endless times, because the number seven refers to perfection.
If the Lord Jesus asks us to forgive those who have wronged us in this way everyday,
how much more so He would forgive us whenever we come back to Him? With these words
of His, He opens for us the door of hope, that is incessant, so we come back to Him in
repentance, and confessing our sins.
+What wisdom does God have! After He had mentioned the parable of the rich man’s
suffering in the place of pain and agony (Luke16) He resumed His words commanding us to
forgive those who come back in repentance and regret, so no one would despair in departing
from his sins.
What great wisdom! Man should not be hard-hearted in offering forgiveness to others,
and should not be careless in his mercy. He should not clash with others in violent rebuke,
and should not continue in careless wrong-doing. This is why He said on another occasion
(Matt.18: 15) “go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone”. The friendly rebuke
is much better than the open accusation. The former implies shame, but the latter arouses
wrath.
It is better that the one who has wronged you would consider you as a friend and not
as an attacking enemy. It is easier for man to accept the advice than to yield to violence. This
is why the apostle says (2Thes.3: 15) “Warn them as believers”. Fear is a weak guard when
persisting, whereas shame is a good teacher for duties.
+ It is well said “if a disciple sins against you”; the situation is different when sin is against
God or against man. this is why the apostle who is the real interpreter to the prophecy, says
(Tim3: 10) “after a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who
causes divisions. The deviated faith is not forgiven, as well as an error or sin against man.
St. Ambrosios
+ You are called ‘a son’; if you therefore reject to follow God’s example and forgive your
brother, then why do you ask for His inheritance?
+ I wish you to forgive, since I see you asking for forgiveness.
St. Ambrosios
If He has asked us to admonish our brother who has sinned against us then let us not
stop at the admonition, but rather let us take him lovingly to forgiveness. But to what extent
should this be? To seven times, that is, endlessly.
+ He says if the person who has sinned against you repents and knows his mistake, forgive
him, not only once but many times.
It is appropriate for us not to seem incomplete in sharing love, and careless in our
loterance. It is possible that everyone fails and sins more than once. We rather have to follow
the example of those who treat our physical diseases. They do not treat the patient once or
twice only, but whenever they fall sick, they do so.
Let us remember that we ourselves are exposed to infirmities, and we can be
subjected to certain whims and drawbacks. We therefore ask those who have the right to
admonish, and it is in their authority to do so, to discipline us, and to be tolerant with us, and
to forgive us. Likewise it is our duty to have sharing feelings, and that we feel the weakness
of others, and bear the yoke of each other. In this way we fulfil Christ’s law (Gal.6: 2).
 St. Cyril the great
St. Ambrosios offers us an explanation of our forgiveness to our brother, who has
sinned against us, seven times every day. The number seven reminds us of the seventh day in
which God rested of all His work (Gen.1: 2). Thus the seventh day is sanctified among the
Jews, also the seventh month, and the seventh year...etc.
The Lord rested on the seventh day, which means He found His rest after He has
created man on the sixth day, and has made the whole world for his sake, and the Lord
rejoiced with it. Likewise when He sees that we forgive our brethren incessantly, He rests in
us, for He finds His divine work is fulfilled. This is the Lord’s joyful Sabbath, when He finds
His children having His quality of the Lover of mankind, and forgive others sins in a warm
and loving heart.
The Lord’s Sabbath is not a mere day, but rather ‘a life risen in Him’. He who keeps
it, lives in resurrection through Him. He does not yield to the death of hatred, or the
vengeance corruption, but he rather lives in freedom with god’s all encompassing love.

3- “Increase Our Faith”:

The apostles may have relised that what the Lord Jesus commands is above the
natural standards, and so they asked for God’s help. Thus they would be able to forgive by
nature others’ mistakes by means of faith, for the evangelist says (Luke17: 5,6) “The apostles
said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard
seed, you could say to this mulberry tree ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it would
obey you’”.
In the above words we notice the following:
Firstly: If ‘faith’ is the secret behind the power of the church, without which we shall not be
blessed with Christ’s nature, that which is risen and is active in us, and without which we are
unable to offer the true and forgiving love to others’ mistakes, then this ‘faith’ is God’s gift,
with which we are blessed if we ask Him with the apostles ‘Increase our faith’. This is God’s
gift but not with a negative aspect on our side.
+ What necessarily gives joy to the saintly souls is not to obtain the earthly temporal goods,
because such things are corruptible, and are easily lost. It is rather to be blessed with the
honorable and blessed goods that are spiritually blessed, and are God’s gifts. One of these
blessings is ‘the faith’ that has special appreciation. I mean to enter the faith in Christ our
Savior of us all. St Paul knows Him as our greatest blessing, for he says (Heb.11: 6) “And
without faith it is impossible to please God”. ‘It is this faith those of old have achieved
martyrdom to God.
Notice how the saintly apostle followed the example of the saints’ conduct in the Old
Testament. What have thy asked of Christ? ‘Increase our faith’. They did not ask for mere
faith, lest you think they had no faith. They rather asked of Christ to increase their faith and
to strengthen it in them.
Faith partially depends on us, and on the other hand it is the divine and blessed gift.
At the beginning it depends on us; we can either accept it or reject it. We have the authority
to trust in God and to believe in Him. As for making the faith strong and firm this requires the
divine grace. For this reason, because all things are possible with God, the Lord has said,
(Mark9: 23) “All things can be dome for the one who believes”. The strength that falls on us
through the faith is from God. The devout St. Paul knows this and he tells the Corinthians
(1Cor.12: 8,9) “To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the
utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to
another gifts of healing by the one Spirit”. You can thus see him putting the faith in the list of
spiritual blessings. This is what the disciples asked to obtain from the Savior. He therefore
granted tem this after He proided the fulfillment of the descent of the Holy Spirit on thim. For
before the resurrection their faith was fragile and little. The saint spoke of the disciples’
attitude at the tempestuous sea as an example of their little faith (Matt.8: 26; 14: 31; Luke8:
25; John6: 19). There is no surprise when they ask for their faith increase from Christ the
Savior of us all. He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but rather to wait the Father’s
time to be clothed with power from above (Acts1: 4). When they were blessed with the power
from above, they have truly become brave and strongly kindled in the Spirit. They scorned
death, and had no fear of any hazards the unbeliever threatened them with; rather, they have
become capable of performing miracles.
St. Cyril the great
Secondly: In the apostle’s words ‘Increase our faith’, the true faith has been unfolded. It is
not a solid thing that we have received and then it stopped. It is rather the experience of an
existing life’. It is our faith in accepting God’s work in us, with no hindrance or cessation
until we reach the desire of our teacher St. Paul the apostle (Eph.4: 13) “to maturity, to the
measure of the full stature of Christ”. As, St. Augustine says, “Our faith increases when
‘God’s wisdom” in declared openly, face to face with His saints”.
Our faith are not just words we keep repeating, neither is it a philosophy we have
adopted. It is life and working experience with God who works continuously in us. He works
by our means to give witness to Him at all times, and so we bring souls to the account of His
kingdom.
Thirdly: The answer the Lord Jesus gave was (Luke17: 6) “If you had faith the size of a
mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree ‘be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it
would obey you”. This unfolds our need not for a materialistic increase in the amount-wise,
but in an increase regarding the quality of our faith. There is no comparison between the
mustard seed that the Jews considered the smallest of all seeds, and the mulberry tree that is
so huge. Our live faith as the little mustard seed is able to make impossible things, such as the
uprooting of the mulberry tree, with all its root from the earth, and planting it in the sea
amidst the waves! The live faith is the maker of all impossibilities.
Fourthly: The two saints Ambrosios and John Chrysostom think the mulberry tree here
refers to Satan. If our life has become an earth, the enemy will plant a mulberry tree there.
With faith we can cast out Satan and all his works from our life, and there will be no place for
him in us. He will be thrown in the sea, in the very deep sea. This is just as when the Lord
allowed the devils to go out of the man in the Gadarenes, and enter the swine; thus the whole
swine herd rushed from the cliff top down to the water and were choked (Luke8: 33).
Pope Cyril the great thinks the mulberry tree here means the power faith has to fulfil
what seems impossible to us. With faith the tree is uprooted from the earth despite its deeply
tangled roots, and with faith it is planted firmly in the moving sea waters. It is as if faith
makes what is impossible, for he says “He who trusts in God does not rely on his personal
strength, but he attributes all what he accomplishes to Christ. He confesses that through
Christ all goodness in human souls is fulfilled, and that it is appropriate for people to prepare
themselves to accept this great blessing. Faith has the authority to move what is firm and well
based in the earth. There is nothing at all that faith is unable to do whenever it is necessary to
do so. The earth has actually shaken when the apostles prayed, as mentioned in Acts of the
Apostles (4: 31). On the other hand, faith can stop what is movable, just as when the rapid
river flow in Jordan did (Josh.3: 16), as well as the movement of sunshine was stopped, that
never ceases to do so in the sky (Josh.13: 10). What has to be noticed very well is that God
does not wish to offer what is brilliant and amazing in a false or purposeless way. Such a
thing is far away from the essence of God who knows no pride or haughtiness. He only
makes what is for the good of people and for their peace. I say this so that no one expects the
sanctified faith and the divine power to make changes that are useless, such as changing
certain properties and transforming them into others, or moving mountains or fields. This will
be fulfilled if there is real benefit, and hence, faith will have nothing to keep it back from
acting”.
Faith is the mystery in the power of the church, not for performing awesome deeds of
no purpose, but it is primarily to obtain the life risen in Jesus Christ . thus we may live in a
loving and forgiving Spirit for other’s mistakes, and with faith we can cast out the evil spirit
and all its deeds. We thus uproot it from our lives as the mulberry tree, and throw it in the sea
depths and in the abyss of the oceans. What ruins our faith is when we rely on our own
personal righteousness and thus we forget that what we were gifted with such as being God’s
sons, and the sanctified deeds, and the ability to carry out the commandments- all of these are
free gifts from God. In reality, we are idle slaves, whatever our conduct may be like. This is
what the Lord Jesus confirmed, for what He said directly after speaking of the faith (Luke 17:
7-10).
“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or
tending sheep in the field ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you
not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and
drink, later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?
So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless
slaves, we have done only what we ought to have done’”.
What did the Lord Jesus mean by this parable?
He wished to assure us of our real position when away from His grace, that we are
worthless slaves, that is, God’s slaves that have not given Him His due right as should be. For
if we make Him foremost in our life, and offered everything for His account, we remain
indebted to Him with our own life. We feel deep inside us we are worthless, but by His grace
we have become sons to Him. What we practice is of His gifts, freely given to us, and is not a
price for our personal struggle or is due to our own goodness.
+ The Lord wished to manifest that despite committing us to every commandment, yet He
grants His sonship to people in deserving His blood. This is why He said, “When you have
done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves, we have done only what
we ought to have done”. Likewise is the kingdom of heaven; a gift given by the Lord to the
believing slaves, and not as a reward to our work.
The slave does not ask for freedom from him bondage as a reward for his work. He
only tries to offer all his effort as a debtor, and he waits for freedom as a gift.
(1Cor.15: 3) “Christ died for the sake of our sins”, and He grants freedom to those
who well serve Him, for He says (Matt.25: 23) “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you
have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put yu in charge of many things, enter into the
joy of your Master”.
+ Some assume they believe in the Truth, though they do not commandments, expect the
kingdom as a just reward for their own personal merits. Both of there act wrongfully against
the Truth.
+ Christ has died for our sakes (2Cor.5:15) “And He died for all, so that those who live might
live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them”. It is clear that
we are committed to serving Him till death. Then how is it that we regard sonship as a just
reward for our personal deeds?
+We are the ones who are granted the eternal life. We perform the good deeds not for the
sake of reward, but rather to keep the purity that was granted to us.
St. Mark the hermit
+ In the previous words, the Lord addressed us in an important and long discussion, to show
us the ways that lead us to honor. He declared the glories of the blameless life so we progress
in it, and develop in it zealously until we reach an amazingly awesome level, and so obtain
the reward for our call from above (Phil.3: 14). Man’s natural thoughts tend towards vain
glory—which is a very serious transgression that God hates. Moreover, the serpent, which is
the source of evil leads people to such thinking. They therefore assume that God has granted
them the honors from above for the sake of their glorious life and distinction, that is, for the
sake of their personal merits. This is why the Lord wished to pull us away from there
tendencies that imply the vain thoughts of glory. He put before us these lessons that have just
been read to us. By this parable He teaches us that the royal and divine authority of God asks
of the slaves to submit to Him as a debt they are entitled to fulfil. He says that the Lord offers
no thanks to the slave, and even if He does, He did not need to, because he is only a slave.
I ask you to notice here that the disciples and all those who yield to Christ the
Savior’s track, they are all urged to persist. But they do not do the service as a favour on their
part, but it is as if they are fulfilling the obedience debt the slaves are committed to doing. In
this way the disease of malignant vain glory is detached.
If you do what is your duty to do, then why do you boast? Can you not see that if you
do not fulfil your debt you are in danger, and if you fulfil it, then you deserve no praise for
this? This truth was well learnt by the slave, the amazing St. Paul, and he was absolutely
aware of it. For he says, (1Cor.9: 16) “If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for
boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel”. Also
(Rom.1: 14) he says “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to
the foolish”.
If you therefore do good, and have kept God’s commandments, and have obeyed your
Lord, then do not ask for God’s honor as a meritable thing to you; rather, draw closer to Him
and plead for the goodness of His gifts.
Yes, even though we are slaves yet He calls us His children, and He crowns us with
His children’s glory.
St. Cyril the great
+ As long as we are alive, we have to work continuously. Admit that you are a slave,
committed to performing many services. Do not be slothful, since you are called God’s son.
Yield to the work of grace, without ignoring nature- that you are only a slave.
Do not boast if you are a good slave, for this is a duty you are committed to doing.
For the sun does its job, the moon also obeys, and the angels minister, and the chosen vessel
the Lord used for the Gentiles says, (1Cor. 15: 9) “For I am least of the apostles, unfit to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”. On another occasion, when he
referred that he did so ignorantly, he added (1Cor.4:4) “But I am not thereby acquitted”.
Therefore, I wish we would not seek to obtain glory for ourselves; and not to be ahead
of God’s judgment. Do not guess the Judge’s judgment, but let us wait for this till the right
time comes, for He is the real Judge.
St. Ambrosios
+ St. Augustine links the apostle’s request to the Lord Jesus to increase their faith, and with
this parable mentioned by the Lord. In it he could see the slave who goes to the service in the
field to upturn the soil, or the shepherd tending the sheep to enter his master’s house to eat
and drink there, as if through the increasing faith he moves from the service in this world to
the life of meditation, or to go from the life of struggle and toil to being blessed in the eternal
kingdom- for He says, “Those who do not truly understand this faith, assume that the Lord
did not answer the disciples’ request; for it seems there is difficulty in linking their request to
increase their faith and this parable, unless we believe that the Lord means by this parable to
go out from faith to faith. That is, from the faith by which we serve the Lord to the faith by
which we are blessed with the Lord. Our faith increases at the beginning when we accept the
gospel word, then are blessed after this with the existing Truth. We thus achieve the joyful
meditation and the perfect peace, that is granted us in the eternal kingdom of God.
 I wish the slave toiling in the field or shepherding the flock, that is, doing his temporal
job honestly, and serving the foolish people as a flock, that he returns home after work, that is
to unite with the church, and be blessed with a life of mediation.
+ As the slaves of Christ keep working, that is, proclaiming the gospel, our Lord eats and
drinks the faith of the Gentiles and their confession to Him.
He goes on to say (Luke17: 8) “After this, you eat and drink”. It is as if the Lord is
saying “After I am pleased with your preaching mission, and I Myself feed on the food of
your repentance, at this point you come and be blessed with the eternal banquet, the banquet
of immortal wisdom.
St. Augustine

4- Gratitude and the Faith- the ten lepers:

We have mentioned that the faith is the mystery behind the power of the church, with
which we are blessed with God’s fellowship. This faith is not possessed by one nation only or
a certain race, but it is rather offered to all humanity. This was made clear by the evangelist
when he mentioned the encounter of the Lord Jesus with ten leperous men who asked Him to
have mercy on them. At this point He commanded them to go and show themselves to the
priests. As they were running, they were healed. Then one of them returned to give thanks to
Him, and he was a Samaritan, but it was only he who deserved to hear from among the others
(Luke17: 19) “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well”.
We notice in this miracle of the cleansing of the ten lepers, the following points:
Firstly: The evangelist says (Luke17: 11, 12) “On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going
through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten lepers
approached Him, keeping their distance”.
The Lord was heading towards Jerusalem, but He actually went through Samaria and
Galilee, Jerusalem was the center for the worship of the Jewish people, for He has come to
the lost sheep of Israel to regain them without disregarding Samaria. Also in Galilee there
was a big number of Gentiles, and He wished for the fellowship of everyone.
The Lord Jesus remains moving towards His Jerusalem, that is, His heavenly city or
eternal kingdom, where the temple is, that is not made by hands. He goes there, carrying the
members of His body of every nation and tongue, from Samaria to Galilee.
He encountered the ten lepers out of the city. According to the law of Moses, the leper
does not live among the people in the city or the village- he rather lives out of the walls or
amidst the graves. He also has an open cloak, his head uncovered, and he covers his
moustache, calling out ‘defiled, defiled’ (Lev.13: 45). We have seen in the book of Leviticus
in our interpretation of it, what this ritual means. This reveals the ugly defilement of iniquity,
and destroying it for man, and depriving him of sharing the sanctified community.
These ten men represent humanity that has become, through sin, deprived of the
‘sanctified partnership’. This humanity lives out of the fence walls in enmity with heaven and
the heavenlies. It carries its defilement on itself. The Lord Jesus has met them out of the
village, for He has come down to us from His heavens as a stranger, so He meets us and
carries us on His shoulders, and enters with us to His holy heavens.
Secondly: These men stood physically from afar, but they drew very close to Him in their
faith, for (Luke17: 13) “They called out saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.
Being leperous, they were deprived of living among people. They might not have
witnessed with their own eyes any of the miracles that the Lord Jesus made. They just heard
of it, but in their faith they drew very close to Him and have obtained the cleansing, whereas
many of the Pharisees and the Sadduccees saw the Lord Jesus and have witnessed His
amazing deeds, but due to their lock of faith they deprived themselves of His fellowship.
Thirdly: The Lord Jesus commanded them to go to the priests to show themselves to them.
This is to confirm that He did not come to break the law but rather to fulfil it, and also to
show the Jewish priests an actual evidence of His power to heal and to cleanse. This was not
done by the law, and they may believe that His grace is above the law. In this action, also, the
Lord Jesus directs us to submit to the church. He also teaches the servants the spirit of
modesty. On the other hand, He is giving a chance for those ones who have been healed, to
offer a sacrifice of gratitude to God.
Fourthly: Something that no one expected happened all of a sudden: one of the ten, when he
saw he has been healed, returned to give praise to God in a loud voice. He offered worship
and thanks to the Savior. He fell on his knees at Jesus feet in gratitude, and he was a
Samaritan, even though none of the other nine who were Jews returned to give thanks. This is
why the Lord said (Luke17: 17,18) “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are
they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then
He said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well”. Then ten were
physically made clean, but this foreigner has usurped his own salvation and purification by
means of his practical life of faith interpreted in thanks and true worship.
Fifthly: St. Ambrosios thinks those ten lepers have a symbolic meaning. They refer to those
who rejected the correct faith, and lead a life of heresy and new concepts. These live out of t
he city for they are deprived of the church membership. If they offer repentance and
encounter the Lord in their return to the true faith, He asks them to show themselves to the
priest, which is, to return to the church membership so they are granted acceptance and
forgiveness.
As for the nine who did not return whereas only one of them returned, and he was a
Samaritan, to worship the Lord till the ground, offering a sacrifice of thanks and praising
Him, this could be explained that it is not enough the heretics return to the faith theoretically
or wordily, they rather have to return whole-heatedly and in deed as well. The Samaritan
represents the serious man in his faith, because the word ‘Samaritan’ means ‘guard’. He who
is alert and is on his guard by means of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of his soul, comes to
the Lord in a contrite spirit, worships Him in lowliness, and thanks Him for His overflowing
love in being accepted as a partner in His Holy Body, that is, the church.
St. Augustine thinks the grateful one is the church of Christ, for it is only one, and
should not stand and division.
Sixthly: The Pope saint Athanasios the apostolic presents to us in his elaborate sixth epistle
this Samaritan leper is a living example of the life of gratitude that unfolds a heart clinging to
the Donor of gifts, more than the gift itself. He says, “The Lord loved the one who offered his
thanks, whereas he was frustrated with those ungrateful ones, for they did not know the
Savior. They were rather preoccupied with their healing of leprosy more than with Him who
has deansed them.

5- The Faith in the Inward Kingdom:

The Lord spoke to us of the faith as the way to be blessed with God’s kingdom, and
He cautioned us of a shut up heart that corrupts the faith; as well as pride and arrogance. He
asked us to follow the Samaritan’s example; how he had practical and active faith by means
of his open witness to the Lord Jesus, in a spirit of lowliness and thanks giving. On listening
to the Lord’s words, the listener’s hearts were kindled in eagerness to be blessed with this
fellowship. The Pharisees then began to ask, not as to how they could be blessed with it, but
they asked about the timing of this fellowship. They asked, (Luke17: 20) “When will the
kingdom of God come?”
 This is not an unusual question; the aim of the adversary is to preoccupy us, away
form the salvation of our souls, with other temporal things. We notice this clearly at the
present time; such as in the United States of America, many scholars study the book of the
Revelation, not as a book from heaven to kindle the heart towards the eternal coming of
Christ, but rather to search for the end of this age and its time. Thus the Lord Jesus warns us
“You are not to know the time or the age”.
The Lord Jesus answered their question by directing their thoughts from the searching
of the time and knowing the age to being concerned about their blessing by the kingdom as a
present one: and inward kingdom in the depths of the soul. In other words, He wants us to be
concerned about our relationship with Him, on the level of the inward heart, instead of being
preoccupied with other matters, and the mere philosophical discussions.
+ He has given the answer beneficial to all mankind: that God’s kingdom does not come by
observation; look for God’s kingdom inside you. He says not to ask about the time in which
God’s kingdom comes, that is, this depends on your self-will, and it is in your authority to
accept or reject it. Every person who accepts the justification in Christ’s faith, and is adorned
by every righteousness, is counted worthy of the heavenly kingdom.
St. Cyril the great
+ The kingdom of God is in you means the joy the Holy Spirit implants in your hearts. This is
and icon and a first step to the eternal joy the souls of the saints are blessed with.
St. Gregory, bishop of Nicus
+ To reach the heavenly castle is easier than reaching Britain or Jerusalem, because God’s
kingdom is in you.
St. Anthony, and the hosts of Egypt’s monks, and those between the two rivers,
Pontuis, Cabadocia and Armenia, have not seen Jerusalem; yet the door of paradise has been
opened to them.
The devout Hillarion, though he was an inhabitant of Palestine, has not seen
Jerusalem except for one day, for he did not wish to ignore those blessed sites since he was so
close to them. At the same time he did not wish to limit God to any local boundaries.
St. Jerome
+ Inside yourselves, you either have the knowledge of truth, or your ignorance of it; the joy in
righteousness or the joy in malice; in this way we prepare our hearts either for Christ’s
kingdom or Satan’s kingdom.
Father Moses
I wish, therefore, that with the live and active faith, we accept the glorification of
Christ’s kingdom in us. He would thus be declared king in us, and would direct our feelings,
senses, thoughts and all our spiritual, psychological and physical potentials to His eternal
kingdom account. In this way our security against the adversary’s attacks and against evil, to
exist on the inward depths in the Lord, and that it could actually never be overcome. This is
what Father Biamon confirms, saying, “We cannot flee from the ordeal tempests and the
adversary’s attacks, if we depend when protecting our patience, not on the strength of our
inward man, but to just shut the door of our cell, or merely delve into the desert, and
accompany the saints, or any other protection of any sort”.

6- The Inward Kingdom and the Everlasting One:

When the Lord has directed our attention on His inward kingdom so we obtain it in
us, instead of being preoccupied in knowing the time and the age, the Lord then spoke again
to prepare us for His last coming since it is the extension of His present coming and His
dwelling in us. In other words, His dwelling place is in us, and the declaration of His
kingdom is in our deep souls, a first deposit to kindle our hearts for His last coming. It is as if
our fellowship with Him begins right now, so that it grows all the more when we encounter
Him face to face.
These words of the Lord Jesus explain the following points:
Firstly: The Lord Jesus showed how He would come at a time when the believers would
covet one day of the days the Lord was on earth when they discover His personality, and taste
the sweetness of His fellowship, for He says (Luke17: 22) “The days are coming when you
will long to see o9ne of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it”.
St. Cyril the great thinks that when the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples of His
inward kingdom in them, He wished to reveal to them the suffering the church will under go,
and how the believers would fall under it. This will be counted by everyone that the days
when the Lord Jesus was on earth, these are regarded as being easy when compared to what
the believers will experience later on. They will covet the days the disciples lived in with the
Savior, when the Lord bore all alone the pain whereas they were restful. In this way the Lord
did not wish to scare them, but rather to prepare them to bear the hardship and face the
difficulties courageously, for He has informed them of it ahead of time.
+ By saying so, did the Lord scare His disciples?
Was He weakening them ahead of time? Was He making them unable to tolerate the
difficulties and the tribulations that were too hard to bbear?
This is not what He means, He rather, on the crontrary, wished to prepare them to
accept all what saddens people, and thus be ready to endure it in patience, and be selected
and enter God’s kingdom.
He has previously warned them before His coming form heaven at the end of the
world, that the tribulations and hard times will come ahead of Him, and that they would long
for seeing one single day of the days of the Son of Man. that is to say, to see one of the days
in which they spoke with Jesus. Even though the Jews, till these present times, have used no
little violence against Him when they tried to stone Him, and have persecuted Him more than
once, and have led Him to a cliff to throw Him from its top, and have mocked Him and
deceived Him, and have left no malice undone by them, then how does He say the disciples
desire eagerly to see one day of His days? This is in comparison to the many evils that would
befall us, and thus this will be considered few and desirable.
St. Cyril the great
+ If their life at that time was not a difficult one, because Christ was concerned about them
and He sheltered them, the time will come when Christ will be uplifted and thus they will be
exposed to danger. They would stand before kings and rulers, and they would desire eagerly
the first days and their peaceful time.
Father Theophlactius
Secondly: Warning them of being Misled:
When the Lord spoke to them indirectly of the suffering they would encounter before
His coming, He began to warn them of being misled. This represents a more bitter danger
because it implies deception to the disabled souls who are unable to discern between the
coming of the anti-Christ and the coming of Christ Himself.
The Lord made clear the discernment between them saying (Luke17: 23, 24) “They
will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the
lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in
His day”.
There is no doubt the coming of the anti-Christ will be full of deception, for many
will follow him and cry out his name in every misleading place. There will also be deceiving
wonders of Satan’s doings, and the world will tend to him, and will search for him here and
there. As for the real Christ, He will come gloriously on the clouds as St. Paul the apostle said
(1Thes.4: 16) “For the Lord Himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and
with the sound of God’s trumpet will descend from heaven” he will come in His splendor as
lightning to be seen by all and He will need no one to proclaim Him. He will come to judge
the living and the dead, shining in the hearts of all, and in the thoughts of all. Then everything
will be clear to everyone, and the hidden secrets of men will be revealed!
+ He will come down from heaven at the end of times, not in a mysterious or hidden way but
in the glory of His divinity, for He (1Tim.6: 16) “dwells in unapproachable light”. He
declared this when He said His coming will be as the lightning. Indeed, He has been born in
the body from a woman to fulfil the provision for our sake. For this reason He denied
Himself, and became poor, and He did not manifest Himself in the glory of His divinity. He
became lowly for the sake of the time, and to fulfil the provision. But after the resurrection
from the dead, when He ascended to the heavens, and sat with God the Father, then He will
descend again but not without His glory, and not in the modesty of humanity, but in the
awesomness of the Father, guarded by the angelic hosts who stand before Him, for being the
God of everyone, and the Lord of all. He will come as the lightning and not in secret.
St. Cyril the great
+ Just as the lightning that does not need any proclamation of its coming, but it is rather seen
in a moment in the world, likewise even to those sitting in their homes, the Son of Man will
come, and will be witnessed at every place in one moment due to His brilliant glory.
St. John Chrysostom
Thirdly: Christ’s Rejection:
The Lord urged His disciples to accept His fellowship to them on the everlasting level
or the final level. He declared there is no doubt about His coming, coming as the lightning
before everyone in the glory of His godliness. But before this glory there comes the world’s
rejection of Him, for there is no way to glory unless by means of suffering and agony. Thus
He urges us to accept the ‘rejected Christ’ so He accepts us in His glories.
The Lord Jesus assures His disciples (Luke17: 25) “But first He must endure much
suffering and be rejected by this generation”.
The Head, that is Christ, endured much suffering and was rejected. But here He
comes glorified, and we too, His body will not share Him His glories unless we are rejected
by this generation, and be pressed under a lot of agony. As St. Paul the apostle says (Rom.8:
17) “in fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him”.
Fourthly: Watchfulness and Being Wakeful:
The Lord Jesus does not cease to direct His disciples to a life of constant
watchfulness, so that the Lord’s coming would not be a sorrowful surprise to them. Rather, it
should be a truly joyful wedding the soul eagerly waits for inwardly.
The Lord mentions two parables to us: the first one is the flood in Noah’s time, when
the people were indulging in their own pleasures (Luke17: 27) “They were eating and
drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and
the flood came and destroyed all of them. “The second parable is the burning of Sodom in the
days of Lot (Luke17: 28) “they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and
building”. Selling or planting and building. The sin is in man’s indulgence and preoccupation
that makes him absolutely forget his own soul’s salvation. All of these actions could be
sanctified and blessed when practiced by the spiritual man who is sanctified in the Lord. He
is concerned about the Savior’s coming in expectation of the eternal wedding.
+ To show He will be manifested in an unexpected way, at a time that man does not know of,
at the end of the world, He said that the end would be in the days of Noah and Lot.
What does this mean, then?
He asks us to be constantly watchful, and ready to answer before God’s judgment. As
St. Paul says (2Cor.5: 10) “For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so
that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil”.
He will then put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left; and then the King will say to
those ones on His right hand (Matt.25: 33) “Come, you that are blessed by My Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”. As for the goats, He utters a
fearful judgment, for He sends them to unquenchable fire.
St. Cyril the great
Fifthly: Warning us of Retreating:
Because the calls us to accept His present friendship as a first step for the immortal
and eternal fellowship, He does not only ask us to be watchful, but also to grow continuously
in our relationship with Him without any regression or retreat. He therefore provided us with
three parables:
(a) He who reaches the rooftop does not come down to the world floor levels searching for
his possessions. He rather stays up on high, on the rooftop, watching with the eyes of faith
active in him, the coming of the Groom from heaven.
(b) He who goes to the service field to work for the account of god’s kingdom, does not go
backwards to ask for the temporal matters.
(c) He who leaves Sodom, does not look backwards as Lot’s wife, and becomes a pillar of
salt.
These are the examples the Lord presented to us, saying: (Luke17: 31, 32) “On that
day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take
them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife”. We
have previously explained the spiritual concepts of these words in St. Matthew’s
interpretation (Matt.24: 17, 18; Mark 13: 15,16) as well the words of some of the fathers
concerning this topic.
St. Cyril the great thinks the man on the housetop is the rich one who has become as
someone on the surface, known by everyone, famous among those around his house. I wish
he would not put his heart in his treasury inside his house, but rather be concerned about his
spiritual life, for the wise one says (Prov.10: 2) “Treasures gained by wickedness do not
profit, but righteousness delivers from death”.
As for St. Hillary, the bishop of Poitier, he thinks the lofty one on the housetop is the
perfect man is his heart, the one spiritually high and renewed continually; he need not be
confused by temporal matters. St. Ambrosios thinks this is the man who is uplifted with St.
Peter the apostle to the rooftop to realise the church mystery (Acts10: 9) that does not
attribute defilement to certain people; it rather opens the preaching door to everyone.
As for the one in the field, St. Cyril the great sees him as the man who has devoted his
life to struggle and work for the sake of spiritual fruit, (Luke9: 62) “No one who puts a hand
to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”.
As for lot’s wife, she has been saved in going out of Sodom and not getting burnt. But
she did not complete her way of salvation, and thus she lost everything by her heart’s return
backwards.
We conclude our words about these parables by St. John Caspion’s words, “When we
reach safety at the surface top of the gospel, why do we come down to take something from
the house, something you did not think much or prior to that? When you are in the field
working in righteousness, why do you regress and try to wear the matters of this world
another time after you have taken them off and discarded them?
Sixthly: The Concern about the Soul’s Salvation:
Indeed, ,man might work and think he is struggling in the way of the divine
fellowship and being blessed with the kingdom. But he is unaware he has lost his goal by his
deviation in being blessed with his own salvation. This salvation has the price of ‘Christ’s
previous blood’; thus He is worthy that we reject everything and endure everything, for His
sake, for He says, (Luke17: 33) “Those who try to make their life secure will lose if, but
those who lose their life will keep it”.
St. Augustine often spoke out of experience he lived; in short, that he who loves
himself loses his soul; and he who hates himself or destroys himself, loves his soul. In other
words, when man is enclosed in his ego, and thinks he lives for himself, feeding on his
physical passions, or asks for temporal honor, he is actually destroying his own soul in this
world and in the age to come.
As much as man loses himself, so he lives freely out of his ego, and works for God’s
kingdom and for the sake of people’s peace, and growth, he loves his soul and saves it by the
loving God! Let us endow ourselves with the nature of giving, that is, the nature of our Friend
the Lover of mankind. Thus we shall be blessed by the true life here and in eternity also.
Father Theophlactius thinks the words here concern the believer’s attitude particularly
in the days of the ‘anti-Christ’ when the believer will be subjected to many tribulations and
death as well.
If man asks his soul be saved, that is, to save his temporal life, then he is destroying
himself. But if he does not care about the tribulations, even unto death, then as he is
destroying his temporal life, he is actually saving it, for he does not yield to the despot, the
‘anti-Christ’ for the sake of holding on to life.
St. Cyril the great says, “It is appropriate for those who are used to living in affluence,
to stop0 this pride on this very day, and be ready to endure the toil. Likewise, those who
struggle well, it is appropriate for them to persist courageously until they reach the sign set
before them, for (Luke17: 33) “Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those
who lose their life will keep it”. St. Paul showed clearly the path by which man loses himself
so he saves it. He said concerning the saints (Gal.5: 24) “And those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. Those who have truly come to
Christ our only Savior, crucify their bodies and offer them to death, through their constant
struggle and persistence for the sake of righteousness and the deadening of the natural
passions. It has been written (Col.3: 5) “Put to death therefore, whatever in you is earthly:
fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed”. As for those who live a life of lust, they
may assume they are gaining for themselves a life of pleasure and pampering, whereas in fact
they are losing and destroying their life, (Gal.6: 8) “If you sow to your own flesh, you will
reap corruption from the flesh”. Surely he who loses his life saves it. This is what the martyrs
did; in devotion they endured the difficulties until death and the shedding of their life. They
crowned their heads with the true love to Jesus Christ. But as for those who denied the faith
due to their weak minds and will, and have escaped from the death of the body; these have
become killers to themselves. They will slide to Hades, and will endure torment because of
their wicked cowardice”.
Moreover, the Lord Jesus wished to assure us that the concern about the soul’s
salvation is usually a hidden matter, that no one knows about except God and the soul itself.
As for man, it is difficult that he passes judgment on his brother whether he is concerned
about the salvation of his soul, or not. This is why the Lord Jesus says, (Luke17: 34- 36) “I
tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There
will be two women grinding meal together; one will betaken and the other left. Tow will be in
the field, one will be taken and the other left”.
The Lord has presented to us three kinds of people, in each kind there is the one
worthy of the kingdom, and the other has deprived himself of this kingdom. So what are these
three samples of people?
(a)St. Augustine thinks these three kinds of people represent three categories of people. In
each category there are the two kinds. The first category are those two sleeping ones; this is
the category of those who have no work neither in the world nor in the church. He may have
meant the elite and prestigious people who live on their property earnings. These love the
peaceful life referred to by the bed. As for the second category, this is symbolized by the two
who were grinding. They are two women who work under the authority of their men. This is
the category of those who work as with the grinding stone, and offer from the toil of their
hands, which is the bread for the believers. These are they who perform their jobs of this
world in honesty, and offer of their hard work charity to the poor. As for the third category
that is symbolized by those who work in one field, these are the ministers and priests who
work in the Lord’s vineyard. It is as if there are children of the kingdom among the rich, as
well as among the strugglers in their daily life, and also among the ministers of the Word.
There is also those who have no share in the kingdom among all of these categories. It is as if
our fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and our blessing with His kingdom, this does not depend
on our outer circumstances, and the kind of job we have, but rather on our hidden and inward
life.
(b) It may also mean that the two sleeping in one bed, could be a man and his wife. Even
though they have become one body, and have come to know the secrets of each other, yet
each of them has his private life with God, that the other one is not aware of, for he cannot
investigate the depths of his heart or be aware of the innermost thoughts he has. As for the
two women working on the grinding stone, these point to the friendship of colleagues at
work, whereas the two laborers in the field refer to friendship in the service. In every
circumstance for each person, there is the hidden and secretive life with his heavenly Friend.
In addition to this, we notice the three examples included: a man and a woman, two
women and two men. This means the human friendship on every level and between both
sexes it could not penetrate the depths of the heart to be aware of other’s friendship with God.
(c) In the first example He says, (Luke17: 34) “I tell you, on that night there will be two in
one bed, one will be taken and the other left”.
The period before the coming of the Lord Jesus will be a period of jet darkness, ‘on
that night’ are the Lord’s words. it is a bitter night in which the anti-Christ will appear, as
well as the false prophets. There will be a regression even, if possible, among the elect, who
will be misled.
St. Ambrosios says, “The presence of those ones who are against Christ, means it is
the hour of darkness, for the anti-Christ will pour a dark cloud over the human minds when
he proclaims himself he is the Christ in the wilderness. Thus they will deceive the fluctuating
hearts and mislead them. But as for the Lord Jesus, He will come as the powerful lightning,
who pours on the world His glittering light. He will shine in His brightness and His lightning,
so we see the glory of the resurrection in the midst of this night”.
St. Augustine says, “He says ‘at that night’ which means, in the midst of these
hardships”.
St. Cyril the great thinks the bed here is the symbol for rest, and those sleeping
together are the rich and wealthy, some of whom are malicious and covetous, whereas others
are kind and merciful. Both parties have obtained wealth, but one of them poured the wealth
and gained friends in the eternal shelter. The other party worhiped the money and the wealth.
(d) If the first two refer to the rich, St. Cyril the great thinks the two women refer to those
who are poor. Not every wealth in wicked, and not every poor one is righteous, for He says,
“Some tolerate the burden of poverty in a mature way, and live an honorable, righteous and
sensible life; whereas others have a different personality, for they rob and practice wicked
and base deeds”.
(e) St. Ambrosios thinks these two women who were grinding together represent the church
and the Jewish syndicate. They grind the wheat to offer bread to God, for they both interpret
the Old Testament, in its covenant and prophecies. But the Jewish assembly in its ingratitude,
is left out; whereas the church of the new covenant that has received from the syndicate the
Old Testament books, this church is now blessed with the heavenly wedding.
What applies to the two women applies to the two men who were working in the same
field. The assembly, in their literal thinking was unable to offer the fruit of the Spirit that
rejoices God’s heart. But as for the church of the new covenant, this offers ‘its Head’ as real
fruit of primehood that God the Father smells, and He is pleased with it.
Seventhly: (Luke17: 37) “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather”, we have
previously spoken about this elaborately in Matt24: 28.
When the Lord Jesus was hung on the cross, and He accepted death out of His own
will, the believers came as vultures round Him to find in Him their spiritual food that grants
the resurrection and the life. And when the anti-Christ dies, the wicked ones also gather
round him as the vultures that ask for what befits its nature.
+ What are these vultures? And what is this corpse?
The spirits of the righteous one similar to the vultures, for they soar above and leave
the world matters behind. They also live for very long, and this is why king David speaks of
himself (Ps.103: 5) “So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”.
When we know the eagles, we never doubt the corpse, particular by when we
remember that Joseph has taken the body from Pilate (John19: 38) Do you not see the
vultures round the body? Such as Mary Jesse’s wife, and Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
Lord’s mother, and the disciples- all of whom surround the Lord’s tomb? Do you not see the
eagles when the Lord comes on the clouds, and every eye sees Him (Rev. 1: 7)? As for the
body, it is this about whom was said (John6: 55) “My body is true food”; round it the eagles
fly with the wings of the Spirit. These eagles are they who believe that Jesus has come in the
flesh. (1John4: 2).
This body is also the church; there, we are granted the grace of the baptism, the
spiritual renewal, and thus there will be no old age, since youth and life are renewed.
St. Ambrosios
+ + +
 Chapter XVIII
Page (640- 659)
The Live Prayer and the Divine Fellowship

The essential topic in the former chapter is ‘the faith’ which is the way to obtain the
divine fellowship of God, through our being blessed with the inward kingdom in the heart as
a down ‘payment for God’s kingdom in eternity. This faith is put into action through the
constant prayer life, or the sincere worship blended by the Spirit of lowliness. And ascetism
in addition to the acceptance of pain. Thus our inward eyes are opened on the kingdom. This
is the subject of this chapter!

1- The Fervent Prayer (the widow and the unjust judge) 1- 8

2- The Lowly Worship (the Pharisee and the tax collector) 9- 14
3- The Return to the Children’s Simplicity 15- 17
4- The Release from the money worship 18- 30
5- Accepting the Cross 31- 34
6- The Enlightment (opening the eyes of the Blind) 35- 43
+ + +

1- The Fervent Prayer (the widow and the unjust judge):

The Lord has previously declared that the ‘Cross’ is the way to the kingdom, for the
Son of Man has to suffer and be rejected so He rules in us. Likewise, in the same manner His
church has to suffer, and carry His cross in expectation of His last coming. Some may ask,
‘How can we bear the cross and accept the agony happily for the sake of the kingdom? The
answer is as follows ‘Prayer at all times!’ (Luke18: 1) “Then Jesus told them a parable about
their need to pray always and not to lose heart”.
+ When the Lord has spoken of the tribulations and hazards that will befall us, He added the
remedy on the spot, that is, the zealous and constant prayer.
Father Theophlactius
+ If you have not yet obtained the gift of prayer or praise giving, be persistent and you will
obtain it. Do not lose heart or despair in waiting, and do not give up if you do not obtain it,
for you will surely receive the gift later.
St. Ogris
+ He did not command us to pray in elaborate words, let us come to Him just by saying it.
For we do not come to let Him merely know, but rather to struggle with Him, and cling to
Him by our constant request and modesty, remembering our sin perpetually.
St. John Chrysostom
+ He who has redeemed you, shows you what He wants you to do. He wants you to be in
constant prayer. He wishes you to meditate in your heart on the blessings you are asking for.
He wishes you ask of Him, and so obtain His goodness that He longs to give to you.
He will not hold from you His blessings if you pray. But in His mercy He urges
humans not to despair in praying.
Accept the Lord’s encouragement to you joyfully. Try to fulfill what He commands
you to do, and to cease doing what He forbids you to do.
Finally, meditate on what you are granted as an awesome privilege that you are
talking to God in your prayer. Show Him your needs, and He will answer you not with words,
but with His mercy, for He does not take your questions lightly, and He does not get bored
unless you yourself stop your prayer.
 St. John Chrysostom
+ Let not prayer be a mere job for a certain time, but it is rather a constant state for the spirit.
St. John Chrysostom says “Make sure you do not confine your prayer to a certain time
of the day. Go to pray at any time as the apostle says on another occasion (1Thes.5: 17) “Pray
without ceasing”.
The apostle tells us to pray (Eph.6: 18) “in the Spirit”. This means prayer should not
be only outspoken audibly, but also inwardly; it is the mind’s work in the heart. In this way
the essence of prayer is the uplifting of the mind and the heart towards God.
+ St. Paul wrote to the people of Thesolonica (1Thes.5: 17) “Pray without ceasing”. In other
epistles he commands (Eph.6: 18) “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and
supplication”. (Col.4: 2) “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanks-
giving”. (Rom.12: 12) “Persevere in prayer”. Furthermore, the Savior teaches us the need for
constant prayer in persistence through. The parable of the woman who in fervence overcame
the unjust judge by her persistent questioning. From all of this it is clear that constant prayer
is not an occasional matter, but rather an essential quality for the Christian Spirit. The
Christian’s life, according to the apostle, is hidden in God by Christ (Col.3: 3). The Christian,
therefore, has to live in God perpetually, with all of his thoughts and feelings. When he does
this, he is only praying incessantly!
We have also learnt that every Christian is ‘the temple of God’ in which ‘God’s spirit
dwells’ (1Cor.3: 16; 4: 19; Rom8: 9). This Spirit dwells constantly in him, and intercedes for
him, praying inside him (Rom.8: 26) “But that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for
words”. in this way, He teaches him how to pray without ceasing.
+ I remember St. Basilious the great answered the question ‘How did the apostles manage to
pray without ceasing? Saying that in all what they did, they thought of God, living in constant
devotion to God. This spiritual state was their constant, non-stop prayer.
Father Theovan, the hermit
The Lord Jesus spoke of the parable of the widow and the unjust judge to motivate us
to constant prayer (Luke18: 2- 8) He said “In a certain city there was a judge who neither
feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to
him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent? For a while he refused, but later he
said to himself ‘though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this
widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by
continually coming’. And the Lord said ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not
God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long in
helping them? I tell you, He will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man
comes, will He find faith on earth?”
In this way the Lord Jesus urges us to pray continually, and not to despair; the prayer
that springs from the faith in God, the One who answers our prayer. Thus He declares that at
the end of times, when many deny the faith, and when love cools, prayer also ceases. As a
result of this, man loses his touch and his fellowship with God. This is what He meant by the
words, ‘Will He find faith on earth?”, the Lord proclaims His grief for the deprived humanity
when losing the divine fellowship.
+ The Holy Gospel urges us to be committed to prayer and the faith, and not to rely on
ourselves, but rather on the Lord. Is there any more encouragement for prayer than the
parable of the dishonest judge that was given to us by the Lord? Even though the dishonest
judge had no fear of God, and had no respect for any man, yet he listened to the persistent
woman, and was overcome by her insistence, and not out of his gentle heart. If her request
has been heard by him who hates to be questioned by anyone, then how much more so will it
be with Him who listens to us and urges us to ask of Him?
 In a contrasting comparison, because the Lord teaches us to pray at all times and not
to be negligent about it, He adds saying if the Son of Man when He comes, will He find such
faith on earth? If faith fails, prayer is obsolete, because who is he who prays for someone he
does not believe in? This is why when the devout Apostle urges us to pray (Rom.10: 13) “For
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”, and to show that the faith is the
prayer source, he went on to say (Rom.10: 14) “And how are they to call on one in whom
they have not believed?”. To pray, we have to believe; and not to make this faith by which we
pray get weakened, let us pray. Faith overflows in prayer, and the prayer overflow grants the
essence of the faith strength. Therefore, for our faith not to become weakened during
tribulation, the Lord said (Luke22: 46) “Get up and pray that you may not come into the time
of trial”. What do the words mean ‘that you may not come into the time of trail’? They mean
when you depart from the faith, and it ends by the growth of the faith. Dear brothers, to know
more clearly the Lord’s words’ Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial’,
He means that the faith is not weakened and perishes; He says in the same place in the gospel
(Luke22: 31, 32) “Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you
that your own faith may not fail”. He who protects our faith prays, therefore will not he who
is subjected to hazards pray?
In the Lord’s words (Luke18: 8) “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on
earth?” The Lord speaks here of the perfect and absolute faith, for it will be a rarity on earth.
St. Augustine
+ The source of every blessing is Christ, (1Cor. 1: 30) “Who became for us wisdom from
God”. In Him we have become wise, and have become filled with the spiritual gifts. The
knowledge of these things in which we develop in every way in the sublime and sanctified
life, and the growth in righteousness, this is only a gift from God that man is equipped to win
and to grasp.
We may find someone who asks God (Ps.25: 4) “Make me to know your ways, O
Lord, teach me Your paths”. There are many paths that lead us forward towards the
incorrupted life. But there is only one particular way, useful to all who walk in it which is that
of prayer. The Savior Himself was careful to teach it to us, by presenting to us this saure
parable in our hands, so we struggle in prayer, for it is said (Luke18: 1) “Then Jesus told
them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart”.
I assure you, it is the duty of those who consecrate their life to the service, that they
do not neglect their prayers, and that they do not count it a heavy burden, a tiresome one.
Rather, they have to rejoice for the freedom granted them by God, for He wishes them to
speak to Him, as children do with their Father.
Is this not considered a favor worthy of every appreciation? If an honorable person of
authority in the world allows us to speak to him freely, do we not count this a worthy cause of
great joy? Then why is it that we doubt if God allows each one of us to address his words to
Him in whatever way he wants? By this, God has offered to those who fear Him such a great
honor as this, so they could obtain it.
Let us delete any slothfulness, which makes people be harmfully silent about their
prayer. Let us rather draw closer to Him in praise and joy, since we have obtained a
commandment to speak with the Lord of everyone and the God of all. We have Christ our
Intercessor who grants us with the Father the achievement of our requests. St. Paul the devout
says (2Cor.1: 2) “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Even Christ Himself says to His saintly apostles (John16: 24) “Until now you have not asked
for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive”. He is our Intercessor, He has redeemed
us, He is our Comforter and He grants us all our requests.
It is our duty to pray without ceasing as the words of the devout St. Paul say (1Thes.5:
7). As it is well known to us, and well assured to us that He to whom we offer our requests,
He is able to fulfill for us everything indeed. It has been said (James1: 6,7) “But ask in faith,
never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the
wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to
receive anything from the Lord”. He who doubts therefore, indeed commits a scornful thing.
If you do not believe He is drawing closer to you, and rejoices you, and fulfils your want,
then do not come close to Him in the first place, lest you be accused of scorning the able One,
for you are doubtful and stupid. Therefore, let us avoid this debased disease of being
doubtful.
God listens to those who offer their prayers not in negligence or carelessness, but in
seriousness and constance. This is what the parable we have assures us of. The unjustly
treated woman has overruled the dishonest judge, who does not fear God, not does he have
respect for any man. he has finally given her her request, even if he did so unwillingly. How
much more so would it be with Him who loves mercy and hates injustice? It is He who offers
His hand continuously to His loved ones. He accepts those who draw closer to Him day and
night, and He avenges them for they are His elect.
+ But some may say “Here in Christ telling His saintly apostles ‘have your enemies, pray for
those who harm you’ then how is it that we cry out against them, and ask for revenge without
scorning the divine commandment of God?”.
When we are personally wronged by people, let us regard this as glory for us that we
forgive them, and thus be filled with sharing love. Let us follow the example of our saintly
fathers, even if we are stricken and mocked at, indeed, even if they exercise every violence
against us. It befits us we are freed of every defect, and be exalted above all wrath and envy.
Such glory is appropriate to the saints, and makes God rejoice. But if a sin is directed against
the glory of God such as the heresies and resisting the preaching word in truth, then let us
draw closer to God and ask Him for His help, and cry out against those who resist His glory,
as did the great Moses, for he said (Numbers10: 35) “Arise, O Lord, let Your enemies be
scattered, and Your foes flee before you”.
Likewise is the prayer uttered by the saintly apostles “Look to their threatening”,
which means, wipe out their resistance, and grant Your servants the freedom to speak out
Your Word.
St. Cyril the great
+ We also find the martyrs in St. John’s Revelation (Rev.6: 10), who ask for vengeance even
though we were asked quite clearly to pray for our enemies and our persecuters. We have to
understand that the wicked one perishes in two ways: either by being converted to
righteousness, and thus his malice dies, or by being punished if he misses the opportunity for
repentance. Even if all humans are converted to God, Satan will remain condemned to the
end. Therefore, the righteous ask for the life to come, and it is not false that they ask for
vengeance.
St. Augustine
In other words, if this widow represents the church as well as every church member,
then she does not ask vengeance on people in a spiteful and revengeful spirit, she merely asks
for the destruction of malice from the life of the evil ones, by their acceptance of the faith;
she could also be asking for the end of the days when God’s children obtain the inheritance,
and the adversary and his hosts will be cast away in eternal perdition.

2- The Modest Worship (the Pharisee and the tax-collector)

Because the Word of God, due to His love for us, has come down to us in the Spirit of
lowliness so He carries us in him as members of His holy body, then it is appropriate for us,
so as to be firm in this gift, and in truth be counted as lovers and friends to carry this spirit of
lowliness in us. This is why He presented to us this parable of the Pharisee and the tax-
collector. As St. John Chrysostom said in his fifth sermon against Anomoeans, that the
Pharisee rode a vehicle pulled by righteousness with pride, whereas the tax collector’s vehicle
was pulled by sin with modesty. The former was destroyed and fell, whereas the latter
became exalted above after the tax-collector’s sins were forgiven because of his modesty.
+ When I finally referred to the Pharisee and the tax-collector, I assumed they had two
vehicles which are righteousness and malice; I actually referred to the reality of both of them,
and how important the modesty of the spirit is, and how corruptive pride can be.
Pride, when accompanied by righteousness, fasting and tithe offering, its vehicle
deteriorates. But as for the modesty of the Spirit when accompanied by sin, yet it is ahead of
the Pharisee’s horse, even if the driver is poor in the righteous deeds! Because he who was
more evil than the tax-collector, yet due to his modest spirit, and when he called himself a
sinner, and indeed he was, he was exalted more than the Pharisee who spoke of his fastings
and paying his tithes.
The evil was wiped out from the tax- collector, for the mother of all evils has been
taken away form him, which is the false glory and pride. On this basis St. Paul the apostle
teaches us saying (Gal.6: 4) “All must test their own work, rather than their neighbor’s work,
then that work will become a cause for pride”.
As for the Pharisee, he approached accusing openly the entire world, thinking himself
to be better off than all other humans. This is unacceptable even if he prefers himself to only
ten, or five, or two, or even one person. But he did not stop in prefering himself to the entire
world, he rather accused the entire world as well. In this way he was the last of the whole
procession.
Just as the ship that goes fast due to the endless rough waves and tempests is finally
wrecked on the rocks inside the harbor and loses all of its freight of treasures, likewise did the
Pharisee when he offered his fasting and his overflow of irrtues, yet he did not control his
tongue. As a result, his soul was wrecked inside the harbor, and he returned to his home after
prayer that is, inside the harbor; but he was totally wrecked. Instead of achieving any
beneficial thing, he was entirely devastated.
Dear brethren, when we know all of this, let us look upon ourselves as last of all, even
if we have reached the peak of every righteousness. We know well that pride is capable of
making even the heavenly ones fall unless they be careful, whereas the modesty of the
thoughts exalts from the abyss of sin those who know how to be sublime. This is what made
the tax-collector go ahead of the Pharisee.
Pride, which is the soul’s arrogance, is stronger than even the incorporeal hosts, that
is, Satan; whereas the soul’s modesty, and man’s knowledge of his own sins that he has
committed, these made the thief go ahead of the apostles to paradise.
I do not say this so we neglect righteousness, but rather to avoid pride. This is not to
make us commit sin, but rather to be exalted in our thoughts, for the modesty of the spirit is
the source of wisdom that pertains to us personally.
St. John Chrysostom
+ When the Pharisee prayed and thanked God for his righteousness, he did not lie, but he said
the truth, and he was not condemned because of this. But when he looked upon the tax
collector and said ‘I am not like this tax collector’ he committed the sinful accusation.
St. Dorotheus
+ Even though the Pharisee fasted two days a week, yet he benefited nothing, because he
prided himself of this over the tax-collector.
St. Athanasios the apostolic
+ The tax collector’s prayers overcame God who is never overcome.
+ Ariogance is contrary to modesty; through it Satan lost his sublimity as an archangel. Think
well, brother, what is this sin that God resists?
St. Jerome
+ In all of his words the Pharisee asked nothing of God, and so he obtained nothing. He went
up to pray but he did not think of praying to God, but rather of glorifying himself. Even more
so, he thought lightly of him who was praying.
+ The tax collector stood afar, but actually he was very close to God. By his conscientious
senses he was far, but by his piety he drew near.
+ He dared not look up, because his conscience pressured him to look down; but his hope has
exalted him up.
+ The Pharisee became blameworthy for being arrogant, and not for thanking God.
St. Augustine
+ Let your sinful heart be shown in your confession, and so you belong to Christ’s fold; for
the confession of sin calls for the physician’s healing; have not the Pharisee and the tax
collector gone up to the temple? One thought his situation was good, whereas the other
showed his wounds to the Physician. Surely the Pharisee was not wholesome, but he claimed
this, and so he left unhealed. As for the other, he looked down below, and dared not look up
to the heavens. He beat his chest saying, “Have mercy on me, for I am a sinner”. So what did
the Lord say (Luke18: 13, 14) “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather
than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves
will be exalted”.
As you can see, he who asks for boasting does not go in, but he rather falls. As for he
who humbles himself, he goes in though the door by means of the Shepherd and does not fall.
St. Augustine
+ The Pharisee uttered what is true. He said it not in the presence of anyone’s hearing, yet he
was condemned. What punishment is there for which the gossiping women fall in when
speaking falsely everywhere, even in matters that they do not believe in?
let us set up a door and a lock on the mouth (Sirach.28: 25). Endless wickedness
spring up from gossiping. Because of gossip, families are shattered, friendships are broken
up, and catastrophies occur. You man, do not be concerned about what pertains to your
neighbor, and do not judge him.
St. John Chrysostom
+ One has prayed and so he was judged, because he did not offer his prayer wisely.
It is said ‘two men’ went up to the temple to pray. Christ calls those who pray
‘humans’ without regarding their riches or authority. He looks upon all the inhabitants of the
earth as human, without any partialities on any side.
+ The mistakes of the Pharisee are numerous; first, because he was arrogant and insensitive.
He praised himself even though the holy Book cries out (Prov.27: 2) “Let another praise you,
and not your own mouth- a stranger, and not your own lips”.
+ Be sensible, you Pharisee, and put a door and a lock to your tongue. You are talking to God
who knows everything; Wait for the judge’s verdict. None of the skilful ones in their
wrestling puts the crown on himself, and no one accepts the crown of himself, but he rather
waits till the verdict is uttered. Bend with your arrogance, for pride is loathsome to God, and
is detestful in His eyes. Though you fast, yet in your lofty mind you profit nothing from this
abstinence, your toil is not crowned because you blend the dirt with the sweet fragrance.
Even according to the Mosaic law, you cannot make an offering to God that has some defect,
(Lev.22: 21) “When anyone offers a sacrifice..... from the herd or from the flock, to be
acceptable it must be perfect”. Therefore, every fasting accompanied by pride, you have to
expect, to hear about it from God “This is not the fasting I choose, (Is58: 6). You do pay the
tithe, but when you judge people in general, you wrong the one you have honored. Such
behavior is foreign to someone who pass God, for Christ has said, (Luke6: 37) “Do not judge,
and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned”. Also one of
His disciples says (James4: 12) “There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to
destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?” No one in good health scorns a sick
person laying on his bed; he rather fears lest he himself falls under the same pain.
+ But what about the tax-collector? He says he was standing afar; he dared not speak or lift
up his eyes above. You can see him void of any daring word, as if he had no right to do so.
But he was stricken with his conscience blaming him. He feared even to be seen by God, for
being a man who has neglected His covenants, and for his leading a loose life, an impure one.
You can see him at this point accusing himself in a clear way. He was afraid of the
Judge, and beat his chest in confession of his sins. He was unfolding his sickness as to a
physician, asking for mercy. What was the result? Listen to what the Judge said (Luke18: 13)
“this man went down to his home justified rather than the other”.
St. Cyril the great
+ The Pharisee prayed within and to himself, and not with God, because the sin of arrogance
brought him back to himself.
St. Baselious the great
+ He did not only scorn all the human race but he also attacked the tax- collector. His sin
might have been less if he had not attacked the tax- collector. But with a word he attacked
those who were absent, and hurt him who was present.
St. John Chrysostom
St. Basilious the great, moreover, wished in his comment about the Pharisee’s
behavior to show the clear difference between the arrogant thinking that is full of pride, and
that of the sublime and noble thinking that soars above every whim, that is not destroyed by
any despair, and which is not preoccupied by what is temporal. In other words, modesty does
not mean the debased thinking, but rather its sublimity and loftiness in being united with the
humble Lord Jesus. Thus we can carry with St. Paul the apostle the thoughts of Christ.
Finally, this parable implied a general symbolic picture: the Pharisee represents in
general, the Jewish people who regarded themselves as righteous by the law than all other
people. But as for the tax- collector, he refers to the Gentiles who were eager for the
salvation, despite their lack of knowledge, and their being deprived of all that has gone
before, which the Jews were blessed with, such as the covenants, the promises, the law and
the prophecies.

3- The Return to the Simplicity of Children:

When the Lord offered us the parable of humility as the right way by which our
prayers are answered, and thus be blessed not with material request, but with what is far
greater, the fellowship with our humble heavenly Groom, now the Lord offers us a practical
lesson to reveal His humility and His simplicity. He shows clearly how He is open- armed to
the little children, that is, to the simple souls that love humility; for the evangelist says
(Luke18: 15- 17) “People were bringing to Him even infants that He might touch them; and
when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them
and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not stop them; for’ it is to such as these
that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of
God as a little child will never enter it!”
The Lord Jesus has come to the entire humanity, to the Jew as much as to the Gentile,
to men to women, to the elders and to children and youths...etc. he came to everyone to
establish fellowship with them. The church fathers have tasted of the sweetness of Christ’s
fellowship. They have truly felt it is not appropriate that anyone be prevented, even if a little
child, of meeting Him so as to be blessed with their Savior. Even if he did not commit any
actual sin, yet it is to have his nature blessed, the nature that he has received as being
corrupted. This nature is renewed by the Lord Jesus in the baptism water, and accepts the
Lord as a Friend to him.
+ Let the little ones come, let the sick come to the Physician, let those who are lost come to
their Savior, let them come, and no one forbids them from coming.
If the branches, that is the children, have not yet committed any sin, yet they perish
due to their origin (Ps.115: 13) “He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great”.
Let the Physician touch the little ones together with the big ones.
If the loss is so common, then let the salvation be general. All of us have become lost,
and have all been found in Christ. I wish He isolates no one from his salvation.
St. Augustine
(Revise the words of the saints: St. Cyril the great, St. Ambrosios, St. John
Chrysostom and others in their interpretation of the gospel according to St. Mark (chapter10:
13-16).)

4- Being Released form the Bondage of Money:

This chapter focuses on prayer as the major way to be blessed with the divine
fellowship. We have seen how prayer blends with the faith that motivates us to it, so we pray
incessantly and with no boredom. In addition to this, prayer is not a mere life of worship; we
rather blend with the believer’s characteristic that urges us to be as simple as children in the
wisdom of the Spirit. Now, He warns us of a dangerous adversary who makes us lose the
Spirit of prayer, which is that of money- worshiping. One young man has encountered the
Lord Jesus, and he wished to follow Him, saying (Mark10: 17-25) “Good Teacher, what must
I do to inherit eternal life?” His love to riches stood an obstacle in his following the Lord
Jesus.
We have previously sp9oken elaborately of this encounter and the conversation that
was said between the Lord Jesus and this young man, when studying the gospel according to
St. Mark. I have also mentioned some words said by the fathers regarding this point. I wish
you to refer to it. I think it enough at this point to speak of other excerpts to some fathers so
as to add to the previous one.
+ I do not hesitate to call this ruler a covetous one, and I rebuke his attitude with the Lord
Jesus, but I do not say he is like the Pharisees who were testing the Lord.
St. John Chrysostom
He did not tell us to sell what we have since these are naturally evil things, otherwise
God would not have made them. He did not command us to throw them away as bad things,
but rather to distribute them and give them away. No one is condemned because he possesses
something, but because he ruins what he possesses. According to God’s commandment, let us
put these things aside for the forgiveness of our sins and so as to be blessed with the
kingdom.
St. Basilious the great
+ Even if you are rich, the Physician is able to heal you. He will not take away the wealth, but
He will take away the bondage to wealth, and the greed and love of covetousness.
St. John Chrysostom
+ God is able to satisfy the poor without our own mercy and kindness to them. But He asks
the donors to be tied in love to those who accept their donations.
St. John Chrysostom
+ God is good; He alone is perfect in goodness. Since you are in His image, it is appropriate
for you to be good. He is generous with everyone; therefore you have to be generous as well.
Avoid greed, and do not be miserly with your neighbor in any materialistic vain thing, for this
is the worst catastrophe and ignorance.
Father John of Kronsdat
+ A Man of God is the one who has died of his essential needs due to his many kind deeds.
He who has mercy on a poor one is caught in God’s care. He who impoverishes
himself for God’s sake, will find endless treasures.
St. Isaac the Syrian
It is amazing that when man gets rid of the love of the world, and when he is released
of the bondage chains of the love of riches, and the money-greed, the Lord grants him much
much more blessing, even those that are temporal ones, in addition to the eternal glory. This
is what our real Friend assured us of when He answered St. Peter, who has said (Luke18: 28)
“Look, we have left our homes and followed You”. And he said to them Truly I tell you,
there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of
the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to
come eternal life”.
We have previously mentioned the sayings of some fathers and their remarks on these
words of the Lord Jesus, in the interpretation of St. Matthew 19: 26, 27; St. Mark10: 28- 30; I
wish you to refer to them.

5- Accepting the Cross:

It is appropriate for the Christian to be released from the bondage of the love of
money, and from the chains of asking for temporal wealth, so the Christian’s soul be exalted
by means of the Holy Spirit, in the release towards the heavens, so as to live with her Groom
eternally, carrying His own qualities. Therefore it is quite impossible to be blessed with the
crucified Christ in His glory, without sharing Him the cross. This is why the Lord Jesus
directed the attention of His disciples towards His cross, His pain, and His death as a true
way to glory.
St. Luke the evangelist says (Luke18: 31-34) “Then He took the twelve aside and said
to them. ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of
Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles; and
He will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged Him, they will kill
Him, and on the third day He will rise again’. But they understood nothing about all these
things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said”.
We have previously commented on, through the father’s sayings, on these holy words
in the interpretation of St. Matthew20: 17, St. Mark10: 32-34; St. Mark8: 31-33.
However, the Lord has previously declared to His disciples about His sufferings so He
prepares them for accepting them as a major quality in the life of their heavenly Friend. He
constantly declares openly our commitment to accepting His sufferings so we embody His
quality in us. Thus we will be equipped to enter the honorable circle of the Cross, and be
partners with the Crucified.
+ The Savior has seen ahead of time the hearts of His disciples become disturbed about His
sufferings; He therefore informed them of what He would endure as suffering and of the
glory of His resurrection.
Pope Gregory the great
+ The Lord spoke privately with His disciples about His passion, for it was not appropriate
for Him to declare this to the multitudes lest they be disturbed. But He told the disciples of
this ahead of time so they be able to endure it when the time comes.
Isaiah had prior to this declared of it saying (Is.50: 6) “I gave My back to those who
struck Me, and My cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide My face from
insult and spitting”. He also proclaimed the cross (Is53: 13) “He poured out Himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors”. But David prophesied about Christ’s resurrection
(Ps.16: 10) “For You do not give me up to Sheol, or let Your faithful one see the Pit”.
St. John Chrysostom
+ God’s way is a daily cross. No one has ascended up to heaven easily. We know where the
restful way goes to, and where it ends. But he who dedicates himself to God whole-heatedly,
God will never leave him unattended. He will rather make this man be concerned for the sake
of truth, and it is then that he realises all these sorrows sent to him were only an evidence of
God’s care of him.
St. Isaac the Syrian

6- The Enlightment: The opening of the blind man’s eyes.

The Lord asked us to persist in incessant prayer so we be constantly in His presence,

and be blessed in talking lovingly to Him. The life of prayer is necessarily accompanied by
the Spirit of humility, as the tax- collector did, blended with the simplicity of children, and
the release from every bondage of the love of money, as well as accepting the cross joyfully.
The purpose of this life is to open the inward vision so as to witness the heavenly Friend. It is
at this point that we hear the blind man’s prayer, sitting on the roadside begging. It is an
effective prayer, though of few words, for (Luke18: 38) “Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of
David, have mercy on me!’”. With his heart’s cries, so full of faith, he managed to stop the
entire procession and find the Lord Jesus ordering them he be brought to Him. When he drew
near, the man heard the Lord say (Luke18: 41) “What do you want Me to do for you?”
I repeat, with the kindled prayer, the blind man was blessed in getting closer to the
Lord, hearing His voice, and obtaining the blessing of vision, and following Him. The
evangelist says, (Luke18: 43) “Immediately he regained his sight and followed Him,
glorifying God; and all the people when they saw it, praised God”. His vision was opened so
he sees the Lord, and his tongue to glorify God, and he was the cause for all the people to
praise God.
We have previously spoken of the opening of this man’s eyes in our study of the
gospels of St. Matthew (20: 29etc) and St. Mark (10: 46etc). I find it enough here to mention
some few comments:
+ The Lord fulfilled this miracle on the way to manifest He does not walk, even in the street,
without doing good. He offered Himself an example to His disciples, so we be useful in
everything, and nothing false would be in us.
Father Theophlactius
+ Blindness refers to the human race, that was in our first father who did not find the
brightness of the heavenly light. Thus darkness prevailed over the human race.
‘Jericho’ means ‘the moon’; it is the moon that diminishes every month, referring to
our weakness in accepting death. But our Greator’s approach to Jericho granted the blind man
vision. This means that He took the infirmities of our bodies, and so He brought back the
vision it had lost.
Those who went ahead of Christ when He was coming, represent the physical lusts
and much vice that work in our hearts, and that confuse our thoughts, and corrupt our prayers.
But the blind man was crying out way louder, because whenever the restless thoughts attack
us, we have all the more to pray fervently.
Pope Gregory the great
+ + +
 Chapter XIX
Page (660: 694)
The Forth Gook
Our Faithful Friend
Our Friend in Jerusalem

The story of Zacchaeus the chief tax-collector who hosted the Lord Jesus at his house
completes the story of the healing of the blind man. the opening of the eyes refers to
humanity’s need of obtaining the inward spiritual vision so it could follow His salvation
journey. Thus humanity would enter with Him into Jerusalem, and accepts His cross, and be
blessed with His resurrection. The hosting of Zacchaeus to Him points to the Lord’s wish that
we not only witness Him and follow Him wherever He goes, but also that we open our hearts
so He enters in just as in His house or in His Jerusalem, and that He declares His salvation in
us. The evangelist also mentions to us the parable of the ten pounds, so the Lord declares that
even though He wishes to enter every house, even the tax- collectors’ homes and the sinners’
homes, yet He asks for the honest hearts. He wishes we embody His quality of ‘honesty’, so
He grants us a greater inheritance, an authority and a kingdom of an eternal standard. He
gives ten cities to one, and to the other five... etc.
In this way our Friend wishes to open our eyes so we open our inward homes with
Zacchaeus, and thus He rules in us. We also rule through Him, and be blessed with His
heavenly places. This is the aim of our heavenly Friend’s entrance into Jerusalem, and is the
purpose of all of His salvation deeds.
1- Zacchaeus hosting the Lord 1- 10
2- The Parable of the ten Pounds 11- 27
3- Drawing close to Jerusalem 28- 40
4- His Weeping over Jerusalem 41- 44
5- Purifying the Temple 45- 46
6- His teaching at the Temple 47- 48
+ + +

1- Zacchaeus Hosting The Lord:

We have already said that the opening of the blind man’s eyes represents the opening
of the inward vision, to be blessed in realising God’s work for salvation, that the Lord was
determined to fulfill by entering Jerusalem,. On the other hand, we have Zacchaeus who
hosted the Lord Jesus, and this refers to the opening of the inner house for the Lord to dwell
in, and would thus become His inward Jerusalem that He will enter, as if in a heavenly
procession, to declare His glorious cross in it.
We can draw the following comparison between the opening of the blind man’s eyes,
and the hosting of Zacchaeus to the Lord Jesus:
Firstly: The blind man met the Lord which he was sitting on the roadside, begging (Luck18:
35). As for Zacchaeus, he met the Lord inside the city, and he was on a sycamore tree
(Luke19: 4). Both of them were blessed with the Lord’s grace. But as St. Ambrosios says
“The Lord would heal him, but as for the other, the Lord invites Himself at his home without
hearing a word of invitation, for the Lord knew whtat was in his heart”.
Who is this on the way begging for the opening of his eyes other than every person
who has not experienced inwardly the grace of God? But he did come to believe through
hearing, and thus he ran, as on the roadside asking for the grace of enlightment. Then the
Lord opened his vision to lead him to the pastures of His sacred church. As for Zacchaeus
who went up on the tree, he represents every person who is blended spiritually into the
church, which is the sycamore tree, or, he has been exalted by the Holy Spirit to the wooden
cross, and shares the Lord in His passion. He thus is blessed with the Lord’s dwelling in his
inward home.
Secondly: The Lord Jesus left the blind man to cry out, and the evangelist says (Luke18: 39)
“But he shouted even more loudly”. But the Lord did not wait for one word from Zacchaeus’
mouth, He rather hosted Himself in his home. Why so? The former may refer to the active
and struggling life that through love cries out incessantly, and thus the Lord opens the eyes to
witness His kingdom. The latter refers also to the struggling and meditative life through a
deep and divine love. This is exalted by means of the Holy Spirit to the cross, to see as
through the sycamore tree, its Groom chanting out, asking to dwell in her constantly. He goes
into her heart, and dwells in her depths, and she goes to Him, tasting of His divine loving
mysteries that is indescribable.
I do not mean by so saying there are two divisions in the church- the workers, and
those who meditate. But even if every person has his personal talent by which the Spirit
distinguishes him, yet it is appropriate for the believer, in his true spiritual work, to live in
contemplation of God’s mysteries. In his true contemplation, let him remain a struggling
laborer, till the last breath. It is one life ‘in Christ Jesus our Lord’ in which we live working
by means of His Spirit. We are exalted as if with His wings, to be blessed with the
partnership of His mysteries. In other words, let each one come forward, crying our with the
blind man without any interruption, and up on the tree top with Zacchaeus on the sycamore
tree. Thus our vision is opened, and we are blessed with His partnership and His constant
dwelling in us.
Thirdly: This blind man sitting on the roadside begging, may represent the church members
who came of Jewish origin. They were as if on the roadside who knew through the symbols,
the shadows and the prophecies the Messaiah and His work of salvation. These were under
the law like blind men and hungry men, incapable of witnessing the divine mysteries. They
were like poor beggars, for the law was unable to uplift them to God’s embrace to see and to
be satisfied. Rather, the law led them on the way to the Savior, to open their vision and see
Him, for he is the joyful and satisfying Truth.
As for Zacchaeus, he represents the church members who came from a Gentile origin.
These were similar to the chief tax- collector who was rejected by the Jews. They were as if
short in stature with no previous spiritual experience; but once they were exalted through
faith on the wooden cross with their Redeemer, they have become blessed with God’s divine
voice calling them to dwell in their midst, and to appoint them members of His household.
The blind man, being a representative of the triumphant Jews, asked the people and he
was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by (Luke18: 37). These multitudes are the fathers
and the prophets who spoke to them of Jesus of Nazareth, who was passing among the Jewish
nation to fulfill His work of salvation. As for Zacchaeus, he did not ask because he was as a
stranger to the fathers and the prophets. But through faith, he went up on the cross to witness
the Lord amongst the people. He also saw Him manifested by the fathers and the prophets
whom he came to know through the Messaiah and His cross.
Let us go back to the details of the story; that of Zacchaeus’ encounter with the Lord
Jesus as narrated by the evangelist St. Luke (Luke19: 1- 4).
“He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus;
he was a chief tax- collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on
account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and
climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, because He was going to pass that way”.
At this point, we notice the following:
Firstly: Some think the word ‘Zacchaeus’ means ‘the justified’ because Zacchaeus represents
the triumphant Gentiles who have been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Secondly: Zacchaeus was a chief tax-collector; we know that this job was detested by the
Jews, and was looked upon as a job for the account of the occupying Roman empire, that had
the scent of betrayal to the Jewish nation. This is what the tax-collectors. Were generally
described as – lovers of money, in a greedy covetous spirit, merciless regarding their Jewish
brethren. At any rate, many scribes and Pharisees, due to their religious positions, and due to
people’s regard of them, they managed to meet the Lord physically. They even asked Him to
come to their banquets; and yet He never refused to go, for they may pull away from their
apparent worship to the concept of the spiritual divine faith. But they rarely met Him on the
spiritual level, or by being blessed with His divine thoughts. But as for this chief tax-
collector, in people’s eyes he represented the essence of defilement, and the last one to be
interested in what comes from God. Yet, due to his hidden and hearty eagerness, he wished to
see who Jesus was. He translated this eagerness to a simple job, which is that of climbing the
sycamore tree t o see who will be kind to him, by opening the doors of hope to every human
soul so as to encounter the Savior of sinners. As St. Ambrosios says, “We are presented here
with the chief tax-collector; so, who of us would ever despair of himself, after obtaining
grace after a deceitful life?”
Indeed, the tax-collector category was included among the adulterers (Matt.21: 31),
for these were two very destestful categories. The former were busy asking for wealth on
others’ account, whereas the latter category were looking for the physical lust on account of
sanctifying the people. It was as if the two categories were destructive to the people. Despite
this, the chief tax-collector was able to usurp by faith the Lord’s entrance to his house, and
even to his heart. As St. Cyril the great says, “Zacchaeus was the chief tax-collector, and he
was totally given to covetousness. His only aim was to increase his gains, for this was the
tax-collector’s job. St. Paul called greed the worshiping of idols (Col.3: 5). This may be
appropriate to those who do not know God, for they are preoccupied with greed. Because
those tax-collectors practiced t his sin openly, with no shame whatsoever, thus the Lord
included them with adulterers, saying to the chief Jews (Matt.21: 31) “the tax collectors and
the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you”. But Zacchaeus was no more
counted as one of the tax collectors. He has become qualified for mercy at the hands of Christ
who asks for those who are far to draw closer to Him. He also gave light to those in darkness.
St. Jerome thinks the sycamore tree here refers t o the good deeds of repentance,
where the repentant person tramples on the previous sins with his own feet. Through this, he
looks up to the Lord as if from the tower of righteousness. For a second time he says,
“Zacchaeus who was converted in a moment, became worthy of accepting Christ as a guest to
him”.
Thirdly: St. Luke the evangelist mentions that Zacchaeus was a rich man (Luke19: 2), and
that he wished to see who Jesus was. He put into action this inward keenness into a job that
has cost him much; for it was not an easy thing for a prestigious man, as the chief tax
collector was, to climb a sycamore tree as a child would, and that people would see him there.
The evangelist may have wished to confirm that not every wealthy man is wicked; but that
every person- whatever position, abilities or circumstances he had- carries inwardly the
natural low that takes his heart, if he wished so, towards seeing God’s Word and being
blessed with Him. God does not leave Himself with no witness in man’s life. The rich as well
as the poor, if they wish, could go to the Lord and in the sharing of the free work of grace.
St. Ambrosios says “Let the wealthy people know that wealth in its essence is not a
sin, but rather the misusing of it is sinful. The money, that represents the stumbling block
regarding the evil ones, is a means of practicing righteousness regarding the rich. Zacchaeus
was rich, and therefore let us learn that not all the rich are covetous”. St. John Chrysostom
says, “Abraham indeed ruled over the poor’s riches. All those who possessed wealth, in a
sacred way, spent it for being God’s gift for them”. He moreover adds, “The Lord did not
forbid people from becoming rich, but rather to be slaves to their wealth. He wishes us to use
it as a necessity, but not to be guards to it. The slave keeps guard, whereas the landlord
spends t he money.
Fourthly: On one hand, the sycamore tree refers to the cross by means of which the believer
encounters his Christ, and hears His divine voice, and his inward home is opened in
acceptance of the Lord being transfigured in him. On the other hand, a thought integrated
with this one, the tree refers to the church which is the good Shepherd’s shoulders, so as to
offer him as a true fruit of love to her Groom. In other words, the church’s major role is to
carry the entire world, even if he is someone as the chief tax collector. The church carries him
on her shoulders, not to condemn him or hurt his feelings, but rather to grant him the
possibility of meeting his Savior. The church carries him in love and kindness, and thus
kindles his heart more zealously towards the heavenly Groom. This is why, in truth, it has
been said that the church is a true encounter between Christ and the repentant sinners. In it,
the Lord finds His pleasure, for He can see the church offering Him in love, those souls He
has died for. The sinner also finds the doors of hope wide open continuously, and the hearts
and arms are ready in love to carry him to his Savior.
Fifthly: The encounter between the Lord Jesus and Zacchaeus who was up on the sycamore
tree may imply a symbolic meaning of the Lord’s salvation work: the sycamore tree here
refers to the church that presents the sinful humanity to the Savior. The amazing thing is that
the Savior leaves the surrounding crowds, joyfully gathering around Him, that is, He left the
angelic hosts and the heavenly glories, and He denied Himself so as to look upon the man
who has fallen; despite his evil and corruption, He meets him on a spiritual level, so as to tell
him He has invited Himself in Zacchaeus, hurry and come down for I must stay at your house
today. Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham”. It is as if
this mission represents the mystery of incarnation by which the Lord has entered our house,
for He has embodied our nature. He does not dwell in this incarnation for a while, but He
carried it in Him, and hid with His divinity so as to sanctify our nature eternally.
Sixthly: We may also say that the fig-tree refers to the faith seed that grows inside the heart
so as to become a huge tree.
Man dwells inside it and through it he sees the Lord Jesus whom he has not seen
before. At this point he is blessed with the Lord’s dwelling in him, and he has left his malice.
By means of the tree of faith, Zacchaeus met the Lord despite his personal obstruction
for being of such a short stature, as well as the crowds surrounding the Lord and making
Zacchaeus unable to see anything. By the live and active faith, we are able to overcome every
weakness we have, and soar above every situation so as to meet our Lord Jesus. We shall see
Him, and He will see us righteous in Him. We shall hear Him calling us, and listen to His
voice, and respond to His words.
St. Cyril the great says:
“He wished to see Jesus, and so he limbed a sycamore tree. In this way the seed of
salvation grew inside him. He has seen Jesus with the eyes of godliness such is Zacchaeus’
faith. Thorough this vision, he also saw the Lord through the human eyes. The Lord therefore
was gentle to him and encouraged him, telling him (Luke19: 5) “Zacchaeus, hurry and come
down”.
He wished to see Him, but the crowds obstructed him; but the crowds did not obstruct
him as much as the obstruction of his own sins. He was short in stature not only physically,
but spiritually as well.
There was no other way by which Zacchaeus could see the Lord except by going
higher and climbing this sycamore tree that Christ was going to pass by.
 This story implies a symbolic meaning; for no one could see Jesus and believe in Him
unless he goes up a sycamore tree. This means his subduing his members that are on the
earth, such as adultery, unchastity... etc.
Furthermore, Pope Gregory the great gave a similar interpretation to the concept of St.
Cyril the great in the previous last phases. He saw the sycamore tree as a tree bearing fruits of
small value.
Therefore, no one would be able to see the Lord Jesus unless he is exalted by faith
above the temporal and vain matters such as the sycamore tree. He is exalted up on it by his
meditation on the heavenlies, and his being blessed with the heavenly wisdom.
Seventhly: St. Ambrosios thinks when Zacchaeus, being of such a short stature, climbed up
the sycamore tree to see the Lord Jesus, this refers to the believer’s exaltation, who, due to
sin, has become of such a short stature. He has been deprived of seeing the Lord, above the
literacy of the law. He is no more under the law, but rather exalted by the Spirit above the
law, so as to see with grace, the Lord Jesus. It is as if the climbing of the sycamore tree is the
release from the literal thinking in the interpretation of the Holy Book, to the blessing of the
deep spiritual thinking by means of the sacred wooden cross.
Eighthly: When the Lord Jesus entered Zacchaeus’ house, Zacchaeus heard this divine
saying (Luke 19: 8) “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of
Abraham”.
What does He mean by the salvation of this house?
(a) When a member in the family is sanctified, he could, by the Lord Jesus who dwells in
him, to be a mystery of blessing and salvation to the rest of the members. The book of Acts
reveals strongly how some people’s encounter with the Lord Jesus urged their household to
meet Him as well, and become blessed with His salvation in their life. We cannot deny that a
member of the Lord Jesus could be accepted, and another rejected. Even the Lord warned us
by His words saying that a man’s enemies are his own people. Also He said that the father
would rise against His son, and the son against his father ...etc. This warning is continued by
the words of the Lord Jesus Himself, about the believer’s mission, and how it is as the light of
the world, able to, by means of Jesus the real light, to attract the people of the household to
the Sun of righteousness.
(b) When a person is sanctified by the Lord Jesus. Entering into his life, the inward members
of his household are sanctified as well. I mean, when the believer accepts the Lord Jesus, he
presents to the Lord all the people of His household, that is, his body in all its potentials, his
motives, his emotions and feelings, his thoughts and his capabilities. For God does not
sanctify the spirit alone, but the body and the soul as well.
(c) He calls the house ‘son to Abraham’; He no doubt, does not mean the actual house, but
rather its inhabitant, or inhabitants who were blessed with the work of the Lord Jesus in them.
Zacchaeus was called Abraham’s son not because of his biological lineage, but
because of a greater thing, because he has had the same active and live faith of Abraham. By
faith, Abraham left his land, his people, his household, and went after the divine call of God
to a land in which he roamed so as to offer it an inheritance to his sons. Now, his son
Zacchaeus has the same faith; he left his entire possessions to which he had previously clung
as a land in which he dwelt, and also his own people that were as his own household. He was
tied strongly to all of his possessions. But now he has loosened himself from all of these ties,
and was offering his belongings to the poor. He moreover offered the rest to be given doubly
to them he has previously dealt with wrongfully.
We may also say that Zacchaeus, when he was the chief tax collector, he was
biologically speaking, Abraham’s son. But now, that he has comes to know the Lord, he
became a son to him according to the faith, and he even became God’s son in Christ Jesus.
Ninthly: St. John Chrysostom thinks Christ’s coming to Zacchaeus home has made
Zacchaeus rejoice (Luke19: 6). He has become as if with wings flying above what is
temporal. This is why he said “half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor”.
We may say that sin wounds the soul and makes it lose its joy; thus it lives tied to the
world and temporal things, and it loses its eternal hope and inward happiness. But when the
Lord is transfigured in the soul, and when the soul hears His voice, it is filled with hope and
is exalted above any earthly attachment, so it lives as if with the wings of the soul soaring up
from one glory to the next. It is blessed with grace on top of grace, released from one strength
to the next in real joy.
Tenthly: St. Augustine compares Zacchaeus who hosted the Lord joyfully, and the centurion
who believed himself not worthy enough for the Lord to enter his house (Matt.8: 8) saying,
“there is no contrast between them both, and neither of them is better than the other. The
former accepted the Lord joyfully in his house (Luke19: 6) whereas the other said he was not
worthy enough for the Lord to enter under his roof (Matt.8: 8). Both of them honored the
Savior, even if in different ways. Both of them were miserable in their sin, and yet they
obtained the mercy they asked for”.
Eleventh: Because the Jews did not realis the purpose of Christ’s work (Luke19: 7) “All who
saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner; instead
of rejoicing for the sinner’s salvation, they grumbled against the Savior because He opened
His heart to them and entered their homes so He rules over their hearts. As St. Cyril the great
expresses “He raised them from the dead; why do they blame Christ, if He has raised him
from perdition due to his fall and burial in spiritual corruption? To teach them this He said,
‘Today, salvation has come to this house, for he is also a son to Abraham, because wherever
Christ goes, there is necessarily the salvation. Let Him be inside us; if we believe, He is in us.
By faith He dwells in our hearts, and we ourselves become a dwelling place for Him. It was
appropriate for the Jews to rejoice because Zacchaeus has been saved in an amazing way, for
he too, was counted among Abraham’s sons that God has promised the salvation in Christ by
means of the saintly prophets, saying, (Is.59: 20) “And He will come to Zion as Redeemer, to
those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the Lord”. Christ has risen to save the
inhabitants of the earth from their sins; He asks for those who have been lost, and saves those
who have perished. This is His mission; you may say this is the fruit of His divine kindness.
Twelfthly: When the Lord Jesus entered Zacchaeus’ home, He shone with the brilliance of
His light on him. He cast out every darkness without His rebuking him with a single word, or
even telling him one commandment. The presence of Christ Himself ‘God’s incarnate Word’,
was power enough to be able to pull out Zacchaeus from the love of money to his love for the
poor, and his eagerness to give back more doubly to those he has previously wronged, even if
this meant to pay them all what he possessed as a price for this.
In an excerpt attributed to St. John Chrysostom, it has been said, “Zacchaeus was not
expecting the judgment of the law, he rather judged himself. Look, here is a miracle; He
obeys without being taught. Just as the sun shines with its beams on the house and brightens
it up by deeds and not by words, likewise does the Savior shine with the brilliance of His
righteousness, so as to shatter the darkness of transgression, and thus the light shines in
darkness”.
Moreover, it is appropriate for us to notice that Zacchaeus did not offer his money to
the poor and those who were unjustly treated; he rather offered his heart first to God. It is
then that this came as a natural gift and without any cost, and truly joyful to God. St. Jerome
says, “If we offer Christ ourselves as well as our wealth, He accepts the offering joyfully”.
Thirteenthly: Our Lord Jesus Christ uncovers to us His salvation mission, opening to us the
door of hope to everyone, saying (Luke19: 10) “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to
save the lost”.
 The scholar Tritilian uses these words in answer to the Agnostics who scorn the
physical body, and consider it not obtaining any salvation, and that it does not rise on the last
day, saying, “What do you think of those who perished? He is undoubtedly man, man in his
entirety, and not part of him. For sure, it is man entirely. If sin has devastated him entirely,
then he will be saved entirely as well”.
St. Augustine uses the same words in rebuking the followers of Pelagius, who deny
the basic sin. This is why he addresses the Lord Jesus on their behalf, saying, “If You have
come to ask for, and to save what has perished, then You have not come for the children,
because they have not perished, but have rather been born in the state of salvation. Therefore
you go to the adults.
St. Augustine speaks to us of the salvation mission of the Lord Jesus and His coming
to search for them who have perished, saying, “He has also found the lost ones; they have
disappeared here and there behind the thistles, and so He came to them, to find them after He
was being born by the thorns of His suffering. He actually came and found them, and saved
them. They have been saved by Him who has been slaughtered for their sake”.

2- The Parable Of The Ten Pounds:

The encounter of the Lord Jesus with Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in his house,
and the Lord’s declaration of the salvation of His household, this is a fulfillment of the real
joyful wedding. Zacchaeus’ heart was exalted above every earthly thought, and thus he
offered much more than what the law had ordered. He offered half of his money to the poor;
and he also asked to give back four times as much to anyone he has dealt with wrongfully. In
this way the Lord Jesus declares the divine wish in sanctifying every soul so that everyone
would be a real kingdom to Him. Now, after declaring this present kingdom, the active one in
the human life, the Lord wishes to declare this is only a first step to the eternal kingdom. He
therefore offered us the parable of the ten pounds so we know that even though we are happy
here with Christ’s encounter, yet we live struggling in leading an honest life so as to obtain
the perfect eternal glory of His kingdom.
The evangelist says (Luke19: 11) “As they were listening to this, He went on to tell
them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom
of God was to appear immediately.
It seemed that a new concept began to prevail among the Jews, when they saw what
amazing deeds the Lord of glory, Jesus, made, and that the Kingdom was drawing very close.
This means that the Lord reigns in Jerusalem, and that He establishes His kingdom on earth.
This is why even the disciples were sometimes preoccupied with the position each of them
would have in this quickly expected kingdom to come. It is as if the Lord Jesus wished to
direct their attention away from the greatness of the kingdom by an earthly temporal thinking
of being prepared for the eternal kingdom, by acquiring the quality of ‘honesty’.
We have previously spoken of this parable in our above study (Matt.25: 18). Now, I
think enough said id we point out the following:
Firstly: The Lord Jesus says, (Luke19: 12, 13) “A nobleman went to a distant country to get
royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten
pounds and said to them ‘Do business with these until I come back’.
Who is this nobleman other than the Lord of glory Himself, the Word who has
become incarnate? He is a nobleman, actually ‘the Only Begotten One’. He is unique in His
eternal sonship to the Father. He denied Himself by His incarnation, so He converts us, we
who have become slaves to transgression, to become God’s sons, by being united with Him,
and 3getting firm in Him. We therefore become noblemen with Him.
 St. Cyril the great remarks on the expression ‘noblemen’ saying, “This parable
represents, briefly speaking the core of provision that has been offered us. That is, Christ’s
mystery from the beginning to the end”.
God’s Word has become man; and even though He has become like the sinful body,
He was called a slave (Phil2: 7). But He was born free, a ‘nobleman’, for He was born of the
Father in an unutterable birth. Indeed, He is God who is above all in nature and glory,
reigning over us and even over all other creation by His absolute and incomparable
perfection.
He is a ‘nobleman’ in being God’s Son; He has obtained this title, not like us, out of
God’s goodness and His love to mankind, but because this concerns Him by nature, as being
born of the Father, high above every other creation.
Therefore, when He has become the Word, who is the image of the Father, and the co-
essential to Him, when He has become man like us (Phil.2: 8-11) “And being found in human
form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on the
cross. Therefore God also highly exalted Him, and gave Him the name that is above every
name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is lord, to the glory of God the
Father”.
Surely, the Son is God by nature, then how is it that God has given Him this name that
is above every other name? We say, that when He has become man, that is, when He has
become human like us, He took the name of a slave, and He accepted our poverty, our
humiliation, and after the fulfillment of the incarnation mystery, He has been exalted to the
glory that is His by nature, and not as a foreign thing to Him that He is unused to. Neither is it
as a foreign matter offered to Him from someone else, but that He rather obtained the glory
that pertains to Him. In His words to the heavenly Father, He says (John17: 5) “So now,
Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had in Your presence before
the world existed”. He was clothed in the glory of divinity for being there and existent before
all the ages and before the world, for He is the God born of God. When He became man, as I
have said, there was no change in Him, nor any trading or exchange, but He remained just as
He is permanently, by being born of the Father like Him in everything. He is (Heb.1: 3) “He
is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being”. Indeed, He has
everything pertaining to God the father, for He is One with Him in essence, co-essential to
Him in not having any change, like Him in everything”.
St. Basilious the great also remarks on the words ‘nobleman’ saying, “He is a
nobleman not only regarding His divinity, but also regarding His humanity, for being of
David’s lineage, biologically speaking”.
If this man, this ‘nobleman’ is God’s Word incarnate, then what does He mean by the
words (Luke19: 12) “went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then
return”.
By the distant country, He may have meant the human nature that due to
disobedience, has come to be far from God. It is as if this is a strange country to Him,
particularly the Gentiles that have resisted the divine worship, and have excluked themselves
away from God’s kingdom. He has come to us, we who were strangers and far away, so He
might reign over us, and bring us closer to Him as members of His body. Thus He would
carry us in Him as our own Head, and take us back to His kingdom, so we find by His means,
a place in the Father’s embrace. This is what St. Paul the apostle proclaimed clearly, saying
(Eph.2: 11-19).
So then, remember that at one time, you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’
by those who are called ‘the circumcision’- a physical circumcision made in the flesh by
human hands- remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and
without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been
brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace; in His flesh He has made both
groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.... So
then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints, and also
members of the household of God”.
St. Basilious the great says “He went to a distant country, not the geographical
distance, but the actual state. For God Himself is very ,near to each of us, whenever we are
linked to Him through the good deeds. He is also far away whenever we leave Him and get
far away from Him by our being so close to perdition. He has come to this distant country on
earth, so He accepts the Gentile kingdom, as the Psalm says, (Ps.2: 8) “Ask of Me, and I will
make the nations your heritage”.
Moreover, St. Augustine says, “The distant country is the Gentiles’ church that is
extended to the ends of the earth. He has come to fulfill the gentile’s fullness; then He will
return so as to save all of Israel, by their acceptance of the true faith, and their rejection of the
stern Zionist concepts”.
The Lord has come down to us just as to a distant country by His acquiring our
humanity. He established His kingdom in us, so that He returns us to His heavens as a
kingdom of His own. As St. Ambrosios says, “He described Himself regarding His godliness
and His humanity. He is rich, regarding the perfection of His divinity, and He has
impoverished Himself for our sake. Even though He is the rich and the eternal King, and Son
of the eternal King, yet He said He went to a distant country by acquiring our flesh; for He
went the human way as if on a journey to a foreign land. He came to this world to prepare for
Himself a kingdom of us. Thus, Jesus came to this earth to receive for Himself a kingdom of
us, we to whom was said ‘God’s kingdom is in you’. At this point, the Son hands over His
kingdom to the Father. By His yielding it, Christ does not lose it, but it rather grows. We are
Christ’s kingdom and the Father’s kingdom, for it is said (John14: 6) “No one comes to the
Father except through Me”. When I am on the way, I am for Christ; and when I cross by Him,
I am for the Father. But wherever I may be found, I am through Christ, and am under His
control”.
Now, what does He mean by the ten slaves to whom He gave ten pounds to trade
with, till He comes to them again?
St. John Chrysostom thinks the number 10 refers to perfection. It is as if the Lord
Jesus has offered to all the slaves, that is, to the entire human race, indiscriminately among
the races, or nations, His different absolute gifts so they kindle then till He comes; thus He
will reward them so they kindle them till He comes; thus, He will reward them for their
honesty in performing their job.
He gave the ten slaves so that no one could protest and say that God’s message of
salvation does not personally concern him. He has granted to every slave one of the ten
pounds; that is, He offered His work and talents to anyone who desires it, without any
partiality or discrimination.
Some think that the pound is equivalent to ten coins. This is a number that represents
absolute perfection. It is as if the Lord, when He offered the pounds, that He wished everyone
to trade in His great gifts to obtain honor and glory of a magnificent standard.
St. Cyril the great comments on these pounds distributed for the ten slaves, saying,
“The Savior distributes His variable divine gifts on those who believe in Him. It is as if we
confirm that this is the meaning the pounds stand for. Up till this day, the Lord continues to
distribute as the Holy Book shows clearly, for St. Paul the devout one says, (1Cor.12: 4-6)
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but
the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of
them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”. He,
furthermore, makes clear what he said by the manifestation of the variable talents, in this
way; (1Cor.12: 8,9) “To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to
another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same
Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit. “In this way, he shows clearly by these
words the variable gifts”.
Secondly: The Lord Jesus differentiated between His ten slaves who have received the
variable gifts; they are the ones who refer to the believers, some of whom struggle with the
Spirit so as to win ten pounds, and some of whom gain five. Also, some are careless and are
neglectful, and put the talent as if in a handkerchief; and between those who have rejected
Him altogether, for He says (Luke19: 14) “But the citizens of his country hated him, and sent
a delegation after him saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us’.” As St. Cyril the
great says “Indeed, the difference is great between those who have received the talents, and
those who have denied His kingdom altogether. These are rebellious people who throw away
the yoke of His scepter, whereas the others work for serving His glory”. The rebels of His
kingdom may refer to the Jews who are the people of His city, for He said (John15: 24) “But
now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father”. As the evangelist St. John says
(John19: 15) “The chief priests answered ‘We have no king but the emperor, Caesar’.”
What does the Lord mean by saying, (Luke19: 14) “sent a delegation after Him”? St.
Augustine answers “They sent a delegation after Him because after His resurrection they
persecuted His apostles and rejected the Gospel message”.
Thirdly: The Lord says, (Luke 19: 15) “When he returned, having received royal power, he
ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find
out what they had gained by trading”. What does it mean ‘having received royal power’? We
may say with St. John Chrysostom that the Lord Jesus reigned over all mankind rightfully,
for He is the Creator of everyone. He also reigned by the right of justification and
righteousness, for He reigns over the righteous people, and they obey Him willingly. In this
way He has two kingdoms: the first one is an obligation on us for being of His creation. The
second one is optional; so we accept His reign over us through the work of His grace. This is
what He meant by the words ‘having received royal power’.
St. Augustine says “He returns after taking His kingdom, for He comes in all glory,
Him who who had previously appeared to them so modestly, saying (John18: 36) “My
kingdom is not of this world”.
Fourthly: Who is he who has gained with the silver pound that is his master’s, another ten
pounds? And who is he who has gained, with his master’s pound, another five pounds? Who
is he who has received a silver pound from his master, and has put it in a handkerchief, or has
buried it in the ground? (Matt.25: 18)?
Undoubtedly, the ten silver pounds that the Lord has distributed to His slaves, are no
other than “The Word of God”, about whom was said it is like silver purified with fire
(Ps121: 3), particularly the law, to which it is referred by number 10, for it has in its essence
the ten commandments! The first took the divine commandment, not to bury it, but rather to
gain ten pounds, that is, to achieve the angelic life, since the heavenly hosts are nine
(including the cherubims and the seraphims) and thus he becomes the tenth host. As for the
second one, who has gained five pounds, this refers to the one who is sanctified in his five
senses by the Word of God. This means the sanctification of the body with its senses. As for
the one who buried the silver pound in his handkerchief or in his land, it is he who hides the
Word of God in the prison within himself, or within the limitation of his body, as did
Zacchaeus prior to meeting the Lord, when he was besieged by his personal lust and greed.
Some think the first man who has gained ten pounds, that he refers to the servant who
preaches the Truth, for with the Spirit of the Gospel, he gains the spiritual understanding of
the law (The number10). As for the reward, it is rule over ten cities. As St. Ambrosios says
“These cities are the souls that are in His hands that are kindled with the divine talent or the
Mesaiah coin, the Gospel Word. There is no greater reward for the true minister than to see
the souls have accepted the Word and have yielded to the Spirit of Truth. He considers
himself as if he has ruled with Christ over this soul, not to dominate, but to shed himself in
loving service. As for the second man who gained five pounds, I think he represents the
righteous man who, even if he has no talent for edification and preaching the Word, yet,
through the sanctification of his five senses, he witnesses and thus he wins souls to the Lord.
He therefore becomes as if he reigns over five cities. As for the last one, the one who put the
talent in a handkerchief, as father Theophlactius says, the kerchief is used to tie the dead
one’s face. It is as if this man, according to the Lord’s talent, it is dead, and so he buries it
and deadens it.
As for the rest of the parable, you can go back to its interpretation in our book ‘The
Gospel according to St. Matthew 25: 14-30, so we do not repeat ourselves. I find it enough to
mention at this point the two following comments:
+(Luke19: 26) “To all those who have, more will be given”, he who has the faith, will be
given the knowledge; and He who has the knowledge, will be given love; and he who has the
love, will be given the heritage.
St. Clemendous the Alex.
+ (Luke19: 27) “But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-
bring them here and slaughter them in my presence”.
I wish no one be, careless in meeting the King, lest he be cast out of the Groom’s
wedding.
I wish no one among us who receives Him sorrowfully, lest he be condemned as an
evil citizen who rejects welcoming Him as King over him.
Let us come to Him joyfully, all of us. Let us welcome Him happily, and hold on to
our banquet in all honesty.
Father Methodius

3- His Entry into Jerusalem:

We have previously spoken about the entry of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem in our
study of the Gospel of our teacher the evangelist St. Matthew (21: 1-11). Also the Gospel
according to our teacher the evangelist St. Mark (11: 1-10). This is why I think it enough here
to mention the following as a continuation for the previous two interpretations:
Firstly: our greatest Friend has opened the eyes of the blind man, so he gets aware of the
divine fellowship, and so he sees deeply God’s love to him, and thus he accepts God’s
fellowship (Luke18: 35: 42). The Lord invited Himself toe go into Zacchaeus’ house to show
His eagerness to enter our inner house, and sanctify us however much our sins may be. It is as
if He has heard Zacchaeus’ answer to the invitation, this inward voice that has been expressed
practically by Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree, and how he has rejoiced for the Lord’s
visit. The Lord therefore offered the salvation to him and to his household, and He declared
His fellowship to him. When the Lord mentioned the parable of the ten pounds, He made
clear that this fellowship that the Lord has initiated to us freely, requires of us to be serious
about it. He grants us His divine gifts, unconditionally on our part, except that we accept the
gifts and kindle the talents. He befriends us on condition we accept responding to him, and
embody His qualities in us. Now, the Lord enters Jerusalem to proclain the price for this
fellowship on His part: this is the offering of His life given for our redemption. This is why
the evangelist says (Luke19: 28) “After He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to
Jerusalem”.
 He has come down to us, so He takes us up to Jerusalem, offering us His fellowship
and His kingdom!
The evangelist continues, saying (Luke19: 29) “When He had come near Bethphage
and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of the disciples”. As we
have mentioned previously, we said number 2 refers to love that makes the two become one.
Because love came in two of the commandments; God’s love and the stranger’s love, thus He
began His ministry by sending the disciples to bring the donkey and the colt, when He was
close to the two villages, that is, by means of love. Without love, we are not blessed by the
Lord’s entry into our Jerusalem.
It has been said that Bethphage is a village at the Mount of Olives that concerns
priests only, whereas Bethany comprised the home of Lazarus, May and Martha, and they
were of the common people. The sending of the two disciples occurred when they were close
to the two villages. I can be bold enough at this point to say that the apostolic work in the
church does not stop at Bethphage, that is, the priestly job alone, or the job of providing for
the church; it is rather completed by the people’s work as well. Our apostolic church is
Christ’s body, that embraces the priests as servants to the congregation, working for the
account of their salvation and development. It embraces the congregation also, not as passive
listeners, but as laborers with the priests in the unity of the Spirit, as true witnesses to the
work of salvation. In the first church, there happened (Acts8: 1) “That day a severe
persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered
throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria”. Those scattered ones began teaching the
Word (Acts6: 4). The apostles stayed in Jerusalem, facing the persecution strongly, and the
people were released, not to flee but rather to preach and to be witnesses. I say, how
important and needy it is at every age for the church to have its members work and toil,
whether he be a man or a child. This is not only because the congregation needs him, but also
to practice his membership in truth, and be a live laborer in the church, otherwise, if he is
passive he will lose his vitality, and his motion will be paralyzed, and he will be a load in his
own eyes as well as in others’ eyes.
Secondly: The Lord Jesus went to Jerusalem to shed His life for the sake of His friends,
offering the entire price, enduring the cross to the end. In His tremendous love, He wished
His disciples to share in this work, so He asked of them the very very least, for in His love to
mankind, He wished man to have a role, even if its apparent value is so little, yet it is a vital
role in the Lord’s eyes, the Lover of mankind. The Lord therefore said to two of His disciples
(Luke19: 30) “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a
colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here”.
We have previously spoken of the symbolic meaning of this action; but what we wish
to point out clearly at this point, is that the Lord asked for their work however little it may
seem in our eyes. This is similar to the father who offers all that he can to his son, then he
asks his son for something seemingly very trivial, so that the son pays back to his father love
for love. T he son responds to his father’s friendship in a friendly way, and thus the father
trains him to work zealously.
St. Basilious the great says, “It is appropriate for us, even if we are assigned the least
job, to perform it in great zeal and love; we know well that what we perform through God is
not trivial, but is rewarded with the heavenly kingdom”.
Thirdly: What does this tied colt, not ridden upon by anyone, that the disciples have untied
and brought to the Lord Jesus mean? In our previous study of the gospels of St. Matthew and
St. Mark, we have seen how the donkey and the colt were a symbol of the Jews and the
Gentiles. Everybody was out on the roadside, tied by the chains of disobedience, awaiting the
gospel ministers to untie them from those chains by means of God’s Holy Spirit. Then they
would become Christ’s modest and also kindled vehicle, ready to go to the eternal Jerusalem.
 St. Ambrosios has another interpretation, for he says, “The donkey and the colt refer
to Adam and Eve who were cast out of paradise. Both sexes were cast out, and those two
sexes were called in those animals. St. Mark says (Mark11: 4) they were tied outside the
gate”, because he who is not with Christ, remains outside, on the roadside. But he who is with
Christ, remains inside. It was tied at the door, having no place, neither a manger nor any food
to eat. It was tied by others so they may own it. But as for the Lord, He unties us to keep us in
His hands; for grace is much greater than the chains”.
Fourthly: What beautiful words are the following (Luke19: 35) “Then they brought it to
Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it”. They brought the colt
which belonged to others; they did not offer it to the Lord to sit on except after they threw
their clothes on it. It is appropriate for the priest to urge everyone to make an offering to the
Lord, through the priest’s preaching of the gospel. But it is appropriate for him when making
offering to the Lord for others, that he too participates in giving. He may not have a colt to
offer, so let him offer his clothes! He may not have the money, then let him offer the
deadening of His body! In other words, the priest does not take for himself, he rather offers to
the Lord Jesus, not only what belongs to others but also what God has granted him, even if it
were his essential clothes.
St. Ambrosios sees what is even more than this; since the clothes refer to the body, the
disciples’ taking off their clothes refers to their offering their martyrdom to the Lord Jesus, by
shedding their bodies even unto death.
Fifthly: There is no doubt the disciples’ clothes were of a cheap kind, not of any value
particularly because they have been used. But these clothes were similar to a throne on which
the Lord Himself sits when coming into Jerusalem! Likewise, since the cloak symbolizes the
body, then our bodies, in all of their righteous deeds and goodness, these bodies are counted
valueless as long as they are out of Christ. But if we offer them unto the Lord, then He
accepts them as an offering of love. The Lord then sanctifies the body, with its emotions, its
feelings, its good deeds, and He smells in all of this a phasurable scent!
We can also say, there is no acceptance of a good deed as long as it is tied to our body
or to ourselves. But if we take off our own selves, away from us, the Lord accepts every good
deed as a cloak for Him to sit on, and also bless.
If the two disciples refer to the mission for the Gentiles and the mission for the Jews,
then the clothes refer to the preaching job itself. There is no success or any acceptance of a
preaching job unless the apostles work in submission to the Lord Jesus who works in them.
This is what the setting of the clothes under Him means.
If the two disciples refer to the men of the Old Testament, the fathers and the
prophets, as well as the men of the New Testament such as the apostles and the disciples,
then, the purpose of the two testament men is to offer their work of prophecies and the
preaching of the Lord Jesus, so they be hidden in Him and under Him, and thus He sits and
reigns! They do not work for their own account, but rather to make the Lord rest by reigning
in the believer’s hearts in the two testaments.
If the two disciples refer to love for they are two, then their putting their clothes under
the Lord Jesus, this refers to the conversion of love into work! The Lord Jesus wishes to be
restful concerning our love, the active one and not the theoretical one.
Sixthly: The Lord Jesus rested on the colt on which the disciples put their clothes. But as St.
Ambrosios says, “The Lord of the world has no joy on being on the colt’s back unless this
implies a hidden mystery. It is that He sits inwardly as a King enthroned in the depths of the
human souls. He sits as a divine Knight, in the power of His godliness leading the mind’s
steps. Blessed are those who carry on their soul’s backs such a Knight! Indeed, blessed are
they who have put in their mouths the bridle of the divine Word instead of uttering
falsehood”.
 St. Ambrosios goes on to say a beautiful remark on our carrying the Lord Jesus
secretly, saying, “Learn how to carry Christ, for He has carried you as a Shepherd, bringing
back the lost sheep (Luke15: 6). He is joyful at your purification. Learn to be under Christ,
and thus He will exalt you to God the Father above.”
Seventhly: The Lord Jesus was drawing close to the slope of the Mount Olives (Luke19:
37). We have said previously in the interpretation of the gospel according to St. Mark the
apostle, that this mountain refers to the church in which the Lord implants His believers as
the olive trees, bearing the oil of the divine grace, the olive oil, whenever it is processed in
the grinder with his heavenly Groom. This mountain, that is exalted by means of the Spirit,
motivates everybody’s hearts to live above what is earthly. It is a mountain that is continually
green, a sign of the constant church life.
When drawing close to this mountain, the evangelist says, (Luke19: 37, 38) “the
whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the
deeds of power that they have seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of
the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’”
When the Lord draws near to us, just as to the Mount of Olives, He declares His
fellowship so divine, and the impact of this love in our inner depths. Thus all of our being is
converted by the Holy Spirit violin that plays such a magnificent praise song that no words
could possibly express. Then, each of us becomes joyfull and chant in praises, as if carrying
in himself a crowd of disciples to the Lord chanting with him. The vision is opened so it sees
the amazing deeds, and every being declares accepting the Lord Jesus as King and Lord,
saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory
in the highest heaven”. The soul is then exalted to see itself in heaven where it is blessed with
the peace of its heavenly Groom, and in sharing His glory above, saying “Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heaven”.
St. Cyril the great says “The disciples praised the Lord and Savior of us all, and called
Him the King and the Lord, and the peace of heaven and earth. I wish we, too, give Him
praise as with the psalmist’s harp, saying (Ps.104: 24) “O Lord, how manifold are Your
works! In wisdom You have made them all”.
The chanting of praise “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven” (Luke19:
38); The entry of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem to offer the Passover in our place, this pulled
away the animosity that existed between the Father and humanity, or between heaven and
earth. Therefore peace has come to be in heaven, because God no longer is an enemy to us,
but He has rather become a true Father. As for the glory above, this means the opening of the
heavens in all its glories for man, so he be praised in the highest heavens.
Our peace and our glory is peace and glory to the highest heaven.
We may also say with St. Augustine that the heaven is the human soul. The work of
the Redeemer Christ, has brought back to the soul its inward peace, and being blessed in the
exaltation to the highest so it glorifies its eternal Groom.
Eighthly: The evangelist St. Luke speaks of the Pharisees’ response saying (Luke19: 39, 40)
“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, order Your disciples to stop’. He
answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out’.”
The Pharisees wished them to stop; but the Lord Jesus answered that the very stones
would cry out as witnesses of His kingdom. As many of the fathers say, the Gentiles, when
they worship the rocks, they become spiritually as hard rocks. Those ones who have got
hardened in their spirits, their hearts and their thoughts, these have accepted the faith in the
Lord Jesus, and so they shouted out.
Indeed, these have become silent; for the Jewish nation has denied Him when they
saw Him crucified. The Jews have become silent, and so the Gentiles cried out in their faith-
acceptance.
 St. Ambrosios thinks the Lord’s words have been fulfilled literally when the Jews
were silent in praising and glorifying Him at the crucifixion moments, and thus the rocks
have actually cried out, when there occurred an earthquake and the rocks crocked, and the
graves opened...etc.
+ What are these rocks other than those who worship the rocks? If the sons of the Jews are
silent, the Gentiles whether young or old, cried out.
+ We came from among the Gentiles; our fathers used to worship the rocks.
St. Augustine

4- His Weeping Over Jerusalem:

The Pharisees asked these should be silent, and in bitterness the Lord answered that if
these are silent the stones would cry out (Luke19: 40). Indeed, those have become silent in
praising Him, and have rejected the work of salvation, and thus the stones, which are the
Gentiles cried out to the Lord as witnesses to Him, manifesting their faith. This matter was
grieving to the heart of the Lord Jesus, who came offering His hand in friendship to all, and
yet His very own have not accepted Him. They rather fought Him instead of befriending
Him. This is why He began to pity and grieve over His own people. As the evangelist says
(Luke19: 41, 44).
“As He came near and saw the city, He wept over it saying, ‘If you, even you, had
only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from
your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts
around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the
ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon
another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.’”
+Jesus affirmed that all of His blessings He mentioned clearly in the gospel, showed how He
offered Himself as an example. He said “Blessed are the meek”, and then He confirmed later
on (Matt.11: 29) “learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” When He said “Blessed
are those who weep”. He too wept over the city.
+I so not deny that the first Jerusalem was destroyed due to the wickedness of its inhabitants,
but I ask myself: is it not appropriate for you to weep over your spiritual Jerusalem?
If someone errs after receiving the mysteries of the Truth, then he is to be wept for,
because he was of Jerusalem and now he is no more.
Let us weep over our Jerusalem, for due to iniquity, it is surrounded by the enemies,
which are, the wicked spirits. These besiege the city, and do not leave one stone on top of the
other, particularly if this person has previously been chaste for a long time. He is then
impassioned by his physical lust, and he loses his chastity and purity, and thus falls into
adultery, and there is not one stop that is left on top of the other. As Ezckiel the prophet said
(Ez.18: 24) “None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered”.
The scholar Oreganus
+ Jeremiah the prophet openly condemned the ignorance of the Jews and their arrogance, and
rebuked them in this way (Jer.8: 8) “How can you say, ‘We are wise and the law of the Lord
is with us’, when in fact the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie? The wise shall be
put to shame, they shall be dismayed and taken, since they have rejected the word of the
Lord”. They have rejected God’s word because they have no wisdom, and are unaware of the
holy books, despite the Pharisees and the scribes appearing as having a good reputation, and
that they are knowledgeable in the covenant and the law. They have not accepted the only
begotten Son when He became incarnate, neither have they bent their necks in obedience to
the advice He gave them in the gospel. By their evil conduct they denied God’s word, and
thus they have become rejected by God’s just judgment. God tells Jeremiah (Jer.6: 30) “They
are called ‘rejected silver’ for the Lord has rejected them.” It has also been said (Jer.7: 29)
“Cut off your hair and throw it away; raise a lamentation on the bare heights, for the Lord has
rejected and forsaken the generation that provoked His wrath.” The fruit of their getting lost,
is the disasters befalling them, and their endurance of all misery as a result of their grumbling
against the Lord.
Their fall into this misery is not according to the good will of God, for He wants them
to obtain the beatitudes in faith and obedience. When it is said that He looked upon the city
and wept over it, this is to teach us how much He grieved over it, if this is appropriate to say
about God who is above everything else. If He had not manifested His grief in a human way,
we would not have realised how deep it was. He also wept over Lazarus, so we understand
His grief for man’s fall under the power of death, for He has created everything as
incorruptible, and due to Satan’s envy, death has entered the world. Likewise He wept over
Jerusalem for He wanted to bless it, as I said, by her accepting the faith in Him and her
appreciation of peace with God. This is what He called for by Isaiah, saying, (Is27: 5) “Let us
make peace with Him”, that is to say, let us make peace with God by faith, as St. Paul the
wise one said (Rom.5: 1) “Therefor, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ”. But, as I have said, they hastened towards rebellion and
uncontrolled scorn, thinking lightly of Christ’s salvation and rejecting Him. This is why
Christ blames them, telling them, “Do you not know what is for your own peace? Do you not
know what is profitable and essential for your own peace with God?”
Even before the incarnation, the Israelites proved themselves to be unworthy of
Christ’s salvation, for they have scorned the partnership with God, and have established for
themselves false gods, and have killed the prophets even though they kept warning the Jews
of deserting the living God, and commanded them to be committed to God’s holy
commandments. Despite this, they did not respond, and they grieved God in many ways, even
when thy were called for salvation.
This is what the Savior Himself informs us with, when He said (Matt.23: 37, 38)
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under
her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate!”
You can see Him here, how He truly indeed wished to give them His mercy, yet they
rejected His help. For this reason, they fell under the judgment of God’s holy law. They have
become deprived of being members in His spiritual fold. One of the saintly prophets said to
the Jewish nation (Hos.4: 5) “and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to
Me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
He compares Jerusalem to night; because the darkness of ignorance has obstructed the
hearts of the Jews, and has blinded their vision; therefore they were given to destruction and
killing. In this way Jerusalem, the sanctified famous city, fell under the destruction
catastrophe, as mentioned in history. Isaiah the prophet confirmed this prior to anyone; for he
cried out loudly amongst the Jewish crowds, saying, (Is.1: 7) “Your country lies desolate,
your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence aliens devour your land, it is desolate,
as overthrown by foreigners.” This is the price for the vain and false glory that belongs to the
Jews.
This is the punishment for their disobedience, and this is the suffering that justly
befell them due to their arrogance. But as for us, we have the hope of the saints, and every
blessing, because we honor Christ in faith.
 St. Cyril the great
+ The merciful Savior wept over the fall of the deceiving city which did not know what
would befall her; “If you only knew, you too, you would have wept as well.” You are happy
now, because you do not know what is about to befall you.”
He says (Luke19: 42) “if you had only recognized on this day...” because when the
city had yielded to the physical passions, it obtained on this day what is for her temporal
peace. The Lord made clear what these things offer her, saying (Luke19: 42) “But now they
are hidden from your eyes”. If it had not been hidden from her heart’s eyes what future evil
would befall her, she would not have been happy with the present affluence. For this reason
He added on the spot the punishment that would befall her “The days will come upon you”
(Luke19: 43) Here He refers to what happened by means of the two Caesais of Rome:
Vespenian and Titus when they destroyed Jerusalem.
Our Savior has not ceased to weep up till now through His elict when He sees a
person leaving his good and righteous life and going the malicious way!
Indeed, the evil soul has a certain day; for if it is joyful for a transient time, when it
finds its peace in the temporal matters, thinking it is obtaining its pleasure in what is earthly,
yet it avoids the future look that confuses its present pleasure.
Pope Gregory the great

5- The Purification of the Temple:

The Lord Jesus has come to establish His fellowship with mankind. When Jerusalem
rejected His fellowship, it exposed itself to absolute destruction, in great stupidity of hers.
But the Lord did not stand in folded arms, but He rather offered two jobs: that of purifying
the temple of the buyers and sellers (Luke19: 45, 46), as well as teaching in it everyday
(Luke19: 47, 48). If the first act is passive in which He expelled evil, yet the second one is
positive in which the Lord declared His fellowship to His listeners.
The evangelist says (Luke19: 45, 46) “Then He entered the temple and began to drive
out those who were selling things there; and He said it is written, “My house shall be a house
of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.’”
We have already spoken elaborately about the purification of the temple in our
interpretation of St. Matthew’s gospel (Matt.21: 12; 13; St. Mark11: 15-17).
+When He mentioned the evils that would befall the city on the spot He entered the temple to
cast out those who bought and sold in it. He showed the destruction of the people falls in a
major way due to the iniquity of the priests.
Those sitting in the temple who accepted the money, no doubt, practiced pressure that
would harm those who offered nothing.
Pope Gregory the great
+God does not want to have His temple a place of gathering for the sellers, but a place of
sanctification. He wants to assure us that priesthood is not fulfilled through trading in
religion, but rather by voluntary and free giving.
St. Ambrosios
St. Cyril the great thinks in his remarks on St. Luke’s gospel, that the casting out of
the sellers is a symbolic act; Christ has come as our Passover to yield Himself up. Thus the
sacrifice off blood had to be obsolete; for there is no more any need of animals or birds to be
slaughtered.
The scholar Oreganus thinks the buying and the selling here refer to the change in the
spiritual service to a work of trade, particularly the selling of the pigeons, for it refers to the
selling of the Holy Spirit gifts.
 Why did the Lord say about the temple “You have made it a den of thieves”? This is
because the thief does not mind who is around him; he rather robs and kills. In this same way
the Jewish leaders changed their mission; for instead of offering the word of the Truth, the
one that grants life, they began to exploit their positions in trading. They killed their brethren
spiritually by being an obstruction to them, and by killing the faith by their behaviour. If the
faith concerning the temple stands for the soul concerning the body, then the leaders’ actions
cast out the faith, so that the temple stays as a dead corpse. This is the thieving process, in the
spiritual concept.

6- His Teaching in the Temple:

(Luke19: 47, 48) “Everyday He was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the
scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill Him; but they did not find
anything they could do, for all the people were spell bound by what they heard.”
+ Our Savior did not cease to preach the word, even to the unworthy ones, and those who
denied Him.
Pope Gregory the great
The people, in all their simplicity, clung to the Lord Jesus, whereas the
knowledgeable ones were deprived of Him, such as the chief priests, the scribes and the
prestigious ones. They have deprived themselves of the Lord Jesus’ grace and His heavenly
gifts. The meek and simple ones entered His divine fellowship, whereas the wise ones lost
this divine gift. As St. Cyril the great says, “Does not this increase their punishment? For,
those who were fit to preach hindered the work of preaching.”
+ + +
Chapter XX
Page (695: 713)
Those Who Resisted the Divine Fellowship of God
+ + +

In the previous chapter, the Lord of glory Jesus came forth to Jerusalem to offer His
life a price for our fellowship to Him. This fellowship cost Him all this price, only to be
accepted by the simple ones, who responded to it. But as for the leaders who were reportedly
wise these have rejected the Lord in every possible way. At times they resisted Him when He
taught and doubted His authority. At other times, they accused Him as provoking the people
against the authorities, and motivating them not to pay the taxes...etc. This resistance, in fact,
was to hide their shepherding of themselves instead of shepherding the people, and taking
care of their perso9nal good instead of the general good. The prophet Ezekiel has previously
declared as the mouthpiece of the Lord (Ez.34) “Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of
Israel... Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds
feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the
fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not
healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed,
you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were
scattered because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild
animals.... I will demand My sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. I
Myself will search for My sheep, and will seek them out.... I will rescue them from all the
places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness... I will seek
the lost, and I will bring back the strayed and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen
the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.”
In this way the Lord reveals to the shepherds their absolute failure in shepherding His
good sheep, so He takes over shepherding His people. He thus declared His practical love
that was shed on the cross.
This line is clearly manifested in the four gospels in the period between the Lord’s
entry into Jerusalem until His crucifixion, and in the readings of the Passion Week, where
God’s spirit reveals the failure of the Jewish denying shepherding and its failure; so that the
Lord Himself takes over the shepherding of His people by means of the cross.

1- The Resistance of His Teaching by Denying His Authority 1- 8

2- The Resistance of the Vine dresser (The parable of the wicked tenants) 9- 19
3- A Question Concerning the Taxes 20- 26
4- A Question Concerning the Resurrection 27- 40
5- David’s Son and his Lord 41- 44
6- A Warning against the false Scribes 45- 47
+ + +

1- The Resistance of His Teaching by Denying His Authority:

We have said that the Lord Jesus came to offer His friendship to humanity not
through the mere emotions, but by means of uplifting man to His image, and being blessed by
his life in Him. This is why He cast out the sellers and purified the temple, then He stood up
to teach. He started to attract people to Him in true love, in a sanctified life.
Before all of this, stood those who resisted Him, such as the chief priests, the scribes
and the elders, in great amazement. He has attracted the multitudes in authority even though
He was not of Aaron’s lineage, and He had no official role in the temple. Then they began to
question Him about the mystery behind His authority, not as an interrogation, but rather
because of their envy and their fear for their positions. The evangelist said the following:
(Luke20: 1-8) “One day, as He was teaching the people in the temple, and telling the
good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to Him, ‘Tell us by
what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?’ He
answered them, ‘I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me; Did the baptism of John
come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ They discussed it with one another, saying if
we say ‘from heaven’ He will say, ‘Why then, did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘of
human origin’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet. So
they answered that they did not know where it came from, then Jesus said to them, ‘Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things’.”
We have previously spoken of this discussion between the Jewish leaders and the
Lord Jesus in the interpretations of St. Matthew’s gospel (21: 23-27) and St. Mark’s gospel
(11: 27-33).
I find it enough at this point to mention the following:
Firstly: St. Augustine says the evangelist St. Luke did not mention the going of Christ to
Bethany after His purifying the temple and His return, and also His dealing with the barren
fig tree, and His words to His disciples who were amazed on seeing the fig tree wither. The
evangelist speaks of the discussion between the Lord Jesus and those leaders.
Secondly: The chief priests and the scribes with the elders posed two questions, not for the
sake of information, but rather for provocation so they have their wish in wrecking Him.
They said ‘Tell us by what authority You do these things?’ By saying so they meant He was
not of the Levi lineage, nor any other leadership that had the right of teaching; then, how
could He dare teach in this way in the temple? The lord could have answered them from the
exact books of the covenant that they assumed He was breaking them by His teachings, and
that He was of the lineage of Judah and not that of Levi, and also from the books of the
prophets. In the five books of the law and the covenant, He made clear that Levi, of the
lineage of his father Abraham, knelt down to Melchizadec, who is only a symbol of the Lord
Jesus, and offered Melchizadec the tithes. Is it not appropriate by these sepubols that refer to
Him, to teach Abraham’s children? The Lord could have mentioned to than countless
prophecies about the truth of His mission, and could have assured them He is the Mesaiah.
If those leaders had come to inquire about the truth, the Lord would not have hesitated
to reveal Himself according to their books. But the Lord knew they had come for stupid
useless arguments, so they divert Him away from the essential ministry. This is why He did
not answer their questions unless by another question that frustrated them.
The servant who embodies his Lord’s Spirit does not begin silly arguments that
corrupt his mind, and takes up his time away from the main serious job for the salvation of
his brothers. This servant should behave as Nehemiah did when the enemies came up to him
asking him for discussion, and so he answered them that day was a day for work (Neh.6: 3,7).
The second question is, “Who gave You this authority?” They had previously accused
Him He was casting out devils by Beelzebub. They wished to make the people doubt Him,
that in His teaching He does not have this authority form God, but rather from Satan. At this
point, too, He confused them by asking them about John’s baptism; because John had
declared by baptizing Him the mystery of the Lord’s authority, when the Father openly
witnessed the Messaiah at the baptism moments in the Jordan.

2- The Resistance of the Vine dresser (The parable of the wicked tenants).

In their argument they wished to accuse the Lord Jesus of His teaching, that it was not
based on the lawful covenant, since He was neither a priest nor an official teacher, and that
the source of His authority was to be doubted. Therefore the Lord asked them about John’s
baptism so as to defeat their cunningness. Now that He recounted to them the parable of the
wicked tenants who wished to steal the vineyard from its owner, He put those teachers to
shame in a symbolic way. Thus they wanted to kill Him, had it not been for their fear of the
multitudes. He showed them it was not He who trespassed on the divine authority, but that He
was the Son, the Heir who was resisted by those tenants that the Lord appointed in His
vineyard to work, and how they wished to usurp the vineyard for their own personal account.
We have previously studied this parable in or interpretation of St. Matthew’s gospel
(21: 33... etc.) St. Mark’s gospel (12: 1...etc.) I therefore find it enough at this point to speak
of the following:
Firstly: The Lord Jesus showed His honoring man in two major aspects: the first one is that
He compared God, the owner of the vineyard, to man, therby honoring us by this comparison.
As for the other aspect, it is His words about giving the vineyard to tenants, and traveling to a
distant country. God did not leave His vineyard and went to a distant place geographically,
because He is present in every place; so how much more so in His own vineyard? Neither
does He quit His shepherding, for His care is there continuously. But His words saying that
He left to a distant country, this is an expression of His sanctifying human freedom. He has
given the vineyard to the tenants, giving them the absolute freedom to act, as if He has left
them and went far away, not that He would not support them, but so as to oblige them to act
in a certain way in their shepherding. He does not pressure the shepherds to conduct
themselves involuntarily in their shepherding job.
Secondly: What is the first the owner of the vineyard ask for from His tenants? Father
Theophlactius answers, “What will God gain from us except it be His knowledge, which is
for our own good?”
Thirdly: Who are those three slaves who went ahead of the Heir, whom the tenants
persecuted instead of offering them the fruits for the owner of the vineyard’s account?
The first slave the Lord sent to collect for His account is the natural law that God has
granted to humanity, even before the law of Moses. Man broke this natural law, a matter
made very clear in the killing of Abel. Cain presented the scent of envy stained by innocent
blood instead of the brotherly love. The men of faith, before the law, lived through many
hardships due to malicious people.
The second slave the Lord sent is the Mosaic law at the hands of Moses. Despite this,
Moses suffered a great deal from the Jews, due to their constant grumbling. Moreover, the
law of Moses remained scorned at by all the Jewish leaders, by transforming it from the
spiritual to the fatal literacy. The Jewish leaders appeared as zealous for the law and keeping
it protected, whereas in the brilliant outer appearance of their life and conduct, they have
killed the law, and ruined its purpose and its message by their literal teaching of the law of
Moses.
The third slave offered by the owner of the vineyard is the prophecy; for there has
been sent a group of prophets, urging the people to repent, and they also proclaimed the
Mesaiah, the Savior’s coming. But these prophets were faced with ordeals, persecution and
killing.
We can say that the Lord Jesus, when speaking particularly to the Jewish rulers, these
listeners who were present were responsible for the killing of those three slaves. The present
leaders in the time of the Lord Jesus, they themselves were working against the natural law,
as well as against the law of Moses and also against the prophecy. Concerning their life and
their conduct, they did not even regard the natural law itself. Concerning their education, they
have killed the law of Moses by applying it literally and in a hard way; for they held on the
shadow and the symbol without any concern for the Truth and who those symbols referred to.
Regarding the prophecies, they wrecked them because even though they referred to the Lord
Jesus yet they rejected the Savior, the aim of the law and the subject of the prophecies.
Fourthly: Some may find it hard to call the Lord Jesus Himself the Heir; for has the Father
died so the Son inherits Him? God forbid! He has offered Himself the Heir not to take the
money from His Father; for what is the Father’s is the Son’s. but He called Himself the Heir
for He has left His glory voluntarily, and He denied Himself so He may represent us and be
our delegate, so that when the Lord Jesus died in the body, He rose and obtained in our name
what He has as our inheritance by our partnership with Him in glory.
The Lord Jesus has carried this title ‘Heir’ for the sake of His being the head of the
church, so the church may inherit in the name of its Head, and with Him and in Him, what is
actually His. This is why St. Ambrosios says “Christ is the Heir and at the same time the
Sponsor.”
Fifthly: We can understand from the following words (luke20: 14) “But when the tenants
saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that
the inheritance may be ours’”. The Lord Jesus wished to show them clearly that what they
were doing against Him, is not because they do not know, but rather out of envy. They know,
through the law and the prophets that He is the Messaiah, but He was not according to their
fancy, and this is why they killed Him purposefully on the cross.
Sixthly: It is understood from the words (Luke20: 15) “So they threw him out of the vineyard
and killed him”, form the literal aspect that He was crucified in Golgotha, out of Jerusalem. It
could also mean that the Jews, who are the tenants of the vineyard, have handed over the
Heir to Pilate and the Roman soldiers so they kill Him. They gave Him to be killed out of the
vineyard! We can also understand that His going out of the vineyard to be killed, could only
mean His rejection. The ungrateful wicked ones cast Him out of their hearts, the Lord’s
inward vineyard, and they offered Him the suffering instead of love!
In this way we are able to understand the words of St. Paul the apostle (Heb.13: 13)
“Let us then go to Him outside the camp and bear the abuse He endured.” This means that if
we have become the followers of the Crucified, we too, are rejected by the world. Thus we
will have no place in the hearts, and are expelled out of their hearts, and we are handed to
their hatred, enduring all of their scorn and humiliation towards us. In other words, the
believer does not expect, even though he offers all the love to the world, that the world
rewards him with love for love. Rather, the world repays his love by casting him outside, so
he carries the cross with his Redeemer and accepts His shame.
Seventhly: The Lord Jesus asked them (Luke20: 15) “What then will the owner of the
vineyard do to them?” The Lord did not wait for the answer to justify what destruction would
befall them. And the shepherding work would be taken away from them. The answer was
absolutely clear, with no need for any discussion (Luke20: 16) “He will come and destroy
those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” St. Basilious the great said He wanted to
rebuke them so they reconsider their deeds, and thus repent. It is as if the Lord Jesus till the
last moments before His crucifixion, wished the Jewish authorities to reconsider their
spiritual accounts. The Lord was eager for everyone’s repentance, and their return to the
Truth.
His words “He will come” refer here all the more to the coming of the Holy Spirit on
the church; when He comes on the church, He forms it anew under the leadership of the
Lord’s disciples and His apostles instead of the old vine dressers.
It is as if this parable offers a brief symbolism for God’s work of salvation, His provision and
incessant care for man. he therefore spoke of the natural law gift, the law of Moses, and the
prophets, who are the three slaves the owner of the vineyard has sent, He also spoke of the
divine incarnation which is the Heir’s coming, and His crucifixion out of the city, as well as
His casting out the old vinedressers, and appointing new vinedressers in whom the Holy
Spirit works.
Eighthly: When the Lord spoke of the Heir’s rejection, and their killing Him out of the city,
He declared He is the rejected stone even though He is the corner stone. He therefore says
(Luke20: 17, 18) “The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner stone. Everyone
who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
We notice the following in this analogy:
(a)This is taken from the Old Testament (Ps.118: 22) and it has been fulfilled now; what
these wicked leaders do, who were supposed to establish the spiritual structure on the
Messaiah, the cornerstone, was only seen by the psalmist and was proclaimed. It is as if the
Lord Jesus is telling them ‘What you are doing now, has been previously declared by your
prophets in al grief and bitterness.
(b) The Lord Jesus was called ‘the cornerstone’ as a sign of His divine incarnation, and His
self-denial, for He has accepted our nature of dust. He did not come as a great King, but He
rather came as a man, denying Himself, and thus He has become a rejected stone by the
builders. This stone has been previously proclaimed by Daniel the prophet (Dan.2: 34) that
this stone is not hewn by hands, it is a small stone that becomes a mountain that fills the
entire universe.
(c) This rejected stone, thrown away out of the city, has come to be the cornerstone on which
the church is founded, that embraces Jewish members as well as Gentile ones. They assemble
together, and unite as if on a cornerstone.
Ninthly: St. Augustine thinks those who fall on it and are shattered are the ones who rejected
Him when He came down, denying Himself as if He were the last of all; thus those denying
Him will fall on this modest stone as if on the ground. But those the cornerstone will fall on,
these will be crushed, and they refer to those who died in their sins, with no repentance. Thus
the Lord of glory will come, as on the clouds from above and fall on them, for he says, “They
themselves fall on Him, for He has come down in modesty, but because He is the One above
He will fall on them and crush them when He comes in His glory. Those are the ones He has
shattered before in His lowliness.

3- Questioning Him Concerning the Taxes:

The Leaders attempted to make the multitudes doubt the authority of the Lord Jesus.
The Lord therefore asked them about John the Baptist’s baptism, if it were from heaven or
from the earth. Thus they became bewildered, lest they appear before the people they did not
know the truth. There also came the parable of the vinedressers, urging them to repent so the
vineyard would not be taken away from them. But instead of repentance, they wished to lay
their hands on Him at this hour, but they feared the people (Luke20: 19).
Now they began to observe Him so they catch Him for one word. In deceit they asked
Him concerning paying the taxes, not to know His opinion, but that if He says to pay the
taxes, He would be regarded in the eyes of the people as paying favours to the occupying
Roman authorities, and as a result the people would lose their trust in Him as a Savior to save
them from the Roman rule. And if He says not to pay the taxes, they would report Him to the
Roman authorities for provoking the people to rebel.
The evangelist says (Luke20: 23-26) “But He perceived their craftiness and said to
them, ‘Show Me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?’ They said, ‘The
emperor’s’. He said to them, ‘Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and
to God the things that are God’s! And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap
Him by what He said; and being amazed by His answer, they, became silent.”
When speaking of the fathers’ comments about this excerpt in the gospels of St.
Matthew and St. Mark, we said that the Lord Jesus here offers man an important civilian
principle: to make God glorified in Him, it is important to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. He
has to give to the country what her dues are, and he also has to give all whom he deals with,
their monetary, emotional or social rights. Our worship to the Lord should not be on others’
account, rather, our love and submission, and giving to others is part and parcel of our
spiritual life, made perfect with our worship to God. We give others not because we fear them
or pay favour to them, but as a true witness we inwardly bear for our honesty and our love to
the Lord Himself.
Let us also give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. This means to
give the body what we should towards ourselves, and to the spirit what is the Spirit’s. Our
spiritual life is not a destruction of our body, that is, Caesar, it is rather a sanctification to the
body.
Some fathers, such as the scholar Oreganus, think Caesar here means the world, or the
adversary. If we leave in the heart the love of this world, then the world will find its right to
pull us to its side. Likewise if Satan has a place in us, he will invade us. It is therefore
appropriate for us that Caesar of the world finds nothing that is his in us, and so does not pull
our hearts to him. Let us remember the example of our Lord Jesus who said the ruler of this
world is coming, and has nothing of him in it! Let the ruler of this world come, and let the
evil adversary work with all his might against us, for he will find nothing inside us for his
account, and so will run away in defeat, being overcome by us.
The great day of the Lord will come, and God will come to take those that are His
own, and the adversary will also come to take those that are his own. Let us be to God, and
not to Satan, and God will possess us as children for His kingdom. As many fathers put it, we
are ‘God’s coin’ or ‘ His denarius’ on which His image is engraved. If His picture has been
lost in us, we have to be washed with the baptismal water so His image would appear all
anew. Let us keep this divine image in us by means of constant repentance, so that whenever
the Lord comes, we find His denarius with His image on.
Here are some of the father’s words concerning this issue:
In every condition, we are more ready than other people in paying the taxes imposed
on us, whether they be the regular annual taxes or the exceptional urgent ones.
We pay back the worship to God. As for the other matters, we offer them gladly. We
serve you and come to know you as kings and rulers over the people. We also pray for your
royal authority so your judgment will be just.
St. Justin the martyr
+ Therefore return Caesar’s image that is on the coin to Caesar, and God’s image that is on
man, (Gen.1: 26, 27; 9: 6; 1Cor. 11: 7) has to be returned to God.
In this rightful way, the money is given back to Caesar, but as for your souls, they are
God’s.
The scholar Tritilian
+ Let us follow the Savior’s words, not as literary meaning in its grammar and synthesis
‘Give what is Caesar’s to Caesar, and what is God’s to God”, that is, pay the taxes you are
supposed to pay. But who of us opposes to pay the taxes that concern Caesar? Thus, this
statement implies a hidden secretive meaning.
Man has two pictures; the one he has received from God at the creation time as
mentioned in the book of Genesis (Gen.1: 27) “So God created humankind in His image”.
The second picture is man’s image of earthly dust (1Cor.15: 49) which man took by means of
his disobedience. And his sin when he was expelled out of paradise, when he was tempted by
the ruler of this world (John12: 31).
Just as the coin bears the image of the ruler of this world likewise is the one who
fulfils the deeds of the king of darkness (Eph.6: 12) he, also, bears his image on it.
Jesus commands us to give back this picture and to pull it off, so we may bear the
original one that God has created us in, and so we be similar to God. In this way, we give
back what is Caesar’s to Caesar, and what is God’s to God.
In the very same meaning St. Paul says (1Cor.15: 49) “Just as we have borne the
image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.” The words
therefore ‘Give to Caesar what, belongs to Caesar’ only means ‘Leave the earthly image of
man’. throw away the earthly image so you obtain the heavenly image, and thus you give to
God what is God’s.
The scholar Oreganus
Moreover, St. Sveris the Antiochian offewred us an elaborate article, wonderful
indeed, having the title ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s? the
deacon Youssef Habib translated and published it; I wish you to refer to it. The saint pointed
out the group that came up to the Lord Jesus had tw
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‹  ¿  the second was represented by the Herodians
(Matt.22: 16). The came to ask Him if they were to pay the taxes to the Roman governor or
not to pay.
St. Sveris the Antiochian says the Pharisees used to urge the people not to pay the
taxes, believing they had no other king except God alone, and that he who paid the taxes
would be resisting the old law, and exchanging God for Caesar who is an alien. They relied
on the literal interpretation of some of the written phrases, such as: (Deut.32: 9) “the Lord’s
own portion was His people, Jacob His allotted share.”
(Deut.17: 15) “You may indeed set over you a king whom the Lord your God will
choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to
put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community.” (is.33: 22) “For the Lord
is our Judge, the Lord is our Ruler, the Lord is our King; He will save us.” The book of Acts
also mentions (Acts.5: 37) That ‘Judas the Galilean’ gathered a lot of people who followed
him, and he led them to revolt against Caesar, and they refused to pay Caesar the taxes... and
this Judas was a Pharisee.
On the other hand the Herodians advised their Jewish brethren to stay in submission
to the Romans, and to pay their due taxes so they enjoy peace and serenity.

4- Questioning Him Concerning the Resurrection:

In the parable of the vinedressers, the Lord Jesus spoke of them (Luke20: 14) “They
discussed it among themselves.” Even though those vinedressers are evil and are divided
among themselves, yet they unite together in the resistance spirit against the Lord Jesus, and
conspire against Him. Now, the chief priests and the scribes failed in their conspiracy against
the Lord, when they tried to disfigure His authority in His teaching (Luke20: 1-8). Also some
of the Pharisees, and probably some Herodians as well (Matt.22: 15, 16) asked Him about the
taxes, and yet they failed. Some Sadduccees wanted to test the Lord concerning the
resurrection from the dead.
These ones did not believe in the physical resurrection, and they assumed the soul
dies with the physical and so it does not rise.
They told Him the story of a woman who got married, but she was childless. After the
death of her husband, she married a second one, and a third one till the seventh one. They all
died and she was still childless (Luke20: 33) “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will
the woman be? For the seven had married her.” (Luke 20: 34- 38) “Jesus said to them, ‘Those
who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy
of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in
marriage. Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of
God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself
showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to
Him all of them are alive.’”
We have previously given an interpretation of the fathers to these phrases in the
interpretation of (St. Matt.22: 23-33; St. Mark12: 18-27) I think it enough to mention the
following remarks:
Firstly: The Saduccas misunderstood the concept of eternal life, for they assumed it was
something materialistic: each one had his wife, his children, his physical and material life.
Thus the Lord corrected their concepts, declaring that in eternity we live on the level of
angels. Our bodies do not need material satisfaction in any way, for they have a new nature
appropriate for heaven. They do not eat or drink or have and matrimonial relations.
 The Lord of glory revealed, too, one of the aspects for the purpose of matrimony,
which is that of bearing children. In this world, there is the need for marriage for the sake of
maintaining the human race. But in heaven, because there is no death, there is no need of
having any issue.
Secondly: St. Ambrosios thinks the woman who has married seven men, and was childless
till her death- she stands for the Jewish assembly that has blended with the covenant, the
prophecies, and has been offered every possibility for bearing fruits, and yet they bore none,
due to their literal understanding of God’s Word. Thus they obtained the divine gifts, but they
made no use of them, and they rather fell under the power of death.
We can also understand the woman who married the seven men and was still childless
until her death, that she refers to the person who clings to temporal things, or to the love of
the world, which is symbolized by the number 7, pointing to the seven days of the week. For
the husband’s offspring could not be fruitful and live unless he overpasses the seven men, and
accepts the eighth that refers to ‘eternity’, or what is above the time, by baptism we accept
the spiritual circumcision which was practiced physically on the eighth day. Then, we are
buried with Christ, and rise with Him in real life (Rom.6: 4).
This is the eighth man: to be bonded to the Messaiah, the Resurrected from the dead,
at the beginning of the week, or on the eighth day of the previous week. By means of His life
we are blessed with the risen life, and bear the fruits of His Holy Spirit in us. Thus death does
not destroy us, and neither does the tomb grasp us, rather, we praise vehemently with St. Paul
the apostle (1Cor.15: 54, 55) “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where O death, is
your victory? Where O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin.”
Thirdly: The Lord of glory compares the children of this age, and the life of the age to come.
He declares that in this age we are tied to temporary physical deeds such as matrimony. But
in the age to come, these physical deeds are non-existent, for we practice a life of an angelic
level. This comparison kindled the hearts of many so they train themselves as a first step to
eternal life through the Holy Spirit, when they are still in the body, such as chastity, and the
monastic life in correct spiritual thinking. When rejecting marriage, for instance, or their
frugal life in eating, they do not regard these things as defiled or as being forbidden, but they
look upon them as temporal matters that will end, and thus it is appropriate for us that we
keep them under control as much as we can.
+I wish unbelievers would not be surprised that God will take away the deeds of our physical
members in the age to come. They are absolute and non-functional even at this age.
The martyr JustinX+ In his words to the chaste virgins:
You have actually begun what you will be in!
You have actually come to possess in this world the glory of the resurrection! You
have crossed this world... continue to be chaste and virgins, for you have become on equal
level with God’s angels.
The martyr Kaprianos
+ Believe that even though you die, if you do not believe on Him, even if
you are alive, yet you are dead.
St. Augustine Fourthly: When we think of the resurrection, we have to hope in the splendid
heavenly life, in which we shall be blessed with the company of the heavenlies, and be
blessed with seeing God face to face as they do.
+When we become equal to God’s angels, we shall see Him face to face as they do. We shall
have wonderful peace towards them, as they have towards us. We shall love them just as they
love us.
+ We Look forward hopefully to what He has promised us. We shall become equal to God’s
angels, and assemble with them, and be blessed with seeing the Holy Trinity. But as for now,
we live in the faith.
St. Augustine + When comforting Ostochium for her mother Paula’s death:
 Do not grieve over our losing her. Rather, we thank God she was ours, and she still is.
Because everyone is alive to God, and those who return to the Lord, are still counted
members of His family.
We have lost her, this is true, but the heavenly dwelling has won her. (2Cor.5: 6)
When she was in the body, she was far away from her Lord. She complained in tears (Ps120:
5, 6) “Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech, that I must live among the tents in Kedar,
too long have I had my dwelling.”
St. Jerome The scholar Tritilian thinks the Lord’s words here about the no-matrimony in
the age to come that it does not mean man loses his being as a man, or his losing his body.
Just as the angels are allowed to appear as humans, without their losing their nature as angels,
we too become as God’s angels without losing our human bodies. But these bodies will have
no temporal requirements, and they will rather bear a new nature befitting the heavenly life.
This is also what St. Augustine confirmed when he said, “All believers who are
appointed to rule with Christ, will rise in the same body in a way in which they are counted
worthy to be changed to the incorruptible and the angelic. For they will become equal to
God’s angels as the Lord Himself has promised, and so they could praise Him without any
slothfulness or worry. They will live in the Lord and with Him eternally, and will be blessed
with joy and blessings which no man could possibly express or realise.”

5- David’s Son and his Lord:

The different sects of the Jewish leaders resisted squarely the Lord of glory’s
fellowship in some way or other. The Lord answered them, not to argue with them, or to
defend Himself, but because He was eager to correct their concepts. He hoped to find some of
them who would accept His fellowship and respond to His love. Now, that He has entered
Jerusalem, and the time of passion and crucifixion was drawing close, their confusion about
understanding the Messaiah the Savior was even greater. They have been hindered in
understanding Him when He was making wonderful miracles, and endless ones, so how will
feel about Him when they see Him undergoing the pain and the suffering, being hung on the
cross? All of this urged Him to declare His divinity through the words of the Psalmist, for
they might realise the situation, and understand His mystery.
(Luke 20: 41-44) “And He said to them, ‘How can they say that the Christ is the Son
of David? Now David himself said in the book of Psalms; ‘the Lord said to my Lord’ Sit at
My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’. Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’;
how is He then His Son?’”
+ He humbly declared His godliness, in no pride or arrogance. He posed the question to them,
and when they were confused, He left them to find the answer.
He has shown clearly He does not oppose the Father, but that He rather agrees with
Him, for the Father resists the Son’s enemies.
Father Theophlactius +Indeed, David was the father and the slave concerning Christ, for he is
His father according to the body, and His slave in the Spirit.
St. John Chrysostom
+ The sitting here does not mean in a certain position of physical
members, as if the Father is sitting on the left, and the Son of the right. The ‘right’ is
explained in the sense that the authority He has by the Father, and so He comes to judge after
He has come to be judged.
St. AugustineP+ The Lord commands us to have faith in Him, for He is Christ the Lord our God
who sits on the Father’s right side. This should not be understood physically, for He is
present everywhere, and He is in the Father. He is one with Him in power and ability.
 Chapter XXI
Page (714- 732)
Our Heavenly Friend, and His last Coming
+ + +

When the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem so that He gives His life a price for His
fellowship to us, the disciples noticed the uprising of all the Jewish rulers against Him; the
entire atmosphere looked ominous. Therefore the Lord Jesus raised His disciples eyes to His
last coming, and mentioned to them the signs for His coming, and how bitter and difficult this
would be. He wished them to know that all of the dark forces and the adversary’s resistance
will never be able to stop the divine fellowship of God with mankind. It is as if the Lord of
glory’s words in this chapter, pacify every soul that feels itself belittled due to all the
hardships that befall the world, particularly to the believers. For the Lord knows all the
historical events which He controls as signs for His coming.
Therefore, let us hear from the Lord’s mouth about the wrestling of darkness against
the light, and the false prophets and the antichrist against His kingdom. All of this gives us
hope, that God has made us know ahead of time of it all, and that He will surely fulfil His
divine plan, so He gathers His friends to His kingdom to share Him His eternal glory. We
have previously spoken elaborately these signs in our interpretation of St. Matthew24, St.
Mark 13; therefore I shall be brief at this point, for no repetition.

1- The Widow’s two copper coins 1- 4

2- A Question Concerning the Temple Building structure. 5- 7
3- The false christs 8
4- The News of War 9- 10
5- Earthquakes, famines and Pestilence 11
6- The Persecution of the Believers 12- 19
7- The Harvest in Jerusalem 20- 24
8- Signs in the Sun 25- 26
9- The Coming of the Son of Man 27- 28
10- The Parable of the fig-tree and summertime 29- 33
11- A Call to being Watchful 34- 36
12- Sleeping at Night in the Mount of Olives 37- 38
+ + +

1- The Widow’s Two Copper Coins:

Some may be amazed at the evangelist when he mentions to us the story of the Lord
of glory, Jesus, when He accepted the two small copper coins of the widow more than all
what the rich had to offer as oblations, before mentioning a most important and serious topic
which is that of the Lord’s words about His final coming. In other words, how could the story
of this widow be as an introduction to this godly and strategic discussion about the signs of
the end times? What link is there between the two?
Before we answer this, let us read what the evangelist St. Luke said (Luke21: 14)
“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a
certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that
this poor widow has put in more than all. For all these out of their abundance have put in
offerings for God, but she, out 9f her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had’.”
 I think this story the most appropriate introduction for the Lord of glory’s discussion
about the signs of His coming. He has told us of the signs not that we may know the times
and prophecy about them, and be calculating them, but rather that our hearts be kindled
amidst this hard life we live in, and be concerned about His coming. Let our constant
chanting in all of our worship, conduct and feelings, and our day dreaming be live with the
words “O come, Lord Jesus.” We are awaiting His coning in us before His coming on the
clouds in the last day. As for the widow’s story, we find the Lord awaiting also our
acceptance of Him, for He says, ‘And He looked up and saw the rich.... and He saw also a
certain poor widow! He constantly looks upon us, whether we are rich or poor, men or
women, shepherds or sheep. He looks upon us not to judge us or criticize us, but He is rather
looking to see if there is anyone poor amongst us who could find rest in Him. Is there any
heart that has responded to His love? We may say He initiates His love and His eagerness to
us, before asking us of awaiting His coming. It is He who looks and awaits one single simple
heart that accepts Him to sleep there the night.
He did not look for the donations whatever value they were of; He rather looked at the
rich, and also at the poor widow. He was concerned about the heart not about the donation,
asking for the sp9iritual inward fruit, not the materialistic donation that is visible!
We have previously mentioned many of the fathers’ s sayings about this widow when
interpreting (St. Mark.12: 41-44). Therefore I think enough be said regarding the following
remarks:
Firstly: As the Lord was warning His disciples of following the scribes’ example, because
they were eating up the widows’ homes (Luke20: 47), He began to praise the widow for her
heart’s generosity in this way, some of the religious leaders could be deprived of the heavenly
kingdom due to their greed, whereas the star of the poor and the widows would shine in the
kingdom because of their hearts’ being opened in love and generosity when being charitable.
It is not a matter of how much they have offered, but rather concerning their inward spiritual
fruitfulness. For this reason St. Paul writes to the Philippians (Phil.4: 17) “Not that I seek the
gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.”
+ It is the intention that makes the charity valuable or valueless.
St. Ambrosios
+ The concern is not about how much she has given, but in how much she left for herself. For
He has not given anyone more than her, for she has not left anything for herself.
St. Ambrosios
+ This widow was rich; for she has put the two coins in the treasury; Christ said about her
this poor widow has put more than anyone else in the treasury; for God asks for the faith and
not for the money.
St. Ambrosios
+ The widow was found to be in need of the means, but she was rich in her deed. What was
offered was distributed to the widows and the orphans, and what befitted her was to take
only, but she rather gave instead.
The martyr Kaprianos
Secondly: Who are those rich people who put their charity in the treasury other than the Jews
who were puffed up regarding their self-righteousness as the law-keepers. But as for the poor
widow, she is the church of the New Testament, whose members mostly came form the
Gentiles who lived as though they were widows who had no knowledge of God that He was
as a Groom to them. These were poor, and have not been handed the law nor did they know
the promises and the covenant, neither were there any saintly prophets among them. They
have offered the two coins, which are the faith that works in love. Their faith spring from the
Lord Jesus and blended with the practical love. They were like two coins acceptable unto the
Lord as pleasing fragrance.
 We have mentioned previously that the number 2 refers to love; for the two coins are
nothing other than the gift of love that our Lord Jesus accepts joyfully, love for God and for
the close ones.

2- A Question Concerning the Temple Building Structure:

The Lord of glory was going towards a cross offering us a deeper concept of the
divine fellowship with God. It is the encounter of man’s inward being with God within
himself. This is why the Lord asked His disciples to flee from the hypocrisy of the Pharisees,
and asking for the prestigious front seats, and pretending to be devoted to prayers, despite the
fact that they had a heart that devours the widows’ homes (Luke20: 45-47). He asks for the
heart to be a dwelling place for Him; thus He finds this widow putting the two coins much
better than many rich people who throw their charity in the treasury. But the disciples did not
understand till this point what the Lord of glory meant, and so some of them spoke with Him
about the splendor of the temple building structure (Matt.24: 1; Mark13: 1).
In our study of St. Mark’s gospel (Mark13: 1) we mentioned that the temple was
being renewed, and that they began this word about twenty years before Christ’s coming.
This great remodeling, in the eyes of many Jews, was a major sign of God’s pleasure
concerning them. Even some of the disciples were stunned at the beauty of this structure.
They assumed that the Lord Jesus, because He rules that He would establish His authority
center in this temple.
The evangelist says, (Luke21: 5-7) “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was
adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said ‘These things which you see- the days
will come in which, not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down’.
So they asked Him saying, ‘Teacher, but when will these things be? And what signs will
there be when these things are about to take place?’”
At this point, we notice the following:
Firstly: The huge structures and the masterpieces attracted all the people’s attention; but as
for the Lord of glory, He asks worshipers to worship Him by the Spirit and the Truth. He
rather asks for those living in the temple, those ones who in the Lord’s eyes, represent the
greatness and beauty of the temple, if they only become a dwelling place for Him with their
hearts, and their lives be changed to a kindled throne of love.
Secondly: Because the Savior was approaching the cross, it was necessary for Him to declare
the destruction of the temple so that the blood sacrifice may cease, since its mission has been
fulfilled and perfected through Christ’s sacrifice that is so incomparable and unique.
Thirdly: St. Cyril the great thinks His disciples were unable to comprehend His words. they
thought He was speaking of the end of the world; this is why they asked Him (Matt.24: 3)
“Tell us when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end
of the age?” It was as though they linked the destruction of the temple with the Lord’s final
coming and the end of ages. This might have been because no Jew ever imagined that the
Jerusalem temple would ever be destroyed. They rather thought it was increasing in special
power and adornment particularly by the expected coming of the Messaiah to reign though it,
and that the temple would stay till the end of times.

3- The False christs:

When the Lord Jesus wanted to proclaim the destruction of the temple, and more so
about His last coming, He first presented a warning of the false christs, saying (Luke21: 8)
“Take heed, that you may not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am
He’ and ‘the time has drawn near’. Therefore do not go after them.”
 It is as though the Lord Jesus is warning His believers across the generations not to be
worried about the times, but rather to be concerned about the watchful spiritual thinking,
because the adversary is very eager to mislead you. As Pope Athanasious the apostolic says
“Satan is deceiving, and he acquires for himself a name that is loved by everyone. He is like
someone who steals, children that are not his own. He seizes the chance of their parents’
absence, and so he attracts the children’s attention and draws them to himself by offering
them things they long for. This happens in every heresy spoken of by the deceiving adversary
‘I am the Christ and I am the right one’.”
There appeared false christs even in the apostles’ days and before their time as well,
such as Simon the magician who (Acts8: 9, 10) “previously practiced sorcery in the city and
astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave
heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’” Also
Taurus, who spoke of himself as being important, and many people followed him, around
four hundred (Acts5: 36). There was also Judas of Galilee in the days of the census, when he
drew many people after him (Acts5: 37).

4- The News of War:

(Luke21: 9,10) “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for
those things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately. Then He said to
them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom’.”
Prior to the end of the world, there will be a chain of wars, till nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and the world will be changed to an incessant bulk of
wars. God has allowed this to happen so that man will be aware that the material world is not
immortal; rather, that the world is going in the way of destruction day by day. But the end
will not come immediately, for there are occurrences and signs that have to be fulfilled before
His coming.
The Lord has informed us of these things ahead of time, so that their impact would be
less severe, and so that the believers would not lose their inward peace, since they are in
expectation of these occurrences.
The Lord’s declaration of these wars may have been for the believers’ sake lest they
doubt; the angels have proclaimed the day of the Lord’s coming ‘Peace on earth’, whereas the
wars are increasing day by day. He has come for the peace of our inward earth, that He comes
in us and makes our hearts, or our earth, a heavenly kingdom filled with overwhelming peace
amidst the commotions of the outer world.

5- Earthquake, Famines and Pestilences:

(Luke21: 11) “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and
pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs form heaven.”
Because humanity will be divided against itself, and one nation will rise against
another, and one kingdom against the other, thus earth and heaven will declare their wrath on
mankind. The earth will cry out against humanity through the great earthquakes, just as in the
day the Lord of glory was crucified (Matt.27: 51). The earth will also stop giving forth its
harvest, and so there will be famines and nature will be disturbed, thus fatal pestilences will
increase. Heaven, too, will declare its wrath by mans of the awesome fears.
God has created the world for man’s sake so he be blessed with peace and joy in the
Lord. When man rises against his own race, and loses his goal, the visible world is provoked
against him also. This is not only to declare the earth’s wrath against man, but also to restrain
him as much as possible. In other words, the earthquakes, the famines and the pestilences and
great fears that fall from heaven, even though they are drastically fearful, yet this is the
language that threatens humanity from being too violent against itself.
This divine declaration, or this warning from the Lord applies to three categories: in
the first one, this concerns the end of the entire world, for this will occur literally. The second
category is on the level of the destruction of the Jewish temple, and the devastation of
Jerusalem. Yousefios, the Jewish historian described what befell Jerusalem before its
destruction, particularly the famine that hit the people. They eventually had to eat the seeds in
the animal remains. This also applies to a personal level: for with man, a nation will rise
against another one, and one kingdom against the other. This means that when man loses his
inward peace and his unity with the Holy Spirit, his thoughts and his hearts, and even his own
body gets disturbed. It is as though earthquakes have befallen him so his whole being is
pulled down. In him there will be famines; for he will find no satisfaction from the world or
its honors and pleasures. He will be deprived of God’s Word, the Bread that falls from
heaven as the mystery for the believers’ satisfaction. Pestilences of all kinds will befall him
and fatal spiritual diseases will inflict his soul. There will be overwhelming fears from
heaven, and his soul will be changed to a bulk of fears which should have been an appropriate
heaven for him.
This means man’s worries and confusion will not be from the outside, but rather from
within his soul.
In this way, when man loses his partnership with the Father, in His Son by means of
the Holy Spirit, then man loses all peace for the body, the soul and the spirit. He becomes
himself a pretext for his own personal destruction.

6- The Persecution of the Believers:

(Luke21: 12-19) “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and
persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before
kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer. For I
will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or
resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will
put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My names sake. But not a hair of
your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.”
The Lord Jesus may have wished to discern between what befalls humanity as far as
natural troubles and hardships, or due to its diversion, and between the hardship that would
befall believers for no other reason than their faith in the Lord Jesus. The adversary does not
stop resisting in every possible way, using those who have religious qualities, such as the
Jewish assemblies, and also the earthly authorities; even the relatives according to the body
such as the parents, the brothers and the close ones. In all of this, God sees this resistance as
against Himself. It is He who gives the word and the wisdom to His believers. He is
responsible for every hair on their head. But the believers should not be passive, for He says
(Luke21: 19) “By your patience possess your souls.”
Briefly speaking, we notice the following in the excerpt above:
Firstly: The broad line in this divine promise of God, is that God Himself is the subject of
resisting the adversary. This is why it is He who makes the resistance, in His godly and
befitting way. Pope Gregory the great says, “It is as if the Lord is telling His disciples ‘Do not
fear, go to the battle, it is I who will fight; you will utter and it is I who will speak’.” St.
Kaprianos also says, “His Job is that we overcome. At this point we can see the great
confidence the believers have, and the terrible mistake the unbelievers commit when they do
not trust in Him who has promised the triumph for those who believe in Him, and are not
afraid of His threats of eternal punishment to those who deny Him.”
Secondly: If the adversary uses every means, particularly the violent physical means against
the believers, then the believers accept from their Christ a mouth and wisdom so the resistant
ones feel the weakness before the persecuted.
Thirdly: God allows the believers to go through hardships. But as a Father He declares His
concern about them; and not one hair will be destroyed. As St. Augustine says, “Be sure, my
brethren, the enemies have no power over the believers, unless as much as is useful to them
in their being tested and tempted.” He also adds, “When the Lord Jesus urged His martyrs to
be patient, He promised them to make their bodies obtain absolute perfection in the future
without any loss at all. I do not say losing a member of his body, but not losing one single
hair.”
Fourthly: Pope Gregory the great remarks on the Lord’s words, ‘By your patience possess
your souls’ in this way, “To possess the soul is by the virtue of patience; because patience is
the basis of every righteousness, and its protector. Patience means to endure peacefully all
evil that befalls us from others, without having any ill feeling towards those who drop it on
us.”

7- The Besieging of Jerusalem:

(Luke21: 20-24) “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that
its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are
in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the
days of vengeance, that all things which are written be fulfilled. But woe to those who are
pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in
the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led
away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of
the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
The Lord Jesus speaks very clearly of what would befall Jerusalem around forty years
after, on the hands of Titus the Roman. The Lord’s words were like a warning to the believers
who were in Jerusalem so they remember the Lord’s words, and thus they would flee from
Jerusalem, and would not fall under the siege. As I said, the Jewish historian Youssefios
offered an elaborate description of what happened in this siege.
We notice the following in this excerpt:
Firstly: St. Augustine says these words of the Lord as narrated by the evangelist St. Luke
shows that the abomination of destruction that Daniel prophesied about, has been fulfilled by
the siege of Jerusalem.
Secondly: (Luke21: 22) “For these are the days of vengeance” The Lord has allowed them to
crucify Him without any resistance on His part. But His blood that has been offered as a
redemption to the world, and as salvation to the believers, has become the cause of their
judgment. What happened in the siege of Jerusalem was a warning to the Jews, so they be
aware of what their sinful hands have committed. This may make them return to God in
repentance, and accept the Messaiah the Savior.
Thirdly: (Luke21: 23) “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
babies in those days!” Some think these words are a prophecy to what the historian
Youssefious narrated, that the chaste women cooked their children due to their severs hunger.
Fourthly: What does the Lord mean by saying (Luke21: 24) “And Jerusalem will be
trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
If Jerusalem is the head quarters of the Jews, then Israel will remain trampled by
ingratitude and disbelief until the Gentile church is complete. In the end of ages, Israel will
decline its Zionist fanaticism, and will accept the faith in Jesus Christ whom they had
crucified. As St. Paul the apostle says (Rom.11: 25, 26) “that blindness in part has happened
to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. and so all Israel will be saved.”
Fifthly: What does the spiritual siege of Jerusalem mean? There is no doubt that Jerusalem is
the headquarters for the Jewish worship. It contains the temple and its branches, and what it
comprises as the constant rituals particularly the blood sacrifices. The city used to stand for
the Jewish existence in its national traditions, its worship, its culture... etc. Thus we can say
that we cannot be blessed with Jerusalem above, proclaimed in our hearts, unless our old
Jerusalem in us is besieged. There is no way by which we could be blessed with the
constructive grace of the Spirit, and yet be enclosed around the fatal Jewish literacy. There is
no encounter between the heavenly church existence, together with the existence of a narrow
Jewish concept.
Therefore let us flee from Judea to the mountains, that is, from the Jewish literacy to
the high mountains of the gospel, well founded in the Spirit.
“Those in the midst let them flee outside: “If the literacy takes hold of us and prisons
us, we ask to flee from it, so as to live freely in the Spirit, and go outside.
“Those in the cities let them not enter” which means, if the Spirit has delivered us,
and let us go to the cities of the gospel so as to live in His Spirit, then let us not be eager to go
back to literacy.
Woe to those who are pregnant and those who nurse babies”, for they will not be able
to those ones who have no mature spiritual fruits as their children, to be released from the
narrow and tight literacy. Woe to those who are of weak souls, that have not been fruitful yet,
for they are as though they are pregnant, or their fruits are weak, similar to the nursing
women; for it is for them to be blessed with the true freedom in the Lord.

8- Signs in the Sun:

(Luke21: 25, 26) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon and in the stars; and
on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring. Men’s hearts
failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for
the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
There is no doubt this will literally take place before the last coming of the Lord
Jesus; for there will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars. These things are expected by
the astronomers themselves.
What is meant by the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth and the sea?
Firstly: By the signs that will be manifested before Christ’s coming, the Lord may have
meant the manifestation of the anti-Christ; it is he who will play a serious role in the world at
the end of times. If the sun stands for the Lord Jesus, then there will be a sign to show the
choking of the faith in Christ, as if the sun is hidden in people’s lives. The Lord has declared
this in bitterness; that if he could, he would mislead even the elect. He also asked “Will the
Son of Man find the faith when He comes?”
The moon refers to the church that takes its light from the Lord Jesus, the Sun of
Righteousness. It will also carry a sign that specifically pertains to it; for it will go through
severe hardship and will become a fugitive in the wilderness, chased by the anti-Christ
wherever it is found.
The stars refer to the believers with all their spiritual gifts and positions. It is
unfortunate that many will fall, even those who possess gifts and positions. They will deny
their Christ, and there will be a bitter move of deserting the Lord.
 The earth that is full of catastrophies, refers to the corruption of the body, that is, the
earth. Corruption will prevail, and defilement will be common, and people will change to
beastly and physical attitudes, quite damaging to the spiritual work.
The sea and its waves refer to the nations and the kingdoms. Hardships will prevail
not on an individual level only, but also on the scale of nations.
Secondly: We can also say that because man rejects the Lord’s work in him, these signs will
thus appear in him. Man will lose his enlightenment by the Sun of Righteousness, that is, by
the faith in the Lord Jesus. His moon will be darkened, that is, man will not practice his true
membership in the church, as the body of Christ that enlightens man. his stars will fall, since
his talents are damaged, and his potentials are weakened, and his gifts are transformed to
destroying him instead of building him up and glorifying him. His earth will become, in all its
kingdoms, in confusion and tragedies. This means, man will ruin his body instead of
sanctifying it. His sensations will be bewildered and will be the mystery behind his
disturbance. His sea will be rough with the high waves, that is, man will lose his peace, and
he will live in worry, that is continuously tempestuous as the waves of the sea that know no
serenity.
Thirdly: The last coming of the Son of Man will take us to a new heavenly life, that has been
described by John the beloved, saying (Rev.21: 1) “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”
Let the present material heaven, and also the earth, be destroyed. Let the seas end, and
let the stars fall with no return, for we are awaiting the new heaven that has its sun as the
Lord of glory, Jesus. It’s moon is the Jerusalem church above, our mother, and its stars are
the saints. Let us be blessed with an earth that is not of material contents, that sprouts up
thistles and thorns. Rather, it is a new life where (Rev.21: 4) “There shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Let the sea be wiped out, for there will be no more any disturbance!
Fourthly: (Luke15: 7) “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than
over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” For who could express the sorrow of
heaven when it finds the souls collapsing because of the anti-Christ? This is why the Lord of
glory says (Luke21: 26) “for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
St. John Chrysostom says “The powers of the heavens will be shaken, when they will
see numberless people fall under condemnation.”
Fifthly: St. Augustine says, “The powers of the heavens will be shaken because when the
wicked ones provoke persecution, some of the strong believers are terrified.”

9- The Coming of the Son of Man:

(Luke21: 27,28) “Then they will se the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because
your redemption draws near.”
+ The believers and the non-believers will see Him. He and His cross will be more brilliant
than the sun, and will be noticed by everyone.
Father Theophlactius
+ The words ‘coming in a cloud’ is understood in two ways: that He is coming in His church
as if in a cloud (Heb.12: 1), for He does not cease to come in it up till now. But afterwards,
His coming will be fulfilled in greater power and splendor, for He will be manifested to His
saints in power, to grant them a greater virtue, so they overcome by Him the terribly fearful
persecution. He will also come in His body, that by which He ascended.
 St. Augustine
Though the entire events are sorrowful indeed, yet the manifestation of the Son of
Man will bring back to the church its joy, its splendor, and its glory on the level of
partnership with her Groom in His joy and His glory. Our encounter with the Son of Man will
make us forget all the bitter events that have gone before. Rather, this will become the cause
of our reward and our glory by the Lord. This is why He says ‘Be cautions, which means ‘be
firm’. Stand up as spiritual man with no slothfulness or negligence. ‘Lift up your heads’, that
is, lift up your minds towards the heavenlies, and await His coming, because your salvation
of the eternal level is drawing near.
The Lord of glory will come to save us not only on the level of the soul’s salvation,
but also for the resurrection of the body, and thus man will be absolutely glorified!

10- The Parable of the Fig-tee and summertime:

(Luke21: 29-33) “Then He spoke to them a parable, ‘Look at the fig-tree, and all the
trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now
near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is
near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take
place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no ,means pass away.”
The Lord assured us by a wise comparison that we have to trample over the love of
the world and scorn it, saying ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they are already
budding (brought forth fruit) you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.” It is
as if He is saying “Just as with the fruit of the tree it is realised that summer is drawing near,
likewise is it with the collapse of the world, it is known that God’s kingdom has drawn near.
“Here it is clear that our fruit is the fall of the world from our hearts.”
It is good that He compares God’s kingdom to the summer when the cloud of our
grief passes away, and the days of life are brightened up by the Sun’s light, so eternal and
shining.
Pope Gregory the great
The Lord of glory has assured us (Luke21: 31) “Know that the kingdom of God is
near.” The hardships come, but they are for a short time. As for the kingdom this is eternal.
+ The kingdom of heaven, dear brethren, is drawing near. It is the reward of life and the joy
of the eternal salvation, and the constantly blessed, and possessing the lost paradise. These
matters are coming with the crossing over of the world.
The heavens are coming to replace the earth, the big matters are replacing the world,
and the eternal issues are replacing the temporal ones.
The martyr Kaprianos
What does He mean by the words “Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no
means pass away. Till all things take place.”
What the Lord has said, has been fulfilled in the disciples’ generation concerning the
destruction of Jerusalem and the temple- a thing that was unthought of. This is why the Lord
confirmed it by saying “Assuredly I say to you.” Also, all what the Lord said has been
fulfilled in the generation of His church, for we know that history, regarding the salvation, is
divided into several generations:
(One) The first generation is from Adam to Noah where there is the renewal and the flood.
(Two) The second generation is from Noah to Moses where he received the written
covenant.
(Three)The third generation is from Moses to David where there begun the age of the kings
and the prophets.
(Four) The fourth generation is from Moses to the Babylonian bondage.
(Five) The fifth generation is from Moses to the coming of the Lord Jesus.
(Six) The last generation is the sixth one; form the coming of Christ in the flech till His
second and last coming. This is the church generation, the new covenant that is current
with all what the Lord Jesus has spoken of in this chapter.

11- A Call to Being Watchful:

(Luke21: 34-36) “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day Come on you unexpectedly. For it
will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore,
and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all those things that will come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
With these concluding words, the Lord Jesus reveals to us the purpose of showing the
signs for His coming. He does not wish us to know the times, and be busy counting them;
rather, to be watchful with our hearts, expecting in the serious life we lead, His coming to
reign eternally.
+Each animal is given motives granted to it from God so as to keep its race. This is why the
Lord Jesus gave us this warning so that what the animal practices by nature, we practice it
with our minds and our wisdom. Then we will escape sin, just as the animals run away from
the food, and ask for righteousness as useful weeds.
The Lord asks us to be watchful, that is, to discern what is fatal and what is healthy
and wholesome.
There are two ways to be careful of ourselves: the first one is by means of our
physical eyes, and the other is by means of the soul functions. Since the physical eye cannot
achieve the goal, therefore He is speaking here of the soul functions.
Be watchful and cautions, that is, look around you from all sides, with a watchful eye
to guard yourselves.
Around you there is wealth, arts, and all life pleasures. You have to be careful about
yourselves in a special way.
St. Basilious the great
+ The soul leaves the base and materialistic matters and is released towards the invisible and
heavenly ones.
Father Isaac
What is the purpose of this spiritual watchfulness and awareness in the Lord’s coming
encounter?
This wakefulness changes the ‘day of the Lord’ from an ambush in which falls all
those sitting on the face of the earth, to a day of salvation and standing before the Son of
Man. in other words, the day of the Lord, to those who are unwatchful, who are just sitting on
the face of all the earth, that is, as physical ones of dust, this day will be an ambush to them.
But to those who are wakeful, those who are not tied to the love of the earth, but are rather
released as if with the Spirit’s wings in the heavens, the day of the Lord will not entrap them
for their perdition but they will be blessed by the salvation, on the level of both the body and
the soul together. They will be blessed by standing before the Son of Man as God’s angels.
Father Theophlactius says, “This is the glory of the angels, to stand before the Son of Man,
our God, and constantly see His face.”

12- He Sleeps the Night in the Mount of Olives:

(Luke21: 37, 38) “And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at
nigh鑌㢜ꔒ礰侤㜘ꔒ嵦࿍ᱏ∗ł猻꼃噼嘸줈䘽켔餣ꀘ㧶鈁砺쮈⭳‫ ⊉ܪ‬쁆夫Ⳝᢒ죫䲃椰㴒䲫
讎ꦟ孈妍綳ꙹ啮‫ۺ‬㍘䑱汬Ⱨ氖呲틗굙賉󸀀㢋쟭꿣ᢆ㳋᫯ઢ 捜䠀햦狺蛠秝쪵鄧ᏻ
适㙌㠔굁隼僧궑൐쏈鴄纓统픂䦥 썛Ხቢ↟蠧鹻罯쮩㍵琳묝㡠햓孰醴쯷袼촬ꇃ焽꫶䥍
跘鯩豻޵⤗䔦뜳轅ꔒꔒ놭樔氊丩嚘䂮瘼岯镗Ő癀珺猂錤浵⍤ 뮤ꕕ켏鐡煓򸀀ꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒȰ
ꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒᾘỳ ꔒ ꔒꔒɛ ꔒꔒꔒ ꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒ
ꔒꔒꔒ ꔒ ꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ ᶐꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒ̫㹂꡸ᨤ㚒鳜⫌쒧짷Ⳳ꼸蝢♤麠
 actually was wakeful and watchful. This is not only to be an example for us, but also to
sanctify our wakefulness with His own, and by sanctifying our deeds by His own! By
daytime, He taught in the temple, and at nighttime He goes to be awake on the mount of
Olives; He sanctified the suffering and active life!
珺猂錤浵⍤ 뮤ꕕ켏鐡煓򸀀ꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒȰꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ
ꔒꔒꔒᾘỳ ꔒ ꔒꔒɛ ꔒꔒꔒ ꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒ ꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒꔒ ᶐꔒ
ꔒꔒꔒꔒ ꔒꔒꔒꔒ̫㹂꡸ᨤ㚒鳜⫌쒧짷Ⳳ꼸蝢♤麠 actually was wakeful and watchful. This is not
only to be an example for us, but also to sanctify our wakefulness with His own, and by
sanctifying our deeds by His own! By daytime, He taught in the temple, and at nighttime He
goes to be awake on the mount of Olives; He sanctified the suffering and active life!
+ + +
 Chapter XXII
Page (733-771)
The Suffering Friend
+ + +

In the previous chapter we have seen how the incarnate Word of God has come to us,
offering us His divine fellowship. He reveals to us the features to the way of His fellowship; He
caution us of the obstacles on the way. Now He is offering Himself a price to this friendship. We
can thus see Him as the greatest priest who is shedding His life a Passover, so He takes us from
the state of enmity to the partnership with the Father. He is the priest and the sacrifice at the
same time. He offers His own blood a redemption for our sins.
We can most assuredly say in confidence, that our teacher the evangelist St. Luke, when
he describes the passion events of the Lord and His crucifixion, he is only presenting to us our
Friend who is carrying us to the holiest of His holies. He walks us in His heavenly holy places,
with no obstruction or any covering.
For our sake, He impoverished Himself: He did not own a ‘loft’ where He could eat the
Passover with His disciples, even though He is offering His life a unique Passover, able to save
mankind. For our sake He crossed the valley of tears and pain, all alone, even though He is one
with the Father, embracing us in love to Him. He accepted to be betrayed by one of His disciples,
and be the subject of judgment before His creation, judged religiously and civilly.
+ + +

1- The Passover draws Near 1- 2

2- Judas’ betrayal 3- 6
3- Preparing for the Passover 7- 13
4- The New Passover 14- 23
5- A discussion about who is the Greatest 24- 30
6- Warning Peter 31- 34
7- A General Warning 35- 38
8- His Prayer on the Mount of Olives 39- 46
9- His Yielding in 47- 53
10- Being Judged Religiously in the chief Priest’s house 54
11- Peter Denying Him 55- 62
12- Beating and Scourging Him 63- 65
13- His Judgment at the Council 66- 71
+ + +

1- The Passover Draws Near:

(Luke22: 1,2) “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the
people.”
The Jews used to celebrate the Passover feast on the fourteenth of March (Nissan) when
they commemorated the passing or crossing of the angel of death over the homes of their
forefathers in Egypt, without harming their prime firstborns, once the angel sees the , blood sign
on the board and tablets. Moreover, the word ‘Passover’ or ‘pascha’ means ‘to cross’. The feast
of the bread-cake was on the following day, the fifteenth of March; this feast was for a period of
seven days in which the Jews ate no leavened bread, but rather cake. Both feasts were blended
together, and at the, time of Jesus they became one feast called ‘the feast of cakes’ or the
‘Passover’.
I do not wish to go into details concerning the Passover and the cake feast, since we have
spoken of them earlier on more than one occasion, particularly in the interpretation of the book
of Exodus (ch.12), also in the interpretation of the book of Leviticus (Ch.23). what we wish to
say at this point, is that our Friend has came to offer Himself a Passover in our place, so that with
His blood, the angel of death would pass over, and not kill the primes of our life. In other words,
by Him we cross to the heavenly life, and we are transferred from the thoughts of dust to the
angelic thoughts.
+ The works of the Jews were a shadow of ours. This is why if you ask a Jew about the Passover
or the cake feast, he would tell you nothing of real value, and he rather refers to the salvation
from Egypt; whereas if someone asks this of me, he would not hear of Egypt or the Pharaohs, he
would rather hear of the freedom from iniquity and the darkness of Satan, not by means of Moses
but by the means of the Son of God.
St. John Chrysostom
The Jewish multitudes were heading towards Jerusalem to offer the Passover sacrifice, in
its beautiful rituals that portrayed Christ’s work of salvation. The chief priests and the scribes
were two crowded parties in the Syndrite assembly; these assembled together mostly in the house
of Caiphas the chief priest ‘the house of conspiracy’. They discussed how to get rid of Jesus in a
covered way, for they feared the people’s uproar against them.
St. John Chrysostom says that according to the law of Moses there is only one chief
priest. No other is appointed unless at his death. But because the Jews were spiritually lacking,
there has come to be more than one chief priest. Actually, the Jews used to appoint every year a
chief priest who practiced his job for one year. The Roman authorities had to be pleased with this
particular person, and they even chose him with the Jewish leaders. At any rate, it was
appropriate for then to have one chief priest, who stood for the bishop of our souls, our Lord
Jesus. He accepts the advice form God, and according to His commandment; and He fears God
and not man. but as for these ones they were many chief-priests who behaved according to a
humane advice, and they feared the people and not God.
St. Cyril the great says, “Let us look at the role played by Satan through his envy, and
what his cunning plot against Jesus resulted in. he planted in the leaders of the Jewish assembly
envy against Christ, that produced killing. This disease of envy mostly motivates to homicide.
This is the normal way to this vice, as happened with Cain and Abel. It was also clear in the case
of Joseph and his brothers. For this reason St. Paul the apostle clearly makes these two iniquities
next to each other, as if they are related to each other, for he speaks of people who are fi8lled
with ‘envy and murder’ (Rom.1: 29).
In this way those people asked to kill Jesus through Satan’s inspiration that implanted
evil in them, and he was their leader in their wicked plans.

2- Judas’ Betrayal:

The Lord Jesus passed through agony of every kind, in which the Jews took part with all
their various categories. One of His disciples also participated with them, as well as the Gentiles.
 The evangelist St. Luke speaks of the betrayal of Judas, saying, (Luke22: 3-6) “Then
Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his
way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And
they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray
Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”
Satan entered Judas not by force, but because he found the door open to him. Greed
opened the door for betrayal, despite his being one of the twelve disciples.
We hear in St. John’s gospel (John13: 27) “Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered
Him.” Did Satan therefore, enter him before or during the Passover? There is no doubt, Judas
gave himself as a vessel to the devil with every opportunity in which the door opened,
particularly to respond to Satan as a master to Judas who rules over his heart, and directs his
thoughts and actions. In other words, we may say that Judas, in his submission to the evil enemy,
he grew every day in responding to him, and practicing his devilish deeds. Just as God is eager to
dwell in His children’s hearts continuously so as to fill them with His divine work, likewise does
the adversary wish to enter the hearts of those responding to him continuously. He wishes to take
them to the end of his malice, for they are his tools and his personal sheep and kingdom.
+ You can see that Satan has actually entered Judas. He first entered when he planted in Judas’
heart the idea of betraying Christ. Then he came to supper embodying this spirit in him. When he
took the body, Satan also entered him, not to tempt someone estranged to him, tied to someone
else, but rather to rule over someone of his own, who belongs to him.
St. Augustine
+ Due to greed, Judas has reached this point.
Greed begets evil desires, and makes people blasphemous; greed urges people to lose
their understanding of God, even though they receive thousands of gifts from Him.
St. John Chrysostom
The adversary trapped Judas who responded to him due to his love of money, and so
Judas was motivated to steal (John12: 6). Then he pushed him to betray the Lord; Judas thus
became Satan’s tool that he used just as he wished to, since Judas yielded himself to Satan. This
is why St. Paul the apostle warns us, saying, (2Cor.2: 11) “Lest Satan should take advantage of
us.”
In the same spirit St. Mark the hermit offers to us his advice not to open the door to
Satan, even if very little. Once he enters he overrules and it is hard to get rid of him. Let us fight
Satan by the Lord when he is away from us, attempting to deceive us. Let us not allow him in
and overrule!
St. Cyril the great says Satan has gone into Judas’ heart, but not into Peter’s, James’ or
John’s, because their hearts were well founded, and their love to Christ was firm. But Satan
found a place for himself in him who betrayed due to the bitter disease of covetousness, about
which the devout St. Paul said (1Tim.6: 10) “Money is the source of all evil.” The evangelist,
moreover, confirmed that Judas was ‘one of the twelve’ to show clearly the iniquity of betrayal.
The one who has honored him, making him one with the rest, and adorned him with the apostolic
dignity, and made him beloved, and embraced him to the holy table—this same person has
become a way and a means to kill Christ.
For what did Judas sell his Lord?
He sold Him for silver; as St. Didimoas the Alexandrian says, there are two kinds of
silver: the genuine silver filtered seven times, which is the Word of God; and the fake silver
which is Satan’s word. The Lord Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, the true silver, but Judas
sold Him for the fake one. This betrayal has been practiced by the heretics across the ages, when
they misinterpret the Word of God. They use the Holy Book to refer to their corrupt teachings. It
is as if they are exchanging the pure and genuinely divine silver for their false one.
The evangelist’s words (Luke22: 5) “And they agreed to give him money” means that
they give him money in the general sense. The price was the definite sin of thirty pieces of silver,
as Amos the prophet has previously prophesied (St. Ambrosios.2: 6) as a price for selling the
Righteous One. This is a cheap price, paid as a ransom for a slave if hit by an ox and killed
(Ex.21: 32). It is said that this silver piece, on one of its faces had the olive branch picture, a
symbol of peace, and on the other face it had the picture of a censer, the symbol of worshiping,
and at the bottom the words ‘the holy Jerusalem’ were engraved.

3- The Preparation for the Passover:

The Passover time drew near; it was therefore appropriate for Him who has come ‘a
Passover to the World’ to offer His body and shed His blood a sacrifice of thanks to God the
Father, and the mystery for the life of His disciples... to be a real sacrifice able to reconcile the
Father with humanity across the entire ages.
The scholars disagreed in defining the Jewish Passover time: Was it on Thursday when
the Lord Jesus offered Himself the Passover directly after the Jewish symbol to declare its
absolute fulfillment? Or did the Lord wish to offer His Passover one day earlier so He would be
crucified on Friday, at the moments of the Jewish Passover? Each party has its own endeavour to
confirm its point of view. What concerns us is that the Jewish Passover was fulfilled and
perfected by Passover of Christ, whether the Jews practiced their rituals of their Passover on the
Covenant Thursday or during the crucifixion moments.
The Evangelist says (Luke22: 7-13) “Then came the day of unleavened Bread, when the
Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John saying ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us,
that we may eat’. So they said to Him, ‘where do you want us to prepare?’ And He said to them,
‘Behold”, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water,
follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The
Teacher says to you ‘Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’
Then he will show you a large furnished upper room, there make ready.’ So they went and found
it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”
We notice in the above words:
Firstly: Some think the words ‘Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover
must be killed.’ These words confirm the last supper was made on the Passover day, and that the
Lord Jesus offered His body and His blood after the symbolic lamb has been killed. But some
others think that according to the Jewish ritual, they were preparing for the feast on the day
before, when the Jews’ cleaned the house and searched more than once in their rooms lest there
be any leaven found, and thus be counted as breakers of the law, and their Passover would not
be accepted. It is as if the Lord has assembled with His disciples on the day before the killing of
the lamb, as a preparation for the Passover. But instead of searching in the loft-corners, He
offered the spiritual Passover that was not of any material. In addition to this, if the Lord had
assembled with His disciples to perform the Jewish Passover ritual, then where are the owners of
the house themselves?
In the interpretation of the gospel according to St. Matthew, I mentioned the preparation
the Lord made for the last supper after the Lord Jesus and His disciples performed the Passover
rituals of the law. But I repeat, what concerns our thoughts is the godly thinking itself and not the
details of the time.
Secondly: The Lord Jesus did not specify the name of the loft owner; but it is mentioned in the
church tradition that it was St. Mark the apostle. St. Mark was also the youth who was carrying
the pitcher, and he knew the Lord well enough. But the Lord did not mention his name; As St.
Ambrosios says this may be to show He was not preparing His Passover in a loft of an unknown
person. The Lord does not ask for famous people or prestigious ones. As Father Theophlactius
says, it may be that Judas might not know the place and so inform the chief priests and the
scribes, and thus arrest the Lord before offering His divine Passover.
Thirdly: In our interpretation of the gospel according to the St. Mark (13: 12-16) we have seen
the two saints: St. Cyril the great, and St. Ambrosios looking upon the pitcher of water as a sign
to the baptism. We are not allowed to be blessed with the mystery of the Eucharist unless we first
encounter the mystery of the baptism, and be blessed with the rebirth that is inwardly so perfect.
Though the pitcher is of clay and pottery yet it carries water inside; likewise, even though
we are of dust yet we receive the divine water of grace, and the work of the Holy Spirit within
us, so we may be able to be uplifted by the Spirit with our Savior. We shall receive from His
hands the mystery of our salvation, that is, His body and His blood that are shed for us.
Fourthly: The Lord with His disciples were uplifted to the furnished loft, in which there is no
leaven, and big enough for the Lord and His disciples to take. In this way the Lord wishes to
carry us as if to the highest in a furnished loft, where we live in the hidden divine glories; we are
exalted above the sins and defiled passions of this world. There, we shall meet Him, where we
have no leaven of any evil or cunningness. We will rather have the beauty of the righteous Spirit,
big enough with the divine love of God, so we carry within us the Lord and His disciples.
+ Let ascend with the Lord, united with Him, up to the loft. May our house-loft be big enough to
receive in it Jesus the Word of God, who is not realised except it be by means of those who have
great wisdom.
Let this loft be prepared by means of the good house-owner, so the Son of God comes in
it, and finds it washed and pure of every malice.
+ We have to be aware that no one is exalted to the loft who indulges in banquets and temporal
concerns. He will have no share with Jesus in keeping the Passover.
The scholar Oreganus

4- The New Passover:

Firstly: The evangelist St. Luke says (Luke22: 14) “When the hour had come, He sat down, and
the twelve apostles with Him.” The hour that the Lord of glory has specified has come for Him
to put the basis for the Eucharist mystery, by whose means He offered the world the mystery of
salvation, life and inward satisfaction.
The Jews, according to the law of Moses, were used to eating the Passover while they
were standing (Ex.12: 17) since this reminded them of being released from the bondage that their
fathers experienced in Egypt; for the slave had no right to sit down in the presence of his
masters; he rather had to stand to serve them. But when the Lord offered us His new Passover,
He sat and the apostles with Him to declare our transfer to the state of ‘glory’. His Passover is
the crossing to the heavenly life, so we sit with Him in his Father’s embrace, and be blessed in
sharing His glories.
Secondly: When the hour has come to fulfil our salvation by shedding His life for us, He
declares He is doing this work in absolute willingness, in true and passionate eagerness, for He is
asking for what has been perished. This is why He told them (Luke22: 15) “With fervent desire I
have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”
+ Why so? Because He appreciated His cross, for this would fulfil the salvation of the world, and
the mysteries would be given over, and the sorrowful matters would be wiped away.
+ This means “I am handing you the new rituals, and I am granting you the Passover that I am
offering it to you spiritually.”
St. John Chrysostom
+ He said this because the cross was drawing near soon after this Passover. We always find Him
prophesying His Passion and suffering, eager to have them fulfilled.
St. John Chrysostom
+ It is as if He is saying, “This is My last supper; it is precious indeed and I appreciate it.” It is
similar to those who depart to a far-off place, when they offer to their dear ones their loving
farewell words.
Father Theophlactius
But as for His words (Luke22: 16, 18) “For I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it
is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.... I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes.” We have previously interpreted this in our study of the book of Leviticus (10: 9)
where we have seen the Lord drinking of the fruit of the spiritual vine, that is, when He rejoices
at the completion of the elect in God’s kingdom.
Thirdly: We notice here that there are two cups: the first one the Lord took and He gave thanks,
saying (Luke22: 17) “Take this and divide it among yourselves.” The second one He took was
after supper, and said (Luke22: 20) “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for
you.” It was the Jewish custom, in the Passover ritual for three cups to be used. This is why some
think the first cup here is one of the cups in the Jewish rituals. As for the second one, it is the cup
of the new covenant that has come, not as a cup of general blessing, but it has been sanctified to
become the blood of the Lord Jesus that has been shed. The first one refers to the Old covenant
and the second one is offered to us as the mystery of the new covenant.
Fourthly: The Lord Jesus offered His true sacrifice, saying (Luke22: 19, 20) “This is My body
which is given for you” and “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
But as for His words “do this in remembrance of Me”, as we have seen in the book “Christ, the
Mystery of the Eucharist” that ‘the remembrance’ here in the Greek ‘Anamnasis’ does not
merely mean the recalling of a certain matter that you regard, but that is away from you; it rather
implies the repetition of His invitation or His representation in an active way. The Anomnasis
here means the remembrance of the Crucified and Risen Jesus from the dead. Or, that we
remember His sacrifice not as a thing of the past, but rather to offer a real sacrifice that is present
and active, that is, an existing and active remembrance.
+ The Eucharist is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ who suffered for our sins, and who was
raised by God the Father.
St. Ignatius the enlightened one
+ The chalice that is mixed, and the bread made, these accept and receive the Word of God. They
become the Eucharist of Christ’s body and His blood.
St. Irianus
+ The bread before the sanctified liturgy, is common bread. But when it is sanctified by the
mystery, it is called Christ’s body.
 St. Gregory, bishop of Nicus
+ When we partake of the holy body of Christ, the Savior of us all and drink of His precious
blood, we have life in us; for we become as one with Him. We dwell in Him and we possess Him
in us.
+ Do not doubt that this is true; for He said clearly “This is My body.” Receive the words of
Your Savior in faith, for He is the Truth who does not lie.
St. Cyril the great
Christ did this so He brings us to the knot of sincere fellowship, and to declare His love
to us, offering Himself to His loved ones. This is not only that they may see Him and touch Him,
but also to eat of Him, and embrace Him absolutely in their hearts.
St. John Chrysostom
+ Learn, then, how it is appropriate for you to eat of Christ’s body; that is, to remember His
obedience till death, so that those alive may not live any more for themselves, but rather for Him
who has died for their sakes, and rose from the dead.
St. Basilious the great
Fifthly: St. John Chrysostom thinks that the Lord Jesus spoke of His betrayer after offering the
cup, and the betrayer shared in taking of it. The Lord showed that He has offered the betrayer
every possibility for repentance, but that he did not wish to repent. God opens the doors of hope
to everyone, but He obliges no one to repent against his will.
When the Lord Jesus said that one of them would betray Him, they all began to ask Him.
Though they knew how much they loved Him, yet they were more confident of His words than
they had confidence in themselves. This is why each one of the feared lest he be the one meant,
for they all knew how weak they were, and how subjected they were to fall. I wish we could
copy the eleven disciples, and thus know our infirmities, and not rely on ourselves, but rather
rely on God’s grace that keeps us from falling.

5- A Discussion about who is the Greatest:

The Lord Jesus, being the incarnate Word of God, declared His heart’s eagerness and His
strong desire to offer His life a Passover for mankind, and asked for their fellowship on an
eternal level.
At the same time, the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill the Messaiah and get rid of
Him. As for the disciples, in their human weakness, they were mentally arguing about the first
and prominent positions in the new kingdom. They assumed it to be a temporal kingdom. The
evangelist St. Luke says, (Luke22: 24-30) “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to
which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, ‘The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called
‘benefactors’. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be
as the youngest, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the
table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who
serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a
ki8ngdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me. That you may eat and drink at My table in
My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel’.”
Firstly: St. John Chrysostom says that the Lord Jesus attributes those who ask for the foremost
positions are the Gentiles. It is as if the first landmark attributed for the Gentiles was their
‘arrogance’ and their desire for temporal glory. As a contrast, the landmark to be attributed to
Christ’s body is ‘modesty’, and the desire to occupy the last position among all. With lowliness
that is full of love, we are able to embrace everyone. In other words, the Word of God, due to His
love for mankind, has denied Himself. He took the position of a slave, so He carries in His body
the slaves, and He exalts them to the Father’s sonship. In the same Spirit, St. Paul the apostle was
eager to enslave himself so as to win many (1Cor. 9: 19). St. Paul wished to follow His Master’s
example, and thus he would have this honor, to consider himself a slave to everyone. This is not
out of despair or self destruction, but it is out of real love so as to win many.
+ I wish he who is in power, not to be puffed up due to his job, lest he falls from the blessing of
modesty. It befits him to know the true lowliness in serving many.
I wish the greatest to be the youngest.
I wish those who have the prominent jobs to be ready to offer even the physical service,
following the Lord’s example when He washed His disciples’ feet. This is why He said ‘let the
foremost one be as a servant.’
St. Basilious the great
+Keep the faith and modesty within yourself, because with them, you will find mercy and help.
You will also hear the divine words of God in your heart. You will be cseorted outwardly and
inwardly with your guardian angel.
+Modesty is a medal form God; because the incarnate Word was clothed with it, and He spoke of
modesty by means of our bodies. He who is clothed with modesty, copies indeed Him who has
come down from His high heavens’. He has covered the greatness of His righteousness with
modesty. He has covered His glory with it, so that the creation would not be in flamed with His
appearance.
+The Modest person is not hated or blamed or scorned by anyone, because his Lord loves him.
He loves everyone, and everyone loves him, and desire him everywhere. Wherever he may be,
they look upon him as an enlightened angel, and they offer him reverence.
+Modesty is a hidden power which is achieved by the perfect saints after their life has been
fulfilled. Grace does not give this power except it be to those who are absolutely righteous.
Mar Isaac the Syrian
+ The disciples opened a way to the human infirmities: they argued among themselves who is the
greatest of them all. This weakness was provoked in them and has been recorded for our own
good; since it has happened among the apostles, then it could be an example for us to be blessed
with humility. Thus the Lord Jesus rebuked them for this disease, and as a successful physician
He amputated it with a deep commandment full of zeal.
+ Let us stop this haughtiness that makes you lose your emotions and is absolutely vain. It
springs from the love of vain glory, the source of arrogance. The desire to dominate others, and
the conflict to reach this aim, makes man truly to be blamed, even though he cannot be totally
void of any praise.
To be exalted in righteousness is worthy of all honor and appreciation; but to reach this
we have to be modest in our thoughts and attitude. We have to have humble feelings, not
desiring to be the foremost ones, and this is due to our love for our brothers. This what the
righteous St. Paul wants to be in us, for he wrote, (Rom.12: 10) “Be kindly affectionate to one
another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” These feelings arm or
the saints and are glorified by them, for our righteousness towards God becomes honorable. This
modesty tears Satan’s cunning network and breaks down his various traps, and we are saved
from the pit of corruption, and makes us perfect in being similar to Christ, the Savior of us all.
Listen to how He puts Himself before us an example of the humble thinking, and the will-power
that does not ask for any vain glory, for He says, (Matt.11: 29) “Learn from Me, for I am gentle
and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
In the words just read, He says, “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who
serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as One who serves.”
When we hear Christ uttering these words, who is he who will not take away the love of
vain glory? And who will not cast out of his mind the love of hollow honor, and remain in his
stubbornness? The co-essential with God the Father in His throne and His kingdom has taken the
position of a slave, and has washed the apostles’ feet. In other words, He took the place of a
bondsman through His body incarnation. He who is served, has become a servant, the Lord of
glory has become poor, and gave us the example as is written (2Pet.2: 21).
Therefore let us avoid the love of vain glory, and get rid of the desire for leadership. If we
do so, we become like him, for He has denied Himself for our sake.
St. Cyril the great
Secondly: The desire for temporal greatness causes a crack among brothers, whatever positions
they may have, even if they are Christ’s disciples. It is as if this current is the destroyer for the
sanctified people.
+If the disciples have argued, this is not a pretext for you; it is just a warning. Let us be cautions
lest our arguments for the foremost positions, be the cause of our own perdition.
St. Ambrosios
Thirdly: The call of the Lord Jesus to His disciples not to ask for vain glory and the love of
leadership, this is not a deprivation, but it is rather a guidance towards the eternal glory that we
achieve by means of the cross. This is why He assures them of the greatest positions the apostles
will attain by their being firm with Him in His trials, that is, their carrying the cross with Him
every day due to their faith in Him and their preaching His gospel. The Lord Says, “But you are
those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My
Father bestowed one upon Me.”
In other words, He does not only call upon them to leave their vain glory, but also to
carry the cross, and sharing the Lord His suffering so they share Him His glories. As St. Paul the
apostle says (Rom.6: 5) “For we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly
we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
Fourthly: When He speaks here of being blessed with the eternal kingdom, this does not mean it
is by means of eating, drinking and sitting on seats in the literal meaning. The kingdom of God is
not food and drink (Rom.14: 17), it rather means a state of ever lasting satisfaction, and the
dominance in the Lord. As St. Cyril the great says, He describes the spiritual matters by means of
the analogy in the present current life; for this is counted a great privelege for people to sit, with
kings at their table, and share them their food!
St. Ambrosios says that the apostles judge the tribes of Israel, not by their sitting in seats
to judge in a literal sense, but rather that they would be the cause of their pricking conscience by
means of their faith and their virtue. At this point the Israelite and iniquity will be put to scandal.

6- His Warning to St. Peter:

Our Friend proclaimed His acceptance of the passion and suffering, and enduring the
crucifixion to offer His life for the sake of our salvation. The Jewish rulers faced this love with
hatred and the attempt of getting rid of Him. Moreover, Judas His disciple, faced this fellowship
by betraying Him most atrociously. Now, the Lord says to His disciples (Luke22: 28) “But you
are those who have continued with Me in My trials”, and He confirms that this firmness in Him
is actually a divine gift and a free blessing, without which their faith could perish. In other
words, if the downfall of Judas to the abyss is the outcome of his personal wickedness, despite
being offered every opportunity for repentance, then the firmness of the eleven apostles is a gift
from God, but they rather accept this gift out of their free self will. This is what the Lord has
declared in His warning to St. Peter the apostle.
(Luke22: 31-35) “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not, fail; and
when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, I am ready
to go with you, both to prison and to death.’ Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not
crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.’”
In the above conversation we notice the following:
Firstly: He may have chosen Simon Peter in particular, because he was known for his
impulsiveness and forwardness. He could have been one of those arguing about ‘who is the
greatest’, or, on hearing the Lord’s words ‘You are those who will be firm in My trials’, he thus
counted himself the first of those who are firm. Thus the Lord wished to reveal in St. Peter the
weakness of human nature in general. Hence, each of us would see in himself his personal
weakness.
Judas stands for ‘the betrayal’, but St. Peter stands for ‘the weakness’ that needs help
from God, and so he rises to become firm. He moreover makes others firm with him by means of
the overflowing grace that he obtains.
+This was said to St. Peter because he was more bold than the rest. He also might feel proud due
to the promises Christ has said to him and the others, that they would rule and judge the twelve
tribes of Israel.
Secondly: In this conversation, the Lord Jesus depicted clearly the reality of the spiritual
struggle for the sake of God’s kingdom. Though man’s heart is the battlefield, yet the conflict in
its reality is between God and the devil. Here we can see Satan overruling Judas’ heart, and
taking absolute control over his greed. Satan wishes to overrule the hearts of others as well. But
he cannot invade our life and tempt us without any permission, for the lord Jesus says, (Luke22:
31) “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Though his temptation is similar to
the sifting that separates the weeds for his account, yet it cannot touch the wheat, and this sifting
does not take place without asking the Lords permission.
At this point, important spiritual facts are brought to attention: the adversary exerts his
utmost to sift humanity by means of his trials. Though he obtains the permission from God to
sift, yet God’s care over His wheat prevails, and the wheat is untouched by the trials. Rather, the
wheat is separated from the weeds and is discerned so it be crowned. We are God’s wheat, and
we are His concern. The evil adversary will not touch us however much he sifts us, unless e
allow ourselves to be transformed from being God’s wheat to Satan’s weeds.
Dear one, even if you are a weed, know for sure that the Lord has come to change our
weeds to wheat. He therefore pulls us away from Satan’s kingdom to His own.
The adversary’s war is diversified and unrelentant. As St. Ogris says to the monks, the
enemy fights them by day by means of the people around them. But at nighttime, Satan himself
fights them directly, for he says, “At night, the devils ask that they sift the spiritual leader
himself. As for the daytime, the people are used so they surround him by different controversies,
slanders and hazards.”
Thirdly: St. Augustine used the words of the Lord Jesus to St. Peter the apostle “But I have
prayed for you, that your faith should not fail,” so as to answer Pelaguis’ followers who in their
extreme defense for mankind’s freedom, they almost denied the word of God’s grace. They
believed that man is able to save himself by means of his personal struggle. St. Augustine assures
us at this point, that even the faith, this is a gift from God, for the only begotten Son asks for His
apostle’s sake that his faith does not perish.
St. Peter the apostle thought within himself he is able to share the Lord Jesus all of His
suffering even unto death. In human zeal, yet with a sincere heart he said (Luke22: 33) “Lord, I
am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” St. Peter did not realize that in fact, he
was unable to pray or keep watch with the Lord in the garden. Neither could he face a maid in
the house of the chief priest. St. Peter relied on himself and he was unaware of his actual
weakness; a fact that his Master knew well about him more than St. Peter knew about himself.
+What has the Lord asked for St. Peter other than he remains persistent till the end?
For sure, if man were able to do so all by himself, this would not be asked of God for St.
Peter’s sake. This is why the apostle said (2Cor. 13: 7) “Now I pray to God that you do no evil.”
Surely He prays to God for their sakes so they be persistent.
St. Augustine
+ Therefore, we should never assume that our, faith depends on our free self-will, without the
need of God’s support.
St. Augustine
+ He taught us modesty in every way, affirming that the human nature alone is like nothing at all.
St. John Chrysostom
+The Lord Jesus knew St. Peter at all times; He knew him when St. Peter did not know himself.
This is as what always happens with the patients: the patient does not know what is happening
inside him, whereas the doctor knows this; even though the former suffers from the sickness
whereas the physician does not.
The physician can inform us of what occurs in others’ lives; whereas the patient himself
is unable to say what is happening inside him.
+ Man does not know what is inside him; but man’s Creator knows what is within man.
St. Augustine
+ He teaches us to be committed to thinking in modesty concerning ourselves, for we are as
nothing. According to our human nature and our mental readiness we fall into sin. It is only
through Him and in Him alone, we are strengthened, and we become I the state we are in at the
present time. If we borrow from Him our salvation, then we are counted righteous and devout;
then what situation is there for puffed-up thoughts? All what we have is from Him, and nothing
is of our own. (1Cor.4: 7) “And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did
indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”
This is what the wish St. Paul said; as the righteous David the prophet said (Ps.59: 12) “O
Lord, our shield.” Also (Ps. 45: 1) “God is our shelter and our strength.” Jeremiah the prophet
says (Jer.16: 19) “O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble.”
Furthermore, the devout St. Paul when being truly advanced, says (Phil.4: 13) “I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me.” Indeed, even Christ Himself says (John15: 5) “Without Me
you can do nothing.”
+ Christ shows clearly that even him who seems great, he is nothing and is weak indeed. Satan is
used to attacking sublime people, of great prestige; he also creates a unique and fierce struggle, a
barbaric conflict against those who have a good reputation in the righteous life.
 St. Cyril the great
Fourthly: The Lord Jesus has asked of the Father for the sake of St. Peter. As St. Cyril the great
says “He demeaned Himself for our sakes, so the Lord speaks here within the limitations of man.
he is God in His nature, even if He has become incarnate. He is the Father’s power, by whom
everything is kept, and from Him we obtain the ability for the good deeds; but because He has
become man, He is asking of the Father.” It was necessary; yes, it was appropriate for Him who
for the sake of providing Himself to become man like us, that He practices our work as well,
when it is necessary to do so.”
Fifthly: St. Augustine thinks Christ’s request for the sake of St. Peter, did not limit the fee will
of St. Peter. He does not oblige him not to fall. He gives the divine support, and it is St. Peter’s
right to accept or refuse this help.
On another occasion the same saint confirms that God is concerned about men’s freedom,
otherwise His commandments would have been of no use. But man needs the divine grace of
God to support him in carrying out these commandments.
Sixthly: St. Basilious the great discerns between the fall of the spontaneous ones such as St.
Peter and the fall of others. He says that God allows the zealously spontaneous ones to fall
sometimes as a cure for them lest they rely on themselves. This is usually hiddenly done, and is
out of man’s weakness, and not out of ingratitude and insistence. As for the others, they fall due
to their ingratitude and stubbornness. This is why the former ones need God’s support together
with gentleness in raising them. As for the others, they usually need severe rebuke and discipline
so they realise that God is the Judge, and thus they are terrified and so repent.
Seventhly: The Lord Jesus links repentance or coming back to Him with the positive work in
serving the souls; for the Lord Jesus asks Simon Peter to make firm his brethren whenever he
returns. This godly commandment has been experienced by king David the prophet in his
repentant moments, for he cried out in the Psalm of Repentance saying (Ps.51: 13) “Then I will
teach transgressors Your ways and sinners shall be converted to You.”
St. Cyril the great says that the Lord Jesus, even though He warned us of the trials, yet He
offered us a comforting word. In other words, Christ is our true Friend, and He is warning us of
our drawbacks, but He does not stand on the negative side; He rather supports us and encourages
us to practice strongly the positive performance. Therefore we should not fear the devilish war or
the authority of iniquity; rather, we have to believe in Him who dwells in us, and who works in
us in authority for the spiritual construction.
The system the Lord Jesus uses when dealing with us, urges us to the ‘active hope’. With
warning, He adds strength, and He urges us to work fearlessly and persistently.
Eighthly: When St. Peter still believed, after this discussion, that he could deep following Christ
through his human zeal, the Lord assured him that he would deny Him three times. We have
prior to this, spoken of this issue in the interpretation of St. Matthew 26: 34; St. Mark 14: 30.

7- A General Warning:

The Lord Jesus warned St. Peter the apostle and assured him he would deny Him three
times before the cock crows. He also told him that he would depart from this weakness by means
of God’s work and His grace. Now the Lord is asking all of His disciples to be armored by the
swords of faith and spiritual struggle, that is, by the faith that works in love.
The evangelist says (Luke22: 35-38) “And He said to them, ‘When I sent you without
money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?’ So they said ‘Nothing’. Then He said
to them ‘But now, He who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who
has no sward, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written
must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was number with the transgressors’. For the things
concerning Me have an end.’ So they said ‘Lord, look, here are two swords’. And He said to
them, ‘It is enough.’”
Firstly: When sending them, He asked them for nothing other than to leave everything, even the
necessities, so He be the secret of their satisfaction, and the Provider for their personal lives and
their preaching mission. But now that the time of the crucifixion has come, He directed their
attention to struggling. This is not to carry a sword and fight with it, as the disciples assumed;
rather, to carry the sword of live faith that functions with love. This is why when they told Him
there were two swords, He said to them ‘It is enough.’ They thus assumed He meant the two
actual swords.
St. John Chrysostom compares Christ’s words to a swimming instructor who puts his
hands under the body of those he trains when in the water, and thus they feel confident and
comfortable. The trainer then bit by bit takes his hands off, and so they struggle and learn.
Likewise at the beginning, the Lord did not urge them for the spiritual struggle, He just sent them
to preach, being carried on His hands, and not in need of anything. Now He is asking them for
the spiritual struggle by the sword of the truthful Spirit, so they may face tribulations, and endure
the crucifixion with Him Joyfully, and do not get hindered.
The Lord Jesus did not leave them to be in need of anything; rather, in overflowing
satisfaction He filled all their needs when He was with them physically. Now, due to His love,
He wished to leave them so He carries the cross, and they become as if they were in need, so
they be blessed with new experience amidst the need and the pain. The love through which they
lived for a time, in relief and in no need, is the same one that allowed them to practice the
partnership with Him in His passion. For this same reason as saint Anba Anthony the great says
in his letters, that God probably gives those who repent, at the beginning of their repentance, a
lot of solace so as to uplift them and support them. But He allows it that He takes away their
solace for a while so they struggle amidst the suffering, and thus they become exalted and obtain
greater solace than at first.
Secondly: St. Ambrosios thinks the sword the Lord asked His disciples to have is ‘the Word of
God’ that is counted as a double-edged sword.
+ (Luke22: 36) “and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”
Why, Lord, are you commanding me to buy it, and yet You forbid me to strike (Matt.26:
52)?
Why do You command me to possess that which You forbid me to get out of its sheath,
even if it is to defend myself?
The Lord was able to take revenge, yet He preferred to be slaughtered! There is also
found the spiritual sword that makes you sell your inheritance to buy the Word that you deep
spirit is clothed with.
There is also found the sword of suffering by which you uproot the body, so that you buy
with the remains of your slaughtered body the crown of holy martyrdom. He may have meant
the Old and the
with a kiss?’ When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, ‘Lord,
shall we strike with the sword?’ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off
his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit even this.’ And He touched his ear and healed
him.”
Firstly: The crowd came that included the chief priests and the officers of the temple, and also
some of the Roman soldiers and elders (John18: 12) under the leadership of Judas. The Jewish
leaders carried the weapons of hatred and loathsomeness in their hearts, and the soldiers carried
the swords and cudgels. As for Judas, he came forward with a kiss from his lips that was more
bitter than all the other weapons. It was a false kiss from a student to his Teacher! Judas was
terrible in his iniquity: on one hand, he offered the kiss, the sign of love and loyalty, and the sign
of giving Him to them. He offered this on the feast of the Passover, when it was appropriate that
he would be righteous and devout, in hear of the reverence of the greatest Jewish feast. He
offered it at the garden, at a time in which he knew it was a place of prayer for his Teacher. The
student abused all what is holy; he abused the reverence of being a student, and the reverence of
the feast, the reverence of prayer, and at no cost, for he asked of them the price of a slave!
King David the prophet says on behalf of the Lord Jesus who was betrayed by His
student (Ps.55: 12-14) “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it. Nor is it
one who hates me, who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide from him. But it was
you, a man my equal, my companion, and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and
walked to the house of God in the throng.”
+ Judas did not cease his betrayal, even though Jesus warned him of it in every way; for at the
last moment He told him “Judas, is it with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?”
St. John Chrysostom
+ He did not tell him ‘You scoundrel’, even though Judas was indeed a betraying scoundrel. Is
this what you offer Judas, to reward such a great and gentle Lord? But the Lord simply said
‘Judas’, using the appropriate name and the gentle title, for He did not speak angrily; He just
wanted Judas to reconsider himself.
He did not tell Judas “You are betraying You Master or your Lord, or He who has
authority over you, but He merely said ‘Are you betraying the Son of Man”, that is, you are
handing over this gentle and meek one. It is as if Jesus is telling him “Even if I am not your
Master or your Lord, or Him you are indebted to, do you betray an innocent and gentle person
with you? Do you kiss Him at this moment of betrayal, and make of the kiss a sign of betrayal?”
Blessed are You, O Lord! You are an awesome example in enduring evil. You have
manifested this in Your personality! What great meekness this is! The Lord gave us the example
showing us not to cease offering the good advice to our brethren, even if our words seem to be of
no avail at all.
St. John Chrysostom
+ It is appropriate for us not to stop advising our brothers even when our pieces of advice seem
to be fruitless; for the springs of water keep overflowing even if no one drinks of it, and he who
does not listen today may listen tomorrow. The fisherman could have empty net all day long, and
at the last moment he might catch a fish. Likewise, even though our Lord knew that Judas would
not stop, yet He did not cease to offer him the advice.
St. John Chrysostom
Secondly: ‘The kiss’ is the sign of love, friendship and longing for. But Judas used it to betray
his Master, and thus it has become to him a sign of treachery and ingratitude.
 This is why our fathers advise us not to conduct ourselves in sweet and gentle signs, but
they cover up a cruel and violent heart. Let the outer appearance be a true reflection of the inner
depths. And example of this is apparent silence as a sign of forgiveness or endurance, whereas
the depths are boiling with hatred, or the outer silence is not a desire for gentleness, but is
actually a kind of spite.
+ It is in vain to bridle your tongue, if your silence plays the same role that screaming does.
Father Joseph
Thirdly: when the disciples saw this general uproar against their innocent Lord, they said in
human yet wrongful zeal (Luke22: 48) “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” This was said by
St. Peter the answer came clear and open (Matt.26: 53, 54) “Put your sword in its place, for all
who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My
Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the
Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (John18: 11) “Shall I not drink the cup which
My Father has given Me?”
Fourthly: St. Peter did not wait for the Lord’s answer when he said ‘Shall we strike, Lord, with
the sword?” He might not even have heard the Lord’s answer, for the sight was very provoking
and threatening, or he might have not quite woken up from sleep. He therefore struck Melchus,
the slave of the chief priest and cut off his right ear.
Fifthly: The Lord Jesus is naturally good and gentle, and He does not cease to do good even at
the difficult moments. While the persecutors showed every hatred and malice, the Lord Jesus
was concerned about healing the injury of this slave who came in rebelion so as to kill Him.
St. Augustine comments on the healing of Melchus the slave’s ear, saying “Melchus
means ‘he who helps so as to rule? Therefore what does the ear that has been cut for the Lord’s
sake, and that the Lord has healed mean, other than the renewal of the hearing that the old times
have been cut off from him, so that he becomes in the Lord’s fold, and not in the old literacy?
Who can doubt that he who is blessed with this matter in Christ, has become impotent so he
reigns with Him?”
Why has the right ear been cut off, and the Lord healed it?
The slave refers to the Jewish nation that was in the bondage state, and has not yet been
blessed with the sonship to God. This nation was given the right ear so they hear the spiritual and
divine voice through the old law. The left ear means the actual listening, and the right means the
spiritual one. They had to listen to the law spiritually through the circumcision of the heart and
the ear. But due to their cruel hearts, their ears were corrupted, since they were spiritually
uncircumcised. The Lord allowed the cutting off of the uncircumcised so the actual hearing
would die, and the inner ear be circumcised and thus hears the Lord’s voice.
Sixthly: Just as the Lord Jesus has paid attention that in love He reproached Judas at the last
moments before His betrayal, for Judas might repent and return, without Jesus hurting his
feelings by any cruel or harsh word, likewise did Jesus pay attention to His disciple St. Peter and
asked him not to strike with an actual sword. Jesus was also concerned about Melchus the chief
priest slave, and He healed his right ear so he might hear the divine voice. At this point Jesus is
also concerned about those rebeling against Him, and reproached them for the sake of their
salvation, for the evangelist says, (Luke22: 52, 53) “Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains
of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him “Have you come out as against a robber, with
swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this
is your hour, and the power of darkness.’”
 The Lord reproaches them because they came to him at night, so they perform the deeds
of darkness and malice. It was Satan who was leading them ‘the power of darkness. It was more
befitting for them to be the sons of Light and the sons of Day, meeting Him in the temple and
enjoy the shine of His righteousness and the beams of His love.
This work was called ‘the hour’ because the deeds of darkness however long the may be,
they are only of a short duration and end. They were allowed to practice the deeds of darkness
but for a short while.
(Revise the fathers’ sayings, particularly those of Sts. Cyril the great and Ambrosios in
our interpretation (Matt. 26: 47; Mark14: 43)

10- Being Judged Religiously in the chief priest’s house:

(We have previously mentioned the fathers’ sayings in the religious Judgment of the Lord
Jesus when interpreting (Matt.26: 57, Mark 14: 66)
The Lord was led first to Ananias Caiaphas’ father in law, and caiaphas was the chief
priest. Then He was led to Caiaphas, and this chief priest tore his clothes, and he thus
phrophesies without being aware of it that the tearing of the levites’ priest clothes means
canceling it (Math.26: 65). There, He was accused of two things: that the Lord has said He would
destroy the temple and in three days He would build another not made with manual hands; and
the second accusation was that the Lord has blasphemed.
The Lord had to be judged before His own, so He be rejected, and thus the door of
salvation would be opened to the Gentiles.

11- St. Peter Denying Him:

We have previously spoken of St. Peter’s denial (Matt.26: 57; Mark14 :48) where we saw
St. Peter following the Lord from afar (Luke22: 54) By so doing, Peter denied the Lord, and
when he drew near to Him, he did not deny Him. Peter sat, warning himself among the slaves
and the servants, when he lost the warmth of the inner spirit. Finally he repented and regretted,
for (luke22: 61) “and the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” In other words, it is appropriate for
us, so we do not deny the Lord, to draw closer to Him and not to follow Him from afar. We also
have to ask for the warmth of the inner spirit, and not the warmth of the false word, and that the
Lord books upon us with His merciful eye, and thus kindles our hearts with repentance, and
grants our eyes the true tears acceptable unto God.
We add the following excerpts to what has gone prior to them in the interpretations of St.
Matthew and St. Mark:
+ This tribulation was truly and lesson for our salvation, so we learn that if we take lightly the
infirmities of our bodies, we are then tempted. If St. Peter has been tempted, then who of us is
able to be puffed up?
He mentioned to us St. Peter who was tempted so that we learn of him how to resist
temptation; and that even if we are tempted, yet we are able to overcome the thorn of tribulation
with the tears of patience.
St. St. Ambrosios
+ What do the words “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter” mean other than that He gave
him back the face that Peter had turned away from the Lord a short while ago?
He became confused, but he learnt not to trust himself; this was useful to him.
+ It cannot be said that the Lord turned to him and looked at him with His physical eyes; rather,
this has come to happen inwardly. It has been fulfilled in the mind, in the deed of the will-power.
Christ’s mercies have drawn close to him, silently and in secret. It touched his heart and
reminded him of the past. The Lord remembered St. Peter with His inner grace, and it urged in
him the tears of man’s inward feeling that is activated in him.
Look by what means God is present with His help to work in our will power and our
actions. Look how the Lord works in us so that we ‘want to’ and that ‘we work’
St. Augustine
+ St. Peter was in need of the Lord reminding him, His look to him was replacing the voice, and
thus St. Peter was
 CHAPTER XXIII

The Crucified Friend

For the sake of the fellowship the Lord Jesus was asking for, He endured the agony.
He accepted the judgment, and the carrying of the cross, and He underwent death, and was
buried in the grave so that He carries us as friends to Him for eternity.

1. His judgment before Pilate

2. His judgment before Herod
3. The Jews’ Persistence to Crucify Him
4. The cross and Simon the Cyrene
5. The cross and the lamenting women
6. His crucifixion between two thieves
7. Giving up the Christ
8. His burial

1. His judgment before Pilate:

The Lord Jesus came to reconcile man to the Father, and cover man’s sins by His
blood. But man accused Him of provoking the people and was the source of rebellion; for the
evangelist says, “ Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him o Pilate, and they
began to accuse Him saying, ‘We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to
pay taxes to Caesar, saying He himself is Christ, a king” (Luke 23:1, 2)

The evangelist St. Luke mentions the civil accusation clearly. In the religious council
He was accused of blasphemy. Here, before Pilate, the accusation was that He was perverting
the people so they do not pay taxes to Caesar, and that He appointed Himself a king, even
though He was previously asked and answered, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God
what is God’s”. Also, when they wished to take Him by force and appoint Him king, He
disappeared from among them!

St. Cyril the great says, “They led Jesus to Pilate. They, too, were given up to the
Roman soldiers who have occupied their minds, their land and have invaded their city, where
the holy and revered places were, and the inhabitants were killed by the sword and by fire. In
them, the prophecies of the saintly apostles were fulfilled, for one of them says, “Woe to the
guilty! How unfortunate they are, for what their hands have done shall be done to them” (Is.
3:11). Another prophecy says, “As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall
return on your own head” (Obadiah 1: 15)

There is no doubt, Pilate has heard that the Lord has called to give Caesar what is
Caesar’s. When he saw that the Lord Jesus was a poor man, and that He could not appoint
Himself king, he asked Him maybe mockingly, or just for appearance, “Then Pilate asked
Him saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’, He answered him and said, ‘It is as you say’.
So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no fault in this Man’” (Luke 23:3,
4).
 As St. Cyril the great says, “They led Jesus to Pilate, and they devised several
accusations, and they brought them up against Christ. They were false accusations that had no
proof whatsoever. By this, they were more malicious than the atheists, for Pilate had justified
Him from any accusation saying, “I find no fault in this man”. Pilate said this three times.

When the leaders could not provoke the governor against Him by rational means,
“But they were more fierce, saying, ‘He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea,
beginning from Galilee to this place” (Luke 23:5).

They might have wished to threaten the governor by this, because the situation is not
limited in his area only, but that it extends to other places as well. This means that if Pilate
does not pass a verdict over Him, another ruler will do so; thus the governor would be looked
upon as careless in the eyes of Caesar, leaving those who cause chaos without any judgment.
It also maybe for this reason that Pilate sent Him to Herod and to Galilee, so that if He is
pronounced innocent or guilty, there would be another governor’s verdict supporting him
before Caesar. According to the Roman law, moreover, every person stands before his district
governor to be judged. Therefore Pilate did not wish to trespass over Herod’s concerns,
despite the enmity existing between them. It is as if Pilate paid consideration to the earthly
law, quite contently, and handed Him over to another governor, whereas the Jewish leaders
did not pay any regard to the divine law of God, and gave up the Lord Jesus to be crucified
unto the death sentence wrongfully.

We also notice that the Lord Jesus did not defend himself with a single word. He
counted the truth in which He is, well testified about by this silence, and that He does not
need any words to testify of Him. This is what the evangelist proclaims in the encounter
between the Lord Jesus and Herod, as we shall see. He came to draw our hearts by His love,
and not to defend Himself.

2. His judgment before Herod:

“Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had desired for a long time to
see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle
done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered Him nothing. And
the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod with His men of
war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent
Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for
previously they had been at enmity with each others.” (Luke 23: 8-12)

We notice in the encounter between the Lord Jesus and Herod the
following points:

First: Herod wished to be assured of what he had heard about the Lord Jesus, and this is
why he was so happy to see Him. It was not to be blessed by Him, or to know the truth, but it
was to see miracles and wonders. But the Lord did not come to parade miracles, but rather to
save the souls. This is why He kept silent and did not even answer the accusations alleged
against Him, therefore Herod scorned Him and his men ill-treated Him.
Second: In his judgment, whether it be with the chief priest or Pilate or Herod, the Lord
kept silent, so the words be fulfilled, “like a lamb to the slaughter and like a sheep that is
before its shearers is silent” (Isa. 53:7). The Lord was likened to being a lamb in being
silent so He would be counted righteous and not guilty.

St. Augustine

This is an awesome example calling on the human hearts to endure the humiliation in
a firm spirit. The Lord was accused and yet He kept silent! In His silence He was just,
because He was in no need of some one to defend Him.

St. Ambrosios

Third: St. Ambrosios commented on the gorgeous robe that Herod dressed the Lord in
saying, “Herod dressed the Lord in a white robe to point out that the agony He endured was
because of no blame in Him; for He is the lamb of God that is unblemished carrying
gloriously the sins of the world.

Fourth: Father Theophlactiss thinks the friendship that ensued between Pilate and Herod
due to the killing of the Lord Jesus after the enmity that had existed between them, that His is
a reproach to us. Satan has united the two enemies to carry out his evil purpose. As for us, we
are divided against ourselves instead of being united for the sake of the salvation of our souls.

As for St. Ambrosios, he thinks the friendship between the two enemies, a reference
to the unity that has come to be between the people of Israel and the Gentile nations through
Christ’s death, by the acceptance of everyone as members in the New testament church, the
new covenant church.

3. The Jews Insist on Crucifying the Lord:

First: We are not surprised that the Lord Jesus, though He was falsely accused, has been
silent, whereas the enemies stood in defense of Him, among whom were Pilate and Herod.
Pilate testified, “and indeed, having experienced Him in your presence, I have found no fault
in this Man concerning all the things of which you accuse Him. No neither did Herod” (Luke
23:14, 15).

When they insisted on killing Him once and twice, He assured them, “why what evil
has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him” (Luke 23: 22), but they cried out
insistently that He be crucified!

Pilate rebuked them and offered some justification for himself, saying, “I have found
no fault in this man…” here are those who know the divine law and have sublime qualities,
and say they are Moses’ disciples, here they are asking that He be put to death. It is He who is
blameless, He is the head and the teacher of every righteousness. It is He who grants the
believers every righteousness in great skill.

They have become all the more, deserving of every severe punishment, because Pilate
whose job was to condemn Him, had pronounced Him innocent.

St. Cyril the Great

Secondly: The Lord has exerted every effort even His own life, for the sake of offering
His fellowship to mankind, yet, His own rejected Him and preferred Barabas to Him, “and
they all cried out at once saying, ‘away with this man, and release to us Barabas’ who had
been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city and for murder” (Luke
23:18, 19). They wanted to kill the righteous one and release the rebellious and the killer. As
St. Ambrosios says, “the word ‘barabas’ means the son of the father. It is as if these are the
ones to whom it has been said, “you are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44). Now they are
preferring their fathers son, that is the Anti-Christ, rather than the son of God.

Third: For the third time they cried out vehemently, and begged Pilate to crucify Him,
“But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of
these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave the sentence that it should be as
they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder
had been thrown into prison, but he delivered Jesus to their will” (Luke 23:23-25).

These cruel and unlawful shouts have been rebuked by the Lord in Isaiah the prophet,
“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people pf Judah, are His
pleasant planting, He expected justice, but saw bloodshed, righteousness but heard a cry”
(Is. 5:7).

At another place he spoke of them, “woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!
Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they spoke
lies against Me” (Hos. 7:13). Also, “their officials shall fall by the sword because of the rage
of their tongue” (Hos. 7:16).

It is said that Pilate gave the word that their desire be done, for this was good in their
eyes, because Pilate’s will was defeated, and the verdict has been pronounced. They resisted
and vehemently opposed Pilate, and they overcame him. Thus this was a trap to them and was
the cause of their perdition. It is this that pushed them to disastrous and incessant perdition
and devastation.

St. Cyril the Great

4. The Cross and Simon the Cyrene:

 “Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon Cyrene, who was
coming from the country, and on Him they laid the cross that He might bear it after Jesus.”
(Luke 23:26).

We have said that the word ‘simon’ means to ‘to hear’ or ‘to obey’, ‘cyrene’ means
‘the inheritance’, which is a Gentile city in Libya. Therefore ‘Simon the Cyrene’ refers to the
church of the new covenant that has become higher by means of the obedience in the faith.
She has come form the Gentiles to share her Christ His cross, and be blessed with Him by
this honorable reverence.

St. John the evangelist mentions that the Lord Jesus has carried the cross (John
19:17), for this is the sign of His kingdom. As Isaiah the prophet has said, “authority rests on
His shoulders” (Isa. 9:6). On the way because He wanted to make of the church a queen that
shares Him His glories it was allowed that Simon, the church representative, carry the cross.

St. Ambrosios says, “the time has come so that the conqueror raises his banner and so
the cross was put on His shoulders. The Lord carried His banner, then He handed it over to
the martyrs, for them to raise as well, “take up your cross and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

I wish we would go out with Simon in obedience that springs out of faith, going from
the field of this world so as to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus we share Him
His inheritance and His glories.

5. The Crucifixion and the Lamenting Women:

“And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned
and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for
Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming in which
they will say, ‘blessed are the barren wombs that never bore and breasts which never
nursed!’ then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘fall on us’ and to the hills ‘cover us’!
for if they do their things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry” (Luke 23: 27-31)

Because the evangelist St. Luke wrote to the Gentiles, he wished to focus on a
womens’ position and her esteem in the eyes of a Christian. The men have rebelled against
the truth and the multitudes revolted asking for the crucifixion of the righteous and the
release of the killer, whereas a crowd of women were lamenting what happened and
following the Lord in those bitter moments.

Our Christ, the real friend, turned to these women, to direct their human tears that
were full of pity on Him to the sincere repentance and ask for the salvation of their souls and
their childrens’ saying, “do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children”.

The Lord himself wept over Jerusalem, since it did not want to weep over itself, the
Lord wants us to weep so as to escape from the perdition.

He who weeps a lot in the world, is saved in the future; because, ‘the heart of the wise
is in the house of lamentation, whereas the heart of the ignorant is in the house of laughter”.
The Lord Himself said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6:21).
Let us weep, then for a time, and then be joyful forever. Let us fear the Lord and wait for
Him, in confession of our sins. Let us revert from our wickedness, so we are not told, “woe is
me! ….the faithful have disappeared from the land and there is no one left who is upright”
(Micah 7:12)

St. Ambrosios

Furthermore, many of the fathers think the words here are addressed to the Jewish
nation, for He called them, ‘daughters of Jerusalem’ He declared to the Jews that it is
appropriate for them that they rather weep over what would befall Jerusalem. If the Roman
verdict has been pronounced of crucifying the ‘green branch’, that is the Lord Jesus, then
Jews will hand over the ‘dry branch’, to the Roman swords where Jerusalem will be besieged,
and the temple will be absolutely destroyed.

He called Himself ‘the green tree’ or ‘the green branch’ that bears leaves and fruits
and blossoms. As for its fruits these are His teachings, His advice and the testimony of the
power of His godliness in His divine miracles that are indescribable: the dead He has raised
to life, and He healed the lepers, and healed the blind, and many other wonders He did that
urge us to give absolute gratitude to the perfection. Despite the marvels that He performed,
the Romans and particularly Pilate condemned Him. It was Pilate who unjustly passed
judgment over Him and inflicted on Him cruel scorn. This is why He says if the Roman rulers
have poured on Me these matters, even though they witnessed Me adorned in tremendous
glory such as this, then what would they do to Israel, now that they have realized it is a dry
and fruitless branch? For they do not find in the Israelites an unusual thing worthy of honor
or mercy. Therefore they will burn them with fire unmercifully and would exercise against
them fierce cruelty.

St. Cyril the Great

He called Himself ‘the green wood’, and us ‘the dry branch’ because He himself in
Him is life and the strength of the divine nature. But as for us humans, we are called the dry
branch.

Pope Gregory the Great

If Christ the Lord, ‘the tree of life’ did not depart from this world except after He had
endured the agony for our sakes and due to our iniquity, then don’t we expect ourselves to
suffer, we the dry branch that is fruitless?

As for the days in which the barren women are blessed, the days of besieging
Jerusalem have come, when the honest women have eaten their children due to their
excessive hunger, as the Jewish historian, Youssofios, described.

6. His Crucifixion Between Two Thieves:

 The evangelist St. Luke offered us a description of the Lord’s crucifixion, in which
was mentioned.

First: For more humiliation they crucified Him between two thieves, one on the right, the
other on the left, and thus the words of Isaiah the prophet have been fulfilled, “He was
numbered with the transgressors, yet He bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). The evangelist also describes the position of the two thieves,
saying, “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are
Christ save Yourself and us’ But the other answering, rebuked him saying, ‘ Do you not even
fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive
the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong’ Then he said to Jesus,
‘Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom’ and Jesus said to him, ‘assuredly I
say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43)

If you have been crucified with Him as a thief, then come to know God since you are
a repentant thief.

Kneel down to Him who was hung for your sake, even if you yourself are hung.
Make use of your malice, and press your salvation by means of your death. Enter with Jesus
into paradise, so you learn from where you have fallen, (Rev. 2:5).

St. Gregory El Naznizi

The thief believed at a time when He learned themselves absolutely failed. The thief did not
believe in their words, and yet his faith was such that he confessed Him who he saw nailed to
the cross, and did not see Him risen or king.

St. Augustine

Christ Himself took the thief from the cross to Paradise, to show that repentance will not be
delayed in its mission. He transformed the killer’s death to a martyr.

St. Jerome

Do not be ashamed to consider this thief a teacher for us. It is him who the Lord was
not ashamed of, but rather He made him enter into paradise before anyone else!

I do not only see Him as worthy of admiration but I bless him as well, because he did
not think about his pain, but he rather forgot about himself and was concerned about his
friend, trying to save Him from perdition. In this way he became a teacher when on the cross.
Meditate on how he fulfilled the apostles law. He was not only concerned about himself, but
he did every means as much as he could to save the other from perdition and guide him to the
truth.
 The thief confessed, and so he found the doors of paradise open! He confessed, and so
he was told enough to ask for the kingdom, even though he was a thief!

Tell me, you thief, how did you remember the kingdom of heaven? What happened
now and before your eyes are the nails, the cross, the accusation, the humiliation, and the
swearing.

He would say, yes, I can see all of these, but the cross itself is the symbol of the
kingdom. Thus I call the One crucified on it, the king because the king has to die for the
sheep.

St. John Chrsystome

Despite this, the cross itself, when we meditate well, is the judgment seat. The judge
has sat in the middle: one thief believed and so he was saved, and the other blasphemed and
so he was condemned. By this He meant He is the judge of the living and the dead; yes,
someone on the right and the other are on His left.

St. Augustine

He was hung on the precious cross, and two thieves were hung with Him as well.
What does this signify?

To the Jews, this was out of real humility, but it was a remembrance of the prophecy,
for it is written, “He was numbered with the transgressors” (Is. 52:12). For our sakes He
became a curse, that is, under the curse, for it was also written, “for anyone hung on a tree,
is under God’s curse” (Deut. 21:23).
“But to Him, this deed wiped out the curse for us. In Him and with Him, we became blessed.
Because the righteous king David knew this, he said, “we are blessed from the Lord, the
creator of heaven and earth” for by His agony, the blessing came upon us. He has paid the
debt on our behalf and carried our sins away, “but He was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities, upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His
stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53: 5, 6).

As I said the two thieves were hung to mock Him even in the agony that has brought
salvation to the world in its totality. But one of the thieves remained in the Jewish
wickedness, and uttered the words of blasphemy like they did. But the other one took a
praiseworthy road for he believed in the Lord at a most bitter moment of torture for himself.
He rebuked the violent cries of the Jews and the words of the one being crucified with him.
He confessed his sins so he could be justified. He testified of Christ blamelessly, and
reproached the Jews for their impotence in loving God. He also condemned the verdict of
Pilate. He became a confessor of the savior’s glory and condemned the pride of those who
crucified Him.

St. Cyril the Great

On the cross, the thief’s hands and feet were nailed. He had nothing free to act except
His heart and His tongue. By an inspiration from God, the thief offered all that was free in
himself, for it is written, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). The thief became all of a sudden
filled with grace, and he received all of these three virtues the apostle mentioned and held
unto them on the cross. He therefore obtained the salvation since He came to believe in God,
that the rules and reigns, when though he saw the Lord saw as he was dying as well. He yet
had the hope by which he asked to enter the Lord’s kingdom. He also kept the love as well, in
great zeal at the moment of his death, since he rebuked his brother thief, his colleague.

Pope Gregory the Great

The Lord forgave him quickly because the thief repented quickly. Grace is of more
value than the request. The thief asked the Lord to remember him, as for the Lord He
answered him in an overflow, “assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in
paradise”. Life means to be with Christ, and where Christ is, the kingdom is also.

St. Ambrosios

Second: The evangelist St. Luke related the name where Christ was crucified to the
crucifixion between two guilty men. He said, “and when they had come to the place called
Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on
the left” (Luke 23:33). In the tradition, it is mentioned that the place was called Calvary,
where Adam, the head of mankind was buried. It is as if the cross was raised on Adam’s
grave, where his skull was changed to dust due to his corruption. The Lord has been crucified
between criminals who stand for the present corruption. In other words, the savior was hung
on the cross to save us from Adam's sin as well as from the actual iniquity.

Because humanity was corrupted, the Lord declared His body so that wherever
corruption is manifested there is found the incorruption. This is why He was crucified in
Calvary, where the Jewish scholars say Adam was buried.

Pope Athanasius the apostolic

The cross was raised in the middle, as assumed untop of Adam's grave.

St. Ambrosios

Some think the word 'Calvary' is translated from the Aramaic, 'golgotha'. It has been
called as such due to its circular shape that is similar to mans skull or because it was the
crucifixion site where there was a lot of crucified skulls.

Furthermore, some scholars believe that the Lord Jesus was crucified between two
thieves instead of Barabas who was supposed to be crucified as their leader, their colleague
and their motivator for crimes. Thus, the Word replaced this killer.

Thirdly: The four gospels have recorded seven words the Lord Jesus uttered on the cross,
three of which have been mentioned in the gospel according to our teacher St. Luke. These
seven words are: three words before darkness fell:
 a. -'' Father forgive them for they know not what they do"(Luke 23:34)
- "Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise"(Luke 23:43)
- "Woman, behold your son!…behold your mother!" (John 19: 26, 27)
b. A word during a darkness:
-"My God! My God! Why have You forsaken me" (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34)
c. Three words after the darkness:
-"I am thirsty" (John 19:28)
-" It is finished" (John 19:30)
-"Father into Your hands, I commit my Spirit" (Luke 23:46)

These seven words, that the evangelist St. Luke mentioned the first, the second and
the seventh have all been offered for our sake, so we be blessed with His through His work of
salvation on the cross.

The first is addressed for the sake of these enemies so He grants them the forgiveness,
for He has come to eliminate the enmity and grant reconciliation. The second was offered to
the thief in a personal sense to confirm His personal relation with everyone without
remembering the past. The third was offered to His mother and to John the beloved to
proclaim this care of every soul and His care to all our needs. The fourth implied a kind of
reproach so we have the full courage in our speaking to God. The fifth revealed His thirst
towards us, and His eagerness to man that is uninterrupted. The sixth He declared the victory
of salvation, and the seventh He offered us the absolute relief.

Fourth: "Then Jesus said, 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke
23:34)

He said this, not because He is unable to forgive them Himself, but rather so as to teach us to
pray for the sake of our persecutors, not by words only, but by actual deeds as well. He says,
"forgive them" if they repent, for He is merciful to those who repent if they wish to wash
with their faith their many sins that they have committed.

St. John Chrsystome

The objective of the cross is to save and forgive, not caring as to what may befall
Him. He did care about dying by their means, but rather, only to die for their sake.

St. Augustine

Look how he kept on being gentle even when dealing with those who was crucified him

St. John Chrsystome

Allow them to be cultured by means of your it deeds if there is no other way. Face the
wrath with meekness and their haughtiness with humility in their blasphemy with your
prayers. Let us prove in real gentleness that we are their brethren. Let us follow the Lord's
example who endured the injustice, and thus compete in your endurance of injustice, scorn
and degradation. Let Satan have no place in your hearts where he could nestle.
 St. Ignatius the Enlightened

Fifth:"and they divided his garments and cast lots" Luke 23:34
The lord Jesus has carried our sins he has been hung on the cross naked so He
redeems us from the shame of Sin.

We said in the interpretation of St. Matthew 27:35, that the cloak divided into four
parts refers to the extended church into the four corners of the universe. As for the garment
that was woven from the top (John 19:13) for which they cast their lots without being cut,
this refers to the church that has to bear the qualities of her groom. Thus it is heavenly, for it
is woven from the top, without any cutting or division. This has also been spoken of by St.
Cyril the great.
St. Ambrosios thinks the four soldiers refer to the four evangelists have recorded who have
recorded what we are blessed with. As for the garment they cast their lot for, this refers to the
Holy Spirit that is not granted according to man's personal worthiness, but rather it is a free
gift of God.

Sixth: When the lord Jesus was hung on the cross, He became an object of scorn by
everyone: the multitudes and the rulers, the Jews and the Roman soldiers, for it is said, "and
the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered saying, 'He saved others,
let Him save Himself if He is the Christ and the chosen of God' the soldiers also mocked Him,
coming and offering him some wine and saying, 'if You are the King of the Jews save
yourself'" ( Luke 23:35-37)

The rulers wished to mock Him, and thus they confessed in their own are tongues, 'He
saved others', and this confession has come to be testimony against themselves. Indeed, He
has come not to save Himself for He's not in need of any salvation. As a Physician, He came
forth to heal those who are sick. As Pope St. Athanasius the apostolic said, 'Indeed the Lord
our savior, wished to be known as the savior, not by saving Himself, but by the salvation of
others. The physician is not considered as such by healing Himself, but by showing his skill
with patients. Likewise is the Lord, by being the savior, He does not need to save Himself. It
is not by His coming down from the cross that he becomes a savior but by his death. Indeed
the great salvation of humanity is fulfilled by His death more than by His coming down from
the cross'

He has accepted to drink the vinegar, as St. Ambrosios says, for He has taken our
corruption to nail it on the cross. As His rejection of the wine blended with bitterness this is
not to avoid the sour bitterness, but rather because the bitterness gives a kind of anesthesia,
and thus the crucified does not feel the agony he passes through. The Lord wished to endure
the agony till the very end. As for the bitterness, St. Ambrosios says, "Surely, He has taken
the bitterness of our life in His human body"

Seventh: "And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and
Hebrew. This is the king of the Jews" (Luke 23:38)
 His error was a crown to Him that showed His hidden reality a king. As mentioned in
the book of the songs of Solomon, "Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon
with the crown, with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day of the
gladness of his heart" (Song 3:11).

Notice that Satan's wiles have reverted to him. His guilt has been written in three
languages so that no one passing by would fail to know He has been crucified for appointing
Himself king. It was written in Greek, in Latin, and in Hebrew. These languages are the ones
that have the most significance among the Roman Gentiles, the most knowledgeable among
the Greeks and the most worship to God among the Jews. All of these yield to the dominion
of Christ.

Father Theophlactus

6.The Giving up of the Spirit:

Though the human authorities have united together in an effort to see the crucified
Lord Jesus, yet the thief on the right hand managed to take the kingdom and be blessed with
the divine fellowship on a level. Now and just before the Lord Jesus gives up the ghost in the
Father's hand, the solid and insensible nature has begun its role in testifying to Him what has
been denied by the sensible and earthly creation, till the Roman centurion came to believe in
Him and testify of Him.
"Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth
hour. Then the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus
had cried out with a loud voice, He said, 'Father into Your hands I commit My spirit' having
said this He breathes His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified
God saying, ' certainly this was a righteous Man!' And the whole crowd that came together to
that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned, but all His
acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood a distance watching
these things" (Luke 23: 44-49)

We notice the following in the above passage:

First: According to the Jewish calculation, now it was about the sixth hour, and there was
darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. This is due to the fact that nature wished to
express its rejection to what man has done to the incarnate Word of God? Or did wish by this
darkness to draw the curtain of nature on this horrific sight? Or did nature wish to declare that
the crucified is the Creator?

Prior to this, the prophets have testified this happening, saying, "on that day there
shall not be neither cold nor frost, but there shall be continuous day, not day and not night,
for at evening time there shall be light" (Zech. 14:6, 7). "On that day, says the Lord God, I
will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your
feasts into mourning, and all your songs into laments" (Amos 8:9, 10). "I clothe the heavens
with blackness, and make sack cloth their covering" (Isa. 50:3).
 St. Ambrosios

Yes indeed, the nature laments itself and what it has; the sun has darkened, and the
rocks split open and cracked, and the temple seemed like someone clothed in grief, for the
veil was torn from top to bottom.

St. Cyril the Great

Second: The temple veil got torn from the middle, for the enmity now was wiped between
God and man. Thus the holies of holies was opened to all those who believe, the members of
the crucified body. As Father Theophactus says, 'the holies of holies is no longer a place not
be approached'

St. Ambrosios says that the old veil was torn so the Jews could, by means of faith, to
witness the mystery declared to them. Thus they would accept the Gentiles with them,
without any division of the two nations, the Jewish and the Gentile, that is, to manifest the
church of the New covenant.

(Revise St. Ambrosios's comments in the gospel book according to St. Mark pages 293 &
294)

Third: "Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Father into Your hands I commit My spirit'"
(Luke 23:46)

The Son commits His human Spirit into the Father's hands; and even though He is in
the highest, yet He enlightened Hades to save all there in it.

He committed His Spirit into the Father's hands so that the heavens themselves be
released from the chains of darkness. Thus there would be peace in heaven, and earth could
follow it.

He gave up the Spirit by His own will, and this is why He added "in a loud voice".

St. Ambrosios

This voice tells us that the souls of the saints no longer descends to Hades as before,
for the are now with God, since Christ has made this beginning of a change.

St. John Chrisystome

Fourth: When the centurion saw the Lord Jesus giving up the Spirit so strongly, and when
he heard the Lord yielding it up and committing it into the Father's hands, he believed
saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man" (Luke 23:47), "Indeed this Man was the Son of
God" (Matt. 27:39).
 The centurion had seen many of those crucified, die. But, the death of this crucified
One, was unique. He shock the depth of his heart and drew it to believe in Him, particularly
when he saw with his own eyes how nature testified to Him. The Lord's words had been
fulfilled, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw the peoples to Myself" (John
12:32). He has been lifted up on the cross and has attracted the thief on His right hand, the
centurion, and many others who were witnessing this, and were watching from afar.

St. John Chrisystome says, 'Great is the dominion of the Crucified; after much scorn,
humiliation and scourging, the centurion was moved to regret, and also the multitudes. Some
say the centurion was later a believing martyr, when he matured in the faith'

8. His Burial:
Joseph of Aramithea who was "a council member, a good and just man" (Luke
23:50) was bold enough to ask for the body of the Lord Jesus, for he was waiting for God's
kingdom (Luke 23:51). When Pilate agreed, "Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and
laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of a rock, where no one had ever lain before. That day
was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him
from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then
they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath
according to the commandment" (Luke 23:53-56).

Joseph was a secret and hidden disciple to the Lord Jesus. He was eager to listen to
the Lord. But due to fear, he could not declare being a follower to Him. When the time of
crucifixion came, this fear was wiped out, and he asked boldly for the Lord's body. Hardship
could turn many people from being afraid to having courage, and thus they have become
worthy in the eyes of God and of people. They become deserving by God's grace to put oils
on the body of Christ, that is, the church, by the precious spices that are manifested strongly
at the time of ordeal.

If you were Joseph of Aramethea, ask for the body from the one who has crucified the
Lord. Make Him a king to you, He who cleanses purifies the world (1 John 1:7)

St. Gregory El Nazinzi

(Revise St. Ambrosios's comments in the gospel book according to St.

Mark pages 295 & 296)
 Section Five
Our Friend, the Resurrected from the dead.
+ + +
Chapter XXIV
Our Friend, the Resurrected from the Dead

The Lord j underwent all this agony for our sakes, so He might make us friend to
Himself. Because He has risen, He remained after the resurrection the Friend to mankind. He
is eager to grant His life that has been risen, to humanity. We could see Him drawing close to
the Amos disciples, walk with than, and gently speaks with them, and kindles their hearts by
His love. He then opens their eyes so they know Him. He also appears to the rest of the
disciples, and asks them to touch Him and feel His real presence in their midst. He even ate
with than, so they be confident of the reality of His presence. Finally, He gets them out to
Bethany, and raises His hands and blesses them. He then draws apart from them and ascends
to heaven to prepare a place for them. This is why they returned to Jerusalem in great joy.

1- The Empty Tomb 1- 12

2- The Amos Disciples 13- 35
3- Appearing to His Disciples 36- 43
4- Sending His Disciples 44- 49
5- His Ascension Into the Heavens 50- 52
6- Their Relationship to the Temple 53.
+ + +

1- The Empty Tomb:

(Luke24: 1-8) “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they,
and certain other women with them, came to the tomb, bringing the spices with they
had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in
and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly
perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as
they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you
seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to
you when He was still in Galilee, saying ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the
hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’. And they
remembered His words.”
The women rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, (Luke23: 56). The
Lord was laid in the tomb; this was the last of the Sabbaths of the Old Testament, so that with
its finality the Old is terminated and fulfilled, whereas the New covenant begins, with the
Lord’s resurrection at the beginning of the week, at dawn. This day, in which the Lord rose
from the grave was like a new beginning to mankind in their relation to God; for now,
humanity has the right of life resurrected in the Lord, so it lives in a unique new Sabbath,
which is ‘the rest of the new life in the Lord’, or, ‘The life restful in the resurrection of the
Lord’, or you may say, ‘The restful partnership with the risen Christ.’
He left the tomb empty, and the stone sealed. This is just as He was born of the Virgin
and her virginity was untouched. He sent His angel to roll the stone, so that the believers
might find in the empty tomb the deposit of the resurrection that has no end to it, and also the
spring of the new life that has overcome death!
 God used to send fire form heaven to consume the sacrifice, as a sign of His
acceptance of it and its being exalted to His heavens. But now that the Son has offered His
life a sacrifice of love in our place, the tomb has become empty as a sign of the Father’s
pleasure for the sacrifice, and His acceptance of it. Thus there is no place for the Lord’s body
in the tomb, for He is risen! This is the church’s faith, that has been summarized by St. Paul
the apostle in his brief statement (Rom.4: 25) “Who was delivered up because of our
offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Moreover, scholars think this statement
stands for the cornerstone in the creed of the church’s faith in the apostle’s time, which the
apostle carried forth from the tradition.
The evangelist St. Luke mentions the women going to the grave to find it empty. We
notice the following in these words:
Firstly: The evangelist begins by saying, “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the
morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb.” In the previous
chapter he concluded his words saying that the women rested on the Sabbath according to the
commandment. Now, with the beginning of the new week, they went with their spices and oil
fragrances to the Lord’s tomb, and some women went along with them.
It was not possible on the Sabbath, according to the Jewish tradition, for them to
prepare the spices or go to the tomb. Thus they had to do nothing till Saturday evening or the
eve before Sunday so they prepare the spices, and go with the new day at dawn, when it was
still dark, towards the tomb. We may say that these women represent the one church that
extends across the age, that has lived at the symbolic time as the truth. By stopping work on
the Sabbath, they proclaimed their acceptance of the symbol in the Old Testament, but yet
eager it be fulfilled, so they be transferred to the Sunday dawn, in order to find the Truth in
essence, by their encounter with Christ the Risen from the dead. In this way, the church-rest
is not in stopping work on the symbolic Sabbath, but in going towards Christ the Risen,
carrying the holy spices and the fragrances so beautiful, declaring in her life and her
preaching the Truth.
They headed on, and some women were with them as well. If those women represent
the men of the Old Testament that had their hearts kindled with the awaited-for Messaiah
then we can consider those coming along with them to the tomb to stand for those Gentile
nations that have accepted the faith in Christ, the Risen from the dead.
Secondly: (Luke 24: 2) “But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they
went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” The angel had rolled the stone
(Matt.28: 2), and according to the church tradition, it is St. Michael the archangel who did
this.
The rolling came after the resurrection, since the Lord was not in need of the stone-
rolling to rise. He has risen, as I have said previously, when the seals were still there. Many
of the fathers, such as St. Augustine and St. Jerome, believe this work comparable to what
had occurred on His birth from the ever-virgin St. Mary.
Therefore, the rolling of the stone was for our sakes, so as to be assured of the Lord’s
resurrection, for St. John Chrysostom says “The stone was rolled after the resurrection for the
women’s sake, so they believe the Lord has risen, on witnessing the tomb without the body,
and hence witnessing the Truth.”
Thirdly: (Luke24: 4) “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.”
The women played a role that has not been made by the other apostle or disciples.
They went ahead when it was still dark, and did not mind the obstacles awaiting them, such
as the rolling of the stone. When they saw the tomb opened, they did not hesitate to go in.
thus they were worthy to see the two angels dressed in bright and gorgeous garments,
proclaiming to them the Resurrection.
 They did not see the angels in flames of fire, neither did they see them carrying fiery
swords as others did in the Old Testament. Rather, they saw them in garments of joy and
splendor. It is as if heaven wanted to share the church her joy in the Lord’s resurrection. In
their bright shining garments, the angels wished to proclaim to the entire church that the
heavenly hosts are wearing the kingdom garments, awaiting the blessed bride’s coming, that
will be wedded to her heavenly Groom in His eternal kingdom.
Fourthly: (Luke24: 5-8) “Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth,
they said to them, ‘Why do you seed the living among the dead? He is not here, but is
risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of
Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day
rise again’? And they remembered His words.”
On seeing the tomb empty, grief and fear filled their hearts. In bitterness, they bowed
their faces to the ground. This is why the angels’ gently reproached them, how they could
expect to see the living in the tomb, for He has overcome death. This was actually declared to
the disciples ahead of time, concerning His resurrection. At that moment, they remembered
the Savior’s words!
We can say that this angelic reproach is still there addressed to every believer who
wishes to keep the Lord in the tomb, as if He is unable to rise from the dead. In other words,
we assume we are Christian believers, whereas we do not leave the physical needs and
passions, the earth links and concerns, and we are like those who ask for the living among the
dead, and listens to the words “He is not here, for He is risen!”
He, who remembers the Lord’s words about His resurrection, finds himself with his
Christ above the boundaries of the grave. He is not afraid of death, neither does he bow down
to the physical passion bondage. He is not confused about the world concepts, but rather, he
goes with his Christ who dwells in him to a heavenly life, triumphant beyond any time or
place.
If we meditate on the life history of the martyrs, we find that the mystery behind their
victory lies in their unity with the Lord risen from the dead. They are not besieged in the
body, and thus, even if the wicked ones torture their bodies, the Lord sends them His angels,
and at times He Himself appears to them, not to take their revenge, but rather to exalt them
above the limits of suffering. This made the rulers accuse Christians of magic and sorcery.
Fifthly: When the women were ahead of the apostles in going to the Lord’s tomb, they were
thus blessed by preaching of the Lord’s resurrection among the apostles. The evangelist
therefore says, (Luke24: 9) “Then they returned form the tomb and told all these things
to the eleven and to all the rest.” St. Cyril the great says, “the woman who was once to
serve death, now is the first to receive the mystery of the awesome resurrection, and was the
first to be informed of it. In this way the woman has obtained salvation from the shame and
the curse.
Sixthly: When the disciples heard the news (Luke24: 12) “Peter arose and ran to the
tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed
marveling to himself at what had happened.”
The women’s talk to the apostles was like fantasy and they could not believe them
(Luke24: 11). This situation was so unexpected despite the Lord’s assurance to them prior to
His agony and passion. The expression ‘idle tales’ or ‘fantasy’ is medical, and was used to
describe those sick with fever and have lost their mental balance. However, St. Peter was
quick as usual to see what has happened, for his heart was burning in zeal. As father
Theophlactius says, “When St. Peter heard this, he was quick to run to the tomb, because
when fire catches anything, it knows no delay.”
Seventhly: The resurrection events, as mentioned in the gospel of our teacher St. Luke the
evangelist, touches the life of every true believer who wishes to encounter the heavenly
Friend. The Marys, and some others with them, ran to the tomb in the midst of darkness,
which signifies man, in all his spiritual potentials, his gifts, his capabilities, running as at the
beginning of the week, at the first dawn, that is, to rise up early toward God, to be the first in
all of his life. He runs as if from the darkness of this world to the Lord’s tomb, that is, to the
divine altar to find the risen body from the dead, the mystery of His life and His resurrection,
renewed perpetually. He runs, carrying the spices, which are the prayers and the worship
blended with the righteous life in the Lord, as an incense fragrance that the Father smells in
pleasure. There, at the divine altar of God, the entire church assembles to see the stone of the
Mosaic literacy rolled, and the sacraments of the resurrection, or, knowing God, have been
revealed. The church could see the happy angels wearing brilliant garments, sharing the
believers their joy of salvation, and their thrill of the kingdom. They praise all together; let us
therefore sing their praises and be counted, all of us, the earthly and the heavenly creation, as
one in the kingdom.
Eighthly: The church fathers comment on the presence of the burial cloths in the tomb, for
the evangelist says about St. Peter that (Luke24: 12) “Stooping down, he saw the linen
cloths lying by themselves.” This is proof that the Jews lied when they accused the disciples
of stealing the sacred body from the tomb. From the words of the church fathers is the
following:
+ If the disciples had stolen the body, they would not have done so, that is, to disrobe the
body. They would not have tolerated to take His handkerchief, to fold it and to put it in one
place of the tomb, but they would have stolen the body as quickly as possible. For this reason,
St. John has mentioned ahead of time that He was preserved by much myrrh that made the
cloths stick to His body. So if you hear that the kerchief was laid on one side and the cloths
on the other side, this is impossible to have been stolen.
St. John Chrysostom
+Know well that if a robber, other than the disciples, had stolen Him, his intent would have
been to steal these valuable clothes, and the many spices and oil fragrances more than
stealing Him without the cloths. As for the disciples, it was not appropriate they take Him
when naked! Since they did not wish to sham Him but rather to honor Him.
Anba Peter El Sadmenti

2- The Amos Disciples:

The evangelist St. Luke narrates to us the Lord’s encounter with His two disciples, on
their way to Amos, a village about seven and a half miles far, north-west of Jerusalem. It is
probably in the village site of ‘Khomasia’ or “El Kobiba’. These two disciples, one of whom
was Cleopas (Luke24: 18), an abbreviation of ‘Cleopatros’ or ‘the perfect glory’. As for the
second, some scholars think he is the evangelist St. Luke himself. The scholar Oreganus and
St. Cyril the great think the second person is called ‘Simon’, from among the seventy
apostles, other than Simon Peter and Simon the Cyrene.
We notice in the story narrated by St. Luke, the following:

Firstly: The two disciples, from among the seventy apostles, were walking on the Amos way
that extends for seven miles and a half. The number 8 refers to the eternal life, and the
number 7 refers to our present time. Therefore these two disciples have crossed the current
life, but they have not reached the power of the resurrection, and its complete number is 8. In
other words, their demeanor on this road refers to the man who believes in the resurrection in
his thoughts, and is the topic of his conversation, yet he is not blessed with it nor is he
practicing it.
 Many believe in the resurrection, and they even preach it, but they do not live it.
These are still on the Amos road, and they are in need of the Lord’s appearance to them, and
His talking to them, so as to kindle their hearts in their inward life, by means of the
resurrected life; and thus they would live it before their departure from this world.

Secondly: The evangelist specifies the historical time of this encounter, saying (Luke24: 13)
“On this day”, that is, on the Sunday of the Resurrection day. This was about sunset, when
the day was about to end (Luke24: 21). It is as if the two disciples almost stayed the whole
day in Jerusalem, listening and discussing together, or with the women and St. Peter and St.
John who have gone to the tomb. They were also recalling the memories of the Lord’s words
concerning His resurrection, before His agony. Despite this, they were not positively sure in
their faith, but, (Luke24: 14) “And they talked together of all these things which had
happened.”

Thirdly: (Luke24: 15) “So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself
drew near and went with them.” Indeed, they were not thoroughly confident of their faith,
but they were busy with their thoughts about the Lord, speaking and discussing. In their
weakness, they were unable to realise the Truth; thus the Truth came to be in their midst,
declaring Himself supporting them. He assured them earlier (Matt.18: 20) “When two or
three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst.”

Fourthly: (Luke24: 16) “But their eyes were restrained, so they did not know Him.”
They may have been unable to recognize Him because when He had risen, His
embodied a kind of glory more than previously, and so they were unable to recognize Him, as
happened also with Mary Magdalene (John20: 14), and with the disciples on the seashore
(John21: 4). Another season why they couldn’t recognize Him was due to their weak faith,
and slow spiritual understanding, or maybe this was a divine purpose so that the Lord reveals
to them His divine mysteries and the prophecy fulfillment in Him, for (Luke24: 27) “And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning Himself.”
+ Because He has come to have the spiritual body, the geographical distances are no obstacle
to His coming physically wherever He wants. It is the same body that He was born with from
the Virgin, and it embodies a new nature appropriate for the heavenly life. His body does not
submit to the laws of nature but rather to the unsurpassable law of nature, the spiritual law.
Thus, as St. Mark says, He appeared to them (Mark16: 12) “In another form”, and He did not
allow them to know Him.
It is said that their eyes were restrained from knowing Him, till their concepts would
be declared that were so skeptical. Thus their wounds would be revealed and they would
receive the healing, and so they know that though this was the same body in which he
suffered and rose again, yet He is not visible to everyone, but only to those whom He wishes
them to see Him. Moreover, so that they would not wonder He no longer walks among the
people, as He did before the resurrection, showing that His transformation does not befit
humanity, but what is godly and divine. He offered Himself an example to the forth coming
resurrection when we become as angels and God’s children.
Father Theophlactius
+ Indeed, He covered up His own manifestation form them by appearing in a form that they
did not know. He did so for the physical eyes, for the sake of what they did themselves
inwardly concerning the mental eye. Inwardly, though they have loved Him, yet they
doubted. Therefore, once they spoke of Him, He appeared to them, but when they doubted,
He his himself from them.
 Pope Gregory the great
Though their eyes were restrained from knowing Him, yet He came forward Himself
to open the discussion with them. He asked them (Luke24: 17) “What kind of conversation
is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Even though the Lord
has undergone the agony and was crucified, yet death did not separate Him form His disciple.
Even though He has risen, yet His resurrection did not distance Him from them. For our
sakes, He was crucified, and died, and rose so He would draw nearer to us and initiate His
love to us. He is eager to begin a conversation with us, so He offers Himself to us, and so
open our eyes to witness Him, and our hearts so He dwells in us.
Anyway, the story of the Lord’s encounter with the Amos disciples whose eyes were
restrained from knowing Him, this is the story of every spiritual person. The Lord escorts him
all the way, and leads him Himself, and kindles his heart, revealing His gospel mysteries to
him, and declares His resurrection, and opens his vision so that he sees Him and rejoices in
Him.
St. Augustine says, “God’s absence is not actual absence. Believe in Him, and He will
be with you even though you do not see Him. When the Lord drew near to the two apostles,
they had no faith yet. They did not believe He rose from the dead, or that anyone else could.
They have lost the faith, and had no more any hope. They were just walking with Him on the
road. They were dead with the living, dead ones with life ‘Life’ was walking along with
them, but their hearts had no life pulse.

Fifthly: (Luke24: 17) “And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you
have with one another as you walk and are sad?’”
If we are in this world crying over our sins and grieve over them, yet in our encounter
with Christ the Risen, we have to walk joyfully in the Lord, and not to walk sadly, because
the kingdom of God is (Rom.14: 17) “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
In the confessions of St. Augustine, God used to blend His worshiping with a spiritual
thrill that surpasses all the pleasures of the world, so He weans us from the pleasure of sin.
It is said that St. Apollo, whom St. Jerome met in the area of Thebes, that he was
constantly hopeful and pleasant. He has attracted many to the monastic life as an inwardly
joyful life to live, satisfying to the heart by the presence of the Lord Himself. He often used
to say, “Why do we struggle with a frowning face? Are we not heirs of the eternal life? Leave
aside any grief and frowning to the unbelievers, and leave lamenting to sinners. As for the
righteous and the saints, they should rather rejoice and smile because they are blessed with
spiritualities.”

Sixthly: What is the faith of the Amos disciples?

There is no doubt that they were unable as yet to realise His godliness, or to accept the
mystery of the cross. Rather, they were expecting Him to liberate Israel or be the Redeemer
of the Jews from the Roman dominance. The cross has actually ruined their hopes, since
Cleopas said about the Lord Jesus (Luke24: 19-24) “He was a Prophet mighty in deed and
word before God and all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered
Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He
who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since
these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the
tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they
had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were
with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not
see.”
 The evangelist St. John analyzes the disciples’ lack of faith saying (John20: 9) “for as
yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”
St. Cyril the great adds that the Amos disciples had another excuse: which is that the
news the women said were not enough for them to believe in the resurrection, rather, this was
amazing and bewildering news, “the women astonished us,” for the news bore the empty
tomb and the angels testimony. Even St. Peter’s news, for he only saw the empty tomb and
the linen cloths. Moreover the two disciples said (Luke24: 12) “As for Him, they did not see
Him.”

Seventhly: When the two disciples declared their weak faith or their disbelief, the Lord
offered them the assurance of the law and the prophets, for He said to them (Luke24: 25-27)
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken.’
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the
things concerning Himself.”
St. Cyril the great says, “The Lord presented to the two disciples Moses and the
prophets. He revealed to them what they could not understand, for the old law is a paving to
the road, and the service of the prophets is to prepare the people so they receive the faith. God
did not send anything that is of no use, rather, for everything there is usefulness at the right
time. The prophets are actually the servants the Lord has sent before Him, so that their
prophecies are a preparation for His coming. It is as if these prophecies are a royal and sealed
treasure, that has to be opened at the right time to interpret the symbols inside.”
Eighthly: (Luke24: 28) “Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and
He indicated that He would have gone farther.”
He did not tell them He was going to a farther place, but He pretended to, so He
would not intrude Himself on them. But if they ask Him to, and insist on asking Him, He
would accept. God does not impose Himself on our life, without our own will. He rather asks
that we invite Him in, and insist on the invitation, declaring the full freedom of man’s self
will in accepting or rejecting Him.
This is on one hand, on the other one, as Pope Gregory the great said, because they
were still strangers to the faith, ‘He pretended to be going to a farther place.”

Ninthly: They insisted saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far
spent.” The soul that has tasted of what the disciples did, does not cease saying with the bride
of the songs of Solomon (Song of Sol.3: 1,4; 2: 6, 3) “Upon my bed at night, I sought him
whom my soul loves; Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I
held him, and would not let him go until I brought him into my mother’s house, and into the
chamber of her that conceived me.... O that his left hand were under my head, and that his
right hand embraced me! With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my
taste.”
St. Augustine says, “If you wish to have life, copy the apostles so that you may come
to know the Lord. They insisted on inviting all the more and said to Him to stay with them
because it was almost eventide.” The saint also says, “Invite warmly the close ones if you
want to know your Savior. This warm invitation returned to the disciples what the doubts and
lack of faith had taken thus the Lord declared Himself when He broke the bread. Therefore,
learn where to ask for the Lord, and you will be lucky enough to have Him at your table.”

Tenthly: (Luke24: 30, 31) “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He
took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and
they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.”
 Some think what the Lord Jesus did here is the ‘Eucharist Sacrament’, and that the
Lord manifests Himself through this mystery. He opens the inward eyes of His believers so
they witness Him. Others think that this was not the Eucharist Sacrament because we do not
hear of Him that He also took the cup and gave them to drink. Moreover, He did not mention,
when breaking the bread that this is His body that is shed for them, as He did at the last
supper.
St. Augustine says “When did the Lord manifest Himself? When He broke the
bread.... This is why when we break the bread, we come to know the Lord; for He did not
declare Himself except at the table, to us who were unable to see Him physically, but he gave
us His body to eat. Therefore, if you believe this, come, whatever state you may be in. if you
are confident, then be restful when the bread is broken.”
Father Theophlactius says, “The eyes are opened to those who receive the holy bread
so that they know Christ, because the Lord’s body bears tremendous strength, quite
unutterable.
St. Cyril the great analyzes the disappearance of the Lord Jesus from them, saying,
“The Lord has disappeared from them because the Lord’s relation with His disciples, after the
resurrection was not the same as before. They were in need of a change, and a new life in
Christ, so that the new would stick to what is new, the incorruptible to the corruptible. It is
for this reason that the Lord did not allow Mary Magdalene to touch Him, as St. John
mentioned (John20: 17) until He ascends, and comes back once more.”

Eleventhly: He concluded the story, saying (Luke24: 33) “So they rose up that very hour
and returned to Jerusalem”, This is the aim of God’s work in us, that He grants us the
power of the resurrection, for He says ‘they rose up’. With this resurrected life we go back to
Jerusalem above which we have left, we return to the city of God the great king (Matt.5: 35).
We go back to (Gal.4: 26) “the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” In
other words, God changes our direction. After we were heading to Amos, and were giving
our backs to Jerusalem, now we are giving our backs to Amos, and heading with our faces,
our hearts and our thoughts towards Jerusalem.

3- His Appearance to His Disciples:

When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, He no longer led the human daily life. He no
more preached among the Jews, or performed miracles and wonders. He has risen, bearing
His own body but glorified. In other words, His new and natural position has come to be His
ascension to the heavens, awaiting His sacred bride to be exalted with Him. But He stayed for
forty days after His resurrection until His ascension. He manifested Himself to those eager
for Him, so He draws their hearts towards heaven.
Indeed, the Lord Jesus seized every opportunity to declare His resurrection and
confirm it in the life of His lovers, those who believe in Him. He heralded the women coming
to the tomb in love, asking to offer the spices and fragrances to the holy body. Thus His
angels declared to them of His resurrection. He also walked with the two disciples who were
discussing together on the Amos way, about His resurrection issue. Now, the disciples have
returned to Jerusalem to inform the disciples of what had happened, and how they came to
know Him at the breaking of the bread.
(Luke24: 36- 43) “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst
of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you’. But they were terrified and frightened, and
supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why
do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold, My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.
Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
 When He said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did
not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ so they gave
Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.”
We notice the following in the above meeting:

Firstly: When they were speaking of the resurrection, all of them were kindled to being
blessed by Him, as did St. Peter the apostle (Luke24: 34) and the two Amos disciples, and
some of the women. The Lord therefore fulfilled their hearts’ desire and He stood there in
their midst.
Indeed, by His coming in their midst, the loft has been changed to a sacred church in
tremendous brilliance and glory. You may say the loft has become at this moment a live
model of what the church has to be. This means the church members becoming enkindled
with the resurrected Messaiah, and His coming in their midst, as a live Head, giving the
power of the resurrection to the members of His body.
+He, who is truly desired, has come, manifesting Himself to those who ask for Him, and
those who await Him. This is not in a doubtful way, but He came in their midst in an explicit
manifestation.
St. John Chrysostom

Secondly: In the first meeting of the Lord who is risen form the dead with His assembled
disciples, the representatives of His church, He offered them His unsurpassing ‘Peace’. This
was not as an outward gift, but a talent that touches the most inward depths, for He had
promised them on the night of His passion, saying, (John14: 27) “Peace I leave with you. My
peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
+Let us give honor to the gift of peace that Christ has left to us on His departure. Peace, in
particular, concerns God alone; for He unifies everything together into one entity. To Him is
nothing attributed such as the oneness of nature and peace that dwells by Him in man.
St. Gregory, bishop of Nazinaza
+ The Lord also revealed to them clearly His bruises, and He assured them with His voice,
for they were worried and anxious. It is said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to
you.” This means they should not be troubled. By saying so He assured them of His words
before the crucifixion took place (John16:33) “In this world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
(John20: 20) “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” Look how this
has been fulfilled. For before His crucifixion He said, (John16: 22) “Therefore you now have
sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take
from you,” so His words have been fulfilled at this moment. All of this has brought to them
firmly assured faith.
These are the Lord’s first words to them after His resurrection. As for the women. He
granted them the joy (Matt.28: 9) because the women were sorrowful indeed, and this is why
He granted them primarily joy. In discretion, the Lord granted peace to the men, and granted
joy to the women due to their grief.
He offers the fruits of the cross first, which is ‘Peace’.
St. John Chrysostom
+ This is the true peace, and the salvation greeting, for the greeting takes its name form
salvation.
St. Augustine

Thirdly: The evangelist says, (Luke24: 37) “But they were terrified and frightened, and
supposed they had seen a spirit.” The disciples have lived with the Lord Jesus for a long
time, and they realised that He has truly become incarnate, and that He embodies a real
human nature. Now, when they heard of His resurrection, they never expected He would
come in this way in their midst when the doors are shut. This is why they were terrified and
frightened, and thought they have seen a ghost. After the Lord Jesus had granted them His
real peace, He assured them he was not a mere spirit, but that in truth He bore a physical
body. He proved this by telling them to touch Him, and he asked to eat with them.
+ We cannot assume that St. Peter and St. John doubted, after that they were assured of His
resurrection when they had gone into the tomb. Then why does St. Luke say the disciples
were terrified?
Firstly: Because the majority declared their doubts, and so they prevailed over the minority.
Secondly: Even though St. Peter believed in the resurrection, yet he was stupefied when he
saw Jesus present in their midst, in His physical person, whereas the doors were shut.
St. Ambrosios
Thirdly: The Lord Jesus revealed to them at first who He was, by telling them He knew what
was on their minds and in their hearts. He said to them (Luke24: 38) “Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” He then assured them He is the crucified Messaiah,
(Luke24: 39) “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for
a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
St. Augustine says that the Lord Jesus has left His bruises after His resurrection so
that He heals the disciples’ wounds with them for they did not believe His resurrection when
He manifested Himself, and they thought Him a spirit. He therefore showed them His hands
and His feet, for he says, “Even though His wounds wee healed, yet their traces were still
there! The Lord saw this is useful to the disciples, to keep the scars of His wounds, so the
wounds of their souls be healed, the wounds of their lack of faith. The Lord has appeared
before their eyes, and He manifested to them His real body, and despite this, they thought
Him a spirit! And what did the Lord tell them? (Luke24: 38)
“Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” If you have
thoughts arise in your hearts that are doubtful, then these come form the earth. It is better for
man that doubts do not rise in his heart, but that rather man’s heart rises upwards. This is
w3here the apostle wishes believers to set their hearts there, for he says, (Col.3: 1-4) “If then
you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the
right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also
will appear with Him in glory.” What kind of glory is this? It is the glory of the Resurrection!
What glory? Listen to what the apostle says about this body (1Cor.15: 43) “It is sown in
dishonor, it is raised in glory.”
St. Ambrosios says, “In their fear, the disciples thought they had seen a spirit. To
show you the truth of the resurrection, the Lord said to them to touch Him, and to look at
Him, for the spirit has no flesh and bones as He has. How could the Lord be, not in the body,
and yet there were the scars of the wounds and the piercing that He showed them? The Lord
has accepted to ascend to the heavens with the wounds He bore for our sakes. He did not
wish to wipe them away, so He shows to God the Father the price of setting us free. In this
way He sits on the Father’s right hand, carrying the banner of our salvation.”
As St. Cyril the great says, “The main reason to keep the scars of those wounds is to
testify to His disciples that the body that rose is the same exact one that has suffered.” As for
Pope Gregory the great, he mentions four justifications to these wounds. These are:
(a) To build up His disciple in the faith by means of His resurrection.
(b) These wounds remain so as to declare His intercession for redemption and atonement to
the Father instead of us.
(c) So the believers remember His love to them and His mercy towards them.
(d) These wounds remain to judge the wicked ones on the great day of the Lord.

Fourthly: (Luke24: 41-43) “But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He
said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and
some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.”
They were so glad they could not believe themselves, that they could see the Lord.
This is why He wanted to assure them He was not a spirit, when He asked them for food from
their hands so He eats it before them.
+ He was not hungry, but He asked to eat. He thus ate in His authority, not out of necessity,
so that the disciples realise the reality of His body, and that the entire world would know Him
by means of their preaching.
St. Augustine
+Even though there is no food or drink after the general resurrection for everyone, nor if
anyone is injured, there will be a resurrection with this injury, yet the Lord did so, that we
believe all of us that the body that suffered and died is the same one that rose from among the
dead.
Anba Paul El Boshy
+ According to the commandment of the old law, the Passover used to be eaten for real with
bitter herbs, because the bitterness of the bondage was still there. But after the resurrection,
the food is sweet with the bees’ honey.
St. Gregory El Nasy
Fifthly: When the Lord Jesus, the Risen from the dead, came in the midst of His disciples,
and offered Himself by means of the senses so He might exalt them through faith to what is
above the senses, He opened their minds so they be aware of what was written about Him in
the Mosaic Law, and the prophets, particularly about His crucifixion and His resurrection.
(Luke24: 44-46) “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to
you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the
law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their
understanding, that they might comprehend the scriptures. Then He said to them,
‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the
dead the third day’.”
The Lord went into the loft when the doors wee shut so He manifests His resurrection
to them. He came into their minds and declared His transfiguration in them, and thus they
would be blessed with the glory and power of His resurrection. They would realise the
concepts of His gospel, and experience His kingdom form the inside.

4- Sending His Disciples:

The Lord Jesus has declared His resurrection to His disciples, just as if declaring the
resurrection of the Head for the sake of the body. He rose to make us rise with Him. In other
words, He rose to send His disciples to offer the power of His resurrection to mankind, so
they be blessed with the true membership in His risen body. Here, He began His gifts by
granting His peace, and He concludes them by asking the disciples to preach through the
power of His Holy Spirit, so as to recruit new members in His holy body, the risen from the
dead.
His commandment to them came as follows (Luke24: 46-49) “Thus it is written, and
thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send
the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are
endued with power from on high.”
The Lord has offered to them His life that was shed, the risen form the dead, so that is
becomes a deposit and a fund for the preaching after they are blessed with, the Holy Spirit, as
the mystery of their power from above’. This is for the establishing of the church, the risen
body of Christ.
St. Augustine comments on this divine appearance of the Lord, the concluding one, to
send His disciples in dispatchment, saying, “He manifested Himself to His disciples for His
being the Head of His church. At first, the church could see herself in Him, for the Head was
seen, and the body was promised. They saw the Head and they believed in Him, being in
touch with the body. As for us, we can see the body and we believe in the Head. Their seeing
Christ helped them in their belief of the future church. As for us, our seeing the church helps
us in the faith of Christ the Risen One. Their faith has become complete, and our faith has
become complete as well. Their faith has been fulfilled by means of their seeing the Head,
and our faith has been fulfilled by our seeing the body. They have seen the Head and have
believed in the body. As for us, we have seen the body and have come to believe in the Head.
No one is lacking in Christ, for He is complete in everyone, despite the fact that His body is
not yet complete up till today.”
Furthermore, St. John Chrysostom says “Just as the captain does not allow his solders
to face many others unless they be armored, likewise did the Lord not allow His disciples to
go fighting the battle unless the Holy Spirit comes down first.”
Now that the Lord Jesus has met His disciples more than once, and has assured them
of His resurrection, and promised them to send His Holy Spirit on them, He went up to
heaven so their hearts ascend with Him, bearing His heavenly qualities.

5- His Ascension to Heaven:

(Luke24: 50-52) “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His
hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was
parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
We said that ‘Bethany’ means ‘the house of suffering’ or ‘the house of obedience’. He
wished to ascend up to the heavens in Bethany, at the mount of Olives, so that anyone who
wishes to exalt his heart to heaven, has to endure the suffering with Him, and share Him His
agony. He also has to have the quality of obedience that is the Son’s towards His Father.
We can say that due to our disobedience, He came down from heaven, and with His
obedience He exalted us to the heavens.
He lifted up His hands, that had the scars of the wounds by the blessing of the cross,
and offered His blood that was shed as a price for exalting them with Him.
What is surprising is that the disciples did not grieve over the Lord’s ascension, and
His being physically separated from them. They rather returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
They realised that where the Head is, the members will be. What the Lord Jesus was blessed
with is only in the name of the church as a whole, and for her account.

6- Their Relation to the Temple:

(Luke24: 53) “And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.”
They were linked to the temple, and did not wish to leave it but rather, they wanted to
draw every heart to realise the spiritual and evangelical concepts of the law. Their life was a
constant praise, even when they were cast out of the temple, and underwent the most bitter
persecution by the Jews, and later on by the Romans.
This is the end of the gospel book; in it we find the heavenly Friend exalted, so as to
exalt His friends, granting them the life of praise so they complete their inward struggle
joyfully, and cling to Him eternally.
+ + +