ACC ~ Luke 18 v18 - 23

FLATTERY MIXED WITH FRAUD AND DECEIT

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Jewish crowds … with their princes and teachers … looked at Christ as being a mere man like one of us, and not as God who had become man. They approached him to test him and lay the nets of their cleverness for him. …

He is called here a ruler. He fancied himself to have learned the law and supposed that he had been accurately taught it. He imagined that he could convict Christ of introducing laws of his own and of dishonoring the commandment spoken by most wise Moses. It was the Jews’ goal to prove that Christ opposed and resisted the former commandments and established new laws by his own authority, in opposition to those previously existing. Their wicked conduct toward him had a false pretext. He comes near and makes a pretense of speaking kindly. He calls him “Teacher,” designates him “good,” and professes himself desirous of being a disciple. He says, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Observe how he mixes flattery with fraud and deceit, like one who mingles vinegar with honey. He supposed that he could deceive him in this way. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 122. [1]

[1] CGSL 486-87**.

BEING UNCHANGEABLY GOOD A SPECIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What reply is made by the all-knowing One of whom it is written that he “takes the wise in their craftiness”? [1] “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one, God.” You see how Christ proved immediately that the ruler was neither wise nor learned, although he was the ruler of a synagogue of the Jews. He says, “You did not believe that I am God, and the clothing of the flesh has led you astray. Why did you apply to me titles suitable to the supreme nature alone, while you still assume that I am a mere man like you and not superior to the limits of human nature?” In the nature that transcends all, God alone is found to be good by nature, that is, unchangeably good. … He says, “I do not seem to you to be truly God. Ignorantly and foolishly, you have applied to me the properties and virtues of the divine nature. Why do you then imagine that I, a mere man that never is invested with goodness but only gains it by the assent of the divine will, have the property of the unchangeable nature?” This was the meaning of what Christ spoke. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 122. [2]

[1] Job 5:13.

[2] CGSL 487**.

NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT THE ONE GOD

AUGUSTINE: The Father is good. The Son is good. The Holy Spirit is good. Still, there are not three goods but one good. He said, “No one is good except the one God.” The Lord Jesus Christ did not answer. He feared that the one who in addressing a man had said “good master” might understand him as only a man. He therefore did not say, “No one is good except the Father alone.” He rather said, “No one is good except the one God.” By the name Father, the Father makes himself known. The name God includes himself, as well as the Son and the Holy Spirit, because the Trinity is one God. ON THE TRINITY 8. [1]

[1] FC 45:186**.

THE JOY OF CHARITY

AUGUSTINE: The young man asked the Lord how to attain to eternal life and heard that he must sell all his goods and distribute them to the poor and have his treasure in heaven. Why else did he go away sad, except that he had, as the Gospel says, great riches? It is one thing not to wish to hoard up what one does not have. It is another thing to scatter what has been accumulated. The former is like refusing food; the latter, like cutting off a limb. LETTER 31. [1]

[1] FC 12:114-15*.