ACC ~ Matthew 12 v30

ONE WHO DOES NOT GATHER WITH ME SCATTERS

CHROMATIUS: And rightly Jesus adds, “He who is not with me is against me. And he who does not gather with me scatters.” By this he meant that his work is one thing and the devil’s work another. For the devil is the enemy of human well being. It is proper for the devil to scatter to utter destruction and for Christ to gather to salvation. Hence it is clear that one who is against the Lord cannot be with the Lord. Therefore, although the Lord seems to be repudiating those Pharisees who, unwilling to gather with Christ, have remained the Lord’s enemies and adversaries, he speaks also of all heretics and schismatics. Drawing impious conclusions against the church or the Lord by way of unorthodox teachings or schismatic beliefs, they aim to tear asunder and ravage the incorrupt body of the church and the unity of peace and faith. They are oblivious to Solomon’s words: “He who splits a log is endangered by it.” [1] Clearly those who cause separation in the church shall run the risk of eternal death. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 50.2. [2]

[1] Eccles 10:9.

[2] CCL 9a:446-47.

ONE WHO IS NOT WITH ME

ANONYMOUS: “He who is not with me is against me.” The will of the devil—what is it? Only evil. And my will—what is it? Only good. Notice, then, since I am not with the devil, I am against the devil. For even as good is not with evil but always against evil, so too they are not with each other but against each other; and their will and their work are at odds. The devil speaks of fornication; I speak of purity. Thus he turns away the pure and gathers the licentious, whereas I turn away the licentious and gather the pure. He teaches discord, and I teach peace. He gathers the quarrelsome and disturbed, and I the like-minded and gentle. Notice, then, that I do not gather with him, but I scatter. He says less that he may signify more. If he who is not with me is against me, how much more will he who is against me be not with me? He is not with me because he does not do the things that I do. He is against me because he acts contrary to me. Since I build, if anyone does not help me, even if he does not destroy, he is not with me but against me, for though he is able to help me, he does not. But if he manages to destroy, how much more is he against me! INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 29. [1]

[1] PG 56:786.