ACC ~ Matthew 12 v34

ONE WHO IS EVIL CANNOT SPEAK GOOD

HILARY: He taught that a corrupt outlook on life arises out of a corrupted nature. He taught that from an evil storehouse nothing can come but what is evil. An account must be rendered to God for every idle, careless and useless word. We are to be condemned or justified by the words we speak. The mercy or the judgment we receive shall depend on the inward conviction we have about the Lord of heavenly glory. ON MATTHEW 12.19. [1]

[1] SC 254:288.

YOU BROOD OF VIPERS

CHRYSOSTOM: “If you are an evil tree, you cannot produce good fruit. I am not surprised at what you are saying. For being both ill bred and ill conceived, you have acquired an evil way of speaking.” See how precisely, and without any room for exception, Jesus defines their indictment. In a single phrase he uses their own arguments to demonstrate his point and to underscore his indictment. He calls them a “brood of vipers” because they prided themselves on their forefathers. To signify that they had no advantage thereby, Christ first throws out their exalted claims about their relation to Abraham and then assigns them to forefathers of similar disposition. He thus stripped them of their illusions. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 42.1. [1]

[1] PG 57:451-52; NPNF 1 10:269**.

DISPOSITION OF THE SOUL

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: “O worst of men,” he says, “you have not shrunk from any wickedness of vipers. So it is not surprising that you utter nothing good. For words follow the disposition of the soul. How can you speak good, when you are evil?” FRAGMENT 70. [1]

[1] MKGK 119.