ACC ~ Matthew 12 v35

THE FOUNTAIN BEHIND WICKED WORDS

CHRYSOSTOM: When wickedness is overflowing within, its words will pour out of one’s mouth. So when you hear someone speaking wicked words, do not suppose only so much wickedness to be in that one as the words display, but suspect the fountain to be much more abundant. For that which is spoken outwardly is the superabundance of that which is within. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 42.1. [1]

[1] PG 57:452; NPNF 1 10:269.

GOOD OR BAD BY CHOICE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: When he says “treasure,” Christ refers to the multitude of motives that lie in the soul. It is not by nature that people are good or bad but by their own choice. [1] He makes this plain in his remark to the Pharisees: It is possible for one and the same person at one time to become good, at another time evil, for “a good man speaks out of the abundance of his heart,” and likewise for the bad. FRAGMENT 158. [2]

[1] Cyril refers to Gnostics and Manichaeans, who identified humanity as good or evil according to nature, not free choice.

[2] MKGK 203.

Mt