ACC ~ Matthew 23 v33
YOU BROOD OF VIPERS
INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: Serpents are the most clever of all the animals, but they use it for evil, not for good, since they are forever scheming to bite something, and, once theyâve attacked, to conceal themselves. Similarly hypocrites are the cleverest of all people, for while appearing to live innocent lives, they are always planning how to injure their neighbor and then to continue along their way as though they had done no harm to anyone. HOMILY 45. [1]
[1] PG 56:889.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MURDER
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The punishment of all the murders committed in the past will fall on the last generation of murderers according to a certain pattern, although God speaking through the prophet does say that âthe fathers will not die for the sins of the childrenâ [1] ⌠and indeed, âeach will die for his own sin.â [2] What then should we think about this? [3] How can a later generation be punished for the murders committed by others, concerning whom Christ says these things? Wonât Cain be punished for the murder of Abel? ⌠How is it that these poor souls will be subjected to the punishment due to all these people? For God is not unjust but is the righteous judge, powerful and patient, according to the testimony of the Scripture. Therefore we think there is a certain intention contained within the things that have been spoken that applies to the present case and helps us to fit one thing to another. Let it be taken for granted then that this may be so in the present case. Let us say that they have become robbers in that land. These men were plundering the surrounding villages and killing their inhabitants. But the prince of the realm did not immediately strip them of the rulerâs sword. Rather, he was eager to teach them differently through the use of threats. ⌠But I suppose someone of the last who have been cruelly punished will say that they have received the penalty due to all. ⌠You will also understand something such as this concerning God. For God was extremely patient in the preceding times until he deemed it necessary to set a boundary on his longsuffering. For it was also necessary that the divine anger fall upon these. On the one hand, they continued to sin against people and their fellow servants. On the other hand, they killed the Lord of all. Not that it is for this reason that he harshly punished the last ones but that it is astonishing that he has borne patiently with them to the present time. FRAGMENT 261. [4]
[1] Deut 24:16.
[2] 2 Kings 14:6; cf. Jer 31:30; Ezek 18:20.
[3] Cyrilâs explanation aims to harmonize the words of Jesus, which would seem to find the Pharisees of his time also responsible for the crimes of their predecessors, with the numerous scriptural claims that everyone is responsible for their own crimes alone. In agreement with the context, he has no difficulty in demonstrating that the Pharisees of Jesusâ time were no less guilty than their predecessors.
[4] MKGK 241-42.
HOW ARE YOU TO ESCAPE?
INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: âHow will you avoid being sentenced to Gehenna?â They build churches but do not hold the true faith of the churches they build. They read the Scriptures but do not believe them. They call upon the prophets, apostles and martyrs but neither imitate their works nor profess their faith. Have you not heard him who said, âIt is not those who say to me âLord, Lordâ who will enter into the kingdom of heaven but those who do the will of my Fatherâ? [1] Just as not all who call upon the Lord are of the Lord but only those who do his will, neither does everyone who extols the apostles, prophets and martyrs thereby venerate them, but only those who imitate their works and hold their faith. HOMILY 45. [2]
[1] Mt 7:21.
[2] PG 56:890.
Mt