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practicing virtue and outwardly appearing to be good through moderation and gentleness, which is the clothing of a sheep, but from their fruits, that is, from their way of thinking and from the doctrines concerning the faith they are revealed. 51 Mt 7, 15-20 These are they who pretend to virtue, but live irreverently, or those who outwardly practice virtue, but do not think rightly, such as are the heretics, who deceive some through feigned words and attire, and when they persuade them then they suggest doing even what is not lawful, who also will be known after not long, since the life is not such as the word; for from the fruits the tree is known, not from the blossoms, and the knowledge of the teacher from the fruit and conduct, not from the blossom and the word. 52 Mt 7, 16-20 As the parable is impossible, so it is for the wicked to conceive any good work, the heart in a way compelling each to what it wishes; for it is impossible for anything pious or beneficial to be said from a wicked disposition. Therefore the wicked are not unpunished; for by choice, not by nature, are they good or evil. The saying especially applies to doctrines; for he who speaks impiety is punished, and likewise also he who speaks good things, but does evil things, and he who feigns reverence and does not truly practice it. 53 Mt 7, 28 Rightly they were astonished; for with ineffable power he persuaded the hearers and they were not astonished by the pomp of phrasing; for there was in it nothing high-flown or enigmatic or obscure.

54 Mt 8, 21 But Jesus, knowing as God the aptitude of the other's soul for good things, commanded him to follow even unwillingly. This man asks a favorable thing, to be permitted to bury his own father. But he did not permit it, since there were also others. I think the deceased was. 55 Mt 8, 34 Having judged themselves unworthy of the Lord's visit, the Gergesenes said this to Christ, as did also Peter at the catch of the fish.

57 Mt 9, 16-17 The new teaching cannot be given to those who serve the letter of the old covenant, but to those who through progress have put off the old man and have become new wineskins. 58 Mt 9, 34 It is a sign of extreme impiety to say that the divine powers are of demons; for no demon ever casts out a demon nor destroys his own things. And he cast out not only demons, but also healed countless afflictions. The demon draws one to idols, Christ brought one to the Father. The demon, when insulted, does not do good, but Christ, bearing with those who insulted him, went about patiently healing all. 59 Mt 9, 35 He says to preach the gospel of the kingdom is this, to proclaim to all the nearness of the kingdom of heaven; for when we rise from the dead and partake of the grace of the Holy Spirit, we remain unchanged in our souls and incorruptible in body, living in the heavens. And he says everywhere that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near, as indeed through his presence they have received the true promise of the thing and have already become so in a type and have received the first-fruit of the Spirit. 60 Mt 9, 37 By harvest he means those in need of teaching.

61 Mt 10, 2 For a more sure faith and security, so that they might not be deceived by believing others as apostles, Christ has handed down to us the number and at the same time the names of the apostles. 62 Mt 10, 2 And he deliberately noted the names of the apostles, so that we might not be persuaded by any other besides the ones mentioned; for he knew that some false apostles were going to claim such a rank for themselves. 63

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ἀσκοῦντες τὴν ἀρετὴν καὶ κατὰ τὸ φαινόμενον δοκοῦντες εἶναι καλοὶ διὰ σωφροσύνης καὶ ἐπιεικείας, ὅπερ ἐστὶν ἔνδυμα προβάτου, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν, τοῦτ' ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ φρονήματος καὶ τῶν περὶ τὴν πίστιν δογμάτων φανερούμενοι. 51 Mt 7, 15-20 Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ προσποιούμενοι μὲν ἀρετήν, βιοῦντες δὲ ἀσέμνως, ἤτοι οἱ κατὰ τὸ φαινόμενον ἀσκοῦντες ἀρετήν, μὴ ὀρθῶς δὲ φρονοῦντες, οἷοί εἰσιν οἱ αἱρετικοί, οἱ διὰ λόγων πλαστῶν καὶ ἀμφιάσεων ἀπατῶντές τινας, καὶ ὅταν πείσωσιν τότε ὑποβάλλουσιν ποιεῖν καὶ ἃ μὴ θέμις, οἳ καὶ γνωσθήσονται μετ' οὐ πολύ, ἐπειδὴ οὐχ οἷος ὁ λόγος, τοιοῦτος καὶ ὁ βίος· ἀπὸ γὰρ τῶν καρπῶν τὸ δένδρον, οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθῶν γνωρίζεται, καὶ ἡ γνῶσις τοῦ διδασκάλου ἐκ τοῦ καρποῦ καὶ τῆς πολιτείας, οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ ἄνθους καὶ τοῦ λόγου. 52 Mt 7, 16-20 Ὡς ἀδύνατον τὸ τῆς παραβολῆς, οὕτω τὸ τοὺς φαύλους νοῆσαι ἔργον τι χρηστὸν τῆς καρδίας τρόπον τινὰ καταναγκαζούσης ἕκαστον ἐφ' ἃ βούλεται· ἀδύνατον γὰρ ἀπὸ μοχθηρᾶς διαθέσεως εὐσεβές τι ἢ ὠφέλιμον λεχθῆναι. διὸ οἱ φαῦλοι οὐκ ἀτιμώρητοι· προαιρέσει γάρ, οὐ φύσει εἰσὶν καλοὶ ἢ κακοί. ὁ δὲ λόγος μάλιστα ἐπὶ τῶν δογμάτων ἁρμόζει· καὶ γὰρ ὁ ἀσεβῆ λαλῶν τιμωρεῖται, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ καλὰ μὲν λαλῶν, φαῦλα δὲ πράσσων καὶ ὁ ὑποκρινόμενος εὐλάβειαν καὶ οὐκ ἀληθῶς αὐτὴν ποιῶν. 53 Mt 7, 28 Εἰκότως ἐξεπλήσσοντο· ἀρρήτῳ γὰρ δυνάμει τοὺς ἀκούοντας ἔπειθεν καὶ οὐ φράσεως ὄγκῳ ἐξεπλήσσοντο· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς περισκελὲς ἢ αἰνιγματῶδες ἢ σκοτεινόν.

54 Mt 8, 21 Εἰδὼς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν ἐπιτηδειότητα τῆς τοῦ ἑτέρου ψυχῆς ὡς

θεὸς ἐπὶ τὰ καλὰ καὶ ἄκοντα ἀκολουθεῖν ἐκέλευσεν. αἴσιον δὲ οὗτος πρᾶγμα αἰτεῖ ἐπιτραπῆναι αὐτῷ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ θάψαι πατέρα. ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἐπέτρεψεν ἐπείπερ ἦσαν καὶ ἄλλοιοἶμαι ἦν ὁ τετελευτηκώς. 55 Mt 8, 34 Ὡς ἀναξίους ἑαυτοὺς κρίναντες τῆς τοῦ κυρίου ἐπιδημίας εἶπον τοῦτο οἱ Γεργεσηνοὶ τῷ Χριστῷ ὡς καὶ ὁ Πέτρος ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν ἰχθύων ἄγρᾳ.

57 Mt 9, 16-17 Ἡ νέα διδασκαλία οὐ δύναται δοθῆναι τοῖς δουλεύουσι τῷ

γράμματι τῆς παλαιᾶς διαθήκης, ἀλλὰ τοῖς διὰ προκοπῆς ἀποθεμένοις τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ γενομένοις νέοις ἀσκοῖς. 58 Mt 9, 34 Ἄκρας ἀσεβείας δεῖγμα τὸ τὰς θείας δυνάμεις λέγειν δαιμόνων εἶναι· οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε δαιμόνων δαίμονα ἐκβάλλει οὐδὲ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ καταλύει. οὐ μόνους δὲ δαίμονας ἐξέβαλεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μυρία πάθη ἐθεράπευσεν. ὁ δαίμων πρὸς τὰ εἴδωλα σύρει, ὁ Χριστὸς τῷ πατρὶ προσῆγεν. ὁ δαίμων ὑβριζόμενος οὐκ εὐεργετεῖ, ὁ δὲ Χριστὸς τοὺς ὑβρίζοντας φέρων ἀνεξικάκως περιῄει θεραπεύων πάντας. 59 Mt 9, 35 Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας κηρύσσειν φησὶν τοῦτο δή, τὸ πᾶσιν εὐαγγελίζεσθαι τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν τὴν ἐγγύτητα· ὅταν γὰρ ἀναστῶμεν ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ τῆς τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος μετάσχωμεν χάριτος, ἄτρεπτοι μένομεν τὰς ψυχὰς καὶ ἄφθαρτοι τὸ σῶμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς διαιτώμενοι. ἠγγικέναι δὲ πανταχοῦ λέγει τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν ὡς δὴ διὰ τῆς αὐτοῦ παρουσίας καὶ τὴν ἀληθῆ τοῦ πράγματος κομισαμένων ὑπόσχεσιν καὶ ὡς ἐν τύπῳ γενομένων ἤδη καὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν κομίζεσθαι τοῦ πνεύματος. 60 Mt 9, 37 Θερισμὸν λέγει τοὺς δεομένους διδασκαλίας.

61 Mt 10, 2 ∆ιὰ βεβαιοτέραν πίστιν καὶ ἀσφάλειαν, ὡς ἂν μὴ πλανηθῶσιν

ἑτέροις πιστεύσαντες ὡς ἀποστόλοις, τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἅμα καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀποστόλων παραδέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ Χριστός. 62 Mt 10, 2 Ἐσημειώσατο δὲ ἐπιτηδὲς τῶν ἀποστόλων τὰ ὀνόματα, ἵνα μηδενὶ πεισθῶμεν ἑτέρῳ παρὰ τοὺς εἰρημένους· ᾔδει γάρ, ὅτι ἤμελλόν τινες ψευδαπόστολοι ἐπιφημίσαι ἑαυτοῖς τὸ τοιοῦτον ἀξίωμα. 63