having become their confessors, that the prophets have become revered and honored, they adorned for them the crowns, that is, the monuments, assigning the honor most befitting to the saints, but they themselves, believing them to be prophets and holy men, have become judges of those who killed them; for by the very things with which they have decided to honor the slain, by these same things they accuse them as having been impious. But those who voted against their own fathers for such terrible blood-guilt were about to be caught in equal evils, or rather, in even worse ones. They indeed "killed the author of life," and they have added to the impieties against him other murders against his divine disciples; for as long as someone examines the injustices of others, judging with natural reason, he sees the evil and blames it, but when he himself is led into the same passions, he is carried toward them as if blind. 261 Mt 23, 35-36 In what way will the justice for all the blood come upon the last generation of murderers, although God says through the prophet "fathers shall not die for their children" and indeed also the opposite, "but each one shall die for his own sin"? What then shall we say? How will those to whom Christ has spoken these things be held to account for the blood-guilt of others? For will not Cain be punished for Abel; and Lamech, saying: "I have killed a man for wounding me, and a young man for a stripe." Since each one, therefore, is weighed down by his own evils, how will the wretched ones undergo the penalty for all? "For God is not unjust," but he is a just and strong and long-suffering judge, according to what is written. We say, therefore, that it is fitting to apply a certain meaning such as this to what has been said. Let us suppose, then, something of this kind, for instance: there have been robbers, let us say, in this country. These were plundering the surrounding villages and putting to death those in them; but the ruler of the province did not immediately unsheathe the ruler's sword against them, but rather was eager to reform them with threats. But they were no less savage; but so that the terrible thing might finally be checked, when some were captured, he did not spare them, but subjecting them to the most cruel torments, he imposed the ultimate penalty, being indignant not only at those alone, surely, but much more so, since, while he was forbearing, the savagery of the first ones also had deceived him. But I think, who of those savagely punished last will say that they themselves received the sins of all because the anger of the judge came to rest on them? You will understand something of this sort also concerning God; for having been forbearing in the preceding times, he reckoned it necessary up to this point to set a limit to his forbearance; for indeed it was necessary for the divine wrath to descend upon these; for the former sinned against men and fellow servants, but the latter have killed the Lord of all. Not, therefore, that he is harsh for punishing the last ones, but that he was admirable for having persevered until the present. 262 Mt 23, 36 If someone should wish, because the Lord said "this generation," to signify not only those to whom the word was addressed, but as it were the race of all the murderers, he departs from what is correct; for we find the holy scripture calling those of like manner and of the same counsel, as it were, a generation. And indeed the blessed David said "the generation of the upright will be blessed" and "this is the generation of those who seek" the Lord. Therefore "this," even if it be spoken demonstratively, we say that it signifies not only, perhaps, those then present and listening, but every murderer and the race that falls under the same impiety; for it will bring together the like with the like, as a brother and one of the same kind. 263 Mt 23, 37 Having said this, he shows what is befitting of God in him, even being in human form; for Moses also said concerning God: "spreading his wings he received them"; and again David: "but the sons of men will hope in the shelter of your wings." 264 Mt 23, 39 What has been said

αὐτῶν γεγονότες ὁμολογοῦντες, ὅτι οἱ προφῆται γεγόνασι σεπτοὶ καὶ τίμιοι, περιήρμοσαν αὐτοῖς τοὺς στεφάνους ἤτοι τὰ μνημεῖα τιμὴν ἀπονείμαντες τὴν τοῖς ἁγίοις πρεπωδεστάτην, αὐτοὶ δὲ προφήτας εἶναι πιστεύσαντες καὶ ἄνδρας ἁγίους κριταὶ γεγόνασιν τῶν ἀποκτεινάντων αὐτούς· δι' ὧν γὰρ τιμᾶν ἐγνώκασι τοὺς ἀνῃρημένους, διὰ τούτων αὐτῶν κατηγοροῦσιν ὡς ἠσε βηκότων. ἀλλ' οἱ τῶν ἰδίων πατέρων ἐπὶ ταῖς οὕτω δειναῖς μιαιφονίαι κατα ψηφισάμενοι τοῖς ἴσοις ἔμελλον ἁλῶναι κακοῖς, μᾶλλον δὲ τοῖς ἔτι χεί ροσιν. "ἀπέκτειναν" μὲν "τὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἀρχηγόν", προστεθείκασι δὲ ταῖς κατ' αὐτοῦ δυσσεβείαις μιαιφονίας ἑτέρας κατὰ τῶν θεσπεσίων αὐτοῦ μαθητῶν· ἕως μὲν γάρ τις τὰς ἑτέρων ἀδικίας ἐξετάζῃ φυσικῷ λογισμῷ κρίνων, ὁρᾷ τὸ φαῦλον καὶ μέμφεται, αὐτὸς δὲ εἰς τὰ ἴσα πάθη προαγόμενος οἱονεὶ τυφλὸς ἐπὶ ταῦτα φέρεται. 261 Mt 23, 35-36 Κατὰ τίνα τρόπον ἐπὶ τὴν τελευταίαν τῶν φονευτῶν γενεὰν ἡ παν τὸς αἵματος ἥξει δίκη, καίτοι διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγων ὁ θεὸς "οὐκ ἀποθανοῦνται πατέρες ὑπὲρ τέκνων" καὶ μὴν καὶ τὸ ἔμπαλιν "ἕκαστος δὲ τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἀποθανεῖται"; τί οὖν ἄρα φαμέν; πῶς τῆς ἑτέρων μιαιφονίας πραχθήσονται λόγους ἐκεῖνοι, πρὸς οὓς ταῦτα λελάληκεν ὁ Χριστός; ἢ γὰρ οὐχὶ κολασθήσεται μὲν ὑπὲρ Ἀβὲλ ὁ Κάϊν· Λάμεχ δὲ λέγων· "ἄνδρα" πεφόνευκα "εἰς τραῦμα ἐμοὶ καὶ νεανίσκον εἰς μώλωπα"· ἑκάστου τοιγαροῦν τοῖς ἰδίοις κατηχθισμένου κακοῖς πῶς οἱ δείλαιοι τὴν ὑπὲρ ἁπάντων ὑποστήσονται δίκην; "οὐ γὰρ ἄδικος ὁ θεός", ἀλλ' ἔστιν κριτὴς δίκαιος καὶ ἰσχυρὸς καὶ μακρόθυμος κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον. φαμὲν οὖν, ὅτι τοιάνδε τινὰ τοῖς εἰρημένοις προσήκει ἐφαρμόσαι διά νοιαν. ὑποκείσθω τοιγαροῦν τοιοῦτόν τι τυχόν· λῃσταὶ γεγόνασιν φέρε εἰπεῖν ἐν τῇδε τῇ χώρᾳ. οὗτοι τὰς ἐν κύκλῳ κατεληΐζοντο κώμας καὶ τοὺς ἐν αὐταῖς ἐθανάτουν· ἀλλ' ὁ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἡγεμὼν οὐκ εὐθὺς τὴν ἀρχοντικὴν αὐτοῖς ἀπεγύμνωσε μάχαιραν, ἀπειλαῖς δὲ μᾶλλον μετα παιδεύεσθαι τούτους ἐσπούδαζεν. οἱ δὲ ἦσαν οὐδὲν ἧττον ὠμοί· ἀλλ' ἵνα λοιπὸν ἀνακάμπτηται τὸ δεινόν, ἁλόντων τινῶν οὐκ ἐφείσατο, ὠμο τάταις δὲ αἰκίαις ὑποβαλὼν τὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐσχάτοις ἐπετίθει κίνδυνον οὐχὶ δήπου μόνοις ἐπ' ἐκείνοις ἀγανακτῶν, ἀλλὰ πολλῷ μᾶλλον, ἐπείπερ αὐτὸν ἀνεξικακοῦντα καὶ ἡ τῶν πρώτων ἠπάτησεν ἀγριότης. ἀλλ' οἶμαι τίς ἐρεῖ τῶν τελευταίων ἀνημέρως κεκολασμένων, ὅτι τὰς ἁπάντων ἁμαρτίας ἀπέλαβον αὐτοὶ διὰ τὸ εἰς αὐτοὺς καταλῆξαι τοῦ δικάζοντος τὸν θυμόν; τοιοῦτόν τι νοήσεις καὶ περὶ θεοῦ· ἀνεξικακήσας γὰρ ἐν τοῖς προλαβοῦσι καιροῖς μέχρι τούτων διελογίζετο δεῖν τὸ τῆς ἀνεξι κακίας ὁρίσαι μέτρον· καὶ γὰρ ἔδει ἐπὶ τούτοις τὸν θεῖον κατασκῆψαι θυμόν· οἱ μὲν γὰρ εἰς ἀνθρώπους καὶ ὁμοδούλους ἡμάρτανον, οἱ δὲ τὸν τῶν ὅλων ἀπεκτόνασι κύριον. οὐχ ὅτι τοιγαροῦν κολάζει τοὺς τελευ ταίους διὰ τοῦτο τραχύς, ἀλλ' ὅτι διεκαρτέρησεν εἰς τὸ παρὸν ἀξιά γαστος. 262 Mt 23, 36 Εἴ τις βούλοιτο διὰ τὸ φάναι τὸν κύριον ταύτην τὴν γενεὰν οὐχὶ μόνους ἐκείνους κατασημαίνεσθαι, πρὸς οὓς ἦν ὁ λόγος, ἀλλ' ὅλων ὥσπερ τῶν φονευτῶν τὸ γένος, τοῦ ὀρθῶς ἔχοντος ἐξοίχεται· εὑρίσκομεν γὰρ τὴν ἁγίαν γραφὴν τὰς ἰσοτροπίας οἱονεί πως καὶ ταυτοβουλίας ὀνο μάζουσαν ὡς γένος. καὶ γοῦν ὁ μακάριος ἔφη ∆αβὶδ "γενεὰ εὐθείων εὐλογηθήσεται" καὶ "αὕτη ἡ γενεὰ ζητούντων" τὸν κύριον. οὐκοῦν τὸ ταύτην, εἰ καὶ λέγοιτο δεικτικῶς, οὐχὶ μόνον τάχα που κατασημῆναι φαμὲν τοὺς τότε παρόντας καὶ ἀκροωμένους, ἀλλὰ πάντα τὸν φονευτὴν καὶ ὑπὸ τὸ αὐτὸ τῆς ἀσεβείας πίπτοντα γένος· συντέξεται γὰρ τῷ ὁμοίῳ τὸν ὅμοιον ὡς ἀδελφὸν καὶ ὁμογενές. 263 Mt 23, 37 Εἰπὼν τοῦτο δείκνυσιν ἑαυτοῦ τὸ θεοπρεπὲς καὶ ἐν ἀνθρωπίνῃ μορφῇ ὤν· καὶ γὰρ περὶ τοῦ θεοῦ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς· "διεὶς τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτοῦ ἐδέξατο αὐτούς"· καὶ πάλιν ∆αβίδ· "οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐν σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων σου ἐλπιοῦσιν". 264 Mt 23, 39 Τὸ εἰρημένον