Homily LI.

Matt. XV. 1.

“Then came to Jesus Scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do Thy disciples,” etc.1974   [In the Oxford edition verses 3–6 are printed here in full from the A.V. But in the Greek text of the Homily only the first part of ver. 1 appears. As the larger part of the other verses is given below, and as several questions of text and interpretation arise, the passage has been printed here to correspond with the Greek.—R.]

Then; when? when He had wrought His countless miracles; when He had healed the infirm by the touch of the hem of His garment. For even with this intent doth the evangelist mark the time, that He might signify their unspeakable wickedness, by nothing repressed.

But what means, “The Scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem?”1975   [R.V., “from Jerusalem Pharisees and Scribes.” But Chrysostom’s text is as above, agreeing with the received. The omission of the article affects the sense, as indicated in the R.V.—R.] In every one of the tribes were they scattered abroad, and divided into twelve parts; but they who occupied the chief city were worse than the others, as both enjoying more honor, and having contracted much haughtiness.

But mark, I pray thee, how even by the question itself they are convicted; in not saying, “Why do they transgress the law of Moses,” but, “the tradition of the elders.” Whence it is evident that the priests were inventing many novelties, although Moses, with much terror and with much threatening, had enjoined neither to add nor take away. “For ye shall not add,” saith he, “unto the word which I command you this day, and ye shall not take away from it.”1976   Deut. iv. 2.

But not the less were they innovating; as in this instance, that one ought not to eat with unwashen hands, that we must wash cups and brazen vessels, that we must wash also ourselves. Thus, when men were henceforth, as time advanced, to be freed from their observances, at that very time they bound them with the same in more and more instances, fearing lest any one should take away their power, and wishing to strike more dread, as though they were themselves also lawgivers. The thing in fact proceeded so far in enormity, that while their own commandments were kept, those of God were transgressed; and they so far prevailed, that the matter had actually become a ground of accusation. Which was a twofold charge against them, in that they both invented novelties, and were so strict exactors on their own account, while of God they made no reckoning.

And omitting to speak of the other things, the pots and the brazen vessels (for it was too ridiculous), what seemed more reasonable than the rest, that they bring forward, wishing, as seems at least to me, in that way to provoke Him to anger. Wherefore also they made mention of the elders, in order that He, as setting them at nought, might give occasion against Himself.

But it were meet first to inquire, why the disciples ate with unwashen hands. Wherefore then did they so eat? Not as making a point of it, but as overlooking henceforth the things that are superfluous, and attending to such as are necessary; having no law to wash or not to wash, but doing either as it happened. For they that despised even their own necessary food, how were they to hold these things worth much consideration? This then having often happened unintentionally,—for instance, when they ate in the wilderness, when they plucked the ears of corn,—is now put forward as a charge by these persons, who are always transgressing in the great things, and making much account of the superfluous.

2. What then saith Christ? He did not set Himself against it, neither made He any defense, but straightway blames them again, plucking down their confidence, and signifying that he who commits great sins ought not to be strict with others concerning small matters. “What? when you ought to be blamed,” saith He, “do ye even blame?”

But do thou observe, how when it is His will to set aside any of the things enjoined by the law, He does it in the form of an apology; and so He did in that case. For by no means doth He proceed at once to transgress it, nor doth He say, “It is nothing;” for surely He would have made them more audacious; but first He clean cuts away their boldness, bringing forward the far heavier charge, and directing it upon their head. And He neither saith, “they do well in transgressing it,” lest He should give them a hold on Him; nor doth He speak ill of their proceeding, lest He should confirm the law: nor again, on the other hand, doth He blame the elders, as lawless and unholy men; for doubtless they would have shunned Him as a reviler and injurious: but all these things He gives up, and proceeds another way. And He seems indeed to be rebuking the persons themselves who had come to Him, but He is reprehending them that enacted these laws; nowhere indeed making mention of the elders, but by His charge against the Scribes casting down them also, and signifying that their sin is twofold, first in disobeying God, next in doing so on men’s account; as though He had said, “Why this, this hath ruined you, your obeying the elders in all things.”

Yet He saith not so, but this is just what He intimates, by answering them as follows:

“Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by1977   [R.V., “because of.”]your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and1978   [Chrysostom read κα, with the rec. text, thus making the sentence break off. The A.V. supplies “he shall be free.” R.V., omitting “and,” with the best authorities, makes this clause the conclusion: “he shall not honor,” etc.—R.]honor not his father or his mother1979   [R.V. text omits “and his mother.”]—And ye have made void the commandment1980   [So rec. text, but R.V. reads “word” in the text, with “law” in the margin.—R.]of God by your tradition.1981   Matt. xv. 3–6. [R.V., “because of your tradition.”]

And He said not, “the elders’ tradition,” but “your own.” And, “ye say;” again He said not, “the elders say:” in order to make His speech less galling. That is, because they wanted to prove the disciples transgressors of the law, He signifies that they themselves are doing so, but that these are free from blame. For of course that is not a law, which is enjoined by men (wherefore also He calls it “a tradition”), and especially by men that are transgressors of the law.

And since this had no shade of contrariety to the law, to command men to wash their hands, He brings forward another tradition, which is opposed to the law. And what He saith is like this. “They taught the young, under the garb of piety, to despise their fathers.” How, and in what way? “If one of their parents said to his child, Give me this sheep that thou hast, or this calf, or any such thing, they used to say, ‘This is a gift to God, whereby thou wouldest be profited by me, and thou canst not have it.’ And two evils hence arose: on the one hand they did not bring them to God, on the other they defrauded their parents under the name of the offering, alike insulting their parents for God’s sake, and God for their parents’ sake.” But He doth not say this at once, but first rehearses the law, by which He signifies His earnest desire that parents should be honored. For, “honor,” saith He, “thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest live long upon the earth.”1982   Exod. xx. 12. See also Ephes. vi. 1, 2. And again, “He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”1983   Exod. xxi. 17.

But He, omitting the first, the reward appointed for them that honor their parents, states that which is more awful, the punishment, I mean, threatened to such as dishonor them; desiring both to dismay them, and to conciliate such as have understanding; and He implies them to be for this worthy of death. For if he who dishonors them in word is punished, much more ye, who do so in deed, and who not only dishonor, but also teach it to others. “Ye then who ought not so much as to live, how find ye fault with the disciples?”

“And what wonder is it, if ye offer such insults to me, who am as yet unknown, when even to the Father ye are found doing the like?” For everywhere He both asserts and implies, that from Him they began with this their arrogance.

But some do also otherwise interpret, “It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;” that is, I owe thee no honor, but it is a free gift from me to thee, if indeed I do honor thee. But Christ would not have mentioned an insult of that sort.

And Mark again makes this plainer, by saying, “It is Corban, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;”1984   Mark vii. 11.which means, not a gift and present, but properly an offering.

Having then signified that they who were trampling on the law could not be justly entitled to blame men for transgressing a command of certain elders, He points out this same thing again from the prophet likewise. Thus, having once laid hold of them severely, He proceeds further: as on every occasion He doth, bringing forward the Scriptures, and so evincing Himself to be in accordance with God.

And what saith the prophet? “This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”1985   Matt. xv. 8, 9. See Is. xxix. 13. [R.V., “teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.”]

Seest thou a prophecy in exact accordance with His sayings, and from the very first proclaiming beforehand their wickedness? For what Christ laid to their charge now, of this Isaiah also spake from the very first; that the words of God they despise, “for in vain do they worship me,” saith He; but of their own they make much account, “teaching,” saith He, “for doctrines the commandments of men.” Therefore with reason the disciples keep them not.

3. Having, you see, given them their mortal blow; and from the facts first, then from their own suffrage, then from the prophet having aggravated the charge, with them indeed He discourses not at all, incorrigibly disposed as they are now come to be, but directs His speech to the multitudes, so as to introduce His doctrine, great and high, and full of much strictness; and taking occasion from the former topic, He proceeds to insert that which is greater, casting out also the observance of meats.

But see when. When He had cleansed the leper, when He had repealed the Sabbath, when He had shown Himself King of earth and sea, when He had made laws, when He had remitted sins, when He had raised dead men, when He had afforded them many proofs of His Godhead, then He discourses of meats.

For indeed all the religion of the Jews is comprised in this; if thou take this away, thou hast even taken away all. For hereby He signifies, that circumcision too must be abrogated. But of Himself He doth not prominently introduce this (forasmuch as that was older than the other commandments, and had higher estimation), but He enacts it by His disciples. For so great a thing was it, that even the disciples after so long a time being minded to do it away, first practise it, and so put it down.1986   Acts xvi. 3.

But see how He introduces His law: how “He called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand.”1987   Matt. xv. 11.

Thus He doth by no means simply reveal it to them, but by respect and courtesy, first, He makes His saying acceptable (for this the evangelist declares by saying, “He called them unto Him”): and secondly, by the time also; in that after their refutation, and His victory over them, and the accusation by the prophet, then He begins His legislation, when they too would more easily receive His sayings.

And He doth not merely call them unto Him, but also makes them more attentive. For “understand,” saith He, that is, “consider, rouse yourselves; for of that sort is the law now about to be enacted. For if they set aside the law, even unseasonably, for their own tradition, and ye hearkened; much more ought ye to hearken unto me, who at the proper season am leading you unto a higher rule of self restraint.”

And He did not say, “The observance of meats is nothing, neither that Moses had given wrong injunctions, nor that of condescension He did so;” but in the way of admonition and counsel, and taking His testimony from the nature of the things, He saith: “Not the things that go into the mouth, defile the man, but the things that go out of the mouth;”1988   Matt. xv. 11.resorting to nature herself both in His enactment and in His demonstration. Yet they hearing all this, made no reply, neither did they say, “What sayest Thou? When God hath given charges without number concerning the observance of meats, dost thou make such laws?” But since He had utterly stopped their mouths, not by refuting them only, but also by publishing their craft, and exposing what was done by them in secret, and revealing the secrets of their mind; their mouths were stopped, and so they went away.

But mark, I pray thee, how He doth not yet venture distinctly to set Himself with boldness against the meats. Therefore neither did He say “the meats,” but, “the things that enter in defile not the man;” which it was natural for them to suspect concerning the unwashen hands also. For He indeed was speaking of meats, but it would be understood of these matters too.

Why, so strong was the feeling of scruple about the meats, that even after the resurrection Peter said, “Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”1989   Acts x. 14. For although it was for the sake of others that He said this, and in order to leave Himself a justification against his censurers, by pointing out that he actually remonstrated, and not even so was excused, nevertheless it implies the depth of their impression on that point.

Wherefore you see He Himself also at the beginning spake not openly concerning meats, but, “The things that go into the mouth;” and again, when He had seemed afterwards to speak more plainly, He veiled it by His conclusion, saying, “But to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man:”1990   Matt. xv. 20.that He might seem to have had His occasion from thence, and to be still discoursing of the same. Therefore He said not, “To eat meats defileth not a man,” but is as though He were speaking on that other topic; that they may have nothing to say against it.

4. When therefore they had heard these things, “the Pharisees,” it is said, “were offended,”1991   Matt. xv. 12.not the multitudes. For “His disciples,” so it is said, “came and said unto Him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard the saying?” Yet surely nothing had been said unto them.

What then saith Christ? He did not remove the offense in respect of them, but reproved them, saying, “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”1992   Matt. xv. 13. For He is wont both to despise offenses, and not to despise them. Elsewhere, for example, He saith, “But lest we should offend them, cast an hook into the sea:”1993   Matt. xvii. 27.but here He saith, “Let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind: and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”1994   Matt. xv. 14. [So rec. text. The R.V. follows a briefer reading, but properly substitutes “a pit” for “the ditch.”—R.]

But these things His disciples said, not as grieving for those men only, but as being themselves also slightly perplexed. But because they durst not say so in their own person, they would fain learn it by their telling Him of others. And as to its being so, hear how after this the ardent and ever-forward Peter came to Him, and saith, “Declare unto us this parable,”1995   Matt. xv. 15.discovering the trouble in his soul, and not indeed venturing to say openly, “I am offended,” but requiring that by His interpretation he should be freed from his perplexity; wherefore also he was reproved.

What then saith Christ? “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

This, they that are diseased with the Manichæan pest affirm to be spoken of the law; but their months are stopped by what had been said before. For if He was speaking of the law, how doth He further back defend it, and fight for it, saying, “Why do ye transgress the commandments of God for your tradition?” And how doth He bring for ward the prophet? But of themselves and of their traditions He so speaks. For if God said, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” how is not that of God’s planting, which was spoken by God?

And what follows also indicates, that of themselves it was said, and of their traditions. Thus He added, “They are blind leaders of the blind.” Whereas, had He spoken it of the law, He would have said, “It is a blind leader of the blind.” But not so did He speak, but, “They are blind leaders of the blind:” freeing it from the blame, and bringing it all round upon them.

Then to sever the people also from them, as being on the point of falling into a pit by their means, He saith, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

It is a great evil merely to be blind, but to be in such a case and have none to lead him, nay, to occupy the place of a guide, is a double and triple ground of censure. For if it be a dangerous thing for the blind man not to have a guide, much more so that he should even desire to be guide to another.

What then saith Peter? He saith not, “What can this be which Thou hast said?” but as though it were full of obscurity, he puts his question. And he saith not, “Why hast thou spoken contrary to the law?” for he was afraid, lest he should be thought to have taken offense, but asserts it to be obscure. However, that it was not obscure, but that he was offended, is manifest, for it had nothing of obscurity.

Wherefore also He rebukes him, saying, “Are ye also yet without understanding?”1996   Matt. xv. 16. For as to the multitude, they did not perhaps so much as understand the saying; but themselves were the persons offended. Wherefore, whereas at first, as though asking in behalf of the Pharisees, they were desirous to be told; when they heard Him denouncing a great threat, and saying, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up,” and, “They are blind leaders of the blind,” they were silenced. But he, always ardent, not even so endures to hold his peace, but saith, “Declare unto us this parable.”1997   Matt. xv. 15.

What then saith Christ? With a sharp rebuke He answers, “Are ye also yet without understanding? Do ye not yet understand?”

But these things He said, and reproved them, in order to cast out their prejudice; He stopped not however at this, but adds other things also, saying, “That whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught; but those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, blasphemies, false-witnessings: and these are the things that defile the man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.”1998   Matt. xv. 17–20.

Seest thou how sharply He deals with them, and in the way of rebuke?

Then He establishes His saying by our common nature, and with a view to their cure. For when He saith, “It goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught,” he is still answering according to the low views of the Jews. For He saith, “it abides not, but goes out:” and what if it abode? it would not make one unclean. But not yet were they able to hear this.

And one may remark, that because of this the lawgiver allows just so much time, as it may be remaining within one, but when it is gone forth, no longer. For instance, at evening He bids you wash yourself, and so be clean; measuring the time of the digestion, and of the excretion.1999   Lev. xi. 24, 25. But the things of the heart, He saith, abide within, and when they are gone forth they defile, and not when abiding only. And first He puts our evil thoughts, a kind of thing which belonged to the Jews; and not as yet doth He make His refutation from the nature of the things, but from the manner of production from the belly and the heart respectively, and from the fact that the one sort remains, the other not; the one entering in from without, and departing again outwards, while the others are bred2000   [τκτεται; the Oxford edition has “bad,” which is probably a misprint for “bred.”—R.]within, and having gone forth they defile, and then more so, when they are gone forth. Because they were not yet able, as I said, to be taught these things with all due strictness.

But Mark saith, that “cleansing the meats,”2001   Mark vii. 19. Origen in his commentary on this passage of St. Matthew, refers also to St. Mark, where he reads as St. Chrysostom here, καθαρζων instead of καθαρζον. The word “cleansing” or “purging” is therefore referred to our Lord, and our Saviour’s words will stand as a parenthesis. See Field in loc. [The translator doubtless means that this view makes our Lord’s own words a parenthetical explanation of the evangelist. So the R.V. gives the clause. That καθαρζων is the correct reading is quite certain, but German commentators refer it to ἀφδρνα, accepting a change of construction. The evangelist Mark rarely inserts explanations. The citation from Origen will be found in Tischendorf, VIII., note on Mark vii. 19. Despite the authority of Origen and Chrysostom, the rendering of the R.V. is of doubtful propriety.—R.] He spake this. He did not however express it, nor at all say, “but to eat such and such meats defileth not the man,” for neither could they endure to be told it by Him thus distinctly. And accordingly His conclusion was, “But to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.”2002   Matt. xv. 20.

5. Let us learn then what are the things that defile the man; let us learn, and let us flee them. For even in the church we see such a custom prevailing amongst the generality, and men giving diligence to come in clean garments, and to have their hands washed; but how to present a clean soul to God, they make no account.

And this I say, not forbidding them to wash hands or mouth; but willing men so to wash as is meet, not with water only, but instead of water, with all virtues. For the filth of the mouth is evil speaking, blasphemy, reviling, angry words, filthy talking, laughter, jesting: if then thou art conscious to thyself of uttering none of them, neither of being defiled with this filth, draw near with confidence; but if thou hast times out of number received these stains, why dost thou labor in vain, washing thy tongue indeed with water, but bearing about on it such deadly and hurtful filth? For tell me, hadst thou dung on thy hands, and mire, wouldest thou indeed venture to pray? By no means. And yet this were no hurt; but that is ruin. How then art thou reverential in the different things, but in the forbidden remiss?

What then? should not we pray? saith one. We should indeed, but not while defiled, and having upon us mire of that sort.

“What then, if I have been overtaken?” saith one. Cleanse thyself. “How, and in what way?” Weep, groan, give alms, apologize to him that is affronted, reconcile him to thyself hereby, wipe clean thy tongue, lest thou provoke God more grievously. For so if one had filled his hands with dung, and then should lay hold of thy feet, entreating thee, far from hearing him, thou wouldest rather spurn him with thy foot; how then durst thou in such sort draw nigh to God? Since in truth the tongue is the hand of them that pray, and by it we lay hold on the knees of God. Defile it not therefore, lest to thee also He say, “Though ye make many prayers, I will not hearken.”2003   Is. i. 15. Yea, and “in the power of the tongue are death and life;”2004   Prov. xviii. 21.and, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”2005   Matt. xii. 37.

I bid thee then watch thy tongue more than the apple of thine eye. The tongue is a royal steed. If then thou put a bridle on it, and teach it to pace orderly, the King will rest and take His seat thereon; but if thou suffer it to rush about unbridled and leap wantonly, it becomes a beast for the devil and bad spirits to ride on. And while thou, fresh from the company of thine own wife, darest not pray, although this is no blame at all; dost thou lift up thine hands, fresh from reviling and insult, which brings after it no less than hell, before thou hast well cleansed thyself? And how dost thou not shudder? tell me. Hast thou not heard Paul, saying, “Marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled?”2006   Heb. xiii. 4. But if on rising from the undefiled bed, thou darest not draw nigh in prayer, how dost thou coming from the bed of the devil call on that awful and terrible name? For it is truly the devil’s bed, to wallow in insults and reviling. And like some wicked adulterer, wrath dallies with us in great delight, casting into us deadly seed, and making us give birth to diabolical enmity, and doing all things in a way opposite to marriage. For whereas marriage causes the two to become one flesh, wrath severs into many parts them that were united, and cleaves and cuts in pieces the very soul.

That thou mayest therefore with confidence draw nigh to God, receive not wrath, when it comes in upon thee, and desires to be with thee, but drive it away like a mad dog.

For so Paul too commanded: his phrase being, “lifting up holy hands without wrath and disputing.”2007   1 Tim. ii. 8. Dishonor not then thy tongue, for how will it entreat for thee, when it hath lost its proper confidence? but adorn it with gentleness, with humility, make it worthy of the God who is entreated, fill it with blessing, with much almsdoing. For it is possible even with words to do alms. “For a word is a better thing than a gift,”2008   Ecclus. xviii. 16.and “answer the poor man peaceably with meekness.”2009   Ecclus. iv. 8. And all the rest of thy time too adorn it with the rehearsing of the laws of God; “Yea, let all thy communication be in the law of the Most High.”2010   Ecclus. ix. 15.

Having thus adorned ourselves, let us come to our King, and fall at His knees,2011   [ππτωμεν π γνατα, “fall on our knees” seems to be the more probable sense, as the context indicates. Compare the last sentence in the paragraph.—R.]not with the body only, but also with the mind. Let us consider whom we are approaching, and on whose behalf, and what we would accomplish. We are drawing nigh unto God, whom the seraphim behold and turn away their faces, not bearing His brightness; at sight of whom the earth trembles. We draw nigh unto God, “who dwelleth in the light, which no man can approach unto.”2012   1 Tim. vi. 16. And we draw nigh unto Him for deliverance from hell, for remission of sins, for escape from those in tolerable punishments, for attaining to the Heavens, and to the good things that are there. Let us, I say, fall down before Him both in body and in mind, that He may raise us up when we are down; let us converse with all gentleness and meekness.

And who is so wretched and miserable, one may say, as not to become gentle in prayer? He that prays with an imprecation, and fills himself with wrath, and cries out against his enemies.

6. Nay, if thou wilt accuse, accuse thyself. If thou wilt whet and sharpen thy tongue, let it be against thine own sins. And tell not what evil another hath done to thee, but what thou hast done to thyself; for this is most truly an evil; since no other will really be able to injure thee, unless thou injure thyself. Wherefore, if thou desire to be against them that wrong thee, approach as against thyself first; there is no one to hinder; since by coming into court against another, thou hast but the greater injury to go away with.

And what injury at all hast thou really to mention? That such an one insulted and spoiled thee by violence, and encompassed thee with dangers? Nay, this is receiving not injury, but if we be sober, the very greatest benefit; the injured being he that did such things, not he that suffered them. And this is more than any one thing the cause of all our evils, that we do not so much as know at all who is the injured, and who the injurious person. Since if we knew this well, we should not ever injure ourselves, we should not pray against another, having learnt that it is impossible to suffer ill of another. For not to be spoiled, but to spoil, is an evil. Wherefore, if thou hast spoiled, accuse thyself; but if thou hast been spoiled, rather pray for him that spoiled thee, because he hath done thee the greatest good. For although the intent of the doer was not such, yet thou hast received the greatest benefit, if thou hast endured it nobly. For him, both men, and the laws of God declare to be wretched, but thee, the injured party, they crown, and proclaim thy praise.

For so if any one sick of a fever had violently taken from any other a vessel containing water, and had had his fill of his pernicious desire, we should not say that the despoiled had been injured, but the spoiler; for he has aggravated his fever, and made his disease more grievous. Now in this way I bid thee reason concerning him also that loves wealth and money. For he too, having a far worse fever than the other, has by this rapine fanned the flame in himself.

Again, were some madman to snatch a sword from any one, and destroy himself, which again is the injured? He that hath been robbed, or the robber? It is quite clear, he that did the robbery.

Well then, in the case of seizing property also, let us give the same suffrage. For what a sword is to a madman, much the same is wealth to a covetous man; nay, it is even a worse thing. For the madman, when he has taken the sword, and thrust it through himself, is both delivered from his madness, and hath no second blow to receive; but the lover of money receives daily ten thousand wounds more grievous than his, without delivering himself from his madness, but aggravating it more exceedingly: and the more wounds he receives, the more doth he give occasion for other more grievous blows.

Reflecting then on these things, let us flee this sword; let us flee the madness; though late, let us become temperate. For this virtue too ought to be called temperance, not less than that which is used to be so called among all men. For whereas there the dominion of one lust is to be struggled against, here we have to master many lusts, and those of all kinds.

Yea, nothing, nothing is more foolish2013   ἀφρονστερον opposed to σωφροσνη.than the slave of wealth. He thinks he overcomes when he is overcome. He thinks he is master, when he is a slave, and putting bonds on himself, he rejoices; making the wild beast fiercer, he is pleased; and becoming a captive, he prides himself, and leaps for joy; and seeing a dog rabid and flying at his soul, when he ought to bind him and weaken him by hunger, he actually supplies him with abundance of food, that he may leap upon him more fiercely, and be more formidable.

Reflecting then on all these things, let us loose the bonds, let us slay the monster, let us drive away the disease, let us cast out this madness; that we may enjoy a calm and pure health, and having with much pleasure sailed into the serene haven, may attain unto the eternal blessings; unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might, now and always, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΝΑʹ. Τότε προσέρχονται τῷ Ἰησοῦ οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι, λέγοντες: «Διατί οἱ μαθηταί σου,» κ. τ. ἑ. αʹ. Τότε: πότε; Ὅτε τὰ μυρία σημεῖα εἰργάσατο, ὅτε τοὺς ἀῤῥώστους ἐθεράπευσεν ἐκ τῆς ἁφῆς τοῦ κρασπέδου. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ εὐαγγελιστὴς ἐπισημαίνεται τὸν καιρὸν, ἵνα ἐνδείξηται τὴν ἄφατον αὐτῶν πονηρίαν οὐδενὶ εἴκουσαν. Τί δέ ἐστιν, Οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι; Πανταχοῦ τῶν φυλῶν ἦσαν διεσπαρμένοι, καὶ εἰς δώδεκα διῃρημένοι μέρη: ἀλλ' οἱ τὴν μητρόπολιν ἔχοντες πονηρότεροι τῶν ἄλλων ἦσαν, ἅτε καὶ πλείονος ἀπολαύοντες τιμῆς, καὶ πολὺν κεκτημένοι τὸν τῦφον. Θέα δέ μοι πῶς καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐρωτήσεως αὐτῆς ἁλίσκονται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ λέγουσι, Διατί παραβαίνουσι τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως; ἀλλὰ, Τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων. Ὅθεν δῆλον, ὅτι πολλὰ ἐκαινοτόμουν οἱ ἱερεῖς, καίτοι Μωϋσέως μετὰ πολλοῦ τοῦ φόβου καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἀπειλῆς ἐπισκήψαντος ὥστε μήτε προσθεῖναι, μήτε ἀφελεῖν. Οὐ προσθήσετε γὰρ, φησὶ, πρὸς τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον, καὶ οὐκ ἀφελεῖτε ἀπ' αὐτοῦ. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν ἧττον ἐκαινοτόμουν οἷον δὴ καὶ τοῦτο ἦν, τὸ μὴ δεῖν ἀνίπτοις χερσὶν ἐσθίειν, τὸ ποτήρια βαπτίζειν καὶ χαλκεῖα, τὸ καὶ αὐτοὺς βαπτίζεσθαι. Ὅτε γὰρ ἔδει λοιπὸν αὐτοὺς ἀπαλλαγῆναι τῶν παρατηρήσεων, τοῦ χρόνου προελθόντος, τότε αὐτοὺς μᾶλλον πλείοσιν ἔδησαν ταῖς παρατηρήσεσι, δεδοικότες μή τις αὐτῶν ἀφέληται τὴν ἀρχὴν, καὶ φοβερώτεροι εἶναι βουλόμενοι, ὡς δὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ νομοθέται. Εἰς τοσοῦτον οὖν προῆλθε παρανομίας τὸ πρᾶγμα, ὡς τὰς μὲν αὐτῶν φυλάττεσθαι ἐντολὰς, τὰς δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ παραβαίνεσθαι: καὶ τοσοῦτον ἐκράτουν, ὥστε κατηγορίαν λοιπὸν τὸ πρᾶγμα εἶναι. Ὅπερ διπλοῦν κατ' αὐτῶν ἔγκλημα ἦν, ὅτι τε ἐκαινοτόμουν, καὶ ὅτι οὕτως ἐξεδίκουν τὰ ἑαυτῶν, τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐδένα ποιούμενοι λόγον. Καὶ ἀφέντες τὰ ἄλλα εἰπεῖν, τοὺς ξέστας καὶ τὰ χαλκεῖα (καταγέλαστα γὰρ ἦν), ὃ τῶν ἄλλων μᾶλλον ἐδόκει λόγον ἔχειν, τοῦτο εἰς μέσον προφέρουσιν, οὕτως, ὡς ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ, εἰς ὀργὴν αὐτὸν ἐξάγειν βουλόμενοι. Διὸ καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἐμνημόνευον, ἵνα ὡς ἐξουδενῶν αὐτοὺς παράσχῃ καθ' ἑαυτοῦ λαβήν. Ἄξιον δὲ πρῶτον ἐξετάσαι, διατί καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ χερσὶν ἀνίπτοις ἤσθιον. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν οὕτως ἤσθιον; Οὐκ ἐπιτηδεύοντες τοῦτο, ἀλλ' ὑπερορῶντες λοιπὸν τῶν περιττῶν, καὶ τοῖς ἀναγκαίοις προσέχοντες: οὔτε τὸ νίπτεσθαι, οὔτε τὸ μὴ νίπτεσθαι νόμον ἔχοντες, ἀλλ' ὡς ἔτυχεν ἑκάτερον ποιοῦντες. Οἱ γὰρ καὶ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀναγκαίας καταφρονοῦντες τροφῆς, πῶς ἔμελλον ταῦτα περισπούδαστα ἔχειν; Ἐπεὶ οὖν συνέβαινε πολλάκις τοῦτο ἀπὸ ταυτομάτου γίνεσθαι, οἷον ὡς ὅτε ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἤσθιον, ὡς ὅτε τοὺς ἀστάχυας ἔτιλλον ἀντ' ἐγκλήματος αὐτὸ προβάλλονται, οἱ τὰ μεγάλα ἀεὶ παρατρέχοντες, καὶ τῶν περιττῶν πολὺν ποιούμενοι λόγον. Τί οὖν ὁ Χριστός; Οὐκ ἔστη πρὸς τοῦτο, οὐδὲ ἀπελογήσατο, ἀλλ' εὐθέως ἀντεγκαλεῖ, κατασπῶν αὐτῶν τὴν παῤῥησίαν, καὶ δεικνὺς, ὅτι τὸν μεγάλα ἁμαρτάνοντα ὑπὲρ μικρῶν πρὸς ἑτέρους ἀκριβολογεῖσθαι οὐ χρή. Δέον γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἐγκαλεῖσθαι, φησὶ, καὶ ἐγκαλεῖτε; Σὺ δὲ παρατήρει, πῶς ὅταν τι βούληται λῦσαι τῶν νομίμων, ἐν τάξει ἀπολογίας αὐτὸ ποιεῖ: ὅπερ καὶ τότε ἐποίησεν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ εὐθέως ἐπὶ τὴν παράβασιν ἔρχεται, οὐδὲ λέγει, Οὐδέν ἐστιν: ἦ γὰρ ἂν θρασυτέρους εἰργάσατο: ἀλλὰ πρῶτον ἐκκόπτει αὐτῶν τὴν θρασύτητα, τὸ πολλῷ μεῖζον ἔγκλημα εἰς μέσον ἄγων, καὶ εἰς τὴν ἐκείνων περιέλκων κεφαλήν. Καὶ οὔτε λέγει, ὅτι καλῶς ποιοῦσι παραβαίνοντες, ἵνα μὴ δῷ λαβὴν αὐτοῖς: οὔτε κακίζει τὸ γινόμενον, ἵνα μὴ βεβαιώσῃ τὸν νόμον: οὐδ' αὖ πάλιν κατηγορεῖ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ὡς παρανόμων καὶ μιαρῶν: ἦ γὰρ ἂν ὡς λοίδορον καὶ ὑβριστὴν ἀπεστράφησαν: ἀλλὰ πάντα ταῦτα ἀφεὶς, ἑτέραν ὁδὸν ἔρχεται. Καὶ δοκεῖ μὲν αὐτοῖς ἐπιτιμᾷν τοῖς παραγενομένοις, καθάπτεται δὲ τῶν ταῦτα νομοθετησάντων: τῶν μὲν πρεσβυτέρων οὐδαμοῦ μνημονεύων, ἐν δὲ τῇ πρὸς τούτους κατηγορίᾳ κἀκείνους καταβάλλων, καὶ δεικνὺς ὅτι διπλοῦν τὸ ἁμάρτημα, ὅτι καὶ τῷ Θεῷ οὐ πείθονται, καὶ δι' ἀνθρώπους τοῦτο ποιοῦσιν: ὡσανεὶ ἔλεγε: Τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμᾶς, τοῦτο ἀπώλεσε, τὸ πάντα πείθεσθαι τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις. Ἀλλ' οὐ λέγει οὕτω, τοῦτο δὲ αὐτὸ αἰνίττεται, οὕτως αὐτοῖς ἀποκριθείς: Διατί καὶ ὑμεῖς παραβαίνετε τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ διὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ὑμῶν; Ὁ γὰρ Θεὸς ἐνετείλατο: Τίμα τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα: καὶ, Ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα, θανάτῳ τελευτάτω. Ὑμεῖς δὲ λέγετε: Ὃς ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ πατρὶ ἢ τῇ μητρὶ, Δῶρον, ὃ ἐὰν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς, καὶ οὐ μὴ τιμήσῃ τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα: καὶ ἠκυρώσατε τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ διὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ὑμῶν. βʹ. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπε, Τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἀλλ', Ὑμῶν: καὶ, Ὑμεῖς λέγετε, καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, Οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, ὥστε ἀνεπαχθέστερον ποιῆσαι τὸν λόγον. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ παρανόμους ἠθέλησαν δεῖξαι τοὺς μαθητὰς, δείκνυσιν αὐτοὺς τοῦτο ποιοῦντας, τούτους δὲ ἀπηλλαγμένους ἐγκλήματος. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ νόμος τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπιταχθὲν (διὸ καὶ παράδοσιν αὐτὸ καλεῖ), καὶ ἀνθρώπων μάλιστα παρανόμων. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο οὐκ ἦν ὑπεναντίον τῷ νόμῳ, τὸ κελεύειν τὰς χεῖρας νίπτειν, ἑτέραν παράδοσιν εἰς μέσον ἄγει, ἐναντιουμένην τῷ νόμῳ. Ὃ δὲ λέγει, τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν: Ἐπαίδευσαν τοὺς νέους εὐσεβείας σχήματι καταφρονεῖν τῶν πατέρων. Πῶς καὶ τίνι τρόπῳ; Εἴ τις τῶν γονέων εἶπε τῷ παιδὶ, Δός μοι τὸ πρόβατον τοῦτο ὃ ἔχεις, ἢ τὸν μόσχον, ἢ ἄλλο τι τοιοῦτον, ἔλεγον: Δῶρόν ἐστι τῷ Θεῷ τοῦτο, ὃ θέλεις ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῆναι, καὶ οὐ δύνασαι λαβεῖν. Καὶ διπλοῦν ἐντεῦθεν ἐγίνετο τὸ κακόν. Οὔτε γὰρ τῷ Θεῷ προσῆγον, καὶ τοὺς γονέας ὀνόματι τῆς προσφορᾶς ἀπεστέρουν, τούς τε γεγεννηκότας διὰ τὸν Θεὸν ὑβρίζοντες, καὶ τὸν Θεὸν διὰ τοὺς γεγεννηκότας. Ἀλλ' οὐ λέγει τοῦτο εὐθέως, ἀλλὰ πρότερον τὸν νόμον ἀναγινώσκει, δι' οὗ δείκνυσι σφόδρα βουλόμενον αὐτὸν τιμᾶσθαι γονέας. Τίμα γὰρ, φησὶ, τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα, ἵνα ἔσῃ μακροχρόνιος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς: καὶ πάλιν, Ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα, θανάτῳ τελευτάτω. Ἀλλ' αὐτὸς ἐκεῖνο ἀφεὶς, τὸ κείμενον ἔπαθλον τοῖς τιμῶσι τοὺς γονέας, τὸ φοβερώτερον τίθησι, τὴν κόλασιν λέγω τὴν τοῖς ἀτιμάζουσιν ἠπειλημένην, καὶ αὐτοὺς καταπλῆξαι βουλόμενος, καὶ τοὺς νοῦν ἔχοντας ἐπισπάσασθαι: καὶ δείκνυσιν ἐντεῦθεν θανάτου ἀξίους ὄντας. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ ῥήματι ἀτιμάζων κολάζεται, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς οἱ ἔργῳ: καὶ οὐ μόνον ἀτιμάζοντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑτέρους τοῦτο διδάσκοντες. Οἱ τοίνυν μηδὲ ζῇν ὀφείλοντες, πῶς ἐγκαλεῖτε τοῖς μαθηταῖς; Τί δὲ θαυμαστὸν, εἰ εἰς ἐμὲ τὸν τέως ἀγνοούμενον τοιαῦτα ὑβρίζετε, ὅταν καὶ εἰς τὸν πατέρα φαίνησθε τοιαῦτα ποιοῦντες; Πανταχοῦ γὰρ καὶ λέγει καὶ δείκνυσιν, ὅτι ἐκεῖθεν τῆς ἀπονοίας ἤρξαντο ταύτης. Τινὲς δὲ καὶ ἑτέρως ἑρμηνεύουσι τὸ, Δῶρον, ὃ ἐὰν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς: τουτέστιν, Οὐκ ὀφείλω σοι τιμὴν, ἀλλὰ χαρίζομαί σοι, ἂν ἄρα σε τιμήσω. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν ὁ Χριστὸς τοιαύτης ἐμνημόνευσεν ὕβρεως. Καὶ ὁ Μάρκος δὲ σαφέστερον τοῦτο ποιεῖ λέγων: Κορβᾶν, ὃ ἐὰν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς: ὅπερ οὐκ ἔστι δωρεὰ καὶ προὶξ, ἀλλὰ προσφορὰ κυρίως λέγεται. Δείξας τοίνυν, ὅτι οὐκ ἂν εἶεν δίκαιοι ἐγκαλεῖν παραβαίνουσιν ἐντολὴν πρεσβυτέρων οἱ τὸν νόμον καταπατοῦντες, δείκνυσι τοῦτο αὐτὸ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προφήτου. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ αὐτοὺς εἷλε σφοδρῶς, περαιτέρω πρόεισιν: ὃ δὴ πανταχοῦ ποιεῖ, τὰς Γραφὰς εἰς μέσον ἄγων, καὶ ταύτῃ δεικνὺς ἑαυτὸν συμβαίνοντα τῷ Θεῷ. Τί δὲ ὁ προφήτης φησίν; Ὁ λαὸς οὗτος τοῖς χείλεσί με τιμᾷ, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόῤῥω ἀπέχει ἀπ' ἐμοῦ. Μάτην δὲ σέβονταί με, διδάσκοντες διδασκαλίας, ἐντάλματα ἀνθρώπων. Εἶδες προφητείαν συμφωνοῦσαν τοῖς εἰρημένοις μετὰ ἀκριβείας, καὶ ἄνωθεν αὐτῶν προαναφωνουμένην τὴν κακίαν; Ὅπερ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς ἐνεκάλεσε νῦν, τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Ἡσαΐας ἄνωθεν εἶπεν, ὅτι τῶν μὲν τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονοῦσι: Μάτην γὰρ σέβονταί με, φησίν: τῶν δὲ ἰδίων πολὺν ποιοῦνται λόγον: Διδάσκοντες γὰρ ἐντάλματα, διδασκαλίας ἀνθρώπων. Οὐκοῦν εἰκότως αὐτὰς οὐ τηροῦσι. Δοὺς τοίνυν αὐτοῖς καιρίαν τὴν πληγὴν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν πραγμάτων, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκείας ψήφου, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προφήτου τὴν κατηγορίαν αὐξήσας, ἐκείνοις μὲν οὐδὲν διαλέγεται, ἀδιορθώτως λοιπὸν ἔχουσι, τὸν δὲ λόγον τρέπει πρὸς τοὺς ὄχλους, ὥστε τὸ δόγμα εἰσενεγκεῖν ὑψηλὸν καὶ μέγα ὂν, καὶ πολλῆς φιλοσοφίας γέμον: καὶ λαβὼν ἀφορμὴν ἀπ' ἐκείνου, τὸ μεῖζον ἐνυφαίνει λοιπὸν, καὶ τὴν τῶν βρωμάτων παρατήρησιν ἐκβάλλων. Ἀλλ' ὅρα πότε. Ὅτε τὸν λεπρὸν ἐκάθηρεν, ὅτε τὸ σάββατον ἔλυσεν, ὅτε γῆς καὶ θαλάττης βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ἀπέφηνεν, ὅτε ἐνομοθέτησεν, ὅτε ἁμαρτήματα ἀφῆκεν, ὅτε νεκροὺς ἤγειρεν, ὅτε πολλὰ τῆς θεότητος αὐτοῦ δείγματα παρέσχεν αὐτοῖς, τότε περὶ βρωμάτων διαλέγεται. γʹ. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ πᾶς Ἰουδαϊσμὸς ἐν τούτῳ συνέχεται: κἂν τοῦτο ἀνέλῃς, καὶ τὸ πᾶν ἀνεῖλες. Ἐντεῦθεν γὰρ δείκνυσιν, ὅτι καὶ περιτομὴν δεῖ λύειν. Ἀλλ' αὐτὸς μὲν τοῦτο προηγουμένως οὐκ εἰσηγεῖται, ἐπειδὴ τῶν ἄλλων ἐντολῶν πρεσβύτερον ἦν, καὶ πλείονα εἶχε τὴν ὑπόληψιν: διὰ δὲ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτὸ νομοθετεῖ. Οὕτω γὰρ μέγα ἦν, ὅτι καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ μετὰ τοσοῦτον χρόνον βουλόμενοι αὐτὸ ἀνελεῖν, πρότερον αὐτὸ μεταχειρίζονται, καὶ οὕτω καταλύουσιν. Ὅρα δὲ πῶς εἰσάγει τὸν νόμον. Προσκαλεσάμενος γὰρ τοὺς ὄχλους εἶπεν αὐτοῖς: Ἀκούσατε καὶ συνίετε. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἁπλῶς αὐτοῖς ἀποφαίνεται, ἀλλὰ τῇ τιμῇ καὶ τῇ θεραπείᾳ πρῶτον εὐπαράδεκτον ποιεῖ τὸν λόγον (τοῦτο γὰρ ἐδήλωσεν ὁ εὐαγγελιστὴς εἰπὼν, Προσκαλεσάμενος): ἔπειτα καὶ τῷ καιρῷ. Μετὰ γὰρ τὸν ἐκείνων ἔλεγχον καὶ τὴν νίκην τὴν κατ' αὐτῶν, καὶ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ προφήτου κατηγορίαν, τότε ἄρχεται τῆς νομοθεσίας, ὅτε καὶ εὐκολώτερον κατεδέχοντο τὰ λεγόμενα. Καὶ οὐχ ἁπλῶς αὐτοὺς προσκαλεῖται, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσεκτικωτέρους ποιεῖ. Συνίετε γὰρ, φησί: τουτέστι, Νοήσατε, διανάστητε: τοιοῦτος γὰρ ὁ μέλλων γράφεσθαι νόμος. Εἰ γὰρ αὐτοὶ τὸν νόμον ἔλυσαν, καὶ παρὰ καιρὸν, διὰ τὴν ἰδίαν παράδοσιν, καὶ ἠκούσατε: πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐμοῦ ἀκούειν χρὴ τοῦ κατὰ τὸν προσήκοντα καιρὸν ἐπὶ μείζονα ὑμᾶς ἄγοντος φιλοσοφίαν. Καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν, Οὐδέν ἐστιν ἡ παρατήρησις τῶν βρωμάτων, οὐδ' ὅτι Μωϋσῆς κακῶς προσέταξεν, οὐδ' ὅτι συγκαταβαίνων: ἀλλ' ἐν τάξει παραινέσεως καὶ συμβουλῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων φύσεως τὴν μαρτυρίαν λαβὼν, φησίν: Οὐ τὰ εἰσερχόμενα εἰς τὸ στόμα κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἐκπορευόμενα διὰ τοῦ στόματος: ἐπὶ τὴν φύσιν αὐτὴν καταφεύγων, καὶ νομοθετῶν, καὶ ἀποφαινόμενος. Καὶ ταῦτα ἀκούοντες οὐδὲν ἀντεῖπον ἐκεῖνοι, οὐδὲ εἶπον: Τί λέγεις; τοῦ Θεοῦ μυρία παραγγείλαντος περὶ βρωμάτων παρατηρήσεως, σὺ τοιαῦτα νομοθετεῖς; ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ σφόδρα αὐτοὺς ἐπεστόμισεν, οὐ τῷ ἐλέγξαι μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ τὸν δόλον αὐτῶν εἰς μέσον ἀγαγεῖν, καὶ τὸ λάθρα γινόμενον παρ' αὐτῶν ἐκπομπεῦσαι, καὶ τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα τῆς διανοίας ἀνακαλύψαι, ἐπιστομισθέντες ἀπῆλθον. Σὺ δέ μοι σκόπει, πῶς οὐδέπω θαῤῥεῖ σαφῶς κατατολμῆσαι τῶν βρωμάτων. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ εἶπε, Τὰ βρώματα, ἀλλ', Οὐ τὰ εἰσερχόμενα κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον: ὅπερ εἰκὸς ἦν καὶ περὶ τῶν ἀνίπτων χειρῶν ὑποπτεύειν. Αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ περὶ βρωμάτων ἔλεγεν, ἐνοήθη δ' ἂν καὶ περὶ τούτων. Τοσαύτη γὰρ ἦν ἡ παρατήρησις τῶν βρωμάτων, ὡς καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀνάστασιν τὸν Πέτρον εἰπεῖν: Οὐχὶ, Κύριε, ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἔφαγον πᾶν κοινὸν ἢ ἀκάθαρτον. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ δι' ἑτέρους ταῦτα ἔλεγε, καὶ ὥστε καταλιπεῖν ἑαυτῷ ἀπολογίαν πρὸς τοὺς ἐγκαλοῦντας, ἵνα δείξῃ ὅτι καὶ ἀντεῖπε, καὶ οὐδὲ οὕτω συνεχωρήθη, ὅμως δείκνυσι πολλὴν οὖσαν τοῦ πράγματος τὴν ὑπόνοιαν. Διά τοι τοῦτο καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξ ἀρχῆς οὐ φανερῶς εἶπε περὶ βρωμάτων, ἀλλὰ, Τὰ εἰσερχόμενα εἰς τὸ στόμα: καὶ πάλιν, ὅτε σαφέστερον ἔδοξεν ὕστερον λέγειν, ἀπὸ τοῦ τέλους αὐτὸ συνεσκίασεν εἰπών: Τὸ δὲ ἀνίπτοις χερσὶ φαγεῖν οὐ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον: ἵνα δόξῃ ἐντεῦθεν τὴν ἀρχὴν εἰληφέναι, καὶ περὶ αὐτοῦ διαλέγεσθαι τέως. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ εἶπε: Τὸ δὲ βρώματα φαγεῖν οὐ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον: ἀλλ' ὡς περὶ ἐκείνου διαλεγόμενος, ἵνα μηδὲν ἔχωσιν ἀντειπεῖν ἐκεῖνοι. Ταῦτα τοίνυν ἀκούσαντες ἐσκανδαλίσθησαν, φησὶν, οἱ Φαρισαῖοι, οὐχ οἱ ὄχλοι. Προσελθόντες γὰρ, φησὶν, οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ εἶπον αὐτῷ: Οἶδας ὅτι οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον ἐσκανδαλίσθησαν; Καίτοιγε οὐδὲν πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἴρητο. Τί οὖν ὁ Χριστός; Οὐκ ἔλυσε τὸ σκάνδαλον ἐκείνοις, ἀλλ' ἐπετίμησε, λέγων: Πᾶσα φυτεία, ἣν οὐκ ἐφύτευσεν ὁ Πατήρ μου ὁ οὐράνιος, ἐκριζωθήσεται. Οἶδε γὰρ καὶ καταφρονεῖν σκανδάλων, καὶ μὴ καταφρονεῖν. Ἀλλαχοῦ γοῦν φησιν: Ἵνα δὲ μὴ σκανδαλίσωμεν αὐτοὺς, βάλε ἄγκιστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν: ἐνταῦθα δέ φησιν: Ἄφετε αὐτούς: ὁδηγοί εἰσι τυφλοὶ τυφλῶν. Τυφλὸς δὲ τυφλὸν ἐὰν ὁδηγῇ, ἀμφότεροι εἰς βόθυνον ἐμπεσοῦνται. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγον οἱ μαθηταὶ, οὐχ ὡς ὑπὲρ ἐκείνων ἀλγοῦντες μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἠρέμα θορυβούμενοι. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ οὐκ ἐτόλμων εἰπεῖν ἐξ οἰκείου προσώπου τοῦτο, ἐν τῇ περὶ ἑτέρων διηγήσει μανθάνειν ἐβούλοντο. Ὅτι γὰρ τοῦτό ἐστιν, ἄκουσον πῶς μετὰ ταῦτα ὁ θερμὸς καὶ πανταχοῦ προφθάνων Πέτρος προσελθών φησι: Φράσον ἡμῖν τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην: τὸν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ θόρυβον ἐκκαλύπτων, καὶ φανερῶς μὲν οὐ τολμῶν εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Σκανδαλίζομαι, ἀξιῶν δὲ διὰ τῆς ἑρμηνείας ἀπαλλαγῆναι τοῦ θορύβου: διὸ καὶ ἐπετιμᾶτο. Τί οὖν ὁ Χριστός φησι: Πᾶσα φυτεία, ἣν οὐκ ἐφύτευσεν ὁ Πατήρ μου ὁ οὐράνιος, ἐκριζωθήσεται. Τοῦτο περὶ τοῦ νόμου φασὶν εἰρῆσθαι οἱ τὰ Μανιχαίων νοσοῦντες: ἀλλ' ἐπιστομίζει τὰ ἔμπροσθεν εἰρημένα αὐτούς. Εἰ γὰρ περὶ τοῦ νόμου ἔλεγε, πῶς ἀνωτέρω ἀπολογεῖται ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ καὶ μάχεται λέγων: Διατί παραβαίνετε τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ διὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ὑμῶν; πῶς δὲ τὸν προφήτην παράγει εἰς μέσον; Ἀλλὰ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐκείνων καὶ τῶν παραδόσεων αὐτῶν ταῦτά φησιν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς εἶπε, Τίμα τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὴν μητέρα: πῶς οὐκ ἔστι φυτεία Θεοῦ τὸ παρὰ Θεοῦ εἰρημένον; δʹ. Καὶ τὸ ἑξῆς δὲ δείκνυσιν, ὅτι περὶ αὐτῶν εἴρηται καὶ τῶν παραδόσεων αὐτῶν. Ἐπήγαγε γοῦν: Ὁδηγοί εἰσι τυφλοὶ τυφλῶν. Εἰ δὲ περὶ τοῦ νόμου ἔλεγε τοῦτο, εἶπεν ἄν: Ὁδηγός ἐστι τυφλὸς τυφλῶν. Ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως εἶπεν, ἀλλ', Ὁδηγοί εἰσι τυφλοὶ τυφλῶν, ἐκεῖνον μὲν ἀπαλλάττων τῆς κατηγορίας, εἰς δὲ τούτους τὸ πᾶν περιέλκων. Εἶτα καὶ τὸ πλῆθος ἀποσχίζων αὐτῶν, ὡς μέλλον εἰς βάραθρον ἐμπίπτειν δι' αὐτοὺς, φησί: Τυφλὸς τυφλὸν ἐὰν ὁδηγῇ, ἀμφότεροι εἰς βόθυνον ἐμπεσοῦνται. Μέγα μὲν κακὸν καὶ τυφλὸν εἶναι: τὸ δὲ καὶ τοιοῦτον ὄντα μήτε ἔχειν τὸν χειραγωγὸν, καὶ ὁδηγοῦ τάξιν ἐπέχειν, διπλοῦν καὶ τριπλοῦν ἔγκλημα. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ὁδηγὸν τὸν τυφλὸν ἐπισφαλὲς, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τὸ καὶ ἑτέρῳ τοῦτο βούλεσθαι εἶναι. Τί οὖν ὁ Πέτρος; Οὐ λέγει, Τί ποτέ ἐστι τοῦτο ὃ εἴρηκας; ἀλλ' ὡς ἀσαφείας γέμον ἐρωτᾷ. Καὶ οὐ λέγει: Διατί παράνομον εἶπας; ἐδεδοίκει γὰρ, ἵνα μὴ νομισθῇ ἐσκανδαλίσθαι: ἀλλ' ἀσαφείας τοῦτο εἶναί φησιν. Ὅτι δὲ οὐκ ἦν ἀσαφείας, ἀλλ' ἐσκανδαλίζετο, δῆλον: οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀσαφείας εἶχε. Διὸ καὶ ἐπιπλήττει αὐτῷ λέγων: Ἀκμὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀσύνετοί ἐστε; Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ὄχλοι οὐδὲ συνῆκαν ἴσως τὸ λεχθέν: αὐτοὶ δὲ ἦσαν οἱ σκανδαλισθέντες. Διὸ παρὰ μὲν τὴν ἀρχὴν, ὡς ὑπὲρ τῶν Φαρισαίων δῆθεν ἐρωτῶντες, ἐβούλοντο μαθεῖν: ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἤκουσαν αὐτοῦ μεγάλην ἀπειλὴν ἀπειλοῦντος καὶ λέγοντος, ὅτι Πᾶσα φυτεία, ἣν οὐκ ἐφύτευσεν ὁ Πατήρ μου ὁ οὐράνιος, ἐκριζωθήσεται, καὶ, Ὁδηγοί εἰσι τυφλοὶ τυφλῶν, κατεστάλησαν: Ὁ δὲ πανταχοῦ θερμὸς οὐδὲ οὕτως ἀνέχεται σιγῆσαι, ἀλλά φησι: Φράσον ἡμῖν τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην. Τί οὖν ὁ Χριστός; Σφόδρα ἐπιπληκτικῶς ἀποκρίνεται: Ἀκμὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀσύνετοί ἐστε; Οὔπω νοεῖτε; Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγε καὶ ἐπετίμα, ὥστε τὴν πρόληψιν ἐκβαλεῖν: οὐ μὴν ἔστη μέχρι τούτου, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἕτερα ἐπάγει λέγων: Ὅτι πᾶν τὸ εἰσπορευόμενον εἰς τὸ στόμα, εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν χωρεῖ, καὶ εἰς τὸν ἀφεδρῶνα ἐκβάλλεται: τὰ δὲ ἐκπορευόμενα ἐκ τοῦ στόματος, ἐκ τῆς καρδίας ἐξέρχεται, κἀκεῖνα κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Ἐκ γὰρ τῆς καρδίας ἐξέρχονται διαλογισμοὶ πονηροὶ, φόνοι, μοιχεῖαι, πορνεῖαι, κλοπαὶ, βλασφημίαι, ψευδομαρτυρίαι: καὶ ταῦτά ἐστι τὰ κοινοῦντα τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Τὸ δὲ ἀνίπτοις χερσὶν ἐσθίειν, οὐ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Εἶδες πῶς αὐτοῖς σφοδρῶς κέχρηται καὶ ἐπιτιμητικῶς; Εἶτα κατασκευάζει τὸ εἰρημένον ἀπὸ τῆς κοινῆς φύσεως, καὶ πρὸς τὴν θεραπείαν τὴν ἐκείνων. Ὅταν γὰρ εἴπῃ, Εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν χωρεῖ, καὶ εἰς τὸν ἀφεδρῶνα ἐκβάλλεται, ἔτι κατὰ Ἰουδαϊκὴν ταπεινότητα ἀποκρίνεται. Λέγει γὰρ ὅτι οὐ μένει, ἀλλ' ἐξέρχεται. Καίτοι καὶ εἰ ἔμενεν, οὐκ ἐποίει ἀκάθαρτον. Ἀλλ' οὐδέπω τοῦτο δυνατοὶ ἦσαν ἀκοῦσαι. Διὰ γοῦν τοῦτο καὶ ὁ νομοθέτης τοσοῦτον χρόνον ἀφίησιν, ὅσον ἂν ἔνδον μένῃ: ὅταν δὲ ἐξέλθῃ, οὐκέτι. Ἐν ἑσπέρᾳ γοῦν κελεύει λούεσθαι, καὶ καθαρὸν εἶναι, τὸν καιρὸν τῆς πέψεως ἀναμετρῶν, καὶ τῆς ἐκκρίσεως. Τὰ δὲ τῆς καρδίας, φησὶν, ἔνδον μένει, καὶ ἐξελθόντα κοινοῖ, οὐ μένοντα μόνον. Καὶ πρότερον τίθησι τοὺς πονηροὺς διαλογισμοὺς, ὅπερ ἦν Ἰουδαϊκόν: καὶ οὐδέπω ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων φύσεως ποιεῖται τὸν ἔλεγχον, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τοῦ τόκου τῆς κοιλίας καὶ τῆς καρδίας, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ τὰ μὲν μένειν, τὰ δὲ μὴ μένειν. Τὰ μὲν γὰρ, ἔξωθεν εἰσιόντα, ἔξω πάλιν ἄπεισιν: τὰ δὲ ἔνδοθεν τίκτεται, καὶ ἐξελθόντα κοινοῖ, καὶ τότε μᾶλλον, ὅταν ἐξέλθῃ. Οὔπω γὰρ ἦσαν δυνατοὶ, ὅπερ ἔφην, ἀκοῦσαι μετὰ τῆς προσηκούσης φιλοσοφίας ταῦτα. Ὁ δὲ Μάρκος φησὶν, ὅτι καθαρίζων τὰ βρώματα, ταῦτα ἔλεγεν: οὐ μὴν ἐνέφηνεν, οὐδὲ εἶπε, Τὸ δὲ βρώματα τοιάδε φαγεῖν οὐ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον: οὔτε γὰρ ἠνείχοντο σαφῶς οὕτως αὐτοῦ ἀκοῦσαι. Διὸ καὶ ἐπήγαγε: Τὸ δὲ ἀνίπτοις χερσὶ φαγεῖν οὐ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Μάθωμεν τοίνυν τίνα ἐστὶ τὰ κοινοῦντα τὸν ἄνθρωπον: μάθωμεν, καὶ φύγωμεν. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ τοιοῦτον ὁρῶμεν ἔθος κρατοῦν παρὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς, καὶ ὅπως μὲν ἐν καθαροῖς εἰσέλθοιεν ἱματίοις σπουδάζοντας, καὶ ὅπως τὰς χεῖρας νίψαιντο: ὅπως δὲ ψυχὴν καθαρὰν παραστήσαιεν τῷ Θεῷ, οὐδένα ποιουμένους λόγον. Καὶ ταῦτα λέγω, οὐ κωλύων ὥστε χεῖρας νίπτειν, οὐδὲ στόμα: ἀλλὰ βουλόμενος οὕτω νίπτειν, ὡς προσήκει, οὐχ ὕδατι μόνον, ἀλλ' ἀντὶ τοῦ ὕδατος ταῖς ἀρεταῖς. Ῥύπος γὰρ στόματος, κακηγορία, βλασφημία, λοιδορία, ὀργίλα ῥήματα, αἰσχρολογία, γέλως, εὐτραπελία. Εἰ τοίνυν σύνοιδας σαυτῷ μηδὲν τούτων φθεγγομένῳ, μηδὲ ῥυπῶντι τὸν ῥύπον τοῦτον, πρόσελθε θαῤῥῶν: εἰ δὲ μυριάκις ταύτας ἐδέξω τὰς κηλῖδας, τί ματαιοπονεῖς, ὕδατι μὲν περικλύζων τὴν γλῶτταν, τὸν δὲ ὀλέθριον καὶ βλαβερὸν περιφέρων ἐν αὐτῇ ῥύπον; εʹ. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, εἰ κόπρον ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν εἶχες καὶ βόρβορον, ἆρα ἂν ἐτόλμησας εὔξασθαι; Οὐδαμῶς. Καὶ μὴν τοῦτο οὐδεμία βλάβη: ἐκεῖνο δὲ ὄλεθρος. Πῶς οὖν ἐν μὲν τοῖς ἀδιαφόροις εὐλαβὴς, ἐν δὲ τοῖς κεκωλυμένοις ῥᾴθυμος; Τί οὖν; οὐ δεῖ προσεύχεσθαι; φησί. Δεῖ μὲν, ἀλλ' οὐχὶ ῥυπῶντα, οὐδὲ τοιοῦτον ἔχοντα βόρβορον. Τί οὖν, ἐὰν προληφθῶ; φησί. Κάθαρον σαυτόν. Πῶς καὶ τίνι τρόπῳ; Κλαῦσον, στέναξον, δὸς ἐλεημοσύνην, ἀπολόγησαι τῷ ὑβρισμένῳ, κατάλλαξον σαυτῷ διὰ τούτων, ἀπόσμηξον τὴν γλῶτταν, ἵνα μὴ μειζόνως παροξύνῃς τὸν Θεόν. Καὶ γὰρ εἴ τις κόπρου τὰς χεῖρας πληρώσας, οὕτω σου κατέσχε τοὺς πόδας ἱκετεύων, οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἂν ἤκουσας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ ποδὶ ἐλάκτισας: πῶς οὖν σὺ τολμᾷς οὕτω Θεῷ προσιέναι; Καὶ γὰρ χείρ ἐστιν ἡ γλῶττα τῶν εὐχομένων, καὶ δι' αὐτῆς κατέχομεν τὰ γόνατα τοῦ Θεοῦ. Μὴ τοίνυν μολύνῃς αὐτὴν, ἵνα μὴ καὶ πρὸς σὲ εἴπῃ: Ἐὰν πληθύνητε τὴν δέησιν, οὐκ εἰσακούσομαι. Καὶ γὰρ Ἐν χειρὶ γλώσσης ζωὴ καὶ θάνατος: καὶ, Ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων σου δικαιωθήσῃ, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων σου κατακριθήσῃ. Μᾶλλον τοίνυν τῆς κόρης φύλαττε τὴν γλῶτταν. Ἵππος ἐστὶ βασιλικὸς ἡ γλῶσσα. Ἂν μὲν οὖν ἐπιθῇς αὐτῇ χαλινὸν, καὶ διδάξῃς βαδίζειν εὔρυθμα, ἐπαναπαύσεται αὐτῇ καὶ ἐπικαθιεῖται ὁ βασιλεύς: ἂν δὲ ἀχαλίνωτον ἀφῇς φέρεσθαι καὶ σκιρτᾷν, τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ τῶν δαιμόνων ὄχημα γίνεται. Σὺ δὲ ἀπὸ μὲν συνουσίας ὢν τῆς σαυτοῦ γυναικὸς, οὐ τολμᾷς εὔξασθαι, καίτοιγε οὐδὲ ἔγκλημα τοῦτο: ἀπὸ δὲ λοιδορίας ὢν καὶ ὕβρεως, ὃ καὶ γέενναν προξενεῖ, πρὶν ἢ καθᾶραι σαυτὸν καλῶς, ἀνατείνεις τὰς χεῖρας; καὶ πῶς οὐ φρίττεις; εἰπέ μοι. Οὐκ ἤκουσας Παύλου λέγοντος, ὅτι Τίμιος ὁ γάμος, καὶ ἡ κοίτη ἀμίαντος; Εἰ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀμιάντου κοίτης ἀνιστάμενος οὐ τολμᾷς εὐχῇ προσελθεῖν, ἀπὸ τῆς κοίτης ὢν τῆς διαβολικῆς πῶς καλεῖς τὸ φρικτὸν ὄνομα ἐκεῖνο καὶ φοβερόν; Καὶ γὰρ κοίτη διαβολικὴ, τὸ ἐν ὕβρεσι πλύνεσθαι καὶ λοιδορίαις. Καὶ καθάπερ πονηρός τις μοιχὸς, ὁ θυμὸς μετὰ πολλῆς ἡμῖν συγγίνεται τῆς ἡδονῆς, τὰ ὀλέθρια προϊέμενος ἐν ἡμῖν σπέρματα, καὶ τὴν διαβολικὴν ποιῶν ἀποτίκτειν ἔχθραν, καὶ ἀπεναντίας τῷ γάμῳ πάντα ἐργαζόμενος. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ γάμος τοὺς δύο ποιεῖ σάρκα γενέσθαι μίαν: ὁ δὲ θυμὸς τοὺς ἡνωμένους εἰς πολλὰ διαιρεῖ μέρη, καὶ αὐτὴν κατασχίζει καὶ κατατέμνει τὴν ψυχήν. Ἵν' οὖν μετὰ παῤῥησίας τῷ Θεῷ προσίῃς, μὴ δέξῃ τὸν θυμὸν ἐπεισιόντα σοι, καὶ συγγενέσθαι βουλόμενον: ἀλλ' ὥσπερ κύνα λυττῶντα ἀπέλασον. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ Παῦλος ἐκέλευσεν. Ἐπαίροντας γὰρ, φησὶν, ὁσίους χεῖρας, χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμῶν. Μὴ δὴ καταισχύνῃς τὴν γλῶτταν: ἐπεὶ πῶς ὑπὲρ σοῦ δεηθήσεται, ὅταν τὴν οἰκείαν παῤῥησίαν ἀπολέσῃ; ἀλλὰ κόσμησον αὐτὴν ἐπιεικείᾳ, ταπεινοφροσύνῃ: ποίησον ἀξίαν τοῦ παρακαλουμένου Θεοῦ: εὐλογίας αὐτὴν ἔμπλησον, ἐλεημοσύνης πολλῆς. Ἔστι γὰρ καὶ διὰ ῥημάτων ἐλεημοσύνην ποιεῖν. Κρεῖττον γὰρ λόγος, ἢ δόσις: καὶ, Ἀποκρίθητι τῷ πτωχῷ ἐν πραΰτητι εἰρηνικά. Καὶ τὸν ἄλλον δὲ ἅπαντα χρόνον τῇ διηγήσει τῶν θείων καλλώπιζε νόμων. Πᾶσα γὰρ ἡ διήγησίς σου ἔστω ἐν νόμῳ Ὑψίστου. Οὕτως ἑαυτοὺς κοσμήσαντες προσερχώμεθα τῷ Βασιλεῖ, καὶ πίπτωμεν ἐπὶ γόνατα, μὴ τῷ σώματι μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ διανοίᾳ. Ἐννοήσωμεν τίνι πρόσιμεν, καὶ ὑπὲρ τίνων, καὶ τί βουλόμενοι ἀνύσαι. Θεῷ πρόσιμεν, ὃν τὰ Σεραφὶμ ἰδόντα τὰς ὄψεις ἀπέστρεψεν, οὐ φέροντα τὴν λαμπηδόνα: ὃν ἡ γῆ βλέπουσα τρέμει. Θεῷ πρόσιμεν, τῷ φῶς οἰκοῦντι ἀπρόσιτον. Καὶ πρόσιμεν ὑπὲρ γεέννης ἀπαλλαγῆς, ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτημάτων ἀφέσεως, ὑπὲρ τοῦ λυθῆναι τὰς ἀφορήτους ἡμῖν τιμωρίας ἐκείνας, ὑπὲρ τοῦ τῶν οὐρανῶν τυχεῖν καὶ τῶν ἀγαθῶν τῶν ἐκεῖ. Ϛʹ. Προσπέσωμεν τοίνυν καὶ τῷ σώματι καὶ τῇ διανοίᾳ, ἵνα αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς ἀναστήσῃ κειμένους: μετὰ ἐπιεικείας διαλεχθῶμεν καὶ πραότητος ἁπάσης. Καὶ τίς οὕτως ἄθλιος, φησὶ, καὶ ταλαίπωρος, ὡς ἐν εὐχῇ μὴ γενέσθαι ἐπιεικής; Ὁ μετὰ ἀρᾶς εὐχόμενος, καὶ θυμοῦ πληρῶν ἑαυτὸν, καὶ τῶν ἐχθρῶν καταβοῶν. Εἰ γὰρ βούλει κατηγορεῖν, σαυτοῦ κατηγόρει. Εἰ βούλει τὴν γλῶτταν ἀκονᾷν καὶ θήγειν, κατὰ τῶν σῶν ἁμαρτημάτων. Καὶ μὴ τί ἕτερός σε εἰργάσατο κακὸν εἴπῃς, ἀλλὰ τί σὺ σαυτὸν εἰργάσω: τοῦτο γὰρ μάλιστά ἐστι κακόν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἕτερός σέ τις ἀδικῆσαι δυνήσεται, ἂν μὴ σὺ σαυτὸν ἀδικῇς. Ὥστε εἰ κατὰ τῶν ἀδικούντων γενέσθαι βούλει, κατὰ σαυτοῦ πρόσελθε πρῶτον: οὐδεὶς ὁ κωλύων: ὡς ἂν κατὰ ἑτέρου προσέλθῃς, μείζονα ἀδικηθεὶς ἀπῆλθες. Τίνα δὲ ὅλως καὶ ἀδικίαν ἔχεις εἰπεῖν; Ὅτι ὁ δεῖνα ὕβρισε, καὶ ἥρπασε, καὶ κινδύνοις περιέβαλεν; Ἀλλὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔστιν ἠδικῆσθαι, ἀλλ' ἐὰν νήφωμεν, καὶ ὠφελεῖσθαι τὰ μέγιστα. Ὁ γὰρ ἠδικημένος ὁ τὰ τοιαῦτα ποιήσας ἐστὶν, οὐχ ὁ παθών. Καὶ τοῦτο μάλιστά ἐστι τὸ πάντων αἴτιον τῶν κακῶν, ὅτι οὐδὲ ἴσμεν τίς ποτέ ἐστιν ὁ ἀδικούμενος, καὶ τίς ὁ ἀδικῶν. Ὡς εἰ τοῦτο ᾔδειμεν καλῶς, οὐκ ἂν ἑαυτούς ποτε ἠδικήσαμεν, οὐκ ἂν καθ' ἑτέρου ηὐξάμεθα, μαθόντες ὅτι παρ' ἑτέρου ἀδύνατον παθεῖν κακῶς. Οὐδὲ γὰρ τὸ ἁρπάζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἁρπάζειν κακόν. Ὥστε εἰ μὲν ἥρπασας, κατηγόρει σαυτοῦ: εἰ δὲ ἡρπάγης, καὶ εὔχου ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἡρπακότος, ὅτι σε τὰ μέγιστα ὤνησεν. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ μὴ τοιαύτη ἡ γνώμη τοῦ πεποιηκότος, ἀλλὰ σὺ τὰ μέγιστα ὠφελήθης, ἂν γενναίως ἐνέγκῃς. Ἐκεῖνον μὲν γὰρ καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι καὶ οἱ θεῖοι ταλανίζουσι νόμοι: σὲ δὲ τὸν ἠδικημένον καὶ στεφανοῦσι καὶ ἀνακηρύττουσιν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ εἰ πυρέττων τις ἥρπασε παρά τινος ἀγγεῖον ὕδωρ ἔχον, καὶ ἐνεφορήθη τῆς βλαβερᾶς ἐπιθυμίας, τὸν ἁρπαγέντα εἴποιμεν ἂν ἠδικῆσθαι, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἁρπάσαντα: τὸν γὰρ πυρετὸν ηὔξησε, καὶ τὴν νόσον χαλεπωτέραν ἐποίησε. Τοῦτο τοίνυν καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ φιλοχρημάτου καὶ φιλαργύρου λογίζου. Καὶ γὰρ οὗτος πυρέττων πολλῷ χαλεπώτερον ἐκείνου, διὰ τῆς ἁρπαγῆς ταύτης τὴν φλόγα ἀνῆψε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ. Καὶ ξίφος δὲ εἴ τις μαινόμενος ἁρπάσας παρ' ὁτουοῦν ἑαυτὸν διεχειρίσατο, τίς ἦν ὁ ἠδικημένος πάλιν; ὁ ἁρπαγεὶς, ἢ ὁ ἁρπάσας; Εὔδηλον ὅτι ὁ ἁρπάσας. Οὐκοῦν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς τῶν χρημάτων ἁρπαγῆς τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο ψηφιζώμεθα. Ὅπερ γὰρ μαινομένῳ ξίφος, τοῦτο καὶ φιλαργύρῳ πλοῦτος: μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ χαλεπώτερον. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ μαινόμενος, τὸ ξίφος λαβὼν καὶ ὠθήσας δι' ἑαυτοῦ, τῆς τε μανίας ἀπηλλάγη, καὶ οὐκέτι δευτέραν λαμβάνει πληγήν: ὁ δὲ φιλάργυρος μυρία χαλεπώτερα ἐκείνου τραύματα καθ' ἑκάστην δέχεται τὴν ἡμέραν, οὐκ ἀπαλλάττων τῆς μανίας ἑαυτὸν, ἀλλ' ἐπιτείνων μειζόνως: καὶ ὅσῳπερ ἂν λάβῃ πλείονα τραύματα, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὑπόθεσιν ἑτέραις παρέχει πληγαῖς χαλεπωτέραις. Ταῦτ' οὖν ἐννοοῦντες, φύγωμεν τουτὶ τὸ ξίφος, φύγωμεν τὴν μανίαν, κἂν ὀψέ ποτε σωφρονήσωμεν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ταύτην τὴν ἀρετὴν σωφροσύνην δεῖ καλεῖν, οὐχ ἧττον ἐκείνης τῆς παρὰ πᾶσι νενομισμένης. Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ πρὸς μίαν ἐπιθυμίας τυραννίδα ἡ πάλη γίνεται: ἐνταῦθα δὲ πολλῶν καὶ παντοδαπῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν περιγίνεσθαι δεῖ. Οὐδὲν γὰρ, οὐδὲν ἀφρονέστερον τοῦ χρημάτων δούλου. Δοκεῖ κρατεῖν, κρατούμενος: δοκεῖ κύριος εἶναι, δοῦλος ὤν: καὶ δεσμὰ περιτιθεὶς ἑαυτῷ, χαίρει: χαλεπώτερον τὸ θηρίον ἐργαζόμενος, εὐφραίνεται: καὶ αἰχμάλωτος γινόμενος, ἀγάλλεται καὶ πηδᾷ: καὶ ὁρῶν κύνα λυττῶντα καὶ ἐφαλλόμενον αὐτοῦ τῇ ψυχῇ, δῆσαι δέον καὶ λιμῷ τῆξαι, ὁ δὲ καὶ ἄφθονον αὐτῷ παρέχει τροφὴν, ἵνα μειζόνως ἐφάλληται καὶ φοβερώτερος ᾖ. Ταῦτα οὖν ἅπαντα ἐννοοῦντες, λύσωμεν τὰ δεσμὰ, ἀνέλωμεν τὸ θηρίον, ἀπελάσωμεν τὴν νόσον, ἐκβάλωμεν τὴν μανίαν ταύτην, ἵνα γαλήνης ἀπολαύσωμεν καὶ ὑγιείας καθαρᾶς, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἡδονῆς εἰς τὸν εὔδιον καταπλεύσαντες λιμένα, τῶν αἰωνίων ἐπιτύχωμεν ἀγαθῶν: ὧν γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.