Homily LXI.

Matt. XVIII. 21.

“Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but, Until seventy times seven.”2345   [R.V. margin, “seventy times and seven.” There is no difference of reading, but one of interpretation. Comp. Augustin, vol. vi., p. 107, Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. Chrysostom does not indicate which view he accepts.—R.]

Peter supposed he was saying something great, wherefore also as aiming at greatness he added, “Until seven times?” For this thing, saith he, which Thou hast commanded to do, how often shall I do? For if he forever sins, but forever when reproved repents, how often dost thou command us to bear with this man? For with regard to that other who repents not, neither acknowledges his own faults, Thou hast set a limit, by saying, “Let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican;” but to this no longer so, but Thou hast commanded to accept him.

How often then ought I to bear with him, being told his faults, and repenting? Is it enough for seven times?

What then saith Christ, the good God, who is loving towards man? “I say not unto thee, until seven times, but, until seventy times seven,” not setting a number here, but what is infinite and perpetual and forever. For even as ten thousand times signifies often, so here too. For by saying, “The barren hath borne seven,”2346   1 Sam. ii. 5.the Scripture means many. So that He hath not limited the forgiveness by a number, but hath declared that it is to be perpetual and forever.

This at least He indicated by the parable that is put after. For that He might not seem to any to enjoin great things and hard to bear, by saying, “Seventy times seven,” He added this parable, at once both leading them on to what He had said, and putting down him who was priding himself upon this, and showing the act was not grievous, but rather very easy. Therefore let me add, He brought forward His own love to man, that by the comparison, as He saith, thou mightest learn, that though thou forgive seventy times seven, though thou continually pardon thy neighbor for absolutely all his sins, as a drop of water to an endless sea, so much, or rather much more, doth thy love to man come short in comparison of the boundless goodness of God, of which thou standest in need, for that thou art to be judged, and to give an account.

Wherefore also He went on to say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.2347   [R.V., “make a reckoning.”] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay,2348   [R.V., “wherewith to pay.”]he commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had.”2349   Matt. xviii. 23–25. [The textual variations are slight.—R.]

Then after this man had enjoyed the benefit of mercy, he went out, and “took by the throat his fellow-servant, which owed him an hundred pence;”2350   Matt. xviii. 28.and having by these doings moved his lord, he caused him to cast him again into prison, until he should pay off the whole.

Seest thou how great the difference between sins against man and against God? As great as between ten thousand talents, and a hundred pence, or rather even much more. And this arises both from the difference of the persons, and the constant succession of our sins. For when a man looks at us, we stand off and shrink from sinning: but when God sees us every day, we do not forbear, but do and speak all things without fear.

But not hereby alone, but also from the benefit and from the honor of which we have partaken, our sins become more grievous.

And if ye are desirous to learn how our sins against Him are ten thousand talents, or rather even much more, I will try to show it briefly. But I fear lest to them that are inclined to wickedness, and love continually to sin, I should furnish still greater security, or should drive the meeker sort to despair, and they should repeat that saying of the disciples, “who can be saved?”2351   Matt. xix. 25. [Comp. Mark x. 26.]

Nevertheless for all that I will speak, that I may make those that attend more safe, and more meek. For they that are incurably diseased, and past feeling, even without these words of mine, do not depart from their own carelessness, and wickedness; and if even from hence they derive greater occasion for contempt, the fault is not in what is said, but in their insensibility; since what is said surely is enough both to restrain those that attend to it, and to prick their hearts; and the meeker sort, when they see on the one hand the greatness of their sins, and learn also on the other hand the power of repentance, will cleave to it the more, wherefore it is needful to speak.

I will speak then, and will set forth our sins, both wherein we offend against God, and wherein against men, and I will set forth not each person’s own, but what are common; but his own let each one join to them after that from his conscience.

And I will do this, having first set forth the good deeds of God to us. What then are His good deeds? He created us when we were not, and made all things for our sakes that are seen, Heaven, sea, air, all that in them is, living creatures, plants, seeds; for we must needs speak briefly for the boundless ocean of the works. Into us alone of all that are on earth He breathed a living soul such as we have, He planted a garden, He gave a help-meet, He set us over all the brutes, He crowned us with glory and honor.

After that, when man had been unthankful towards his benefactor, He vouchsafed unto him a greater gift.

2. For look not to this only, that He cast him out of paradise, but mark also the gain that arose from thence. For after having cast him out of paradise, and having wrought those countless good works, and having accomplished His various dispensations, He sent even His own Son for the sake of them that had been benefited by Him and were hating Him, and opened Heaven to us, and unfolded paradise itself, and made us sons, the enemies, the unthankful.

Wherefore it were even seasonable now to say, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”2352   Rom. xi. 33.

And He gave us also a baptism of the re mission of sins, and a deliverance from vengeance, and an inheritance of a kingdom, and He promised numberless good things on our doing what is right, and stretched forth His hand, and shed abroad His Spirit into our hearts.

What then? After so many and such great blessings, what ought to be our disposition; should we indeed, even if each day we died for Him who so loves us, make due recompense, or rather should we repay the smallest portion of the debt? By no means, for moreover even this again is turned to our advantage.

How then are we disposed, whose disposition ought to be like this? Each day we insult His law. But be ye not angry, if I let loose my tongue against them that sin, for not you only will I accuse, but myself also.

Where then would ye that I should begin? With the slaves, or with the free? with them that serve in the army, or with private persons? with the rulers, or with the subjects? with the women, or with the men? with the aged men, or with the young? with what age? with what race? with what rank? with what pursuit?

Would ye then that I should make the beginning with them that serve as soldiers? What sin then do not these commit every day, insulting, reviling, frantic, making a gain of other men’s calamities, being like wolves, never clear from offenses, unless one might say the sea too was without waves. What passion doth not trouble them? what disease doth not lay siege to their soul?

For to their equals they show a jealous disposition, and they envy, and seek after vainglory; and to those that are subject to them, their disposition is covetous; but to them that have suits, and run unto them as to a harbor, their conduct is that of enemies and perjured persons. How many robberies are there with them! How many frauds! How many false accusations, and meannesses! how many servile flatteries!

Come then, let us apply in each case the law of Christ. “He that saith to his brother, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.2353   Matt. v. 22. He that hath looked on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her.2354   Matt. v. 28. Unless one humble himself as the little child, he shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”2355   Matt. xviii. 3. [Slightly altered.]

But these even study haughtiness, becoming towards them that are subject to them, and are delivered into their hands, and who tremble at them, and are afraid of them, more fierce than a wild beast; for Christ’s sake doing nothing, but all things for the belly, for money, for vainglory.

Can one indeed reckon up in words the trespass of their actions? What should one say of their decisions, their laughter, their unseasonable discourses, their filthy language? But about covetousness one cannot so much as speak. For like as the monks on the mountains know not even what covetousness is, so neither do these; but in an opposite way to them. For they indeed, because of being far removed from the disease, know not the passion, but these, by reason of being exceedingly intoxicated with it, have not so much as a perception how great the evil is. For this vice hath so thrust aside virtue and tyrannises, that it is not accounted so much as a heavy charge with those madmen.

But will ye, that we leave these, and go to others of a gentler kind? Come then, let us examine the race of workmen and artisans. For these above all seem to live by honest labors, and the sweat of their own brow. But these too, when they do not take heed to themselves, gather to themselves many evils from hence. For the dishonesty that arises from buying and selling they bring into the work of honest labor, and add oaths, and perjuries, and falsehoods to their covetousness often, and are taken up with worldly things only, and continue riveted to the earth; and while they do all things that they may get money, they do not take much heed that they may impart to the needy, being always desirous to increase their goods. What should one say of the revilings that are uttered touching such matters, the insults, the loans, the usurious gains, the bargains full of much mean trafficking, the shameless buyings and sellings.

3. But will ye that we leave these too, and go to others who seem to be more just? Who then are they? They that are possessed of lands, and reap the wealth that springs from the earth. And what can be more unjust than these? For if any one were to examine how they treat their wretched and toil-worn laborers, he will see them to be more cruel than savages. For upon them that are pining with hunger, and toiling throughout all their life, they both impose constant and intolerable payments, and lay on them laborious burdens, and like asses or mules, or rather like stones, do they treat their bodies, allowing them not so much as to draw breath a little, and when the earth yields, and when it doth not yield, they alike wear them out, and grant them no indulgence. And what can be more pitiable than this, when after having labored throughout the whole winter, and being consumed with frost and rain, and watchings, they go away with their hands empty, yea moreover in debt, and fearing and dreading more that this famine and shipwreck, the torments of the overlookers,2356   [ἐπιτρπων, “stewards,” answering here to “overseers,” in the worst sense.—R.]and their dragging them about, and their demands, and their imprisonments, and the services from which no entreaty can deliver them!

Why should one speak of the merchandise which they make of them, the sordid gains which they gain by them, by their labors and their sweat filling winepresses, and wine vats, but not suffering them to take home so much as a small measure, but draining off the entire fruits into the casks of their wickedness, and flinging to them for this a little money?

And new kinds of usuries also do they devise, and not lawful even according to the laws of the heathens, and they frame contracts for loans full of many a curse. For not the hundredth part of the sum, but the half of the sum they press for and exact; and this when he of whom it is exacted has a wife, is bringing up children, is a human being, and is filling their threshing floor, and their wine-press by his own toils.

But none of these things do they consider. Wherefore now it were seasonable to bring forward the prophet and say, “Be astonished, O Heaven, and be horribly afraid, O earth,”2357   Jer. ii. 12.to what great brutality hath the race of man been madly carried away!2358   ἐξεβακχεθη.

But these things I say, not blaming crafts, nor husbandry, nor military service,2359   [οδ γρο occurs here in the Greek, but is ignored by the translator; probably because the thought was implied in “husbandry” (γεωργαν).—R.]but ourselves. Since Cornelius also was a centurion, and Paul a worker in leather, and after his preaching practised his craft, and David was a king, and Job enjoyed the possession of land and of large revenues, and there was no hindrance hereby to any of these in the way of virtue.

Bearing in mind all these things, and considering the ten thousand talents, let us at least hence hasten to remit to our neighbors their few and trifling debts. For we too have an account to give of the commandments wherewith we have been trusted, and we are not able to pay all, no not whatever we may do. Therefore God hath given us a way to repayment both ready and easy, and which is able to cancel all these things, I mean, not to be revengeful.

In order then that we may learn this well, let us hear the whole parable, going on regularly through it. “For there was brought unto Him,” it saith, “one which owed ten thousand talents, and when he had not to pay, He commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children.” Wherefore, I pray thee? Not of cruelty, nor of inhumanity (for the loss came back again upon himself, for she too was a slave), but of unspeakable tenderness.

For it is His purpose to alarm him by this threat, that He might bring him to supplication, not that he should be sold. For if He had done it for this intent, He would not have consented to his request, neither would He have granted the favor.

Wherefore then did He not do this, nor forgive the debt before the account? Desiring to teach him, from how many obligations He is delivering him, that in this way at least he might become more mild towards his fellow servant. For even if when he had learnt the weight of his debt, and the greatness of the forgiveness, he continued taking his fellow-servant by the throat; if He had not disciplined him beforehand with such medicines, to what length of cruelty might he not have gone?

What then saith the other? “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And his Lord2360   [“The lord of that servant,” according to our authorities; the Homily varies.—R.]was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”2361   Matt. xviii. 26, 27.

Seest thou again surpassing benevolence? The servant asked only for delay and putting off the time, but He gave more than he asked, remission and forgiveness of the entire debt. For it had been his will to give it even from the first, but he did not desire the gift to be his only, but also to come of this man’s entreaty, that he might not go away uncrowned. For that the whole was of him, although this other fell down to him and prayed, the motive of the forgiveness showed, for “moved with compassion” he forgave him. But still even so he willed that other also to seem to contribute something, that he might not be exceedingly covered with shame, and that he being schooled in his own calamities, might be indulgent to his fellow-servant.

4. Up to this point then this man was good and acceptable; for he confessed, and promised to pay the debt, and fell down before him, and entreated, and condemned his own sins, and knew the greatness of the debt. But the sequel is unworthy of his former deeds. For going out straightway, not after a long time but straightway, having the bene fit fresh2362   ἕναυλον.upon him, he abused to wickedness the gift, even the freedom bestowed on him by his master.

For, “he found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest.”2363   Matt. xviii. 28.

Seest thou the master’s benevolence? Seest thou the servant’s cruelty? Hear, ye who do these things for money. For if for sins we must not do so, much more not for money.

What then saith the other? “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.”2364   Matt. xviii. 29. [R.V. omits “all” in this verse, with the best authorities. Probably taken from verse 26.—R.] But he did not regard even the words by which he had been saved (for he himself on saying this was delivered from the ten thousand talents), and did not recognize so much as the harbor by which he escaped shipwreck; the gesture of supplication did not remind him of his master’s kindness, but he put away from him all these things, from covetousness and cruelty and revenge, and was more fierce than any wild beast, seizing his fellow-servant by the throat.

What doest thou, O man? perceivest thou not, thou art making the demand upon thyself, thou an thrusting the sword into thyself, and revoking the sentence and the gift? But none of these things did he consider, neither did he remember his own state, neither did he yield; although the entreaty was not for equal objects.

For the one besought for ten thousand talents, the other for a hundred pence; the one his fellow-servant, the other his lord; the one received entire forgiveness, the other asked for delay, and not so much as this did he give him, for “he cast him into prison.”

“But when his fellow-servants saw it, they accused him to their lord.” Not even to men is this well-pleasing, much less to God. They therefore who did not owe, partook of the grief.

What then saith their lord? “O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst2365   [R.V., “besoughtest.”]me; shouldest not thou also have had compassion, even as I had pity on thee?”2366   Matt. xviii. 32. [R.V., “have had mercy on thy fellow servant, even as I had mercy on thee.” The verb is the same in both clauses. “On thy fellow servant,” omitted here, is inserted in the comment.—R.]

See again the lord’s gentleness. He pleads with him, and excuses himself, being on the point of revoking his gift; or rather, it was not he that revoked it, but the one who had received it. Wherefore He saith, “I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me; shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant?” For even if the thing doth seem to thee hard; yet shouldest thou have looked to the gain, which hath been, which is to be. Even if the injunction be galling, thou oughtest to consider the reward; neither that he hath grieved thee, but that thou hast provoked God, whom by mere prayer thou hast reconciled. But if even so it be a galling thing to thee to become friends with him who hath grieved thee, to fall into hell is far more grievous; and if thou hadst set this against that, then thou wouldest have known that to forgive is a much lighter thing.

And whereas, when he owed ten thousand talents, he called him not wicked, neither reproached him, but showed mercy on him; when he had become harsh to his fellow-servant, then he saith, “O thou wicked servant.”

Let us hearken, the covetous, for even to us is the word spoken. Let us hearken also, the merciless, and the cruel, for not to others are we cruel, but to ourselves. When then thou art minded to be revengeful, consider that against thyself art thou revengeful, not against another; that thou art binding up thine own sins, not thy neighbors. For as to thee, whatsoever thou mayest do to this man, thou doest as a man and in the present life, but God not so, but more mightily will He take vengeance on thee, and with the vengeance hereafter.

“For He delivered him over till he should pay that which was due,” that is, for ever; for he will never repay. For since thou art not become better by the kindness shown thee, it remains that by vengeance thou be corrected.

And yet, “The graces and the gifts are without repentance,”2367   Rom. xi. 29. [Freely cited.]but wickedness has had such power as to set aside even this law. What then can be a more grievous thing than to be revengeful, when it appears to overthrow such and so great a gift of God.

And he did not merely “deliver” him, but “was wroth.” For when he commanded him to be sold, his were not the words of wrath (therefore neither did he do it), but a very great occasion for benevolence; but now the sentence is of much indignation, and vengeance, and punishment.

What then means the parable? “So likewise shall my Father do also unto you,” He saith, “if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”2368   Matt. xviii. 35. [The best New Testament authorities omit “their trespasses,” which was readily introduced from similar passages.—R.]

He saith not “your Father,” but “my Father.” For it is not meet for God to be called the Father of such a one, who is so wicked and malicious.

5. Two things therefore doth He here require, both to condemn ourselves for our sins, and to forgive others; and the former for the sake of the latter, that this may become more easy (for he who considers his own sins is more indulgent to his fellow-servant); and not merely to forgive with the lips, but from the heart.

Let us not then thrust the sword into ourselves by being revengeful. For what grief hath he who hath grieved thee inflicted upon thee, like thou wilt work unto thyself by keeping thine anger in mind, and drawing upon thyself the sentence from God to condemn thee? For if indeed thou art watchful, and keepest thyself under control, the evil will come round upon his head, and it will be he that will suffer harm; but if thou shouldest continue indignant, and displeased, then thyself wilt undergo the harm not from him, but from thyself.

Say not then that he insulted thee, and slandered thee, and did unto thee ills beyond number; for the more thou tellest, so much the more dost thou declare him a benefactor. For he hath given thee an opportunity to wash away thy sins; so that the greater the injuries he hath done thee, so much more is he become to thee a cause of a greater remission of sins.

For if we be willing, no one shall be able to injure us, but even our enemies shall advantage us in the greatest degree. And why do I speak of men? For what can be more wicked than the devil; yet nevertheless, even hence have we a great opportunity of approving ourselves; and Job showeth it. But if the devil hath become a cause of crowns, why art thou afraid of a man as an enemy?

See then how much thou gainest, bearing meekly the spiteful acts of thine enemies. First and greatest, deliverance from sins; secondly, fortitude and patience; thirdly, mildness and benevolence; for he that knoweth not how to be angry with them that grieve him, much more will he be ready to serve them that love him. Fourthly, to be free from anger continually, to which nothing can be equal. For of him that is free from anger, it is quite clear that he is delivered also from the despondency hence arising, and will not spend his life on vain labors and sorrows. For he that knows not how to hate, neither doth he know how to grieve, but will enjoy pleasure, and ten thousand blessings. So that we punish ourselves by hating others, even as on the other hand we benefit ourselves by loving them.

Besides all these things, thou wilt be an object of veneration even to thy very enemies, though they be devils; or rather, thou wilt not so much as have an enemy whilst thou art of such a disposition.

But what is greater than all, and first, thou gainest the favor of God. Shouldest thou have sinned, thou wilt obtain pardon; shouldest thou have done what is right, thou wilt obtain a greater confidence. Let us accomplish therefore the hating no one, that God also may love us, that, though we be in debt for ten thousand talents, He may have compassion and pity us.

But hast thou been injured by him? Pity him then, do not hate him; weep and mourn, do not turn away from him. For thou art not the one that hath offended against God, but he; but thou hast even approved thyself, if thou endure it. Consider that Christ, when about to be crucified, rejoiced for Himself, but wept for them that were crucifying Him. This ought to be our disposition also; and the more we are injured, so much the more should we lament for them that are injuring us. For to us many are the benefits hence arising, but to them the opposites.

But did he insult thee, and strike thee before all? Then hath he disgraced and dishonored himself before all, and hath opened the mouths of a thousand accusers, and for thee hath he woven more crowns, and gathered for thee many to publish thy forbearance.

But did he slander thee to others? And what is this? God is the one that is to demand the account, not they that have heard this. For to himself hath he added occasion of punishment, so that not only for his own sins he should give account, but also of what he said of thee. And upon thee hath he brought evil report with men, but he himself hath incurred evil report with God.

And if these things are not sufficient for thee, consider that even thy Lord2369   Δεσπτη.was evil reported of both by Satan and by men, and that to those most loved by Him; and His Only-Begotten the same again. Wherefore He said, “If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, much more shall they call them of His household.”2370   Matt. x. 25.

And that wicked demon did not only slander Him, but was also believed, and slandered Him not in ordinary matters, but with the greatest reproaches and accusations. For he affirmed Him to be possessed, and to be a deceiver, and an adversary of God.

But hast thou also done good, and received evil? Nay, in respect of this most of all lament and grieve for him that hath done the wrong, but for thyself rather rejoice, because thou art become like God, “Who maketh the sun to rise upon evil and good.”2371   Matt. v. 45.

But if to follow God is beyond thee, although to him that watcheth not even this is hard; yet nevertheless if this seem to thee to be too great for thee, come let us bring thee to thy fellow-servants, to Joseph, who suffered countless things, and did good unto his brethren; to Moses, who after their countless plots against him, prayed for them; to the blessed Paul, who cannot so much as number what he suffered from them, and is willing to be accursed for them; to Stephen, who is stoned, and entreating this sin may be forgiven them. And having considered all these things, cast away all anger, that God may forgive us also all our trespasses by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, might, honor, now and always, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΞΑʹ. Τότε προσελθὼν αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπε: Κύριε, ποσάκις ἁμαρτήσει εἰς ἐμὲ ὁ ἀδελφός μου, καὶ ἀφήσω αὐτῷ; ἕως ἑπτάκις; Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Οὐ λέγω σοι ἕως ἑπτάκις, ἀλλ' ἕως ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά. Ἐνόμισε μέγα τι λέγειν ὁ Πέτρος: διὸ καὶ ὡς φιλοτιμούμενος ἐπήγαγεν, Ἕως ἑπτάκις; Τοῦτο γὰρ, φησὶν, ὃ ἐκέλευσας ποιεῖν, ποσάκις ποιήσω; Ἂν γὰρ ἀεὶ μὲν ἁμαρτάνῃ, ἀεὶ δὲ ἐλεγχόμενος μετανοῇ, ποσάκις τούτου ἀνέχεσθαι κελεύεις ἡμᾶς; Ἐκείνῳ μὲν γὰρ τῷ μὴ μετανοοῦντι, μηδὲ καταγινώσκοντι ἑαυτοῦ, πέρας ἐπέθηκας εἰπὼν, Ἔστω σοι ὡς ὁ ἐθνικὸς καὶ ὁ τελώνης: τούτῳ δὲ οὐκέτι, ἀλλ' ἐκέλευσας αὐτὸν προσίεσθαι. Ποσάκις οὖν αὐτὸν ὀφείλω φέρειν ἐλεγχόμενον καὶ μετανοοῦντα; ἀρκεῖ ἑπτάκις; Τί οὖν ὁ Χριστὸς, ὁ φιλάνθρωπος καὶ ἀγαθὸς Θεός; Οὐ λέγω σοι ἕως ἑπτάκις, ἀλλ' ἕως ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά: οὐκ ἀριθμὸν τιθεὶς ἐνταῦθα, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἄπειρον καὶ διηνεκὲς καὶ ἀεί. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τὸ μυριάκις τὸ πολλάκις δηλοῖ, οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα. Καὶ γὰρ τὸ, Στεῖρα ἔτεκεν ἑπτὰ, τὰ πολλά φησιν ἡ Γραφή. Ὥστε οὐκ ἀριθμῷ συνέκλεισε τὴν ἄφεσιν, ἀλλὰ τὸ διηνεκὲς ἐδήλωσε καὶ ἀεί. Τοῦτο γοῦν καὶ διὰ τῆς παραβολῆς τῆς ἐφεξῆς κειμένης ἔδειξεν. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ δόξῃ τισὶ μεγάλα καὶ φορτικὰ ἐπιτάττειν εἰπὼν, Ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτὰ, προσέθηκε τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην, ὁμοῦ τε ἐνάγων εἰς ὅπερ εἴρηκε, καὶ τὸν μέγα φρονοῦντα ἐπὶ τούτῳ καταστέλλων, καὶ δεικνὺς οὐ βαρὺ τὸ πρᾶγμα ὂν, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα εὔκολον. Διά τοι τοῦτο τὴν αὐτοῦ φιλανθρωπίαν εἰς μέσον ἤγαγεν, ἵνα τῇ παραθέσει, φησὶ, μάθῃς, ὅτι κἂν ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτὰ ἀφῇς, κἂν πάντα ἁπλῶς τὰ ἁμαρτήματα διηνεκῶς συγχωρῇς τῷ πλησίον, ὅσον σταγὼν ὕδατος πρὸς πέλαγος ἄπειρον, τοσοῦτον, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ πολλῷ πλέον ἀποδέει σου ἡ φιλανθρωπία πρὸς τὴν ἄπειρον ἀγαθότητα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἧς ἐν χρείᾳ καθέστηκας δικάζεσθαι μέλλων καὶ εὐθύνας παρέχειν. Διὸ καὶ ἐπήγαγε λέγων: Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἠθέλησε συνᾶραι λόγον μετὰ τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ. Ἀρξαμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ συναίρειν, προσηνέχθη αὐτῷ εἷς ὀφειλέτης μυρίων ταλάντων. Μὴ ἔχοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι, ἐκέλευσε πραθῆναι αὐτὸν, καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ τέκνα, καὶ πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν. Εἶτα ἐπειδὴ φιλανθρωπίας ἀπήλαυσεν οὗτος, ἐξελθὼν, ὀφείλοντα αὐτῷ σύνδουλον ἑκατὸν δηνάρια ἔπνιγε: καὶ τούτοις κινήσας τὸν δεσπότην, παρεσκεύασεν εἰς δεσμωτήριον πάλιν αὐτὸν ἐμβαλεῖν, ἂν ἀποτίσῃ τὸ πᾶν. Εἶδες ὅσον τὸ μέσον τῶν εἰς ἄνθρωπον καὶ εἰς Θεὸν ἁμαρτημάτων; Ὅσον τὸ μέσον μυρίων ταλάντων καὶ ἑκατὸν δηναρίων: μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ πολλῷ πλέον. Γίνεται δὲ τοῦτο καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς διαφορᾶς τῶν προσώπων, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς συνεχείας τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων. Ἀνθρώπου μὲν γὰρ ὁρῶντος, καὶ ἀφιστάμεθα, καὶ ὀκνοῦμεν ἁμαρτάνειν: Θεοῦ δὲ καθ' ἑκάστην βλέποντος τὴν ἡμέραν, οὐκ ἀπεχόμεθα, ἀλλὰ καὶ πράττομεν ἀδεῶς ἅπαντα, καὶ φθεγγόμεθα. Οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς εὐεργεσίας, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τιμῆς ἧς ἀπηλαύσαμεν, χαλεπώτερα γίνεται τὰ ἁμαρτήματα. Καὶ εἰ βούλεσθε μαθεῖν, πῶς ἐστι μυρία τάλαντα, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ πολλῷ πλείονα τὰ εἰς αὐτὸν ἁμαρτήματα, δεῖξαι πειράσομαι διὰ βραχέων. Ἀλλὰ φοβοῦμαι μὴ τοῖς πρὸς κακίαν ῥέπουσι καὶ διηνεκῶς ἁμαρτάνειν φιλοῦσι πλείονα παράσχω τὴν ἄδειαν, ἢ τοὺς ἐπιεικεστέρους εἰς ἀπόγνωσιν ἐμβάλω, καὶ τὸ τῶν μαθητῶν εἴπωσι: Τίς δύναται σωθῆναι; Πλὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἐρῶ, ἵνα τοὺς προσέχοντας ἀσφαλεστέρους ἐργάσωμαι καὶ ἐπιεικεστέρους. Οἵ τε γὰρ ἀνίατα νοσοῦντες καὶ ἀνάλγητοι, καὶ τούτων χωρὶς τῶν λόγων, οὐκ ἀφίστανται τῆς οἰκείας ῥᾳθυμίας τε καὶ πονηρίας: εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐντεῦθεν πλείονα λαμβάνοιεν ἀφορμὴν ὀλιγωρίας, οὐ τῶν λεγομένων ἡ αἰτία, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐκείνων ἀναισθησίας: ὡς τά γε λεγόμενα καὶ συστεῖλαι δυνήσεται καὶ κατανύξαι τοὺς προσέχοντας μᾶλλον: οἵ τε ἐπιεικέστεροι, ὅταν ἴδωσι μὲν τὸν ὄγκον τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων, μάθωσι δὲ καὶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς μετανοίας, μᾶλλον αὐτῆς ἀνθέξονται: διόπερ ἀναγκαῖον εἰπεῖν. Ἐρῶ τοίνυν, καὶ θήσω τὰ ἁμαρτήματα, ὅσα τε εἰς Θεὸν πλημμελοῦμεν, καὶ ὅσα εἰς ἀνθρώπους: καὶ θήσω οὐ τὰ ἴδια, ἀλλὰ τὰ κοινά: τὰ δὲ ἴδια ἕκαστος συναπτέτω λοιπὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ συνειδότος. Ποιήσω δὲ τοῦτο, πρότερον τὰς εὐεργεσίας θεὶς τοῦ Θεοῦ. Τίνες οὖν αἱ εὐεργεσίαι; Ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ὄντας, καὶ πάντα δι' ἡμᾶς εἰργάσατο τὰ ὁρώμενα, οὐρανὸν, θάλατταν, γῆν, ἀέρα, τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς πάντα, ζῶα, φυτὰ, σπέρματα: δεῖ γὰρ ἐπιτεμεῖν διὰ τὸ πέλαγος τῶν ἔργων τὸ ἄπειρον. Ψυχὴν ζῶσαν ἡμῖν ἐνέπνευσε μόνοις τοιαύτην τῶν ἐπὶ γῆς, παράδεισον ἐφύτευσε, βοηθὸν ἔδωκε, πᾶσι τοῖς ἀλόγοις ἐπέστησε, δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ ἐστεφάνωσε. Μετὰ ταῦτα γενόμενον ἀγνώμονα περὶ τὸν εὐεργέτην μείζονος ἠξίωσε δωρεᾶς. βʹ. Μὴ γὰρ τοῦτο ἴδῃς μόνον, ὅτι ἐξέβαλε παραδείσου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ κέρδος σκόπει τὸ ἐκ τούτου γενόμενον. Μετὰ γὰρ τὸ ἐκβαλεῖν παραδείσου, καὶ τὰ μυρία ἐκεῖνα ἐργάσασθαι ἀγαθὰ, καὶ τὰς ποικίλας οἰκονομίας ἐπιτελέσαι, καὶ τὸν υἱὸν ἔπεμψε τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ὑπὲρ τῶν εὐεργετηθέντων καὶ μισούντων, καὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἡμῖν ἀνέῳξε καὶ τὸν παράδεισον αὐτὸν ἀνεπέτασε, καὶ υἱοὺς ἡμᾶς ἐποίησε, τοὺς ἐχθροὺς, τοὺς ἀγνώμονας. Διὸ καὶ εὔκαιρον νῦν εἰπεῖν: Ὢ βάθος πλούτου καὶ σοφίας καὶ γνώσεως Θεοῦ! Ἔδωκε δὲ ἡμῖν καὶ βάπτισμα ἀφέσεως ἁμαρτημάτων, καὶ τιμωρίας ἀπαλλαγὴν, καὶ βασιλείας κληρονομίαν, καὶ μυρία ἐπηγγείλατο κατορθοῦσιν ἀγαθὰ, καὶ χεῖρα ὤρεξε, καὶ πνεῦμα ἐξέχεεν εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν. Τί οὖν; μετὰ τοσαῦτα καὶ τηλικαῦτα ἀγαθὰ, πῶς ἡμᾶς διακεῖσθαι ἐχρῆν; ἆρα εἰ καὶ καθ' ἑκάστην ἀπεθνήσκομεν τὴν ἡμέραν ὑπὲρ τοῦ οὕτως ἡμᾶς φιλοῦντος, ἐξετίννυμεν ἂν τὴν ἀξίαν, μᾶλλον δὲ τὸ πολλοστὸν τῆς ὀφειλῆς κατετίθεμεν; Οὐδαμῶς: καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο πάλιν εἰς τὸ κέρδος τὸ ἡμέτερον περιίστατο. Πῶς οὖν διακείμεθα οἱ οὕτω διακεῖσθαι ὀφείλοντες; Καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν εἰς τοὺς νόμους ἐνυβρίζομεν τοὺς αὐτοῦ. Ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀγανακτήσητε, ἂν ἐπαφῶ τὴν γλῶτταν τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν: οὐ γὰρ ὑμῶν κατηγορήσω μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐμαυτοῦ. Πόθεν οὖν βούλεσθε ἄρξομαι; ἀπὸ τῶν δούλων; ἀπὸ τῶν ἐλευθέρων; ἀπὸ τῶν στρατευομένων; ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδιωτῶν; ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρχόντων; ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρχομένων; ἀπὸ τῶν γυναικῶν; ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνδρῶν; ἀπὸ τῶν γερόντων; ἀπὸ τῶν νέων; ἀπὸ ποίας ἡλικίας; ἀπὸ ποίου γένους; ἀπὸ ποίου ἀξιώματος; ἀπὸ ποίου ἐπιτηδεύματος; Βούλεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν στρατευομένων ποιήσομαι τὴν ἀρχήν; Τί τοίνυν οὐχ ἁμαρτάνουσιν οὗτοι καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν ὑβρίζοντες, λοιδορούμενοι, μαινόμενοι, τὰς ἀλλοτρίας πραγματευόμενοι συμφορὰς, λύκοις ἐοικότες, πλημμελημάτων οὐδέποτε καθαρεύοντες, πλὴν εἰ μὴ καὶ τὴν θάλατταν εἴποι τις κυμάτων εἶναι ἐκτός; Ποῖον γὰρ αὐτοῖς πάθος οὐκ ἐνοχλεῖ; ποῖον δὲ νόσημα οὐ πολιορκεῖ αὐτῶν τὴν ψυχήν; Πρὸς μὲν γὰρ τοὺς ὁμοτίμους ζηλοτύπως διάκεινται, καὶ φθονοῦσι καὶ κενοδοξοῦσι: πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ὑποτεταγμένους, πλεονεκτικῶς: πρὸς δὲ τοὺς δίκας ἔχοντας, καὶ ὡς εἰς λιμένα κατατρέχοντας, πολεμίως καὶ ἐπιόρκως. Πόσαι παρ' αὐτοῖς ἁρπαγαί! πόσαι πλεονεξίαι! πόσαι συκοφαντίαι καὶ καπηλεῖαι! πόσαι κολακεῖαι δουλοπρεπεῖς! Φέρε οὖν, καθ' ἕκαστον ἁρμόσωμεν τὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ νόμον. Ὁ εἰπὼν τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ, Μωρὲ, ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ γεέννῃ τοῦ πυρός. Ὁ ἐμβλέψας γυναικὶ πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι, ἤδη ἐμοίχευσεν αὐτήν. Ἐὰν μή τις ταπεινώσῃ ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. Οὗτοι δὲ καὶ ἐπιτηδεύουσι τῦφον, κατὰ τῶν ὑπηκόων καὶ παραδεδομένων καὶ τρεμόντων αὐτοὺς καὶ δεδοικότων θηρίου γινόμενοι χαλεπώτεροι: διὰ μὲν τὸν Χριστὸν οὐδὲν ποιοῦντες, πάντα δὲ διὰ τὴν γαστέρα, διὰ τὰ χρήματα, διὰ τὴν κενοδοξίαν. Ἆρα ἔνι ἀριθμῆσαι διὰ ῥημάτων τὴν τῶν πραγμάτων πλημμέλειαν; Τί ἄν τις εἴποι τὰς χλευασίας αὐτῶν, τὸν γέλωτα, τὰς ἀκαίρους διαλέξεις, τὰς αἰσχρολογίας; Περὶ δὲ πλεονεξίας οὐδὲ εἰπεῖν ἔνι. Καθάπερ γὰρ οἱ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι μοναχοὶ οὐδὲ τί ποτέ ἐστιν ἡ πλεονεξία ἴσασιν, οὕτως οὐδὲ οὗτοι: ἀλλ' ἀπεναντίας ἐκείνοις. Ἐκεῖνοι μὲν γὰρ διὰ τὸ πόῤῥω τοῦ νοσήματος εἶναι ἀγνοοῦσι τὸ πάθος: οὗτοι δὲ διὰ τὸ σφόδρα ἐν αὐτῷ μεθύειν οὐδὲ αἰσθάνονται ὅσον ἐστὶ τὸ κακόν. Οὕτω γὰρ παρώσατο τὴν ἀρετὴν ἡ κακία αὕτη καὶ τυραννεῖ, ὡς μηδὲ ἔγκλημα βαρὺ εἶναι νομίζεσθαι αὐτὴν παρὰ τοῖς μαινομένοις ἐκείνοις. Ἀλλὰ βούλεσθε τούτους ἀφέντες, ἐφ' ἑτέρους ἔλθωμεν ἐπιεικεστέρους; Φέρε οὖν, τὸ τῶν δημιουργῶν γένος καὶ χειροτεχνῶν ἐξετάσωμεν. Οὗτοι γὰρ μάλιστα δοκοῦσιν ἐκ δικαίων διαζῇν πόνων, καὶ τῶν ἱδρώτων τῶν ἑαυτῶν. Ἀλλὰ καὶ οὗτοι ὅταν μὴ προσέχωσιν ἑαυτοῖς, πολλὰ ἐντεῦθεν συνάγουσιν ἑαυτοῖς κακά. Τὴν γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς πράσεως καὶ ἀγορασίας ἀδικίαν ἐπεισάγουσι τῇ τῶν δικαίων πόνων ἐργασίᾳ, καὶ ὅρκους καὶ ἐπιορκίας καὶ ψευδολογίας προστιθέασι τῇ πλεονεξίᾳ πολλάκις, καὶ τῶν βιωτικῶν μόνων εἰσὶ πραγμάτων, καὶ τῇ γῇ προσηλωμένοι διατελοῦσι: καὶ ὅπως μὲν χρηματίσωνται, πάντα πράττουσιν: ὅπως δὲ μεταδοῖεν τοῖς δεομένοις, οὐ πολλὴν τίθενται τὴν σπουδὴν, ἀεὶ τὰ ὄντα αὔξειν βουλόμενοι. Τί ἄν τις εἴποι τὰς λοιδορίας τὰς ὑπὲρ τῶν τοιούτων, τὰς ὕβρεις, τὰ δανείσματα, τοὺς τόκους, τὰ συναλλάγματα τὰ πολλῆς γέμοντα καπηλείας, τὰς ἐμπορίας τὰς ἀναισχύντους; γʹ. Ἀλλὰ βούλεσθε καὶ τούτους ἀφέντες, ἐφ' ἑτέρους ἔλθωμεν, τοὺς δὴ δοκοῦντας εἶναι δικαιοτέρους; Τίνες οὖν εἰσιν οὗτοι; Οἱ τοὺς ἀγροὺς κεκτημένοι, καὶ τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς δρεπόμενοι πλοῦτον. Καὶ τί τούτων γένοιτ' ἂν ἀδικώτερον; Εἰ γάρ τις ἐξετάσειε πῶς τοῖς ἀθλίοις καὶ ταλαιπώροις κέχρηνται γεωργοῖς, βαρβάρων αὐτοὺς ὠμοτέρους ὄψεται. Τοῖς γὰρ ἐν λιμῷ τηκομένοις, καὶ δι' ὅλης πονουμένοις τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ τελέσματα διηνεκῆ καὶ ἀφόρητα ἐπιτιθέασι, καὶ διακονίας ἐπιπόνους ἐπιτάττουσι, καὶ ὡς ὄνοις καὶ ἡμιόνοις, μᾶλλον δὲ ὡς λίθοις τοῖς ἐκείνων κέχρηνται σώμασιν, οὐδὲ μικρὸν ἀναπνεῦσαι συγχωροῦντες, καὶ παρεχούσης τῆς γῆς, καὶ μὴ παρεχούσης, ὁμοίως αὐτοὺς κατατείνουσι, καὶ οὐδεμιᾶς αὐτοῖς συγγνώμης μεταδιδόασιν: οὗ τί γένοιτ' ἂν ἐλεεινότερον, ὅταν δι' ὁλοκλήρου τοῦ χειμῶνος πονέσαντες, καὶ κρυμῷ καὶ ὄμβρῳ καὶ ἀγρυπνίαις δαπανηθέντες, κεναῖς ἀναχωρήσωσι ταῖς χερσὶν, ἔτι καὶ προσοφείλοντες, καὶ τοῦ λιμοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῦ ναυαγίου τὰς τῶν ἐπιτρόπων βασάνους καὶ τοὺς ἑλκυσμοὺς καὶ τὰς ἀπαιτήσεις καὶ τὰς ἀπαγωγὰς καὶ τὰς ἀπαραιτήτους λειτουργίας μᾶλλον δεδοικότες καὶ φρίττοντες; Τί ἄν τις εἴποι τὰς ἐμπορίας, ἃς αὐτοὺς ἐμπορεύονται, τὰς καπηλείας, ἃς αὐτοὺς καπηλεύουσιν, ἀπὸ μὲν τῶν πόνων αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἱδρώτων ληνοὺς καὶ ὑπολήνια πληροῦντες, αὐτοῖς δὲ οἴκαδε οὐδὲ ὀλίγον εἰσαγαγεῖν ἐπιτρέποντες μέτρον, ἀλλ' ὁλόκληρον τὸν καρπὸν εἰς τοὺς τῆς παρανομίας αὐτῶν ἀντλοῦντες πίθους, καὶ ὀλίγον αὐτοῖς ὑπὲρ τούτου προσριπτοῦντες ἀργύριον; Καινὰ δὲ καὶ γένη τόκων ἐπινοοῦσι, καὶ οὐδὲ τοῖς Ἑλλήνων νόμοις νενομισμένα, καὶ δανεισμάτων γραμματεῖα πολλῆς γέμοντα τῆς ἀρᾶς συντιθέασιν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἑκατοστὴν τοῦ παντὸς, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ παντὸς ἀπαιτεῖν βιάζονται: καὶ ταῦτα τοῦ ἀπαιτουμένου καὶ γυναῖκα ἔχοντος, καὶ παιδία τρέφοντος, καὶ ἀνθρώπου ὄντος, καὶ τοῖς οἰκείοις πόνοις καὶ τὴν ἄλω καὶ τὴν ληνὸν πληροῦντος. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν τούτων ἐννοοῦσι. Διὸ δὴ τὸν προφήτην εὔκαιρον παραστησάμενον εἰπεῖν: Ἔκστηθι, οὐρανὲ, καὶ φρῖξον, γῆ: εἰς ὅσην θηριωδίαν τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος ἐξεβακχεύθη. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγω, οὐ τέχνας, οὐδὲ γεωργίαν, οὐδὲ στρατείαν, οὐδὲ ἀγροὺς διαβάλλων, ἀλλ' ἡμᾶς αὐτούς. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ Κορνήλιος ἑκατοντάρχης ἦν, καὶ ὁ Παῦλος σκυτοτόμος, καὶ μετὰ τὸ κήρυγμα τῇ τέχνῃ ἐκέχρητο: καὶ ὁ Δαυῒδ βασιλεὺς ἦν: καὶ ὁ Ἰὼβ χωρίων ἀπήλαυε καὶ πολλῶν προσόδων: καὶ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐντεῦθεν κώλυμα οὐδενὶ τούτων πρὸς ἀρετήν. Ταῦτ' οὖν ἅπαντα ἐννοοῦντες, καὶ τὰ μυρία τάλαντα ἀναλογιζόμενοι, κἂν ἐντεῦθεν ἐπειχθῶμεν πρὸς τὸ ἀφιέναι τοῖς πλησίον τὰ ὀλίγα ἐκεῖνα καὶ εὐτελῆ. Καὶ γὰρ λόγος ἡμῖν γίνεται τῶν ἐμπιστευθεισῶν ἡμῖν ἐντολῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔχομεν πάντα καταβαλεῖν, οὐδ' ἂν ὁτιοῦν ποιήσωμεν. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ἔκτισιν εὔκολόν τε καὶ ῥᾳδίαν ὁδὸν, καὶ πάντα δυναμένην διαλύσασθαι ἐκεῖνα, τὸ μὴ μνησικακεῖν λέγω. Ἵν' οὖν τοῦτο μάθωμεν καλῶς, ἀκούσωμεν ὁδῷ προϊόντες τῆς παραβολῆς ἁπάσης. Προσηνέχθη γὰρ αὐτῷ, φησὶν, εἷς ὀφειλέτης μυρίων ταλάντων. Οὐκ ἔχοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποτῖσαι, ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν πραθῆναι, καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ παιδία. Τίνος ἕνεκεν; εἰπέ μοι. Οὐκ ἐξ ὠμότητος, οὐδὲ ἀπανθρωπίας: καὶ γὰρ εἰς αὐτὸν ἡ ζημία περιίστατο πάλιν: δούλη γὰρ ἦν κἀκείνη: ἀλλ' ἐξ ἀφάτου κηδεμονίας. Βούλεται γὰρ αὐτὸν πτοῆσαι διὰ τῆς ἀπειλῆς ταύτης, ἵνα εἰς ἱκετηρίαν ἀγάγῃ, οὐχ ἵνα πραθῇ. Εἰ γὰρ διὰ τοῦτο ἐποίει, οὐκ ἂν ἐπένευσεν αὐτοῦ τῇ αἰτήσει, οὐδ' ἂν τὴν χάριν ἔδωκε. Διατί οὖν πρὸ τοῦ λογοθεσίου τοῦτο οὐκ ἐποίησεν, οὐδὲ ἀφῆκε τὸ ὄφλημα; Διδάξαι βουλόμενος πόσων αὐτὸν ὀφλημάτων ἐλευθεροῖ, ἵνα κἂν ταύτῃ ἡμερώτερος περὶ τὸν σύνδουλον γένηται. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ μαθὼν τοῦ ὀφλήματος τὸν ὄγκον, καὶ τῆς συγχωρήσεως τὸ μέγεθος, ἐπέμενεν ἄγχων τὸν σύνδουλον: εἰ μὴ τοσούτοις αὐτὸν προεπαίδευσε φαρμάκοις, ποῦ οὐκ ἂν ἐξῆλθεν ὠμότητος; Τί οὖν ἐκεῖνος; Μακροθύμησον ἐπ' ἐμοὶ, καὶ πάντα σοι ἀποδώσω, φησίν: Ὁ δὲ κύριος αὐτοῦ σπλαγχνισθεὶς, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτὸν, καὶ τὸ δάνειον ἀφῆκεν αὐτῷ. Εἶδες πάλιν φιλανθρωπίας ὑπερβολήν; Ἀναβολὴν ἐζήτησε μόνον καιροῦ καὶ ὑπέρθεσιν ὁ οἰκέτης: ὁ δὲ μεῖζον ἢ ᾔτησεν ἔδωκεν, ἄφεσιν ὁλοκλήρου τοῦ δανείσματος καὶ συγχώρησιν. Ἐβούλετο μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς δοῦναι, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐβούλετο αὐτοῦ εἶναι τὸ δῶρον μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς τούτου ἱκετηρίας, ἵνα μὴ ἀστεφάνωτος ἀπέλθῃ. Ὅτι γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸ πᾶν ἦν, εἰ καὶ προσέπεσεν οὗτος καὶ ἐδεήθη, ἡ αἰτία τῆς συγχωρήσεως ἐδήλωσε: Σπλαγχνισθεὶς γὰρ ἀφῆκεν αὐτῷ. Ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ οὕτως ἐβούλετο κἀκεῖνόν τι δοκεῖν συνεισφέρειν, ἵνα μὴ σφόδρα ᾖ κατῃσχυμμένος: καὶ ἵνα παιδευθεὶς ἐν ταῖς οἰκείαις συμφοραῖς συγγνωμονικὸς γένηται τῷ συνδούλῳ. δʹ. Μέχρι μὲν οὖν τούτου καλὸς οὗτος καὶ εὐάρεστος: καὶ γὰρ ὡμολόγησε, καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο ἀποδώσειν τὸ ὄφλημα, καὶ προσέπεσε, καὶ παρεκάλεσε, καὶ κατέγνω τῶν οἰκείων ἁμαρτημάτων, καὶ ἔγνω τὸ μέγεθος τοῦ ὀφλήματος. Ἀλλὰ τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀνάξια τῶν προτέρων. Ἐξελθὼν γὰρ εὐθέως, οὐδὲ μετὰ χρόνον πολὺν, ἀλλ' εὐθέως, ἔναυλον ἔχων τὴν εὐεργεσίαν, εἰς κακίαν ἀπεχρήσατο τῇ δωρεᾷ, καὶ τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ τῇ παρὰ τοῦ δεσπότου αὐτῷ παρασχεθείσῃ. Εὑρὼν γὰρ ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ, ὀφείλοντα αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, ἔπνιγεν αὐτὸν λέγων: Ἀπόδος μοι εἴ τι ὀφείλεις. Εἶδες δεσπότου φιλανθρωπίαν; εἶδες δούλου ὠμότητα; Ἀκούσατε, οἱ ὑπὲρ χρημάτων ταῦτα ποιοῦντες. Εἰ γὰρ ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτημάτων οὐ χρὴ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑπὲρ χρημάτων. Τί οὖν ἐκεῖνος; Μακροθύμησον ἐπ' ἐμοὶ, καὶ πάντα σοι ἀποδώσω. Ὁ δὲ οὐδὲ τὰ ῥήματα ᾐδέσθη, δι' ὧν ἐσώθη (καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ταῦτα εἰπὼν, ἀπηλλάγη τῶν μυρίων ταλάντων): καὶ οὐδὲ τὸν λιμένα ἐπέγνω, δι' οὗ τὸ ναυάγιον διέφυγεν: οὐ τὸ σχῆμα τῆς ἱκετηρίας ἀνέμνησεν αὐτὸν τῆς τοῦ δεσπότου φιλανθρωπίας: ἀλλὰ πάντα ἐκεῖνα ὑπὸ τῆς πλεονεξίας καὶ τῆς ὠμότητος καὶ τῆς μνησικακίας ἐκβαλὼν, θηρίου παντὸς χαλεπώτερος ἦν, ἄγχων τὸν σύνδουλον. Τί ποιεῖς, ἄνθρωπε; σεαυτὸν ἀπαιτῶν: οὐκ αἰσθάνῃ κατὰ σεαυτοῦ τὸ ξίφος ὠθῶν, καὶ τὴν ἀπόφασιν καὶ τὴν δωρεὰν ἀνακαλούμενος; Ἀλλ' οὐδὲν τούτων ἐνενόησεν, οὐδὲ ἐμνήσθη τῶν αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐνέδωκε: καίτοιγε οὐχ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἴσων ἡ ἱκετηρία. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ ὑπὲρ μυρίων ταλάντων, ὁ δὲ ὑπὲρ ἑκατὸν δηναρίων παρεκάλει: καὶ ὁ μὲν τὸν σύνδουλον, ὁ δὲ τὸν δεσπότην: καὶ ὁ μὲν τελείαν συγχώρησιν ἔλαβεν, ὁ δὲ ἀναβολὴν ᾔτει. Καὶ οὐδὲ ταύτην αὐτὸς ἐδίδου: Ἔβαλε γὰρ αὐτὸν εἰς φυλακήν. Ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ σύνδουλοι αὐτοῦ, κατηγόρησαν αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν δεσπότην. Οὐδὲ ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ἀρεστὸν ἦν, μήτιγε Θεῷ. Συνήλγησαν οὖν οἱ μὴ ὀφείλοντες. Τί οὖν ὁ δεσπότης; Πονηρὲ δοῦλε, πᾶσαν τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἐκείνην ἀφῆκά σοι, ἐπεὶ παρεκάλεσάς με: οὐκ ἔδει καὶ σὲ ἐλεῆσαι τὸν σύνδουλόν σου, ὡς καὶ ἐγώ σε ἠλέησα; Ὅρα πάλιν τὴν ἡμερότητα τοῦ δεσπότου. Κρίνεται πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπολογεῖται, μέλλων ἀνατρέπειν αὐτοῦ τὴν δωρεάν: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐκ αὐτὸς ἀνέτρεψεν, ἀλλ' ὁ λαβών. Διό φησι: Πᾶσαν τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἐκείνην ἀφῆκά σοι, ἐπεὶ παρεκάλεσάς με: οὐκ ἔδει καὶ σὲ ἐλεῆσαι τὸν σύνδουλόν σου; Εἰ γὰρ καὶ βαρύ σοι τὸ πρᾶγμα εἶναι δοκεῖ, ἀλλ' ἔδει καὶ πρὸς τὸ κέρδος ἰδεῖν, τὸ γεγενημένον, τὸ ἐσόμενον. Εἰ καὶ ἐπαχθὲς τὸ ἐπίταγμα, τὸ ἔπαθλον ἐννοῆσαι ἔδει: μηδὲ ὅτι λελύπηκεν ἐκεῖνος, ἀλλ' ὅτι σὺ Θεὸν παρώξυνας, ὃν ἀπὸ ψιλῆς ἱκετηρίας κατήλλαξας. Εἰ δὲ καὶ οὕτω σοι φορτικὸν τὸ φίλον γενέσθαι τῷ λελυπηκότι, πολλῷ βαρύτερον τὸ εἰς γέενναν ἐμπεσεῖν: καὶ εἰ τοῦτο ἀντέθηκας ἐκείνῳ, τότε ἂν ἔγνως, ὅτι πολλῷ τοῦτο κουφότερον. Καὶ ὅτε μὲν μυρία τάλαντα ὤφειλεν, οὐκ ἐκάλεσε πονηρὸν, οὐδὲ ὕβρισεν, ἀλλ' ἠλέησεν: ὅτε δὲ περὶ τὸν σύνδουλον ἀγνώμων ἐγένετο, τότε λέγει, Πονηρὲ δοῦλε. Ἀκούσωμεν, οἱ πλεονέκται: καὶ γὰρ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὁ λόγος. Ἀκούσωμεν, καὶ οἱ ἀνηλεεῖς καὶ ὠμοί: ὅτι οὐχ ἑτέροις ἐσμὲν ὠμοὶ, ἀλλ' ἑαυτοῖς. Ὅταν οὖν βούλῃ μνησικακεῖν, ἐννόησον ὅτι σαυτῷ μνησικακεῖς, οὐχ ἑτέρῳ, ὅτι τὰ σαυτοῦ καταδεσμεῖς ἁμαρτήματα, οὐ τὰ τοῦ πλησίον. Σὺ μὲν γὰρ, ὅπερ ἂν ἐργάσῃ τούτῳ, ὡς ἅνθρωπος ἐργάζῃ καὶ ἐν τῷ παρόντι βίῳ: ὁ δὲ Θεὸς οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλὰ μειζόνως σε τιμωρήσεται, καὶ τιμωρίαν τὴν ἐκεῖ. Παρέδωκε γὰρ αὐτὸν, ἕως οὗ ἀποδῷ τὸ ὀφειλόμενον: τουτέστι, διηνεκῶς: οὔτε γὰρ ἀποδώσει ποτέ. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἐγένου τῇ εὐεργεσίᾳ βελτίων, λείπεται τῇ τιμωρίᾳ σε διορθοῦσθαι. Καίτοιγε ἀμεταμέλητα τὰ χαρίσματα καὶ αἱ δωρεαί: ἀλλὰ τοσοῦτον ἴσχυσεν ἡ κακία, ὡς καὶ τοῦτον λῦσαι τὸν νόμον. Τί τοίνυν τοῦ μνησικακεῖν χαλεπώτερον, ὅταν δωρεὰν θείαν τοσαύτην καὶ τηλικαύτην ἀνατρέπον φαίνηται; Καὶ οὐδὲ ἁπλῶς αὐτὸν παρέδωκεν, ἀλλὰ ὀργισθείς. Ὅτε μὲν γὰρ ἐκέλευσε πραθῆναι, οὐκ ἦν ὀργῆς τὰ ῥήματα: οὐκοῦν οὐδὲ ἐποίησεν: ἀλλ' ἀφορμὴ φιλανθρωπίας μεγίστη: νυνὶ δὲ ἀγανακτήσεως πολλῆς ἡ ψῆφος, καὶ τιμωρίας, καὶ κολάσεως. Τί οὖν ἡ παραβολὴ βούλεται; Οὕτω ποιήσει καὶ ὑμῖν, φησὶν, ὁ Πατήρ μου, ἐὰν μὴ ἀφῆτε ἕκαστος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν. Οὐ λέγει, Ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν: ἀλλ', Ὁ Πατήρ μου. Οὐ γὰρ ἄξιον τοῦ τοιούτου καλεῖσθαι Πατέρα τὸν Θεὸν, τοῦ οὕτω πονηροῦ καὶ μισανθρώπου. εʹ. Δύο τοίνυν ἐνταῦθα ζητεῖ, καὶ καταγινώσκειν ἡμᾶς τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων, καὶ ἑτέροις ἀφιέναι: καὶ ἐκεῖνο διὰ τοῦτο, ἵνα εὐκολώτερον τοῦτο γένηται (ὁ γὰρ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ ἐννοῶν, συγγνωμονικώτερος ἔσται τῷ συνδούλῳ): καὶ οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἀφιέναι ἀπὸ στόματος, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ καρδίας. Μὴ δὴ καθ' ἑαυτῶν τὸ ξίφος ὠθῶμεν μνησικακοῦντες. Τί γάρ σε καὶ τοιοῦτον ἐλύπησεν ὁ λελυπηκὼς, οἷον σὺ σαυτὸν ἐργάσῃ τῆς ὀργῆς μεμνημένος, καὶ ἐπισπώμενος κατὰ σαυτοῦ τὴν καταδικάζουσάν σε παρὰ Θεοῦ ψῆφον; Ἂν μὲν γὰρ νήφῃς καὶ φιλοσοφῇς, εἰς τὴν ἐκείνου κεφαλὴν περιστήσεται τὸ δεινὸν, κἀκεῖνος ἔσται ὁ πάσχων κακῶς: ἂν δὲ μένῃς ἀγανακτῶν καὶ δυσχεραίνων, τότε αὐτὸς ὑποστήσῃ τὴν βλάβην, οὐ παρ' ἐκείνου, ἀλλὰ παρὰ σαυτοῦ. Μὴ τοίνυν λέγε, ὅτι ὕβρισε καὶ διέβαλε καὶ μυρία εἰργάσατο κακά: ὅσα γὰρ ἂν εἴπῃς, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον δεικνύεις αὐτὸν εὐεργέτην. Ἔδωκε γὰρ ἀφορμὴν ἀπολούσασθαι τὰ ἁμαρτήματα: ὥστε ὅσῳ ἂν μείζονα ἠδικηκὼς ᾖ, τοσούτῳ μείζονος ἁμαρτημάτων ἀφέσεως αἴτιός σοι καθίσταται. Ἂν γὰρ ἐθέλωμεν, οὐδεὶς ἡμᾶς ἀδικῆσαι δυνήσεται: ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ τὰ μέγιστα ὠφελήσουσιν ἡμᾶς. Καὶ τί λέγω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους; Τοῦ γὰρ διαβόλου τί γένοιτ' ἂν πονηρότερον; ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ ἐκεῖθεν πολλὴν ἀφορμὴν εὐδοκιμήσεως ἔχομεν, καὶ δείκνυσιν ὁ Ἰώβ. Εἰ δὲ ὁ διάβολος ἀφορμὴ γέγονε στεφάνων, τί δέδοικας ἄνθρωπον ἐχθρόν; Ὅρα οὖν ὅσα κερδαίνεις, πράως τὰς τῶν ἐχθρῶν φέρων ἐπηρείας. Πρῶτον μὲν καὶ μέγιστον, ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπαλλαγήν: δεύτερον, καρτερίαν καὶ ὑπομονήν: τρίτον, ἡμερότητα καὶ φιλανθρωπίαν. Ὁ γὰρ τοῖς λυποῦσιν οὐκ εἰδὼς ὀργίζεσθαι, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοῖς φιλοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἐπιτήδειος ἔσται. Τέταρτον, τὸ καθαρεύειν ὀργῆς διηνεκῶς: ᾧ οὐδὲν γένοιτ' ἂν ἴσον. Ὁ γὰρ ὀργῆς καθαρεύων, εὔδηλον ὅτι καὶ τῆς ἐντεῦθεν ἀθυμίας ἀπήλλακται, καὶ οὐκ ἀναλώσει τὸν βίον εἰς ματαιοπονίας καὶ ὀδύνας. Ὁ γὰρ οὐκ εἰδὼς ἀπεχθάνεσθαι, οὐδὲ λυπεῖσθαι οἶδεν, ἀλλὰ τρυφῆς ἀπολαύσεται καὶ μυρίων ἀγαθῶν. Ὥστε ἑαυτοὺς τιμωρούμεθα μισοῦντες ἑτέρους: ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ ἑαυτοὺς εὐεργετοῦμεν ἀγαπῶντες. Πρὸς τούτοις ἅπασιν αἰδέσιμος ἔσῃ καὶ αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἐχθροῖς, κἂν δαίμονες ὦσι: μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ ἕξεις λοιπὸν ἐχθρὸν διακείμενος οὕτω. Τὸ δὲ πάντων μεῖζον καὶ πρῶτον, τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ κερδαίνεις φιλανθρωπίαν: κἂν ἡμαρτηκὼς ᾖς, τεύξῃ συγγνώμης: κἂν κατωρθωκὼς ᾖς, πλείονα προσλήψῃ παῤῥησίαν. Ἀνύσωμεν τοίνυν τὸ μηδένα μισεῖν, ἵνα καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμᾶς φιλήσῃ: ἵνα κἂν μυρίων ταλάντων ὦμεν ὑπεύθυνοι, σπλαγχνισθῇ καὶ ἐλεήσῃ. Ἀλλ' ἠδίκησαι παρ' αὐτοῦ; Οὐκοῦν ἐλέησον αὐτὸν, μὴ μισήσῃς: δάκρυσον καὶ θρήνησον, μὴ ἀποστραφῇς. Οὐ γὰρ σὺ εἶ ὁ προσκεκρουκὼς τῷ Θεῷ, ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνος: σὺ δὲ καὶ εὐδοκίμησας, ἐὰν ἐνέγκῃς. Ἐννόησον, ὅτι σταυροῦσθαι μέλλων ὁ Χριστὸς, ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ μὲν ἔχαιρεν, ὑπὲρ δὲ τῶν σταυρούντων ἐδάκρυεν. Οὕτω καὶ ἡμᾶς διακεῖσθαι χρή: καὶ ὅσῳ ἂν ἀδικώμεθα, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον θρηνεῖν τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας. Ἡμῖν μὲν γὰρ πολλὰ ἐντεῦθεν τὰ ἀγαθά: ἐκείνοις δὲ τὰ ἐναντία. Ἀλλ' ἐπὶ πάντων ὕβρισε καὶ ἐτύπτησεν; Οὐκοῦν ἐπὶ πάντων ἑαυτὸν ᾔσχυνε καὶ ἠτίμασε, καὶ μυρίων κατηγόρων ἤνοιξε στόματα, καὶ σοὶ πλείονας τοὺς στεφάνους ὕφηνε, καὶ πολλούς σοι τῆς μακροθυμίας συνήγαγε κήρυκας. Ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἑτέρους διέβαλε; Καὶ τί τοῦτο, τοῦ Θεοῦ ὄντος τοῦ μέλλοντος ἀπαιτεῖν τὰς εὐθύνας, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐκείνων τῶν ἀκουσάντων; Ἑαυτῷ γὰρ προσέθηκε κολάσεως ὑπόθεσιν, ἵνα μὴ μόνον ὑπὲρ τῶν οἰκείων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπὲρ ὧν περὶ σοῦ διελέχθη, παράσχῃ λόγον. Καὶ σὲ μὲν πρὸς ἀνθρώπους διέβαλεν, αὐτὸς δὲ πρὸς Θεὸν διεβλήθη. Εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἀρκεῖ σοι ταῦτα, ἐννόησον ὅτι καὶ ὁ Δεσπότης σου διεβλήθη, καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ, καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς μάλιστα φιλουμένους: καὶ ὁ τούτου Μονογενὴς πάλιν τὰ αὐτά. Διὸ ἔλεγεν: Εἰ τὸν οἰκοδεσπότην Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐκάλεσαν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοὺς οἰκιακοὺς αὐτοῦ. Καὶ οὐ διέβαλεν αὐτὸν μόνον ὁ πονηρὸς δαίμων ἐκεῖνος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπιστεύθη: καὶ διέβαλεν, οὐ τὰ τυχόντα, ἀλλὰ τὰ μέγιστα ὀνείδη καὶ ἐγκλήματα. Καὶ γὰρ δαιμονῶντα αὐτὸν ἔφησε, καὶ πλάνον εἶναι καὶ ἀντίθεον. Ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐεργετήσας ἔπαθες κακῶς; Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μάλιστα ὑπὲρ μὲν τοῦ ποιήσαντος θρήνει καὶ ἄλγει, ὑπὲρ δὲ σεαυτοῦ καὶ χαῖρε, ὅτι Θεῷ γέγονας ὅμοιος, τῷ τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατέλλοντι ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθούς. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ὑπερβαίνει σε τὸ τὸν Θεὸν μιμεῖσθαι: καίτοιγε τῷ νήφοντι οὐδὲ τοῦτο δύσκολον: ἀλλ' ὅμως εἴ σου μεῖζον εἶναι τοῦτό σοι δοκεῖ, φέρε σε πρὸς τοὺς συνδούλους ἀγάγωμεν: πρὸς τὸν Ἰωσὴφ, τὸν μυρία παθόντα καὶ εὐεργετήσαντα τοὺς ἀδελφούς: πρὸς τὸν Μωϋσέα, τὸν μετὰ μυρίας ἐπιβουλὰς ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν δεηθέντα: πρὸς τὸν μακάριον Παῦλον, τὸν οὐδὲ ἀριθμῆσαι ἔχοντα ἅπερ ἔπαθε παρ' αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀξιοῦντα ἀνάθεμα εἶναι ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν: πρὸς τὸν Στέφανον, τὸν λιθαζόμενον καὶ παρακαλοῦντα λυθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ταύτην. Καὶ ταῦτα πάντα ἐννοήσας, ἔκβαλε πᾶσαν ὀργὴν, ἵνα καὶ ἡμῖν ὁ Θεὸς ἀφῇ πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.