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with harshness of words the hearing, so that they might not leap away in the difficulty of the matters, so also He framed His discourse; so that no one might say that He persuaded by flattery and by hiding the difficult things, for this reason also He interpreted things that ought to have been said otherwise more grievously and more onerously. For it is better to see gentleness in the deeds than in the words. For this reason He was not satisfied with these things, but also unfolding the very nature of the war, He shows that this too is much more difficult than a civil war, and says: I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. For not only friends, He says, nor fellow citizens, but also kinsmen will stand against each other, and nature itself will be divided against itself. For I have come, He says, to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. For the war is not simply among household members, but among the dearest and those most necessary. Which especially 57.406 shows His power, that hearing these things they both accepted them themselves, and persuaded others. And yet He Himself did not do these things, but their wickedness; but nevertheless He says He does these things. For such is the custom of Scripture. For elsewhere also it says: God has given them eyes that they should not see. And here He speaks thus, so that, as I have already said, having meditated on these words, they might not be troubled when reproached and insulted. But if any think these things are burdensome, let them recall ancient history. For in former times this also happened, which especially shows the Old Testament to be kindred to the New, and that He who says these things is the one who also commanded those. For also among the Jews, when each man killed his neighbor, then He let go His anger against them; both when they made the calf, and when they were initiated to Baal-peor. Where then are those who say that that God is evil, but this one is good? For behold, He has filled the world with kindred blood. But nevertheless we say that this too is a work of great love for humanity. For this reason, showing that He is the one who also approved those things, He also mentions a prophecy, even if not spoken for this purpose, but nevertheless indicating the same thing. And what is this? A man's foes shall be they of his own household. For something of this sort also happened among the Jews. For there were prophets and false prophets, and the people were divided, and the houses were divided; and some believed these, and others those. For this reason the prophet exhorts, saying: Trust not in a friend, put not confidence in a guide; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom; and, A man's enemies are the men of his own house. But He said these things, preparing him who was about to receive the word to be superior to all things. For it is not dying that is evil, but dying evilly. For this reason He also said: I am come to send fire on the earth. And this He said, indicating the vehemence and warmth of the love which He required. For since He Himself loved us exceedingly, so also He wishes to be loved by us. And these words both anointed them and made them more lofty. For if they, He says, are going to despise kinsmen and children and parents, consider what kind of men you, the teachers, ought to be. For the difficulties will not stop with you, but will also pass on to others. For since I have come bringing great good things, I also demand great obedience and disposition. He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. Do you see the dignity of a Master? do you see how He shows Himself to be the genuine Son of Him who begot Him, commanding to leave all things below, and to prefer His love? And what do I say, He says, friends and kinsmen? Even if you prefer your own soul to my love, you stand far from my disciples. What then? Are not these things contrary to the Old Testament? May it not be; but they are exceedingly harmonious. For there too

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τραχύτητι τῶν ῥημάτων τὴν ἀκοὴν, ἵνα μὴ ἐν τῇ δυσκολίᾳ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀποπηδήσωσιν, οὕτω καὶ τὸν λόγον ἐσχημάτισε· ἵνα μή τις λέγῃ, ὅτι κολακεύσας ἔπεισε καὶ τὰ δυσχερῆ κρύψας, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὰ ἑτέρως ὀφείλοντα λεχθῆναι, ἐπαχθέστερον ἡρμήνευσε καὶ φορτικώτερον. Βέλτιον γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων τὴν ἡμερότητα ἰδεῖν, ἢ ἐπὶ τῶν ῥημάτων. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ τούτοις ἠρκέσθη, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀναπλώσας αὐτὸ τοῦ πολέμου τὸ εἶδος, δείκνυσι καὶ τοῦτο ἐμφυλίου πολλῷ χαλεπώτερον ὂν, καί φησιν· Ἦλθον διχάσαι ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ θυγατέρα κατὰ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῆς, καὶ νύμφην κατὰ τῆς πενθερᾶς αὐτῆς. Οὐ γὰρ φίλοι, φησὶν, οὐδὲ πολῖται μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ συγγενεῖς κατ' ἀλλήλων στήσονται, καὶ ἡ φύσις καθ' ἑαυτὴν σχισθήσεται. Ἦλθον γὰρ, φησὶ, διχάσαι ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ θυγατέρα κατὰ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῆς, καὶ νύμφην κατὰ τῆς πενθερᾶς αὐτῆς. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἁπλῶς ἐν τοῖς οἰκείοις ὁ πόλεμος, ἀλλ' ἐν τοῖς φιλτάτοις καὶ τοῖς σφόδρα ἀναγκαίοις. Ὃ μάλιστα 57.406 αὐτοῦ τὴν δύναμιν δείκνυσιν, ὅτι ταῦτα ἀκούοντες καὶ αὐτοὶ κατεδέχοντο, καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ἔπειθον. Καίτοιγε οὐκ αὐτὸς ταῦτα ἐποίει, ἀλλ' ἡ ἐκείνων πονηρία· ἀλλ' ὅμως αὐτὸς ταῦτα λέγει ποιεῖν. Τοιοῦτον γὰρ τῆς Γραφῆς τὸ ἔθος. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ φησι· ∆έδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Θεὸς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν. Καὶ ἐνταῦθα οὕτω φησίν· ἵν', ὅπερ ἔφθην εἰπὼν, μελετήσαντες ἐν τοῖς ῥήμασι τούτοις, μὴ θορυβῶνται ὀνειδιζόμενοι καὶ ὑβριζόμενοι. Εἰ δέ τινες φορτικὰ ταῦτα νομίζουσιν εἶναι, ἀναμνησθήτωσαν παλαιᾶς ἱστορίας. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς ἄνω χρόνοις τοῦτο συνέβη, ὃ μάλιστα δείκνυσι τὴν Παλαιὰν τῇ Καινῇ συγγενῆ, καὶ τὸν ταῦτα λέγοντα τοῦτον ὄντα τὸν καὶ ἐκεῖνα ἐπιτάξαντα. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ὅτε ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον ἀνεῖλε, τότε αὐτοῖς τὴν ὀργὴν εἴασε· καὶ ὅτε τὸν μόσχον ἐποίησαν, καὶ ὅτε τῷ Βεελφεγὼρ ἐτελέσθησαν. Ποῦ τοίνυν εἰσὶν οἱ λέγοντες, ὅτι Πονηρὸς ἐκεῖνος ὁ Θεὸς, οὗτος δὲ ἀγαθός; Ἰδοὺ γὰρ συγγενικῶν αἱμάτων τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐπλήρωσεν. Ἀλλ' ὅμως πολλῆς καὶ τοῦτο φιλανθρωπίας ἔργον εἶναί φαμεν. ∆ιὰ δὴ τοῦτο δεικνὺς αὐτὸν ὄντα τὸν καὶ ἐκεῖνα ἀποδεξάμενον, καὶ προφητείας μέμνηται, εἰ καὶ μὴ εἰς τοῦτο εἰρημένης, ἀλλ' ὅμως τὸ αὐτὸ ἐμφαινούσης. Τίς δὲ αὕτη ἐστίν; Ἐχθροὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οἱ οἰκειακοὶ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων τοιουτόν τι συνέβη. Ἦσαν γὰρ προφῆται καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται, καὶ ὁ δῆμος ἐσχίζετο, καὶ αἱ οἰκίαι διῃροῦντο· καὶ οἱ μὲν τούτοις ἐπίστευον, οἱ δὲ ἐκείνοις. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο παραινεῖ ὁ προφήτης λέγων· Μὴ πιστεύετε ἐν φίλοις, μηδὲ ἐλπίζετε ἐπὶ ἡγουμένοις· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς συγκοίτου σου φύλαξαι, τοῦ ἀναθέσθαι τι αὐτῇ· καὶ, Ἐχθροὶ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ. Ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγε, τὸν μέλλοντα δέχεσθαι τὸν λόγον πάντων ἀνώτερον εἶναι παρασκευάζων. Οὐ γὰρ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κακὸν, ἀλλὰ τὸ κακῶς ἀποθανεῖν. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἔλεγε· Πῦρ ἦλθον βαλεῖν εἰς τὴν γῆν. Τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγε, τὴν σφοδρότητα καὶ θερμότητα δηλῶν τῆς ἀγάπης, ἣν ἀπῄτει. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς σφόδρα ἠγάπησεν, οὕτω καὶ ἀγαπᾶσθαι βούλεται παρ' ἡμῶν. Ταῦτα δὲ καὶ τούτους ἤλειφε τὰ ῥήματα, καὶ ὑψηλοτέρους ἐποίει. Εἰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι μέλλουσι, φησὶ, συγγενῶν καὶ παίδων καὶ γονέων καταφρονεῖν, ἐννόησον ὑμᾶς τοὺς διδασκάλους ὁποίους εἶναι χρή. Οὐδὲ γὰρ μέχρις ὑμῶν τὰ δυσχερῆ στήσεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄλλους διαβήσεται. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ μεγάλα κομίζων ἦλθον ἀγαθὰ, μεγάλην ἀπαιτῶ καὶ τὴν ὑπακοὴν καὶ τὴν διάθεσιν. Ὁ φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος· καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος. Καὶ ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ὀπίσω μου, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος. Εἶδες ἀξίωμα. ∆ιδασκάλου; εἶδες πῶς δείκνυσιν ἑαυτὸν γνήσιον τοῦ γεγεννηκότος Υἱὸν, πάντα κελεύων ἀφεῖναι κάτω, καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν αὐτοῦ προτιμᾷν; Καὶ τί λέγω, φησὶ, φίλους καὶ συγγενεῖς; Κἂν τὴν ψυχὴν τὴν σαυτοῦ προτιμήσῃς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀγάπης, πόῤῥω τῶν ἐμῶν ἕστηκας μαθητῶν. Τί οὖν; οὐκ ἐναντία ταῦτα τῇ Παλαιᾷ; Μὴ γένοιτο· ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα συνᾴδοντα. Καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖ