John 1:11
If you remember what we discussed before, we will be able to proceed more eagerly with building up what remains, since this will bring great benefit. Our teaching will be more understandable to you who remember what has already been said, and we won't need to work as hard, because your great love of learning enables you to see more clearly into what remains. A person who constantly loses what is given to him will always need a teacher and will never know anything. But someone who retains what he has received, and then receives what remains in addition, will quickly become a teacher instead of a learner, and will be useful not only to himself but to everyone else as well. From observing your great eagerness to hear, I expect that this congregation will especially become such people. So come, let us store up in your souls, as in a secure treasury, the Lord's money, and explain—as far as the grace of the Spirit gives us power—the words set before us today.
1. If you remember our former reflections, we shall the more zealously proceed with the building up of what remains, as doing so for great gain. For so will our discourse be more intelligible to you who remember what has been already said, and we shall not need much labor, because you are able through your great love of learning to see more clearly into what remains. The man who is always losing what is given to him will always need a teacher, and will never know anything; but he who retains what he has received, and so receives in addition what remains, will quickly be a teacher instead of a learner, and useful not only to himself, but to all others also; as, conjecturing from their great readiness to hear, I anticipate that this assembly will specially be. Come then, let us lay up in your souls, as in a safe treasury, the Lord's money, and unfold, as far as the grace of the Spirit may afford us power, the words this day set before us.
John had said, speaking of earlier times, that the world did not know Him (John 1:10). Then he moves forward in his account to the time when the Gospel was proclaimed, saying, "He came to His own, and His own received Him not." Here he calls the Jews His own, as His special people, or perhaps even all humanity, since all were created by Him. Just as before, when John was troubled by the foolishness of the many and ashamed of our common human nature, he said that the world was made by Him and yet, having been made, did not recognize its Maker—so here again, being unbearably disturbed by the stupidity of the Jews and the many, he presents the charge in an even more striking way, saying that His own did not receive Him, even when He came to them. And not only John, but the prophets too, spoke in wonder about this very thing, as did Paul later, amazed at these same matters. The prophets cried out in the person of Christ, saying, "A people whom I have not known have served Me; as soon as they heard Me, they obeyed Me; the strange children have dealt falsely with Me. The strange children have grown old and have stumbled from their paths" (Psalm 18:43-45, Septuagint). And again, "They to whom it had not been told concerning Him shall see, and they which had not heard shall understand" (Isaiah 52:15). And, "I was found by them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me" (Isaiah 45:1, as quoted in Romans 10:20). And Paul, in his letter to the Romans, has said, "What then? Israel has not obtained that which it seeks, but the election has obtained it" (Romans 11:7). And again, "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have attained unto righteousness, but Israel which followed after the law of righteousness has not attained to the law of righteousness" (Romans 9:30).
He (St. John) had said, speaking of the old times, that the world knew him not John 1:10; afterwards he comes down in his narrative to the times of the proclamation (of the Gospel), and says, He came to His own, and His own received Him not, now calling the Jews His own, as His peculiar people, or perhaps even all mankind, as created by Him. And as above, when perplexed at the folly of the many, and ashamed of our common nature, he said that the world by Him was made, and having been made, did not recognize its Maker; so here again, being troubled beyond bearing at the stupidity of the Jews and the many, he sets forth the charge in a yet more striking manner, saying, that His own received Him not, and that too when He came to them. And not only he, but the prophets also, wondering, said the very same, as did afterwards Paul, amazed at the very same things. Thus did the prophets cry aloud in the person of Christ, saying, A people whom I have not known, have served Me; as soon as they heard Me, they obeyed Me; the strange children have dealt falsely with Me. The strange children have waxed aged, and have halted from their paths. Psalm 18:43-45, Septuagint And again, They to whom it had not been told concerning Him, shall see, and they which had not heard, shall understand. And, I was found of them that sought Me not Isaiah 52:15; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Isaiah 45:1, as quoted in Romans 10:20 And Paul, in his Epistles to the Romans, has said, What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for: but the election has obtained it. Romans 11:7 And again; What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained unto righteousness: but Israel which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Romans 9:30
It is truly worthy of our amazement how those who were raised with knowledge of the prophetic books, who heard Moses every day telling them countless things about the coming of the Christ, and the other prophets afterward, who also saw Christ Himself daily working miracles among them, devoting His time to them alone, not yet allowing His disciples to go into the way of the Gentiles or to enter a city of the Samaritans, nor doing so Himself, but everywhere declaring that He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel—how, I say, while they saw the signs and heard the Prophets and had Christ Himself continually reminding them, they still made themselves so blind and dull that none of these things brought them to faith in Christ. Meanwhile the Gentiles, who had enjoyed none of these things, who had never heard the oracles of God, not even in a dream so to speak, but who were always caught up in the fables of madmen (for heathen philosophy is this), always having in their hands the foolishness of their poets, devoted to stocks and stones, and possessing nothing good or sound either in doctrines or in conduct. (For their way of life was more impure and more accursed than their doctrine. As was natural, for when they saw their gods delighting in all wickedness, worshipped by shameful words and even more shameful deeds, counting this as festivity and praise, and moreover honored by foul murders and child-slaughters, how could they not imitate these things?) Still, though they had fallen to the very depth of wickedness, suddenly, as if by the working of some mechanism, they have appeared to us shining from on high, even from the very summit of heaven.
For it is a thing indeed worthy of our amazement, how they who were nurtured in ( knowledge of) the prophetical books, who heard Moses every day telling them ten thousand things concerning the coming of the Christ, and the other prophets afterwards, who moreover themselves beheld Christ Himself daily working miracles among them, giving up His time to them alone, neither as yet allowing His disciples to depart into the way of the Gentiles, or to enter into a city of Samaritans, nor doing so Himself, but everywhere declaring that He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Matthew 10:5: how, (I say), while they saw the signs, and heard the Prophets, and had Christ Himself continually putting them in remembrance, they yet made themselves once for all so blind and dull, as by none of these things to be brought to faith in Christ. Matthew 15:24 While they of the Gentiles, who had enjoyed none of these things, who had never heard the oracles of God, not, as one may say, so much as in a dream, but ever ranging among the fables of madmen, (for heathen philosophy is this,) having ever in their hands the sillinesses of their poets, nailed to stocks and stones, and neither in doctrines nor in conversation possessing anything good or sound. (For their way of life was more impure and more accursed than their doctrine. As was likely; for when they saw their gods delighting in all wickedness, worshipped by shameful words, and more shameful deeds, reckoning this festivity and praise, and moreover honored by foul murders, and child-slaughters, how should not they emulate these things?) Still, fallen as they were as low as the very depth of wickedness, on a sudden, as by the agency of some machine, they have appeared to us shining from on high, and from the very summit of heaven.
How then did this happen, and where did it come from? Listen to Paul telling you. For that blessed person, searching carefully into these matters, did not stop until he had found the cause and declared it to everyone else. So what is it? Where did such blindness come upon the Jews? Listen to the one who was entrusted with this responsibility explain. What does he say in answering this question that troubles many? "For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God" (1 Corinthians 9:17). This is why they have suffered these things. And again, explaining the same matter in different words, he says, "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness have attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; but Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they sought it not by faith. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone" (Romans 9:30-32). His meaning is this: These people's unbelief has caused their misfortunes, and their pride was the source of their unbelief. For when they had previously enjoyed greater privileges than the pagans—through having received the law, through knowing God, and the other things Paul lists—they saw after Christ's coming that the pagans and themselves were called on equal terms through faith. And they saw that after faith, one of the circumcision was in no way preferred over the Gentile. So they became envious and were stung by their pride, and they could not endure the unspeakable and overwhelming lovingkindness of the Lord. Therefore this has happened to them from nothing other than pride, wickedness, and lack of kindness.
How then and whence came it to pass? Hear Paul telling you. For that blessed person searching exactly into these things, ceased not until he had found the cause, and had declared it to all others. What then is it? And whence came such blindness upon the Jews? Hear him who was entrusted with this stewardship declare. What then does he say in resolving this doubt of the many? 1 Corinthians 9:17 For they, says he, being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3 Wherefore they have suffered this. And again, explaining the same matter in other terms, he says, What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained unto righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; but Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:30-32 His meaning is this: These men's unbelief has been the cause of their misfortunes, and their haughtiness was parent of their unbelief. For when having before enjoyed greater privileges than the heathen, through having received the law, through knowing God, and the rest which Paul enumerates, they after the coming of Christ saw the heathen and themselves called on equal terms through faith, and after faith received one of the circumcision in nothing preferred to the Gentile, they came to envy and were stung by their haughtiness, and could not endure the unspeakable and exceeding lovingkindness of the Lord. So this has happened to them from nothing else but pride, and wickedness, and unkindness.
In what way, you most foolish of people, are you harmed by the care shown to others? How are your blessings diminished by having others share in the same things? But truly, wickedness is blind and cannot easily perceive what it should. Being therefore troubled by the prospect of having others share the same confidence, they thrust a sword against themselves and cast themselves out from the lovingkindness of God. And rightly so. For He says, "Friend, I do you no wrong. I will give to 'these also' even as I give to you" (Matthew 20:14). Or rather, these Jews do not deserve even these words. For the man in the parable, if he was discontent, could at least speak of the labors and weariness, the heat and sweat, of an entire day. But what could these men say? Nothing like this, but only slothfulness and profligacy and ten thousand evil things of which all the prophets continually accused them, and by which they, like the Gentiles, had offended against God. And Paul, declaring this, says, "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace" (Romans 10:12; 3:22-24). And on this matter he treats profitably and very wisely throughout that Epistle. But in an earlier part of it he proves that they are worthy of even greater punishment. "For as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" (Romans 2:12)—that is to say, more severely, since they have as their accuser the law as well as nature. And not only for this reason, but also because they have been the cause that God is blasphemed among the Gentiles: "My Name," He says, "is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" (Romans 2:24; Isaiah 52:5).
2. For in what, O most foolish of men, are you injured by the care bestowed on others? How are your blessings made less through having others to share the same? But of a truth wickedness is blind, and cannot readily perceive anything that it ought. Being therefore stung by the prospect of having others to share the same confidence, they thrust a sword against themselves, and cast themselves out from the lovingkindness of God. And with good reason. For He says, Friend, I do you no wrong, I will give to 'these also' even as unto you. Matthew 20:14 Or rather, these Jews are not deserving even of these words. For the man in the parable if he was discontented, could yet speak of the labors and weariness, the heat and sweat, of a whole day. But what could these men have to tell? Nothing like this, but slothfulness and profligacy and ten thousand evil things of which all the prophets continued ever to accuse them, and by which they like the Gentiles had offended against God. And Paul declaring this says, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God: being justified freely by His grace. Romans 10:12; Romans 3:22-24 And on this head he treats profitably and very wisely throughout that Epistle. But in a former part of it he proves that they are worthy of still greater punishment. For as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law Romans 2:12; that is to say, more severely, as having for their accuser the law as well as nature. And not for this only, but for that they have been the cause that God is blasphemed among the Gentiles: My Name, He says, is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you. Romans 2:24; Isaiah 52:5
Since this is what stung them most (for the thing seemed unbelievable even to those of the circumcision who believed, and therefore they brought it as a charge against Peter when he had come up to them from Caesarea, that he went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them Acts 11:3; and after they had learned God's plan, they still marveled that the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles Acts 10:45, showing by their astonishment that they could never have expected such an incredible thing), since he knew that this troubled them most deeply, see how he has deflated their pride and calmed their swollen arrogance. For after discussing the situation of the Gentiles and showing that they had no excuse or hope of salvation from any source, and after clearly charging them with both the corruption of their teachings and the uncleanness of their lives, he turns his argument to the Jews. After recounting all the statements of the Prophet in which he had said that they were polluted, treacherous, hypocritical people who had altogether become unprofitable, that there was no one among them who seeks after God, that they had all gone astray Romans 3:12, and similar things, he adds, "Now we know that whatever things the law says, it says to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" Romans 3:19. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
Since now this it was that stung them most, (for the thing appeared incredible even to those of the circumcision who believed, and therefore they brought it as a charge against Peter, when he had come up to them from Cesarea, that he went in to men uncircumcised, and did eat with them Acts 11:3; and after that they had learned the dispensation of God, even so still they wondered how on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost Acts 10:45: showing by their astonishment that they could never have expected so incredible a thing,) since then he knew that this touched them nearest, see how he has emptied their pride and relaxed their highly swelling insolence. For after having discoursed on the case of the heathen, and shown that they had not from any quarter any excuse, or hope of salvation, and after having definitely charged them both with the perversion of their doctrines and the uncleanness of their lives, he shifts his argument to the Jews; and after recounting all the expressions of the Prophet, in which he had said that they were polluted, treacherous, hypocritical persons, and had altogether become unprofitable, that there was none among them that seeks after God, that they had all gone out of the way Romans 3:12, and the like, he adds, Now we know that whatever things the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Romans 3:19 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Why then do you exalt yourself, O Jew? Why are you proud? For your mouth is also stopped, your boldness is also taken away, you too along with the whole world have become guilty, and like the others are placed in need of being justified freely. Even if you had stood upright and had great boldness with God, you surely ought not to have envied those who should be pitied and saved through His lovingkindness. This is the worst kind of wickedness—to be distressed at the blessings of others, especially when this was to happen without any loss to you. If the salvation of others had harmed your advantages, your grief might have been reasonable, though not even then to one who had learned true wisdom. But if your reward is not increased by another's punishment, nor diminished by his welfare, why do you lament because that other person is freely saved? As I said, even if you were one of the approved, you ought not to be distressed at the salvation that comes to the Gentiles through grace. But when you, who are guilty before your Lord of the same things as they are and have yourself offended, are displeased at the good of others and think great things of yourself, as if you alone ought to partake of the grace, you are guilty not only of envy and arrogance, but of extreme foolishness, and may be subject to all the most severe torments. For you have planted within yourself the root of all evils: pride.
Why then exaltest you yourself, O Jew? Why are you high minded? For your mouth also is stopped, your boldness also is taken away, you also with all the world have become guilty, and, like others, are placed in need of being justified freely. You ought surely even if you had stood upright and had had great boldness with God, not even so to have envied those who should be pitied and saved through His lovingkindness. This is the extreme of wickedness, to pine at the blessings of others; especially when this was to be effected without any loss of yours. If indeed the salvation of others had been prejudicial to your advantages, your grieving might have been reasonable; though not even then would it have been so to one who had learned true wisdom. But if your reward is not increased by the punishment of another, nor diminished by his welfare, why do you bewail yourself because that other is freely saved? As I said, you ought not, even were thou (one) of the approved, to be pained at the salvation which comes to the Gentiles through grace. But when you, who are guilty before your Lord of the same things as they, and have yourself offended, are displeased at the good of others, and think great things, as if you alone ought to be partaker of the grace, you are guilty not only of envy and insolence, but of extreme folly, and may be liable to all the severest torments; for you have planted within yourself the root of all evils, pride.
Therefore, a wise man has said, "Pride is the beginning of sin" (Sirach 10:13)—that is, its root, its source, its mother. Because of pride, the first created human was banished from that happy dwelling place. Because of pride, the devil who deceived him had fallen from that height of dignity. Knowing that the nature of this sin was sufficient to cast someone down even from heaven itself, that accursed one came this way when he worked to bring Adam down from such high honor. By puffing him up with the promise that he would be like God, the devil broke him down and cast him into the very depths of hell. Nothing alienates people from the lovingkindness of God and hands them over to the fire of the pit as much as the tyranny of pride. When pride is present in us, our whole life becomes impure, even if we practice temperance, chastity, fasting, prayer, almsgiving, or anything else. For the wise man says, "Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 16:5). Let us then restrain this swelling of the soul. Let us cut up by the roots this lump of pride, if we want to be clean and to escape the punishment appointed for the devil. That the proud must fall under the same punishment as that wicked one, hear Paul declare: "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the judgment and the snare of the devil." What is the judgment? He means into the same condemnation, the same punishment. How then does he say a person may avoid this dreadful thing? By reflecting on his own nature, on the number of his sins, on the greatness of the torments in that place, on the transitory nature of the things that seem bright in this world—differing in nothing from grass and more fading than the flowers of spring. If we continually stir these considerations within ourselves and keep in mind those who have walked most uprightly, the devil, though he tries ten thousand ways, will not be able to lift us up or even trip us at all. May the God who is the God of the humble, the good and merciful God, grant both to you and me a broken and humbled heart, so we shall be enabled easily to order the rest rightly, to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Wherefore a wise man has said, Pride is the beginning of sin Sirach 10:13: that is, its root, its source, its mother. By this the first created was banished from that happy abode: by this the devil who deceived him had fallen from that height of dignity; from which that accursed one, knowing that the nature of the sin was sufficient to cast down even from heaven itself, came this way when he labored to bring down Adam from such high honor. For having puffed him up with the promise that he should be as a God, so he broke him down, and cast him down into the very gulfs of hell. Because nothing so alienates men from the lovingkindness of God, and gives them over to the fire of the pit, as the tyranny of pride. For when this is present with us, our whole life becomes impure, even though we fulfill temperance, chastity, fasting, prayer, almsgiving, anything. For, Every one, says the wise man, that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 16:5 Let us then restrain this swelling of the soul, let us cut up by the roots this lump of pride, if at least we would wish to be clean, and to escape the punishment appointed for the devil. For that the proud must fall under the same punishment as that ( wicked) one, hear Paul declare; Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the judgment, and the snare of the devil. What is the judgment? He means, into the same condemnation, the same punishment. How then does he say, that a man may avoid this dreadful thing? By reflecting upon his own nature, upon the number of his sins, upon the greatness of the torments in that place, upon the transitory nature of the things which seem bright in this world, differing in nothing from grass, and more fading than the flowers of spring. If we continually stir within ourselves these considerations, and keep in mind those who have walked most upright, the devil, though he strive ten thousand ways, will not be able to lift us up, nor even to trip us at all. May the God who is the God of the humble, the good and merciful God, grant both to you and me a broken and humbled heart, so shall we be enabled easily to order the rest aright, to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory forever and ever. Amen.