Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom138persecuted and oftentimes stoned Him; and if looking wholly to them He had used none but lowexpressions, many in after times might have been harmed. Wherefore He mingleth and blendeth1052His teaching, both by these lowly sayings stopping, as I said, the mouths of the Jews, and alsoby expressions suited to His dignity banishing 1053 from men of sense any mean notion of what Hehad said, and proving that such a notion did not in any wise apply to Him at all.The expression “having been sent” denoteth change of place—but God is everywhere present.Wherefore then saith He that He was “sent”? He speaketh in an earthly 1054 way, 1055 declaring Hisunanimity with the Father. At least He shapeth His succeeding words with a desire to effect this.Ver. 24 . “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him thatsent Me, hath everlasting life.”Seest thou how continually He putteth the same thing to cure that feeling of suspicion, both inthis place and in what follows by fear and by promises of blessings removing their jealousy of Him,and then again condescending greatly in words? For He said not, “he that heareth My words, andbelieveth on Me,” since they would have certainly deemed that to be pride, and a superfluous pompof words; because, if after a very long time, and ten thousand miracles, they suspected this whenHe spake after this manner, much more would they have done so then. It was on this account thatat that later period 1056 they said to Him, “Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, how sayestThou, 1057 If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death?” ( c. viii. 52 .) In order thereforethat they may not here also become furious, see what He saith, “He that heareth My word, andbelieveth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.” This had no small effect in making Hisdiscourse acceptable, when they learned that those who hear Him believe in the Father also; forafter having received this with readiness, they would more easily receive the rest. So that the veryspeaking in a humble manner contributed and led the way to higher things; for after saying, “hatheverlasting life,” He addeth,“And cometh not into judgment, but is passed from death unto life.”By these two things He maketh His discourse acceptable; first, because it is the Father who isbelieved on, and then, because the believer enjoyeth many blessings. And the “cometh not intojudgment” meaneth, “is not punished,” for He speaketh not of death “here,” but of death eternal,as also of the other “life” which is deathless.Ver. 25 . “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hearthe voice of the Son of God: and they that have heard shall live.”Having said the words, He speaketh also of the proof by deeds. 1058 For when He had said, “Asthe Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will,”that the thing may not seem to be mere boasting and pride, He affordeth proof 1059 by works, saying,“The hour cometh”; then, that thou mayest not deem that the time is long, He addeth, “and now is,when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that have heard shall live.” Seest1052κιρνᾶ , generally of mixing wine with water.1053al. “ correcting. ”1054παχύτερα1055Morel. reads: “ for this reason He doth not decline to use a more earthly expression, declaring, ” &c.1056τότε1057σὺ λέγεις , G. T.1058Morel. reads: “ He spake those great things in words, afterwards He desireth to prove them by works also. ”1059al. “ truth. ”211