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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom“Much people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there, and they came, not for Jesus’ sakeonly, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead.”243[1.] As wealth is wont to hurl into destruction 1858 those who are not heedful, so also is power;the first leads into covetousness, the second into pride. See, for instance, how the subject multitudeof the Jews is sound, and their rulers corrupt; for that the first of these believed Christ, the Evangelistscontinually assert, saying, that “many of the multitude believed on Him” ( c. vii. 31, 48 ); but theywho were of the rulers, believed not. And they themselves say, not the multitude, 1859 “Hath any ofthe rulers believed on Him?” But what saith one? “The multitude who know not God 1860 areaccursed” ( c. vii. 49 ); the believers they call accursed, and themselves the slayers, wise. In thisplace also, having beheld the miracle, the many believed; but the rulers were not contented withtheir own evil deeds, 1861 they also attempted to kill Lazarus. 1862 Suppose they did attempt to slayChrist because He broke the Sabbath, because He made Himself equal to the Father, and becauseof the Romans whom ye allege, yet what charge had they against Lazarus, that they sought to killhim? Is the having received a benefit a crime? Seest thou how murderous is their will? Yet He hadworked many miracles; but none exasperated them so much as this one, not the paralytic, not theblind. For this was more wonderful in its nature, and was wrought after many others, and it was astrange thing to see one, who had been dead four days, walking and speaking. An honorable action,in truth, for the feast, to mix up the solemn assembly with murders. Besides, in the one case 1863they thought to charge Him concerning the Sabbath, and so to draw away the multitudes; but here,since they had no fault to find with Him, they make the attempt on the man who had been healed.For here they could not even say that He was opposed to the Father, since the prayer stopped theirmouths. Since then the charge which they continually brought against Him was removed, and themiracle was evident, they hasten to murder. So that they would have done the same in the case ofthe blind man, had it not been in their power to find fault respecting the Sabbath. Besides, that manwas of no note, and they cast him out of the temple; but Lazarus was a person of distinction, as isclear, since many came to comfort his sisters; and the miracle was done in the sight of all, and mostmarvelously. On which account all ran to see. This then stung them, that while the feast was goingon, all should leave it and go to Bethany. They set their hand therefore to kill him, and thought theywere not 1864 daring anything, so murderous were they. On this account the 1865 Law at itscommencement opens with this, “Thou shalt not kill” ( Ex. xx. 13 ); and the Prophet brings thischarge against them, “Their hands are full of blood.” ( Isa. i. 15 .)1858ἐ κτραχηλίζειν1859or, “ is it not the multitude. ”1860“ the Law, ” N.T.1861οἰκείοις ακοῖς , i.e. in matters affecting themselves.1862Ver. 10, 11 . “ But the Chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death, because that by reason ofhim many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. ”1863i.e. that of the blind man.1864Ben. “ did not so much as think they were. ”1865i.e. the second Table.367