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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom245of all nations” ( Matt. xxviii. 19 ), but, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles” ( Matt. x. 5 ), and,“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” ( Matt xv. 24 ), and, “It is not meetto take the children’s bread and give it unto dogs.” ( Matt. xv. 26 .) But when they hated Him,and so hated as to kill Him, it was superfluous to persevere while they repulsed Him. For theyrefused Him, saying, “We have no king but Cæsar.” ( c. xix. 15 .) So that at length He left them,when they had left Him. Therefore He saith, “How often would I have gathered your childrentogether, and ye would not?” ( Matt. xxiii. 37 .)What is, “Except a grain of corn fall into the ground and die”? He speaketh of the Cross, forthat they might not be confounded at seeing, that just when Greeks also came to Him, then He wasslain, He saith to them, “This very thing specially causeth them to come, and shall increase thepreaching of Me.” Then since He could not so well persuade them by words, He goeth about toprove this from actual experience, telling them that this is the case with corn; it beareth the morefruit when it hath died. “Now,” saith He, “if this be the case with seeds, much more with Me.” Butthe disciples understood not what was spoken. Wherefore the Evangelist continually putteth this,1878as making excuse for their flight afterwards. This same argument Paul also hath raised whenspeaking of the Resurrection.[3.] What sort of excuse then will they have who disbelieve the Resurrection, when the actionis practiced each day, in seeds, in plants, and in the case of our own generation? for first it isnecessary that the seed die, and that then the generation take place. But, in short, when God doethanything, reasonings are of no use; for how did He make us out of those things that were not? ThisI say to Christians, who assert that they believe the Scriptures; but I shall also say something elsedrawn from human reasonings. Of men some live in vice, others in virtue; and of those who livein vice, many have attained to extreme old age in prosperity, many of the virtuous after enduringthe contrary. When then shall each receive his deserts? At what season? “Yea,” saith some one,“but there is no resurrection of the body.” They hear not Paul, saying, “This corruptible must puton incorruption.” ( 1 Cor. xv. 53 .) He speaks not of the soul, for the soul is not corrupted; moreover,“resurrection” is said of that which fell, and that which fell was the body. But why wilt thou haveit that there is no resurrection of the body? Is it not possible with God? But this it were utter follyto say. Is it unseemly? Why is it unseemly, that the corruptible which shared the toil and death,should share also the crowns? For were it unseemly, 1879 it would not have been created at thebeginning, Christ would not have taken the flesh again. But to show that He took it again and raisedit up, hear what He saith: “Reach 1880 hither thy fingers” ( c. xx. 27 ); and, “Behold, a spirit hathnot bones and sinews.” 1881 ( Luke xxiv. 39 .) But why did He raise Lazarus again, if it would havebeen better to rise without a body? Why doth He this, classing it as a miracle and a benefit? Whydid He give nourishment at all? Be not therefore deceived by the heretics, beloved: for there is aResurrection and there is a Judgment, but they deny these things, who desire not to give accountof their actions. For this Resurrection must be such as was that of Christ, for He was the first fruits,the first born of the dead. But if the Resurrection is this, 1882 a purifying of the soul, a deliverance1878i.e. that they did not understand.1879i.e. the body.1880βάλε [ φέρε , G. T.].1881“ flesh and bones, ” N.T.1882i.e. which heretics say it is.370