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

NPNF (V1-14)St. ChrysostomVer. 49 . “For I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me acommandment what I should say, and what I should speak.” And other such like. 1938Surely these things were said for their sakes, that they might have no pretense of excuse. Sinceif this were not the case, what shall He have more than Isaiah? for he too saith the very same thing,“The Lord God giveth me the tongue of the learned, that I should know when I ought to speak aword.” ( Isa. l. 4 , LXX.) What more than Jeremiah? for he too when he was sent was inspired. (Jer. i. 9 .) What then Ezekiel? for he too, after eating the roll, so spake. ( Ezek. iii. 1 .) Otherwisealso, they who were about to hear what He said shall be found to be causes of His knowledge. Forif when He was sent, He then received commandment what He should say, thou wilt then arguethat before He was sent He knew not. And what more impious than these assertions? if (that is)one take the words of Christ in this sense, and understand not the cause 1939 of their lowliness? YetPaul saith, that both he and those who were made disciples knew “what was that good and acceptableand perfect will of God” ( Rom. xii. 2 ), and did the Son not know until He had receivedcommandment? How can this be reasonable? Seest thou not that He bringeth His expressions toan excess of humility, that He may both draw those men over, and silence those who should comeafter. This is why He uttereth words befitting a mere man, that even so He may force us to fly themeanness of the sayings, as being conscious that the words belong not to His Nature, but are suitedto the infirmity of the hearers.Ver. 50 . “And I know that His commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore,even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”Seest thou the humility of the words? For he that hath received a commandment is not his ownmaster. Yet He saith, “As the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Sonquickeneth whom He will.” ( c. v. 21 .) Hath He then power to quicken whom He will, and to saywhat He will hath He not power? What He intendeth then by the words is this; 1940 “The action hathnot natural possibility, 1941 that He should speak one set of words, and I should utter another.” “AndI know that His commandment is life everlasting.” He said this to those that called Him a deceiver,and asserted that He had come to do hurt. But when He saith, “I judge not,” He showeth that He isnot the cause of the perdition of these men. 1942 By this He all but plainly testifies, when about toremove from, and to be no more with, them, that “I converse with you, speaking nothing as ofMyself, but all as from the Father.” And for this cause He confined His discourse to them to humbleexpressions, that He might say, “Even until the end did I utter this, My last word, to them.” Whatword was that? “As the Father said unto Me, so I speak.” “Had I been opposed to God I shouldhave said the contrary, that I speak nothing of what is pleasing to God, so as to attract the honor toMyself, but now I have so referred all things to Him, as to call nothing My own. 1943 Why then doye not believe Me when I say that ‘I have received a commandment,’ and when I so vehementlyremove your evil suspicion respecting rivalry? For as it is impossible for those who have receiveda commandment to do or say anything but what their senders wish, as long as they fulfill the1938Morel. “ such like works. ”1939al. “ pretext. ”1940al. “ what then, saith one, meaneth this saying, that he hath not? ”1941οὐκ ἔχει φύσιν τὸ πρᾶγμα1942“ I am not, &c. He saith, but themselves. ”1943al. “ a thing peculiar (to Myself). ”382