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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom[1.] Great is the recompense 2024 of care bestowed upon the servants of God, and of itself 2025 ityieldeth to us its fruits. For, “he that receiveth you,” it saith, “receiveth Me, and he that receivethMe, receiveth Him that sent Me.” ( Matt. x. 40 .) Now what can be equal to the receiving Christand His Father? But what kind of connection hath this with what was said before? What hath it incommon with that which He had said, “If ye do these things happy are ye,” to add, “He that receivethyou”? A close connection, and very harmonious. 2026 Observe how. When they were about to goforth and to suffer many dreadful things, He comforteth them in two ways; one derived fromHimself, the other derived from others. “For if,” He saith, “ye are truly wise, ever keeping Me inmind, and bearing about all both what I said, and what I did, ye will easily endure terrible things.And not in this way only, but also from your enjoying great attention from all men.” The first pointHe declared when He said, “If ye do these things happy are ye”; the second when He said, “He thatreceiveth you receiveth Me.” For He opened the houses of all men to them, so that both from thesound wisdom of their manners, and the zeal of those who would tend them, they might havetwofold comfort. Then when He had given these directions to them as to men about to run throughall the world, reflecting that the traitor was deprived of both of these things, and would enjoy neitherof them, neither patience in toils, nor the service of kind entertainers, He again was troubled. Andthe Evangelist to signify this besides, and to show that it was on his 2027 account that He was troubled,adds,Ver. 21 . “When Jesus had thus said, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily,verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.”Again He bringeth fear on all by not mentioning (the traitor) by name.Ver. 22 . “But they are in doubt”; 2028 although conscious to themselves of nothing evil; butthey deemed the declaration of Christ more to be believed than their own thoughts. Wherefore they“looked one on another.” By laying the whole upon one, Jesus would 2029 have cut short their fear,but by adding, “one of you,” He troubled all. What then? The rest looked upon one another; butthe ever fervent Peter “beckoneth” 2030 to John. Since he had been before rebuked, and when Christdesired to wash him would have hindered Him, and since he is everywhere found moved indeedby love, yet blamed; being on this account afraid, he neither kept quiet, nor did he speak, but wishedto gain information by means of John. But it is a question worth asking, why when all weredistressed, and trembling, when their leader was afraid, John like one at ease 2031 leans on Jesus’bosom, and not only leans, but even (lies) on His breast? Nor is this the only thing worthy of enquiry,but that also which follows. What is that? What he saith of himself, “Whom Jesus loved.” Why didno one else say this of himself? yet the others were loved too. But he more than any. And if noother hath said this about him, but he about himself, it is nothing wonderful. Paul too does the same,2024al. “ return. ”2025ἐ ντεῦθεν2026al. “ one may see even a close connection, since, ” &c.2027i.e. the traitor’s.2028“ Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom He spake. ” N.T.2029al. “ The laying, &c. would. ”2030Ver. 23–25 . “ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter thereforebeckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spake. He then, lying on Jesus’ breast, saith unto Him, Lord,who is it? ”2031ἐ ντρυφῶν394