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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom“So now I say to you.” Why “now”? “In one way to them, to you in another way”; that is, “notwith them.” But when did the Jews seek Him, when the disciples? The disciples, when they fledthe Jews, when they suffered miseries unendurable and surpassing all description at the capture oftheir city, when the wrath of God was borne down upon them from every side. To the Jews thereforeHe 2072 spake then, because of their unbelief, “but to you now, that troubles might not come uponyou unexpected.”Ver. 34 . “A new commandment I give unto you.” 2073For since it was likely that they would be troubled when they heard these things, as though theywere about to be deserted, He comforteth them, investing them with that which was the root of allblessings and a safeguard, love. As though He had said, “Grieve ye at My departure? Nay, if yelove one another, ye shall be the stronger.” Why then said He not this? Because He said whatprofited them more than this.Ver. 35 . “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples.” 2074[5.] By this He at the same time showed that the company 2075 should never be extinguished,when He gave them a distinguishing token. This He said when the traitor was cut off from them.But how calleth He that a new commandment which is contained also in the Old (covenant)? Hemade it new Himself by the manner; therefore He added, “As I have loved you.” “I have not paidback to you a debt of good deeds first done by you, but Myself have begun,” He saith. “And soought you to benefit your dearest ones, though you owe them nothing”; and omitting to speak ofthe miracles which they should do, He maketh their characteristic, love. And why? Because it isthis which chiefly shows men holy; it is the foundation of all virtue; by this mostly we are all evensaved. For “this,” He saith, “is to be a disciple; so shall all men praise you, when they see youimitating My Love.” What then? Do not miracles much more show this? By no means. For “manywill say, Lord, have we not in Thy Name cast out devils?” ( Matt. vii. 22 .) And again, when theyrejoice that the devils obey them, He saith, “Rejoice not that the devils obey 2076 you, but that yournames are written in heaven.” ( Luke x. 20 .) And 2077 this indeed brought over the world, becausethat 2078 was before it; had not that been, neither would this have endured. This then straightwaymade them perfect, 2079 the having 2080 all one heart and one soul. But had they separated one fromthe other, all things would have been lost.Now He spake this not to them only, but to all who should believe on Him; since even now,there is nothing else that causes the heathen 2081 to stumble, except that there is no love. “But,” saithsome one, “they also urge against us the absence of miracles.” But not in the same way. “But wheredid the Apostles manifest their love?” Seest thou Peter and John inseparable from one another, andgoing up to the Temple? ( Acts iii. 1 .) Seest thou Paul disposed in a like way towards them, and2072al. “ I. ”2073“ That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ” N.T.2074“ if ye have love one to another, ” N.T.2075i.e. of Christian people, χορὸς2076“ are subject to, ” N.T.2077the working of miracles.2078love.2079καλοὺς κἀγαθοὺς , beautiful and good.2080al. “ and to have. ”2081lit. “ Greeks. ”399