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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom282doing such things, when he should both lead to piety, and exhibit the greatest miracles.” 2209 AndHe spake not simply of “signs,” but,Ver. 24 . “Which none other man did.” 2210And of this they themselves are witnesses, speaking in this way; “It was never so seen in Israel”( Matt. ix. 33 ); and, “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of onethat was born blind” ( c. ix. 32 ); and the matter of Lazarus was of the same kind, and all the otheracts the same, and the mode of wonder-working new, and all beyond 2211 thought. “Why then,” saithone, “do they persecute both Thee and us?” “Because ye are not of the world. If ye were of theworld, the world would love its own.” ( Ver. 19 .) He first remindeth them of the words which Hespake also to His own brethren ( c. vii. 7 ); but there he spake more by way of a reflection, 2212 lestHe should offend them, while here, on the contrary, He revealed all. “And how is it clear that it ison this account that we are hated?” “From what was done to Me. For, tell Me, which of My wordsor deeds could they lay hold on, that they would not receive Me?” Then since the thing would beastounding to us, He telleth the cause; that is, their wickedness. And He stayeth not here either, butintroduceth the Prophet ( Ps. xxxv. 19; lxix. 4 ), showing him proclaiming before of old time, andsaying, that,Ver. 25 . “They hated Me without a cause.” 2213[3.] Which Paul doth also. For when many wondered how that the Jews believed not, he bringsin Prophets foretelling it of old, and declaring the cause; that their wickedness and pride were thecause of their unbelief. “Well then; if they kept not Thy saying, neither will they keep ours; if theypersecuted Thee, therefore they will persecute us also; if they saw signs, such as none other manwrought; if they heard words such as none other spake, and profited nothing; if they hate ThyFather and Thee with Him, wherefore,” saith one, “hast Thou sent us in among them? How afterthis shall we be worthy of belief? which of our kindred will give-heed to us?” That they may nottherefore be troubled by such thoughts, see what sort of comfort he addeth.Ver. 26, 27 . “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, eventhe Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me. And ye also shallbear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.”“He shall be worthy of belief, for He is the Spirit of Truth.” On this account He called It not“Holy Spirit,” but “Spirit of Truth.” But the, “proceedeth from the Father,” showeth that He 2214knoweth all things exactly, as Christ also saith of Himself, that “I know whence come and whitherI go” ( c. viii. 14 ), speaking in that place also concerning truth. “Whom will send.” Behold, it isno longer the Father alone, but the Son also who sendeth. “And ye too,” He saith, “have a right tobe believed, who have been with Me, who have not heard from others.” Indeed, the Apostlesconfidently rely on this circumstance, saying, “We who did eat and drink with Him.” ( Acts x. 41.) And to show that this was not merely said to please, the Spirit beareth witness to the wordsspoken. ( Acts x. 44 .)2209Implied in Deut. xiii . where it is written, that the prophet or dreamer who teaches idolatry is not to be followed.2210Ver. 24 . “ If I had not done among them the works that none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have theyboth seen and hated both Me and My Father. ” N.T.2211Ben. “ new and beyond. ”2212ἠ θικώτερον2213Ver. 25 . “ But that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They, ” &c, N.T.2214i.e. the Holy Ghost.425