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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom“No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, 3394 but grievous, 3395 nevertheless, afterwardit yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are 3396 exercised thereby.Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees: and make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.”[1.] They who drink bitter medicines, first submit to some unpleasantness, and afterwards feelthe benefit. For such is virtue, such is vice. In the latter there is first the pleasure, then thedespondency: in the former first the despondency, and then the pleasure. But there is no equality;for it is not the same, to be first grieved and afterwards pleased, and to be first pleased and afterwardsgrieved. How so? because in the latter case the expectation of coming despondency makes thepresent pleasure less: but in the former the expectation of coming pleasure cuts away the violenceof present despondency; so that the result is that in the one instance we never have pleasure, in thelatter we never have grief. And the difference does not lie in this only, but also in other ways. Ashow? That the duration is not equal, but far greater and more ample. And here too, it is still moreso in things spiritual.From this [consideration] then Paul undertakes to console them; and again takes up the commonjudgment of men, which no one is able to stand against, nor to contend with the common decision,when one says what is acknowledged by all.Ye are suffering, he says. For such is chastisement; such is its beginning. For “no chasteningfor the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous.” Well said he, “seemeth not.” Chastisement hemeans is not grievous but “seemeth” so. “All chastisement”: not this and that, but “all,” both humanand spiritual. Seest thou that he argues from our common notions? “Seemeth” (he says) “to begrievous,” so that it is not [really so]. For what sort of grief brings forth joy? So neither doespleasure bring forth despondency.“Nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them which havebeen exercised thereby.” Not “fruit” but “fruits,” 3397 a great abundance.“To them” (he says) “which have been exercised thereby.” What is “to them which have beenexercised thereby”? To them that have endured for a long while, and been patient. And he uses anauspicious 3398 expression. So then, chastisement is exercise, making the athlete strong, and invinciblein combats, irresistible in wars.If then “all chastisement” be such, this also will be such: so that we ought to look for goodthings, and for a sweet and peaceful end. And do not wonder if, being itself hard, it has sweet fruits;since in trees also the bark is almost destitute of all quality, 3399 and rough; but the fruits are sweet.But he took it from the common notion. If therefore we ought to look for such things, why do yevex yourselves? Why, after ye have endured the painful, do ye despond as to the good? Thedistasteful things which ye had to endure, ye endured: do not then despond as to the recompense.3394“ of joy. ”3395“ of grief. ”3396[The Revision has here correctly “ have been exercised, ” and it is so commented upon by St. Chrys. below.—F.G.]3397καρπούς . [At the head of the homily the word is in the singular, as in the text of Hebrews; it is here commented uponas if in the plural.—F.G.]3398εὐφήμῳ3399ἄ ποιος729