The Venerable-Martyr Theodosia the Virgin (286-305)
Apostle’s Fast
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Romans 4:4-12; Matthew 7:15-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Every once in a while it is good to hear what the Fathers of the Church have commented on certain passages of Scripture. Today, we offer small texts from four of them:
St. John Chrysostom:
It does not seem to me that false prophets here refers to the heretics, but rather to persons who live morally corrupt lives while wearing a mask of virtue. They are usually called frauds by most people. For this reason Jesus continued by saying, “By their fruits you will know them.” For it is possible to find some virtuous persons living among heretics. But among the corrupted of whom I speak it is no way possible. “So what difference does it make,” Jesus says in effect, “if even among these false prophets some do put on a hypocritical show of virtue? Certainly they will soon be detected easily.” The nature of this road upon which he has commanded us to walk is toilsome, and hard. The hypocrite would seldom chose to toil, but would prefer only to make a show. For this very reason the hypocrite is very easily detected. When Jesus notes that there are few who find it, he distinguishes those who do not find the way, yet pretend to find it. So do not look to the mask, but to the behavioral fruits of of those who pursue the narrow way. (Homilies on Matthew, 23:6)
St. Cyril of Alexandra:
There may be some who in the beginning believed rightly, and assiduously labored at virtue. They may have even worked miracles and prophesied and cast out demons. And yet later they are found turning aside to evil, to self-asserted deception and desire. Of these, Jesus remarks that he never knew them. He ranks them as equivalent to those who were never known by him at all. Even if they at the outset had lived virtuously, they ended up condemned. God knows those whom he loves, and he loves those who single-mindedly believe in him and do the things that please him. (Fragment, 88)
St. Augustine:
But from their actions, we may conjecture whether this their outward appearance is put on for display. For when by any temptations those things are withdrawn or denied them which they had ether attained or sought to attain by this evil, then needs must that it appear whether they be the wolf in sheep’s clothing, or the sheep in his own. (Catena Aurea: St. Matthew, 7:15-20)
St. Gregory:
Also the hypocrite is restrained by peaceful times of the holy church, and therefore appears clothed with godliness. But let any trial of the faith ensue, and straight the wolf — ravenous at heart — strips himself of his sheepskin and shows by persecuting how great his rage against the good. (Catena Aurea: St. Matthew, 7:15-20)