THE BOOK CALLED “GOLDEN-MOUTHED,” #
In which every subtle teaching of the Divine Scripture is interpreted by Saint John Chrysostom, the Great, and by other holy fathers.
HOMILY 1 #
On the Sunday when the Gospel parable of the Publican and the Pharisee is read, interpreted by Saint John Chrysostom, the Great.
Come, therefore, brethren, and listen to the voice of Christ, that we may become more vigilant in obedience. For the Savior spoke this parable for our salvation: for He did not come for the sake of the righteous, but for the sake of sinners, that they might be saved. He said:
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican” (Luke 18:10).
From the very beginning of this word, let us understand: each of us carries both within himself. The temple, beloved, we understand as the structure of our own body, as the Apostle says: “Brethren, ye are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:16). The two men, then, are the heart and the soul, in which both righteousness and sin dwell.
Yet righteousness falls through pride, while sin is overcome through humility. For David said by the Holy Spirit: “For in thy sight shall no man living be justified” (Psalm 143:2). And again he said: “I was humbled, and He saved me” (Psalm 116:6).
The heart, therefore, is the Pharisee, who does not preserve virtue but boasts of his deeds and exalts himself over the slothful, knowing not what is written: “Boast not, nor speak lofty things in your pride, nor let arrogance go forth from your mouth” (1 Sam. 2:3).
But the soul itself is called the publican, for it was created pure by God, and having been defiled in the body, it dares not lift its eyes to heaven, but, striking its breast in sorrow for its evil deeds, with deep sighs and an unceasing voice, it cries: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Which is to say: do not desire to put me to the test of words. Thus, through repentance, he receives justification.
Let no one stumble at this, as though the human mind were divided in two and a thought separated from a word: for “the flesh lusteth against the spirit” (Gal. 5:17), and two adversaries are constantly at war within us. Gluttony rises against fasting, pride against virtue, drunkenness against chastity, fornication against the purity of the soul, hatred and wrath against love, arrogance against humility, falsehood and slander against truth, and many other evil deeds.
“Two horsemen,” it is said, “a publican and a Pharisee.” The Pharisee yoked two horses together, thinking to reach eternal life: one horse was virtue—fasting and almsgiving; but the other was pride, boasting, and judgment of others. And pride overtook virtue, and the chariot was broken, and the presumptuous rider perished.
For no one, it is said, “takes honor unto himself, but he that is called of God” (Heb. 5:4). And the Apostle says: “Boast not, sitting upon the branch, for thou bearest not the root, but the root thee” (Rom. 11:18).
But the publican also yoked two horses together: one was evil deeds—extortion, impurity, gluttony; but the other was humility and the refusal to despair. And humility, with its steadfast hope, saved the rider: for with a single word he found justification, saying: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
Rightly did the prophet say: “The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18), and the word prevailed over the deed.
For the Pharisees called themselves righteous and supposed that they had fulfilled the whole law, yet they did not heed the very Lord Himself, who said: “I came to seek the lost” (Luke 19:10). But the Jewish assemblies rebuked Him, saying: “Hath any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him?” (John 7:48).
For they did not wish to receive the repentant into their community, and thus in the temple they condemned extortioners while recalling their own virtues and boasting.
Hearing this, the publican, as one who lacked boldness, did not even wish to lift his eyes to heaven, but struck his breast, that he might stir his soul to repentance and his heart to contrition; for this reason, wicked thoughts fled from him, and he said: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
Therefore, brethren, let us imitate this publican in his great humility, by which the Lord Himself humbled Himself and taught us all to be humble in mind, that we may receive eternal blessings in Christ Jesus, our Lord, to whom be glory now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.