Cassiodorus — Commentary on Scripture

While honey and comb only taste good in the mouth, the judgments of the Lord offer a perfect sweetness for the mind.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 19:11

Although there are three ways to transgress through human errors—by thought, word and deed, by condensing that boundless sea of transgressions into an abbreviated form—he testifies that transgression flows from two sources. Hidden sin is what is termed “original,” in which we are conceived, born and sin with a secret desire. This happens when we covet the property of our neighbor, or desire to carry out vengeance on our enemies, or want to become more prominent than others, or seek more palatable food or similar desires which swell and steal on us in such a way that they escape the notice of many people before they take effect. If these sins do not become known to anyone, … we must still realize that there are many sins of which we are completely unaware, whose origins and deceptions we are not able to perceive. Therefore the text ought to be understood to refer to all sins when it says “Who can understand his sins?”

Explanation of the Psalms 19:13

Psalms 19:14

He calls God his helper in good things and his redeemer from evil ones so that no one may attribute to his own merits what he has received through the generosity of heaven.

EXPOSITIONS OF THE PSALMS 19:15

Psalms 20:1

By saying “in the day of tribulation,” he indicates a time of the most severe affliction in which we entreat the Lord with an intense longing.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 20:2

Psalms 20:6

The salvation which he established is recognized as our power when it is neither diminished by diseases nor injured by pains. Such a salvation makes us powerful, since it protects us within its eternal existence.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 20:6-7

Psalms 20:7

Among the ancients there were two types of triumphs: a greater one having to do with chariots, which was called a laureled triumph; the other, a lesser triumph, was called an ovation. But leaving such things to worldly people, he affirms that he has been exalted in the name of the Lord. For chariot and horse do not exalt, though they seem to glorify people with honors in this world. But it is the Lord’s name which leads to eternal rewards.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 20:8

Psalms 20:8

Those who trust in human honors have been snared by their own perverse desires and have fallen into the pit of death.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 20:9

Psalms 20:8

A Christian is said to rise in two senses; first, when he is freed by grace from the death of vices in this life and he continues in God’s grace of justification.… Second, there is also the general resurrection at which the just will receive their eternal rewards. In this passage it is clear that both senses of resurrection are appropriate. For this reason, when he adds “we have been raised,” it is because in any sort of resurrection the faithful arise from their humble status and are elevated to divine rewards.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 20:9

Psalms 21:1

Our belief that there are two natures in Christ the Lord, one divine and one human, is a matter of salvation. These two natures endure without change in one person for ever. This statement of faith bears frequent repetition, because, when it is frequently heard and believed, it brings life. In the initial narrative of this psalm, the words of the prophet are directed toward God the Father concerning the Lord’s incarnation. The second part describes his diverse virtues and glory, describing his life from the point at which he suffered until he attained the height and peak of all things by the Father’s gracious gift. In the third, the same prophet turns to the Lord Christ, and here in the manner of those who make wishes, he asks that what he knows is to come will be done at the judgment.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 21:1

Psalms 21:3

He indicates that humanity is ever adorned with the anticipatory grace of the Godhead, because no one offers anything to God first unless what is good is granted by a heavenly gift.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 21:4

Psalms 21:8

They are only called enemies as long as they are led astray by the devil’s enticements. But when they return to Christ the Lord, they are called servants, children and friends.

EXPLANATIONS OF THE PSALMS 21:9

Psalms 21:9

An oven is a round structure made of bronze for baking bread.… Sinners are rightly compared with it, since at the coming judgment they will be tormented both with mental grief and with punitive pain, because with a stubborn mind they have lived in opposition to the Lord’s laws. The time of the Lord’s anger is the day of judgment when the Son of Man will be seen by all, but only the righteous will look on him also through the contemplation of his divinity.… Earlier, in praise for the Lord Christ, the psalmist described the honor and glory of Christ through the diverse character of his graces. Now … he says that his enemies will be afflicted with various punishments so that they might be rendered as disgusting as he is marvelous.… They will be sentenced to be devoured by undying flames. No delay accompanies the Lord’s command, but as soon as he determines it, it is completed.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 21:10

Psalms 21:11

To divert evils that loom over some people, we mean to push them aside to another place where there is no iniquity to punish. This is exactly what happened with the suffering of the Lord. For when the Jews believed that Roman power would be a threat to them if they had accepted the Lord Savior as King, it seemed right to them to divert those evils upon him which they believed would befall them when the Romans took up the role of avengers. “They came up with a plan” saying, “It is expedient that one man die for all.” “But this they were not able to establish,” that is, to complete according to their vow. For without knowing it, they spoke the truth. It was necessary that one should die for all. The truth was indeed uttered, but with an evil vow. Therefore they will suffer punishment for such a deed, because they did not have a pure conscience.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 21:12

Psalms 21:13

To sing means to proclaim the words of the Lord with the mouth. To make music on the harp means to fulfill the divine commands faithfully through good works.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 21:14

Psalms 22:8

These words are in fact specifically found in the Gospel, for when Christ was hanging on the cross, the Jews were saying: “He hoped in the Lord: let him deliver him now, if he wants him.” O heavenly wholeness! Do we not here seem to be going through the Gospel rather than a psalm, since these things have been fulfilled with such accuracy that they seem to have been enacted rather than about to take place.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 22:9

Psalms 22:16

This is what happened with the body of the Lord Savior: it was fastened with nails and pierced with a spear and thereby brought us a fruit which remains forever. For this reason, we are now not afraid to say that God suffered in the flesh, that God died for the salvation of all. So Father Augustine says admirably in his usual way: “It was an accustomed matter for humankind to die. But in order that this might not always hold sway among humankind, something new happened in that God died.” So also the Apostle says: “But we preach Christ, and him crucified.” So that you may not think that the Virgin’s Son was somehow some other one, as some of those who are without reason do, he added: Christ, who is surely “the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” For what seems so foolish or so weak to unbelievers as when they hear that God, the Son of God, was both crucified and buried? “But it pleased God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save believers.” For the Lord’s incarnation is t…

This is what happened with the body of the Lord Savior: it was fastened with nails and pierced with a spear and thereby brought us a fruit which remains forever. For this reason, we are now not afraid to say that God suffered in the flesh, that God died for the salvation of all. So Father Augustine says admirably in his usual way: “It was an accustomed matter for humankind to die. But in order that this might not always hold sway among humankind, something new happened in that God died.” So also the Apostle says: “But we preach Christ, and him crucified.” So that you may not think that the Virgin’s Son was somehow some other one, as some of those who are without reason do, he added: Christ, who is surely “the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” For what seems so foolish or so weak to unbelievers as when they hear that God, the Son of God, was both crucified and buried? “But it pleased God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save believers.” For the Lord’s incarnation is the marvelous height of his mercy, an unimaginable gift, an incomprehensible mystery. From the same source, either salvation issues forth for those of the right mind or destruction is begotten for corrupted minds.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 22:17

Psalms 22:17

They did not appear to have done something in passing or by chance. Instead, he says that they “looked carefully and stared,” and their stony hearts were not softened by miracles. Great rocks were split and the earth shook, the sun hid itself in a cloak of darkness so as not to look upon such a great crime, and, how sad to say, their wickedness remained unshaken in their sacrilege, and their eyes unwavering.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 22:18

Psalms 22:23

Once the Lord’s passion has been related a little more extensively, he moves on to the third section in order that their hearts may not be distraught by a lingering sadness. In this part, he addresses the faithful, so that they may praise him, recognizing his ordering of events, and in order that they may gather together to celebrate the proclamation of him with universal rejoicing. For through his suffering has come the salvation of the faithful and the life of the just. Now let us consider what a sweet emotion is demonstrated in the fear of the Lord. For human fear does not engender praise, but rather blame. But the fear of God, because it is just and right, produces praise, imparts love and kindles the warmth of love.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 22:24

Psalms 22:26

Note that he wrote only the word poor to indicate those who despised the enticements of this world with the most lavish contempt; not the rich who are stuffed with the happiness of this world, but the poor, namely, those who hunger for God’s kingdom.… The poor praise the Lord, while the rich exalt themselves. The rich collect earthly treasures, while the poor become rich with heavenly abundance. Their resources differ, and each has a completely different mindset. The rich acquire their wealth from this world, but the poor from God.… The poor possess what they could never lose; the rich cling to what not only the dead but even the living frequently lose.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 22:27

Psalms 22:28

God will rule over the nations, for the kingdom belongs to the Lord. Kingdoms do not belong to the nations, but to the Lord, who by his own power both changes and retains kings. The one who is known to be the Lord of history must be worshiped everywhere.

EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 22:29