John Chrysostom — Commentary on Scripture

Ezekiel 18:23

If it had not been his will that they should hear and be saved, he ought to have been silent, not to have spoken in parables. But now by this very thing he stirs them up, even by speaking under a veil.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF GENESIS 45:2

Ezekiel 18:24

O such strictness toward the righteous! O such abundant forgiveness toward the sinner! He finds so many different means, without himself changing, to keep the righteous in check and forgive the sinner, by usefully dividing his rich goodness. And listen how. If he frightens the sinner who persists in sins, he brings him to desperation and to the exhaustion of hope. If he blesses the righteous, he weakens the intensity of his virtue and makes him neglect his zeal, since he considers himself already blessed. For this reason he is merciful to the sinner and frightens the righteous.

HOMILIES ON REPENTANCE AND ALMSGIVING 7:2.5

Ezekiel 20:5

Is it not true that from the beginning and long before today you lived with countless transgressions of the law? Did not the prophet Ezekiel accuse you ten thousand times when he brought in the two harlots, Oholah and Oholibah, and said, “You built a brothel in Egypt, you passionately loved barbarians, and you worshiped strange gods.”

DISCOURSES AGAINST JUDAIZING CHRISTIANS 6:2.5

Ezekiel 20:12

For indeed the sabbath did at first confer many and great benefits; for instance, it made them gentle toward their household and humane; it taught them God’s providence in the creation; as Ezekiel says, it trained them by degrees to abstain from wickedness and disposed them to regard the things of the Spirit.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 39:3

Ezekiel 20:25

To convince you that these laws contribute not to any virtue but were given to them as a sort of curb, providing them with an occasion of perpetual labor, hear what the prophet says concerning them: “I gave them statutes that were not good.” What does “not good” mean? Statutes that did not contribute greatly toward virtue. Therefore he adds also, “and ordinances whereby they shall not live.”

HOMILIES ON 1 CORINTHIANS 7:9

Ezekiel 33:11

How then is he good and merciful and full of loving kindness to humankind? Even here he is merciful, and he shows in these things the greatness of his lovingkindness. For he shows us these terrors, that through being constrained by them we may be awakened to the desire of the kingdom.

HOMILIES ON 2 TIMOTHY 3

Ezekiel 34:4

Do you see a shepherd’s vigilance? Do you see his heightened interest? What excuse could they have to whom rational flocks are entrusted but who are guilty of great negligence and day after day, in the prophet’s words, slaughter some of them and look on without intending to take any care of others made the prey of wild beasts or the spoils of other people—even when the labor involved is slight and attention easy? It is a soul, after all, that is to be instructed; but that involves much labor for body and soul.

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 57:32

Ezekiel 34:4

Christ showed that he was different from those who neglect the flock when it is being preyed on by wolves, since he did not neglect them and even laid down his life for them so that the sheep might not perish.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 60

Ezekiel 34:23

For both Ezekiel and other prophets besides speak of David as coming and rising again; not meaning him who was dead but those who were emulating his virtue.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 2:6

Ezekiel 36:20

If we pursue virtue, let us seek before all to gain for ourselves the approval that comes from God alone, and let us take no account of human praise. If we are lax, we should be afraid and humble our thinking with the thought of that judgment that cannot be bribed. Let us tremble at the approach of that dread day and the thought that our actions provoke blasphemy against God.

BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTIONS 6:10

Ezekiel 36:22

Though you sigh only, though you weep only, all these things he quickly snatches as an occasion for saving you.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 3:6

Ezekiel 37:1-14

There were at all events many wonderful and great prophets among ourselves who spoke many things about the future, and they in no way used to bid those who asked them to dig up the bones of the departed. Ezekiel standing near the bones themselves was not only not hindered by [the bones] but added flesh, and nerves and skin to them and brought them back to life again.

DISCOURSE ON BLESSED BABYLAS 2