John Chrysostom — Commentary on Scripture

Isaiah 56:10

Hence even sacred Scripture, with these sorts of disturbing passions in mind, in many places applies the names of brutes and of wild beasts to those gifted with reason; sometimes it calls them “dogs” on account of their shameful and headstrong behavior—“dumb dogs,” since they are “unable even to bark.”

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 12:10

Isaiah 57:18

For such is the loving-kindness of God; he never turns his face away from a sincere repentance, but if any one has pushed on to the very extremity of wickedness and chooses to return afterwards toward the path of virtue, God accepts and welcomes and does everything so as to restore him to his former position.

LETTER TO THE FALLEN THEODORE 1:6

Isaiah 57:19

But let us humble our own souls by almsgiving and forgiving our neighbors their trespasses, by not remembering injuries or avenging ourselves. If we continually reflect on our sins, no external circumstances can make us elated, neither riches, nor power, nor authority nor honor; no, even should we sit in the imperial chariot itself, we cry bitterly.

ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 9:9

Isaiah 58:6

Do you see, dearly beloved, what true fasting really is? Let us perform this kind and not entertain the facile notion held by many that the essence of fasting lies in going without food till evening. This is not the end in view, but that we should demonstrate, along with abstinence from food, abstinence also from whatever is harmful, and should give close attention to spiritual duties. The person fasting ought to be reserved, peaceful, meek, humble, indifferent to the esteem of this world.

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 8:15

Isaiah 58:9

Were he distant from us in place, you might well doubt, but if [God] is present everywhere, to him that strives and is in earnest he is near.… What father would ever be thus obedient to his offspring? What mother is there, so ready and continually standing, in case her children call her? There is not one, no father, no mother, but God stands continually waiting … and never, when we have called as we ought, has he refused to hear.

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 54:8

Isaiah 59:2

Inasmuch, then, as this is the cause that puts us far from God, let us remove this obnoxious barrier that prevents any near approach being made.But now hear how this has actually occurred in real instances. Among the Corinthians some man of mark committed a sin such as was not named even among the Gentiles. This man was a believer and belonged to the household for Christ; and some say that he was actually a member of the priesthood. What then? Did Paul cut him off from the communion of those who were in the way of salvation? By no means, for he himself it is who rebukes the Corinthians countless times, backwards and forwards, because they did not bring the man to a state of repentance; he desired to prove to us that there is no sin that cannot be healed.

LETTER TO THE FALLEN THEODORE 1:8

Isaiah 59:2

But punishments lead us back to God.… Suppose anyone has a wound, which is the more deserving of fear—gangrene or the surgeon’s knife? The steel or the devouring progress of the ulcer? Sin is gangrene; punishment is the surgeon’s knife. As then he who has a gangrene, although he is not lanced, has to sustain the malady and is then in the worse condition when he is not lanced, so also the sinner, though he is not punished, is the most wretched of people and is then especially wretched when he has no punishment and is suffering no distress.

HOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 6:14

Isaiah 59:2

The enmity that God had both against Jews and Gentiles was, as it were, a middle wall. And this wall, while the law existed, was not only not abolished but rather was strengthened.

HOMILIES ON EPHESIANS 5

Isaiah 64:4

Let us scrutinize those who enjoy the good things of the world in this present life, I mean wealth and power and glory. Exulting with delight, they reckon themselves as no longer being on the earth. They act this way even though the things that they are enjoying are acknowledged not to be really good and do not abide with them but take to flight more quickly than a dream. And even if these things should even last for a little time, their favor is displayed within the limits of this present life and cannot accompany us further. Now if these things uplift those who possess them to such a pitch of joy, what do you suppose is the condition of those souls that are invited to enjoy the countless blessings in heaven, blessings that are always securely fixed and stable? And not only this, but also in their quantity and quality heaven’s blessings excel present things to such an extent as never entered even the heart of the human being.

LETTER TO THE FALLEN THEODORE 1:13

Isaiah 66:24

If … we have any sense of our own salvation, let us, while we still have time, abandon evil ways, concern ourselves with virtue and despise vainglory.

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 22:21