Chapter 5

Holy Bible

The King’s Constitution (1) The average list provided us with the King’s constitution, or the message of the throne, which He declared to go people. This is to be committed by His kingdom. It has been called the Sermon on the Mount, because the Lord Jesus delivered it when sitting on the mount 1- Introduction to the constitution 1-2 2- the Blessednesses 3-12 3-The Christians message 13-16 4-The Completion of the law 17-20 5-Murdering 21-26 6-Adultery 27-30 7-Devorce 31-32 8-Swearing 33-37 9-Resisting Evil by doing good 38-41 10-The love to your enemies 42-48 1-Introduction to the constitution: The Sermon or the Mount composes the three chapters 5,6,7 of the gospel of our teacher St Matthew. The fathers of the first church were concerned about it, as well as the non- Christian wise men since it presents a live constitution for a perfect complete life. St Augustine says,” In it there are all the excellent principles necessary for a perfect Christian life.” The evangelist began to declare this constitution with the introduction (Matt5: 1.2) “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain: and after the sat down, His disciples came to their, then He began to speak, and taught there saying” The Messiah the King met his people on the mount to speak to them, and declare the constitution for His kingdom. In the old times, Moses the prophet went up the mount to receive the law after fasting for forty days. This is in addition to a lot of preparation performed by the priests, The Levites and the people. It was not possible for anyone other than Moses to receive the law or to hear God’s voice. They just saw the mountain in smoke, with thick clouds surrounding it, and thunder roaring. But now the word of God has descended in the form of a slave, to set down with humans on the mount speaking directly, in simplicity, to them. The mount, as St.Augustine says, signifies the lofty spirit. This spirit has been uplifted above temporary matters, and was soaring in the heavens. On this mountain God’s holy city appears, which can never be hidden. The holy church appears, embellished by the life of the saints. On this holy mount, the lord Himself ascends so as to speak to his people .The mount there fore, is a true witness for they’re through the practical sanctified life. Moreover, the mount points to there lofty souls of the fathers and prophets of the Old Testament, as well as to the disciples and apostles of the New Testament, since they all represent one high mountain. The Lord has sat on it speaking, because this is the goal of the law and the prophecies, which leads us to the Messiah, the Savoir. Furthermore, it is the goal of the preaching and listens to Him. https://coptic-treasures.com/ When the Lord sat on the mount, His disciples came to Him. As St. Augustine says,” To be Physically close to him and listen to His words, as well as being spiritually close to Him and carry out His commandments “. Indeed, whenever we enter the divine commandment by practicing it, the Holy Spirit that supports us in fully carrying it out. This is like a high mountain where we find our Jesus speaking to us with. His divine mouth calling to us and we respond understandingly. “He opened His mouth and taught them saying “God was not used to speaking to us directly with His divine mouth. He used to teach us through His deeds with us His constant care. He furthermore, spoke to us through the constant prophecies. But now, He has come to speak to us with his mouth directly. The expression ‘he opened His mouth in Greek, Points to the importance of the subject matter, and its propriety on one hand, and on the other what is said springs directly from the speaker. It is not reported by others, that is to say it springs out of His thoughts, and inspiration, and from the bottom of His heart. The Lord has opened His mouth to tell us the most important message in His constitution, revealing what is inside Him, and declaring His inner mysteries towards us. It actually opens this heart to us. The verb ‘taught’ in Greek is in the past continuous St.Matthew the evangelist says that Jesus opened His heart’s sacraments, so as to teach them the mysteries of His love to them. 2- The Blessed nesses: The Messiah, the King began His constitution will the positive side. He did not mention the forbidden things, but he rather attracted them to the ‘righteous life’ He revealed to them the rewards so as to motivate them. St.Augustine says,’ As long as we love to see the rewards, we have to continue the struggle to attain then. Let us be kindled in our eager work to obtain them.” 1-Blessed are the poor in spirit: What is this ‘poor in spirit other than the life of humility, through which man realizes that without God he is nothing, at all. His heart is therefore opened in humility so as to enjoy His blessings, Adams sin was to disregard God’s would by fulfilling his own personal will. This is why the truly rich word of God came in poverty for our sake. He not only declined His glory, but also by declining His will, which is one with that of the Father, In representing us he became poor so as to accept the richness of his good Father’s will saying not my own will, but thine Pride is the source of all downfalls, whereas humility or the poverty of the spirit is the entrance to the heavenly kingdom “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”(ch, 5:4) As pride is the source of all evil, humility is the basic for all the control of the spirit. St. John Chryostom. Indeed, the blessed nesses cannot begin other than this beginning, since it is set to achieve the highest peak of wisdom ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). On the other hand, Prides is the first of all sins”(Josh 10:15). Let the haughty one search for the earthly possessions and let him love them, but “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Saint Augustine. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Indeed, there is no poverty more severe or more holy than when man knows about himself he is powerless and cannot defend himself. He asks for daily help from the goodness of others. In this way he knows that every moment of his life depends on God’s protection. He cries out every day for the Lord (Psalm 40:7) As for me I am poor and miserable, Lord take care of me.” This foundation of modesty has been set for the whole building to be erected on, in safety. If this modesty is taken away from us, even if this person has reached the heavens, then it will absolutely collapse and has a deplorable downfall. He might have fasted and prayed, and has been charitable and decent, and doing all sorts of good deeds, yet, without this modesty all what you have gathered inwardly will surely fall down and perish. St. John Chrysostom The poor in spirit is humble, fears the word of God, and confesses his sins, he does not pride himself on his merits and his righteousness. The poor in spirit is he who praises God when good things happen, and rebukes him when things happen to come. The poor in spirit does not hope for anything else but God, because the hope in Him alone does not fail. The poor in spirit is he who renounces all what he possesses and follows Jesus. He is hence freed from all earthly burdens and flies to Him as if on wings St. Augustine B- Blessed are they who mourn The modest person flies in the spirit to the “spiritual grief” There, he realizes his sins, and feels its burden, and is truly repentant. He is aware as well of his human weakness, and grieves for every downloaded soul. The Lord was sinless, yet he took us to this door’ the spiritual grief” He these met the wicked ones (Mark3:5)”He was grieved at their hardness of heart”. On entering Jerusalem, He went over the hardness of their hearts. Jesus was found weeping but He was never found laughing! Indeed, He was pleasant, pouring His peace on others, and never frowned, yet He was never found to laugh. St Paul embodied his master’s Spirit, and spent his years of service weeping in tears for the sake of everyone’s salvation. He said (Rom.9: 2)’ I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart…for the sake of my own people, my hundred according to the flesh.” He moreover said (2 Cor.2:4)”For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears. Grief means to be sorry for losing loved things. But those who are called to God miss these things they were used to having in this world such as valuables, because they no longer are thrilled with them as before. If they have the joy of eternal things, then they are no more hurt, or very slightly so. They are therefore comforted by the Holy Spirit, the comforter, that is thus called the Paraclete”. So they would obtain joyfully the eternity on account of missing the temporary pleasures. St.Augustine https://coptic-treasures.com/ Here, he does not mean those who generally grieve, but those who grieve over sin, since the other kind of grief is absolutely forbidden. These are they who grieve over an issue concerning this short life. This is what St.Paul declared clearly saying (2Cor. 7:10) “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and borings no regret. He demands we are sorrowful not only for ourselves but also for the wickedness of others. This quality has been attributed to the souls of saints such as Moses, Paul and David. Yes, indeed, all of these grieved over sins that did not concern them. St. John Chrysostonr When God grants comfort and solace, even though you are inflicted by numerous sorrows, yet they become as icy surfaces that you stand on and which soothe you coolly. In truth, what God grants us is so such greater than what we tolerate concerning sorrows. St. John Chrysostom A long journey with no tears does not reveal the desire for seeing the mother country. If you desire something you’re not in, then pour out your tears. You tell God (Psalm 55:9) that you have put your tears before His face, and that your tears have become your food day and night. My tears have come to be my bread, and I was comforted in my affliction, I fed on it when I was comforted. In was hungered. Is there any righteous one who lacked tears as such? If he did not have these tears then he was not distressed over his estranged life. Put out the fire of sin with your tears, and cry before the Lord, Cry and be comforted before God, who has made you, and He does not scorn what His hands have made. He, who cries here, finds his solace, for be fears to cry again! Let the tears be my portion now, so my soul would be comforted over its illusions. Let my body wear true health, which is immortality. Let no one tell me. You are happy for he who tells me so wishes to delude me. St.Augustine Just as when rainfalls cover the ground and produce fruits and this rejoices the people, likewise are the tears if they fall on the heart, spiritual fruits are produced as well as the souls spiritual and physical comfort together. St. Mocaruis the great A man dressed in the robe of holy pain granted by God to him, is like someone, dressed for a wedding, and he knows the joy of the soul’s spirituality. No one can contradict that the tears poured out for God, are useful and rewarding, we shall know its use when we depart from this world. A person, who is on the rood of continuous grief and mooning for the sake of God’s love, is never in the loss of joy everyday. St. John El Dergy C- Blessed are the Meek Constant sorrow over our sins and those of others polishes the soul and makes it humble. Whatever serous issue overcomes him can never make him lose its inward peace. Humility in fact is not to be silent, but it is rather the strength of the inward spirit that is aware of the mysteries of eternal salvation, and therefore earthly matters do not disturb it. He understands its true message, and is not affected by Bain trifles; He is like a lion that is not shaken before anyone who thinks he’s provoking him. He is neither like the bird that t is shaken badly by any action of a little child. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Likewise is the humble soul, for it is aware of God’s abilities working in it, It comprehends the power of the spirit, and therefore it lives in inward humility, reflected by outer action. The Creek word translated here ‘humble’ is used in describing the tamed animals. It is as if the Lord is blessing our native, which was previously fierce, and it has succumbed to God its trainer, It has therefore become a tamed creature, previously fierce and violent with others, and ever with itself. It has become meek and submissive, and its instincts and motives have been tamed. As for the reward, it is to inherit the land which is “the body of dust”’ for previously it was fierce and rejected the spirit, but now to has become a servant to it, kindled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Humility does not mean a life of weakness or submissiveness, for the Lord has offered himself an example for humility. He said, learns of me, for I am meek and humble of heart. This is not because He was in need of any taming, but it is rather a natural humility, unacquired, by which He tamed us, He granted us His life in us, and we carry His humility inwardly. The world considers a humble person as losing a lot, because of the deceit of the evil ones. But the Lord assured us of the reward, which is “the inheritance of the earth”. As St John Chrysostom says, the earth here means literally: “When it is believed that the humble one loses his money, the Lord contradicts this.” He does not only motivate us with the absolute blessings to come, but also with the present blessings, what He says does not mean He is limiting His blessings to present issues only, but that he links them to other blessings as will. When He speaks of spiritual matters, He does not disregard the matters pertaining to the temporary life. Neither does He, by promising the matters concerning the present life, limit His promise to this alone. St. Augustine thinks ‘the earth’ here, means the land of the living mentioned in the book of Psalms (142:5) where the soul rests by providence. This is like the body that rests on land and feeds on its food. We can interpret ‘the land’ here symbolically, since it is the evil ones tied to earthly matters. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we have become a heaven; that with the modesty of our heavenly Christ we can inherit and gain this earth or land, and it too can become a heaven. This is because the wicked ones have accepted the heavenly life in them. The land moreover points to the body; through the inward humility reflected on our behavior with others, not only makes others submit to us spiritually and are changed to heaven by means of the holy Spirit working in them, but also makes our body surrender to us and no longer resists the spirit. St Augustine wares us that our understanding of the inheritance of the land should not been literal and becomes our goal. He says, “You wish to possess the land, but beware of it possessing you. You will possess it if you become humble, and it will possess you if you are not so. When you hear this saying, that is to say of possessing the land, do not allow yourselves to be security greedy. You want to inherit the land, be careful not to let the land inherit you. If you are humble you will inherit it, and if cruel, it will inherits you. You will truly inherit the land when you cling to the makes of heaven and earth! https://coptic-treasures.com/ Of what use is boasting in pride of miracles when you are humble and meek at heart? Are not you like those saying at the end ‘haven’t we prophesied in your name and in your name we have perfumed many miracles. And what do they hear? I do not know you, get away from me, you evil does. St Augustine The Lord finds rest in the humble hearts. But as for the disturbed spirit it is a place for Satan. The humble and meek inherit the land; or rather have authority over it. But as for the wicked ones, they will be expelled from their land. St. John Clemakos St. Ambrosios speaks in his first book of ‘the duties of priests about the humility a Christian has to be committed to. This concerns the priest in particular; in his inwardly life that touches his whole being upwardly, and it extends to all his behavior even in his worship and mission. We pick some of these excerpts: “How beautiful is the virtue of meekness, and how sweet is its tenderness. This is apparent not only in our actions, but un our words as well, so we don’t pass the line, in our decent conversation, or even in the tone of the words which are unacceptable. Let our words be a mirror that reflects the mental image: “Even in praise and hymns, we have to be conscious of our meekness. It is the first basis worthy to be followed.” “One of the most important appearances of modesty is silence, so that all the other virtues settle down. Silence is not to be blamed unless it springs from the spirit of pride or childish behaviors” “There is no doubt there is modesty in the look of the eye. This modesty in its turn takes away from the woman the desire to stare at a man, or the desire to be looked at by men. “In our prayers, modesty is greatly acceptable and pleasing, and grants us great grace towards God” “More than anything, we have to hold fast to humility in our action, in our features, in our walking. It is most probable that the physical action reveals the mental mood.” D- Blessed are those who thirst and hunger for righteousness: When the believer carries the humility of Christ unworldly, he inherits the land that all the more asks to be quenched and watered my Christ himself our lord. He cries out (Psalm42: 1) “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God “The Holy Spirit makes us enter through this hunger and thirst to a deeper unity with the Lord Jesus our righteousness.. He uplifts us to the Father’s embrace so we could see Him, and get satisfied with Him. The human s says therefore (Psalm17: 15)”As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness (in Christ); When I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness” By means of the Lord Jesus, we enter to His Father’s embrace, so we see His face and get satisfied, for we have been awakened from our sleep, and carry His likeness in us. When we thirst for God. The Lord Jesses comes to us, for He is the Rock that has been struck, and it overflows with the water of life. St Augustine thus says,” Our thirst is quenched by means of the rock in the wilderness, If you strike the Rock in the wilderness then the Rock is Christ, stricken by the roof so as to overflow with water, but to make it overflow, the Rock has been stricken twice, because the cross has two panels. https://coptic-treasures.com/ We can understand this statement, if we go back to the old congregation in the wilderness when they hungered and thirsted, Hunger for then was not merely a feeling in the empty stomach between meals. The thirst was not merely the desire for some water to quench the ordinary thirst. The situation was a matter of life or death, hunger and thirst in the wilderness were not two supplementary or ordinary issues, and it was rather a struggle for life against death. Likewise is our eagerness for the Lord Jesus our righteousness. This is not secondary in our life, but it rather represents our life to eternity or our perish to eternity. In Greek the expression ‘to righteousness ‘, which means ‘to all righteousness’. Our hunger and thirst is not for a portion of righteousness, but rather to enjoy the perfect righteousness. This means to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Himself, our perfect righteousness. I wish our inward man hungers and thirsts, and hence he would have the food and the drink special for him. The Lord Jesus has said (John6: 4)” I am the bread that came down from heaven.” Therefore this is the bread for those who are hungry. Let us be eager for the drink like those who are thirsty (Psalms 36:9)”For with you is the fountain of life” St Augustine. If we wish to be filled, we have to hunger and thirst. We have to ask and entreat and knock like those hungry and thirsty. Satisfaction has to be preceded by hunger, so that man would not be disgusted with the bread offered him. Let there be the thirst for wisdom and righteousness. You will not be satisfied with wisdom, and be failed with righteousness before this your life is terminated, and reach to where the Lord has promised you. St.Augustine. E- Blessed are those who are merciful: The spiritual hunger urges us in the spirit to enjoy the Lord Jesus, and to liberate us to go to the Father’s embrace. The sign for this satisfaction is our joy in his qualities in us, especially the mercy filled with love. The Lord says (Luke6: 36)”Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “It is not a commandment to be observed, as much as it is a divine grant for us to be blessed with in our partnership with God, the merciful, in His Son. Mercy is God’s commandment to us, and is his free gift which opens our hearts not only with materialistic giving’s to the poor, but also by carrying the merciful nature in all our behavior St John Chrysotom says,” here it seems he is speaking not only about those who manifest mercy by offering money, but also about the merciful in their actions. To manifest mercy has many forms, and the commandment is very brood” Mercy does not spring up from weakness or seclusion, but rather from strength. We recall the attitudes of Caesar Adrian us, when it was said that someone humiliated him before he because king. When he because king he told him’ you have been saved, man, because to day I am king” In this way man realizes his royal position in being united with the king of kings. He embodies in him mercy, even to those scorning him, since it is a diving royal quality. We notice the word” mercy’ here, does not signify merely the materialistic donation, or even the feeling. It rather means the practical sharing others. It is as if we replace them, and feel their sufferings and hardships. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The lord himself had done so, he who has been merciful to us, drawing close to us, and accepting our nature, and bearing our sufferings. This is why St.Paul the apostle says (Heb13: 3)”Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; Those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves ever being tortured” If we share our bothers their sufferings, and support them with love and mercy, them the Lord Jesus himself will come to us in our pain to grant us His love and His mercy! As a contrast ‘to judge with no mercy is for him who has done no mercy; and mercy boots over judgment’ (James3: 13). The deeds of mercy are the seeds to the coming harvest. He, who is miserly when sawing, will also harvest miserly. Where as he who saws plentifully, will likewise harvest plentifully. He who does not sow anything will not profit anything. Give what you have, and you will be worthy of taking what is not yours! St.Augustine He who has no mercy is not worthy of god’s mercy. He will have no portion of God’s compassion by his prayers. The martyr Kaprianos He who has mercy on any man the lord’s door becomes open to his pleadings at all times. A spiritual elder If you see a miserable person, remember that though what is apparent is not the Christ, yet it is he who is asking of you and takes from you in the clothes of this one. But you are embarrassed if you hear it is Christ who is asking, and yet not hive him. St. John Chrysostom F- Blessed are the pure in heart: He who copies the Lord, and has mercy filled with love, then God will work in his heart ……… his inward eyes are opened for seeing God. A pure heart is the inner spiritual eye that sees what is unseen. ‘Purity as expressed in Greek signifies the washing and purification to remove the stains of clothes. It also signifies the selection of what is good from what is bad, as the chaff is separated from the wheat, and the army selection of the cowardly. It is also used as to mean the presence of a pure element, unblemished, as offering milk with no foreign element. Similarly is the heart that constantly kneels at the Lord Jesus’ feet: this is constantly washed by the holy blood, and is purified from any particle. The Holy Spirit Himself that he has obtained joyfully in the process of the mystery of the baptism and the holy ointments, He will guard him. There will be no opportunity for and evil thought or a bad look to overcome him. He will permit no evil passion to have authority over him. In this way the heart is purified and is cleaned in all its heaviness, feelings and motivation. He does not ask for anything except God alone. He could see God through his faith in the Holy Spirit that dwells in him. Let us cleanse our hearts by faith so as to be prepared for their who is indescribable, that is to say to the invisible revelation. Let us struggle in purity, so that re that uplifts man to God is purified St Augustine Here he calls: the pure’ meaning those who have obtained all virtues, or those who have mo feelings of wickedness in them, or those who live in piety, There is nothing we need https://coptic-treasures.com/ to see God as mush as the last virtue. This is why St.Paul also says (Heb.12: 14)’ pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” St.John Chrysostom This is the goal of our love. This is the end by which we become perfect and do not perish. For, if we see God, we shall no longer be in need of anything of our actions or good deeds, or our pure desire and eagerness. Because what can we ask for if God is present? What will satisfy man if God does not satisfy him? The Lord of glory has numbered the blessed ones, and the reason for them being blended. He mentioned their deeds and their rewards without mentioning that any of them has ‘seen God’. But when He mentioned the purity of heart, he promised them to see God. This is because the heart contains the eyes by which you can see God. These eyes are spoken of by St. Paul the apostle when he said (Eph.1: 18)’the enlighten of your heart’s eyes’. It is now enlightened by faith, for it is appropriate to its weaknes. But in eternity it will be enlightened by witnessing God since it has become strengthened.(2Cor 5:6,7)’ while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord for we walk by faith ,not by sight.” Now that we have faith, it is said of us (1Cor.13: 12)” For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face” St Augustine What the entire divine holy books offer do not aim that purifying the inward vision, which prevents it from witnessing God. Just as the eye has been created to see the temporary light, even if obstructed by something’s that prevents a person from seeing that light, similarity is the eye of your heart. If it is hurt or injured, it diverts from the light of righteousness, and could no more dare or is able to look at it. What is it that obstructs the purity of your heart’s eye? It is the lust, stinginess, iniquity, excessive pleasure all these hinder the heart’s eye and shut it in blindness. St. Augustine Are we to see God in a relief picture? The fathers warn us of thinking about godliness in a three dimensional way witnessed by the physical eye. It is actually above all the senses. He declares Himself in the heart in a most wonderful way: In a way by which the heart is enabled to tolerate and be blessed with as if in glory. The lord has blessed so many, but has not promised the witnessing of God except to those pure in heart. We do not see God in a certain place, but we rather see Him in a pure heart. We do not search for His with the physical eye. He is not limited to vision or heaving by the ears and he is not known by His footsteps. He is rather though absent physically, Yet we see Him, He could also be present physically, and yet not see Him. All His disciples did not see him, and therefore he said (John 14:9)”Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?”(Eph.3: 18,19)” I pray that you may have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” He will see Christ and also the father.(1Cor 5:16)” for now we do not know Christ according to the body “ but according to the spirit . May God have compassion and mercy on us and fill us with the fullness of God so we could be able to witness Him. St.Ambrosios https://coptic-treasures.com/ Do not let yourself think you will see God face to face; lest with these thoughts you prepare your physical eyes to see Him, and search for a materialistic face to God. Be cautions as to who is He to whom you say honestly” My heart tells you…you face O Lord I desire “ search for Him with your hearts. The Holy Book speaks of God’s face, His arm, His hands, His feet, His throne and His footstool …yet do not assume this means human members, If you wish to be God’s temple, break down this vague statue ie.imagining God in a physical relief image. The hand of God means His strength, His face means knowing Him, His feet are his presence, and his throne is you, if wish. Indeed, what is God’s throne other than the place where he dwells? And where does God dwell other than in His temples? (1Cor 3:17)”For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”Be watchful therefore for receiving God! (John 4:24)”God is spirit, and those who worships him must worship in spirit and truth.” Let the Ark of the Covenant enter your heart, and let Dagon fall if you wish (1Sam 5:3) St.Augustine G- Blessed are the peacemakers: To witness God with a pure heart does not merely mean discovering God’s mysteries in thoughts. It is rather entering the divine life and become blessed with the partnership of God, so as to make the works of Jesus Christ i.e. ’Peace’ since we are God’s children, St John Chryostom says,” Yes, this is the work of the only begotten Son, to unite those divided and reconcile the strangers, The Lord has been called “the prince of peace (Is 9:6). His gospel is ‘the gospel of peace’ (Eph 6:15) His kingdom is that of ‘righteousness, peace, and joy in the spirit ‘(Rom 14:17). As for the price to this peace, it is His precious blood shed on the cross. St. Augustine thinks peace making is not an outward deed performed by man. It is rather a nature by which the sons of God are inwardly blessed with. This is by means of the inward peace that comes to dwell between the spirit and the body through the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus, then the kingdom of heaven is manifested in us. The absolute peace prevails when there is no resistance God’s children are peace makes, for the children have to be like their fathers. They are inward peace makes, because they control the motion of their souls, and make it yields to what is correct ie to the mind and spirit. They also …suppress their bostily passions. In this way the kingdom of God is manifested in them. A man becomes as such: All that is supreme and magnificent in man control with no resistance, the other physical elements. This is in addition to this magnificent element yielding to what is more perfect: this is the ‘Truth’, the only begotten son of God. Man cannot have authority on worldly issues unless his ‘self’ yields to what is greater than it. This is the peace that grants the good will power. This is the life of the wise man, the maker of peace. St.Augustine Peace is the power of Christians, (Phil 4:7)’ and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Blessed are the peacemakers; not only by restoring peace to those unreconciled, but also to those who have peace inwardly, If there is no peace in my heart, of what profit is to me that others are at peace? St. Jerome https://coptic-treasures.com/ Christ our Lord is the ‘Peace’. Let us keep peace, and it will protect us in Christ Jesus. St.Jerome Perfection in peace means everything is acceptable. There for the peacemakers are the children of God, for nothing contradict God, and the children have to be as their fathers. The peacemakers, within themselves, are those who prevail over their psychological tendencies, and make them yield to the mind. This means to the thought and the spirit, they have surrendered their bodily passions and have become the kingdom of God, where everything has become organized. Everything sublime and lofty in man commands what is a base, that which is shared in common between man and animal? In turn, what has become sublime in man, i.e. the thought and the spirit, is in essence yielding to what is greater and more sublime, ie. God. Actually, it is quite impossible for you to judge who is baser than yourself, unless you submit to He who is higher than yourself. This is the peace granted by God on earth to those who have the good will power. Do you wish for peace? Do righteousness, and peace is yours (Psalm 134:11)” Peace and righteousness have embraced ‘ Let peace be a friend and a lover to you, and make your heart a pure bed for it. Let you be comfortably relaxed with it, with no bitterness at all. Let there be a sweet embrace, and a friendship that never ceases. St. Augustine (John 14:27) “Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give unto you”. He has given us this as an inheritance. He has promised us all gifts and rewards He has spoken of though keeping peace. If we are heirs with Christ, let us live in peace; it we as sons to God, we have to be peacemakers. It is appropriate for the sons of God to be peacemakers, with a compassionate heart, simple in talking, united in love, tied together firmly in brotherly love. St.Kapriamos “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake”(Matt 5:10-12) “Blessed are those who are persecuted ‘for righteousness sake’, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great un heaven, for in the same way they have persecuted the prophets who were before you. Because we are children of God, by being united with the only begotten Son of God in the baptism water, we have to practice His work which is peace making. This is highly resisted by Satan, and he arouses against us even our very relatives. We notice in the previous blessings, the lord addressed everyone in general. But at this point, in particular, He addresses those present. This is because the believer accepts the tribulations whether he is shepherded or is shepherd as personal gift presented to us from God In the same way the Lord concluded his blessings, by the possibility of scorn and persecution he likewise promised the heavenly reward for those who bear this ‘for righteousness’ sake ‘, or as he says,’ for My sake ‘. He is our righteousness, and what is said about us deceitfully and scornfully, are lies. The scholar Oreganos wrote to the two saints Ambrousd and Protoktitos , when they were being judged in persecution aroused by Maxmious Trax; he told them, “During the trial, https://coptic-treasures.com/ that is actually occurring now, I wish you to cons tautly remember that great reward prepared by the Father in heaven for those who are wronged and unjustly treated because of righteousness, and because of the Son of Man.(Acts 5:41)’ they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name”. If you are sad, call upon the Lord’s Spirit in us, to keep that spirit of grief away, and wipe out the worry from you hearts.(Psalm 42:5)”why are you cast down , O my soul ,and why are you disquieted with in me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my help and my God.” So, do not let our souls be frightened, even before the chairs of judges, or when facing swords raised to cut our throats. Our souls are preserved in God ‘s peace that surpasses all understanding. We can feel secure and at peace when we recall those who have left the body are alive with the God of all (2Cor 5:8). When St.John Chrysostom suffered the pain of persecution from Audoxia, supported even by religious men, he wrote from his prison to the bishop kiriskos:’When I was kicked out from the bishop Kiriakos:’When I was kicked out from the town, I did not worry. I said to myself’ If the ear press wishes to cleanse me. Let her do so. Because the earth is the Lord’s!! If she wished to saw me, I took upon Isaiah as an example! If she wished to down me in the ocean, I remember Jonah! If I’m thrown in fire, I find the three youths that stood this in the cauldron! If I’m taken before fierce beasts, I recall Daniel in the lions’ den! If she wishes to stone me, St Stephan the first martyr is there before me! If she wished to behead me, let her do so, for the Baptist shines there before me! Naked have I come out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I leave the world! St Paul reminds me,’ If I still please the people I am mo slave to Christ. St.Kaprianos wrote to some confessors, telling them ‘In all these matters, we are more than victorious, for Hem who has loved us’ The Arrangement of the Blessings: St John Chrepostom says ‘Every commandment paves the way for the successive one, All the commandments put together are like a gold chair offered to us. The humble one for sure, is sorrowful over his sins. The grievous one becomes modest, righteous and merciful. He who is merciful and righteous and repentant is surely of a pure heart. These are the ones to make peace. He, who obtains all of these, is only being prepared for the conflict against dangers. He does not get disturbed when spoken of wickedly. He bears these sad tribulations that are so uncountable: St.Augustine explains the Sermon on the Mount, and how the blessed nesses are linked together, so also linked to the Lords spirit of the seven deeds as mentioned in Isaiah the prophet (Is 11:2,3) The arrangement of the swards: Some might ask if the rewards mentioned in the blessedness’s are rewards of various matters, In other words they are asking if the poor in spirit will enjoy the heavenly kingdom, and will not be granted solace; or satisfaction, or mercy, or seeing God…etc? If all these rewards are one gift, then why does the Lord distinguish them one from the other. To comprehend these rewards, we first have to be conscious of the word ‘blessedness’, Actually, it does not mean ‘more thrill or joy ‘, it is a quality that touches the nature of a person. https://coptic-treasures.com/ This is why the Greeks called their Gods’ blessed’ or ‘Makarious’ and not ‘joyful’, Blessedness is concerned with a person’s inward life, and not merely joy that springs from an outer circumstance surrounding him. It is as if the Lord in His blessed nesses has not presented to us any outer rewards. These are actually rewards that touch our inner nature, as we ourselves becoming the kingdom of God. We carry the same merciful nature that is God’s in us, as well as His peace and purity, in this way the rewards are variable, but are completely perfect, and they touch the one inner nature from many angles. Maybe this is what he meant when St.Augustine answered the question:’ Are the other blessed ones deprived of seeing God?’ For he says,’ Do not understand from these commandments and their rewards that the poor in spirit, or the meek, or the sorrowful. Or those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, or the merciful will not see God. Do not think that the pure in heart will see God! Whereas the others who are blessed will be deprived of seeing Him. All of these qualities concern the one and same person. All those blessed will see God. But they do not see Him because of their poverty in spirit, or their humility, or grief, or hunger or thirst for righteousness, or their mercy. They only see Him because of the purity of their hearts. This is similar to the various physical members of man, where each has a special function to do. For instance we say’ Blessed are those who have feet because they walk, and those who have hands for they work, and those who have a voice for they shout, and to those who have a mouth and tongue for they speak, and to those who have eyes for they see likewise is the spirit, for humility paves the way to obtain the kingdom of heaven, and meekness paves the way to posses the land, and grief to obtain solace, and thirst and hunger for righteousness to obtain satisfaction, and mercy to obtain mercy also from the Lord ,and the purity of heart to see God. St Augustine The Blessed nesses and our inward Christ: The Lord commands us to be meek saying ‘’Blessed are the meek ‘ He moreover says (Matt 11:29)”Take My yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart! He also says ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’, whereas the apostle says about Jesus the Lord of glory that He (Eph 5:9) He has made the two into one, and has destroyed the barrier wall, which is enmity. The Lord says “blessed are those persecuted for righteousness ‘sake’, and yet the Lord himself has been expelled out of Jerusalem to carry the shame of the cross. Furthermore, he say’s ‘Blessed are those who mourn ‘, and yet we find Him weeping and mourning over Jerusalem because of the burden of its sins (Luke19: 42). In short, we say that the qualities we obtain through the blessings are the same ones that pertain to the Lord Jesus himself. They are not just duties we struggle in all by ourselves. Therefore our entrance to the blessed life is only by means of our urivard Jesus; He alone grants us to share His qualities in us. He is the secret behind our modesty, our peace, our tolerance in tribulation, and our sorrow over our sins and those of others as well! Let us posses him, and thus possess the partnership of His glory, in its deposit here, and its absolutes perfection in the great day of the Lord. Let us hold fast on to Him and be blessed with the true life of blessing! 3-The Christian Mission: https://coptic-treasures.com/ (Matt 5:13) You are the salt of the earth; but is salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot! The lord spoke of the blessedness as a spiritual ladder on which the believer is raised by means of the Holy Spirit so as to obtain the sanctified life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Then He made clear the believer’s commitment to working in the life of others .He drew the similarity to that of the salt, which we cannot do without in any meal. He called it the salt of the earth’ because it functions in the human life, that which has become land through their link to earthly beliefs. The food salt, or sodium chloride, has certain unique properties that apply to the life of a true believer. We mention some of these. A- this is the sole among all others, because whenever it is used within reasonable limits, is not apparent in its taste in the food, but it brings out the flavor of the food itself. If put too much in the food, it makes the food tasteless and flavorless, and the saltiness is apparent. Similarity, it is appropriate for the Christian to melt in the life of others, but in moderation, without making them lose their personality, or talents or personal qualities, He does not have to make them an identical copy to him, just as a vessel in which he pours the personalities of others, and makes them lose their vitality, which will make them like too salty food. The spiritual Christian is he who is like a soft breeze that passes by so others could breathe the qualities of love, and not the feelings of strong winds. B-Sodium chloride is composed of two elements: chlorine and sodium, both of which are poisonous and deadly. But put together they form salt that is indispensable in our daily food. Moreover, the Christian is also formed of two elements: the spirit and the body. If divided apart by sin, they lose their peace, and become as dead, and man becomes an obstruction .For this reason the Lord Jesus intervened so as to grant the real peace by his Holy Spirit. He made the Spirit as well as the body to be subjected to one univard unity, so that the whole of man would be the secret behind the sweetness of others, and a witness to the Truth. Just as the spirit takes the leadership of the body in spirituality, the body too, in its turn, when sanctified, helps and supports the spirit: In that case, man will live in sanctification both in spirit and body. He will declare its inward unity in the lord, and the work of God before others. C-Food salt is one of the cheapest food items; it is easy to obtain in most of the spots in the world, yet it is so indispensable. Likewise it is appropriate for the believers to live in the spirit of humility as their lord did. They offer their lives cheap, for the sake of their love to everyman whenever he may be. St.John Chrysostom comments on the Lord’s words to His disciples ‘you are the salt of the earth’, saying ‘I do not send you to two towns, or ten or twenty, or to one nation as I have sent the prophets. I am rather sending you to the land, the sea and to the whole world, which has become in an evil situation. By saying ‘you are the salt of the earth’, He meant that all of the human nature has lost its flovour, and that we have gone badly because of our sins. But the lord warns us lest we ourselves would go badly; we who have to be like salt. Then, us that case, we will no one to salt us and to wipe out corruption away from us. https://coptic-treasures.com/ These words are addressed in general to every believer, and in particular to the shepherds and servants. If, through you, the nations are protected from corruption, if you then lose the heavenly kingdom because of the fear of being temporarily kicked out; then, who are the ones to be sent by the Lord for the salvation of your souls, if He has sent you to save the souls of others? St. Augustine The priest intercedes to God for the sake of the sinful congregation, but these are no one to intercede for the priest when he sins. St. Jecome If others fall, they may obtain pardon; but if the teacher falls, is in excused and he falls under severe penalty. St.John Chrysostom After He had spoken of the believers being the salt of the earth, He directed our mission as being the light of the world. He said (Matt 5:14-16)” You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven.” In our love to people, we are eager to serve them and blend into them as the salt in food, and them offer them by means of repentance, as good food the Lord is happy to receive. God therefore does not leave us to melt in the earth, but He rather uplifts us and considers us light to shine to the world. He establishes us as the moon that receives the light of the sun of righteousness that reflects its splendor on the earth and consequrulty, it is enlightened. In His love, He reflects His light on us, and thus the believer becomes more brilliant than the visual sun. No one could hide it, not even the believer himself if with all his might he tries to. No one could offend him, not even the evil ones or those to oppose him. St Paul the apostle says (Phil 2:15)”so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.” St.. Peter moreover says (Peter 2:11,12)”Beloved, I urge you…conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evit doers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when He comes to judge.” St.John Chrysostom says.” The life we present before them is more brilliant than the sun. If anyone speaks wickedly of us, we are not grieved for this ugly picture, but we rather grieve if made ugly justifiably. In addition to these words, the lord reveals the impact of preaching.St.John Chrysostom says.” It is as if they have wings to cross the world speedily, faster than the rays of the sun, so as to spread out the light of correction.” The word of God is based on truth, and therefore the church declares it openly as a grinding light put on a pinnacle before all heretics. It is spread out mysteriously, in diversified ways in the darkness. This is what Pope Athanrious the apostle assured us of in his speech to the bishops in Egypt, where he made clear the method of the Ariosites, and their deceitful system in work. The Lord Jesus compares as to a city established on a mount and which cannot be hidden. What is this city established on a mount other than the man carried by the Holy Spirit to the Lord Himself, so as to sit with him listening to His commandments and to His https://coptic-treasures.com/ sermons? There, he clings to Him, and sits at His feet, and becomes similar to a Holy city in which God Himself dwells, There, He gathers all the angels and saints, and through it the sinners encounter the Messiah, the King, in repentance. The believer becomes sanctified on the holy mount in Jerusalem, which is seen by all, and all rejoice. This concept reminds us of the words of St. Jerome in one of his letters,’what is praiseworthy is not that you are in Jerusalem, but rather because you live the holy life, as a holy city. The city that we praise and ask for is the one that has not slaughtered the prophets (Matt 23:37). Neither did it shed the blood of Christ, but is rather happy with the river streams (Psalm 96:4). That which is built on the mount does not hide (Matt 5:14). The apostle speaks of it as a mother to the saint (Gal 4:26). The apostle rejoices on having the nationality in it with righteousness (Phil 3:20) l Together with this similarity, that of the city established on a mount and cannot be hidden, the Lord wished to encourage His disciples to serving the good news by the word .He assured them that hardships can never hide the truth, or wipe out the work of God. St.Jerome Chrysostom says,” I assume no city as such could be hidden .It is quite impossible that their preaching ends here into silence and disappearance.” He also compares us to a lantern that cannot be hidden under a bushel, but rather has to be placed on a tower, and give light to all those in the house. What is this bushel that puts our the inner light of the lantern other than the submission to materialistic standards in our spiritual life? (John 3:34) “For He gives the Spirit without measure.” Our materialistic human accounts often obstruct our faith. As a result our prayers and pleadings lose a lot of their zeal and effect. This is why the Lord Jesus when He sent His disciples to preach, he took away from them all materialistic abilities, and they had no gold or silver or brass, no provision nor two clocks, no shoes and no rod (Matt 10:9,10). He did so to sweep away from them all materialistic thoughts, leaving all the accounts in the hands of the Lord Himself. He will therefore be their richer, their food and drink, their clothes and their protection. The bushed also points to the obstruction of the spiritual light, in which man wraps up his spirit in physical dense pleasures that are temporary. He imprisons the spirit and deprives it of being, Liberated to soar up in eternal eagerness. The body is transformed into a hindrance to the spirit, instead of becoming of support to it in the worshiping process. And in the sanctification of each member for the account of the Messiah King. I wish we did not imprison the spiritual light in us, in the wrapping of physical passion. But rather let us fly with it to place it on top of the tower i.e. on top of the body with all its senses, hence, the body will not be in control, but in fact it will be enslaved to the true light. St.Paul the apostle put his lantern oh the lighthouse when he said (1Cor 9:26,27)”So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as through beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others, I myself should not be disqualified” In this way the lantern shines in the house. As St.Augustine says,’ I think what is called ‘the house ‘here is the human dwelling, that is to say ‘the world itself’. This is as he had said’ You are the light of the world’. If someone interprets the ‘house as being’ the church ‘. This is also correct. St.John Chrysostom comments on the lit lantern according to the words of the Lord Himself, saying ‘in truth, it is I who switches on the light. But as for the continuity of its being lit, this is fulfilled through your own struggle, surely, disasters are unable to https://coptic-treasures.com/ obstruct your brilliance it you still live your meticulous life, and thus you could be the cause of the change to the whole world. Therefore, appear as living a life convenient to His grace, so that when preaching anywhere, this light accompanies you. Thus our light shines before all people which is no other than the light of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. They will then see the work of God in us, and glorify our Father who is in heaven. We do not present the spiritual deeds asking for our own glory, but rather the glory of God. As St.Augustine says.” He did not only say’ to see your good worker’, but He added ‘and glorify your Father who is in heaven’. This is because man pleases others by his good deeds, not just to please them only, but for the glory of God. He pleases havens so that God is glorified in His works. It is fit for those who admire the good deeds to glorify God and not man. This was apparent when our Lord healed the paralytic, for St.Matthew our teacher says (Matt 9:8) “When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. We have to realize that God when calling His disciples ‘the light of the world ‘, the disciples did not feel as such. Otherwise they would have lost their humility, and the spiritual light would have been extinguished. Moses the prophet did not know his face was shining, but due to the people’s request, he covered his face with a veil. We are badly in need of this, not to witness to ourselves, but rather let God Himself and others witness to His light in us. 4-The completion of the law: The Messiah the King asks us to declare the divine light is us, in our practical life. Our life will then become a lantern on lighthouse lighting up to all who are in the house. Our heavenly Father will then be glorified before all. So, what are the Messiahs commandments to which we are committed in our life? Are they commandments other than in Moses’ law? Does it contradict it? The Lord answers in assurance (Matt 5:17)”Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets ;I have come not to abolish but to fulfill”. The Jews, particularly their leaders, thought they were learners of the law, and protectors to it, although they contradicted it by their unlawful deeds. As St.John Chrysostom says ‘though they did not fulfill the law, yet they looked upon it with a live conscience. They broke the law daily by their deeds, yet they kept it literally with no changes, and nothing added to it. But actually they and their leaders added not what was better, but what was worse. They set the honor to the apart, and yet added some new things of their own. But as for our Lord Jesus He come to fulfill the law and the prophets in various ways. Among these are: Firstly: The prophecies have been fulfilled the Messiah’s person’s Augsostom says,” He fulfilled the prophet’s words in a way and deeds that confirmed all what was said of Hem. The evangelist was used to saying in every case ‘so that it may be fulfilled what the prophet said;’(Matt 1:22,23). This was on His birth, and when the children sang in amazing praise of Him, and on riding the colt (Matt 21:5-16) and many other examples. These matters were fulfilled, and they would not have been it He had not come. Secondly: The Lord fulfilled the law by submitting to it without breaking one single commandment .He says to John the Baptist (Matt 3:15)”Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” He told the jelos(John 8:46) “which of you convicts Me of sin? “ he told His disciples (John 14:30)”for the ruler of this world is https://coptic-treasures.com/ coming ,he has no power over Me” Moreover, the prophet witnessed of him saying (Isaiah 53:9) “there was no deceit in His mouth” Thirdly: St John Chrysostom says the Lord Jesus has not only fulfilled the law in Himself, but He is fulfilling it in us as well. He said “This is what is so amazing: not that he fulfilled the law, but that He granted us too to be like Him. Paul declared this by saying (Rom 10:4) “For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes”. Also in (Rom 8:3,4)”For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do; by sending His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” He also said (Rom 3:31)” Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” As long as the law was on element to justify man, but was unable to fulfill this, Christ came down and man entered the righteous way by faith, and confirmed the goal of the law. What the law could not fulfill literally, has been fulfilled by faith. This is why he said,” I did not come to break the law, but to fulfill it.” Fourthly: The Lord furthermore fulfilled the law by fulfilling its words, by going to its very depth. In the old times, the law commanded not to kill. The Lord came to confirm the commandment not only by not killing but by not being angry for no reason as well. That is to say He uprooted it, and the law was more than being kept safe. He therefore did not break it, but rather presented it more powerfully and vividly. St.John Kasian says,”the gospel word commands us to amputate the roots of our downfall and not to snatch away its fruits, when canceling all the motives, untruthfully, it will not upraise again.” The Lord confirms the holiness of the law ever in the very least of its words, in the least of its commandments .He declared our commitment in fulfilling it in our practical life as in its education. He says (Matt 5:19.29) “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you. Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and “Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The Pharisees thought they kept the law by being zealous in teaching it. They did not realize they were breaking it by their wicked life. Education without work is considered breaking the law, and the teaching will be of no avail. Also working without witnessing before others decreases the reward. The Lord confirmed He did not contradict the law. (Matt 5:18). For I truly tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished.” St. Augustine comments on this saying, “If the addition is complete, then more like by the beginnings also complete. This is why it is understood when He says’ not one letter, not one stroke of a letter from the law’; this expresses the fulfillment of the law, He pointed to a small letter, because the letter (i) is the smallest of all letters, only a little line. He also pointed to the dot on the little line, showing by this that the least part of the law has its importance. Edification without deeds condemns the teacher. Also deeds without the support of others decreases the reward. He, who is unable to teach himself, and tries to correct others, is scorned by many. More so, such a one will have no strength in teaching at all. His deeds will make his words stand against him. https://coptic-treasures.com/ St.John Chrepostom The Lord took the law to perfection, and therefore the children of the heavenly kingdom have to rise up to a better life than that of the scribes, and the Pharisees. The fathers offer us a new interpretation to this: The righteousness of the Pharisees was not to kill, whereas the righteousness of those crossing to the heavenly kingdom is not to be wrathful at all. Therefore, the smaller commandment is not to kill, and he who breaks it, is called the least in the kingdom of heaven. He, who follows this, is not necessarily a great person. He rises to a higher level than the first one, but he will be perfect it he never gets angry, and consequently he is no killer. St. Augustine Since the reward here is greater and the power granted by the spirit is deeper, then our virtues also have to be grater. Here He has not promised us a land flowing with milk and honey, or a life of relaxation, or a lot of children, or the blessing of the mustard seed, wine, cattle and herds. But now ours is the heaven and all heavenliness, adoption, and brotherhood to the only begotten Son, and the sharing of the inheritance with Him; Also to be glorified with Him, to possess with Him, and endless other rewards as well. As for obtaining greater help. Listen to what St.Paul says (Rom 8:1.2)”There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” St.John Chrysostom. Between the Blessedness and the fulfillment of the law: Before we speak of the law fulfillment, we wish to point out what St.John Chrysostom said about the presence of a strong link between the blessings mentioned at the beginning of the sermon, and what has come here. The blessedness offered us the positive angle for the good virtuous life in Christ Jesus our Lord and reward. But here, the Lord presents to us the negative angle by forbidding us to do evil, not only in apparent actions, but also by uprooting evil from the inward heart, and He warned us of the punishment. To be poor in spirit is identical to no anger; because the poor in spirit or the buuble hearted has no place for anger in his heart .The purity of heart equals not to look upon a woman lustfully, and not to put the treasure on the ground. A pure heart does not lust after bodily adultery or love of money To; be merciful and to be spiritually mournful, as will as to tolerate scour and being expelled --all of these mean to go through the narrow door. There, man is eager to bear the pain for the sake of Jesus, and his heart is filled with mercy, suffering with others, accepting their scorn and wickedness, and offering good instead of their evil, Hunger and thirst for righteousness meets God’s commandment to do what you want people to do to you. The spirit that is zealous for the Lord Jesus cannot help presenting the Lord Jesus to others, manifested in their outwardly behavior as well as in their inner feelings. To make peace in equal to leaving the offering of bread (the Korlsaan) since no man is able to meet God presenting this holy bread without enjoying reconciliation with others. 5- Killing After the Lord had confirmed that He did not break the old law, but that He rather fulfilled it, He changed this general speech to the application of the old law commandments. He clarified how to attain perfection, beginning with the commandment https://coptic-treasures.com/ of not to kill. He said,(Matt 5:21.22)”you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times ‘you shall not murder ; and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment ‘But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister ,you will be liable to judgment .” He who teachers us not to be angry does not break the special commandment of not to commit murder .He rather completes it, because when we are not angry we are purified inwardly in our heart, and outwardly also by not killing. St. Augistine. The words ‘to kill’ are contrary to the commandment ‘do not kill’ .As for Jesus Christ who does not allow anger, this makes firm the old law thoughts in a more perfect way. He who asks to avoid killing is not stopped like he who avoids even anger. The latter is farther away from crime. St. John Chysostom What does the Lord mean by saying’ falsely’? He wants us not to lose our brothers and sisters because of temporary issues that are vain and futile, however of value they may appear to be. But if it is for the sake of their eternity, it is appropriate for a feather to be angry with his son, and the teacher with the student. This is not revengeful anger but rather anger for discipline, springing out of love. No one can teach others in hateful anger. Truth cannot be declared through falsehood. Man cannot lose himself, thinking he is correcting others. St.John Chysostom says,’ Do not stand on your side in a battle, and do not take your own revenge. If you see someone committing an error that is fatal, stretch out your hand to help him. When man becomes angry on seeing his brother committing evil against him, let him look on his brother as killing himself, and making himself perish, so he gently and kindly supports him until he quits this wickedness, and not ask for what is his. Some excerpts about anger from our fathers: There is nothing more dangerous than fury, and nothing crueler than wrath! These are drunkenness of anger, which is more dangerous than getting drunk with wine. St.John Chrysostom The Lord then takes us from anger as an inward hidden outburst to the anger accompanied by an outward expession, the word does not imply an ugly meaning, it is merely some kind of scorn. The Lord says (Matt.5: 22)’and whoever says to his brother ’Raca’ shall be in danger of the council” St.Augustine says he asked a Hebrew man about the word ‘Raca” He answered it does not mean anything except an outburst of anger, hard to be translated into another language. St. John Chrysostom thinks it is a Syrian expression, used when talking to servants, and lower class people, instead of saying ‘you’. There is some kind of disrespect to the person being addressed. When a person goes to a works stage declaring his anger in a word directed to him, then he becomes worthy of the council, and not only a verdict. In the verdict, there is some doubt about it. The judge urges the accusation on to be assured of its truth. But as for the concil,it implies some kind of assurance that the accusation in definite and final on the accused person. The judges then decide on the penalty under which he falls. In the Jewish system, there used to be trials in the villages, and towns that had as members from 3 to 33 persons. The accused ones would stand there facing certain crimes. But as for the council, it is of a higher level than these trials, because it is the highest order of justice of that time, and was called the “Synhidreme Counsil”. It is clear from the words of the Lord that He derived this similarity to show the danger of anger accompanied by a word .Man https://coptic-treasures.com/ will not stand before a minor jurisdiction that could have its verdict brother, but before a greater jurisdiction council that wishes to pass a verdict on him. As for the third stage, this is when the angry person is terribly kindled with anger. He does not express himself in a meaningless word, or merely shows discomfiture, but he rather says hurting words. He therefore deserves a greater punishment (Matt.5: 22)’But whoever says’ you fool’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” The word ‘hell’ or gohanem’is composed of two Hebrew words:’gah’ and ‘honoom’ ie ‘inside hanoom’. Hanoom is a valley in which was thrown away all the cattle remains in special containers. These were constantly filled with worms from the remains of animals & fire was continuously burning there. Therefore it was a symbol for Satan and his hosts for an eternal punishment to them, and it was said that its ”worues do not die and its fire is never quenched ‘in this valley Ahaz and Manasseh made their children cross the fire (2Kings 16:3,2 Chron.. 28:3; 33:6). This is hell, the place for eternal punishment to Satan who by nature has become a killer. He who leaves himself to the spirit of anger in helplessness, and does not stop with an inward outburst or speaking about it in a meaningless word, but rather dashes forth saying hurting words…. this person is handed over by God to such a one’s master, and he stays with them in hell. God leaves him there to his heart’s content that yields to anger. If anger is so dangerous, then how can we hold back our tongue from uttering wrathful words? St.Augustine answers,’we are terrified …because who is it among people who is not afraid to say ‘the truth ‘; But whoever says’ you fool’ shall be in danger of hell fire” At the same time the Holy Book says (James 3:8) “But no man can tame the tongue”. Man can tame the ferocious animals, but as for his tongue he is unable to tame it: He can discipline all what he fears, and all what he has to be cautions of, but as for “himself” he could not discipline, though he does not fear this ‘self: Therefore, let us resort to God who is able to tame it! In our turn let us search for God so He tames us. You can tame the lion that you have not created, so is your creator unable to tame you? From where did you get all this strength by which you are able to tame their ferocious animals? Can God’s picture, which is man, be able to tame the fierce lion, and is it unable to tame His image? The Lord finally concludes His words about not to be angry by reconciling the brothers before sacrificing a sacrifice of love to Him, He says (Matt 5:23-26)” Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that yours brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into person. Assuredly I say to you, you will by no means get let of there till you gave paid the last Penney” St.John Chrpostom comments on this expression,”what goodness! What increasing love is this towards man! God does not get concerned about personal honor to Him for the sake of our love to our brothers! This is His will, to give love great esteem, considering it the greatest sacrifice, without which no sacrifice is accepted! If you are making a mental prayer, it is better for you to leave your prayer, and get reconciled to your brother, and at this point you offer your prayer.” St.Augustine says’ If you are unreconciled, then get reconciled. If you get the chance for reconciliation do not leave yourself in conflict.” https://coptic-treasures.com/ God is pleased with us as a one Church, a sanctified bride, and thus he accepts the offering of every member through the life of partnership based on love. Without love, it is quite impossible that partnership is established, and that an offering is not acceptable. What a beautiful phrase was said by St.Jerome , expressing the Church and the life of partnership, “I do not know of any peace without love, or of any partnership without peace.” St.Kasian comments on the apostles saying (Eph. 4:26)”Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” He says” How can we assume that the Lord does not permit anger to remain even for a moment, whereas He does not permit us to offer our spiritual prayers, if we remember someone feels bitterness towards us. The apostle commands us (1Thes 5:17) “Pray without ceasing “Also (1Tim 2:8) “I desire therefore, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” So, it is either we don’t pray at all and retain wrath in our hearts, and hence be guilty against the apostolic commandment or the evangelical one which commands us to pray incessantly, or, to be daring and offer prayer deceiving ourselves, and disregarding the divine commandment (Matt 5:23,24) Then, at this point, it is appropriate for us to realize we do not offer prayers to God, but rather stubborn behavroin in a relentless spirit” Leaving the cloak: The Lord gives us another example of facing evil with good. He said, (Matt 5:40)”If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.” If someone has taken your tunic and has become your enemy and wished to take you to court, causing you a lot of trouble. To buy your peace of mind, leave your cloak as well. In this way you save your time, your heart, your thoughts .You will moreover ovin your enemy to your side by means of love and kindness. St. Augustine says” I wish we could scorn all those things we consider ours, and because of which our brothers reject us. I wish we could give them these things. The tunic is the shirt a person wears his cloak or his robe. It is usually made of cotton. As for the cloak, it is heavier and of more value than the tunic. A person wears it during daytime and wraps it round him at night. If your cheap tunic has been taken forcefully, then out of free love you are offering what is of greater value. The Christian person, because of his kind heart, and the freedom of his inward spirit, does not moan because of his usurped rights, but he rather joyfully offers what he has in love. This is the absolute inner freedom. The Lord commands a bad tempered person to be quick in reconciling his adversary, as long as he is with or the road. Otherwise the adversary will hand him over to the judge .The judge in his turn will hand him over to the officer, who will put him in jail. He will not leave it till he pays the last penny .Who is this adversary other than” the divine commandment of God.” This is included as part of the animosity with the bad tempered man. The “commandment of love “stands as a true adversary to him. It condemns him in the Lord’s Day before the Great Judge, that is to say, the lord Jesus (John 5:22). He hands him over to the angels, as an officer to be thrown into “the outer darkness “(Matt: 8:22). He does not leave there because he is unable to fulfill the divine justice right. St.Augustine says,” nothing will stand as an adversary for the lovers of sin as God’s commandments, that is to say, His law recorded in the Holy Book. This is book that has been granted to us to accompany us all the way, that is to say, in the present life. We are to carry out its teachings hastily and not to disobey them, so we wouldn’t be taken to the https://coptic-treasures.com/ judge .We have to submit to it hastily, for who knows when we shall depart from this world from this world? Who is able to submit to the Holy Book other than he who reads it and listens to it in piety? He submits to it as if to a powerful sultan, and does not get uncomfortable from what he finds contrary to his sins. He rather gets to love it for to pricks his conscience, and is joyful over it for it cures his illnesses. He prays so he could understand what seemed obscure to him, and unacceptable, He knows well enough he has to pay full reverence to such authority as this”. 6-Adultery: (Matt 5:27,28)”you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery “. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to best for her already committed adultery with her in his heart”. St.Augustine says,” Iniquity is completed in three stages: it being provoked, enjoyed, and satisfied.”The law has forbidden satisfying sin i.e.. Carrying it out. But the Lord Jesus came to uproot it by preventing sin in its first stage. Sin starts when it is provoked by the first evil look, then the mind accepts it, enjoys it, then it is carried out. If is easier for the believer to face it in its first stage before it has a place in the mind, or pleasure when practicing what is sinful. We have to notice He did not say’ he who lists after a woman, but ‘he who looks at a woman to list for her, that is to say, to look upon her with this intention. This look is not a provocation for physical pleasure but rather for executing it. Because though it is caught, it will be done if circumstances permit. St. Auhustine God has not created eyes for you to go into adultery, but rather to advice His creation with your eyesight. If you wish to look in pleasure, look upon your wife, her constant love to you, the law has not forbidden this. But if you love curiosity towards beauty, which is not yours, in this way you are harming your wife because your eyes are roaming everywhere. You also harm she whom you are looking at, and getting close to her in indecency. Even though you do not touch her with your hands, yet flirt with your eyes, and this is considered adultery. It is not she who shot arrows at you, but it is rather you who caused to yourself this fatal embarrassment by looking at her. St. John Chrysostom God always cuts the roots of sin in an amazing way, for He says” Do not commit adultery “(Ex. 20:24), He also says” Do not covet “because adultery is the fruit of lust which has the evil one as its roots. St.Aklimendos the Alexandrian The Lord speaks of lust and the look, and then speaks of the stumbling block, saying (Matt 5:29,30)”If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell”. He, who is obstructed by his right eye, falls for sure in the same evil with his left eye as well. So, why has be referred to the right eye, and also added to it the hand? This is to show He is not speaking of the members, but of those who are close to us. https://coptic-treasures.com/ St.John Choysostom We need great courage to amputate one of our members; this is why He means, by the eye, something cherished to us. It is usual for someone who desires, to express his love to another party, saying “I love him as my own eye, or maybe more than my eye” It might be that the lord meant by the eye, the great amount of love. There is no interpretation to the right eye more movement than that He means the friend greatly beloved. His relation has become as dear as the relation of a body member to the body itself. This friend is wise, and a guide to the other party, as if with his eyes he could see the way, and an honest guide in divine matters/ because he is the right eye. As for the left eye it refers to a friend advising you in personal matters, the physical needs. We do not need to speak of it as an obstruction, as long as the right eye is of greater importance than the left one. This means if the right eye is a stumbling block, we pluck it out, so how about the left eye if it obstructs us? The guide is a stumbling block if it leads its friend to perilous heresy in the robe of religion and education. As for the right hand, it refers to the person who helps and works in spiritual matters. Vision in spiritual matters has the same place as the right eye. Also, working in spiritual matters has the same position as the right hand. Consequently, the left hand means the necessary matters for bodily needs. St.Augustine The Divorce: (Matt 5:31,32)” Furthermore it has been said’ whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” Marriage had become absolutely debased among the Gentiles. Previously, the Romans had sanctified marriage; a man respected his family, and the woman played a major role in the family. The Creeks, where divorce was prevalent, influenced this trend in concepts, it was said a woman married eight times in five years. The Greeks were known at that time to be corrupt; they even tried to isolate their women for fear of preaching iniquity. In Corinth, a thousand priests devoted themselves to building another temple to Aphrodite, the godless of love. They collected money by indecent ways. As for the Jews, they sanctified their marriages, and they hated divorce. The Lord says (Malachai 2:15,16)”Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce”. One of the phrases of Rabbis’ the altar overflows with tears when a man divorces a young woman! To such an extent was divorce loathed. But God allowed it for then due to the hardness of their hearts. The Jewish schools for interpretation disagreed about the causes that permit the divorce. The school of ‘Shemei’ tends to narrow it down, and allows no divorce except in the case of unchastely. As for the ‘Heleil’school, it was extremely liberal. A man could divorce his wife for whatever reason, however trivial it may be, such as burning the food, or going out with a head uncovered. He could even divorce her for no reason at all other their another woman has attracted him. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The Lord Jesus came to uplift the believers to a level of spiritual maturity, and serous responsibility, where a man could not divorce his wife except for committing adultery. St Augustine comments on the Lord’s words regarding no divorce, saying “The law of Moses did not order divorce, but ordered he who divorces his wife to give her a book of divorce, By doing so, his wrath is cooled down. The Lord who has commanded the hard hearted ones to give a statement of divorce referred to the fact he did not wish for divorce whenever possible. Thus when the Lord himself was asked about this issue He said (Matt 19:8)”Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives” Because, however much the cruelly of the one to divorce may be in divorcing his wife, for he knows that by this book of divorce she could re-marry, therefore he would cool down and not divorce her. To confirm this principle, of not divorcing reclslessly, the Lord of glory made this one exception, which is that of committing adultery. He commanded the necessity of tolerating patiently all other hardships for the sake of love in marriage and piety. The Lord of glory assured the same principle by His calling hen that marries a divorcee ‘ an adulterer’. The Swearing: (Matt 5:33-37)”Again you have heard that it was said to those of old ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord: But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King .Nor shall you swear by your because you cannot make one hair black or white. But let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘ No’,’ No ’. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.’ In the Old Testament, it was not possible for the believers when still spiritually young to refrain from swearing. This is why He asked them to perform their oaths to the Lord. Sometimes he commanded them to swear by Him, not because He wished for any swearing, but as a sign of worshiping Him alone with no other God. In this way, He forbade them from swearing by to Gentile gods, the ….who surrounded them In the New Testament, when we entered the spiritual maturity, the Lord commands us not to swear at all, but are words have to be “Yes”,’ Yes ‘ or ‘’No’, No’ St.John Chrysostom comments on this by saying that the oath is similar to the wind for the ship of anger, without which it could never sail in man’s life. He says “Put a law on a bad tempered man, so as not to swear at all, then, in that case there will be no pretext for teaching him to be well –balanced.” St.John Chrysostom considers no swearing is the sign that distinguishes a Christian and his special language:” Let us accept this as a seal from heaven, and then we will be looked upon everywhere that we are the King’s sheep. I wish we know who we are through our mouths and language.” 9-The Resistance of Evil by good: (Matt 5:38,39)”you have heard that it was said ‘eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” In the old times, the Lord forbade His people to resist evil by greater evil. He allowed them this because of the hardness of their hearts. But since we are in the New Testament, He has uplifted us to facing evil not by equal evil, or less, or even silence, but to face it with goodness; thereby uplifting us to the summit of perfection. https://coptic-treasures.com/ St.Augustine sees that the Lord Jesus has entered with us to the level of perfect Christianity, as being the top most level of love connecting man to his brother. He sees the relationship among people as to take six grades: First grade: is apparent in the crude man who begins an attack on his brother. Second grade: man rises above the first level; he does not begin injustice but if attacked by evil, he faces it with a greater one Third grade: It is the grade of the Law of Moses, which rises with the believer above the previous two levels. It does not permit man to resist evil by doing a greater one, but it permits him face evil with an equal level one. It does not command to face evil by evil, but it forbids man to an sever evil by greater evil. But he can face evil by a lesser one, or by keeping silent, or even by goodness is he is able to. Forth grade: to face evil with a lesser one. Fifth grade: to face evil with silence, that is to say, not to face it with any evil, and not to resist it. Sixth grade: this is the one to which our Lord has uplifted us, which is facing evil with goodness, regarding the evil person as someone who is sick and needs treatment. St. Jone Chrysostom comments on the resistance of evil with goodness saying,”Fire is not extinguished by other fire, but by water. There is nothing to block the evil way for the evil doers as the one wronged to face the harm done in a gently way. This attitude does not only stop them from further injustice, but it also creates a feeling of regret for what they had done. They become amazed at the tolerance and so repent at what was done. This makes them bond to you all the more. They not only become your friends, but also slaves to you instead of being hostile and enemies as before.” What does He mean by the right check and the other one? The Lord has given us examples for facing evil with goodness. The first of which is that if someone slaps us on the right cheek, we turn to him the other one as well. The fathers made it clean the Lord when speaking of the commandment, has not meant it to be understood literally. This is because man is not slapped on the right check, but rather on the left one, unless he who slaps is left handed. The right cheek signifies the spiritual honor or the spiritual glory. If someone ill-treats us to break down our spiritual honor, then in love we offer the left cheek also, that is to ray, and the materialistic temporary glories as well. Father Joseph warns us of carrying out the commandment literally, when the heart has no true love towards the hitter, particularly when some provoke others so as to slap them, a situation that could harm the divine commandment. He concludes his word, saying.’If your outward cheek accepts the slap, them let your inward man modestly accept the slap on the right one. In this way the outward man tolerates in gentleness, and the body yields to the trials of the one who slapped, and hence he would not slap the inward man.” Many have learned how to offer the other cheek, but have not yet learned how to love him who slapped. Christ the Lord of glory was the first to follow the commandment He had set. When the slave of the chief priest slapped him on His cheek, He answered saying, (John 18:23)” If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike me?” The Lord did not offer His other cheek, and yet, despite that, His heart was willing to save all not only by slapping His other cheek by this slave, but also by crucifying His whole body. St.Augustine https://coptic-treasures.com/ The Second Mile: (Matt 5:41,42)’ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” This commandment is so important that Christianity is called the religion of the second miles, in which the believer offers others more than what they ask for, in love. This is done to win himself and others by his love. To go the other miles is a sign of spiritual strength and openness of heart in love, Man does not do what is asked of him grudgriply, but rather offers more than what is required of him. The Jewish person, under the Roman law, was threatened at any time to be ordered by a Roman officer to carry a particular message for a very long distance, or to perform a certain chore. This is just as the soldiers commanded Syrion the Cyrene to carry the cross. If this person is in cruel bondage, he accepts to walk this mile asked of him. Under the grace of absolute freedom, be gladly accepts the second mile even without being asked to. It is only a sign of his liberty. The Lord has surely not meant as much the carrying out of this commandment by walking on foot, as mush as what is uuplied by preparing the mind for the execution of the commandment. St.Augustine To love the enemies: (Matt. 43_48)”you have beard that it was said,’ you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” The law did not command to hate the enemy as a commandment the belvier has to conform to, the breaking of which means the breaking of the law. It was only a permission given to them due to the hardness of their hearts. It enforced the love of close ones, and permitted facing hostility with and equal one so as to pave the way for a perfect road, to make man love his neighbor on a general level, that is to say, all people. This is made clear in the law itself, which offered a portion of love to the enemies, even if only a fractions. It was said (Ex 23:4,5)”If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its brorden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it,” If was also said (Dent. 23:7)”You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land despite the fact that the Gdomctes and the Egyptians were one of their most hostile enemies. This was on one hand; on the other hand, the people at the beginning of their relation with God. Were unable to discern between the sinner and sin. This is why God permitted them to kill the Gentiles surrounding them, as a symbol of killing sin. It was also usual that the Jews would hastily fall into worshiping the gods of the Gentiles surrounding them. The lord Jesus asked the believers to rise with his Holy Spirit on the ladder of love, and to love even the enemies, and to be kind to those who hate than, and to pray for those who persecuted them. In this way they will carry that heavenly Father’s model and His image. St. John Chrysostom says the Lord Jesus has come to raise us to the perfect love that in his eyes reaches the ninth level. He offered us those levels as such: First level: man should not initiate to wrong his brother. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Second level: If man is wronged, he is not to take revenge with greater injustice. It is sufficient to take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. This is the level of Moses’ law. Third level: man does not have to face he who has wronged him with equal evil, but rather to face him in a peaceful spirit. Fourth level: man denies himself, and hence would be ready to tolerate the pain he has unjustly suffered from, as well as the hostility. Fifth level: at this stage, be not only tolerates the suffering, but he also has to be inivardly ready to accept more suffering than the unjust person wants to inflict on him. If he usurps his tunic, let him leave his cloak as well, and if he commands him to walk a mile, let him walk two with him. Sixth level: to bear the injustice more than the unjust one desires, without having inward hatred towards the unjust person. Seventh level: the matter does not stop with non-hatred, but it rather extends to love’ love your enemies’ Eighth level: this love towards the enemies is transformed to doing good, do good to then hate you! So you face evil with doing well. Ninth level: the believer prays for those who persecute him and ill-treat him. In this way, man reaches this level. He is not only willing to accept more suffering and scorn, but also to offer practical love in return. He stands as a father compassionate on all humanity. He prays for all asking the forgiveness of his enemies and those who persecuted him and kicked him out, He is taking God’s image, the Father of all humanity. St. John Chrysostom sees that the coming of the lord for us, its goal was to uplift us to this sublime level. He says,’The Lord has come for this reason, to implant these matters in our minds, so as to make us useful to our enemies as much as to our friends” Nothing pleases God as much as when He sees the man persecuted by his brother, to open his heart so as to embrace him in love, and to left up his hands in prayer for his sake! In him, God sees His image and His model. This is why the Lord concludes His commandment by saying, (Matt 5:45)” That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” In the baptism water we obtain the spirit of adoption. We are blessed with the authority to become God’s children (John 1; 12). With the deeds of love, which are the fruits of His Holy Spirit in us, we practice being His children, mature in it and praise it. His fatherhood in us evrges us to love, and love recommends us being His children. St.John Chrysostom says,” This is why we call Him’ Father” in our prayer. It in not only to remember His blessings but also for the sake of virtue, so we do nothing inappropriate as such a relation.” What follows are some excerpts about love to the enemies, from our fathers: If he were not evil, he would not become your enemy. Therefore, be zealous for what is good to him, and hence his evil would stop, and he would no more be hostile to you. Saul used to be the church enemy, and for his sake there were held prayers, and he became a friend to it, He not only stopped his persecution, but he struggled to support it as well prayers were held against him, but not against his nature, they were against his lies. Let your prayers be against the lies of your enemies, until these die before them, and they live. Because if your enemy dies, you will love him as an enemy, but you will also https://coptic-treasures.com/ lose him as a friend. But if his lies die, you will love him as an enemy, and at the same time you will gain him as a friend. When you suffer the cruelty of an enemy, remember the Lord’s words (Luke 23:34)” Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” St. Augustine Prayer does not profit us for the friend’s sake as much as it does for the enemy’s sake. If we pray for friends, we are no better they the tax collectors. But if we love our enemies and pray for them, then we are similar to God in His love for humanity. We have to avoid hostility with any person; and if it does arise, let us make peace with him on the same day. If people criticize you for this, God will reward you. But if you wait till your enemy comes to you, asking you for forgiveness, this is in vain to you. He has thus taken away your prize and has gained blessing for himself. St. John Chrysostom The Perfection: He speaks of the levels until He reaches its topmost. This is the love to all, even the enemies, with nothing in return. Then the Lord declares the objective for this, which is to enter the perfect life, and be like the image of God Himself. For He says (Matt 5:45-48)” That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you great your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” The aim of God for us is to see His children carry His image in them, and to be attracted to Him in love, so as to live with Him in His divine embrsse and be blessed with His glories. The goal of our spiritual life and our encounter with Him is to enjoy His Fatherhood to us and be prepared to become like Him, and hence be considered worthy and perfect just as He is perfect! He says,” Those whose ways of thinking have become compassionate and full of love towards their brother in the image of their Father; these are the ones who are His children!! St.Gregory El Nassy If it is impossible to be like God in essence, yet in the progress of virtue we are similar to God, for God grants as this blessing. Pope Athanasios the Apostolic Christ has brothers that are similar to Him, those carrying His divine nature when in sanctification. In this way Christ is being formed in us. Those who become partners in the divine nature through the partnership of the Holy Spirit, these are the ones who carry the wonderful seal of Christ’s’ similarity, and shine in the souls of the saints, in indescribable beauty. Father Cyril the great.

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