On the Sermon on the Mount, Book II

Book II

• On the Sermon on the Mount II.1 — 1. The subject of mercy, with the treatment of which the first book came to a close, is followed by that of the cleansing of the heart, with which the present one begins. The cleansing of the heart, then, is as it…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.2 — 5. “Therefore, when thou doest thine alms,” says He, “do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.” Do not, says He, desire to become…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.3 — 10. “And when ye pray,” says He, “ye shall not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” And here also it is not the…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.4 — 15. But now we have to consider what things we are taught to pray for by Him through whom we both learn what we are to pray for, and obtain what we pray for. “After this manner, therefore, pray ye,” says He: “Our…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.5 — 17. Let the new people, therefore, who are called to an eternal inheritance, use the word of the New Testament, and say, “Our Father who art in heaven,” i.e. in the holy and the just. For God is not contained in…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.6 — 20. In the next place there follows, “Thy kingdom come.” Just as the Lord Himself teaches in the Gospel that the day of judgment will take place at the very time when the gospel shall have been preached among all…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.7 — 25. The fourth petition is, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Daily bread is put either for all those things which meet the wants of this life, in reference to which He says in His teaching, “Take no thought for…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.8 — 28. The fifth petition follows: “And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” It is manifest that by debts are meant sins, either from that statement which the Lord Himself makes, “Thou shalt by no…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.9 — 30. The sixth petition is, “And bring us not into temptation.” Some manuscripts have the word “lead,” which is, I judge, equivalent in meaning: for both translations have arisen from the one Greek word which is used.…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.10 — 36. But the distinction among these seven petitions is to be considered and commended. For inasmuch as our temporal life is being spent now, and that which is eternal hoped for, and inasmuch as eternal things are…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.11 — 38. The sevenfold number of these petitions also seems to me to correspond to that sevenfold number out of which the whole sermon before us has had its rise. For if it is the fear of God through which the poor in…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.12 — 40. There follows a precept concerning fasting, having reference to that same purification of heart which is at present under discussion. For in this work also we must be on our guard, lest there should creep in a…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.13 — 44. Rightly, therefore, does he who is intent on cleansing our heart follow up what He has said with a precept, where He says: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.14 — 47. Then, further, the statement which follows, “No man can serve two masters,” is to be referred to this very intent, as He goes on to explain, saying: “For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.15 — 49. “Therefore,” says He, “I say unto you, Have not anxiety for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.” Lest perchance, although it is not now superfluities that are sought after,…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.16 — 53. “Therefore be not anxious,” says He,” saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Father knoweth that ye…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.17 — 56. For in the case of those who are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, i.e. who are preferring this to all other things, so that for its sake they are seeking the other things, there ought not…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.18 — 59. And inasmuch as when such things are either provided against the time to come, or reserved, if there is no cause wherefore you should expend them, it is uncertain with what intention it is done, since it may be…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.19 — 63. And inasmuch as the Lord is admonishing us in this passage with respect to rash and unjust judgment,—for He wishes that whatever we do, we should do it with a heart that is single and directed toward God alone;…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.20 — 67. But inasmuch as the word “guileless” may mislead some who are desirous of obeying God’s precepts, so that they may think it wrong, at times, to conceal the truth, just as it is wrong at times to speak a…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.21 — 71. Since, therefore, a command had been given that what is holy should not be given to dogs, and pearls should not be cast before swine, a hearer might object and say, conscious of his own ignorance and weakness,…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.22 — 74. Moreover, a certain strength and vigour in walking along the path of wisdom ties in good morals, which are made to extend as far as to purification and singleness of heart,—a subject on which He has now been…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.23 — 77. But because this belongs to few, He now begins to speak of searching for and possessing wisdom, which is a tree of life; and certainly, in searching for and possessing, i.e. contemplating this wisdom, such an eye…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.24 — 78. Here, therefore, those who promise a wisdom and a knowledge of the truth which they do not possess, are especially to be guarded against; as, for instance, heretics, who frequently commend themselves on account…vatican.va
• On the Sermon on the Mount II.25 — 82. But seeing that, however pure an eye one may have, i.e. with however single and sincere a heart one may live, he yet cannot look into the heart of another: whatever things could not have become apparent in deeds…vatican.va