Екклезиастик (Книга Премудрости Иисуса, сына Сирахова), Глава 23, стих 18. Толкования стиха

GOD SEES THROUGH DARKNESS. AMBROSE: We are always to walk becomingly, as in the day, and reject the works of darkness. We know that the night has been appointed for the rest of the body, not for carrying out some task or activity, and therefore it is at night that we pass into sleep and blissful oblivion. “We are not to be involved in feasting and drunkenness, in orgies and immodesty.” We should not say, “The darkness and the walls hide us, and goodness knows if the Most High will succeed in seeing us.” We are instead to love the light and be honest in our dealings, so that, like walking in the sunlight, we want our works to be resplendent in the presence of God. HEXAMERON 2.10.38.

Сознавая вполне важность употребления слова, писатель обращается с молитвой к Господу, чтоб Он сохранил его от грехов языка (31. 23, 1—5) и пишет для детей наставление для уст (особый отдел), в котором остерегает их от клятвы и от невежливаго употребления слова пред старшими (6-19). Эту часть премудрый заключает словом о блуде и прелюбодеянии, которые, как-бы тайно не совершались, не могут скрыться от очей Божиих,—и приводит к тому, что самое лучшее в жизни исполнять заповеди (‘2о—37).

STAYING AWAY FROM SIN. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: Let us be careful about our bodies. Let us also not misuse them as though they were not our own. Let us not say, like the heretics do, that this vesture of the body does not belong to us. Instead, let us take care of it as our own, for we must give account to the Lord of all things done through the body. Do not say, No one sees me. Do not think that there is no witness of what you did. More often than not, there is no human witness, but he who made us—an unerring witness—remains faithful in heaven, and sees what you are doing. And the stains of sin also remain in the body. For as when a wound has gone deep into the body, even if there has been healing, the scar remains, so sin wounds soul and body, and the marks of its scars remain in all. And they are removed only from those who receive the washing of baptism. The past wounds therefore of soul and body God heals by baptism; against future ones let us one and all jointly guard ourselves, that we may keep this vestment of the body pure and may not, for practicing fornication and sensual indulgence or any other sin for a short season, lose the salvation of heaven but may inherit the eternal kingdom of God; of which may God, of his own grace, deem all of you worthy. CATECHETICAL LECTURES 18.20.