Книга пророка Иеремии, Глава 23, стих 23. Толкования стиха

WE FEAR EVIL BUT LOVE GOD. BASIL THE GREAT: He also observes the rule, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever else you do, do all to the glory of God.” But one who departs from the strict observance of the commandment in performing his actions clearly shows that he has given small thought to God. Mindful, therefore, of the voice of him who said, “Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord” and again, “Am I a God at hand and not a God afar off?” Also, “Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” We should perform every action as if under the eyes of the Lord and think every thought as if observed by him. Thus, fear will abide constantly within us who hate iniquity, as it is written, insolence, pride, and the ways of the wicked, and love will be made perfect, fulfilling the words of the Lord: “I seek not my own will but the will of him that sent me.” THE LONG RULES 5.

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD. JEROME: He was fully conscious of his own wound and the power of him from whom nothing can be hidden, who says through the prophet, “I am a God near at hand and not a God afar off.” For nobody can escape the notice of him who fills heaven and earth, and nobody can conceal from him the secrets of his heart. AGAINST THE PELAGIANS 2.27.

MAKE YOUR JOURNEY TO JESUS. CHRYSOSTOM: From this time on, bid everything farewell for these five days and begin to observe the feast. Away with the business of the law courts! Away with the business of the city council! Away with daily affairs together with their contracts and business deals! I wish to save my soul. “What does it profit a person if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul?” The Magi went forth from Persia. You go forth from the affairs of daily life. Make your journey to Jesus. It is not far to travel if we are willing to make the trip. We need not cross the sea or climb the mountain crests. If you prove your piety and full compunction, you can see him without leaving home, you can tear down the whole wall, remove every obstacle and shorten the length of the journey. As the prophet said, “I am a God near at hand and not a God afar off,” and, “The Lord is close to all who call on him in truth.” AGAINST THE ANOMOEANS 6.34.

GOD IS NEAR THE RIGHTEOUS. CHRYSOSTOM: If God were distant from us in place, you might well doubt, but he is present everywhere. To him who strives with purposeful intent, God is near. For this reason also the psalmist said, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me,” and God again, “I am a God near at hand and not a God afar off.” Then, just as our sins separate us from him, so do our righteous deeds draw us near to him. “For while you are yet speaking,” it is said, “I will say, ‘Here I am.’” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 54.8.

GOD SEES WHAT IS SECRET. CYPRIAN: He has been more obedient to human authority than to God. It matters not whether he has published what he has done with less either of disgrace or of guilt among people. Be that as it may, he will not be able to escape and avoid God his judge, seeing that the Holy Spirit says in the Psalms, “Your eyes did see my substance, that it was imperfect, and in your book shall all people be written.” And again, “People see the outward appearance, but God sees the heart.” The Lord also forewarns and prepares us, saying, “And all churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and heart.” He looks into the hidden and secret things and considers those things that are concealed; nor can anyone evade the eyes of the Lord, who says, “I am a God near at hand and not a God afar off. If a person shall be hidden in secret places, shall I not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?” He sees the heart and mind of every person, and he will not judge our deeds alone, but even our words and thoughts. He looks into the minds and the wills and conceptions of all people, in the very lurking places of the heart that are still closed up. THE LAPSED 27.

OUR MIND WILL SHINE. ORIGEN: The closer our mind approaches Christ in a more exalted and lofty way and presents itself nearer the splendor of his light, the more it will it be made to shine more magnificently and clearly in his light as also he says through the prophet: “Draw near to me, and I shall draw near to you, says the Lord.” And again he says, “I am a God who draws near and not a God afar off.” HOMILIES ON GENESIS 1.

Стихи 16–20 содержат осуждение лжепророков за то, что они обманывают народ: «рассказывают мечты сердца своего, а не от уст Господних». Господь же вопреки утешению лжепророков утотовал наказание нечестивым, и последующие дни должны подтвердить это.

Указывая далее на незаконность (непризванность) лжепророков, Иеремия отмечает разницу, отличие Божиих слов, которые подобны огню и молоту, от вымыслов лжепророков. За нечестие им предвозвещается вечное поношение и бесславие (40 стих).