Книга пророка Иеремии, Глава 4, стих 3. Толкования стиха

NO CHEAP GRACE. ATHANASIUS: The departure from virtue gives place for the entrance of the unclean spirit. There is, moreover, the apostolic injunction, that the grace given us should not be unprofitable. Those things that he wrote particularly to his disciple, he enforces on us through him, saying, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you. For he who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread. But the paths of the slothful are strewn with thorns.” The Spirit warns ahead of time not to fall into them, saying, “Break up your fallow ground. Do not sow among thorns.” FESTAL LETTERS 3.3.

THE PROPER THEOLOGIAN. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: In the last discourse we laid down clearly what sort of character the theologian ought to bear, what kind of subject he may philosophize about, and when and to what extent he may do so. We saw that he ought to be pure, as far as he can be, in order that light may be apprehended by light. He ought to associate with serious people in order that his word will not be fruitless by falling on an unfruitful soil and creating a climate of calm within from the whirl of outward distractions. Then we will not be like madmen constantly trying to catch our breath. This way, we can go as far as we have ourselves advanced or at least in the direction we are advancing. This is how it is when we have broken up for ourselves the fallows of Divinity, so as not to sow seed among thorns. We have plowed the ground, being molded and molding others by Holy Scripture. ON THEOLOGY, THEOLOGICAL ORATION 2(28).1.

TEACH CAREFULLY. ORIGEN: This, then, “is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Break up fallow ground and sow not among thorns.’” This word is especially directed to those who teach, lest they entrust what is said to the pupils too soon before they have prepared the fallow ground in their souls. For whenever they put the “hand to the plow,” they make the “ground fallow” in their souls, according to the “beautiful” and the “good earth” of those who hear. Then, when they sow, the sowers do not sow “among thorns.” But if prior to the “plow” and prior to the making of “fallow ground” in the heart of those who hear, someone takes the holy seeds, the word concerning the Father, concerning the Son and Holy Spirit, the word concerning the resurrection, the word concerning the punishment, the word concerning the final rest, concerning the Law, the Prophets and in general each of the Scriptures, and sows them, he disobeys the first commandment, which states first, break up their fallow ground; second, and do not sow among thorns. HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 5.13.2.

IMITATE GODLY PEOPLE. HORSIESI: Let us imitate the example of all these people, that there may be peace and righteousness in our days, and that what we read in another place may not happen to us: “Thorns and briars shall spring up on the soil of my people.” Rather, let us clean the fallow ground for ourselves and not sow among thorns. THE TESTAMENT OF HORSIESI 44.