Книга пророка Иеремии, Глава 9, стих 8. Толкования стиха

Стрела убийственная язык их, ко­варное говорил он; устами своими говорит он с другом своим мир, а втайне ставит ему ковы. Неужели за это Я не посещу, говорит Господь, или народу такому не отомстит душа Моя? Вся­кий еретик, наносящий раны слушающим и незнающим написанного: всяцем хранением блюди свое сердце (Притч. 4:23), имеет стрелу смертоносную и говорит коварно; устами своими обещая ближнему мир, втайне он строит ковы. А дальнейшие выражения, в которых говорит: неужели за это Я не посещу их, гово­рит Господь, или народу такому не отомстит душа Моя? часто употребляются в этом пророке, для обозначения, по указании частных преступлений, что Бог справедливо делает то, что делает.

BEWARE OF DELIBERATELY DECEPTIVE WORDS. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: A most base pest, my beloved, is double dealing and hypocrisy in our actions and conduct, by which a person uses the pretense of pleasant-spoken words and of a tongue anointed, so to speak, with the honey of deception, while the heart is full of utter bitterness. Of such we say, in the words of one of the holy prophets, “Their tongue is a piercing arrow; the words of their mouth are deceitful. He speaks peacefully to his neighbor, and enmity is in his heart.” And again, “Their words are smoother than oil, yet are they arrows.” By which is meant that they have the force of darts falling violently and shot forth from bows. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 68.

THE TONGUE AS A DEADLY ARROW. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Matthew says that when the traitor drew near to Christ, our common Savior, he kissed him and added, “Hail, Master.” How can you say “Hail” to him who by means of your word and deed is made the prey of death? How could such a word possibly be true? We thus see that, inasmuch as that false one, Satan, was within him, he used falsehood even in saying “Hail.” Because of deeds like this, the prophet says, “Their tongue is a piercing spearhead. The words of their mouth are deceitful. To his neighbor he speaks things of peace, but in his soul there is enmity.” COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 148.