St. John Chrysostom,
Archbishop of Constantinople
Ver. 19 . “Peace be unto you.â€Â
That is, “Be not troubledâ€Â; at the same time reminding them of the word which He spake to them before the Crucifixion, “My peace I leave unto you†( John 14 ); and again, “In me ye have peace, but†“in the world ye shall have tribulation.†( John 16)
Ver. 20 . “Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.â€Â
Seest thou the words issuing in deeds? For what He said before the Crucifixion, that “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you†( c. xvi. 22 ), this He now 2555 accomplished in deed; but all these things led them to a most exact faith. For since they had a truceless war with the Jews, He continually repeated the, “Peace be unto you,†2556 giving them, to counterbalance the war, the consolation. And so this was the first word that He spake to them after the Resurrection, (wherefore also Paul continually saith, “Grace be unto you and peace,â€Â) and to women He giveth good tidings of joy, 2557 because that sex was in sorrow, and had received this as the first curse. Therefore He giveth good tidings suitable respectively, to men, peace, because of their war; joy to women, because of their sorrow. Then having put away all painful things, He telleth of the successes 2558 of the Cross, and these were the “peace.†“Since then all hindrances have been removed,†He saith, “and I have made My 2559 victory glorious, and all hath been achieved,†(then He saith afterwards,)
Ver. 21 . “As My Father hath sent Me, so send I you.â€Â
“Ye have no difficulty, owing to what hath already come to pass, and to the dignity of Me who send you.†Here He lifteth up their souls, and showeth them their great cause of confidence, if so be that they were about to undertake His work. And no longer is an appeal made to the Father, but with authority He giveth to them the power. For,
Ver. 22, 23 . “He breathed on them, and said, 2560 Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.â€Â
As a king sending forth governors, gives power to cast 2561 into prison and to deliver from it, so in sending these forth, Christ investeth them with the same power. But how saith He, “If I go not away, He 2562 will not come†( c. xvi. 7 ), and yet giveth them the Spirit? Some say that He gave not the Spirit, but rendered them fit to receive It, by breathing on them. For if Daniel when he saw an Angel was afraid, what would not they have suffered when they received that unspeakable Gift, unless He had first made them learners? Wherefore He said not, “Ye have received the Holy Ghost,†but, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.†Yet one will not be wrong in asserting that they then also received some spiritual power and grace; not so as to raise the dead, or to work miracles, but so as to remit sins. For the gifts of the Spirit are of different kinds; wherefore He added, “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them,†showing what kind of power He was giving. But in the other case, 2563 after forty 2564 days, they received the power of working miracles. Wherefore He saith, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come 2565 upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa.†( Acts i. 8 .) And witnesses they became by means of miracles, for unspeakable is the grace of the Spirit and multiform the gift. But this comes to pass, that thou mayest learn that the gift and the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, is One. For things which appear to be peculiar to the Father, these are seen also to belong to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. “How then,†saith some one, “doth none come to the Son, ‘except the Father draw him’?†( c. vi. 44 .) Why, this very 324 thing is shown to belong to the Son also. “I,†He saith, “am the Way: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.†( c. xiv. 6 .) And observe that it belongeth to the Spirit also; for “No man can call Jesus Christ Lord, 2566 but by the Holy Ghost.†( 1 Cor. xii. 3 .)
Again, we see that the Apostles were given to the Church at one time by the Father, at another by the Son, at another by the Holy Ghost, and that the “diversities of gifts†( 1 Cor. xii. 4 ) belong to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
[4.] Let us then do all we can to have the Holy Spirit with ourselves, and let us treat with much honor those into whose hands its operation hath been committed.
For great is the dignity of the priests. “Whosesoever sins,†it saith, “ye remit, they are remitted unto themâ€Â; wherefore also Paul saith, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.†( Heb. xiii. 17 .) And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for thou indeed carest about thine own affairs, and if thou orderest them well, thou givest 2567 no account for others, but the priest even if he rightly order his own life, if he have not an anxious care for thine, yea and that of all those around him, will depart with the wicked into hell; and often when not betrayed by his own conduct, he perishes by yours, if he have not rightly performed all his part.
Knowing therefore the greatness of the danger, give them a large share of your goodwill; which Paul also implied when he said, “For they watch for your souls,†and not simply so, but, “as they that shall give account.†( Heb. xiii. 17 .) They ought therefore to receive great attention from you; but if you join with the rest in trampling upon them, then neither shall your affairs be in a good condition.
For while the steersman continues in good courage, the crew also will be in safety; but if he be tired out by their reviling him and showing ill-will against him, he cannot watch equally well, or retain his skill, and without intending it, throws them into ten thousand mischiefs. And so too the priest, if he enjoy honor 2568 from you, will be able well to order your affairs; but if ye throw them into despondency, ye weaken their hands, and render them, as well as yourselves, an easy prey to the waves, although they be very courageous.
Consider what Christ saith concerning the Jews. “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; all therefore whatsoever they bid 2569 you to do, do ye.†( Matt. xxiii. 2, 3 .) Now we have not to say, “the priests sit on Moses’ seat,†but “on that of Christâ€Â; for they have successively received His doctrine. Wherefore also Paul saith, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us.†( 2 Cor. v. 20 .)
See ye not that in the case of Gentile rulers, all bow to them, and oftentimes even persons superior in family, in life, in intelligence, to those who judge them? yet still because of him who hath given them, they consider none of these things, but respect the decision of their governor, whosoever he be that receives the rule over them. Is there then such fear when man appoints, but when God appointeth do we despise him who is appointed, and abuse him, and besmirch him with ten thousand reproaches, and though forbidden to judge our brethren, do we sharpen our tongue against our priests? And how can this deserve excuse, when we see not the beam in our own eye, but are bitterly over-curious about the mote in another’s? Knowest thou not that by so judging thou makest thine own judgment the harder? And this I say not as approving of those who exercise their priesthood unworthily, but as greatly pitying and weeping for them; yet do I not on this account allow that it is right that they should be judged by those over whom they are set. 2570 And although their life be very much spoken against, thou, if thou take heed to thyself, wilt not be harmed at all 2571 in respect of the things committed to them 2572 by God.
For if He caused a voice to be uttered by an ass, and bestowed spiritual blessings by a diviner, working by the foolish mouth and impure tongue of Balaam, in behalf of the offending Jews, much more for the sake of you the right-minded 2573 will He, though the priests be exceedingly vile, work all the things that are His, and will send the Holy Ghost.
For neither doth the pure draw down that Spirit by his own purity, but it is grace that worketh all. “For all,†it saith, “is for your sake, 2574 whether it be Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas.†( 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23 .) For the things which are placed in the hands of the priest it is with God alone to give; and however far human wisdom may reach, it will appear inferior to that grace. And this I say, not in order that we may order our own life carelessly, but that when some of those set over you are careless livers, you the ruled may not often heap up evil for yourselves.
But why speak I of priests? Neither Angel nor Archangel can do anything with regard to what is given from God; but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, dispenseth all, while the priest lends his tongue and affords his hand. For neither would it be just that through the wickedness of another, those who come in faith to the symbols of their salvation should be harmed. Knowing all these things, let us fear God, and hold His priests in honor, paying them all reverence; that both for our own good deeds, and 325 the attention shown to them, we may receive a great return from God, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, dominion, and honor, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.
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