THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Do you believe that those who wear 'unjust measures in their garments' (Micah 6:11), meaning those who seek wealth through greed and immoral desires, can evade My anger? For from such ill-gotten gains, they only multiplied the wealth of their wickedness. They are also deceivers and braggarts, as the lovers of iniquity, driven by the obsession with shameful profit and avarice, are always marked by a fondness for falsehoods. Those who have already amassed riches are often characterized by pompousness and pride. The architects of unrighteous teachings twist what is just, leading the naive astray with their cunning and enriching themselves by ensnaring many. Yet, those who have acquired such ungodly wealth do not speak anything that is undeniably true; instead, they offer deceptions cloaked in trickery.
The law consistently emphasizes fairness and is an injunction to conduct a precise investigation of righteousness. As recorded in Deuteronomy, it states, "In your kisa you shall not have two weights, the larger and the smaller. Thy kettlebell shall be exact and correct, and thy ephah shall be exact and correct, that thy days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee... for it is abominable in the sight of the LORD thy God for every one that doeth unrighteousness" (Deuteronomy 25:13-16). Similarly, in Leviticus, it is commanded, "Thou shalt not do unrighteousness in judgement, in measure, in weight, and in measurement: that ye may have sure weights, and faithful weights" (Leviticus 19:35-36).
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The Lawgiver diligently sought to align measures and weights with the principles of justice, which is commendable; for the discerning and justice-seeking individual evaluates and scrutinizes the essence of matters, analyzing equality with greater precision than those who simply weigh coins. He measures out what is most appropriate for each situation without disrupting the integrity of exact equality through excess or allowing tampering with its fullness through deficiency. Thus, it is stated, “the measures… and the scales are righteous and the measure is righteous.” These serve as representations or illustrative examples that guide us in our quest for true equality, revealing to us the understanding of justice. Therefore, comprehend that what is articulated in the law is proportioned and bounded by justice, while what is unveiled through Christ transcends and exceeds it, as it embodies a higher form of goodness, namely, the radiant life in Christ. Palladius. Your points are well made. I would further remind you that those who are justified by faith are told by Christ, "Amen, amen, I say unto you, unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Cyril. Let it indeed be so among us.