THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Do you believe that those who possess ‘unjust measures in their garments’ (Micah 6:11), meaning individuals who seek wealth through greed and immoral desires, can evade My judgment? For such gains only serve to amplify the treasure of their wickedness. They are also deceivers and boastful, as those enamored with unrighteousness, driven by the lust for dishonest gain and avarice, are invariably marked by a love of falsehood. Those who have already amassed wealth often exhibit grandiosity and pride. The creators of ungodly teachings distort all that is just, luring the naive with their cunning and deceit, and profit by ensnaring many. Yet, those who acquire such unrighteous wealth do not utter anything that is unquestionably true, but rather speak in falsehoods and deception, tinged with the artifice of trickery.
The law is fundamentally concerned with fairness and serves as a directive to thoroughly investigate what is just. Deuteronomy 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). Likewise, in Leviticus, it is written, "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 entirely appropriate; for an upright and justice-seeking mind assesses the essence of things in a unique manner, evaluating equality with a depth and precision that surpasses those who merely test a coin on a weighing scale. Such a person effectively allocates to each subject what is most suitable, maintaining the integrity of true equality without excess and avoiding any distortion of fairness through reduction. Thus, it is declared that "the measures... and the scales are righteous and the measure is righteous." These statements illustrate how we are to pursue true equality, revealing our understanding of justice. Therefore, comprehend that what is presented in the law is measured and has justice as its boundary, while what is unveiled through Christ exceeds and transcends these limits: what is above is justly good, defined as the glory of life in Christ. Palladius, you articulate this well. I must also remind you that Christ explicitly stated to those justified by faith, "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, may it be so for us.