THEOSISJerome of Stridon
I am alive, declares the Lord, and your sister Sodom, along with her daughters, did not commit the same offenses as you and your daughters. The sin of your sister Sodom was rooted in pride, excess, gluttony, and idleness, as she and her daughters failed to aid the poor and needy. They grew arrogant and committed detestable acts before Me, resulting in their rejection, as you have witnessed. Samaria has not sinned as grievously as you have; you have surpassed her in your wickedness and have justified your sisters through all the abhorrent acts you have performed.
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The Lord proclaims His oath: I am alive. In Scripture, it is affirmed that God is the God of the living, as stated: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, for He is not the God of the dead but of the living. Another verse reminds us of the goodness we can find in the land of the living. We may inquire how God highlights this shared title as His own. Just as it is said that a good tree reflects its goodness so too does a good man or shepherd, it follows that though angels, patriarchs, prophets, and apostles are alive, they are described as dead in contrast to God's eternal nature. Who can escape death (Psalm 88:49)?
The Apostle Paul describes God as One who is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light, and he speaks of our life being concealed with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). Therefore, when the Lord asserts, I live, it serves to illustrate the transgressions of Sodom and her daughters, beginning with pride, which is the essence of the devil and the original sin. This is why Paul cautions against the prideful nature of the devil (1 Tim. 3:6), as this arrogance led to his downfall, claiming, I will build my strength and grasp dominion over the nations and wreak destruction as an unassailable power (Isaiah 10:13-14). The proud are resisted by God, while grace is bestowed on the humble (James 4:6). The Scriptures advise not to be proud for we are but dust (Sir. 10:9).
The Gospel illustrates that the humility of the tax collector was more commendable than the pride of the Pharisee (Luke 18), the roots of which are gluttony for food, indulgence, and idleness. Regarding the wealthy man adorned in fine garments, the Gospel identifies no other fault than his pride stemming from his abundance, as he neglected to extend aid to the poor Lazarus, forgetting his own humanity. Thus, it is stated that everyone who exalts themselves will face humility, while those who humble themselves will be elevated (Luke 14:11). The transgressions of Sodom include pride, overindulgence, and complacency. This leads to a forgetfulness of God and a false belief in the permanence of worldly goods.
This is why the law warns against becoming complacent: be wary lest your abundance leads you to forget the Lord your God (Deut. 8:11-14). It is also noted about Israel: they grew fat with excess and stubbornness (Deut. 32:13). Acknowledging this, the wisest ruler Solomon prayed for neither to be in need nor overly self-sufficient, lest he be tempted to falsehood or theft, which would lead to blasphemy (Prov. 30:8-9).
In the assertion that you have justified your sisters through the abominations you have committed, it is not that Samaria and Sodom are truly righteous, but rather they are considered in comparison to your grievous acts, similar to how the tax collector is not wholly deemed righteous but measured against greater sinfulness. Furthermore, Samaria and Sodom have not sinned as much when set against Jerusalem. It is said that the servant who knows his master’s will but disobeys shall face greater judgment (Luke 12:47), emphasizing that the consequences of sin increase with knowledge.
Notably, the Hebrew text uses the term for idleness instead of pleasures, indicating that every idle soul is prone to sinful desires—a reminder for us to remain active in our spiritual endeavors so that our hearts are not overtaken by the thorns of negative thoughts.