THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The significance of these statements presents a profound and intricate mystery. I will articulate as much as I am able to convey clearly. The unfortunate Jews rejected the teachings of the Savior due to their unwavering devotion to the laws of Moses. They believed they were acting righteously by holding onto their idols while disregarding the beauty of truth. This led them to persecute Jesus, who redirected the force of the rightful commandments toward the gospel ministry. He draws upon their familiar practice of agriculture and asks, "Eat all day long, shall it be oryai orati?" Through this, He intends to convey that the hearts of idolaters resemble the harsh and unyielding ground, in need of a softening word, akin to the act of plowing.
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This softness is required so that they may receive the divine and heavenly seeds, enabling them to yield fruit for God through diligence and commitment to righteousness.
The Israelites experienced a similar situation; in Egypt, they worshipped local deities until they were called by the wise Moses, who provided them with the law. This law acted as a plow to break up their stony hearts and minds. It was vital for them not only to be summoned to the beginnings of spiritual cultivation but also to bear fruit for God through devoted service of the Spirit when Christ, our Savior, revealed Himself. Therefore, since they rejected Christ’s doctrine while holding tightly to Moses, He justly admonished them by saying, "Eat all the day long oration shall it be oration?" He illustrated that those who tend neglected, thorny land must continually cultivate it to prepare it for the seed.
Prior to sowing, a cultivator properly prepares the ground, initially casting in small seeds like blackgrass and cumin before advancing to wheat, barley, and millet. This analogy illustrates that the hearts of the children, guided by the transformative commandment, must first be softened and primed as if they were the surface of tilled land so that they become capable of bearing spiritual fruit. Just as a farmer softens the earth, he does not start with hard seeds; instead, he utilizes smaller, less robust ones. The law served as a preparatory tool, akin to a skilled farmer sowing tiny seeds like chokecherries and cumin—seeds that alone may not provide nourishment but become beneficial when mixed with hearty grains. Thus, the subservient law holds meaning; without its spiritual interpretation leading to the more substantial gospel nourishment, it lacks intrinsic value on its own.