Jeremiah 13:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Where there exists a need for learning, there is ignorance, and ignorance calls for teaching. What is the implication of this? It is expressed in hyperbolic terms, akin to saying: this child cannot be useful by its very nature. Such statements are made so that even those who feel ashamed may undergo transformation.

When someone declares, "I cannot love this person," they are likely referring to a specific desire’s limitation; similarly, when it is said that someone cannot be good. How does the prophet articulate this? ‘Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Then may this people do good, who are accustomed to doing evil?’ This does not imply that these individuals cannot embody virtue; rather, it is that they lack the desire for it, thus rendering it unattainable for them.

Yet, what seems impossible for man is achievable for God; it is not the Ethiopian or the leopard that alters its nature, but rather the One who empowers both the Ethiopian and the leopard, as the apostle states: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Hence, the same apostle also declares: I labor more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me (1 Corinthians 15:10), and: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Galatians 2:20). We also read the words: what do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7). Therefore, let not the wise boast of his wisdom, the strong of his strength, the rich of his wealth, or the pure of his purity, for the power in all these things comes from Christ, and not from those who take pride in their abilities.

The will transforms into a habit that, in societal matters, becomes a second law and, in moral contexts, a second nature—a law and nature for the will itself. Eventually, it engenders necessity, guiding the course of our human nature with unwavering force. How often do we perform actions out of habit that we would not choose to do by our innate inclinations? This habit emerges as a tyrant that represses the laws of our freedom. Countless times, we act not out of desire but due to deep-seated habituation. Within the limited confines of the ‘small world’ (as humanity is often termed), the will embodies an autocratic ruler wielding supreme authority over human actions, while habit governed by necessity resembles a tyrant who seems empowered for a moment but, in essence, maintains that power indefinitely. Foolish Christian, you believed you could permit sin to dominate you for just one day, one hour, or even once. Yet, having exercised your freedom, you have transformed a day into an enduring cycle. For instance, you reached out to take something that was not yours just once. Consider how many times that action has been repeated up to this very moment. Your possessions now encroach upon those of your neighbors, your dwelling is filled with belongings that do not belong to you; you have become numbed by the plight of the needy, and grievance upon grievance has forged a long chain that tightly binds your conscience. You remain unmoved by the tears of orphans, the distress of the impoverished, the degradation of humanity, and the reverence of God. You disregard the soul, dismiss thoughts of death, neglect to ponder judgment, and fear not the consequences of sin. You crave the very suffering of the poor, and the more you indulge, the greater your insatiable desire grows. This is true today, and it will remain the same tomorrow; what began once can stretch into eternity. Now you wish to repent, yet your will is entrenched in evil, succumbing to an overpowering habit. You desire change, but only as a fleeting thought, hesitant and unstable; you wish to confess, yet you do not genuinely intend to amend your ways, rendering your wish inconsequential. While it indicates that the chains binding you are loosening a bit, they remain intact. As you listen to the teaching, your heart may soften, and tears may flow. However, once outside the church, your heart swiftly hardens against wickedness. Prior to Holy Pascha, you repent of your sins, and even after Pascha, you repent again. With the Sacred Mysteries still fresh on your lips, you revert to your former vices. What pulls you back? Habit. And what of the will? It yields to habit. So when will you undergo true transformation? Likely never. - Heed the words of the Holy Spirit spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “But if an Ethiopian changes his skin, or a leopard its spots, then you may do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” Oh, once evil is learned, how arduous is the unlearning! A habit formed even once can overpower the will, transforming a single instance into a perpetual state—one occurrence becomes an ongoing cycle.