THEOSISGregory the Great
The wealth that he has consumed will be expelled, and God will remove it from his being, as stated in Job 20:15. The insincere individual seeks understanding of God's mysteries but has no intention of implementing them. They may project an image of wisdom without embodying it in their actions. Because they fail to act on what they understand, they forfeit that very understanding; this is an act of mercy, for they do not align their actions with their knowledge. By forsaking the integrity of righteous living, they also lose their insight. Thus, the ‘Riches of the Scriptures’ that they have absorbed through reading will be forgotten, and God will expel them from within, as they have not adhered to these teachings in accordance with His just decrees.
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Consequently, such individuals will struggle to even profess God's commands on their lips if they have not sought to live them out. Hence, the psalmist queries, "But to the sinner God says, Why dost thou declare my statutes, and take my precepts in thy mouth" (Psalms 49:16). For even if the hypocrite clings to these doctrines until the end, they will be judged more harshly than those who have never received such revelations. Scripture attests, "For those who remember his commandments, to keep them" (Psalm 102:18). Thus, one who retains these commandments mentally yet never puts them into practice stands condemned by the very lessons they know.
What does the passage to Zechariah mean when it states, "What do you see, Zechariah?" to which he replies, "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits." The response reveals, "This is the curse that goes forth upon the face of all the earth," condemning all who steal, as highlighted in Zechariah 5:2-3. The ‘flying scroll’ can be interpreted as Scripture, which elevates our thoughts to heavenly matters while detracting from earthly desires. The dimensions of the scroll—ten cubits wide and twenty cubits long—symbolize the singular focus of our actions and the double length of our hope. In return for our virtuous deeds, we receive peace now and eternal joy later, as affirmed by the Truth: "And every one that forsaketh houses, or lands, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). The hundred represents ten multiplied by ten, illustrating that the one who relinquishes all worldly possessions gains immense reward through the perfection of their spirit, turning their focus away from worldly gain. This justifies the scroll's description: twenty cubits in length and ten in breadth.
These sacred teachings serve as eternal condemnation to those who disregard them or, even if knowledgeable, fail to put them into practice. Thus, it is accurately stated: "This is a curse that goes forth upon the face of the whole earth." And because it carries the designation of a curse, it is further stated: "For all who steal shall be condemned." Therefore, the hypocrite, by neglecting to live in accordance with the commandments they recognize and pursuing accolades for their wisdom alone, will be deemed ‘condemned’ as a thief. Their empty words may garner earthly praise, yet they possess nothing of eternal value.