THEOSISGregory the Great
Though a hypocrite's pride may ascend to the heavens and his head may reach the clouds, ultimately he will be brought to ruin, akin to refuse, as noted in Job 20:6-7. The conceit of the insincere individual is depicted as rising to the heavens, suggesting that his arrogance appears to emulate a life of divine favor, and his head touching the clouds symbolizes how his knowledge is mistakenly equated with that of the saints from the past. Yet, he will meet his demise and be regarded as refuse, for at the time of his death, he will experience torment and be overwhelmed by the filth of his sinful habits, ultimately being trampled by malicious spirits. The fleeting pleasures that the wicked hold in high esteem appear as refuse to the righteous.
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This is echoed in the saying, "The slothful man shall be stoned with stones from the dung of oxen," as recorded in Sirach 22:2. Those who do not seek God become complacent, neglecting the love for eternal life. Each time the wicked faces the loss of earthly possessions, he is consumed with anxiety over those things, which the righteous perceive as refuse. Thus, when he suffers from the loss of these temporal goods, he is as though he is "stoned with stones out of the dung of oxen." The hypocrite richly deserves to be seen as among the refuse because he pursues worldly acclaim; at times he inflates himself in pride, while at other times he bemoans his lack of status compared to others and mocks those who genuinely possess it. He is corrupted within by all the vices he harbors, rendering him as unclean refuse in the sight of the Eternal Judge. Therefore, it can rightly be stated that though his pride ascends to the heavens and he claims a heavenly existence, he will ultimately perish, akin to refuse, as his soul is condemned by the stench of its wickedness. The passage continues with an observation: "They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?" (Job 20:7).
Typically, the life of a hypocrite, while ultimately revealed to be cursed, also displays unmistakable signs of its true nature even during his existence. Hence, those who have witnessed him flourish in this life will inquire about him upon his death, asking, Where is he? For he is no longer visible where he once basked in his delusions of grandeur, nor is he perceived in the eternal realm where he had been presumed to dwell. Regarding the brevity of such a life, it is further emphasized: