Job 22:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The gift of the Holy Spirit is termed a pledge, as it fortifies within our souls the certainty of an inner hope. Conversely, the term ‘pledge’ also appears in the context of a confession of sin, as seen in the Law, “If your brother owes you something, and you take an obligation from him, you shall return the pledge before sunset” (Ex. 22:25-26). Our brother becomes a debtor when he wrongs us, as we refer to sins as ‘debts.’ Hence, it was said to the servant who erred, “I forgave you all your debt” (Matthew 18:32), and in the Lord's Prayer, we plead daily, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). We take a pledge ‘from our debtor’ when we receive from the one who has sinned against us a confession of his wrongdoing, which enables us to seek forgiveness for the harm done to us. By admitting his sin and seeking pardon, he provides a ‘pledge’ for his debt, which we are instructed to ‘return before the sun goes down,’ so the Sun of Truth might shine through our grieving hearts, and we may affirm the forgiveness of the one who has confessed his offense. Thus, when the Holy Church accepts back those heretics who have returned to the truth of faith, it first guides them to confess the error of their ways, as Eliphaz remarked, akin to the heretics: you demand pledges from your brethren without reason. However, if we consider the ‘pledges’ as the Spirit’s gifts, heretics claim that the Holy Church has ‘taken away the pledges from the brethren’ because they perceive that those who return to her lose the Spirit’s gifts. This is followed by the statement: and from the naked, their garments. 7. Heretics believe that those whom they mislead will adopt their erroneous teachings like a garment. They view those who embrace their perverse doctrines as clothed as long as the teachings they preach are practiced. When individuals return to the Holy Church from their ranks, these heretics immediately assert that they have forfeited their learned garments. Yet, even one who is ‘naked’ cannot be undressed further; we must ask why they are first called ‘naked’ and then later referred to as those from whom ‘garments have been taken off’ or undressed. It must be understood that anyone possessing purity of heart, by not donning the cloak of duplicity, is considered ‘naked.’ Some heretics might have a sincere heart, but they adhere to the distorted principles of their doctrine. They exist as ‘naked’ due to their inner purity, yet are also ‘clothed’ by the false teachings they follow. Those who return to the Holy Church easily, as they are unaccustomed to the wickedness of pretense, are seen by heretics as naked when they have shed their doctrinal garments, for they regard all simple-minded individuals as foolish when they observe them cast aside their erroneous beliefs. 8. Thus, it follows: You have not served water to the weary, you have refused bread to the hungry. The less heretics hold to the firm foundation of truth, the more they engage in arguments against the authentic faith, boasting of their learned knowledge. They aim to draw everyone towards them through faulty reasoning and mistakenly believe their own misguided actions lead others to life. The ‘weary’ are those burdened by the trials of this world. Therefore, Truth itself calls out, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will comfort you” (Matthew 11:28). Meanwhile, heretics never cease their teachings, mocking the Holy Church for her perceived ignorance: You did not give water to the weary, you refused bread to the hungry. They believe they offer ‘water to the weary’ when they provide the cup of their errors to those struggling under worldly burdens. They think they do not ‘refuse bread to the hungry,’ answering even the hidden, invisible, and unfathomable with arrogance and presumption, presenting themselves as wise above others when they shallowly discuss the unknown. Yet the Holy Church, when recognizing someone seeking what would not benefit him, refrains from revealing these truths if known or humbly confesses them if still unknown. Thus, the Holy Church admonishes all her ministers to exercise humility, to think modestly, as it is written: “not to be wise above themselves, but to think soberly” (Rom. 12:3), and again: “be not proud, but fear” (Rom. 11:20), and furthermore: “seek not the things that are too deep for thee; nor search the things that are above thy strength” (Sir. 3:21), and also: “Hast thou found honey? eat as much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it and vomit it” (Proverbs 25:16). To ‘find honey’ signifies tasting the sweetness of holy wisdom. If we consume enough and in moderation, our understanding grows stronger and more controlled. However, being ‘satiated with honey and vomiting it out’ indicates that one who strives to grasp profound truths beyond his capability may lose even what knowledge he previously possessed. Therefore, in recognizing the Church’s guidance that prevents the weak from diving into deep truths, it is said to blessed Job: And you have refused bread to the hungry. 9. Additionally, due to heretics’ envy of her greatness in preserving many in true faith, they rise against her with pride during her earthly triumphs, publicly criticizing her after secretly resenting her strength. Hence it continues: With your mighty hand, you have claimed the land, and as the strongest, you have held it. As if to say plainly, ‘When you took possession of the land, where all are gathered through your preaching, it was by might rather than a wisdom grounded in truth.’ They observe Christian rulers steadfast in her teaching, perceiving all who come to her not as a result of righteousness but rather as the outcome of secular power.