THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. Given the clarity of our explanations, and recognizing that the essence of the law is to ensure that only the pure, not the impure, partake of the sacred and life-giving sustenance, he draws a clear distinction between those who are worthy of the blessing and capable of receiving it. He also specifies who is to be excluded from the holy offerings, stating, “No stranger shall eat of the holy things; neither shall he that dwelleth with the priest, nor a hireling eat of the holy things: but if the priest buy a man for silver, that man may eat of them: neither may his household eat of his bread” (Lev. 22:10-11). This provision excludes foreigners and strangers, deemed unclean and yet unwashed, referring to those who have not yet come to believe in and know the true God.
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How can those who do not have a spiritual and intellectual connection to Christ, the supreme and genuine Priest, partake of His sustenance? We will not provide “holy things to dogs, nor cast pearls before swine,” as the Saviour teaches us (Matt. 7:6). Thus, foreigners are entirely left out. He also includes acolytes and hirelings in this exclusion. It seems to me that those who are merely worldly, treating the earth as their homeland, focus solely on earthly matters; their love for Christ exists only as a cold, nominal faith. Although they present themselves as useful and well-meaning, their actions and behavior often fall short of genuine reverence. Hirelings, on the other hand, do not embrace the faith out of love for the truth; instead, they seek the approval of others, aiming to gain something in return for their appearance as Christians, and they exploit those from whom they can derive benefit, turning godliness into a profit-driven enterprise (cf. 1 Tim. 6:5), masking their greed with seemingly virtuous words. Therefore, based on the significance of the law, both squatters and hirelings should be considered among the foreigners, distanced as much as possible from the saints. They rightfully deserve the same consequences. However, the law permits the households of priests and those they have acquired to partake in the sacred offerings, as it states, “let the households of the priests and the one whom they acquire eat of it.” The law designates as “purchased” a person who is both united in faith and close in spirit to the household, bought with a price, echoing the teachings of the blessed Paul (1 Cor. 7:23; 6:20); “Christ redeemed us from the oath of the law, having become for us a curse,” according to scripture (Gal. 3:13).