THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
In Deuteronomy, there appears to be a recurrence in the discourse, where it states, "To the priests to the Levites... in the name of the Lord, himself and his children all the days" (Deuteronomy 18:1-5). Observe how the chosen people are not esteemed among others, set apart not only by their ministerial duties but also by their distinct hope. For those who dwell in worldly pursuits, longing for the fleeting and temporal, it can rightly be articulated, "This is your portion; this is your lot, your portion measured out to you by Me, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 13:25).
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In contrast, for those who aspire to a pure and unblemished existence, already favored for their virtue, it is appropriate to assert, "In their land thou shalt not have an inheritance, neither shalt thou have a portion among them; I am thy portion and thy inheritance," declares the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 18:1). Similarly, the Savior responded to one who inquired about obtaining "eternal life": "You are familiar with the commandments, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not steal,' and so forth; and when the Savior clarified that he had upheld all these, the man asked, 'What else do I lack?' Jesus answered him, 'If thou wilt be perfect, Go, sell thy possessions, and give to the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me'" (Mark 10:17-21; Matthew 19:16-21). Therefore, those who desire to serve God singularly, who feel compelled to follow Him, must detach themselves from worldly matters, uphold Him solely as their inheritance, and immerse themselves in the hope in Him, in line with what is expressed in the Psalms: "Be comforted by the Lord... Surrender to the Lord... and He will fulfill" (Psalm 36:4-5).