THEOSISVissarion (Nechaev)
Blessed are those who are innocent and follow the path of the Lord's commandments. (Psalm 118:1) The promises tied to a life of piety and righteousness ensure both earthly and eternal blessings. However, a warning is issued to the wicked: their paths will ultimately vanish from the earth, and they will be removed from it. This signifies that there will be no remnants of their actions or their presence, as the Lord has not only threatened to curtail their lifespan, but also to wipe out their lineage, punishing the iniquity of the fathers upon their children and even unto the third and fourth generations (Exodus 34:6-7). Particularly, those who violate the seventh commandment face dire consequences.
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The Son of Sirach observes regarding the adulterous wife: ‘her children shall not take root and her branches shall not bear fruit’ (Sirach 23:34). This conveys that those who commit adultery will not pass on their heritage through illegitimate offspring. These warnings, as well as the promises made to the Old Testament faithful, retain their significance for the New Testament believers, who are called to an even higher standard of godliness and virtue in their lives.