Psalm 141 (140):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Another (Symmachus): do not turn my heart toward evil speech or allow unlawful thoughts to take root within me. Why does the prophet choose to mention the mouth first, then the heart? He does this intentionally. Just as those who oversee prisoners secure the prison doors first to prevent escape, so the Psalmist requests that the entrance to his heart be closely guarded. By doing this, he intends to thwart the onset of wicked thoughts from the very start, effectively uprooting their evil origin. He implores, "Do not let my heart incline to evil words," not because God Himself inclines it, but rather pleading that it may remain steadfast and not wander into unrighteous thoughts. For within the heart lies the source of both virtue and vice.

The Psalm that we have just sung contains several ambiguous passages. Yet, when illuminated by the Lord's guidance, the meanings become clearer, revealing truths you may already hold. The diversity in the expressions is intended to refresh our understanding of the truth.

"Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me." This is a sentiment we can all echo. It is not merely my voice, but the voice of all Christ speaks through. This is articulated on behalf of His Body, for even while He walked among us, carrying our human nature, He prayed; and in His earnest supplication, His body sweated drops of blood. The Gospel recounts, "Jesus prayed earnestly, and His sweat was like great drops of blood." What does this sweating from His entire body signify? It symbolizes the sufferings of all the martyrs of the Church. "Hear the voice of my supplication as I cry out to You." You may have thought the act of weeping ended with your call to the Lord, but once you have mourned, do not assume your trials are concluded. If distress persists, then lamentation lingers for the Church, the Body of Christ. Thus, the cry remains: "I have cried unto Thee," along with the plea, "Hear the voice of my prayer."

"Let my prayer be before Thee as incense, and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice." This is a truth every Christian understands, focusing on Christ, the Head. For when the day was waning, the Lord on the Cross surrendered His life so He might take it up again, not losing it against His will. We too are represented there, as His body hung on the tree, reflecting what He has taken from us. How can the Father abandon His only begotten Son, especially when He is one with Him? Yet, in His suffering, as the Apostle notes, our old selves were crucified with Him. He cried out with the voice of our old nature, "Why have You forsaken Me?" This evening sacrifice—the Lord's Passion and the offering that pleases God—culminated in His Resurrection, producing the morning offering. Prayer, emanating from a faithful heart, ascends like incense from the altar. Nothing is more pleasing than the fragrance of the Lord, a fragrance that every believer can possess.

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a door of restraint around my lips." He specified not a barrier but a door, which opens and closes. Thus, if it is a door, it is meant to be both open—for confessing sin—and closed—to excuse sin. This door of restraint serves a purpose, not leading to destruction. What value does this restraint offer? Christ prays on behalf of His Body: "Do not turn my heart to evil words." What is "My heart"? It represents the heart of the Church, the heart of His Body.

When your heart does not turn away from evil, dear member of Christ, and refrains from justifications for sins, you will not be counted among the elect of the wicked. The text continues, "And am I not to be associated with their elect?" Who are these elect? They are those who justify themselves. These self-declared righteous individuals presume their worth, looking down on others, much like the Pharisee who declared, "Lord, I thank You that I am not like other men." Who are their chosen ones? It is the same individuals who doubtfully question, "This man, if he were a prophet, would know who the woman is who touches His feet." Here, we see the Pharisee who invited our Lord to his home reacting to a sinner's act of humility. The same applies to that woman—if her heart had turned to excuses for her sins, she would have had no way to defend herself. There are many who are equally sinful yet do not match her in confessional honesty. Are there not women, just as sinful, who attempt daily to defend their actions? When they are unseen, they deny their deeds; when exposed, they still try to justify themselves. How easily they do so! They claim, "If God had not willed it, I would not have acted thus," attributing their actions to destiny. This is the defense of the world’s chosen. Yet let the members of Christ, let Christ through His Body, express, "Do not let my heart turn to evil words," and say, "I will not be unified with their elect."

With those who engage in wickedness. What evils should I highlight? Here is one open vice they admit: they proclaim that lending money is preferable to farming. When questioned, they provide their reasoning. The farmer is a nuisance to the Body of Christ, so they contend, as is the one who cultivates the land or collects the fruit. To sidestep imaginary malice on the farm, they perpetrate real injustices through usury. They do not share bread with the needy. Can a greater injustice exist than this perceived righteousness? They withhold sustenance from the hungry, fearing the beggar may receive the nourishing life contained within the bread, for which they consider themselves a member of God. What then do they consume? Is there no flesh on their bones? They rationalize, "We purify the bread and present it as a gift to heaven through our faith and ritual." Such are the elect who believe their own salvation is a result of their works, asserting that Christ is universally crucified. They acknowledge Christ in the Gospel but replace Him with their own saviors. Thus, not a crumb is given to the hungry, who may be a member of Christ; they would rather let the starving man perish. False charity towards a crumb tends toward true murder of the soul.

"But let the righteous rebuke me with kindness, and correct me." This represents a confessing sinner who longs for correction, seeking mercy rather than false praise. The righteous shall reprove him with love, caught between truth and deception. He gives thanks for this correction, for as the Proverbs state, "Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you." The righteous one corrects not out of malice but out of a desire for mercy—and he will judge in the same spirit. The praise of the flatterer does not enrich the one being honored. The undue accolades of a flatterer, likened to the oil of a sinner, are to be avoided. Embrace judgments that come from the Righteous One, rather than submit to ridicule from the sinner. Cultivate your true self to avoid seeking validation from the malicious.

You might wonder what I am doing. Surrounded by flatterers, they do not cease to praise what I regard as insignificant while condemning what I hold dear—crafty deceivers abound. For instance, Gaiusius is lauded for his knowledge, wisdom, and Christian faith—all these reflections of his intellect often overlook a deeper truth. Though he is wise and learned, it is imperative to ask why he claims to be a Christian. If he boasts of wisdom, then he should be marked as a Christian; should he celebrate his education, let him be defined as a scholar. This hypocrisy depicts a dualism: you may revile what he praises. However, this praise, tainted as it is with insincerity, becomes the sinner's oil. Shun praise that fosters arrogance; do not yield to its allure, nor allow it to inflate your pride.

"But wait: now, they will deride me," says Christ. In the early days of faith, believers faced accusations everywhere. Remain steadfast; my message will gain acceptance in due time. It shall be well-received by those who once condemned. Even now, many believers scarcely know how to respond when they beat their breasts in confession. Let them condemn and belittle; our words shall ultimately resonate in their hearts, for a time will come when their cries for forgiveness will echo, resonating with the righteousness of our cause. Despite the naysayers today, persistent refusal to align with the sinner's justification will prove worthier. Confronting the bravado that declares, "I am innocent; I have committed no wrong," we understand that true reflection leads us to recognize our failings.

Who is this individual that I discuss? One who honors the single God, professes Christ, and maintains faith in the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit without engaging in immorality or seeking help from malevolent sources, who supports the Catholic Church, and does no harm to others. Even he, despite his steadfastness, is ensnared by the same failings I speak of. For the hope resides in our daily transgressions, only if we confess humbly in prayer, seeking forgiveness: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," holding before the Father our Advocate, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, who intercedes for our sins. "Their judges were swallowed up by the Rock." What else could this Rock represent but Christ, as proclaimed?

They shall be enveloped in judgment as if surrounded by Him. Their vain authority, potent yet misguided, pales in comparison to Christ's truth. History has shown those great in worldly wisdom crumble beside the Rock. Even figures like Aristotle, placed beside this Rock, seem but dust. He who claimed knowledge trembles in its shadow. The wisdom of Pythagoras and Plato crumbles when faced with this truth. When their unsound words are contrasted with the authority of the Gospel, their influence wanes, and their judgments become meaningless. Thus, we rejoice when a semblance of truth arises from the lips of such figures; however, we do not follow them. It’s vital to reflect that truth is eternal, not bound by temporal recognition.

The triumph of my Words, victorious over the rhetoric of man, resonates; they might speak eloquently, but my Words speak truth. To whom can we ascribe ownership of genuine sacrifice where denunciation was met with unwavering affirmation? The Lord instructed, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves," commanding His followers not to fear mortal threats. He instilled hope, igniting love and bravery through His words. "Fear not death," He said, "for I shall rise first." Those who fell stood firm, and it was their martyrdom, the shedding of their blood like water upon the earth, that spread the message of Christ far and wide. The cross of faith ascended universally because of the steadfastness found amidst foes and fundamentally opposing ideologies.

The fate of the martyrs is likened to the earth's refuse scattered across it—a reflection of their trials. Martyrs were silenced, falsely triumphant, yet their ultimate purpose was fulfilled, for through them the message of Christ flourished. While their deaths seem trivial in worldly eyes, valuable remains heavenly; what is scorned by society enriches the earth in divine ways. God chooses the lowly—the definitive examples of His power—to overturn worldly wisdom. As Peter and Paul rose from disdain into glory, so have their sacrifices been honored, drawing seekers near even the rulers themselves seeking to honor this humble faith before the might of the world.

"To You, O Lord, I lift my eyes, in You I have placed my trust; do not take my life." Those who faced persecution also recognized the distress surrounding them, echoing this prayer amidst the opposition. Even amidst insurmountable threats, the faithful look towards God, being far more oriented to His promises than the threats arrayed against them.

"Deliver me from the snare laid before me." What entrapment is meant? A promise of security should one concede. The lure of present-day comforts captivates those who prefer this life over eternal truth. Yet it is a lie—those who conform to worldly standards will ultimately find themselves entangled in snares of their own making. Meanwhile, Christian resolve persists even amongst fears, for there is a hope that rises above distraction. We must remain steadfast against both the overwhelming threats of disunity and the seductive nature of complacency.

Do not allow my heart to be swayed by falsehood. In other words, guard my mind, which has been properly set, from wandering into opposition, lest I entertain unrighteous thoughts.

Consider sin as towering mountains, the tempestuous waves of the ocean, or a consuming fire that engulfs those who are drawn into it. The adversary seeks to diminish the seriousness of sin in your eyes, leading you toward its grasp.

O most unfortunate humanity, we who seek to validate our transgressions, proclaiming, ‘I yield to my nature,’ when we possess the choice to either sin or refrain from it! We continually defend our actions, insisting, ‘I did not desire to sin; my flesh was too strong. That woman approached me; she gazed at me, she touched me, she spoke to me, she called to me.’ Instead of confessing, ‘Lord, I have sinned,’ we compound our sins with further justifications. Though we share the same physical form, our struggles differ. ‘God shows no favoritism’ (Acts 10:34). Would you like to understand why we possess the same body as the saints? The apostle Paul explains, ‘I see another law at war within my mind, capturing me to the law of sin’ (Rom. 7:23).

"Let not my heart be drawn towards deceitful words, nor let it bear guilt for transgressions." He implores for the safeguarding of not only his speech but also the very way he thinks, lest any thought contrary to divine commandments find a home within him. Instead of stating "not to be guilty of sins," Symmachus interprets this as harboring thoughts opposed to the law. Following the translation of the Seventy, it can be understood that the blessed David might have reasoned: Saul is my foe and adversary; he seeks to take my life, thus it would not be unjust to eliminate such a person, as the law itself instructs: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy" (Matthew 5:43).

Do not allow my heart to be swayed towards expressing wickedness, nor let it take refuge in justifications for my transgressions. Lord, do not permit my heart to lean into the speech of malice nor to dwell in inappropriate memories and thoughts, as Chrysostom observes that this may occur even while one’s lips remain restrained. In this situation, I ask that my heart not only refrain from evil speech but also from making excuses for my misdeeds, as the original sin was met with justifications; Adam blamed Eve for his fall, while Eve pointed to the serpent that misled her.

This represents the third request, which emphasizes that despite our best efforts, human frailty leads even the righteous to stumble frequently, and we all commit numerous transgressions. Consequently, divine assistance is essential so that we may acknowledge our sins, avoiding the false pretense of wellness that leaves us unhealed before the Heavenly Healer. With this in mind, the Prophet implores, “Do not lead my heart into words of deceit, that I may not be guilty of sins.” Essentially, he is asking not to entertain deceitful thoughts in his heart when sinning, nor to feign innocence before You, thereby justifying his sins with mere excuses. He requests this to avoid becoming like his adversaries who engage in wrongdoing.