THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The phrase 'teeth of sinners' can be interpreted as 'leaders of the unrighteous,' whose influence causes individuals to sever themselves from the fellowship of those who abide in truth and instead align with those immersed in evil. In contrast are the 'teeth' of the Church, through whose authority the faithful distance themselves from the errors of the pagans and various false teachings, thereby becoming part of the body of Christ. It was through these 'teeth' that Peter is described as consuming the sacrifices, signifying that he eradicated the falsehoods within the nations and transformed them into his own likeness.
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Thus, the phrase crushed the teeth of sinners can be understood to mean, 'You have brought the rulers of the wicked to destruction, shattering all who unjustly oppose Me.' For, according to the Gospel narrative, the rulers were the ones who persecuted Him, while the common people esteemed Him.
Rise up, O Lord; deliver me, O my God, (Psalm 3:7). This does not suggest that God is somehow unaware or inactive. In Scripture, it is common to ascribe to God the actions He performs within us, though not in every instance, only where it is fitting. For example, when it is stated that He speaks, it refers to the message conveyed through the Prophets, Apostles, or any truth-bearers. Thus, the Apostle asks, “Do you seek proof of Christ speaking in me?” (2 Cor. 13:3). He does not merely refer to Christ as the one who enlightens or guides him. Instead, he associates the act of speaking directly with the one from whom he receives the gift of expression.
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Since You have struck down all who unjustly oppose me, this cannot be merely understood as a solitary utterance, “Rise up, O Lord; deliver me, O my God,” because You have indeed smitten all who rise against me without a cause. It is not that He delivered Him, resulting in the punishment of His adversaries; rather, by saving Himself, He defeated them. The implication of this is that, since You have struck down all who oppose me without justification, You have crushed the figurative teeth of the wicked; meaning, through this action, You have rendered ineffective the words of the sinners who cast curses upon the Son of God, turning them to naught, as if to dust. Thus, one may interpret “teeth” as symbolic of the words of condemnation. Concerning these, the Apostle warns, “If you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15). The teeth of sinners may reflect the leading figures among them, those whose influence separates individuals from the faithful and aligns them with the unrighteous. These teeth are countered by the authority of the Church, which helps believers break free from the deceptions of the pagan world and various falsehoods, bringing them into communion within the body of Christ. Peter was instructed to eat the animals presented to him, signifying an act of cleansing the Gentiles from their former state and transforming them into his own likeness. The Church proclaims, “Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep that have emerged from the bath, each one producing twins, and among them, there is not one barren” (Song of Solomon 4:2). These individuals possess sound understanding and live by the truth, acting in accordance with the command, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). As they are inspired by the authority present among them, they trust in God who speaks and acts through these individuals. Separated from the world to which they once conformed, they become members of the Church. Therefore, those through whom these matters are brought to fruition are justly identified as the shorn sheep; they have shed the burdens of worldly concerns and emerged cleansed from impurities through the Sacrament of Baptism, resulting in each one bearing fruit. They embody the two commandments, of which it is stated, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40), loving God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and loving their neighbor as themselves. There are none barren among them, as they yield abundant fruit for God. Thus, to interpret, You have crushed the teeth of the wicked means You have rendered powerless the leading sinners, bringing down all who unjustly oppose Me. For, as the Gospel narrative reveals, while the rulers persecuted Him, the common people honored Him.