Psalm 35 (34):12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Let those who have been liberated from unclean spirits, restored from ailments, purified from leprosy, the deaf who now hear, the mute who now speak, the blind who see, and the dead who have been raised, along with all the foolish who have found wisdom, be questioned and respond whether Christ was evil. Yet, this was proclaimed by those whom He Himself predicted through the prophet, 'They shall repay me evil for good' (Psalm 34:12).

He expresses this due to their unworthiness to be regarded as children of God. This is what the Savior revealed most prominently, as He similarly stated: 'Kolkrates voskhoteh to gather your children' (Matt. 23:37)!

Thus, possessing the name of God within Himself, He declares, “Thou, O Lord, hast mercy on me, and restore me, and I will repay them” (Ps. 40:11). Clearly, He speaks with certainty about the resurrection, for He has the authority to proclaim, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days” (John 2:19). Christ provides humanity with a vision, teaching how to trust in God's mercy and hope for resurrection. Furthermore, He does not petition for His own resurrection; rather, He expresses the desire for Matthias to be reinstated in place of Judas, ensuring the apostles remain complete. This was necessary for the son of perdition to meet his downfall so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled, with the son of salvation being chosen anew in his stead.

I triumphed over Goliath, who arrogantly elevated himself before the entire nation. I consistently defeated the enemies, and I released him from the torment of evil spirits through divine intervention; yet he persists in his hostility towards me, seeking to bring about my annihilation and erasure from memory. The Prophet referred to forgetfulness as a loss of heart, for a man’s legacy is upheld through his offspring. Thus, the Almighty declares through the Prophet Isaiah, Let not any man claim to be a barren tree. The Lord promises to every individual who chooses wisely, I will grant them a special place within my household and protection, along with a name of honor, the finest sons and daughters (Isaiah 56:3-5).

Instead of the kindness I showed to Saul, he responded with treachery. I, who defeated our shared foe, the outsider Goliath; I, who cast out the tormenting spirit from Saul, am now being hunted by the very one who once looked upon me favorably. Saul and his accomplices have rewarded me with desolation, particularly a desolation regarding virtue, as they plotted to take my life in order to extinguish the fruits of righteousness. Or, they bestowed upon my soul a void, rather than allowing me to flourish and bear good works.

He is being put to death. And in what location is this occurring? Right in the heart of Jerusalem. For what reason? Because He healed the lame, cleansed those afflicted with leprosy, restored sight to the blind, and raised the dead. For this very reason He endured suffering. It is stated in the Scriptures of the Law and the prophets: ‘They repaid Me evil for good, orphaning My soul, plotting evil against Me, saying, Let us bind the Righteous One, because He is inconvenient to us’ (Isaiah 3:10). Why, O Israel, have you committed a grievous wrong? You have disrespected the One who honored you, glorified the One who elevated you, rejected the One who acknowledged you, denied the One who proclaimed to you, and killed the One who gave you life. What is it that you have done, O Israel?

In this passage, the prophet addresses a second form of persecution, namely the false testimony, wherein the wicked do not merely conspire in secrecy as stated previously, but instead openly target the righteous. Heightening the hatred of their accusers, the prophet first notes: "Having risen," indicating that the wicked, not expecting a summons, come forth of their own volition to bear false witness. Next, he states, "I do not know," demonstrating that the righteous is unfairly accused of actions he neither committed nor even contemplated. Then, he asserts: "Question me," highlighting the audacity and boldness of the false witnesses who, unsatisfied with merely testifying against the righteous before a judge, dare to interrogate him directly.

Christ, the true God, demonstrated His divine authority by healing the ill and casting out evil spirits, yet the unrighteous Jews slandered Him, asserting, ‘This fellow casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons’ (Luke 11:15). When addressing the man who was blind from birth, they proclaimed, ‘Give glory to God, we have seen that this man is a sinner’ (John 9:24). Their spiritual impurity reveals their desire that the Lord Christ not bring forth new members of the Church through holy baptism, or they would seek to eradicate those who have already been born into faith.