Psalm 36 (35):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He connects it to the will, for some individuals desire comprehension yet fail to grasp it, while others choose not to seek understanding, resulting in their ignorance. He was unaware that he had the capacity to do good.

The speech that came from their mouths was filled with wickedness and deceit. They committed injustices against Christ, acting with malice while attempting to ensnare Him with their duplicitous compliments. He chose not to comprehend their intentions, deliberately shunning the opportunity to do good.

What can one say about Judas, the traitor, who pursued wealth and discovered sacrilege, asking, "What will you give me if I betray Him to you?" (Matthew 26:15)? It was insufficient for him to exploit the needy; by intertwining his transgressions, he culminated in the gravest of sins, corrupting the sacred sacrament of love when he declared, "The one I kiss is the One; seize Him" (Matthew 26:48). There can be no doubt about the truth of the statement, "The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit" (Psalms 35:4). He touched those lips, allowing the poison within his heart to flow forth while contemplating cruel torment under the guise of friendship. The prophet rightly proclaimed that "He would not make him wise to do good" (Psalms 35:4). His sin was not inherent but driven by yearning.

His words lack sincerity and are filled with insincere praise. He shows no interest in what is right; under the cover of darkness, he plots wicked schemes against those around him, while in the light, he executes his plans. This behavior stems from his comfort with falsehood and his unwillingness to turn away from its many guises. The Prophet conveys this idea with the phrase "of malice he is not disgusted," since sacred Scripture regards idols with disdain and aversion (Deuteronomy 7:26). Aquila translated this as "he did not deny," and Theodotion rendered it as "he did not reject."

The utterances from his lips were characterized by wickedness and deceit. He stated that the words spoken by Saul, which appeared to be kind and amicable, were actually filled with wickedness and deceit, masking a hidden malice. This was the essence of the wickedness and deceit of his actions: through seemingly friendly words, he aimed to instill in me the fear that he was my adversary, intending to attack me once he found me vulnerable. Saul, as he remarks, was unwilling to regain his clarity and choose righteousness; in other words, he refused to abandon his schemes against me.

In the previous verse, the Prophet emphasizes that the unrighteous individual operates with deception. He further explains that this individual also communicates with deceit to illustrate that his thoughts are likewise deceptive, revealing the pervasive moral decay of one who does not reverence God. The Prophet indicates that the words that come from his mouth align with his actions, demonstrating a profound wickedness characterized solely by wrongdoing and flattery. Every utterance he makes is either intended to cause harm openly or to mislead in a concealed manner.

The treacherous words of Judas to Jesus: Rejoice, O Teacher (Matthew 26:49). Through such deceitful praise, he signaled to the Jews that they would seize Him, declaring, ‘Whomever I kiss, it is He; seize Him’ (Mark 14:44). He sought no honor as a disciple, remaining in his wickedness until the very end.