THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
It is essential for us to focus on identifying the true strong men among us, those who are rebellious in nature. These strong men do not rest solely on the shoulders of the weak, the powerless, or those lacking strength. Yet, paradoxically, they extol the weak while condemning the mighty. To grasp the nature of these strong men, we must recognize that the Lord referred to the devil as a strong man: “No one can enter the house of the strong man and take his vessels unless he first binds the strong man” (Matthew 12:29). Through His divine authority, He bound the strong man and claimed His vessels, transforming those who were previously instruments of unrighteousness under the devil’s influence.
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Among humanity, there exist powerful figures who are deemed strong yet are marked by invective and false security, relying on temporal pleasures. Consider the man described in the Gospel of Luke (12:16), whose abundant harvest led him to devise a plan to demolish his old barns and construct larger ones. He believed, upon completion, that he could command his soul to indulge in leisure and joy.
Yet other individuals derive their strength not from wealth, physical prowess, or a position of superiority but from their adherence to righteousness. Such individuals should not be admired or emulated; they ought to be avoided and resisted. Their reliance is not on physical form, resources, lineage, or reputation, which are all transient and ultimately illusory. Instead, they place their trust in their righteousness.
For instance, the strong men questioned why the Master dined with publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:11). They saw themselves as self-sufficient, in need of no Healer. This delusion of strength arises not from sanity but reflects a form of madness. Indeed, even those who are frenzied cannot surpass the strength of a whole person; the more powerful they perceive themselves to be, the closer they come to their own demise. Let us, therefore, refrain from imitating these misguided strong men.
Thus, it is these very strong men who, through their self-proclaimed righteousness, sought to confront Christ. Listen to their words: when some sent by the authorities of Jerusalem were tasked to seize Jesus yet returned empty-handed, they questioned, “Why could you not apprehend Him?” They replied, “No one ever spoke like this man.” These strong men questioned whether any Pharisees or scribes believed in Him, save for the common people who were perceived as ignorant of the law (John 7:45-49). They erroneously placed themselves above the sick multitude who came to the Healer. Their misguided sense of strength ultimately led them to alienate themselves from the very one who came to save all humanity.