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Verse 7
Theosis · English Bible
Wisdom

Wisdom 14

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1Again, one preparing himself to sail, and about to pass through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carrieth him. 2For verily desire of gain devised that, and the workman built it by his skill. 3But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way in the sea, and a safe path in the waves; 4shewing that thou canst save from all danger: yea, though a man went to sea without art. 5Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle, and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved. 6For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation. 7For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh. 8But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it: and it, because, being corruptible, it was called God. 9For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God. 10For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it. 11Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise. 12For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life. 13For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever. 14For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end. 15For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices. 16Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings. 17Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present. 18Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition. 19For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion. 20And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured as a man. 21And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name. 22Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace. 23For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites; 24they kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously or grieved him by adultery. 25So that there reigned in all men without exception, blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury, 26disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness. 27For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil. 28For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves. 29For insomuch as their trust is in idols which have no life, though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt. 30Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness. 31For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.

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Wisdom 14:7

John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom4th century

When you mark yourself with the sign of the cross, contemplate deeply the profound meaning of this symbol. By doing so, you will be able to subdue your anger and all other passions. Each time you make this sign, approach it with confidence; offer your forehead, heart, eyes, and every part of your being as a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. This is our reasonable act of worship. Historically, this emblem has opened prison gates, neutralized harmful toxins, disabled the lethal effects of the poisonous hemlock, and healed the bites of venomous creatures. If it has shattered the gates of hell, unveiled the treasures of heaven, restored access to paradise, and vanquished the might of the devil, surely it can conquer harmful toxins as well. So, inscribe it in your heart and cherish it as the salvation of our souls. This cross has redeemed the cosmos, dispelled falsehood, restored truth, transformed the earth into heaven, and uplifted humanity to the level of angels. Because of Christ, demons are now rendered powerless, and death is merely a state of rest, not an end. Through Him, destructive earthly desires that threaten those who fast have been dried up.

Thus, if any Jew were to challenge you by asking, “Do you honor the Crucified One?” you should respond clearly and boldly, with a joyful demeanor, “Yes, I do, and I shall continue to honor Him.” If they mock or claim you are foolish and do not grasp the truth, express gratitude to the Lord Christ for revealing such gifts, which surpass human understanding without divine insight. Their laughter results from being, as the Apostle Paul said, “a natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:14). When the ungrateful and rebellious Jew poses the question, “If Christ is indeed God, as you claim, and the Son of God, who came to redeem humanity, why was He subjected to crucifixion and death in such disgraceful manner?” we can succinctly reply, drawing from the prophets. O lawless and ungrateful one, it was foretold that Christ would be crucified, as proclaimed by the law and the prophets, for humanity’s salvation depended on Him. Moses first states, “You shall see your life hanging before you, and you shall not have faith in your life” (Deut. 28:66). Isaiah prophesied, “Like a sheep led to slaughter, like a lamb before its shearer, He did not open His mouth” (Isa. 53:7). Furthermore, Jeremiah said, “Come, let us put wood into His bread” (Jer. 11:19). And, “They took the price of Him and gave it for the potter's field, just as the Lord commanded me” (Matt. 27:9, 10). Regarding the crucified Christ being God, listen to Ezra, who states, “Blessed be the Lord, who stretched out His arms and saved Jerusalem before our eyes.” When seraphs were attacking the people, Moses, by divine instruction, hoisted the serpent upon a tree, saying, “Look at it, and you shall not die” (cf. Num. 21:8, 9). Additionally, Jeremiah proclaims, on behalf of those who condemned the Lord, “Come, let us remove Him from the land of the living” (Jer. 11:19). Christ Himself, as prophesied by Jeremiah, states, “But I, as a lamb led to the slaughter, did not know” (ibid.). Then David, speaking as if for Christ, declares, “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they divide my garments among themselves, casting lots for my clothing” (Psalms 22:17, 19). Again, Isaiah conveys, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient people, who walk in wickedness according to their own thoughts” (Isa. 65:2). The prophets also affirm the honor and significance of the cross and its image. David proclaims, “You have given those who fear You a sign to lift up for the truth” (Ps. 59:6). He further states, “Show me a sign for good, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed” (Psalms 85:17). God, through the prophet Ezekiel, commands, “Put a mark on the foreheads of the men who lament and grieve over all the abominations” (Ezek. 9:4-6). Solomon adds, “Blessed is the tree through which truth comes to pass” (Wisdom 14:7). Isaiah also refers to the origins of the trees forming the cross: “With cypress and peacock wood, and additionally cedar, glorify the place of My sanctuary” (Isa. 60:13). When Moses cast a piece of wood into the waters of Marah, he made the bitter waters sweet, symbolizing the Cross of Christ, which delighted the world by counteracting the bitterness caused by demons. The rod of Moses that parted the rock also foreshadowed the Cross of Christ, which opened the hearts of humanity and bestowed upon them the grace of the Holy Spirit. This speaks to the veneration of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross, especially during the midweek of Great Lent.