Беседа 23

Hebrews 11:7. By faith Noah, having received a revelation of what had not yet been seen, reverently prepared an ark for the salvation of his house; by it he condemned (the whole) world, and became heir of the righteousness of faith. 1. “By faith,” says Noah, “having received the revelation.” Just as the Son of God, talking about his coming, said: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married, they gave in marriage” (Luke 17:26-27), so he says. In good time he reminds (the Jews) an example close to them; and the example of Enoch was only an example of faith, while Noah (an example) was also an example of unbelief. Consolation and admonition are perfect when it is seen not only that believers are honored, but also that unbelievers suffer the opposite. What does he say in the words: “Noah received the revelation by faith”? What does it mean? He says it was predicted; He calls prophecy an answer, just as in other places it is said: “It was foretold by the Holy Spirit” (Luke 2:26), also: “What does the Divine answer say to him” (Rom. 11:4)? Do you see the equality of the Spirit (with the Father)? As God gives the answer, so does the Holy Spirit. Why did (the apostle) say this? To show that the answer is a prophecy. “About what was not yet visible” - i.e. about the rain, “reverently he prepared the ark.” Reason did not suggest anything like that: they got married and got married, and the air was clean, and there were no signs; and meanwhile (Noah) was afraid; That’s why (the apostle) says this: “By faith Noah, having received a revelation of things that had not yet been seen, fearfully prepared an ark for the salvation of his house.” How? “He condemned (the whole) world by her.” He shows that those were worthy of punishment, who, even as a result of the preparation (of the ark), did not reform. “And he became an heir of the righteousness of faith,” that is, his righteousness was revealed in this, that he believed God. This is the property of a soul that is sincerely disposed towards Him and does not consider anything more reliable than His words; and the opposite is characteristic of unbelief. It is clear that faith justifies. Just as we received the prophecy of Gehenna, so did he. Then they laughed at him, reviled him and blamed him; but he didn't pay attention to it. “By faith Abraham obeyed the calling to go to the country which he had to receive as an inheritance, and he went, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as if it were a stranger, and lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, joint heirs of the same promise” (Heb. 11:8-9). Tell me: who did (Abraham) see that he could imitate? His father was a pagan and an idolater; he had not heard the prophets and did not know where he was going. Since those who believed among the Jews looked at them (the forefathers) as having received countless benefits, then (the apostle) says that none of them received anything, that all remained unrewarded and not one received reward. He (Abraham) left his fatherland and home and went out, not knowing where he was going. However, what is surprising if he himself (did this), when his offspring lived the same way? Seeing that the promise was not fulfilled, he did not lose heart, because (the Lord) said to him: “I will give all the land that you see to you and to your descendants forever” (Gen. 13:15). He saw how his Son lived there, and his grandson saw himself living in a foreign land, and was not at all embarrassed. With Abraham himself, of course, this could have happened, because the promise could have been fulfilled later, in his descendants - although, however, it was said to him: “I will give to you and to your descendants,” it was not said: “to you in your seed,” but: “I will give to you and to your descendants,” but neither he, nor Isaac, nor Jacob received what was promised. One worked for pay, the other was driven out, and he himself was feared and barely escaped; One thing was acquired from him by war, another would have perished if he had not received help from God. That is why (the apostle) says: “joint heirs of the same promise”; not only he alone, he says, but also his heirs. Then he adds something that is clearer than what was said: “All these died in faith, not receiving the promises” (Heb. 11:13). Here two questions are presented: how, having said that Enoch “was translated so that he did not see death,” now says: “All these died in faith”? And again: how, having said: “not having received the promises,” does he say that Noah received the salvation of his family as a reward, Enoch was translated, Abel “still says,” Abraham received the land? “They died in faith,” he says, “without receiving the promises.” What do his words mean? You need to decide first one thing and then the other. “All these,” he says, “died in faith.” “All these,” he says here, not because they absolutely all died, but because, with the exception of Enoch, everyone we know as dead actually died. And the words: “having not received the promises” are fair, since the promise given to Noah did not apply to that. 2. What promises is he talking about? Isaac and Jacob were promised land; and what promises did Noah, Abel and Enoch receive? He is talking here either about the last three, or about both of them together. It was not a promise that Abel became an object of wonder, Enoch was translated, Noah was saved from the flood; all this was given to them for virtue, and was some foretaste of the future. God, knowing from the beginning that the human race needs great condescension, gives us not only what is in the future, but also the present. So Christ said to the disciples: “And everyone who leaves houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29); and again: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Do you see that this is also given from Him in the form of an application, so that we do not lose heart? The warriors, although they receive relief while they are in the fight, but, obeying the laws, do not have complete rest, but use it later; so, God here does not grant us complete peace, but, although he grants us in part, he saves it in full for the future life. And that this is so, (the apostle) himself explained, adding the following: “but they saw them from afar, and rejoiced” (Heb. 11:13). Here he hints at something mysterious; indicates that they had a presentiment of everything that was said about the future, about the resurrection, about the kingdom of heaven and about other things that Christ preached about when he came to earth - this is exactly what he means by promises. And so, either this is what he says, or the fact that, although they did not receive such promises, they ended their lives trusting in them; but they trusted by faith alone. “They only saw it from afar”, i.e., for four generations - after so many generations they left Egypt. “...and they rejoiced,” he says. They were so confident in these (promises) that they even greeted them, just as sailors, having seen from afar the cities they were striving for before entering them, turn to them with greetings and already consider them theirs. “For he looked for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). Do you see that the expression “not having received” means that they were waiting and hoping for the promises? If hope leads to receiving, then we too can receive. And although they did not possess (the promised benefits), they contemplated them in their desire for them. What was it for? In order to shame us: even when they were promised earthly blessings, they did not cleave to them, but desired the future city; and God continually speaks to us about the city on high, but we desire the one here. (God) tells them that He will give them (the blessings) of the present time, but since he saw, or better to say, they themselves showed themselves worthy of the higher (goods), then He vouchsafed them to receive not those, but these, the higher ones, in order to show us that those who do not cling to the first are worthy of the last, just as if someone promised a reasonable person children’s toys, not so that he would accept them, but to show his wisdom, his desire for the highest. (The Apostle) shows that they renounced the earth with such zeal that they did not even want to accept what was offered. That is why their descendants receive this, as people worthy of the land. What does it mean: “cities that have foundations” Do these (cities) not have foundations? In comparison with those they do not have. "Whose artist and builder is God". Oh, what praise to this city! "By faith Sarah herself." He began this with the aim of reproaching them if they turned out to be more cowardly than their wife. But, someone will say, how can she who laughed be called a believer? True, her laughter comes from unbelief, but her fear comes from faith; her words: “...I didn’t laugh. For she was afraid” (Gen. 18:15) came from faith. After unbelief disappeared, faith appeared. “By faith Sarah herself (being barren) received strength to receive seed, and gave birth out of season, for she knew that He who promised was faithful” (Heb. 11:11). What does it mean: “to receive the seed”? The fact that she, being already as if dead, barren, received the power to retain the seed, to conceive. Her inability came from two reasons: from years, since she was already old, and from nature, since she was barren. “And therefore from one, and that one who was dead, were born as many as the number of stars in the sky, and as the countless sands of the seashore” (Heb. 11:12). “And that is why,” he says, “from one, and, moreover, a dead one, so many were born.” Here he expresses not only that she gave birth, but also that she became the mother of such a multitude, which even fertile wombs do not have. “There are so many stars in the sky,” he says. Why (in Scripture) are they often numbered, while it is said: just as no one can number the stars of heaven, so neither can your seed (Gen. 13:16)? (Scripture) says this either exaggeratedly, or referring to those who are constantly born again. The ancestors of one family can be counted, as this one came from such and such, and that from such and such, but those whose family is compared to many stars are impossible to count. 3. Such are the promises of God, so easily fulfilled what He promised! If what He promised in the form of an addition is so amazing, so wonderful, so brilliant, then what is that of which it is a complement, of which it serves as an excess? Therefore, who is more blessed than those who receive these benefits and who is more miserable than those who lose? If everyone pities a person expelled from his fatherland, if they consider him pathetic when he has lost his inheritance, then with what tears should one mourn someone who is deprived of heaven and the blessings prepared there? But it is only necessary not to mourn him: they mourn someone who has suffered some misfortune through no fault of his own; but whoever, of his own free will, indulges in vices is worthy not of tears, but of sobs, or better yet, he is worthy of sorrow, because our Lord Jesus Christ grieved and wept for Jerusalem, which was wicked. Truly, we are worthy of countless lamentations, countless sobs! If the whole universe raised its voice - stones, trees, bushes, animals, birds, fish - in a word, the whole universe - if, raising its voice, it began to mourn our deprivation of these blessings, then this crying and sobbing would not be enough. What word, what mind can imagine that blessedness, that goodness, pleasure, glory, joy, merriment, lightness, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9)? It is not simply said that (these goods) are excellent, but that no one can ever imagine “what God has prepared for those who love Him.” In fact, what should be the benefits that God himself prepared and arranged? If, having created us, He immediately, when we had not yet done anything, gave us so much - both paradise and communication with Himself, promised immortality, a blessed life and free from worries, then what does He not give to those who did, worked and endured so much for Him? He did not spare His Only Begotten for us, He gave His true Son to death for us. If He honored us with such (goods) when we were His enemies, then what will He not honor us with when we become His friends? What does he not bestow upon reconciliation with himself? He is infinitely rich and infinitely desires and tries to make us his friends; but we do not try at all about this, beloved. What am I saying: we don’t try? We don’t even want to accept His blessings the way He wants. And that He wants this more than us, He proved by His deeds. We are unlikely to sacrifice a small part of gold for our own benefit; and He gave His Son for us. Let us use, as we should, the love of God, beloved; Let us take advantage of His friendly disposition: “You are My friends,” He said, “if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). Alas! He made enemies who were infinitely far from Him, whom He incomparably surpasses in everything, and calls them His friends! What should not be tolerated for such friendship? But we, out of friendship with people, are often exposed to dangers, and for (friendship) with God we do not even want to spend money. Truly, we are worthy of regret, sorrow, tears, cries, great lamentation and lamentation. We have turned away from our hope, fallen from our heights, found ourselves unworthy of the honor of God, ungrateful and useless after our blessings; the devil deprived us of all blessings; having been worthy to be sons, brothers and joint heirs (of God), we are no different from His enemies who insult Him. What consolation will there be for us after this? He called us to heaven, and we cast ourselves into Gehenna. Oaths and lies, theft and adultery have spread throughout the land; some mix blood with blood, others commit deeds worse than bloodshed. Many of those who are offended, many of the victims of covetousness would rather experience thousands of deaths than endure this, and if they did not fear God, they would take their own lives - so they wish for themselves to die! Isn't this worse than bloodshed? “Oh woe is me! “, - said the weeping prophet, “... there are no more merciful on earth, there are no truthful people among people” (Mic. 7: 1-2). Let us cry now, first of all, for ourselves; and you will take part in my cry. But maybe some people are disgusted by this and laugh. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify the crying even more; We are so mad and insensitive that we do not understand our madness and laugh at what we should cry about. “For, man, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom. 1:18). “...our God comes, and not in silence: before Him is a consuming fire, and around Him is a great storm” (Ps. 49:3). “Fire goes before Him and burns His enemies around” (Ps. 96:3). “For behold, the day will come, burning like an oven” (Mal.4:1). But no one thinks about it; they consider and despise such terrible and terrible things worse than fables; no one listens; everyone laughs and laughs. What will be the benefit to us? Where will we get salvation from? We perished, became exhausted, became the laughing stock of our enemies and the subject of mockery for the pagans and demons. 4. The devil is proud, arrogant and rejoices now; the angels to whom we are entrusted are ashamed and grieving. There is no one who would reform; all our labors are in vain, and it seems to you that we are talking nonsense. It is timely now to cry out to heaven and, since no one is listening, to call the elements as witnesses: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord speaks” (Is. 1:2). You, who have not yet fallen, give help, extend your hand to those who have fallen from intoxication, the strong to the weak, the sound in mind to the frantic, the firm to the wavering; Let no one, I exhort you, put pleasantness above the salvation of your neighbor; let both reproaches and suggestions tend towards one thing - to his benefit. When fever takes possession of the masters, then the servants control them; when the master's soul is in heat and relaxation, then out of the crowd of servants surrounding him, not one carries out the master's commands to his harm. Let's come to our senses, please; There are daily wars, drownings, countless misfortunes around us, and the wrath of God surrounds us on all sides. And we remain so calm, as if we are doing what pleases (God); We all stretch out our hands to covetousness, and no one to help (our neighbors); everyone is for theft, and no one is for help; everyone tries to increase their fortune, and no one tries to help someone in need; everyone is trying in every possible way how to collect more money, and no one is trying to save their soul; everyone is afraid of one thing, lest they become poor, but lest they fall into Gehenna, no one worries or trembles about that. All this is worthy of tears, reproaches and condemnation. I would not like to talk about it, but grief forces me; forgive me: grief makes me say a lot of things that I wouldn’t want to. I see a grievous wound, an inconsolable misfortune, the calamities that have befallen us, exceeding all consolation - we are lost! “Oh, who will give my head water and my eyes a source of tears! I would weep day and night” (Jer.9:1)? Let us cry, beloved, weep and weep. Maybe some people here say: everything he tells us is about crying, everything is about tears. I wouldn’t want to, believe me, I wouldn’t want to (talk about this) - on the contrary, (I would like to) praise and glorify; but now it's time for tears. It’s hard not to cry, beloved, but to do what is worthy of tears; It is not tears that should run away, but those deeds that are worthy of tears. Do not execute yourself, and I will not grieve; don't die and I won't cry. When a dead man lies, then you call on everyone to participate in mourning and call those who do not cry merciless; and when the soul dies, why do you advise not to cry? But I can't be a father and not cry; I am a tenderly loving father. Listen to what Paul says: “My little children, for whom I am again in birth pangs” (Gal. 4:19). What mother, during childbirth, utters such bitter cries as he does? If you could see the heat inside my soul, then you would see that I am burning with it more than any wife or virgin who has suffered premature orphanhood. It’s not so much a wife crying for her husband or a mother for her son, but me, for all of you in general. I don't see any success; everything turns into slander and condemnation. No one tries to please God; we only slander this one or that one, and say: such and such is not worthy to be in the clergy, such and such lives wickedly. While we should bemoan our own vices, we condemn others, whereas we should not do this even if we were pure from sins: “For who distinguishes you,” says (the apostle), “What have you that you have not received? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you didn’t receive it?” (1 Cor. 4:7). How do you condemn your brother, being yourself filled with countless evils? When you say: such and such a person is evil, harmful, vicious, then pay attention to yourself, analyze your affairs carefully, and you will repent of your words. No, there really is no such strong incentive to virtue as the memory of one’s sins. If we constantly follow these two (rules), we will be able to receive the promised benefits, we will be able to cleanse ourselves and wash ourselves; we just need to ingrain it in our minds, we need to take care of it, beloved. Let us mentally indulge in sorrow here, so that there we do not experience the sorrow of punishment, but in order to enjoy eternal blessings, where there is no sickness, sorrow and sighing, in order to achieve eternal blessings that surpass the mind of man, in Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: