ЗАКОН

A person knew good and evil before eating from the tree, but did not receive this knowledge after eating; explained why the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is called [that] and how Scripture has the custom of naming time and place according to the event that happened in that place and at that time. Today we should understand the very commandment by which [God] forbade eating from the tree. What does it consist of? And the Lord God commanded the man, saying: “You will eat from every tree of the garden” (Gen. 2:16). This is divine law; Let's be careful. If, when reading the royal letters, people force everyone gathered to stand up, then all the more so we, preparing to read not human laws, but divine ones, must rise in mind and listen carefully to what is being said. I know that some blame the legislator and say that the law was the cause of the fall. Therefore, we must first turn to this and show in action that [God] gave the law not out of hatred of man and not out of a desire to insult our nature, but out of love and care. That He gave it to us as an aid, listen to what Isaiah says: “Turn to the law and the revelation” (Is. 8:20). But he who hates does not help. Again, the prophet cries: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). But he who hates does not drive away darkness with a lamp and does not guide the wanderer on the path through light. Also Solomon says: “a lamp is the commandment of the law, and... light, and... life... and edification” (see Proverbs 6:23). This (law) is not only help, not only a lamp, but also light and life. And (to do) this is characteristic not of the one who hates and wants to destroy, but of the one who gives a hand and helps. Therefore, Paul, denouncing the Jew and showing how much benefit the law brought, and that it serves as a calm for our nature, and not a burden, said: “Behold, you are called a Jew, and you calm yourself with the law” (Rom. 2:17). Do you see that God gave the law not to burden us, but to calm our nature? Do you want to know what - and for the sake of honor? It is quite enough and this [said] can testify to honor and care, but I will make this clear through other evidence. “Praise,” says David, “Jerusalem, the Lord; praise, O Zion, your God, for He strengthens the ropes of your gates, blesses your sons among you, establishes peace within your borders, satisfies you with the fatness of wheat” (Ps. 147:1-3). Then, speaking about the good deeds that God shows through the rest of creation, he pointed to a special and most important [good deed], saying this: “he proclaimed His word Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. He did not do this to any other people, and they do not know His judgments” (Ps. 147:8, 9). Look how many benefits he has listed: security of the city: strengthens, he says, the ropes of your gates, removal of war: establishes peace within your borders, abundance of the necessities of life: satisfies you with the fatness of wheat. However, he pointed to the giving of the law as the most precious of all. Wanting to show that receiving the law and knowledge of the destinies of God is a gift much more important than security, peace, the absence of wars, good children and many children, and the abundance of things necessary for life, he, placing this gift after everything as a crown and a set of blessings, added: “He did not do this to any other people.” So, that is, how? Abundance and other above-mentioned benefits were often enjoyed by many, but not about the above, he says, but about the law I said that He did not do this to any other people. Therefore, he added: “And they do not know His judgments”, that the law is more important than all the blessings that have been counted (1). The law was given by God because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. The law is obligatory for all people: for superiors and subordinates, for slaves and masters, for rich and poor. The name “law” (nomoj) comes from the word – nemein – “to divide”, “to appoint”. All people are required by law: “You shall not commit adultery. Don't steal. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house... Honor thy father and thy mother” (Ex. 20:12–17). The same thing is called a commandment, because God commands us to do good and avoid evil; justifications and judgments - because the righteous who keep the commandments are justified before God, and sinners who transgress them are condemned. And it is called revelation because God, through His Divine Scriptures, convinces us to keep all His commandments. “They do not commit iniquity, but walk in His ways” (Ps. 119:3) (3). Do you see the glory of the law? His true glory is when he can lead you to Christ, and he leads when he makes clear that he himself will be abolished. Consequently, from here too a mortal wound is inflicted on heretics. If the law were contrary and hostile to Christ and not given by Him, then Paul should not have called the glory of the law that it can teach those who approach it that through Christ it is abolished. On the other hand, if the law were bad, then the veil should not be removed from it, but it should remain covered even after grace. If grace makes those who approach it more insightful in understanding the law, so that from here they receive the beginnings and all the incentives to faith in Christ, then what better proof could anyone give of the affinity of the law with grace than that Christ opens the eyes of those who approach Him so that they can see the guidance of the law, and the law, having been revealed and made clear, can with great ease guide those who understand the works of Christ? Thus, this shows that neither Christ is at enmity against the law, nor the law against Jesus, but quite the opposite: the law prepares people for this great wisdom, and Christ accepts them from there and elevates them to the height of perfection (4). Just as the eye, when illuminated by the light itself, receives benefit, so the soul, through its very obedience to the law, receives the greatest fruits, is purified, freed from vice and ascends to virtue itself; on the contrary, those who break the law, even before punishment, receive punishment for the crime itself, being in a more pitiful position than sitting in darkness, experiencing fear, enduring and remorse, and at noon, fearing and dreading everyone who knows and who knows nothing (4). To lay down laws is something more necessary than anything else, and this distinguishes us from those devoid of reason. What is the use of having the gift of speech when we lack right understanding? The passions to which we are subjected make the mind empty, and therefore what happens is that the ability to speak, which should distinguish us among others, we change into the talkative disposition of unreasonable animals. But with those, anger immediately calms down, but with us, hatred persists. They don’t have envy, but with us it’s always inflamed. Thus, the legislator and the law are the first and great help. Therefore, foreigners, as well as conquerors of cities, considered legislators greater benefactors than their parents. This is fair and deserved, since the latter give life, and the latter teach how to lead an honest life - as a result of which protection and firmness occur. It is not walls, not troops, but fair laws that make states safe (4). The Law given through Moses is a collection of diverse and necessary teachings, a generally useful collection of all that is good in life, a mysterious imitation of the orders of heavenly life, lamps and candlesticks, fire and light, a reflection of the light from above. The law given through Moses is a prototype of piety, a guide to good living, a restraint for the first sin, a hint of future truth. The law given through Moses is the punishment of the Egyptian error, written by the finger of God, because otherwise the high hand would have been preserved. The law given through Moses, a teacher of piety, a guide to justice, enlightenment of the blind, educator of foolish children, fetters for those who do wrong, a bridle for the stiff-necked, an enforced yoke for those who wish evil. The law given through Moses, the training of the wise, training in necessary matters, a school for knowledge of the world, preliminary instruction, a transitory mystery. The law given through Moses is symbolic, consisting of hints, a contraction of future grace, announcing in images the fulfillment of future truth, by sacrifices - the [holy] sacrifice, by blood - blood, by the lamb - the Lamb, by the dove - the dove from heaven, by the altars - the High Priest, by the church - the house of the Divinity, by sacrificial fire - all the light that illuminates the world from above (9). 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