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1) Hypocrisy, flattery, and deceit are contrary to sincere behavior with neighbors. Treat every person unflatteringly, but simply, the way you treat yourself. As you appear on the outside, so be on the inside; whatever you say to him and what is on your lips, that same thing should be in your heart. Flattery and deceit are the work of destructive people, and the devil lives in their hearts, who teaches them to deceive us through flattery and deceit. Beware of acting craftily and treacherously towards your neighbor, lest you give a place in your heart to the devil, who will possess you and lead you as a captive (from part 1). 2) Question What St. Tikhon speaks against hypocrisy in matters of piety? Rep. (Bk. VI, §270–271). Hypocrites often do their good deeds: they often pray, sigh, also cry, give abundant alms; They show signs of humility, put on rags, bow their heads, speak quietly, call themselves sinners and show piety in a visible manner, but reject its powers. For they do their works so that they may be visible from men (Matthew 23:5). In order not to become infected with the kvass of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy, we must always remember what should be the end of our good deeds? The end of good deeds is: 1) may you show obedience and obedience to our God, who tells us: turn away from evil and do good... (Ps. 33:15). And although we, for the sake of our weakness, cannot fully demonstrate such obedience to Him, which His holy and righteous law requires, because the flesh lusts after the spirit (Gal. 5:17): nevertheless, we must strive with all our hearts not to allow the flesh to dominate us, but to mortify fruitful deeds with the spirit (Rom. 8:13). 2) We must turn away from evil and do good - not as the pagans once did, and now the hypocrites do - for their own praise and glory, and not for the praise and glory of Him from Whom all good comes - that is, God. Just as all good things come from God, so they must be turned from us to God’s glory. Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). 3) We must do good deeds, so as not to defame and dishonor the high Christian name and title: Christians must remember that the Apostle writes: God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness (1 Thess. 4:7)... The great, high and heavenly title is a Christian: therefore it must be removed and pure from earthly filth and impurity (Eph. 4:1, etc. Titus 2:11, 12). 4) Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire, says Christ (Matthew 7:19). A tree is a spiritually minded person, who, although he confesses the name of Christ, and by this confession, like a tree with its leaves, is painted and magnified; but if he does not produce worthy fruits of his confession, he is given over to nothing other than the fire of Gehenna, like a barren tree to be burned, by the righteous judgment of God... 5) Christian brotherly love requires that we help our neighbor in his spiritual needs and edify his spiritual life by the example of Christian life and piety. However, we do not say this with an end in mind, so that we do good deeds so that we may be visible to men (this is Pharisaic hypocrisy, condemned by God’s word); but in the understanding that the good life of one can serve as an opportunity for another, or to intensify zeal in the Christian feat, or to rise from despondency, or to strengthen the exhausted. For true piety is like a light shining in the night of the world, which, although hidden, cannot be hidden and is seen from afar... People are edified no less by a pious example than by a word. 6) We must strive for a virtuous life, and for this purpose, let us stop the mouths of our opponents and enemies, who sharpen their tongues to reproach and slander us, and look upon us, so that they may find speech against us. And although the nature of slanderers even there finds a reason for reproach and slander, where there is no reason: however, their slander, as false and unrighteous, will be in vain, when the Lord, like light, brings out the truth of the innocent, and their fate, like noon. (Ps. 37:6). 7) We must lead our pious life to the end, so that those who do not know and do not profess the name of Christ, seeing our good life, will turn to Christ and will be one with us and glorify our Father who is in heaven (John 17:21; Matt. 5:16). This is how the ancient Christians won many to Christ. So awaken, awaken and live today with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen. This is what Saint Tikhon of St. offers. Chrysostom on the love of God: He who loves God as he should does not feel anything that happens between people, pleasant or unpleasant (On Ps. 4). He who loves God will never be ashamed: for he will never lose Him whom he loves, and will never be separated from Him (ibid.). A person burning with love for God turns to earth as if he had his residence in heaven, and cannot be kept from the virtuous flow by any things (Conversations 28 on everyday life). God, Whom we love, wants us to show love for Him not only in words, but also in deeds (Conversations 20 on John). Let us conclude this for the time being with the prayer of Saint Chrysostom for love for God, the prayer that he used to say at 10 o’clock in the morning: Lord, grant me the honor to love You with all my soul and thoughts, and to do Your will in everything. Question Where and how does St. Tikhon talk about love for God? Rep. In many places, and most touchingly in the article of my Spiritual Treasure, entitled: who should I love if not him? We hear one saying this about another: who should I love if not him? Christians! It is most fitting for us to speak from the heart about our God: who should I love if not Him, my God? God is the essential, beginningless, incomprehensible, eternal, immutable, highest and most lovable good, from Whom, as the source, all good things, visible and invisible, in heaven and on earth, come. Who then should we love if not Him?.. Just as fire is always hot, as light is always bright, as honey is always sweet: so God is always and unceasingly good and does good. Such is His nature to do good... He also does good to us when He punishes us; for he punishes, so as to correct us; He breaks and he heals; saddens, but cheers; He does everything, let him please. Who else should we love if not Him? God is our Creator. From Him we have our beginning and our being. We are the work of His hands... We were not, and here we are... He created us not as an insensitive, not a dumb creature, but as a rational creature: He honored us with reason... In His image and likeness He created us; It is said not about Angels, nor about any other creature, but about man: Let us create in Our image. Who then should we love if not Him?.. We are surrounded and enclosed in the love of God and His blessings: from Him we receive food, from Him we drink, from Him we receive clothing, from Him we receive a house; His light shines and shows the way; by His air our life is preserved, etc. Who should we love if not Him? The devil and his demons constantly take up arms against us and surround us invisibly. And who could have been saved from the all-destroying enemy if the almighty right hand of God had not protected us?.. We were lost - and we were blinded: God gave us His holy word through His chosen ones - the God-breathed Scripture, and loved us so much that He sent His Hypostatic Word to us, His Son, to seek and save us. Who should we love if not Him? Saint Tikhon summarizes this about love for neighbors from St. Chrysostom: love for one’s neighbor is the root and union of many virtues. The love that exists for the sake of Christ is so strong, constant and invincible that nothing can destroy it: neither slander, nor danger, nor death: it never falls away (1 Cor. 13:8). If everyone loved each other, then there would be no need for laws, trials, or executions. Faith and love are an inseparable pair. Without love, all good deeds are vanity. Question How did Saint Tikhon teach his Voronezh flock about love for their neighbors? Rep. The root and beginning of love for one's neighbor is the love of God... Without a doubt, God loves every person. And so, if someone truly loves a loving God, he must also love the person loved by Him: let us therefore love one another, because God has loved us. All of us Christians recognize one forefather, Adam; We are all one and we have the same nature, and we are called and are men: let us therefore love one another. We are all created from one God, created in the image of God and in the likeness. All of us who have fallen have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us: let us therefore love one another. God loved us all so much that He gave His only begotten Son to eat (John 3:16). God gave us all His Holy Word, like a lamp shining in a dark place; We all listen to and read God’s word, which teaches us to love one another: let us therefore love one another. We are all called into one holy Faith, and we believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One Trihypostatic God. We all call upon one God; we pray and worship Him alone; Let us sing and praise Him: let us therefore love one another. We all have one baptism. Let us begin the one holy meal; We are all brothers and have one Father, God, and with one mouth we pray to Him, crying: Our Father, who art in heaven. Let us love each other. Question What are the fruits of loving others? Rep. Love is long-suffering: he who loves his neighbor does not take revenge for the insult inflicted, but with meekness and kindness endures everything and prays for those who offend. Love is merciful: a true lover, seeing the poverty of his neighbor, no matter who he is, cannot help but be moved in his heart, cannot help but sympathize with the sufferer in his heart. He does not envy Lyuba: for envy is sadness about the good of one’s neighbor; joy over evil is the work of the devil. Lyuba is not exalted: she obeys her superiors, honors her equals, does not despise those who are lesser, and yields to everyone; does not condemn anyone, does not dishonor. Lyuba does not act outrageously: she knows where and what to say or do, she judges the place and time, she is afraid to give temptation. Love does not seek its own people: true love is joy and joy in doing good to your neighbor, imitating your creator God. Lyuba is not irritated: she does not allow great anger to flare up, she does not open her mouth to oaths or slander. Lyuba does not think evil: resentment is far from her. Lyuba does not rejoice over untruth, but rejoices over the truth: she does not rejoice, but grieves over untruth, for three reasons: by untruth the commandment of God is broken, the neighbor suffers an insult, and he who commits untruth is subject to God’s wrath. He loves all loves - evil and good (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Question How does Blessed Tikhon talk about self-love? Rep. When a person turns the love that he should show to his neighbor to himself, then this act of his is called self-love. Self-love, which opposes love for one’s neighbor, the signs are these: 1) he himself wants to be loved by others, but has no love for others; He himself wants to have every good thing and get rid of every evil, but does not care about others. 2) Although someone does good to someone, it is not for nothing, but for the sake of his own self-interest. 3) A selfish person does not tolerate an insult, but takes revenge. This self-lover is such because he himself wants to receive forgiveness of sins from God, and wants his neighbor to leave his offense, but he himself does not want to fulfill this to his neighbor - so he loves himself more than God and his neighbor. 4) Self-lovers are those rich people who build rich houses, set rich tables and decorate themselves with rich clothes, and despise their poor neighbors, or give to them, but not enough. Such was the rich man of the Gospel, who himself clothed himself in purple and fine linen, rejoicing brightly all his days, and despised the poor and weak Lazarus (Luke 16:19). 5) The gravest self-love is when someone seeks his own self-interest, with offense to his neighbor: such are thieves, predators, and covetous people. 6) There is grave pride when someone does not want and strives to prevent his neighbor from having the same well-being, benefit, praise, glory, honor that he has. This is evil envy. This is what craftsmen do, who therefore do not show their skill to their students, so that they do not receive the same honor and praise, having become skilled in craftsmanship. There are the same among the sages of this age... 7) There is a serious sense of self-love when someone denigrates his neighbor so that people would think that he does not have such vices in himself... This is what all those who secretly or openly condemn their neighbor do, but either remain silent about themselves, or shamelessly talk, and cover up the anger of their tongue in such a way: I am not speaking to condemn him... This is evil and wickedness and blindness! He himself is angry, and judges others (Book VI, §253). What are the fruits of self-love? Just as love for one’s neighbor is the source of all spiritual blessings and temporary well-being, so self-love is the guilt of all evils, sins and disasters, in the light of what is happening. 1) From pride - impatience, anger and vengeance; for love is patient. 2) From pride - hard-heartedness, cruelty, rage; for love is merciful. 3) From self-love - painful envy, and worthy of laughter about the bliss of one's neighbor - sadness; for he does not envy love. 3) Self-love is arrogant, proud, contemptuous; for love is not exalted, it is not proud. 5) With pride, anger and passion, shouting and blasphemy; for love is not irritated. 6) Self-love is associated with resentment; love never thinks evil. 7) Self-love contains every untruth, every lie; for love not only does not commit unrighteousness, but also does not rejoice over untruth, but rejoices over the truth. 8) In a word, no matter how many sins or offenses there are, everything grows from self-love, like branches from an evil root (Ibid. §254). Teaching love for enemies, Saint Tikhon cites the following thoughts of the universal teacher of the Church, St. John Chrysostom. Love for enemies and good deeds shown to them on that terrible day will be intercession and great atonement for sins (Conversations 4 on Gen. 1). Love for enemies opens the doors of hope so that we can come to God (ibid.). Nothing appeases God more than loving his enemies and doing good to those who do evil (Conversations 85 on John 18). Praying to God against enemies is contrary to God’s law (on Ps. 4). The enemies who have received good deeds from us will be our helpers on the day of judgment (Conversations about David and Saul). Our friends do not bring us as much benefit through praise as our enemies bring us reproach (ibid.). Loving your enemies, doing good to them and praying for their salvation is great atonement for sins (Conversation 1 on Genesis 1). Question How does Saint Tikhon himself talk about love for enemies? Rep. Enemies are those people who, by word or deed, cause us embitterment - who curse us, hate us, cause us harm and drive us out. These are the ones Christ commands to love... 1) Even if we do not know any other reason why we should love our enemies, the mere fact that Christ commands us to love our enemies will sufficiently excite us to this love. Christ commands, the eternal Truth, who has revealed the will of the Father to us - Christ, Whom the heavenly Father commands us to listen to: Hear Him (Matthew 17:5); – Christ, our highest lover, who gave His soul for us, deliverer, redeemer, intercessor, reconciler. – He says: love your enemies (Matthew 5:44). He Himself loved us, His enemies, so much that He died for us, in order through death to reconcile us with His heavenly Father... For we too must, following His example, love our enemies, if we want to be His disciples and sons of the Heavenly Father, Whose sun shines on evil and good (Matthew 5:45). The highest virtue is to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us: then a person conquers himself; and this victory is more glorious than the victories and conquests of cities and states; then by the spirit of humility the spirit of pride is overthrown; then kindness and meekness drive out malice, the old Adam gives way to the new; then the world and the ruler of the world are trampled underfoot, and the Christian fights a good fight and is crowned... A brilliant and great victory - to overcome evil with good! It is a glorious triumph to triumph over oneself!.. 4) Just as fire is not extinguished by fire: so anger is not overcome by anger, but even more so - it is irritated... And with meekness and love, often the most fierce enemies are softened and bowed down: example - David and Saul. 5) Christ says: “Whatever I desire, let men do to you, and you do likewise to them” (Luke 6:31). No one wants to be hated by their enemies; and he himself should not hate them. 6) Our true enemy is the devil... He creates, forms and stirs up our enemies against us... We must therefore direct all our enmity towards him; resist him with firm faith; do not allow his desire and will to be fulfilled in us; and we will achieve this not by repaying evil for evil and annoyance for annoyance; but love for hate and goodness for evil... Question How can I love my enemies? Rep. I know that loving enemies is bitter and difficult for our flesh; but most holy Christianity demands that we do not do what our heart wants, but what the law commands. What then, do we want to submit to the flesh, which wants to destroy us by opposing the will of God? Let it not be (From book 6, chapter 13. §267, etc.)!