Commentarii in Jeremiae epistulam

Copy of a Letter." The prophet, being informed by the Spirit that captives were about to be taken, is commanded by God to write the letter even before the captivity, so that when they become captives, they may have it as a provision against being deceived and worshipping the idols of the Babylonians. "Until seven generations." That here he counts a generation as ten years. "For my angel." Clearly, an angel also assists those in captivity, so that they are not utterly destroyed by their enemies. "For their tongue." Of the idols, that is, of the false teachers, the tongue is made glib for falsehood by the devil, the craftsman of evils. "Themselves gilded." The false teachers have a semblance of piety, but have denied its power. "They are false and cannot speak." Because falsehood does not speak truth. "And to the prostitutes on the roof." That by "roof" he means the brothel. "But these are not preserved from rust." The gods of the nations; but neither are the false teachers preserved from the devil's poison. "Therefore do not fear them." Against the rottenness of the idols, that they cannot help themselves. "Their eyes." He speaks of the idols, but no less of the heresiarchs, or even of those occupied with earthly things, whose eyes of the mind are full of devilish dust, unable to perceive the truth because of the devilish energies entering into them. "They light lamps." After the idols, understand also those who are deceived as looking to the law of God. Concerning which it is written: "A lamp for my feet is your law.

But not even by a prophetic word, as a lamp burning in a murky place. "They are blackened." The idolaters are like the idols. For it is written, "May those who make them become like them." And all who are possessed by demons have the face of their soul without light, being darkened by the smoke of the devil in their heart. "Upon the body." And their soul, he says, and the ruling part itself, that is, the mind, or also their assembly, and their leaders, demons beat, because they did not make God a shelter. "In which there is no spirit." After the idols, understand also those possessed by them, being outside the divine Spirit. "Nor to a poor man." And this is a sign of demonic misanthropy. "Sitting apart from their sacrifices." So it is to be noted that a woman in childbirth and one sitting apart should not touch sacred sacrifices. For the law also commanded this. But in a spiritual sense, it prevents impure souls from performing sacred rites. "That women set them out." It is to be noted that women should not perform sacred rites. But in a spiritual sense, the souls of priests should not be weak, but manly and noble. "Whose heads are uncovered." Not having the helmet of salvation. It says the idol is speechless, voiceless. The Greeks worshipped Belus as Zeus. "And the women put ropes around themselves." He calls the girdles ropes; for covering only the unseemly parts of the body, they exposed the rest, summoning lovers. "Burning bran." To Aphrodite, perhaps, or to some panderer. Perhaps also the wretches did this for purification.

Because it was not deemed worthy." Because it was not deemed worthy of God's visitation. For how could things constructed by them be gods, since that which is made by another is not God. "It will be known after these things that they are false." Which indeed came to pass through the appearance of the Savior. "For like crows." The crow is an unclean bird. Unclean, therefore, are the demons, being neither heavenly because they are dishonorable, nor earthly because they are falsely named; and moreover, they were cast out from the heavenly vaults by God, and from the earth they are driven away by holy men through the help of Christ. And according to a mystical account, the Savior also ascended the cross, purifying the air from their impurity; and he went down into the underworld, destroying their tyranny there. "These things, neither in their appearances." The idols, he says, are neither bright, like the sun and moon; nor effective, like fire and wind. But if they are incomparably inferior to these in appearance and power, and are not gods, how can they be considered gods? "Signs among the nations." For this reason perhaps the Pharisees also questioned the Savior, saying, "What sign do you show us from heaven?" But the star alone sufficed to show that the one born is God; and the events at the cross demonstrated his divinity, when the sun drew in its own rays; and the voice borne from heaven, "This is my beloved Son." Behold, therefore, also the signs from heaven. "Scarecrow." The Greeks call such things "probaskania" and "kerambela," which the field-guards set up to frighten birds or even men; these are also called "mormolykeia.

And they themselves will be eaten later." By time, obviously, preserving the boundaries of the divine commandment. "Therefore a righteous man is better." The "better" is not by comparison, but instead means praiseworthy before God, not only not possessing perceptible idols, but also not carrying about the idols of sin in the soul. "For he will be far from reproach." For the one who is pure in both deed and thought will, on the day of judgment, stand with the right-hand company of those who are blessed and not cursed. Let us therefore also entreat that the God of all become our guide, so that, proceeding by the light of his face according to the prophetic melody, we may not turn aside to the right or to the left, but travel the royal road that leads to eternal life. May it be granted to us to attain this by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father belong glory, honor, and power together with the all-holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.