←
Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
43
Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Then the just will radiate like the sun in the realm of their Father. In this life, the light of the holy manifests before others, yet beyond the conclusion of the world, the righteous will shine brightly like the sun in the kingdom of their Father."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Then the righteous will radiate like the sun in the realm of their Father. This indicates that their brilliance will surpass that of the sun. The Lord employs this familiar imagery, as no other light source shines more brightly than the sun. \\n\\n‘Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father’ (Matthew 13:43). The righteous will possess a greater radiance than merely that of the sun; Christ utilized this metaphor since we cannot find a more fitting representation among visible objects. Therefore, when we encounter expressions such as this, let us not merely focus on the literal words but use tangible and visible concepts to perceive the unique superiority of spiritual realities. If we can experience profound joy and supreme delight through these divine and spiritual words, which bestow immense spiritual happiness upon the soul, let us attentively engage with the message presented to us, so that we may gather true treasures and cultivate wisdom pleasing to God, returning enriched.\\n\\nBut you might wonder what those resurrected from the dead will be like. Listen to your Lord, who proclaims, ‘Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father’ (Matthew 13:43). Is it necessary to speak of the sun’s glory? Since believers are destined to be transformed to reflect the radiance of Christ the Lord Himself, as the Apostle Paul states: our citizenship is in heaven, where we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humbled bodies to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20, 21), then this mortal flesh will undoubtedly be metamorphosed under Christ’s dominion; mortal elements will be adorned with immortality; what was sown in frailty will rise in power (1 Corinthians 15:43). In that day, the body will be free from decay, nor will it experience hunger, thirst, affliction, or misfortune, for there will be an unshakeable peace and enduring security in life; a different kind of glory, a heavenly splendor, where joy will always abound."},{"author-name":"Symeon the New Theologian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897eec143c131d21207b3_Symeon%20the%20New%20Theologian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":10,"exegesis-text":"When the records of the faithful are unveiled, Christ our Lord, who currently resides within them in a hidden manner, will shine through them, transforming the saints to be like Him, the Almighty God. How do we understand this? Hear the words of Christ the Savior, who states, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun” (Matthew 13:43). What other time does He refer to if not His glorious return? And what other sun, if not Himself, the Sun of righteousness, radiating and reflecting within His holy ones? This truth is affirmed by John, the beloved disciple of the Lord, who writes, “Beloved, we are now children of God, and it has not yet appeared what we shall be; but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment: “Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). If the saints reflect the likeness of God and possess knowledge of God akin to how God knows them, and if, just as the Father knows the Son and the Son knows the Father, so the saints are able to see and understand one another—those who have never met in this life—they will know each other completely. How can you claim knowledge and teach on matters you do not understand, presuming expertise beyond what has been revealed to us as if chosen by God as instructors? Just as it is impossible for the Father not to know the Son, nor the Son the Father, so it is inconceivable that the saints, who have become divine by grace with God dwelling in them, would not recognize one another. They will behold each other's glory and their own, just as the Son perceives the glory of the Father, and the Father sees the glory of the Son. What, then, is the glory of the saints? It is the same as that of the Son of God. He revealed this declaration Himself by saying, “And the glory that You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one” (John 17:22). Do you not see that the glory bestowed by God the Father upon the Son from eternity is the same glory the Son shares with His saints, signifying their unity? Consequently, those who assert that the saints will not see and recognize one another in the presence of God truly walk in ignorance and have yet to experience true communion with God; they speak of the unseen without true knowledge and have not entered into this divine understanding. They suggest that the saints will be entranced, lost in ecstatic rapture, much as some experience divine rapture in this life, forgetting themselves and their companions. Such statements indicate a lack of comprehension of the Holy Scriptures, as they erroneously believe that the saints' experience will mirror certain current ecstatic encounters. Hearing that a certain saint became lost in contemplation of God, remaining in that state for days and nights without recalling earthly matters—this leads them to presume a similar experience in the life to come, failing to grasp the higher spiritual truths and the divine mysteries that are beyond the understanding of the unenlightened. They do not realize that such mental rapture occurs not in those who are perfected but rather in novices. It's akin to a person in a dark cell, seeing only the feeble light of a small lamp and struggling to discern their surroundings, unaware of the sun's light and the myriad of God's beautiful creations that exist just outside their prison—a metaphor for those ensnared in the passions of this world. Though they may acquire some understanding through the Scriptures, it is limited and obscured, leaving them unaware of the eternal joys the saints will experience. Just as a long-imprisoned individual, upon seeing a small opening in the roof, is overwhelmed by the light of the heavens—something they never imagined—it is the same for someone who, freed from earthly passions, suddenly encounters the illuminating truth of God's spiritual light. This person is struck with wonder and awe, appearing as if they have lost themselves, when in reality, their focus is entirely upon that magnificent vision. Moreover, as a person in confinement frequently gazes at the opening, they become accustomed to the light, gradually diminishing their initial astonishment, mirroring our own acclimatization to the sunlight. If we were to suddenly see the sun for the first time, our amazement would be profound, but accustomed to its brilliance, we would later view it with less astonishment. Likewise, as one who has been confined begins to realize their true state of imprisonment and the existence of wonders outside, when they finally emerge, they behold the full light and all that it encompasses. This mirrors the experience of one who has partly freed themselves from the bonds of the flesh and the visible world."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Just as the sun appears to outshine all the stars, the Lord likens the radiance of the righteous to that of the sun. However, they will radiate even more brilliantly than the sun itself. Because Christ is the Sun of righteousness, the righteous will be illuminated in the same way as Christ, for they will be like divine beings."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The virtuous women will glow like the sun in the realm of their Heavenly Father. As the glory of God envelops them, they will be changed, taking on a form akin to the divine, shining even more radiantly than the sun. Why does He compare them to the sun? It was important to provide a familiar illustration, as there is nothing more luminous in their experience than the sun. Let those who have ears to listen, pay attention. This phrase is frequently included at the end to inspire greater insight among them."},{"author-name":"Gregorios Palamas","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bfc03f555204c307b7e_Gregorios%20Palamas.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":14,"exegesis-text":"He who undergoes the transformative process of divine baptism receives the potential to be transformed into the image of the glorious body of the Son of God. If he embraces a new way of living, following Christ and His Gospel, this potential will blossom into perfection through the resurrection. In this state, he will no longer rely on faith and hope, but will experience the truth directly, receiving a glorified and pure body similar to that of the Lord after His Resurrection. Conversely, the bodies of the unrighteous will also rise, yet they will not share in heavenly glory, nor will they be aligned with the glorious body of Christ. They will not witness the promised vision of God reserved for the faithful, referred to as the Kingdom of God; as it is written, “Let the wicked be taken away, that he may not see the glory of the Lord” (Isaiah 26:10). Those who have been born and trained in Christ, striving to reach the maturity indicative of Christ's fulfillment, will joyfully partake in divine radiance and, as Scripture promises, will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. \\n\\nAdam, prior to the fall, also shared in this divine luminosity, adorned in a magnificent garment of glory. He was neither naked nor ashamed, but was infinitely more beautiful than those today who wear crowns embellished with gold and precious gems. The Word of God, having granted us mercy and embraced our humanity, revealed this divine brightness to the chosen disciples on Mount Tabor, demonstrating more clearly than before what we – who believe in Him and attain completeness in Him – will become in the age to come. \\n\\nThe assurances of this completeness for those who live centered on Christ have already been given by the Holy One of God, enabling them to experience the blessings of the age to come even now. This was first foreshadowed by Moses, whose radiant face was unapproachable for the children of Israel. The Lord Himself later illuminated the mountain with such divine glory that even the chosen disciples, despite having received spiritual empowerment, could not withstand the brilliance. Yet, Stephen's face, as recorded, resembled that of an angel, and he looked upward beyond the heavens, where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, beholding the heavenly glory of God. \\n\\nCountless others also bear witness to having received pledges of future blessings and obtaining this divine illumination. May we too be granted this grace and lovingkindness from Him who became incarnate for our sake, who endured suffering, was buried, and rose again, exalted our human nature to heavenly heights, and united it with the Father. To Him, Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, honor, and worship, alongside the Father without beginning and the most holy and life-giving Spirit, now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"And they shall cast them\\" (those who embody temptation and wickedness) \\"into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.\\" This illustrates the ultimate division between righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness. Currently, we experience a blending of these realms. It has been God's intention that the freedom of His creation should deepen and flourish through encounters with evil; evil is permitted both in its proximity to our inner freedom and in its presence in the world around us. It does not dictate our actions but instead seeks to entice. Those who experience temptation should not succumb but engage in the conflict. Those who prevail are liberated from one temptation and progress onward to face another. This journey continues throughout life. How often we fail to comprehend the significance of the evil that challenges us, which could guide us to structure our lives accordingly! The victors are ultimately rewarded with entry into a life beyond this one, where sorrow and affliction no longer exist, and they are purified within, becoming like the angels of God, untouched by tempting thoughts and influences. Thus is wrought the victory of light and goodness, destined to be unveiled in all its splendor on the final day of the world."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following the removal of the wicked, the just will radiate like the sun in their Father's kingdom. The Lord, executing judgment upon humanity as a king with His companions, will guide the righteous to their divine inheritance. Conversely, the wicked will face severe consequences: they will endure torment and witness their separation from glory. The righteous will shine; their sanctity will be adorned with heavenly splendor, much like the Lord's glory manifested during His transfiguration. All will recognize them as children of light, children of God, who is the Father of lights, in whom there is no shadow. Christ the Savior embodies the righteous sun: to Him, all the just will be conformed in glory. HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR! - Thus concluded the Lord's teaching on the parable of the tares."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following the separation of the righteous from the wicked, the latter will be cast into a place of torment, marking the conclusion of the last universal judgment. The righteous will radiate with splendor akin to the sun: this statement is not to be understood as them literally shining like the sun, but rather as the Lord utilizing familiar imagery since no other source of light surpasses the sun in brilliance (as noted by Chrysostom, see also Theophilus). This metaphor conveys the joy and blessedness of the righteous as they enter the future heavenly realm of Christ, or the kingdom of God the Father, to whom the Son will ultimately hand over the kingdom following the universal judgment (1 Cor. 15:28)."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Savior Himself elucidates the meaning of this parable at the disciples’ request, just as He did with the original audience. Within the Church that He established, tares will coexist with the wheat, a consequence of the adversary's sowing. However, only the divine Judge can render a just verdict concerning their fates at the final judgment, as this present age provides everyone with a chance to repent and transform from tares into fruitful wheat. As Blessed Augustine remarks, “For those who today are tares, tomorrow may become wheat.”"}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
