Cyril of Alexandria

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

“But He does not leave us without instruction: for having found, so to speak, a seasonable opportunity, He frames a profitable and saving discourse; and protesting as it were against them, declares, "Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness."”

So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

“What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, "What should I do?" … He does not look to the future.”

This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

“It is true that a person's life is not from one's possessions or because of having an overabundance. He who is rich toward God is very blessed and has glorious hope. Who is he?”

And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.

“For it is sufficient to the prudent for the sake of necessity only, to have a suitable garment, and moderate food, not exceeding what is enough.”

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor.

“But why they ought not to fear, He shows, adding, for it is your Father's good pleasure; as if He says, How shall He who gives such precious things be wearied in showing mercy towards you?”

Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him…

“We should look for Christ's coming again from heaven. He will come in the glory of the Father with the holy angels.”

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

“Our Lord knew the proneness of human infirmity to sin, but because He is merciful, He docs not allow us to despair, but rather has compassion, and gives us repentance as a saving remedy.”

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

“Now to the courageous rightly belong the great and difficult of God's holy commandments, but to those who have not yet attained to such virtue, belong those things from which all difficulty is excluded.”

Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

“Thus the faithful and wise servant prudently giving out in due season the servants' food, that is, their spiritual meat, will be blessed according to the Saviour's word, in that he will obtain still greater things, and will be thought worthy of the rewards which…”

No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

“To save therefore the multitudes, from the intestine seditions, which were excited for the sake of religion, He adds, but unless ye repent, and unless ye cease to conspire against your rulers, for which ye have no divine guidance, ye shall all likewise perish, and…”

When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”

“The incarnation of the Word and his assumption of human nature took place for the overthrow of death, destruction and the envy harbored against us by the wicked Serpent, who was the first cause of evil. This plainly is proved to us by facts themselves.”

When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.

“But they had nothing to answer; they themselves unanswerably condemned themselves. Hence it follows, And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed.”

“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.

“The narrow gate also represents the toils and sufferings of the saints. For as a victory in battle bears witness to the strength of the soldiers, so a courageous endurance of labours and temptations will make a man strong.”

After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’

“But that they who cannot enter are regarded with wrath, He has shown by an obvious example, as follows, When once the master of the house has risen up, &c.”

Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

“This refers to the Israelites, who, according to the practice of their law, when offering victims to God, eat and are merry.”

And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

“He showed that the Jews were about to fall from their rank of being in a spiritual sense his household and that the multitude of the Gentiles should enter in their place.”

At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”

“The preceding words of our Lord roused the Pharisees to anger. For they perceived that the people were now smitten in their hearts, and eagerly receiving His faith.”

Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.

“But because the Pharisees thought that He who was the Lord of hosts, feared the hand of Herod. He refutes this, saying, Nevertheless I must walk to day and to morrow, and the day following.”

Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name…

“"And I tell you," he says, "you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.' " What does this mean?”

One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.

“A Pharisee, of higher rank than usual, invited Jesus to a banquet. Although he knew their bad intentions, he went with him and ate in their company. He did not submit to this act of condescension to honor his host.”

But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way.

“Disregarding then the snares of the Jews, He cures the dropsical, who from fear of the Pharisees did not ask to be healed on account of the sabbath, but only stood up, that when Jesus beheld him, He might have compassion on him and heal…”

And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”

“As they were silent from ill will, Christ refutes their unrelenting shamelessness by the convincing arguments that he uses. "Whose son of you," he says, "or whose ox shall fall into a pit, and he will not immediately draw him out on the sabbath day?"”

But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’

“For if a man wishes not to be set before others, he obtains this honour according to the divine word. As it follows; That when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher.”

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“If then any one wish to be set above others, let him win it by the decree of heaven, and be crowned by those honours which God bestows.”

But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.

“We understand the man to be God the Father. For similes represent the truth but are not the truth itself. The Creator of the universe and the Father of glory made a great supper, a festival for the whole world, in honor of Christ.”