On Walking in Accordance with the World

St. Makarios of Corinth 1731-1805

If we walk according to the custom of the world and in accordance with the desire of each person, we Christians will be no different from the unbelieving heathens who do not possess either law or Scriptures; nor will we differ from those men who lived in the time of anarchy, as it is written in the Book Judges: “Each man did what was right in his own eyes, because there was no king in those days”. (Judges 17:6) For this reason, when the Hebrews wanted to put our Lord to death out of envy, Pilate wanted to release Him, since he did not find in Him any cause for death. But they replied and said: “We have a law, and by our He ought to die, because He made Himself the son of God.” (Jn. 19:7) In saying this, they were lying. For, where in the Law does it say that whoever calls himself the son of God must die, when, in fact, Divine Scripture says that men are gods and sons of God? “I said: Ye are gods, and all of you sons of the Most High.” (Ps. 81:6 LXX) Hence, in saying, “We have a law,” they are lying, because no such law exists. (Concerning Frequent Communion, Ch. 2: Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, IV)