The teacher

(Quotations from Cyril of Alexandria)

The Spirit-bearing Teacher

But when thou seest one who has been brought up in the church, innocent, simple, without hypocrisy, whose mode of life is worthy of emulation, who is known of many as the companion of holy monks, who flees from the arts of the city, who is fond of desert places, who loves not gain, nor schisms, and, besides all this, has a correct faith, and is made honorable by the grace of Christ, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, so as to be even able to work those things that are by Christ; unto such a one draw near with confidence: he shall pray for thee purely, and his grace shall minister unto thee.
(Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, p. 242)

... it is the practice and earnest purpose of the saints to make those who are taught by them partakers of the grace given them by Christ, anyone may learn {this} from the message which the blessed Paul sent unto certain, saying, For I desired to see you, that I might give you some spiritual gift, that ye may be established (Rom. 1:11). And he testifies also to his disciple Timothy, Despise not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by the laying on of my hands (1 Tim. 4:14).
(Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, p. 512)

Qualifications of the teacher

The blessed disciples were about to be the initiators and teacher of the world {when Christ spoke this parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?" (Lk. 6:39)}. It was necessary for them therefore to prove themselves possessed of everything requisite for piety; they must know the pathway of the evangelic mode of life, and be workmen ready for every good work, and able to bestow upon well-instructed hearers such correct and saving teaching as exactly represents the truth. This they must do, as having already first received their sight and a mind illuminated with divine light, lest they should be blind leaders of the blind. For it is not possible for men enveloped in the darkness of ignorance, to guide those who are afflicted in the same way into the knowledge of the truth...
(Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, p. 138)

The commandment {i.e. First cast out the beam from thine own eye, and then thou wilt see to cast out the mote from thy brother's eye (Matt. 7:5)} is indispensable for every one who would live piously; but, above all, for those who have been entrusted with the instruction of others. For if they are good and sober-minded, and enamored of the elect life, and not merely acquainted with, but also practicers of virtuous arts, and setting in their own conduct the pattern of a holy life, they can with open countenance rebuke those who will not do the same, for not having imitated their example, nor imprinted their virtuous manners on themselves; but if they are careless, and quickly snared by pleasures to do evil, how can they blame others when they are similarly affected? Wisely, therefore, did the blessed disciples write, saying Let there not be many teachers, my brethren: for ye know that we shall receive greater condemnation (James 3:1). For as Christ, Who is the Distributor of the crowns and the Punisher of those who do wrong, Himself says: He who shall do and teach, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven: but he who hath not done, but hath taught, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:19).
(Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, p. 140)

©1999 by Deb Platt

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