Moral Rules (Moralia) 47–56

That one must not store up treasure for oneself on earth but in heaven, and what is the way of storing up [treasure] in heaven. Matthew: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Luke: “Sell your possessions and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” Luke: “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens.” First to Timothy: “[Charge them] to be generous, [storing up for themselves a good foundation] for the future, so that they may take hold of what is truly [life].”

[48] That one must be merciful and ready to share, [for those who are not are] condemned. Matthew: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Luke: “Give to everyone who asks of you …” [To the Romans: “… heartless, ruthless; who,] though they know God's righteous decree that those who practise such things deserve death, [not only do them but give approval to those who practise them].” First to Timothy: “To be generous …”

That whatever anyone has beyond what he needs of the necessities of life, he is bound to use in doing good to [the one in need], according to the commandment of the Lord, who also [gave us what we have]. Luke: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” First to the Corinthians: “What do you have that you did not receive?” Second to the Corinthians: “Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be equality. As it is written: Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little [had no lack].”

That one must not be rich but poor, according to the [word] of the [Lord]. Luke: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” Second to the Corinthians: “Their extreme poverty has overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.” First to Timothy: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [with many pangs].”

That one must not be concerned to have more than enough of what life needs, nor be eager for fullness or for extravagance, but be clean of every kind of greed and of self-adornment. Luke: “Take care, and be on your guard against all greed, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” First to Timothy: “[That women] adorn themselves [with modest apparel], not with gold or pearls or costly attire …” “But if we have food and covering, with these we will be content.”

That one must not be anxious about one's own needs, nor put one's hope in what has been prepared for the present life, but entrust to God what concerns oneself. Matthew: “You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat and what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, [saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ …] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Luke: “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry,’” and what follows. First to Timothy: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything [to enjoy].”

That one must take thought and care for the needs of the brothers, according to the will of the Lord. Matthew: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” And a little later: “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” John: “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a great crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’” and what follows. First to the Corinthians: “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

That whoever is able must work and share with those in need; for whoever is unwilling to work has been judged unworthy even to eat. Matthew: “The labourer deserves his food.” Acts: “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” To the Ephesians: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Second to the Thessalonians: “For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

[49] That one must not go to law even over the things that serve as the body's necessary covering. Luke: “To one who strikes you on the right cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.” First to the Corinthians: “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare to go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?” And a little later: “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud, [and that your own brothers].”

That one must not fight or avenge oneself, but be at peace, if possible, with all, according to the commandment [of the Lord]. Matthew: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” and what follows. Mark: “Have [salt] in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” To the Romans: “Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is good in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all people. [Never] avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath.” Second to Timothy: “And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to [everyone].”

That one must not take revenge on the wrongdoer even to avenge another who is being wronged. Matthew: “Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all [who take the sword will perish by the sword].’” Luke: “And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when the disciples [James and John] saw it, they said, [‘Lord, do you want us to] tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them, as Elijah also did?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another [village].”

That one must also bring others into the peace [that is in Christ]. Matthew: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” John: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

That one must first correct oneself for any fault, and then accuse another. Matthew: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” To the Romans: “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practise the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practise such things. Do you suppose, O man, you who judge those who practise such things and do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?”

That one must not be indifferent toward those who sin, but grieve and mourn over them. Luke: “And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!’” First to the Corinthians: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not even named among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. And you are puffed up! Ought you not rather to mourn, so that the one who did this deed might be removed from among you?” Second to the Corinthians: “[I fear] that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier [and have not repented].”

That one must not keep silent toward those who sin. Luke: “If your brother sins, rebuke him,” and what follows. To the Ephesians: “And take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

That one must accept dealings with sinners for no other reason than to call them to repentance, in whatever way is possible without sin. Matthew: “And behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and reclined at table with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” Luke: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not [leave the ninety-nine in the open country] and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?’” and what follows. … “… [over ninety-nine righteous persons who] need no repentance.” … “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead and is alive; he was lost [and is found].” Second to the Thessalonians: “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, [take note of that person and have nothing to do with him], that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, [but warn him as a brother].” [Second to the Corinthians]: “Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it too severely, to all of you. For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough, so that you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.”

That those who, after every kind of care for them has been fully spent, persist in [their sin must be treated as Gentiles] … Matthew: “If your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it [to the church]; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

That a Christian must not bear a grudge, but forgive from the heart those who have sinned against him. Matthew: “If you do not forgive people their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses; [but] if you forgive people their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

That one must not judge one another in matters [left free] by Scripture. Matthew: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.” Luke: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned.” To the Romans: “One believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains judge the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day observes it for the Lord, and the one who does not observe the day does not observe it for the Lord. The one who eats eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God.” And a little later: “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another any longer.” To the Colossians: “Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath; these are a shadow of the things [to come].”

That one must not waver in matters [left free] by Scripture. To the Romans: “Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not from faith. For whatever is not from faith is sin.” To the Colossians: “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, [do you submit to regulations]: ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,’ things which all perish as they are used, according to human precepts and teachings?”

That one must not judge about things that are hidden. First to the Corinthians: “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the hearts. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

That one must not judge with partiality. [John: “If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision] so that the law of Moses may not be broken, [are you angry] with me [because] on the Sabbath [I made a man's whole body well]? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

That one must not condemn anyone without first examining his case accurately in his presence, even if those accusing him are many. John: “Nicodemus, who had gone to him by night and who was one of them, said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?’” Acts: “And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, ‘There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defence concerning the charge [laid against him].’”

That one must know and confess that the grace of every good thing, and even the endurance of the sufferings for Christ, comes from God. John: “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” First to the Corinthians: “What do you have that you did not receive?” …

That a Christian must not bear a grudge, but forgive from the heart those who have sinned against him. Matthew: “If you do not forgive people their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses; but if you forgive people their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”