The Instructor 1.9.76

Such is the Instructor when he admonishes, as when he says in the Gospel: “How often I wanted to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not.” Again Scripture admonishes, saying, “They committed adultery with wood and stone, and burned incense to Baal.” For this is the greatest proof of his love for humankind: that although he knew clearly the shamelessness of the people who had kicked and bolted, he still calls them to repentance and says through Ezekiel: “Son of man, you live among scorpions; yet speak to them, if perhaps they will hear.” And to Moses he says: “Go and tell Pharaoh to send the people away; but I know that he will not send them away.” He shows both: his divinity, foreknowing what will be, and his love for humankind, giving the soul's free will occasions for repentance. He admonishes also through Isaiah, caring for the people, when he says: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (this is blame that convicts); “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Here his care, having revealed the sin, shows salvation alongside it. Censure (epitimēsis) is blame for shameful things, winning one over to what is good.