Homilies on the Gospel of John

“For I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak?”

Surely these things were said for their sakes, that they might have no pretense of excuse. Since if this were not the case, what shall He have more than Isaiah? For he too says the very same thing, “The Lord God gives me the tongue of the learned, that I should know when I ought to speak a word.” What more than Jeremiah? For he too when he was sent was inspired. What then Ezekiel? For he too, after eating the roll, so spoke. Otherwise also, they who were about to hear what He said shall be found to be causes of His knowledge. For if when He was sent, He then received commandment what He should say, you will then argue that before He was sent He knew not. And what more impious than these assertions? If (that is) one take the words of Christ in this sense, and understand not the cause of their lowliness? Yet Paul says, that both he and those who were made disciples knew “what was that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”, and did the Son not know until He had received commandment? How can this be reasonable? Do you see not that He brings His expressions to an excess of humility, that He may both draw those men over, and silence those who should come after. This is why He utters words befitting a mere man, that even so He may force us to fly the meanness of the sayings, as being conscious that the words belong not to His Nature, but are suited to the infirmity of the hearers.