The Inclusion of Gentiles and the Protection of New Believers

And they hunger and thirst for the things of this life, and He gives eternal food to those who are suffering, according to the Beatitudes: 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall themselves be filled' (Matt 5:6), and according to the prophetic word saying, 'Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall hunger' (Isa 55:20).

If one wishes to perceive these things sensorially: He gave manna to those hungering in the wilderness, and nourished five thousand hungry men; and He gave also to Elijah and Daniel, the one through ravens, the other through the prophet Ambakum. And He made judgment for those being wronged: Joseph by the Egyptians, Susanna by the judges of Israel, and David being wronged by Saul and others more; the Scripture is rich with these examples. (Gen 42:21; Dan 13)

Those being broken are the same as those who are humbled, differing only in thought; for they are hindered from acting and from running toward the truth, laid lowss, they fall from the height of virtue and happen to be broken. It must be said that those laid low and broken are those sinning in practice, being blind ones who cast away the seeing of the intellect, so that they do not see the beauties of the dogmas of the truth.

Just as he released the laid low and straightened the broken, desiring the forgiveness of sins, so he enlightened the blind, having opened the eyes of their hearts, he himself about whom Paul writes: 'The God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in your hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God' (2 Cor 4:6).

Since the word spoken refers to the memory of the righteous among the converts: those loved by the Lord are called righteous, those having been pleasing to him according to the Old Scripture; but converts are those called from the Gentiles upon the teaching of the Gospel. And what the intellect questions, it is to be heard from the Savior saying, 'Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see and to hear what you hear' (Matt 23:37). Among these righteous ones is Abraham, concerning whom it is written: 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness' (Gen 15:6). And concerning the Gentiles as being converts, it is to be heard from Paul saying, 'Therefore remember...'

You used to be of the Gentiles, and once you were separated from the commonwealth of Israel (Eph 2:12). But now, you who once became distant, have become near in the eye of our Lord Jesus Christ; for He is our peace. Furthermore, you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph 2:19), having been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20).

Concerning these proselytes, Moses said to Israel, saying, 'If you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, the proselyte who is among you will be above you, but you will be below' (Deut 23:7), through the changing of circumstances. Indeed, before the coming of the Savior, those of the Gentiles who hurried to worship God approached Israel being instructed and obeying them; but now, those who wish to approach the faith of Christ from the Israelites are setting aside the evangelical commonwealth, approaching as sacrifices among those of the Gentiles who have believed.

In addition to this, take care lest the proselytes who are coming now through godliness—though those who have passed through and been perfected in it are called righteous—should be lost; for God loves the righteous, but He guards the proselytes. For those who have arrived immediately by the word of truth, lest they may not be strong and firm, need the guarding of the Lord so that they may remain unhurt, whereas the righteous are made members of Him and loved by Him through perfection.

He will take up the orphan and the widow (Ps 68:5)—not any widows, but those continuing in purity and reverence. Such is Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, whom the Gospel remembers (Luke 2:36). The Lord will take up such a widow through incorruptible prudence, along with her well-endured orphanhood, lifting them up and raising them by virtue, so that He may also lead them into the heavenly blessings.

It is possible to say of orphans being taken up that they are the godly who leave behind parents; such as Abraham, going out from the land and kindred and the house of his father at God's calling of him (Gen 12:1); and also James and John, having left Zebedee their father through the invitation of Jesus (Mark 1:19). Following these things also...