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Greek Orthodox Catechism
Constantine Callinicos, London, 1926
Part II. Ethical, 31. The Sermon on the Mount (continued)
What other virtues does Christ demand from His followers in the fourth part of His Sermon?
He demands the bridling of the tongue from presumptuously judging others, the reverent avoidance of communicating the mysteries of faith to unworthy people, and courageous perseverance in prayer. His words against presumptuously judging others are: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”—His words concerning the reverence due to the mysteries of faith, and our obligation to hide them from unworthy people, are:—“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.”—And His words about perseverance in prayer are:—“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”
What are the final warnings of Christ to His disciples, which make the fifth part of the Sermon on the Mount, and form an Epilogue to the whole of it?
That they must enter into Eternal life through the narrow gate; that they must beware of false prophets, recognising them, not by their appearance, which is intended to deceive, but by their conduct; and that they must be His disciples, not only in lip-service, but in works conforming to His will; because good and Christlike works are superior even to prophecies and miracles. “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many be they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few be they that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father Which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out devils, and by Thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”