They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD has said, You shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
All Commentaries on Jeremiah 23:17 Go To Jeremiah 23
Cyril of Alexandria
AD 444
We must, however, examine such things carefully. For there assuredly are people who have not been counted worthy of Christ’s grace but make the reputation of being saints and honorable an opportunity for gain. Of such one may say that they are bold and shameless hypocrites, who seize honors for themselves, even though God has not called them to it. They praise themselves and imitate the bold doings of the false prophets of old, of whom God said, “I have not sent the prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” And so, too, may he say of these, “I have not sanctified them, but they falsely assume the gift for themselves. They have not been counted worthy of my grace, but they wickedly seize those things that I bestow only on those who are worthy to receive them.” These, making a show of fasting, walk sadly with downcast looks, while full of fraud and baseness. And often they pride themselves on letting their nails grow long. They are especially fond of their jaundiced complexion. Though no one compels them, they delight in enduring such misery as people have to bear in prison, hanging collars on their necks and even putting shackles on their hands and feet. The Savior has commanded us to avoid such persons, saying, “Beware of those who come to you in sheep’s clothing but within are ravening wolves.”
