Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Read Chapter 30
Cyril of Jerusalem
AD 386
The chief priests and the Pharisees, through the agency of Pilate, sealed the tomb; but the women saw him who was risen.… The chief priests lacked understanding, but the women beheld with their own eyes. When the soldiers came into the city and told the chief priests what had happened, they said to the soldiers, “Say, his disciples came by night and stole him while we were sleeping.” Well did Isaiah foretell this also, in their persons: “But tell us, and relate another error.” Christ has risen and come back from the dead, and by a bribe they persuade the soldiers. - "Catechetical Lectures 14.14"
What insults a person more: when he says something and receives no answer or when he is silent and receives no answer? Obviously a person is most insulted when he speaks and receives no answer. God is insulted when he speaks and you will not heed what he says. They said in ancient days to the prophets, “Do not speak to us.” But you do worse. You say, “Speak to us, but we will not obey.” They turned the prophets away in order to keep them from speaking, sensing that there was some sort of awe or obligation in the voice itself. But you, with excessive contempt, do not even do this. Believe me, if you stopped our mouths by putting your hand over them, it would not be as great of an insult as it is for you to hear but not obey. - "Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 19"
