Nilus of Ancyra→Unknown|c. 415 AD|nilus ancyra|From Ancyra|AI-assisted
John the Baptist, fearing that he might in some way be harmed, as a man is, fled the cities and dwelt in the desert. But Jesus, the God and Lord of all things, frequenting the cities, dined together with sinners, since he is the Sun of righteousness [Malachi 4:2]. The sun's rays touch even every kind of filth; and the foul stench of the filth they dry up, while they themselves remain pure and undefiled. But the Pharisees, out of envy, say: "Why does Jesus eat with sinners and tax collectors?" [cf. Matthew 9:11; Mark 2:16]. O malicious ones, and senseless, and blind in heart! For do you not know that the physician must spend his time not somewhere else, but near those who are sick? Where the sinners are, there too the mercy seat is altogether set. For Christ came to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance [Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32]. Jesus Christ keeps company with sinners by way of providential dispensation, so that the sinners too, having repented, may dwell together with the righteous, and rejoice together in the kingdom of the heavens.
John the Baptist, fearing that he might in some way be harmed, as a man is, fled the cities and dwelt in the desert. But Jesus, the God and Lord of all things, frequenting the cities, dined together with sinners, since he is the Sun of righteousness [Malachi 4:2]. The sun's rays touch even every kind of filth; and the foul stench of the filth they dry up, while they themselves remain pure and undefiled. But the Pharisees, out of envy, say: "Why does Jesus eat with sinners and tax collectors?" [cf. Matthew 9:11; Mark 2:16]. O malicious ones, and senseless, and blind in heart! For do you not know that the physician must spend his time not somewhere else, but near those who are sick? Where the sinners are, there too the mercy seat is altogether set. For Christ came to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance [Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32]. Jesus Christ keeps company with sinners by way of providential dispensation, so that the sinners too, having repented, may dwell together with the righteous, and rejoice together in the kingdom of the heavens.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.