On the Publican and Pharisee

By St. Cyril of Alexandria (early 5^th Century)

Many are the faults of the Pharisee: first of all he is boastful, and without sense, for he praises himself, even though the sacred Scripture cries aloud, “let a neighbor praise you, and not your own mouth: a stranger and not your own lips.” (Prov 27:2)….Our virtue, therefore, must not be contaminated with fault, but must be single-minded and blameless and free from all that can bring reproach. For what profit is there in fasting twice a week, if you so doing serve only as a pretext for ignorance and vanity, and if it makes you supercilious, haughty and selfish? You tithe your possessions and make boast of it; but in another way you provoke God’s anger, by condemning men generally on this account and accusing others. And you yourself are puffed up, though not crowned by the divine decree for righteousness, but on the contrary, heap praises upon yourself. For I am not, he says, as the rest of mankind. Moderate yourself, O Pharisee: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, and a strong door about my lips.” (Ps 140:3)

You speak to God Who knows all things. Await the decree of the Judge. None of those skilled in the practice of wrestling ever crowns himself; nor does any man receive the crown for himself but awaits the summons of the arbiter. Lower your pride, for arrogance is both accursed and hated by God. Although, therefore, you fast with puffed up mind, your so doing will not avail you; your labor will be unrewarded; for you have mingled dung with your perfume. Even according to the law of Moses a sacrifice that had a blemish was not capable of being offered for sacrifice, “there must be no blemish therein.” (Lev 22:21) Since, therefore, your fasting is accompanied by pride, you must expect to hear God saying, “This is not the fast I have chosen.” (Is 58:5)….You offer tithes, but you wrong in another way Him Who is honored by you, in that you condemn men generally. This is an act foreign to the mind that fears God.