10. And, finally, the Pharisee, when the
Lord asked him, “which of them loved him most,” S. Luke vii. 42. answered, “I suppose that he to
whom he forgave most.” And the Lord replied, “Thou
hast judged rightly.” S. Luke vii. 43. The
judgment of the Pharisee is praised, but his affection is blamed.
He judges well concerning others, but does not himself believe that
which he thinks well of in the case of others. You hear a Jew
praising the discipline of the Church, extolling its true grace,
honouring the priests of the Church; if you exhort him to believe he
refuses, and so follows not himself that which he praises in us.
His praise, then, is not full, because Christ said to him:
“Thou hast rightly judged,” for Cain also offered rightly,
but did not divide rightly, and therefore God said to him:
“If thou offerest rightly, but dividest not rightly, thou hast
sinned, be still.” Gen. iv. 7 [LXX.]. So,
then, this man offered rightly, for he judges that Christ ought to be
more loved by Christians, because He has forgiven us many sins; but he
divided not rightly, because he thought that He could be ignorant of
the sins of men Who forgave the sins of men.