Tractates on the Gospel of John
TRACTATE 10 215 that time. For you know, my beloved people, that such sacrifices were given to that people because of their carnality and the heart of stone still [in them], sacrifices by which they were to be kept from falling into idolatry. And they were offering sacrifices there, oxen, sheep, and doves. You know because you have read it. Therefore it was not a great sin if they were selling in the temple what was bought to be offered in the temple; and nevertheless he drove them out of it. What, if he found drunkards there, what would the Lord do, if he nevertheless drove out those selling what was lawful and not contrary to justice (for things which are honorably bought are not sold unlawfully), and did not allow the house of prayer to become a house of business?
(3) If the house of God ought not become a house of business, ought it to become a house of drinking? But when we say these things, they gnash their teeth against us, and the Psalm which you heard comforts us: "They gnashed their teeth at me."'" We know that we, too, hear how we may be healed, even though the scourges are repeated for Christ because what he said is also scourged. He says, "Scourges were gathered against me, and they did not know." He was scourged with the scourges of the Jews; he is scourged with the blasphemies of false Christians; they multiply scourges for their Lord and they do not know. As far as he helps us, let us do this: "Butas for me, when they were troublesome to me, I put on haircloth, and I humbled my soul with fasting."
5. Nevertheless we are saying, brothers — for he also did not spare them; he who was to be scourged by them first — he showed us a certain sign because he made a scourge of ropes and with it he scourged the undisciplined who were doing business from the temple of God.
(2) For each and every man braids a rope for himself in his sins. The prophet says, "Woe to those who drag their sins like a long rope!" '*^ Who makes the rope long? Who adds sin to
16. The Donatists. See Tractate 5.17 and note 42. 17. Cf. Ps 34.16. 18. Cf. Ps 34.15. 19. Cf. Ps 34.13. 20. Is 5.18 (LXX).