Hence he
goes on in confirmation of these words, Because,
lo, a day is coming, burning like a pan, and it will ignite them, and all the
foreigners and all those committing crimes will be like straw, and the day that
is coming will burn them, says the Lord almighty, and no root or branch of them
will be left (v. 1): on that day all the foreigners will be set alight like
fire, and the workers of iniquity will like straw be done away with by the
punishment falling upon them. While he says this, then, of the wicked, what
does he say to those who fear him? For
you who fear my name, a sun of righteousness will arise, and healing will be in
its wings (v. 2): on you great distinction will rightly fall, supplied by
God for your good will towards him; he will rid you of every trouble,
sheltering you with his care as though by wings of a kind. You will be no
different from calves released from bonds and leaping about with great joy; for
you will have control over the lawless, who will be like ashes under your feet,
at that time accorded no attention or further correction. Now, in this he
refers, as I have often said, to events at the time of the Maccabees, when God
provided his aid and punished the evil, while establishing in respite and
prosperity those adhering to his laws, who punished and had complete control
over the adversaries, not only those from the foreigners but also from their
own people. From that event it was obvious to all how great the difference
between those serving God and those of the opposite mind, who were the object
of severe punishment, whereas the former were established in extreme
satisfaction and prosperity.
Now, this
was the purpose of the prophecy of the blessed Messenger, which he delivered to
the people concerning matters affecting them, both at that time and at the time
of the Maccabees. Yet since he was thus the last prophet of all those who
consigned their prophecies to writing, he was right in considering he could
then show the end of the Law, on the one hand, and, on the other, show what
would come after it. [632] Hence he says, Remember
the Law of Moses my servant, as I gave directions at Horeb as commands and
ordinances for all Israel. Lo, I shall send you Elijah the Tishbite before the
great and illustrious day of the Lord comes, which will reconcile a heart of a
father to a son, and a person’s heart to their neighbor, lest I come and strike
the earth from on high (vv. 4–6): in addition to all that has been said I
transmit this final command to you so that you may keep in mind my Law that I
gave to the whole of Israel through Moses, having clearly stated that they must
observe it in detail. The first token of obedience you will provide, then, will
be acceptance of the coming of Christ the Lord, who comes for the salvation of
all people: he will bring the Law to an end and make clear his own way of
perfection. It would therefore be good for you immediately and at the outset to
believe in him at his appearance, and acknowledge him to be the one whom Moses
and all the prophets predicted as bringing an end to the Law and revealing the
salvation of all in common. So it is also obvious to all that this is the
summit and highest good of the whole economy of the Law, bringing all people to
Christ the Lord, who appeared at that time for such wonderful benefits. Since,
however, even at his revealing you will give evidence of your typical lack of
responsiveness, blessed Elijah will be sent to you before the second coming of
Christ the Lord, which he will make from heaven, so as to unite people divided
over religion, and especially through the knowledge of religion to bring
parents into harmony with their children who were formerly divided on the score
of religion. In short, to reduce all people to the one and the same unity, so
that those formerly in the grip of impiety may receive the knowledge of the
truth through him and thus enjoy fellowship with religious people. God will do this
in his concern for the salvation of all people, lest they persist in impiety
and experience his fearsome coming, which will mean the utter annihilation of
the wicked. (Theodore of Mopsuestia, Commentary on the
Twelve Prophets [trans. Robert C. Hill; The Fathers of the Church 108;
Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2004], 421–423)