Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Job 35:5

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

Look unto the heaven, and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thou. If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou hurt Him? If thine iniquities have been multiplied, what wilt thou do against Him? If, moreover, thou hast acted justly, what wilt thou give Him, or what will He receive of thy hand? Although these words ought not to have been said to blessed Job, who knew greater truths, yet the things, which are said, are true, namely, that neither do our sins hurt God, nor our good deeds assist Him. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXVI ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He begins from what he had said last, showing that God cannot be helped or harmed by our good and evil works, and this is so because of his high character. He proposes this first saying, "Look up to heaven," which is the throne of God. "And see", with sight, "and contemplate", with mind, "the upper air", all the higher bodies, not only of its height of this order, but also its magnitude, its motion and its beauty, "because it is higher than you", so much so that your works cannot help or harm it.

Commentary on Job ↗