Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Job 31:39

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof. [ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION] For to 'eat the fruit of the land without money' is to receive indeed our charges from the Church, but not to yield to that Church the price of preaching. Of which same preaching it is said by the voice of the Creator, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXII ↗

Thomas Aquinas

In another way excessive desire for possessions is shown when a man denies the price of their labor to his workers, and so he says, "If I have eaten his yield without payment," without money paid the workers, "and I have afflicted the soul of the farmers," either by compelling them to work excessively or by taking away their salary.

Commentary on Job ↗