DISCOURSE 44. The exhortation is to receive the divine teaching with full attention. Abraham's compassion; the meaning of the intercession of the righteous for us: first of all, we must take care of ourselves and pray, and only then turn to the intercession of the Saints. Neither Lot nor his daughters need to be condemned. Perpetuating the memory in posterity by a virtuous life: a memorable example of Joseph's chastity.

DISCOURSE 45. The importance for the preacher of the good will of the listeners towards him. Abraham's settlement in the land of Gerar and the fear of death; true marriage. The divine deliverance of Sarah from dishonor and the justification of Abraham before Abimelech. Fulfillment of the divine promise of the birth of a son to Sarah. An exhortation to firm hope in God.

DISCOURSE 46. The extraordinary joy of Sarah after the birth of Isaac and the departure of Hagar with Ishmael. Divine providence for the exiled. The strength and security of the one who uses divine help. The disastrous actions of envy and exhortations to its eradication.

DISCOURSE 47. The divine command to sacrifice Isaac and the invincible firmness of Abraham's faith and obedience to the divine will. The educational significance of this sacrifice. An oath confirmation by God of the promises given before and an exhortation to the listeners to fulfill the divine commandments.

DISCOURSE 48. The burial of Sarah and the acquisition of Abraham's first landed property; the denunciation of contemporaries in their addiction to acquisitiveness and exhortation to justice and almsgiving. Abraham's concern for choosing a wife for Isaac from his kindred tribe and his firm faith in the Lord Providence. The story of the journey of the slave Abraham to Mesopotamia, with moral application to the life of the listeners.

DISCOURSE 49. Isaac's example of patience and perseverance in prayer. The reasons why the wives of the righteous were barren. Isaac's twenty-year prayer for Rebecca's barrenness and the urge to imitate the righteous man.

DISCOURSE 50. The piety and prudence of Rebecca, who asked the Lord (through the priest) when bearing fruit. Different occupations and tempers of the born twins. Esau's inattention to the gift of his birthright, and the suggestion to his hearers not to lose the great for the small and insignificant.

DISCOURSE 51. The right of primogeniture and the meaning of names given by parents to their children in ancient times. The divine command to Isaac not to go into Egypt during the famine that had begun, and the confirmation to him of the promises previously made. The danger that threatened Isaac in the land of Gerar, and deliverance from it by divine providence, is like three youths in a kindled furnace.

DISCOURSE 52. The wealth of Isaac and the envy of the Gerarians towards him. Isaac's true meekness and his piety. The Epiphany to Isaac at the Oath Well and Thanksgiving Sacrifices to the Lord. The union of Abimelech with Isaac as proof that there is nothing stronger than meekness and virtue. Exhortation to love those who love and those who hate.

DISCOURSE 53. Esau's marriage to Canaanite women. The power of virtue and the highest help in receiving the blessing of Father Jacob. Blessing to Esau, and his great wrath against Jacob.

DISCOURSE 54. An exhortation to the feats of virtue by pointing out what God has given to man and what has been promised. Esau's envy of Jacob and advice to his last mother agree with Christ's commandment to the apostles. Isaac's parting words to Jacob. Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia and the vision of a mysterious ladder with promises in the future and present. The admonition of the listeners is to ask the Lord first of all not for earthly, but for eternal blessings.

DISCOURSE 55. Jacob's piety and faith in divine promises. Everything is successful for the one who is helped by the right hand on high. Persuading Listeners to Love the Lord: An Exemplary Example of Love Apost. Paul to Christ. Love for one's neighbor and almsgiving; the great power of the latter for the present and future life.

DISCOURSE 56. The simplicity of marriage in antiquity and the denunciation of the satanic amusements that took place in the time of Chrysostom. A Christian must abandon bad customs and turn to good ones. The ancient custom of polygamy and its eradication by Christ. Jacob's love for Rachel and Leah's childbearing by divine will. The zeal of Rachel and the prudence of Jacob; multiplication of his family. An exhortation to imitate the ancients in virtue and not to resort to human power.

DISCOURSE 57. The virtues of the righteous are set forth in the Scriptures for our imitation of them. The reward offered by Jacob to himself and its extraordinary success. Laban's jealousy and the promise of divine help prompt Jacob to withdraw from Mesopotamia. Higher help to Jacob, persecuted by Laban; Jacob's meeting with him and his reminder of his vigilant labors in herding flocks; a rebuke to the shepherds of the spiritual flock. Laban's covenant with Jacob, sealed in the name of God.