DISCOURSE FIFTY-FOUR. Explanation 16:13-23. Why does Christ ask the disciples beforehand about the opinion of the people about Him? - In what sense did Peter confess Christ to be the Son of God? - Consubstantiality of Christ with the Father. - Why did the Saviour forbid divulging that He is Christ before His sufferings? - The mystery of the cross and resurrection was unknown even to the apostles. - One should not be ashamed of the cross of Christ. - With what thoughts and dispositions one should make the sign of the cross. - The power of the cross. - A Christian should have nothing to do with the earth. - Easy fulfillment of commandments.

DISCOURSE FIFTY-FIVE. Explanation 16:24-27. Following the example of Christ, one must always be ready to die. - Why Christ does not force, but invites to follow Him. - What does it mean to deny oneself? - To what extent self-denial must extend. - Not all suffering is following Christ. - What is the true salvation and the true destruction of the soul? - Equality and consubstantiality of the Son with the Father. - Praise of the life of monks. - Explanation of the prayer they use after eating. - Exhortation to imitate the way of life of monks.

DISCOURSE FIFTY-SIX. Explanation 16:28 - 17:9. Why does Christ speak more about rewards than threatens with punishments? - Why Moses and Elijah appear at the transfiguration. - Greater perfection is required of Christ's disciples than Moses and Elijah showed. - Peter's love for Christ. - Equality of the Son with the Father. - Why did Christ forbid divulging about His transfiguration before suffering? - The glory of the future coming of Christ. - Virtue is easy, vice is burdensome. - Against usury.

DISCOURSE FIFTY-SEVEN. Explanation 17:10-21. The twofold coming of Christ. - Elijah is the forerunner of the Second Coming. - Why is John called Elijah? - A miracle can be performed both by the faith of the mediator and by the power of the miracle-worker alone. - Lack of faith of the father of the demon-possessed youth. - Why are the possessed called lunatics? - The apostles were not always equally perfect. - To cast out demons, fasting is necessary, combined with prayer. - Luxury and drunkenness are the source of all evil. - It is not wine that should be condemned, but drunkenness. - The pernicious consequences of drunkenness.

DISCOURSE FIFTY-EIGHT. Explanation 17:22-18:6. The meaning of Christ's death and resurrection were incomprehensible to the disciples. - What is the didrachm that was asked of Christ. - Christ is the true Son of God and the sovereign of the universe. - The passion of vanity was not alien to the disciples. - By the example of a child, Christ teaches humility and simplicity of heart. - Greatness of reward and punishment for those who despise humble people. - Arrogance makes a person insane. - Nobility of origin does not confer any real advantage. - Wealth deprives you of nobility and freedom. - Honors do not benefit the body and harm the soul.

DISCOURSE FIFTY-NINE. Explanation 18:7-14. Why does Christ speak about the coming of temptations? - The immutability of prophecy does not destroy free will. - Perdition does not depend on temptations. - The benefits of temptations. - Everyone is virtuous or vicious in his own will. - Evil is not a co-eternal principle with God. - Evil is disobedience to God, which comes from carelessness. - The way to avoid temptations, indicated by Christ. - We must take care of the salvation of our neighbors. - Piety alone must affirm the bonds of friendship. - In caring for the salvation of one's neighbors, one must be patient. - For salvation, one's own virtue alone is not enough. - Exhortation to take care of the proper education of young men.

DISCOURSE SIXTIETH. Explanation 18:15-20. How one should rebuke sinners. - Why the Saviour sends the offended to the offender and commands him to rebuke him, and not anyone else. - The purpose of denunciation. - Why the prayer of those who live according to it is not always heard. - Love for one's neighbor must have Christ as its foundation. - The inconstancy of love, which stems from worldly gains, and the firmness of love for Christ's sake.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-ONE. Explanation 18:21-35. Forgiveness of offenses is always our duty. - How great is the difference between sins against God and against man. - The greatness of God's blessings aggravates the gravity of sins against God. - Exposing the vices of warriors, craftsmen, landowners. - Explanation of the parable of the forgiven and ungrateful debtor. - The Benefits of Bearing Offenses Without Complaint. - We must grieve for those who do us harm.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-TWO. Explanation 19:1-15. The malice and deceit of the Pharisees. - Indissolubility of marriage. - Christ teaches us to prefer virginity to marriage. - Cutting off members is a devil's work. - The need for grace-filled help for those who choose virginity. - It should be similar in spiritual qualities to children. - A gentle one is stronger than an evil one. - Examples of David and Saul. - Passions harm those who possess them in the present life.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-THREE. Explanation 19:16-26. The intention of the young man who questioned. - The meaning and purpose of Christ's answer. - The increase in wealth increases the passion for it. - Grace needs special help in order to live piously with wealth. - Christ does not assign the works of salvation to God alone. - How the passion for wealth should be weakened. - Wealth is the cause of disasters in this life. - Meditation on the disasters and dangers associated with wealth protects against being deceived by it.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-FOUR. Explanation 19:27 - 20:16. Poverty does not prevent you from being perfect. - God's promises are conditional. - In what sense are the apostles promised the judgment of the twelve tribes? - The meaning and purpose of the parable of the husbandman and the laborers. - A calling depends on a person's willingness to obey God. - Salvation requires right faith and a virtuous life. - Neglect of any one virtue leads to destruction. - Mercy makes the soul invincible to the devil. - One should not be tempted by the example of the lazy.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-FIVE. Explanation 20:17-28. Why does Christ speak about His sufferings to His disciples in private? - The apostles did not have a clear knowledge of the mystery of suffering and resurrection. - What and with what intention did the sons of Zebedee ask? - How Christ corrects their request. - The degree of glorification is determined by the dignity of the deeds. - The degree of perfection of the apostles before and after the descent of the Holy Spirit. Spirit. - Humility multiplies glory. - There is nothing higher than humility and nothing lower than pride. - Proof of the superiority of the humble over the proud.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-SIX. Explanation 20:29 - 21:11. Persistent prayer bows down to God. - Christ's mercy extended only to the worthy. - What does the event of the unquestioning giving of the donkey teach? - The life of Christ should be an example for us. - The Prophetic Meaning of Christ's Entry on a Donkey. - Exhortation to almsgiving. - The insufficiency of alms given in comparison with the wealth of the city (Antioch). - The inexcusability of pretexts for refusing alms. - Alms is the best acquisition.

DISCOURSE SIXTY-SEVEN. Explanation 21:12-32. The hardening of the Jews. - The meaning of the praise of youths. - Why is the fig tree cursed? - Why does Christ not tell the Jews about the right of His authority? - Christ causes them to condemn themselves. - Wherefore he gives them prostitutes and publicans as an example. - No sinner should despair of correction, just as a virtuous person should not give way to carelessness. - The superiority of work for virtue over worldly labors.