St. John Chrysostom on the Laws of the Kingdom of God

Since then both the rewards thereof are greater, and the power given by the Spirit more abundant, in reason it requires our graces to be greater also. For it is no longer "a land that flows with milk and honey," nor a comfortable old age, nor many children, nor corn and wine, and flocks and herds: but Heaven, and the good things in the Heavens, and adoption and brotherhood with the Only-Begotten, and to partake of the inheritance and to be glorified and to reign with Him, and those unnumbered rewards. And as to our having received more abundant help, hear Paul, when he says, "There is therefore no condemnation now to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: for the law of the Spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death."

And now after threatening the transgressors, and setting great rewards for them that do right, and signifying that He justly requires of us something beyond the former measures; He from this point begins to legislate, not simply, but by way of comparison with the ancient ordinances, desiring to intimate these two things: first, that no as contending with the former, but rather in great harmony with them, He is making these enactments; next, that it was meet and very seasonable for Him to add these second precepts.

from Homily 16 on the Gospel of St. Matthew

St. John Chrysostom on the Beatitudes as a Golden Chain

Therefore, you see, in each instance, by the former precept making way for the following one, He has woven a sort of golden chain for us. Thus, first, he that is "humble," will surely also "mourn" for his own sins: he that so "mourns," will be both "meek," and "righteous," and "merciful;" he that is "merciful," and "righteous," and "contrite," will of course be also "pure in heart:" and such a one will be "a peacemaker" too: and he that has attained unto all these, will be moreover arrayed against dangers, and will not be troubled when evil is spoken of him, and he is enduring grievous trials innumerable.

from Homily 15 on the Gospel of St. Matthew

St. John Chrysostom on the Second Beatitude

"Blessed are they that mourn."

Yet surely all men call them miserable. For therefore He wrought the miracles beforehand, that in such enactments as these he might be entitled to credit.

And here too again he designated not simply all that mourn, but all that do so for sins: since surely that other kind of mourning is forbidden, and that earnestly, which relates to anything of this life. This Paul also clearly declared, when he said, "The sorrow of the world works death, but godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, not to be regretted."

...

Next, what is the reward for these? "For they shall be comforted," said He.

Where shall they be comforted! tell me. Both here and there. For since the thing enjoined was exceeding burdensome and galling, He promised to give that, which most of all made it light. Wherefore, if you will be comforted, mourn: and think not this a dark saying. For when God does comfort, though sorrows come upon you by thousands of snowflakes, you will be above them all. Since in truth, as the returns which God gives are always far greater than our labors; so He has wrought in this case, declaring them that mourn to be blessed, not after the value of what they do, but after His own love towards man. For they that mourn, mourn for misdoings, and to such it is enough to enjoy forgiveness, and obtain wherewith to answer for themselves. But forasmuch as He is full of love towards man, He does not limit His recompense either to the removal of our punishments, or to the deliverance from our sins, but He makes them even blessed, and imparts to them abundant consolation.

from Homily 15 on the Gospel of St. Matthew

St. John Chrysostom on Christ's Care for Our Bodies and Souls

For it was not men's bodies only that He was healing, but He was also amending their souls; and again from the care of these He would pass to attendance of the other. Thus He at once varied the succor that He gave, and likewise mingled with the instruction afforded by His words, the manifestation of His glory from His works; and besides, He stopped the shameless mouths of the heretics, signifying by this His care of both parts of our being, that He Himself is the Maker of the whole creation. Therefore also on each nature He bestowed abundant providence, now amending the one, now the other.

from Homily 15 on the Gospel of St. Matthew

St. John Chrysostom on the Pain of Sin

Let us therefore now also draw near unto Him; let us entreat Him that He would brace our paralyzed soul, and leaving all things that pertain to this life, let us take account of the spiritual things only. Or if you cleave unto these also, yet think of them after the other.

Neither must you think lightly of it, because you have no pain in sinning; rather on this very account most of all you should lament, that you feel not the anguish of your offenses. For because sin bites not, does this come to pass, but because the offending soul is insensible. Regard with this view them that have a feeling of their own sins, how they wail more bitterly than such as are being cut, or burned; how many things they do, how many suffer, how greatly they mourn and lament, in order to be delivered from their evil conscience. They would not do any such thing, unless they were exceedingly pained in soul.

from Homily 14 on the Gospel of St. Matthew

St. John Chrysostom on Kingdoms and Miracles

... whensoever anything is done strange and surprising, and any polity is introduced, God is wont to work miracles, as pledges of his power, which He affords to them that are to receive His laws. Thus, for instance, when He was about to make man, He created a whole world, and then gave him that law which he had in Paradise. And when He was to give laws to Noah, He showed forth anew great miracles, in that He reduced again the whole world to its elements, and made that fearful sea to prevail for a full year; and in that, amid so great a tempest, He preserved that righteous man. And in the time of Abraham too He vouchsafed many signs; as his victory in the war, the plague upon Pharaoh, his deliverance from the dangers. And when about to legislate for the Jews, He showed forth those marvelous and great prodigies, and then gave the law. Just so in this case also, being to introduce a certain high polity, and to tell them what they had never heard, by the display of the miracles He confirms what He saith.
  Thus because the kingdom He was preaching appeared not, by the things that appear, He makes it, though invisible, manifest.

Homily 14 on the Gospel of Matthew

Matins of Holy Saturday

http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/prayers/triodion/hwk_sat

O, how great the joy,
How full the gladness,
That you have brought to hell's prisoners,
Like lightning flashing in its gloomy depths!

Adam was greatly afraid
When God walked in paradise.
Now, with joy he sees God stalking hell's depths.
There he fell, but here he is raised up.

St. John Chrysostom on Lack of Spiritual Perspective

Yet surely, if thou art willing to believe what is evident, the things invisible ought to be believed by you, rather than those which are seen. Even though what I say is a paradox, nevertheless it is true, and among men of understanding is fully acknowledged. For whereas the eyes are often deceived, not in the things unseen only (for of those they do not so much as take cognizance), but even in those which men think they actually see, distance and atmosphere, and absence of mind, and anger, and care, and ten thousand other things impeding their accuracy; the reasoning power of the soul on the other hand, if it receive the light of the divine Scriptures, will prove a more accurate, an unerring standard of realities.

Homily 13 on the Gospel of Matthew