Pleasing Men And God

Reprehenditur justitia Scribarum et Pharisaeorum, quia non fidem promissionis divinae, sed humanam laudem et saeculi gloriam quaerebant, sicuti habemus exemplum de illo Pharisaeo superbo et elato; qui ut sibi videbatur, justitiae suae merita praeferens, impudenter se, elato animo ac superbis vocibus, in conspectu Dei jactabat. Retinebant ergo speciem justitam Scribae et Pharisaei, non ut Deo placerent, sed ut famam humanae gloriam quaererent, ut lucra terrena et temporalia commoda mercarentur. Et ideo horatatur Dominus, ut hanc famosam justitiam laudis humanae, operibus justitiae coelestis ac fidei meritis praecedamus, per Christum Dominum nostrum.  Sanctus Chromatius Aquileiensis, Tactatus VI in Evangelium Sancti Matthaei

The righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees is rebuked because they seek not the faith of the Divine promise but human praise and the glory of the age, for which we have as example the proud and elated Pharisee, who, so it seemed to him, exhibited the rewards of his righteousness, impudently, with elated soul and proud voice, boasting in the sight of God. 1 The Scribes and Pharisees hold onto an appearance of justice, not one that pleases God, but they seek glory and fame among men that they be rewarded with earthly wealth and temporal comforts. Thus the Lord exhorts that this reputed righteousness of human praise be passed over for the works of the righteousness of heaven and for the merits of faith, through Christ our Lord.   Saint Chromatius of Aquileia, from Tractate 6 On The Gospel of Saint Matthew 1. Lk 18.11