Anf-03 v.iv.v.xxxiii Pg 6
What in the Punic language is called Mammon, says Rigaltius, the Latins call lucrum, “gain or lucre.” See Augustine, Serm. xxxv. de Verbo domini. I would add Jerome, On the VI. of Matthew where he says: “In the Syriac tongue, riches are called mammon.” And Augustine, in another passage, book ii., On the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, says: “Riches in Hebrew are said to be called mammon. This is evidently a Punic word, for in that language the synonyme for gain (lucrum) is mammon.” Compare the same author on Ps. ciii. (Oehler).
For when advising us to provide for ourselves the help of friends in worldly affairs, after the example of that steward who, when removed from his office,4776 4776 Ab actu.
relieves his lord’s debtors by lessening their debts with a view to their recompensing him with their help, He said, “And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness,” that is to say, of money, even as the steward had done. Now we are all of us aware that money is the instigator4777 4777 Auctorem.
of unrighteousness, and the lord of the whole world. Therefore, when he saw the covetousness of the Pharisees doing servile worship4778 4778 Famulatam.
to it, He hurled4779 4779 Ammentavit.
this sentence against them, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”4780 4780
Anf-03 vi.iv.iii Pg 8
Ps. ciii. 22.
in every place and time, on account of the memory of His benefits ever due from every man. But this petition also serves the turn of a blessing. Otherwise, when is the name of God not “holy,” and “hallowed” through Himself, seeing that of Himself He sanctifies all others—He to whom that surrounding circle of angels cease not to say, “Holy, holy, holy?”8779 8779
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 19
VERSE (19) - Ps 18:1-50; 40:1-17; 103:1-22; 106:1-107:43; 116:1-19 1Ti 1:14-16
