Theophylact of Ohrid
Orthodox
c. 1055–1107
“Here he speaks as if to runners, as he also said above: "let us run with patience." So he says: "make straight paths for your feet." A "path" is either the track of a running chariot imprinted on the ground (a rut), or the place beneath the feet of those who run. So he says, let your paths, or your ways, be easy and level, that is, let there be nothing rough and sorrowful and uneven in your souls, but walk straight, without grief and easily, lest the lame, that is, those who by nature are disposed to excessive faintheartedness, like the Jews, for such is that people, or those who are lame with respect to faith in what is to come, be compelled to go astray, and through this your feet be turned aside from the path, that is, lest you become utterly wicked. For one who is overcome by natural or initially accidental faintheartedness, not strengthening himself but yielding to it more and more, imperceptibly reaches the utmost degree of despair, so that from that point it becomes difficult to restrain him. But make every effort that your lameness be healed quickly, that is, if you still have any unbelief up to now, correct yourselves quickly. For is there any place for unbelief in the patient person? See how he openly introduces the idea of repentance, and note that this is directed against the Novatians.”