Commentaries on Matthew

 it speaks of one who is uninitiated toward it, therefore the virgin has no thought of suspicion toward any other man. 8 Mt 1, 21 If he has a people ev

 flower, this name is found among many for Daniel calls him holy of holies. And Isaiah: a rod from the root of Jesse and a flower from it and the

 he was asking for he was unrepentant, but so that he might draw Christ into vainglory. Knowing this, the Savior did not obey him. 32 Mt 4, 3-4 Wishin

 making peace with him. Blessed are such as these, as having imitated the Son of God for they will be called sons, having partaken of immortality, tha

 which Luke, clarifying, named lepton. But let us be reconciled both with the enemy and avenger, that is, the devil, while we are on this way, and wi

 61 Mt 5, 31 He who casts out the chaste woman gives her permission to be married to another, which is a form of adultery as if the union were not diss

 6, 14 Jesus is also able as God to forgive sins, but as his disciples were still imperfect he had not yet clearly delivered the teaching concerning hi

 they condemn. For they sometimes say about someone: so-and-so is harsh, inhuman, greedy for gain, a lover of money, cruel, foolish, and then, attribut

 and 'the living bird' he sent out of the city into the field. Observe, therefore, how Christ is completely portrayed for us through the things tha

 having cast down the tyranny of the devil. You have come, they say, before the time for they knew in the word, that Christ was to come and that he ha

 if a profane person approaches a holy one, he must be turned away according to the saying: You shall not abhor an Edomite or an Egyptian. But in the

 what is not his, for suddenly those who bite him will rise up, and your plotters will awake, and you will become plunder for them· for Satan gathered

 He says the cities of Israel are also the assemblies of the faithful, which exist until the consummation of the age, and the teachers and the taught d

 rather from God. John indeed was born of a woman, but those who have accepted the faith are no longer called born of women, but were born of God. An

 in all my heart. But those of a twisted mind say, Behold, he gives thanks to the Father then how is he not less than him? To this, one of those wh

 the new covenant proclaimed through Jeremiah is alongside the first covenant, it is altogether necessary to use not the ancient laws, but the new ones

 to do. But they said this as if He was not able to do any of the things befitting God, being blinded in their mind for to open the eyes of the blind

 for those who have had a spark of intelligible light, but have turned to unintelligent knowledge, even the little gleam which they have will be exting

 having a sea-faring trade, they let down the net, not distinguishing, but whatever is caught in the meshes, this they drag completely and entirely to

 spiritual and able to sow seed and to teach the rest and strong enough to measure to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 180 Mt 14

 The Lord calls them foolish who are concerned with the body, like the Pharisees, and who have not yet passed over to the inner man. Foods, therefore,

 to fall into weaknesses and, having thought of something like this, to say: How will someone deny himself? Or how, having lost his own soul, will he f

 and it was necessary for the father of the possessed one to go away grieving, not having obtained the favor, since he did not make his approach blamel

 of painful things and they feel more of these than of the most pleasant. 211 Mt 17, 24 And they cunningly ask Peter. Since, he says, it is his custom

 of those returning who once turned away from the desire for virtue, it is necessary to fear the voices of the saints, even if those who are defining i

 a reason for condemnation, who would not hereafter hold responsible the transgression against one thing, not even one who has fled? For not even the v

 times, and that some were found virtuous, but others despised the future age because of foolishness. But at the end of life, which is evening (for the

 being by nature also the Son of the Father became man and came in the name of the Lord, being called the Lord. This one therefore, as God by nature, i

 When the Jews were cast out of the temple with the typical sacrifices, the blind and the lame are healed, who are a type of the Gentiles. However, let

 a way and the fellowship with the Spirit, through which one obtains the kingdom of the heavens. 244 Mt 21, 42 The blessed David has marveled at this c

 they came into the midst and a certain lawyer, considered very learned among them, asks what is the great commandment in the law, thinking that he was

 having become their confessors, that the prophets have become revered and honored, they adorned for them the crowns, that is, the monuments, assigning

 it has an intelligible vision through faith for when the fullness of the gentiles has come in and they believe in Christ, then the Jews who believe

 the narrative and to try to be as precise as possible in detail. But if they should wish to learn excessively something beyond their own measure, to r

 for such a one is a partaker of the master's entire kingdom for this is what is meant by he will set him over all his possessions. He does not say

 280 Mt 25, 1-13 He compares the leaders of the peoples to virgins the minister must be spotless in both soul and body, just as Paul says, that she m

 the present time is for work, but the future for reward. 281 Mt 25, 6-9 Souls that neglect virtue wither and are, as it were, extinguished and proceed

 of the blessed David he accused, saying: But you, a man of one soul, who together with me shared sweet morsels. And again: He who eats my bread has

 sending into the souls of those who worship him and distributing according to the measure of each but that we will be in spiritual joys, the divine D

 He said twelve legions: speaking instead of you, the twelve disciples, so that I do not need your assistance for I have not used my power, but I give

 foretold for one says: Woe to the lawless one evil will befall him according to his works. And another: as you have done, so it shall be to you

 to be renewed, even if the former, like one of the robbers, refused, saying we have no king but Caesar and asking for the innocent blood to be on hi

 against those who had transgressed against him. And the rending of the rocks signifies that the souls of the Gentiles were opened to receive the faith

 with proclamations, and the armies of the spirits above attend to the son as master and lord of all, and when he became flesh, that is, man. 318 Mt 28

it speaks of one who is uninitiated toward it, therefore the virgin has no thought of suspicion toward any other man. 8 Mt 1, 21 If he has a people even before being born of Mary and saves them, it is clear that he does so as God. 9 Mt 1, 24 After the betrothal she conceived, so that she might seem to have borne a child by him and so that he might be genealogized from him and she might have a guardian in the plots against her. 10 Mt 2, 3-6 It was not the voice of the magi that troubled him, but that it was rumored by all the scribes and by those who believed the words of the prophets; for the magi were seeking a king, but the Jews were proclaiming that Christ had been born. Therefore, leaving the magi, he called the Jews and asked where the Christ is born, whom you now proclaim having heard from the magi. And the enemies of the truth, even unwillingly, speak the truth and interpret the whole prophecy at random; for they did not add what follows. But he calls the magi ambassadors, since in a way they came to the king of Israel, that they might serve as ambassadors and peace might be made between them and the Israelites, and that there might be of the Gentiles and Jews "one flock, one shepherd" of both. But what was this, that his goings forth from the beginning—from the ends of the world they come to see the manger. 11 Mt 2, 6 Jacob was first called Israel, when he saw the ladder and the angels ascending and descending upon him through it and wrestled with the one who appeared to him and heard from him: "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel." By this name the whole people of the Jews was called, as by one that was special and divine and distinguished them from the other nations. And Israel is a mind seeing God. Therefore, the church from the Gentiles was also named Israel, not according to the flesh, but according to divine grace. 12 Mt 2, 7-11 Did the magi arrive at the time of the birth and see Christ in swaddling clothes, or sitting in a house with his mother? I think it is more true that they saw him in swaddling clothes. For which reason, as we said above, the star appeared before the Lord’s birth. From this it is clear that it also preceded the arrival of the magi. 13 Mt 2, 9 The star stood as one motionless fixture, so that the magi would not proceed further; yet it did not come down from heaven and stand on the earth, nor did it fix itself above the house, having the custom of making its journey not according to the motion of the others, but making a certain strange course and appearing at different times in different regions, only then did it stand motionless. The star was motionless and stationary, but it did not leave heaven and travel near the earth, nor was it fixed upon the house; for it did not make the same motion as the other stars, but a certain strange and unusual one. 14 Mt 2, 20 He no longer says, flee, but go, signifying relief after the temptation; and by saying the soul of the child he refutes the opinion of Apollinarius, who says that the Lord took on flesh without a mind and without a soul. In the economic descent of Christ into Egypt and his return from there again to Judea, God recapitulates the captivity of the people and ransoms them from a plot, leading them back to their own. 15 Mt 2, 23 But it is worth noting that Nazareth was situated in the borders of Judea, in which Christ, by dwelling there, shows that because of the murderousness of the Jews he was about to leave Judea and go over to the Gentiles, for the sake of giving to the lovers of learning an occasion for faith in Christ. Nazareth was situated in the furthest parts of Judea. And Christ, by leaving Judea and going to Nazareth, very clearly showed that he would leave the Jews and transfer worship to the Gentiles. And at the same time he will give to the lovers of learning a reason for believing in him. 16 Mt 2, 23 But if Nazarene is interpreted as holy or according to some

καλεῖ τοῦ ἀμυήτως ἔχοντος πρὸς αὐτήν, ἄρα οὐδὲ πρὸς ἄλλον τινὰ ἔχει ὑποψίας ἔννοιαν ἡ παρθένος. 8 Mt 1, 21 εἰ λαὸν ἔχει καὶ πρὸ τοῦ γεννηθῆναι ἐκ Μαρίας καὶ σῴζει, δῆλον ὅτι ὡς θεός. 9 Mt 1, 24 Μετὰ τὴν μνηστείαν συνέλαβεν, ἵνα δόξῃ ἐξ αὐτοῦ κεκυηκέναι καὶ ἵνα ἐξ αὐτοῦ γενεαλογηθῇ καὶ σχῇ καὶ κηδεμόνα ἐν ταῖς ἐπιβουλαῖς. 10 Mt 2, 3-6 Οὐχ ἡ τῶν μάγων φωνὴ ἐτάραξεν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ τὸ θρυλεῖσθαι παρὰ πάντων τῶν νομομαθῶν καὶ τοῖς τῶν προφητῶν πιστευόντων λό γοις· οἱ γὰρ μάγοι βασιλέα ἐζήτουν, οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι Χριστὸν ἐφήμιζον τετέχθαι. διὸ ἐάσας τοὺς μάγους, καλέσας δὲ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἠρώτα ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, ὃν νῦν ὑμεῖς φημίζετε ἀκούσαντες τῶν μάγων. καὶ οἱ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐχθροὶ καὶ ἄκοντες λέγουσιν τὴν ἀλήθειαν καὶ τὴν προφητείαν ἑρμηνεύουσιν εἰκῇ πᾶσαν· οὐ γὰρ προσέθηκαν τὸ ἑξῆς. πρέσβεις δὲ καλεῖ τοὺς μάγους, ἐπειδὴ τρόπον τινὰ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, ἵνα πρεσβεύσωνται καὶ γένηται εἰρήνη μεταξὺ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν Ἰσραηλιτῶν καὶ γένηται τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ Ἰουδαίων "μία ποίμνη, εἷς ποιμὴν" ἀμφοτέρων. τί δὲ τοῦτο ἦν, ὅτι αἱ ἔξοδοι αὐτοῦ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς-ἀπὸ τῶν περάτων τῆς οἰκουμένης ἔρχονται ὀψόμενοι τὴν φάτνην. 11 Mt 2, 6 Ἰσραὴλ πρῶτος ὁ Ἰακὼβ ἐκλήθη, ὅτε ἑώρακε τὴν κλίμακα καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπ' αὐτὸν δι' αὐτῆς καὶ προσεπάλαισε τῷ ὀφθέντι αὐτῷ καὶ πρὸς αὐτοῦ ἤκουσεν· "οὐκέτι τὸ ὄνομά σου Ἰακώβ, ἀλλὰ Ἰσραήλ". τούτῳ δὲ τῷ ὀνόματι ἅπας ὁ τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐκλήθη λαὸς ὡς ἐξαιρέτῳ τε καὶ θείῳ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν διαστέλλοντι αὐτούς. ἔστι δὲ Ἰσραὴλ νοῦς ὁρῶν τὸν θεόν. διὸ καὶ ἡ ἐξ ἐθνῶν ἐκκλησία Ἰσραὴλ ὠνομάσθη οὐ κατὰ σάρκα, ἀλλὰ κατὰ θείαν χάριν. 12 Mt 2, 7-11 Πότερον δὲ ἅμα τῷ γεννηθῆναι κατέλαβον καὶ ἐν σπαργάνοις ἐθεά σαντο τὸν Χριστὸν οἱ μάγοι ἢ ἐν οἰκίᾳ μετὰ τῆς μητρὸς καθεζόμενον; ἀληθέστερον οἶμαι τὸ ἐν σπαργάνοις. διὸ καί, ὡς ἀνωτέρω εἴπομεν, ὁ ἀστὴρ πρὸ τῆς τοῦ κυρίου γεννήσεως ἐφάνη. ἐκ τούτου δὲ δῆλον, ὅτι προέλαβε καὶ τὴν τῶν μάγων ἄφιξιν. 13 Mt 2, 9 Ἔστη ὁ ἀστὴρ πῆγμα ἓν ἀκίνη τον, ἵνα οἱ μάγοι μηκέτι προβῶσιν· οὐ μὴν κατελθὼν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἔστη ἐπὶ γῆς, οὔτε ἐπάνω τοῦ οἴκου ἐστήριξεν ἑαυτὸν ἔθος ἔχων οὐ κατὰ τὴν τῶν ἄλλων κίνησιν ποιεῖ σθαι τὴν πορείαν, ἀλλὰ ξένον τινὰ δρόμον ποιούμενος καὶ ἄλλοτε ἐν ἄλλοις φαινόμενος κλίμασιν τότε μόνον ἔστη ἀκίνητος. Ἀκίνητος ἦν ὁ ἀστὴρ καὶ ἑστη κώς, ἀλλ' οὐ τὸν οὐρανὸν κατα λιπὼν πλησίον τῆς γῆς ἐπορεύετο οὐδ' ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας ἐστήρικτο· οὐ γὰρ τὴν αὐτὴν κίνησιν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἄστροις ἐποιεῖτο, ἀλλὰ ξένην τινὰ καὶ ἀλλόκοτον. 14 Mt 2, 20 Οὐκέτι φησίν, φεῦγε, ἀλλὰ πορεύου, ἄνεσιν μετὰ τὸν πειρασμὸν αἰνιττόμενος· τὴν ψυχὴν δὲ τοῦ παιδίου εἰπὼν τὴν δόξαν Ἀπολι ναρίου ἀνατρέπει σάρκα λέγοντος εἰληφέναι τὸν κύριον ἄνουν καὶ ἄψυχον. ἐν μέντοι τῇ οἰκονομικῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καθόδῳ εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ τῇ ἐκεῖθεν αὖθις εἰς Ἰουδαίαν ἀναστροφῇ ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται τὴν αἰχμαλω σίαν τοῦ λαοῦ ὁ θεὸς καὶ λυτροῦται αὐτὸν ἐξ ἐπιβουλῆς ἐπὶ τὰ ἴδια πάλιν ἀνάγων. 15 Mt 2, 23 Πλὴν ἐπισημήνασθαι ἄξιον, ὅτι ἡ Ναζαρὲτ ἐν τοῖς τῆς Ἰου δαίας ἔκειτο τέρμασιν, εἰς ἣν κατ οικήσας Χριστὸς δηλοῖ, ὅτι διὰ τὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων μιαιφόνον ἔμελλε τὴν Ἰουδαίαν καταλιπεῖν καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη μετελθεῖν ἕνεκεν τοῦ τοῖς φιλομαθέσιν ἀφορμὴν δεδωκέναι τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν πίστεως. Ἐν τοῖς ἐσχάτοις τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἔκειτο ἡ Ναζαρέτ. καταλιπὼν δὲ ὁ Χριστὸς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν καὶ ἀπελ θὼν εἰς Ναζαρὲτ ἀριδήλως ἐδή λωσεν ὡς Ἰουδαίους καταλείψει καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη μεταβιβάσει τὸ σέβας. ἅμα δὲ καὶ τοῖς φιλομαθέσιν αἰτίαν δώσει τοῦ πιστεῦσαι εἰς αὐ τόν. 16 Mt 2, 23 Εἰ δὲ ὁ Ναζωραῖος ἅγιος ἑρμηνεύεται ἢ κατά τινας