Commentarii in matthaeum (in catenis) 1 mt 1, 2 abraham was justified through faith and to him, having believed, god said: i will multiply your seed

 Having believed in god, he shone forth those, therefore, who believe in god, even if they come from obscure and lowly origins, are raised up by god a

 Despising the son of a carpenter, they clearly also considered his commandments to be cheap and despised, but for their insolence and contempt toward

 He made them so that they become imitators of him who both rains upon the just and sinners and makes the sun rise on all alike. 22 mt 6, 3 4 let not,

 Being bodiless it neither eats nor drinks, but do not be anxious for the soul about what you might eat or what you might drink for the soul puts fort

 Wanting it ready at hand. for lest someone should say, i have come to judge not wishing to reproach or grieve my brother, but taking thought to clean

 As we understand the gate and the way that leads to eternal life to be called narrow, not even my yoke is easy and my burden is light will contradic

 To them the sins, for which was the sacrifice, they both promised and seemed to accomplish, but a paralyzed man they were in no way strong enough to h

 Of grace, but they fasted according to the old custom. it was therefore unfitting and inappropriate for those appointed as lawgivers and heralds of th

 But they pursue the royal houses. since, therefore, you have supposed no such thing about the man, but you knew him to be a prophet in deeds and words

 To those who have despised wealth and renown and parents as well as children and death itself. but before the teaching of christ and the coming of joh

 You have received, or rather through which you have abundantly enjoyed the benefaction, through those things it was necessary, if you are ungrateful,

 His own creation, being led by good works to the knowledge of both himself and of his own father and of the consubstantial and co-powerful spirit. the

 Made man, and to hear the voice of god united to flesh hypostatically. 61 mt 13, 24 52 the kingdom of the heavens and the kingdom of god is said to be

 Knowledge and comprehension as he says: for this reason every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven, and so forth for through knowled

 For the children considered nothing of their own labors and resources to be their own, but they brought everything to their fathers, fearing lest they

 He awaited an opinion and testimony about him for if he had said: whom do men say that i, the son of god, am, the disciples' response would have been

 The narrative of higher and more wondrous things. but the lord does not offer to the scribes a solution appropriate to the seeming difficulty, showing

 They escaped the civil disturbances. and elijah dwelt on carmel, but john tarried in the desert, and in other respects the similarity between them was

 From there by a mist they were able to perceive none of the things being done, but later, having been freed from that confusion and having come to the

 Of evils) not only does he subtly and wisely exclude wealth from the appellation of 'good,' but also all other things, by his declaration concerning a

 They will convict the disobedient jews, but they themselves will be shining in honor and glory, while the others are in utmost disgrace and dejection.

 Unbearable, but what appeared heavy and unbearable by the judgment of those priests themselves for what they themselves do not move even with a finge

 Seek the rank of deacons and of those who are last, that is, practice humility for through this it is possible to obtain true primacy and inexpressib

 To kill the righteous. therefore you bear witness to your forefathers as impious, desiring to become like them. and you, he says, fill up the measu

 Always having the inflamed passion of avarice, he is indignant everywhere when deprived of profit. therefore the master, looking to their thought and

 Will be preached, not depriving the one reward of the other for each of the sins has found forgiveness and through the deed is preached throughout th

 He says, that before the entire first cockcrowing is completed, you will deny me three times. but when mark says, “before the cock crows twice, you wi

 This has been permitted for security, that we may always be sober, that even if we seem to do any good work, we may always consider it a gift from abo

 For them who are being saved, their commonwealth is on earth, but in heaven is their reward and inheritance. but since, he says, i have received autho

as we understand the gate and the way that leads to eternal life to be called narrow, not even "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" will contradict us; for there through these things the nature of the matter is revealed, but here the negligence of those who ought to pursue it is reproached. 32 Mt 7, 22 23 Those who put demons to flight and drive away diseases and do similar signs have received such a gift from God. And from this, they ought also to have possessed virtues suitable to their gifts. But since, having received gifts, they did not guard themselves, but did evil things, it was said to them: Depart from me, I do not know you . For God loves in return and knows those who know and love him. 33 Mt 7, 23 Then, when? When they bring forward their seeming justifications: to have prophesied, to have cast out many demons, to have performed many mighty works; for from their own justifications they rather draw condemnation upon themselves; for they who, having enjoyed so many gifts, ought to have striven to possess a suitable life, so that they might both glorify the Giver through their works and show themselves worthy of the gift, but having done the opposite and become the cause for the name of God to be blasphemed (for why is the name of God blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you?), and having shown themselves unworthy of the benefits, these men, when they ought to be covering their faces and looking downcast because they insulted the master's gift, yet they are proud of it and deem it right to bring these things forward as a justification, how do they not show <themselves> liable to countless evils? Therefore the master also says to them sharply: I never knew you; depart from me, you who work iniquity. For not now, he says, do I turn away from you and abhor you, but not even at that time did I love you, when, enjoying the gift, you requited me with ingratitude through the wickedness of your life. But I postponed the punishment until the present time, awaiting your repentance. But since you have not repented throughout your whole life, now depart from me. 34 Mt 7, 24 26 It should be noted that becoming wise is not without God's cooperation and inspiration. Therefore he says: I will liken him to a wise man, instead of "I will help and cooperate so that what has been built by him may not fall apart nor be destroyed." But in the case of the foolish man, no longer "I will liken," but "he will be likened," as if he himself will be the cause of his foolishness and punishment, because while it is for the one pursuing virtue to obtain the kingdom given to him by God, he, <being indignant>, by pursuing wickedness places himself within punishment. Thus, therefore, the acquisition of virtues is achieved both by our zeal and by the grace of God, but the practice of vice comes about through wickedness of mind and perversion of will. 35 Mt 8, 1 3 Matthew, then, speaking of Christ's descent from the mountain, brings forward the leper, but Luke says that this man approached him in one of the cities, which is a matter not of conflict, but of truth; for the one says that when he came down from the mountain many crowds followed him, indicating his journey into the city, which Luke alone recorded. And great was the understanding of the leper; for he did not say, "if you pray," but "if you are willing." For this reason he did not simply say, "Be cleansed," but "I am willing; be cleansed." That is, "At your word I grant you cleansing; for your voice has shown the faith of your soul to be fervent and pure, which has opened for you the spring of healing from me." "I am willing; be cleansed; you have the cure at hand, because you have approached with a firm conviction." 36 Mt 9, 5 6 "It is easier," said our Lord Jesus Christ, "to bring about the forgiveness of sins than to strengthen the body of a paralytic," not saying this simply; for it is clear that the healing of the body is easier than the healing of the soul. Therefore he does not say this simply, but with regard to the practice of the Jews; for according to the law their high priests, receiving gifts and sacrifices brought to them by those who had sinned, to grant forgiveness

ἐκλαμβανόντων ἡμῶν κεκλῆσθαι τὴν πύλην καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν τὴν ἀπάγουσαν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον στενήν, οὐδὲ τὸ ὁ ζυγός μου χρηστὸς καὶ τὸ φορτίον μου ἐλαφρόν ἐστιν ἡμῖν ἐναντιωθήσεται· ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τούτων ἡ τοῦ πράγματος δηλοῦται φύσις, ἐνταῦθα δὲ ἡ ὀλιγωρία ὀνειδίζεται τῶν ὀφειλόντων αὐτὸ μετιέναι. 32 Mt 7, 22 23 Οἱ δαίμονας φυγαδεύοντες καὶ νόσους ἀποδιώκοντες καὶ τὰ παραπλήσια σημεῖα ποιοῦντες παρὰ θεοῦ τὴν τοιαύτην εἰλήφασι δωρεάν. κἀντεῦθεν ἐχρῆν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀρετὰς κεκτῆσθαι τοῖς χαρίσμασι καταλλήλους. ἐπεὶ δὲ χαρίσματα εἰληφότες οὐκ ἐφύλαττον ἑαυτούς, ἀλλ' ἐποίουν τὰ φαῦλα, ἐρρήθη πρὸς αὐτούς· ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ, οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς . τοὺς γὰρ γινώσκοντας αὐτὸν καὶ ἀγαπῶντας ἀνταγαπᾷ ὁ θεὸς καὶ γινώσκει. 33 Mt 7, 23 Τότε, πότε; ὅτε ἐκεῖνοι τὰ δοκοῦντα προάξουσι δίκαια, τὸ προφητεῦσαι, τὸ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐκβαλεῖν, τὸ δυνάμεις πολλὰς ἐπιτελέσαι· ἐκ γὰρ τῶν αὐτοῖς δικαιωμάτων μᾶλλον ἕλκουσιν ἑαυτοῖς τὴν καταδίκην· οἱ γὰρ οὓς ἐχρῆν τοσούτων ἀπολαύσαντας χαρισμάτων βίον κατάλληλον σπουδάζειν κεκτῆσθαι, ἵνα καὶ τὸν δεδωκότα διὰ τῶν ἔργων δοξάσωσιν καὶ αὐτοὺς ἀξίους τῆς δωρεᾶς ἐπιδείξωσιν, οἱ δὲ τἀναντία δεδρακότες καὶ βλασφημεῖσθαι μὲν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ αἴτιοι γεγονότες (ἵνα τί γὰρ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ δι' ὑμᾶς βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ), ἀναξίους δὲ τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν ἑαυτοὺς ἀποφήναντες, οὗτοι δέον αὐτοὺς ἐγκαλύπτεσθαι καὶ σκυθρωπάζειν, ὅτι τὴν δεσποτικὴν ἐνύβρισαν δωρεάν, οἱ δὲ καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῇ μέγα φρονοῦσι καὶ ἀξιοῦσιν προάγειν αὐτὰ εἰς δικαίωμα, πῶς οὐ μυρίων κακῶν ἐνόχους <ἑαυτοὺς> δεικνύουσιν; διὸ καὶ ὁ δεσπότης ἀποτόμως φησὶν πρὸς αὐτούς· οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς· ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν· οὐ γὰρ νῦν, φησίν, ὑμᾶς ἀποστρέφομαι καὶ βδελύσσομαι, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον ἔστεργον ὑμᾶς, καθ' ὃν τοῦ χαρίσματος ἀπολαύοντες διὰ τῆς τοῦ βίου μοχθηρίας ἀχαριστίᾳ με ἠμείβεσθε. ἀλλ' οὖν εἰς τὸν παρόντα καιρὸν τὴν τιμωρίαν ἀνεβαλόμην τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν ὑμῶν ἐκδεχόμενος. ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐ μετεμελήθητε παρ' ὅλον τὸν τῆς ζωῆς ὑμῶν χρόνον, νῦν ἀποχωρεῖτε ἐξ ἐμοῦ. 34 Mt 7, 24 26 Σημειωτέον ὅτι τὸ μὲν γενέσθαι φρόνιμον οὐκ ἔστιν ἄνευ τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ συνεργίας καὶ ἐπιπνοίας. διό φησιν· ὁμοιώσω αὐτὸν ἀνδρὶ φρονίμῳ ἀντὶ τοῦ συναντιλήψομαι καὶ συνεργήσω εἰς τὸ τὰ παρ' αὐτοῦ οἰκοδομηθέντα μὴ διαπεσεῖν μηδὲ διαφθαρῆναι. ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ μωροῦ οὐκέτι ὁμοιώσω, ἀλλ' ὁμοιωθήσεται, οἷον αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ αἴτιος ἔσται τῆς ἀφροσύνης καὶ τιμωρίας, ὅτι δὲ τὸν ἀρετὴν διώκοντα τῆς παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ δεδομένης αὐτῷ τυχεῖν βασιλείας <ἀγανακτῶν>, αὐτὸς διὰ κακίαν μετιὼν ἐντὸς ἑαυτὸν ποιεῖ τῆς κολάσεως. οὕτως οὖν ἡ μὲν τῶν ἀρετῶν κτῆσις ἡμετέρᾳ τε σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ τοῦ θεοῦ κατορθοῦται χάριτι, ἡ δὲ τῆς κακίας πρᾶξις γνώμης μοχθηρίᾳ καὶ προαιρέσεως παρατροπῇ ἐπιγίνεται. 35 Mt 8, 1 3 Ὁ μὲν οὖν Ματθαῖος τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους κάθοδον τοῦ Χριστοῦ λέγων προσάγει τὸν λεπρόν, ὁ δὲ Λουκᾶς τοῦτον ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεων λέγει προσελθεῖν αὐτῷ, ὅπερ οὐ μάχης, ἀλλ' ἀληθείας· ὁ μὲν γὰρ λέγει, ὅτι καταβάντι ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους ἠκολούθουν ὄχλοι πολλοὶ τὴν εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ πορείαν σημαίνων, ἣν μόνην ὁ Λουκᾶς ἀνέγραψε. πολλὴ δὲ ἡ σύνεσις τοῦ λεπροῦ· οὐδὲ γὰρ εἶπεν, ἐὰν εὔξῃ, ἀλλ' ἐὰν θέλῃς. διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ εἶπεν ἁπλῶς καθαρίσθητι, ἀλλὰ θέλω, καθαρίσθητι. τοῦτ' ἔστιν ἐπὶ τῷ σῷ ῥήματι τὴν κάθαρσίν σοι χαρίζομαι· τῆς γὰρ ψυχῆς θερμὴν καὶ καθαρὰν τὴν πίστιν ἐδήλωσεν ἡ σὴ φωνή, ἣ τὴν παρ' ἐμοῦ σοι τῆς ἰάσεως πηγὴν ἀνεστόμωσε. θέλω, καθαρίσθητι, ἔχεις πρόχειρον τὴν θεραπείαν, ὅτι βεβαίαν ἔχων προσελήλυθας τὴν γνώμην. 36 Mt 9, 5 6 Εὐκολώτερον, ἔφη ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς ὁ Χριστός, ἁμαρτημάτων ἄφεσιν πρᾶξαι ἢ σῶμα παραλελυμένου συσφίγξαι, οὐχ ἁπλῶς τοῦτο λέγων· δῆλον γὰρ ὡς μᾶλλόν ἐστιν εὐχερὴς ἡ τοῦ σώματος θεραπεία ἢ ἡ τῆς ψυχῆς ἰατρεία. οὐχ ἁπλῶς οὖν τοῦτό φησιν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐργασίαν· καὶ γὰρ κατὰ τὸν νόμον οἱ τούτων ἀρχιερεῖς δῶρα καὶ θυσίας αὐτοῖς προσαγομένας παρὰ τῶν ἡμαρτηκότων δεχόμενοι ἀφίεσθαι