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

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 case of Christ, who is superior to all evil and passion, one must not think such a thing; for he wants faith which justifies man, not the law in letters which commands sacrifices through blood, which he clarifies by adding, and "knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings; for mercy" is the evangelical word. Therefore we are justified by faith freely without the works of the law. And he calls not those who are near, but those who are far off. 106 Mt 9, 14-17 But the Pharisees, being like a torn garment or an old wineskin, are not able to receive the new teaching to the setting aside of the physical things of the law. And he says the tear is worse, because those who hear the gospel and do not accept it are punished more than those who have not heard. And since two of John's disciples asked the Lord: why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast, to them he told the parable of the bridegroom, but to the Pharisees the one about the wineskins. 107 Mt 9, 20 -22 Christ, perceiving the woman with the issue of blood, did not disdain her, but healed her and called her daughter as one who was faithful, while also showing that before God no one who has an involuntary illness is unclean. 108 Mt 9, 20 -22 He shows that before God no one who has an involuntary illness is unclean. Therefore the Lord also calls to himself the woman with the issue of blood, in order to transform the typical law into a spiritual contemplation. 109 Mt 9, 23 It is a custom for people to mourn unmarried maidens who have died when they are at the age for marriage through symbolic weddings; therefore there were also flute-players inside, even if the Jews at that time were doing this contrary to the Jewish commandment. 111 Mt 9, 38 He calls the disciples laborers, whom, being few, he sent into all the world under heaven. 112 Mt 10, 2 These twelve disciples both the law prefigured and the prophets proclaimed beforehand. For it is written in the book of Moses: "and you shall take fine flour and make of it twelve loaves, and you shall set them upon the pure table before the Lord, and you shall put frankincense and salt"; for the bread which came down from heaven "and gives life to the world" is Christ himself, and in imitation of him the blessed disciples are also called loaves; for having become partakers of the one who nourishes us unto eternal life, they themselves also nourish through their own writings those who are "hungering and thirsting for righteousness." And just as the savior, being the "true light," called them light (for "you," he says, "are the light of the world"); so also he, being "the bread of life," granted to the disciples to be understood in the order of the loaves. And see for me the skillfulness of the law. For "you shall put," it says, upon the loaves "frankincense and salt." And the frankincense is a symbol of fragrance, but the salt of prudence and understanding. And both were present in the highest degree in the holy apostles; for their life was fragrant, and indeed they would say: "We are the aroma of Christ" to Christ. And in addition to this they were also most intelligent. Therefore they also heard: "You are the salt of the earth." And I hear the prophet David singing about them: "There is Benjamin, the youngest, in ecstasy, the rulers of Judah their leaders, the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali"; for from almost every tribe of Israel the wondrous disciples have been chosen and have become ecumenical lights holding forth the word of life, men who were craftsmen and seafarers and fishers, not having an abundance of approved words, but "unskilled" indeed "in speech," but rich "in knowledge." These God also revealed through the voice of Jeremiah, saying concerning Satan: "Woe to him who multiplies for himself

ἐὰν προσ τρέχῃ βέβηλος ἁγίῳ, δεῖ αὐτὸν ἀποστρέφεσθαι κατὰ τό· "οὐ βδελύξῃ Ἰδουμαῖον οὐδὲ Αἰγύπτιον". ἀλλ' ἐπὶ Χριστοῦ οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον δεῖ ἐννο εῖν τοῦ πάσης κακίας καὶ πάθους ἀνωτέρου· πίστιν γὰρ θέλει δικαιοῦ σαν τὸν ἄνθρωπον, οὐ τὸν ἐν γράμμασιν νόμον τὸν τὰς δι' αἱμάτων θυσίας ἐπιτάττοντα, ὅπερ σαφηνίζων ἐπάγει καὶ "ἐπίγνωσιν θεοῦ ἢ ὁλοκαυτώματα· ἔλεος" γάρ ἐστιν ὁ εὐαγγελικὸς λόγος. διὸ ἐκ πίστεως δικαιούμεθα δωρεὰν ἄνευ ἔργων νόμου. καλεῖ δὲ οὐ τοὺς ἐγγὺς ὄντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς μακρὰν ἀφεστηκότας. 106 Mt 9, 14-17 Οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ἐοικότες δὲ ἱματίῳ κατερρωγότι ἢ ἀσκῷ παλαιῷ οὐ δύνανται τὴν νεάζουσαν δέξασθαι διδασκαλίαν εἰς ἀθέτησιν τῶν σω ματικῶν τοῦ νόμου. χεῖρον δέ φησιν τὸ σχίσμα, διότι οἱ ἀκούοντες τοῦ εὐαγγελίου καὶ μὴ καταδεχόμενοι πλείω τῶν μὴ ἀκουσάντων τιμωροῦν ται. ἐπειδὴ δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰωάννου δύο ἠρώτησαν τὸν κύριον· διὰ τί ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι νηστεύομεν, οἱ δὲ μαθηταί σου οὐ νηστεύουσιν, πρὸς μὲν αὐτοὺς τοῦ νυμφίου τὴν παραβολὴν εἶπε, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς Φαρισαίους τὴν περὶ τῶν ἀσκῶν. 107 Mt 9, 20 -22 Τῆς αἱμορροούσης αἰσθόμενος ὁ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἀπηξίωσεν αὐτήν, ἀλλ' ἐθεράπευσε καὶ θυγατέρα ἐκάλεσεν ὡς πιστήν, ἅμα δὲ καὶ δει κνύων, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι παρὰ τῷ θεῷ ἀκάθαρτος ὁ ἔχων νόσον ἀκούσιον. 108 Mt 9, 20 -22 ∆είκνυσιν, ὅτι παρὰ θεῷ οὐδεὶς ἔχων ἀκούσιον νόσον ἀκάθαρτος. διὸ καὶ προσκαλεῖται τὴν αἱμορροοῦσαν ὁ κύριος, ἵνα τὸν τυπικὸν νόμον εἰς πνευματικὴν μεταγάγῃ θεωρίαν. 109 Mt 9, 23 Ἔθος τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰς ἀγάμους κόρας, ἡνίκα εἰσὶ πρὸς ὥραν γάμου, τελευτώσας θρηνεῖν διὰ τῶν συμβολικῶν γάμων· διὸ καὶ αὐληταὶ ἦσαν ἔσω, εἰ καὶ παρὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τὸ Ἰουδαϊκὸν τότε ἐποίουν τοῦτο οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι. 111 Mt 9, 38 Τοὺς μαθητὰς λέγει ἐργάτας, οὓς ὀλίγους ὄντας ἔπεμψεν εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν ὑπ' οὐρανόν. 112 Mt 10, 2 Τούτους τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητὰς καὶ ὁ νόμος προανετύπου καὶ οἱ προφῆται προανεκήρυξαν. γέγραπται γοῦν ἐν Μωσαϊκῷ βιβλίῳ· "καὶ λήμ ψεσθε σεμίδαλιν καὶ ποιήσατε αὐτὴν δώδεκα ἄρτους, καὶ ἐπιθήσετε αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν τὴν καθαρὰν ἔναντι κυρίου, καὶ ἐπιθήσετε λίβανον καὶ ἅλας"· ἄρτος μὲν γὰρ ὁ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ κατελθὼν "καὶ ζωὴν διδοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ" αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστός, κατὰ μίμησιν δὲ τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἄρτοι κέκληνται καὶ οἱ μακάριοι μαθηταί· μέτοχοι γὰρ γεγονότες τοῦ τρέφοντος ἡμᾶς εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον τρέφουσιν καὶ αὐτοὶ διὰ τῶν οἰκείων συγγραμ μάτων τοὺς "πεινῶντας καὶ διψῶντας τὴν δικαιοσύνην". ὥσπερ δὲ "φῶς" ὑπάρχων "τὸ ἀληθινὸν" ὁ σωτὴρ φῶς ὠνόμασε αὐτούς ("ὑμεῖς" γάρ, φησίν, "ἐστὲ τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου")· οὕτως αὐτὸς ὢν "ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς" ἐχαρίσατο καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς τὸ ἐν τάξει νοεῖσθαι τῶν ἄρτων. καί μοι βλέπε τοῦ νόμου τὸ εὐτεχνές. "ἐπιθήσετε" γάρ, φησίν, ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρτους "λίβανον καὶ ἅλας". καὶ ὁ μὲν λίβανος εὐωδίας ἐστὶ σύμβολον, οἱ δὲ ἅλες φρενῶν καὶ συνέσεως. ἐνυπῆρχον δὲ ἄκρως ἀμφότερα τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις· εὐώδης γὰρ ἦν ὁ βίος αὐτῶν καὶ γοῦν ἔφασκον· "Χριστοῦ εὐωδία ἐσμὲν" τῷ Χριστῷ. ἦσαν δὲ πρὸς τούτῳ καὶ πανσύνετοι. διὸ καὶ ἤκουσαν· "ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς". ἀκούω δὲ τοῦ προφήτου ∆αβὶδ ψάλλοντος περὶ αὐτῶν· "ἐκεῖ Βενιαμὶν νεώτερος ἐν ἐκστάσει, ἄρχοντες Ἰούδα ἡγεμόνες αὐτῶν, ἄρχοντες Ζαβουλών, ἄρχοντες Νεφθαλείμ"· σχεδὸν γὰρ ἐξ ἁπάσης φυλῆς τῆς ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπόλεκτοι γεγόνασιν οἱ θεσπέσιοι μαθηταὶ καὶ φωστῆρες γεγόνασιν οἰκουμενικοὶ λόγον ἐπίσχον τες ζωῆς, ἄνθρωποι χειροτέχναι γεγονότες καὶ θαλασσουργοὶ καὶ ἰχθυο θῆραι, οὐ λέξεων ἔχοντες εὐπορίαν δεδοκιμασμένων, ἀλλ' "ἰδιῶται" μὲν "τῷ λόγῳ", πλούσιοι δὲ "τῇ γνώσει". τούτους ἐδήλου ὁ θεὸς καὶ διὰ φωνῆς Ἰερεμίου λέγων περὶ τοῦ σατανᾶ· "οὐαὶ ὁ πληθύνων αὐτῷ