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

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. But the Pharisees, not wanting to understand this, lie in wait for the holy apostles and say to Christ about them: behold, we see those taught by you opposing the legal commandments; for while the law commands to rest on the Sabbath and to touch no work at all, the disciples are rubbing ears of grain with their hands. But you yourself tell me, O Pharisee, when you set your Sabbath table for yourself, do you not break the bread? Why then do you accuse others? But how does the Savior defend them? 153 Mt 12, 9- 14 Being impious, the Pharisees feigned piety, in order that they might destroy the pious. Therefore they also attempted to slander Christ and his disciples, seeing them being glorified by the miracles. 154 Mt 12, 23-28 Since, he says, I do not cast out demons by the ruler of the demons, as he showed by saying that every kingdom divided against itself is dissolved and destroyed, I therefore cast them out by the power of the Spirit, and for this reason the kingdom of God has drawn near. 155 Mt 12, 29 He calls the devil strong, not as being so by nature, but he indicates his tyranny, which he acquired from our laziness; and I plunder him, not allowing him to have men as worshipers, but persuading them to come to the knowledge of God. How then will he become my ally against himself? 156 Mt 12, 31-32 When someone sinned against a man, it was possible to entreat God for him, but when men blasphemed against God, it was not permitted to entreat for them. But since the Son of God, being seen as a man, even if he was God by nature, was not at all recognized by the foolish, he sometimes gives pardon to those sinning against him out of ignorance, but says that for those who sin against the Spirit, everlasting punishment is brought on. 157 Mt 12, 31-32 By "Spirit" he means the whole divinity of the Trinity; however, pardon is given to those who repent through the grace of the Spirit. But Christ, wanting to show the magnitude of the sin, spoke thus, since there is no unforgivable sin with God for those who genuinely and worthily repent. By "Spirit" he means the whole divinity of the Trinity; however, pardon is given to those who repent, being baptized through the grace of the Spirit. But Christ said this wanting to show the magnitude of the sin; for although it is often the custom for God either to exact penalties from sinners here only and not also there, according to "the Lord will not punish twice for the same thing," that is, to forbear in the present age, but not to give pardon there, yet for such people he says the punishment is indelible and unpardonable both here and there. 158 Mt 12, 34-35 When he says treasure, he indicates the multitude of things lying in the soul. But lest some should say that men are evil by nature, he showed this in the case of the Pharisees, that it is possible for the same one man to be at one time good, and at another evil, saying: the good man speaks out of the abundance of his heart, and likewise also the evil. 159 Mt 12, 35 Although the Lord said that being evil they cannot not speak evil things, he did not say this as if they were evil by nature, but as having been overcome by evil out of great folly. And although the Lord said that being evil they cannot speak good things, he did not say this as if they were evil by nature, but from their own chosen impulse. 160 Mt 12, 38 Since the signs that have occurred, they say, were of demons, which make their apparitions only upon the earth, you too perform a sign from heaven by your own power; for another evangelist said clearly that they asked him "from heaven" to perform a sign, which was fitting for divine power

παρὰ τὴν πρώτην διαθήκην ἐστὶν ἡ καινὴ ἡ διὰ Ἰερεμίου προκηρυχθεῖσα, δεῖ πάντως καὶ νόμοις οὐχὶ τοῖς ἀρχαίοις κεχρῆσθαι, ἀλλὰ τοῖς καινοῖς. ἀλλ' οἱ Φαρισαῖοι τοῦτο συνιδεῖν μὴ θελή σαντες ἐφεδρεύουσι τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις καί φασι περὶ αὐτῶν τῷ Χριστῷ· ἰδού, τοῖς νομικοῖς ἐντάλμασι ἐναντιουμένους ὁρῶμεν τοὺς ὑπὸ σοῦ παιδαγωγουμένους· τοῦ γὰρ νόμου κελεύοντος ἀργεῖν ἐν σαβ βάτῳ καὶ μηδενὸς παντάπασιν ἅπτεσθαι πόνου περιτρίβουσι ταῖς χερσὶν ἀστάχυας οἱ μαθηταί. σὺ δὲ αὐτὸς εἰπέ μοι, ὦ Φαρισαῖε, τὴν σαββατι κὴν ἑαυτῷ τράπεζαν παραθεὶς οὐ συνθραύεις τὸν ἄρτον; τί οὖν ἑτέρους αἰτιᾷ; πῶς δὲ καὶ ὁ σωτὴρ περὶ αὐτῶν ἀπολογεῖται; 153 Mt 12, 9- 14 Ἀσεβεῖς ὄντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ὑπεκρίνοντο τὴν εὐσέβειαν, ἵνα τοὺς εὐσεβεῖς ἐξολοθρεύσωσι. διὸ καὶ τὸν Χριστὸν διαβάλλειν ἐπεχείρουν καὶ τοὺς αὐτοῦ μαθητὰς ὁρῶντες αὐτοὺς λαμπρυνομένους τοῖς θαύμασιν. 154 Mt 12, 23-28 Ἐπειδή, φησίν, οὐκ ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμόνων ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια ὡς ἔδειξεν εἰπών, ὅτι πᾶσα βασιλεία καθ' ἑαυτῆς με ρισθεῖσα διαλύεταί τε καὶ φθείρεται, ἐν τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ πνεύματος ἄρα ἐκβάλλω αὐτὰ καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἤγγικεν ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ βασιλεία. 155 Mt 12, 29 Ἰσχυρὸν δὲ καλεῖ τὸν διάβολον οὐχ ὡς φύσει τοῦτο ὄντα, ἀλλὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ τυραννίδα δηλοῖ, ἣν ἐκ τῆς ἡμετέρας ῥᾳθυμίας ἐκτήσατο· διαρπάζω δὲ αὐτόν, οὐκ ἐῶν ἔχειν προσκυνητὰς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἀλλ' εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θεοῦ μεταπείθων ἐλθεῖν. πῶς οὖν σύμμαχός μοι γενήσεται καθ' ἑαυτοῦ; 156 Mt 12, 31-32 Ὅταν τις εἰς ἄνθρωπον ἡμάρτανε, δυνατὸν ἦν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ παρα καλέσαι τὸν θεόν, ὅταν δὲ εἰς θεὸν οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐβλασφήμουν, οὐκ ἐξῆν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν παρακαλέσαι. πλὴν ἐπειδὴ ὡς ἄνθρωπος ὁρώμενος ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ υἱός, εἰ καὶ φύσει θεὸς ἦν, οὐ πάνυ τι τοῖς ἀσυνέτοις ἐγνωρίζετο, δίδωσιν ἔσθ' ὅτε τοῖς ἐξ ἀγνοίας ἁμαρτάνουσιν εἰς αὐτὸν συγγνώμην, τοῖς δὲ εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα διηνεκῆ λέγει τὴν κόλασιν ἐπάγεσθαι. 157 Mt 12, 31-32 Πνεῦμα λέγων ὁλόκληρον τὴν τῆς τριάδος θεότητα· πλὴν δίδοται τοῖς μετανοοῦσιν διὰ τῆς τοῦ πνεύ ματος χάριτος συγγνώμη. ἀλλὰ τὸ μέγεθος θέλων δεῖξαι ὁ Χριστὸς τοῦ ἁμαρτήματος, οὕτως εἶπεν, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἁμαρτία ἀσυγχώρητος παρὰ θεῷ ἐν τοῖς γνησίως καὶ κατ' ἀξίαν μετανοοῦσιν. Πνεῦμα λέγων ὁλόκληρον τὴν τῆς τριάδος θεότητα λέγει· πλὴν δίδοται τοῖς μετανοοῦσιν διὰ τῆς τοῦ πνεύματος χάριτος βαπτιζο μένοις συγγνώμη. ἀλλὰ τὸ μέγεθος θέλων δεῖξαι ὁ Χριστὸς τοῦ ἁμαρ τήματος εἶπεν τοῦτο· εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἔθος τῷ θεῷ πολλάκις ἢ ὧδε μόνον ἀπαιτῆσαι εὐθύνας τοὺς ἁμαρτή σαντας οὐ μὴν κἀκεῖ κατὰ τὸ "οὐκ ἐκδικήσει κύριος δὶς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό", ἤτοι ἀνεξικακῆσαι μὲν ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, οὐ μὴν κἀκεῖθεν δοῦναι συγ γνώμην, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τῶν τοιούτων ἀνεξ άλειπτον καὶ ἀσύγγνωστον καὶ ὧδε κἀκεῖ λέγει τὴν κόλασιν. 158 Mt 12, 34-35 Ὅταν λέγῃ θησαυρόν, τὸ πλῆθος ἐνδείκνυται τῶν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ κειμένων. ἵνα δὲ μὴ εἴπωσί τινες ὅτι φύσει πεφύκασι πονηροὶ οἱ ἄν θρωποι, ἐπὶ τῶν Φαρισαίων τοῦτο ἐδήλωσεν, ὅτι δυνατὸν τὸν αὐτὸν καὶ ἕνα ἄνθρωπόν ποτε μὲν ἀγαθὸν γενέσθαι, ποτὲ δὲ κακόν, λέγων· ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ λαλεῖ, ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ κακός. 159 Mt 12, 35 Εἰ καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος, ὅτι πονηροὶ ὄντες οὐ δύνανται μὴ πονηρὰ λαλεῖν, οὐχ ὡς φύσει ὄν των αὐτῶν πονηρῶν τοῦτο εἶπεν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐκ πολλῆς τῆς ἀνοίας κατα κρατηθέντων ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ. Εἰ δὲ καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος, ὅτι πονηροὶ ὄντες οὐ δύνανται ἀγα θὰ λαλεῖν, οὐχ ὡς φύσει ὄντων πονηρῶν τοῦτο εἶπεν, ἀλλ' ἐξ αὐτῶν προαιρετοῦ κινήματος. 160 Mt 12, 38 Ἐπειδὴ τὰ γεγονότα σημεῖα, φασίν, δαιμόνων ἦσαν, ἅπερ ἐπὶ μόνης τῆς γῆς ποιεῖ τὰς φαντασίας, ποίησον καὶ σὺ ἀπὸ τῆς σῆς δυνάμεως σημεῖον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ· ἕτερος γὰρ εὐαγγελιστὴς σαφῶς εἶπεν, ὅτι "ἐξ οὐρανοῦ" ᾔτουν αὐτὸν σημεῖον ποιῆσαι, ὅπερ τῇ θείᾳ δυνάμει ἔπρεπεν