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 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 after these things see the beauty of the divinity of Christ, seeing the Father to be in the Son and saying that he is the redeemer who was proclaimed through the prophets, about whom the prophet foretold as coming in the name of the Lord; for the other prophets did not come in the name of the Lord; for they would say: "Thus says the Lord" and "I am a servant of the Lord, and I worship the God of heaven." 265 Mt 24, 1 Having said, "your house is left to you," he does this as a consequence, going out from the temple and departing, and by this showing the departure of divine grace from the race of the Jews, as it moves on to others. He used these words hyperbolically, yet it also came to pass in deed, the sanctuary being completely torn down. 266 Mt 24, 1-3 Some were pointing out to Christ the great works in the temple and the adornment of the votive offerings; for they thought that he would marvel with them at the things seen, although being God and having heaven as his throne. But he dismisses the discussion about them, and foretells that it will fall from its foundations in due course, the Roman army bringing it to this, and all of Jerusalem, exacting from Israel the penalties for deicide; for after the Savior's cross it happened that they suffered these things, but they did not understand the meaning of what was being said. And they thought that he was weaving words about the end of the age. Therefore they asked, when these things will be, and what will be the sign when it is about to happen. 268 Mt 24, 4-5 The Lord follows the purpose of those who posed the question and for now speaks about the end of the present age; for before his descent from the heavens occurs, certain forerunners will appear, false Christs and false prophets fashioning his persona for themselves, but "do not follow them," he says. 269 Mt 24, 20 Perhaps the saying also holds a riddle, that we should pray not to depart from the body either while being idle from good work, which the sabbath signifies, nor in barrenness, which winter indicates; for it must be noted that God did not make a winter of evils, but we are in winter when the passions of the flesh rule in us. Christ intimates this, that we should pray not to be in departure from the body either while being idle from the works of virtue, which the sabbath signifies, nor troubled by life's commotions and disturbances, which the winter indicates. 270 Mt 24, 28 Just as when a dead body lies, the flesh-eating birds run together to it, so, when the Son of Man comes, then indeed all the eagles, that is, those who fly to the heights and are lifted up highest, above earthly and worldly things, will run together to him. 271 Mt 24, 29 How will they not shudder? For with heaven and earth being re-ordered according to what seems good to God (for it is not possible to say anything precise in such matters) the sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will fall like flowers, as the one who created them re-orders them again, as he wishes, the elements themselves will also be disturbed; for as humanity is renewed, so too is recapitulated and co-created the creation that was created for the sake of man. 272 Mt 24, 36 Since the disciples wanted to learn things beyond themselves, he finds an occasion to prevent them from such things by his not knowing as a man, and he says that not even the holy angels in heaven are able to know these things. 273 Mt 24, 36 It is the custom of Christ the Savior to do such a thing especially with his holy disciples, if they should inquire about something which has the appearance of a love of learning but is yet free from higher inquiry, to grant

νοητὴν ἔχει τὴν διὰ πίστεως θέαν· ὅταν γὰρ "εἰσέλθῃ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν" καὶ πιστεύσωσι τῷ Χριστῷ, τότε οἱ μετὰ ταῦτα πιστεύσαντες Ἰουδαῖοι ὁρῶσι τὸ τῆς θεότητος κάλλος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν υἱῷ θεωροῦντες εἶναι τὸν πατέρα καὶ αὐτὸν λέγοντες εἶναι τὸν λυτρωτὴν τὸν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν κηρυχθέντα, περὶ οὗ προμεμήνυκεν ὁ προφήτης ὡς ἐρχόμενον ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου· οἱ γὰρ ἄλλοι προφῆται οὐκ ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου ἦλθον· ἔλεγον γάρ· "τάδε κύριος" καὶ "δοῦλος κυρίου ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ τὸν θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐγὼ σέβομαι". 265 Mt 24, 1 Εἰπὼν "ἀφίεται ὑμῖν ὁ οἶκος ὑμῶν" ἀκόλουθον τοῦτο ποιεῖ ἐξελ θὼν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ πορευόμενος καὶ διὰ τοῦτο δεικνὺς τὴν ἐκ τοῦ γένους τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀπόστασιν τῆς θείας χάριτος, ἐφ' ἑτέρους μεταχωρούσης. ὑπερβολικῶς δὲ ἐχρήσατο τούτοις, ὅμως καὶ ἔργῳ ἐξέβη ἐριπωθὲν τελείως τὸ τέμενος. 266 Mt 24, 1-3 Ἐπεδείκνυόν τινες τῷ Χριστῷ τὰς ἐν τῷ ναῷ μεγαλουργίας καὶ τὸν τῶν ἀναθημάτων κόσμον· ᾠήθησαν γάρ, ὅτι θαυμάσει σὺν αὐτοῖς τὰ ὁρώμενα καίτοι θεὸς ὢν καὶ ἔχων θρόνον τὸν οὐρανόν. ὁ δὲ ἀφίησι μὲν τὸν περὶ αὐτῶν λόγον, προμεμήνυκε δέ, ὅτι ἐκ βάθρων πεσεῖται κατὰ καιροὺς κατακομιζούσης εἰς τοῦτο αὐτὸν τῆς Ῥωμαίων στρατιᾶς καὶ ἅπασαν τὴν Ἰερουσαλὴμ τὰς τῆς κυριοκτονίας δίκας ἐξαιτούσης τὸν Ἰσραήλ· μετὰ γάρ τοι τὸν τοῦ σωτῆρος σταυρὸν ταῦτα συνέβη παθεῖν αὐτούς, οἱ δὲ οὐ συνίεσαν τῶν λεγομένων τὴν δύναμιν. ᾠήθησαν δὲ τοὺς περὶ συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος λόγους ἐξυφαίνειν αὐτόν. ἤροντο δὴ οὖν πότε ταῦτα ἔσονται, καὶ τί τὸ σημεῖον, ὅταν μέλλῃ γίνεσθαι. 268 Mt 24, 4-5 Ἕπεται τῷ σκοπῷ τῶν προσαγόντων τὴν πεῦσιν ὁ κύριος καὶ περὶ συντελείας τέως φησὶ τοῦ παρόντος αἰῶνος· πρὶν γὰρ τὴν ἐξ οὐρανῶν γενέσθαι αὐτοῦ κάθοδον πρόδρομοί τινες ἀναφανοῦνται, ψευδόχριστοι καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται τὸ αὐτοῦ πρόσωπον ἑαυτοῖς περιπλάττοντες, ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀκολουθήσητέ φησιν αὐτοῖς. 269 Mt 24, 20 Ἴσως καὶ αἴνιγμα ἔχει ὁ λόγος, ὥστε εὔχεσθαι ἡμᾶς μὴ ἐκδημῆσαι ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος μήτε ἐν ἀργίᾳ ὄντας ἔργου ἀγαθοῦ, ὃ ὑποσημαίνει τὸ σάββατον, μήτε ἐν ἀκαρπίᾳ, ὃ δηλοῖ χειμών· ση μειωτέον γὰρ ὅτι χειμῶνα κακῶν ὁ θεὸς οὐκ ἐποίησεν, ἐν χειμῶνι δέ ἐσμεν, ὅταν τὰ πάθη τῆς σαρκὸς δυναστεύῃ ἐν ἡμῖν. Τοῦτο αἰνίττεται ὁ Χριστὸς τὸ εὔχεσθαι ἡμᾶς μὴ γενέσθαι ἐν ἐκδη μίᾳ τοῦ σώματος μήτε ἐν ἀργίᾳ ὄν τας τῶν τῆς ἀρετῆς ἔργων, ὃ ὑπο σημαίνει τὸ σάββατον, μήτε ἐνο χλουμένους ἐν ταῖς βιωτικαῖς τύρ βαις τε καὶ ταραχαῖς, ὅπερ δηλοῖ ὁ χειμών. 270 Mt 24, 28 Ὥσπερ σώματος κειμένου νεκροῦ τὰ σαρκοβόρα τῶν πτηνῶν ἐπ' αὐτὸ συντρέχει, οὕτως, ὅταν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραγένηται, τότε δὴ πάντες οἱ ἀετοὶ τοῦτ' ἔστιν οἱ εἰς τὰ ὑψηλὰ πωτώμενοι καὶ ἀνω τάτω καὶ τῶν ἐπιγείων καὶ κοσμικῶν ἀνενηνεγμένοι ἐπ' αὐτὸν συνδρα μοῦνται. 271 Mt 24, 29 Πῶς οὐ φρίξουσιν; ἀναστοιχειουμένων γὰρ οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς πρὸς τὸ δοκοῦν τῷ θεῷ (ἀκριβὲς γάρ τι λέγειν ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις οὐκ ἔνι) ὁ μὲν ἥλιος καὶ ἡ σελήνη ἀμαυρωθήσονται, τὰ δὲ ἄστρα ὡς ἄνθη πε σεῖται τοῦ δημιουργήσαντος αὐτὰ πάλιν μεταστοιχειοῦντος, καθὼς θέ λει, θορυβηθήσονται καὶ αὐτὰ τὰ στοιχεῖα· ἀνακαινιζομένης γὰρ τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται καὶ συνανακτίζεται καὶ ἡ διὰ τὸν ἄν θρωπον δημιουργηθεῖσα κτίσις. 272 Mt 24, 36 Ἐπειδὴ τὰ ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοὺς ἤθελον μανθάνειν οἱ μαθηταί, ἀφορμὴν εὑρίσκει τοῦ κωλύειν αὐτοὺς τῶν τοιούτων τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι καθὸ ἄν θρωπος καί φησιν μηδὲ τοὺς κατ' οὐρανὸν ἁγίους ἀγγέλους δύνασθαι ταῦτα εἰδέναι. 273 Mt 24, 36 Ἔθος τῷ σωτῆρι Χριστῷ τοι οῦτόν τι δρᾶν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἁγίοις μά λιστα μαθηταῖς, εἰ μὲν διαπυνθά νοιντό τι τῶν ὅσα ἐστὶ φιλομαθείας μὲν ἔχοντα δόξαν ὑψηλοτέρας γε μὴν ἐρεύνης ἀπηλλαγμένα, χαρί ζεσθαι