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

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 his own head and exulting in the murder as though it were just, for which reasons both these and he commonly fell from the kingdom. 309 Mt 27, 44 So then, one of the robbers, sharing in the godlessness of the Jews, uttered the same words as they did; for "if you are," he says, "the Christ, save yourself and us." But the other, walking the opposite road to him, is rightly admired; for he believed in him even though hanging under so bitter a sentence, he rebukes the foul-mouthedness of the Jews and the words of the one crucified with him, he confessed his sin, so that he might appear more just; for he testified to Christ's complete blamelessness and was an accuser of the madness of those who crucified him, for this reason he seized the lot of the saints, the registration above and in the heavens. for seeing him crucified, he called him king; he expected the one in dishonor and suffering to come in glory befitting God, he seized faith, although not nobly brought up, and he also benefits us <opening for us the> heavens. 311 Mt 27, 45 Darkness came over all the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour as the sun was eclipsed, so that they might know that he is that one hanging on the wood who took creation as his ally on their behalf, when he warred against the Egyptians for their sake. the sun's light failed and darkness was scattered over all their land as the sun drew back its ray and, as it were, not enduring to send it any longer to those who had become killers of the Lord. And in another way we say that the land of the Jews was darkened, that is, those who inhabit it, because it did not receive the sun of righteousness and "the true light." 312 Mt 27, 46 The Lord spoke this utterance as a man, so that he might establish for our human nature the ability to say with boldness to God, why have you forsaken me; for only for the pure and those without sin is it without fear to say this. But by saying "my God" to the Father he suffers no harm concerning his own divinity and glory, being God by nature, when as a man he says these things that are fitting for humanity, since we too, if we call God Father, do not on this account cast off our being human by nature and creatures of God, even if God calls us to sonship by grace through faith in Christ. 313 Mt 27, 50 Something great and excellent was accomplished through Christ for our souls; for since we have been justified through faith in God and in him human nature was found to be rich in sinlessness, he has inaugurated for us that souls departing from their bodies no longer run to Hades as before, but are rather sent into the hands of a living God. and knowing this, the holy Stephen said: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And another of the apostles writes: "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust to a faithful Creator their" own "souls." 314 Mt 27, 51-54 And the earth was shaken, signifying the change for the better or also showing indignation against those who had acted insolently toward him. and the splitting of the rocks is a sign of the "stony heart" of the Gentiles being opened for the reception of the evangelical seed. And the saints who were raised and appeared to many did not receive the gift of resurrection prematurely for themselves alone, but it became a sign that death was abolished through the death of Christ. To this, I think, the law also looked, commanding the one who killed unintentionally, having fled, to return again to his homeland after the death of the high priest; for the death of Christ has restored to us who were liable the way up to the heavenly Jerusalem. The earth was shaken signifying the change of things for the better even if it shows the indignation of God

ἀνανεώσασθαι, εἰ καὶ ὁ πρότερος ὡς ὁ εἷς τῶν λῃστῶν παρ ητήσατο, "οὐκ ἔχομεν" λέγων "βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα" καὶ τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀθῷον ἐπὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ κεφαλὴν ἐξαιτούμενος καὶ ὡς δικαίῳ τῷ φόνῳ ἐναβρυνόμενος, ἀφ' ὧν καὶ οὗτοι κἀκεῖνος κοινῶς τῆς βασιλείας ἐξέ πεσον. 309 Mt 27, 44 Ὁ μὲν οὖν εἷς τῶν λῃστῶν ταῖς τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀφιλοθεΐαις συν διαιτώμενος τοὺς αὐτοὺς ἐκείνοις ἠρεύγετο λόγους· εἰ γὰρ "σὺ εἶ", φησίν, "ὁ Χριστός, σῶσον σεαυτὸν καὶ ἡμᾶς". ὅ γε μὴν ἕτερος τὴν ἐναντίαν ἐκείνῳ βαδίζων ὁδὸν εἰκότως θαυμάζεται· πεπίστευκε γὰρ εἰς αὐτὸν καίτοι δίκης ἀπηρτημένης οὕτω πικρᾶς, ἐπιτιμᾷ ταῖς τῶν Ἰου δαίων ἀθυροστομίαις καὶ ταῖς τοῦ συγκρεμαμένου φωναῖς, ὡμολόγησε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, ἵνα δικαιότερος φανῇ· μεμαρτύρηκε γὰρ Χριστῷ τὸ ἀνυπαίτιον παντελῶς καὶ τῆς τῶν σταυρωσάντων ἀπονοίας κατήγορος ἦν, ταύτῃ τοι τὸν τῶν ἁγίων ἥρπασε κλῆρον, τὴν ἄνω καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἀπογραφήν. σταυρούμενον γὰρ βλέπων βασιλέα ἐκάλει· τὸν ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ καὶ πάθει προσεδόκησεν ἥξειν ἐν δόξῃ θεοπρεπεῖ, ἥρπασε τὴν πίστιν, καίτοι εὐγενῶς οὐ τεθραμμένος, ὀνίνησι δὲ καὶ ἡμᾶς <ἀνοίγων ἡμῖν τοὺς> οὐρανούς. 311 Mt 27, 45 Τὸ σκότος ἐφ' ὅλην τὴν γῆν ἐγένετο ἀπὸ ὥρας ἕκτης ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης τοῦ ἡλίου ἐκλείποντος, ἵν' εἰδεῖεν, ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος ὁ ἀπηρτημένος τοῦ ξύλου ὁ σύνοπλον ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν τὴν κτίσιν λαβών, ὅτε τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις πεπολέμηκε δι' αὐτούς. τὸ ἡλιακὸν ἐκλέλοιπε φῶς καὶ ἁπάσης τῆς αὐτῶν χώρας κατεσκεδάσθη τὸ σκότος ἡλίου τὴν ἀ κτῖνα συστείλαντος καὶ οἷον οὐκ ἀνεχομένου πέμπειν αὐτὴν ἔτι τοῖς γε γονόσι κυριοκτόνοις. καὶ καθ' ἕτερον δὲ τρόπον ἐσκοτίσθαι φαμὲν τὴν Ἰουδαίων χώραν ἤτοι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας αὐτήν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσεδέξατο τὸν ἥλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης καὶ "τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν". 312 Mt 27, 46 Εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τὴν φωνὴν ταύτην ὡς ἄνθρωπος, ἵνα κατορθώσῃ τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ τῶν ἀνθρώπων φύσει τὸ μετὰ παρρησίας λέγειν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα τί με ἐγκατέλιπες· μόνοις γὰρ τοῖς καθαροῖς καὶ ἁμαρτίας ἐκτός ἐστιν ἀδεὲς τοῦτο λέγειν. λέγων δὲ θεέ μου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα οὐδὲν ὑπομένει βλάβος περὶ τὴν οἰκείαν θεότητα καὶ δόξαν φύσει θεὸς ὤν, ὅταν ὡς ἄνθρωπος λέγῃ ταῦτα τὰ τῇ ἀνθρωπότητι πρέποντα, ἐπεί περ καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἐὰν καλῶμεν τὸν θεὸν πατέρα, οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο ἀπεβαλό μεθα τὸ εἶναι ἄνθρωποι φύσει καὶ κτίσματα θεοῦ, κἂν κατὰ χάριν ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς εἰς υἱότητα καλῇ διὰ τὴν εἰς Χριστὸν πίστιν. 313 Mt 27, 50 Μέγα καὶ ἐξαίρετον κατωρθώθη διὰ Χριστοῦ ταῖς ἡμετέραις ψυχαῖς· ἐπειδὴ γὰρ δεδικαιώμεθα διὰ τῆς εἰς θεὸν πίστεως καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ ἀπλημμελὲς ἡ ἀνθρώπου φύσις ηὑρέθη πλουτήσασα, κεκαι νοτόμηκεν ἡμῖν τὸ μηκέτι μὲν εἰς ᾅδου τρέχειν τὰς τῶν σωμάτων ἀπαλλατ τομένας ψυχὰς καθὰ καὶ πρώην, πέμπεσθαι δὲ μᾶλλον εἰς χεῖρας θεοῦ ζῶντος. καὶ τοῦτο εἰδὼς ὁ ἅγιος ἔφη Στέφανος· "κύριε Ἰησοῦ, δέξαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου". καὶ ἕτερος δὲ γράφει τῶν ἀποστόλων· "ὥστε καὶ οἱ πάσχοντες κατὰ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ πιστῷ κτίστῃ παρατιθέσθωσαν τὰς" ἑαυτῶν "ψυχάς". 314 Mt 27, 51-54 Ἐσείσθη δὲ καὶ ἡ γῆ τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖττον μετάθεσιν σημαί νουσα ἢ καὶ δείκνυσι τὴν κατὰ τῶν εἰς αὐτὸν πεπαρῳνηκότων ἀγανά κτησιν. τὸ δὲ ῥαγῆναι τὰς πέτρας σημεῖόν ἐστι τοῦ τὴν "λιθίνην" τῶν ἐθνῶν "καρδίαν" ἀνεωχθῆναι πρὸς ὑποδοχὴν τοῦ εὐαγγελικοῦ σπό ρου. οἱ δὲ ἀναστάντες ἅγιοι καὶ ὀ φθέντες τοῖς πολλοῖς οὐ πρόωρον ἔλαβον μόνοι ἐκεῖνοι τὸ τῆς ἀνα στάσεως χάρισμα, ἀλλ' εἰς σημεῖον γέγονεν, ὅτι κατηργήθη ὁ θάνατος διὰ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ Χριστοῦ. εἰς τοῦτο οἶμαι καὶ ὁ νόμος ὑπέβλεπε κελεύων τὸν ἀκουσίως φονεύσαντα φυγόντα αὖθις ἐπανατρέχειν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα μετὰ τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἀρχιερέως· ὁ γὰρ τοῦ Χριστοῦ θά νατος τὴν εἰς τὴν ἄνω Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἄνοδον τοῖς ὑπευθύνοις ἡμῖν ἀπέ δωκεν. Ἐσείσθη ἡ γῆ σημαίνουσα τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖττον μετάθεσιν τῶν πραγμάτων κἂν τὴν ἀγανάκτησιν δεικνύῃ τοῦ θεοῦ