ACC ~ Matthew 1 v2

HOW ISAAC’S BIRTH PREFIGURES THE BIRTH OF JESUS

ANONYMOUS: Abraham was the father of the faithful, [1] and when God wished him to be an example for the virtuous, he said to him, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” [2] So that all who should wish to be the sons of Abraham might know how to receive that living land of promise, it was written, “I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” [3] … Those who do not wish to imitate Abraham in faith cannot be the descendants of Abraham. Then “Abraham was the father of Isaac,” [4] which itself was first interpreted as a jest. However, it is the laughter of the holy. It is not the idiotic cackling of lips but a rational joy of the heart, which was the mystery of Christ penetrating all things. For in this way Isaac was bestowed to parents who had long given up hope as a joy in their extreme old age. Isaac was not understood as a son of nature but as a son of grace. In this way Isaac was born by a Judean mother at the very end of her life as a joy for all to behold. In this same way the angel spoke to the shepherds: “Lo, I announce to you a great joy which will be for all people.” [5] And in this same way the apostle said, “When the time came, God sent his Son born of a woman, born under law.” [6] Although God’s son was born from a virgin and Isaac from an old woman, both were born wholly beyond the expectations of nature. The former [Isaac] had delayed until after his mother was able to give birth; the latter would arrive before his mother was able to give birth. [7] The former was born from an old woman who was already failing to some extent; the latter was born from a chaste virgin. The former was born under a law that was to end; the latter under grace that would remain. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [8]

[1] Alone among the texts quoted, this text explains each figure named in the genealogy. The interpretation is allegorical, and the allegory—derived mainly from the etymology of the names of the characters—is based on considering the Old Testament a symbolic and prophetic preparation for the New Testament, in such a way that the continuity between the Testaments—and therefore the Christian meaning of the Old Testament—is revealed. The explanation is too long to be reproduced in full and has been digested to treat only the interpretation of persons of particular historical or symbolic importance.

[2] Gen 12:1.

[3] Ps 27:13 (26:13 LXX).

[4] Gen 25:19.

[5] Lk 2:10.

[6] Gal 4:4.

[7] Note the ironic reversal in types: Isaac was delayed in coming until a time when his mother was beyond the natural capacity of giving birth, whereas Jesus was preexistent as divine Word even before his mother was called to give birth.

[8] PG 56:613.

HOW JACOB’S TWELVE SONS PREFIGURE THE TWELVE OF THE AGE TO COME

ANONYMOUS: Isaac then begot Esau and Jacob. This signifies two ages. Esau, who was covered with hair from head to toe, signifies the first age, which was filled completely from beginning to end with sin like the coarsest of hair. Yet Jacob, who was entirely handsome and refined, signifies the age to come. This age [1] will shine with the splendor of piety, and no harshness or stain of sin will be found in it. As Jacob held fast to Esau’s heel when he left his mother’s womb, he was thus named Jacob, which in Hebrew means “one who follows upon another’s heels.” [2] For just as the head of Jacob appeared as soon as the feet of his brother had come out, so also the beginning of the next age will appear immediately after the end of that first age. Just as Esau persecuted Jacob, the sons of that age persecute the sons of this age. And just as Jacob overcomes evil men by fleeing and not resisting, so also do his children. For just as Jacob’s mother then approached him and said, “Son, listen to me and flee to Mesopotamia until the anger of your brother subsides,” [3] so also does the church teach its children daily. Whenever they suffer persecution, it advises, “If you have been persecuted in one city, flee to another” [4] and never avenge yourselves. [5] “Then Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.” [6] Our Jacob [7] also begot the twelve apostles in spirit, not in flesh and in word, not in blood. For just as Jacob went down into Egypt with his twelve sons in order to multiply, so also did Christ descend into the world with his twelve apostles. He multiplied throughout the whole world, as the deed itself bears witness. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [8]

[1] Following the advent of Christ.

[2] Supplantator.

[3] Gen 27:43-44.

[4] Mt 10:23.

[5] Rom 12:19.

[6] Mt 1:2.

[7] Christ.

[8] PG 56:614.