ACC ~ Matthew 1 v22

THE COMING SALVATION

CHRYSOSTOM: Having established Joseph’s faith by all means—by past expectations, by future hopes, by present grace and by the honor given to himself—the angel then rings in the prophet also to give expression in support of all these, proclaiming beforehand the good things that are to occur to the world through the Son: Sins are removed and done away. “For he will save his people from their sins.” [1] Here again the coming event exceeds all human expectation. From what are the people being saved? Not from visible warfare or barbarians but something far greater: from their own sins, a work that had never been possible to anyone before. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 4.7. [2]

[1] Mt 1:21.

[2] PG 57:47; NPNF 1 10:25-26**. An unprecedented good, salvation from sin in a form previously unimaginable, would come from this conception that Joseph was being called to confirm and this person he was called to name.

THE PROMISE IS FROM GOD

CHRYSOSTOM: To make what he said easier to understand, the angel makes reference to Isaiah, and not to Isaiah only but to God who speaks through Isaiah. For he does not refer this saying to Isaiah as such but to the God of all. Hence he did not say simply that “All this took place to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah” but “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.” The mouth indeed was Isaiah’s, but the oracle was wafted from above. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 5.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:56; NPNF 1 10:32.

NOT BY CHANCE

ANONYMOUS: “Now all this came to pass.” What is meant by “all”? That the Virgin would marry her kinsman, that she would be preserved chaste, that the angel would speak to Joseph in a dream, that he would be instructed to accept her as his wife, that the boy would be called Jesus and that the Virgin would bring forth the Savior of the world. “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,” [1] saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son.” [2] Grace is witnessed through the prophets so that the Old and New Testaments may harmonize, grace may compensate for the weakness of the learned and what was predicted long ago might not seem to happen solely by chance. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [3]

[1] Mt 1:22.

[2] Is 7:14.

[3] PG 56:634.