ACC ~ Matthew 1 v3

HOW COULD FORNICATORS BE IN JESUS’ LINEAGE?

SEVERUS: It is for this reason [to show Christ’s true humanity] that in this genealogy the Evangelist mentioned in his list even those who had shocking carnal relations that were inappropriate and outside the law. For Matthew wrote with due deliberation, “And Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar” and even more plainly “And David became the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife.” These were women with whom they became united by fornication and adultery. By this means the genealogy revealed that it is our very sinful nature that Christ himself came to heal. It is that very nature which had fallen, revolted and plunged into inordinate desires. When our nature fled [from God], he took hold of it. When it dashed out and ran away in revolt, he stopped it, held onto it, enabled it to return and blocked its downward spiral. This is what the words of the apostle say in this regard: “For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect.” [1]

Christ therefore took upon himself a blood relationship to that nature which fornicated, in order to purify it. He took on that very nature that was sick, in order to heal it. He took on that nature which fell, in order to lift it up. All this occurred in a charitable, beneficial manner wholly appropriate to God.

Although sinless, he became united to the flesh that is of the same essence as ours, which possesses an intelligent soul. It is with this premise that the gestation and conception from the Holy Spirit was spoken and the virgin birth occurred, the birth that knew not marriage or carnal union and that respected in an unspeakable manner the seal of virginal purity. CATHEDRAL SERMONS, HOMILY 94. [2]

[1] Heb 2:16-17.

[2] PO 25:53-54.

PEREZ AND ZERAH AS TYPES

ANONYMOUS: We note how Judah became “the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar.” [1] But note how the mysteries of the Jewish and Gentile people were being anticipated: Zerah [symbolic of Israel] was the first to come forth from the womb. The midwife “took and bound on his hand a scarlet thread,” signifying the Jewish people marked with the blood of circumcision. Zerah withdrew, and Perez [symbolic of the Gentiles] came out. The flesh in which Zerah had been enclosed was blocked. But the flesh in which Perez had been enclosed opened up. Therefore Perez came out first. [2] Thus the Jewish people appeared first in the light of faith, as though proceeding from the dark womb of the world. They were therefore marked with the scarlet thread of circumcision, everyone believing that this people of God would be first. But what then happened?

The law was placed before them as a hedge to stand in the way of God’s judgment. Yet the law, as we learn, may impede faith and not help; as it is written: “without the law sin was dead. Once upon a time I was living without law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” [3] Thus, due to sin, the law impeded the way of the Jewish people, so they did not bring in the light of justice. But when Christ came in due time, the hedge of the law that was between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken, as the apostle says: “[He] has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.” [4] So it happened that the Jewish people, who were first to come, were held captive, while the Gentiles remained as though in the womb of the dark world. After the law was broken at Christ’s bidding, with the Jewish people being excluded, the Gentiles were first to come to faith [in the gospel]. Later the Jewish people will follow, as the apostle says: “Behold, I tell you a mystery [ … ] a partial blindness only has be-fallen Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles should enter, and thus all Israel will be saved.” [5] INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [6]

[1] Mt 1:3.

[2] Gen 38:27-30.

[3] Rom 7:8-10.

[4] Eph 2:14.

[5] 1 Cor 15:51; Rom 11:25-26.

[6] PG 56:614-15.