ACC ~ Matthew 11 v11

AMONG THOSE BORN OF WOMEN

ANONYMOUS: It is one thing to be generically the son of a woman, another thing to be [in Paul’s sense] a man “born of woman.” [1] A man such as John who is the son of a woman was born in a woman and had his origin in the woman and did not exist prior to the woman. But the unique man “born of woman” is not necessarily born initially in the woman. Christ, as we know, was a man “born of woman,” but as to what is being said here, John—the man spoken of—is the son of a woman. Christ was “born of woman” and yet existed prior to the woman. Therefore every son of a woman is born of a woman, but not every man born of a woman is the son of a woman. And thus Paul did not say that Jesus was “among the sons of women” because that would mix him in with the generic category of all sons.

Moreover, the Scripture does not say that John was greater than the other saints but that “no one greater than John has arisen.” The text makes him equal to the others, not superior. However, righteousness is so deep that no one can be perfect in it except God alone. I think that in God’s own keen judgment, each of the saints may be viewed individually as greater or lesser. From this we conclude that if no one is greater than John, he is therefore greater than them all. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 27. [2]

[1] Gal 4:4.

[2] PG 56:775.

THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: If John is being judged against other people according to being born from a woman, he will be found to be the greatest of them all. He alone was filled with the Holy Spirit inside his mother’s womb, so that he “leaped,” [1] and his mother prophesied because she partook in this as well. But if John is judged in relation to those who are to partake of the Spirit in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, he will be found to be least. Thus Jesus says that John by no means partakes of such great grace as those who will be reborn into immortality after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and that John will experience physical death. At that time, however, the Spirit’s abundance toward people will be so great that no one who has partaken of even the least part of it can afterward fall into death. FRAGMENT 59. [2]

[1] Lk 1:41.

[2] MKGK 116.

ALREADY SERVING GOD IN HEAVEN

JEROME: “Yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Now, many would like to interpret this with reference to the Savior, as meaning that the one lesser in age is the greater in worth. However, let us interpret it simply to mean that every saint who is already with God is greater than anyone who remains expectant, as yet in the battle. For it is one thing to possess the crown of victory, another to be still fighting in the ranks. Some conclude that the very newest angel who serves God in heaven is greater than any one, even the best, who dwells on the earth still in expectation. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.11.11. [1]

[1] CCL 77:80.

JESUS IS THE KINGDOM

ORIGEN: The kingdom of heaven is Jesus the Christ himself, who exhorts all people to repentance and draws them to himself by love. FRAGMENT 226. [1]

[1] GCS 41.1:107.

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