ACC ~ Matthew 11 v2
JOHN REPRESENTS THE ACCOMPLISHED LAW, NOW IMPRISONED
HILARY: A fuller spiritual meaning is to be found in these actions, which were being accomplished in and through John. Here we behold the efficient power of Johnâs embodied action and also the grace manifest in John. As announced in prophecy: the law rose up and took shape in John. [1] For the law announced Christ, predicted the forgiveness of sins and promised the kingdom of heaven. John thoroughly accomplished all this work that belonged to the law. Therefore when the law (i.e., John) was inactive, oppressed as it was by the sins of the common people and held in chains by the vicious habits of the nation, so that Christ could not be perceived, the law (represented by John) was confined by chains and the prison. But the law (i.e., John) sent others to behold the good news. In this way unbelief would be confronted with the accomplished truth of what had been prophesied. By this means the part of the law that had been chained [2] by the misdeeds of sinners would now be freed through the understanding of the good news freely expressed. ON MATTHEW 11.2. [3]
[1] Mt 3:3; cf. Is 40:3.
[2] As John was now in chains in prison.
[3] SC 254:252-54.
JOHN SENT WORD BY HIS DISCIPLES
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: About this text, some will argue, âWhen John sent his disciples, he was neither ignorant himself nor did he mean for them to learn, which seems clear to anyone who has entered to a certain extent into the meaning of the holy Scriptures.â But this is foolish, because when John was about to die and join the departed, he sent them to ask whether he was the one who was to come and free those who had been vanquished by death. [1] In this way the good news was delivered to his disciples as well. [2] John had already said, âBehold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.â [3] He already knew very well that the Messiah would offer his suffering up to God for the sake of all humanity. Certainly, if John indeed knew that Jesus was the Christ, he was not ignorant of the Christ. On the contrary, he knew exactly what benefits were to come to humanity through him. John might seem to be telling different people different things in different contexts. Isnât it true that John had so much knowledge about Christ that he said a great deal about him to various people? Isnât it true that in accordance with the greater part of what John had said in his own testimony, he recognized Jesus as the deliverer of good news? It is hardly conceivable that John was ignorant about the Christ but now was guessing and wanted to find out for sure from him. That would be inconsistent. And who would, in the attempt to discover something so great, send along his disciples as if they were competent in themselves to teach and witness?
There is another point being made here. The present life is the time when we must conduct ourselves responsibly. After death there is judgment and punishment. However, Christâs death did not universally redeem the sins of all those who had already died. For when it is said that the bronze gates and iron bars were shattered, this is said because the body of Christ then appeared immortal for the first time and death was shown to be defeated. What does this mean, then? Were all people unrighteous before the coming of Christ? Not at all. Before Christ it was enough to refrain from idolatry and to worship the one true God in order to be saved. But now that alone is not enough. We must also know Christ personally. And so we must not imagine that someone will confess to Christ in hell, where even if all repent, no one is comforted. FRAGMENT 57. [4]
[1] The descent into hell is perhaps implied.
[2] According to one interpretation found in Origen and Gregory the Great, among others (cf. D. Sheerin, Vigilae Christianae 30 [1976]: 1ff. ), John the Baptist announced the coming of Christ even in hell. Theodore, along with Chrysostom and others, repeats this interpretation merely to deny and confute it.
[3] Jn 1:29.
[4] MKGK 115.
Mt