ACC ~ Matthew 12 v15 - 21

OVERVIEW:

Jesus came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but they were not ready to receive their own Shepherd. Upon hearing that they had taken counsel to destroy him, he withdrew, not fearing their judgment but to dispel evil (ORIGEN). By ordering the miracle to be kept secret he refused to boast about himself (HILARY). It is not as an adversary that Christ transcends the law, as if he were an enemy of the Lawgiver, but as though he were of one mind with the Lawgiver. The prophets foretold his travels and changes of place and the intent with which he would act (CHRYSOSTOM). Jesus was loved by God and was pleasing in his Father’s will. The Spirit of God was upon him (HILARY). He taught by his way of life not to scream or to show off but to lead a public life of respect with virtuous actions (APOLLINARIS). Jesus bore with his opposition patiently, so as not to reduce them to utter oblivion on account of their weakness, until he had fulfilled the purpose of his mission (THEODORE OF HERACLEA).

12:15 | Jesus Withdraws

AWARE OF THEIR INTENT

ORIGEN: To the extent that one draws near to Jesus, one does not hold counsel, [1] for no counselor of evil things draws near to Jesus. But when others go out, departing from Jesus, they hold counsel to destroy Jesus, to destroy the Light, the good Way, the Life, the Treasure, the Pearl, Love itself and Peace. If anyone destroys these, he is called a “son of destruction.” But “Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there.” He had no reason to remain around the sons of destruction. They sought to destroy him, but we, who were not seeking, have found him. This recalls the words of the prophet: “I am found by those who do not seek for me; I have been made manifest to those who were not asking after me.” [2] For he came “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” who had forgotten their own Shepherd. So Jesus withdraws, not fearing their judgment but to dispel evil. And, lest anyone should suppose that it was through fear that he had withdrawn, Jesus healed everyone, displaying his almighty power. But, as one who does what is fitting, without pride, he sent them away, telling them not to publicize this. FRAGMENT 252. [3]

[1] Origen interprets the physical departure of the Pharisees from Jesus as a symbol of their spiritual departure from him.

[2] Is 65:1.

[3] GCS 41.1:117.

12:16 | Jesus Orders Silence About Healings

WHY HE ORDERED SILENCE

HILARY: He ordered those whom he healed to be silent. Was it silence about the healing that he ordered? Not at all. For the salvation that was given to each one was its own testimony. But by ordering it to be kept secret Jesus also shunned boasting about himself. It was better that knowledge of him remains in himself. So he admonished them to remain silent about him. The observance of silence springs from that about which one must keep silent. ON MATTHEW 12.9. [1]

[1] SC 254:274-76.

12:17 | The Son Fulfills Isaiah’s Prophecy

ISAIAH’S FOREKNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST’S HIDDEN INTENTIONS

CHRYSOSTOM: Then so that you might not be troubled at the events and their strange frenzy, Jesus reminded them of the prophet who had predicted them. For so great was the accuracy of the prophets that they did not omit even these little matters. But they foretold his travels, changes of place and the intent with which he would act, that we might learn that they spoke by the Spirit. If human secrets cannot be easily discerned, how much more difficult it is to discern Christ’s purpose, except when the Spirit reveals it to us. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 40.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:440; NPNF 1 10:260**. It is clear that Isaiah spoke by the Spirit because he foreknew even the Messiah’s inner intentions.

12:18 | The Chosen Servant

I SHALL PUT MY SPIRIT ON HIM

JEROME: Through Isaiah the prophet the person of the Father states this: “I shall put my Spirit upon him.” The Spirit is not placed upon the Word of God nor upon the only begotten Son who proceeds from the Father but upon the One about whom it is said, “Here is my Son.” [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.12.18. [2]

[1] Cf. Is 42:1.

[2] CCL 77:91.

12:19 | He Will Not Lift His Voice

NO ONE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS

APOLLINARIS: Those who teach “in the streets” do this, [1] not for the sake of helping anyone but out of egotism and to hoodwink the gullible. The result of this is that everyone views them with suspicion and they fail to reach the goal of their teaching. Thus the Savior taught us these lessons not only by word. His way of life also taught us not to scream nor to show off but to lead a public life in respect to virtuous actions. For a talkative disposition would be most harmful for us. It is the opposite that is most useful and beneficial. FRAGMENT 71. [2]

[1] Wrangle and cry aloud.

[2] MKGK 20.

HE WILL NOT CRY ALOUD

CHRYSOSTOM: The prophet celebrated in advance both the Savior’s meekness right alongside his unspeakable power. Thereby he opened to the Gentiles a great and effective door. Isaiah also foretold the ills that were to overtake the Jews. He foreknew the Son’s oneness with the Father: “Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him.” [1] For it is not as an adversary that Christ transcends the law, as if he were an enemy of the Lawgiver, but as though he were of one mind with the Lawgiver and held to the very same purposes. Then, proclaiming the Lord’s meekness, Isaiah said, “He shall not cry nor lift up his voice.” [2] For his desire indeed was to enable healing in their presence. But since they pushed him away, he did not contend any further against their opposition. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 40.2. [3]

[1] Is 42:1 LXX. The Hebrew text is translated “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles.”

[2] Is 42:2 LXX.

[3] PG 57:440-41; NPNF 1 10:260**.

12:20-21 | Hope for the Gentiles

IN HIS NAME WILL THE GENTILES HOPE

HILARY: But even amid this desire to keep silent about himself, the purpose of Jesus’ words was fulfilled through Isaiah. About his prophecy I now give you the following important reminder: Jesus was loved by God and was pleasing in his Father’s will. The Spirit of God was upon him. Judgment was made known to the Gentiles by him. The reed that was crushed was not broken, and the smoking wick was not extinguished. This means that the frail, shaken bodies of the Gentiles were not worn out but rather preserved to salvation. The meager flame only smoking now on the wick was not extinguished. The spirit of Israel was not removed from the rest of the ancient story of grace. The capability of restoring all the light exists in the time of repentance. But that was appointed within the statutes of a fixed time, “till he brings justice to victory.” When the power of death was removed, he would bring judgment at the return of his splendor to the Gentiles who would believe in his name through faith. ON MATTHEW 12.10. [1]

[1] SC 254:276.

HE BORE WITH THEM PATIENTLY

THEODORE OF HERACLEA: He did not eagerly contend with the folly of the rulers, nor did he scream and provoke them to anger against himself. Rather, with gentleness Jesus withdrew slowly so that he might not, in confuting them, cause them to be destroyed while they were still weak in soul like “a bruised reed” or like “smoking flax,” that is, very close to being snuffed out. He bore with them patiently, so as not to reduce them to utter oblivion on account of their weakness, until he had fulfilled the purpose of his dispensation, that is, to bring judgment to a full end. By this dispensation all the nations would come to believe. FRAGMENT 85. [1]

[1] MKGK 80.

THE SMOLDERING WICK

JEROME: The one who does not stretch out a hand to a sinner and does not carry a brother’s load breaks the crushed reed. And the one who despises the small spark of faith in children extinguishes the smoking wick. Christ did neither of these. He came for this purpose: to save those who were perishing. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.12.20. [1]

[1] CCL 77:91.

HE WILL NOT BREAK A CRUSHED REED

CHRYSOSTOM: And showing both his strength and their weakness, Jesus said, “He will not break a crushed reed.” [1] For in fact it was easy enough for God to break them all to pieces like a reed, and not just any reed but one already crushed. “And he will not quench a smoldering wick.” [2] By this he points to their anger that had been kindled and his might that is able to put down their anger and to quench it easily. By this is signified his great mildness.

What then? Shall these things always be? And will Christ endure perpetually those who form such frantic plots against him? Far from it. When he has performed his saving action, then he shall also execute its corresponding purposes. Isaiah declared this by saying both that “he shall bring forth justice to victory” [3] and “in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” [4] Paul similarly instructed us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” [5]

But what is meant by “he shall bring forth justice to victory”? [6] When Christ has completely fulfilled his own part, then, we are told, he will also bring down upon unbelievers his final judgment, when he has left them no contradicting arguments, however shameless, when they will then believe in his wondrous glory. For he knows how to say that justice is a judgment. But his dispensation will not be confined merely to the punishment of unbelievers. He will also proceed to win to himself the nations of the world, so he added, “and in his name will the Gentiles hope.” [7] Then, to inform us that this too is proceeding according to the purpose of the Father from the beginning, the prophet has given us this assurance together with what he has just said: “this is my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased.” [8] For it was very clear that the beloved committed these actions according to the purpose of the one who loved him. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 40.2. [9]

[1] Is 42:3a LXX.

[2] Is 42:3b LXX.

[3] Is 42:3c LXX.

[4] Is 42:4b LXX.

[5] 2 Cor 10:6.

[6] Is 42:3c LXX.

[7] Mt 12:21.

[8] Mt 12:18.

[9] PG 57:441; NPNF 1 10:260-61**. God’s saving action will at the same time bring judgment upon unbelievers and offer opportunity for all the nations to believe.