ACC ~ Matthew 12 v25

JESUS RECOGNIZES THEIR MOTIVES

ANONYMOUS: “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, spoke to them.” Yet indeed, as the discussion plainly shows, the Pharisees did not say this but thought it. Moreover, since their wickedness was concealed, what harm could they do to the glory of Christ? None. For the man who thinks evil destroys himself. He does not destroy another. But look at Christ’s mercy. If the Pharisees had said this openly and Jesus had responded to them, perhaps we would say that he thus responded to their words in order to confound their wickedness. Now, however, it is clear that he answered them thus not to confound their wickedness but to heal their wounded conscience. Jesus hoped that when they saw their own thoughts expressed in his words, they would understand that it was not simply a man who perceived the content of their hearts. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 29. [1]

[1] PG 56:781.

THE DESTRUCTIVE DIVISION IS WITHIN JERUSALEM

HILARY: The law comes from God. The promise of the kingdom of Israel comes from the law, and the announcement of Christ’s birth and arrival come from the law. If the kingdom of the law is divided against itself, it will of necessity be abandoned. Every power is pulled down by division, and the strength of a kingdom separated from itself is destroyed. Thus the kingdom of Israel has fallen from the law when the people of the law oppose the fulfillment of the law in Christ. “But both a city and a house divided against themselves will not stand.” The dwelling of a city is the same principle as that of a kingdom. But this city of Jerusalem is always viewed in contrast to the boastful tyranny of the nations. Now after Jerusalem had been inflamed against the Lord by the madness of its people and after the crowd of the faithful had put his apostles to flight, then it will not stand because of the division of those who are leaving. And so, what directly follows this division is the order for that city’s destruction. ON MATTHEW 12.13-14. [1]

[1] SC 254:278-80.

THE HOUSE DIVIDED

CHROMATIUS: The Lord declared that a kingdom or city or house divided against itself could not stand. This was said in reference to the kingdom that the Jews themselves occupied under the rule of Jeroboam, the servant of Solomon, which was judged as abandoned before being divided. The Jews would lose entirely the city of Jerusalem, to which Samaria had been hostile. They would lose the dwelling place of God’s temple against which golden calves and the house of idols had been erected. He showed them that they ought rather to follow that kingdom that cannot be divided—that is, the heavenly and eternal one. The spiritual city of Jerusalem always remains fixed and immovable. No hostile power ever has been or will be able to overcome the true house of God. That house which is protected by the Son of God is quite safe. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 49.5. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:443.