ACC ~ Matthew 12 v41

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JONAH AND JESUS

CHRYSOSTOM: For Jonah was a servant, but I am the Master; and he came forth from the great fish, but I rose from death. He proclaimed destruction, but I am come preaching the good tidings of the kingdom. The Ninevites indeed believed without a sign, but I have exhibited many signs. They heard nothing more than those words, but I have made it impossible to deny the truth. The Ninevites came to be ministered to, but I, the very Master and Lord of all, have come not threatening, not demanding an account, but bringing pardon. They were barbarians, but these—the faithful—have conversed with unnumbered prophets. And of Jonah nothing had been prophesied in advance, but of me everything was foretold, and all the facts have agreed with their words. And Jonah indeed, when he was to go forth, instead ran away that he might not be ridiculed. But I, knowing that I am both to be crucified and mocked, have come nonetheless. While Jonah did not endure so much as to be reproached for those who were saved, I underwent even death, and that the most shameful death, and after this I sent others again. And Jonah was a strange sort of person and an alien to the Ninevites, and unknown; but I a kinsman after the flesh and of the same forefathers. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 43.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:459; NPNF 1 10:274.

THE LIMITATIONS OF THE ANALOGY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: If Jonah then is taken as a type of Christ, he is not so taken in every respect [1] —he was sent to preach to the Ninevites, but he sought to flee from the presence of God. [2] And he is seen to shrink from going to the east. The Son also was sent from God the Father to preach to the nations, but he was not unwilling to assume this ministry.

The prophet appeals to those sailing with him to throw him into the sea, [3] then he was swallowed by a great fish, then after three days he was given back up and afterwards went to Nineveh and fulfilled his ministry. But he was embittered beyond measure when God took pity upon the Ninevites. Christ willingly submitted to death, he remained in the heart of the earth, he came back to life and afterward went up to Galilee and commanded that the preaching to the Gentiles should begin. But he was not grieved to see that those who were called to acknowledge the truth were being saved.

Thus just as bees in the field, when flitting about the flowers, always gather up what is useful for the provision of the hives, so we also, when searching in the divinely inspired Scriptures, need always to be collecting and collating what is perfect for explicating Christ’s mysteries and to interpret the Word fully without cause for rebuke. FRAGMENT 162. [4]

[1] Jonah is a symbolic and prophetic prefigurement of Christ only for certain of his acts, such as his three-day sojourn in the stomach of the great fish (symbolic of Christ’s three days in the tomb), not for others mentioned here by Cyril.

[2] Jon 1:2-3.

[3] Jon 1:12.

[4] MKGK 205.

THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH

ANONYMOUS: “The people of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it.” For they received the prophet, whereas the Jews rejected Christ, the Lord of the prophets. Nineveh, not having been instructed by the law or the prophets or admonished by the apostles, turned to the Lord, knowing their sins. The latter, having been imbued with so many commandments of the law and the prophets, turned away from the Lord. The former, who had turned to being the people of the devil, within three days became the people of God. The latter, who had always appeared to be the people of God, within three days after Christ was crucified became the people of Satan. The Ninevites, not knowing who the person was and hearing incredible things, might have sought from him the signs and wonders of their conversion, that by those things the worthy person of the preacher and the incontestable truth of his words might be shown. But hearing nothing of those things and seeing nothing, they were saved by faith alone. The Jews, however, saw heavenly nature working so many signs in witness. Yet not only did they turn a deaf ear to him, but they conspired to bring about his death. The Ninevites, repenting with great sorrow and remorse, received the forgiveness of their sins. But the Jews did not want to accept the forgiveness of sins offered them, because they thought that the gifts and the calling of the Messiah would be offered without repentance. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 30. [1]

[1] PG 56:789.

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