ACC ~ Matthew 15 v1

THE SCRIBES CAME FROM JERUSALEM

ORIGEN: Pharisees and scribes came to him from Jerusalem. They did not come because they were amazed at the power in Jesus that healed people even if they “only touched the edge of his cloak.” [1] Instead, they came with a faultfinding attitude and brought an accusation before the teacher. The accusation did not concern the transgression of a commandment of God but rather the transgression of one tradition of the Jewish elders. Probably the charge of the faultfinders itself displays the piety of the disciples of Jesus, because they offered no grounds at all for criticism by the Pharisees and scribes in regard to transgressing the commandments of God. The Pharisees and scribes would not have brought the charge of transgressing the commandment of the elders against the disciples of Jesus if, indeed, they were able to get a firm hold on the ones who were being accused and were able to show that they were transgressing a commandment of God. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.8. [2]

[1] Mt 9:20; 14:36.

[2] GCS 40:46; ANF 9:437.

WHEN AND WHERE

CHRYSOSTOM: It says that the Pharisees and scribes came to him “then.” When? When he had worked thousands of signs, when he had healed the sick with the touch of his tassel. [1] It is for this reason that the Evangelist indicates the time, so that he might show that their unspeakable wickedness is second to none. But what is intended by the phrase “the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem”? They were scattered everywhere throughout the tribes and were divided into twelve parts. But the ones who were in charge of the mother city were more wicked than the others, because they enjoyed more honor and had become extremely arrogant. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 51.1. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 9:20; 14:36. The Greek word for the edge of the cloak sometimes refers to the tassel attached to the clothing when the word is used in the plural; cf. Num 15:38-41; Deut 22:12; Mt 23:5. But in this verse the word is used in the singular. So it probably refers only to the hemmed border of the cloth.

[2] PG 58:509-10; NPNF 1 10:314.