ACC ~ Matthew 15 v20

THESE ARE WHAT DEFILE

ORIGEN: These things are what “defiles the person” when they come out from the heart and, after they have gone out from it, go through the mouth. Thus if they did not occur outside of the heart but were held by the person somewhere around the heart, not being allowed to be spoken through the mouth, they would very quickly disappear and the person would not be defiled any longer. Therefore the source and beginning of every sin is “evil reasonings.” For if these reasonings did not prevail, there would be neither murders nor acts of adultery nor any other of such things. Because of this each one ought to keep one’s own heart with all watchfulness. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.14-15. [1]

[1] GCS 40:57-58; ANF 9:443-44.

WASH YOURSELF WITH VIRTUE

CHRYSOSTOM: “To eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Let us learn then what are the things that defile the person. Let us learn them and flee from them. For even in the church we still see such a custom prevailing among many that gives great attention to what we are wearing and whether we have our hands washed. But as to presenting a clean soul to God, they make no account. I say wash to what degree is fitting, but above all wash with virtues and not with water only. No one is forbidding the washing of the hands or mouth, but the real filth of the mouth is evil speaking, blasphemy, reviling, angry words, filthy talking, inordinate laughter and immature jesting. If you are not conscious of yourself doing these things or of being defiled with this filth, then draw near with confidence. But if you have often done these things and received these stains, why do you think that washing your tongue with water is going to change anything? You labor in vain to wash it out externally, while you are still inwardly carrying such deadly and hurtful filth. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 51.4-5. [1]

A WOMAN’S FAITH MATTHEW 15:21-28

[1] PG 58:515-16; NPNF 1 10:318-19.

OVERVIEW:

This woman is the mother of the Gentiles. The Lord had left Jewish territory, and the Canaanite woman had come out from her Gentile territory. He left the Jews behind, and the woman was leaving behind idolatry. What the Gentiles had lost, she found through her faith (EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN). She was appealing on behalf of her daughter, who was a type for all the Gentile peoples. Since she knew the Lord from the law, she addressed him as Son of David (HILARY OF POITIERS). Jesus himself opened the way for the Gentiles after nullifying the food laws that separated Jews from Gentiles. His contact with the Gentile woman was not his reason for being in the area of Tyre, but his compassionate nature prevented him from turning her away (CHRYSOSTOM). That he came first to Israel does not imply that salvation was not to be imparted also to the Gentiles (HILARY OF POITIERS). Jesus was unwilling to give his detractors an opportunity to accuse him. He was reserving a fully accomplished salvation for the Gentiles at the time of his Passion and resurrection (JEROME). He had to manifest in due sequence to Israel first, his birth, the display of miracles and then the power of his resurrection (AUGUSTINE). The Canaanite woman was in effect saying, You came to the Jews, and they didn’t want you. What they turned down, give to us (EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN). He postponed giving her a reply that she might cry aloud with this word, and thereby he would show her to be worthy of a thousand crowns (THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA). See how this woman who was a Canaanite—who came from the Gentiles and represented a type, a figure of the church—is highly praised for her humility, while others are puffed up with pride (AUGUSTINE).