ACC ~ Matthew 16 v1

THEY CAME TO TEST HIM

CHRYSOSTOM: Their inquiry was rightly deserving of anger and great displeasure. Yet the benevolent and provident one is not angry. He pities them even as they tempt him. He laments them as incurably diseased after so full a demonstration of his power.

They did not seek him out in order to believe but to lay hold of him. Had they come with any readiness to believe, he would have given such a sign. For he who said to the woman, “It is not fair,” [1] and afterwards gave, much more would he have shown his bounty to these officials.

But since they did not seek to believe, he therefore calls them hypocrites, because in another place they said one thing and meant another. If they had believed, they would not even have asked. It is evident that they did not believe, since when reproved and exposed, they did not remain with him, nor did they admit “We are ignorant and seek to learn.”

But for what sign from heaven were they asking? Either that he should stay the sun, or curb the moon, or bring down thunderbolts, or work a change in the air, or some other such thing. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 53.3. [2]

[1] Mt 15:26.

[2] PG 58:529; NPNF 1 10:328.

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