ACC ~ Matthew 18 v1 - 5

OVERVIEW:

Because the disciples had observed that the same tax had been paid for Peter and the Lord, they inferred that Peter might have been set over all the other apostles. Thus they asked who is greater in the kingdom of heaven (JEROME, CHRYSOSTOM). The child called by Jesus into the middle of the disciples is analogous to the lowly work of the Holy Spirit (ORIGEN). What children are in their simplicity, let us become through a holy way of life: as children innocent of sin and thus as one who is great in the kingdom of heaven (JEROME, EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN). One who receives such a person will receive Christ (JEROME).

18:1 | Who Is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

WHETHER PETER IS FIRST

JEROME: We must seek for reasons for individual sayings and actions of the Lord. After the coin was found, after the tribute paid, what do the apostles’ sudden questions mean? Why precisely “at that time” did the disciples come to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Because they had seen that the same tax had been paid for both Peter and the Lord. From the equal price they inferred that Peter may have been set over all the other apostles, since Peter had been compared with the Lord in the paying of the tax. So they ask who is greater in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, seeing their thoughts and understanding the causes of their error, wants to heal their desire for glory with a struggle for humility. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.18.1. [1]

[1] CCL 77:156.

WHY THEY WERE UPSET

CHRYSOSTOM: The disciples experienced some human weakness; therefore the Evangelist also shows this, adding “in that hour,” when he honored Peter more than all others. For though Peter was a firstborn son along with James and John, he did nothing similar for them. Then being ashamed to admit what they felt, they did not openly say, “Why have you honored Peter above us?” or “Surely he is not greater than us?” When they became ashamed, they asked less definitely, “Who then is greater?” When they had seen the three honored above the rest, they had felt nothing of the kind. But when one took the highest honor, then they were hurt. Apparently it was not for this alone but piling up many feelings they became incensed. For Jesus had said to Peter, “I will give you the keys,” [1] and “You are blessed, Simon Bar-Jonah,” [2] and to Peter here he instructed, “Give it to them for me and for yourself.” And seeing the great freedom allowed him elsewhere they were upset. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 58.3. [3]

[1] Mt 16:19.

[2] Mt 16:17.

[3] PG 58:568; NPNF 1 10:359.

18:2 | A Child in the Midst of Them

THE IMAGE OF INNOCENCE

JEROME: He called a child to him to ask its age or to show the image of innocence. Or perhaps he actually set a child in their midst—he himself, who had not come to be served but to serve—to show them an example of humility. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.18.2. [1]

[1] CCL 77:156.

18:3 | Unless You Become Like Children

THINK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A CHILD

ORIGEN: Beside this obvious explanation [1] let another be given as well. As an act of theological and ethical reflection, let us ask what sort of a child Jesus called to him and has set in the midst of the disciples. Think of it this way: The child called by Jesus is the Holy Spirit, who humbled himself. He was called by the Savior and set in the middle of the disciples of Jesus. The Lord wants us, ignoring all the rest, to turn to the examples given by the Holy Spirit, so that we become like the children—that is, the disciples—who were themselves converted and made like the Holy Spirit. God gave these children to the Savior according to what we read in Isaiah: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me.” [2] To enter the kingdom of heaven is not possible for the person who has not turned from worldly matters and become like those children who had the Holy Spirit. Jesus called this Holy Spirit to him like a child, when he came down from his perfect completeness to people, and set it in the middle of the disciples. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13.18. [3]

[1] Previously Origen proposed the literal interpretation of the Gospel text, identified as “more sound” (haplousteros), because it was suitable for believers who were still beginners in the faith.

[2] Is 8:18.

[3] GCS 40:226-27; ANF 9:485.

18:4 | Humble as a Child

RETURN TO THE SIMPLICITY OF CHILDREN

HILARY OF POITIERS: The Lord teaches that we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless we revert to the nature of children, that is, we must recall into the simplicity of children the vices of the body and mind. He has called children all who believe through the faith of listening. For children follow their father, love their mother, do not know how to wish ill on their neighbor, show no concern for wealth, are not proud, do not hate, do not lie, believe what has been said and hold what they hear as truth. And when we assume this habit and will in all the emotions, we are shown the passageway to the heavens. We must therefore return to the simplicity of children, because with it we shall embrace the beauty of the Lord’s humility. ON MATTHEW 18.1. [1]

[1] SC 258:74-76.

HUMBLING ONESELF

JEROME: “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Just as this child whose example I show you does not persist in anger, does not long remember injury suffered, is not enamored inordinately by the sight of a beautiful woman, does not think one thing and say another, so you too, unless you have similar innocence and purity of mind, will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Or it might be taken in another way: “Whosoever therefore humiliates himself like this child is greater in the kingdom of heaven,” so as to imply that anyone who imitates me and humiliates himself following my example, so that he abases himself as much as I abased myself in accepting the form of a servant, will enter the kingdom of heaven. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.18.4. [1]

[1] CCL 77:157.

18:5 | Receiving Christ

WHO RECEIVES SUCH A CHILD

JEROME: Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. Whoever lives so as to imitate Christ’s humility and innocence, in him Christ is taken up. And he is careful to add—so that when the apostles heard of it, they would not think that they had been honored—that they would not be taken up for their merit but for the honor of the master. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.18.5. [1]

[1] CCL 77:157.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BECOME A CHILD

EPIPHANIUS THE LATIN: Here the Lord not only repressed the apostles’ thoughts but also checked the ambition of believers throughout the whole world, so that he might be great who wanted to be least. For with this purpose Jesus used the example of the child, that what he had been through his nature, we through our holy living might become—innocent, like children innocent of every sin. For a child does not know how to hold resentment or to grow angry. He does not know how to repay evil for evil. He does not think base thoughts. He does not commit adultery or arson or murder. He is utterly ignorant of theft or brawling or all the things that will draw him to sin. He does not know how to disparage, how to blaspheme, how to hurt, how to lie. He believes what he hears. What he is ordered he does not analyze. He loves his parents with full affection. Therefore what children are in their simplicity, let us become through a holy way of life, as children innocent of sin. And quite rightly, one who has become a child innocent of sin in this way is greater in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives such a person will receive Christ. INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 27. [1]

[1] PL Supp 3:866-67.