ACC ~ Matthew 18 v10

DO NOT HATE THOSE CUT OFF

THEODORE OF HERACLEA: But see, he says, that you do not at all despise those forced out of the church for wickedness. [1] He does not want them to be cast out with any hatred or curse. But he spares those who are guilty of some damage or disorder and often hardened in their own depravity. It is as if it were possible to see even these change again for the better. By “little ones” he means those imperfect in their knowledge or those recently baptized. He does not want these to be looked down upon as ignorant in his teaching. FRAGMENT 105. [2]

[1] Theodore here limits the meaning of little ones considerably to indicate the sinners who had been sent away from the communion of the church until repenting of their sin.

[2] MKGK 86.

LARGENESS OF SOUL

ORIGEN: The bodies of people differ from each other in size, so that some are short, some are tall, and some are in between. Again the short are different in their shortness since they are more short or less short, and the same likewise of the tall, and again of those in between. So it is also in human souls, it seems to me: There is something which distinguishes their shortness, and again, so to speak, their tallness, and, again analogous to the bodily differences, their moderateness. But the bodily difference does not depend on the individuals themselves but on the nature of the seed. So this person becomes tall, that one short and another in between. But with our souls, our own agency that is our actions and our character causes one to be large or small or belonging to those in the middle. And it is in our power whether we grow in stature and receive an increase in size or do not grow and remain small. For we must believe that to attain to manhood and mature manhood at that [1] depends on the person within: passing out of the times of childhood and advancing to manhood and putting aside the stuff of childhood and perfecting the stage of manhood. Just so we must suppose that there is still some measure of spiritual growth to which the most perfect soul can advance in glorifying the Lord and so become great. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13.26. [2]

[1] Eph 4:13.

[2] GCS 40:250-51; ANF 9:490.

THE LITTLE ONES

CHROMATIUS: And rightly the Lord has said, “The Son of man has come to save what had perished,” [1] so that all the more he might show that not one of these little ones who believe in Christ should be despised. For their sake the Son of God came down from heaven and saved them by his Passion. It was for this that he took on the body of our human weakness, so that he might in every way save this one who had perished. For the elements of the world have kept the law given them by the Lord. Humanity alone has been found the transgressor. Alone we had fallen from immortality into death. And for this reason to save us the Son of God at a mature time descended from heaven according to the will of the Father. Hence, quite rightly Solomon speaks of a time of destroying and a time of saving. [2] There was a time when the devil destroyed humankind. But again there came a time when the Son of God, the only begotten Son of God, saved the human race for life. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 57.4. [3]

[1] Cf. Lk 19:10.

[2] Eccles 3:3.

[3] CCL 9a:486.

WHO IS THE LITTLE ONE?

ORIGEN: Another may say that among these children “little” means perfect, recalling that the one who is less among you all is greater. [1] Some may argue that the child shown by Jesus is the person who humbles himself and becomes a child among the whole mass of the faithful. This is so even if he is an apostle or bishop. He may become like a nurse taking care of her children. [2] He is like an angel worthy of looking upon the face of God. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 13.29. [3]

[1] Lk 9:48.

[2] 1 Thess 2:7.

[3] GCS 40:259; ANF 9:492.

THEIR ANGELS BEHOLD THE FACE OF MY FATHER

CHROMATIUS: For just as the Lord commands that unbelieving and treacherous persons who are a stumbling block to the body of the church should be cut off or plucked out, so he also warns us not to despise any of the little children, that is, humble people in the laity who simply and faithfully believe in the Son of God. For it is not right to despise anyone who believes in Christ. A believer is called not only a servant of God but also a son though the grace of adoption, to whom the kingdom of heaven and the company of the angels is promised. And rightly the Lord adds, “For I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.” How much grace the Lord has toward each one believing in him he himself declares when he shows their angels always beholding the face of the Father who is in heaven. Great is the grace of the angels toward all who believe in Christ. Finally, the angels carry their prayers to heaven. Hence the word of Raphael to Tobias: “When you prayed along with your daughter-in-law Sara, I offered the memory of your prayer in the sight of God.” [1] Around them there is also the strong guard of the angels; they help each of us to be free from the traps of the enemy. For a human in his weakness could not be safe amid so many forceful attacks of that enemy if he were not strengthened by the help of the angels. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 57.1. [2]

[1] Tob 12:12.

[2] CCL 9a:483.

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