ACC ~ Matthew 18 v3

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.

Mt